Final update at bottom of story – Because nature doesn’t do bailouts.
April 1 in the evening… the sun has gone down, the sky is clear and stars are on view… instead of going home we get firewood from our backpacks, make tea and coffee on rocket stoves and then, just as the hunger pangs start, jacket potatoes!
Yes, we are actually going to camp in the city…
The G20 meeting is coming up fast, as are our plans to shut down carbon markets and be camping in London’s Square Mile as the 20 heads of state arrive. Below we’ve included more information and the latest update.
You can check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20 as we get closer to Financial and Fossil Fools Day — April 1st.
In the meantime, we all need to get the word out. Basically the success of the Camp in the City is a game of getting as many people as possible to the City on April 1.
**The callout can be forwarded to your friends and email lists- it is here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20
**Invite your friends to the facebook event:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225
**Forward this update to your mates, any relevant lists you are on, and post it on websites.
**Hold a local group meeting to discuss the G20
**Download the postcard version for photocopying and get it out:
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/files/G20PostcardB_4onA4.pdf
**Stickers and colour postcards are available — email g20 at climatecamp.org.uk to get them.
Below you’ll find:
1) THE CLIMATE CAMP IN 2009
2) PRACTICAL INFORMATION
3) INFORMATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND AUTONOMOUS GROUPS
4) CALL OUT FOR WORKSHOPS
5) CALL FOR LEGAL OBSERVERS
6) FOOD AT THE G20 CAMP, MESSAGE FROM THE FOOD GROUP
7) DETAILS OF NEXT MEETING — NOTTINGAM MARCH 7/8
This information is also available at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20-practicalities.
1) THE CLIMATE CAMP IN 2009
The Climate Camp new year national gathering made huge progress, conceiving a strategic decision to focus on the failed economic system, and developing four ambitious and exciting projects stemming from this. If you weren’t at the gathering, or haven’t yet had a chance to look over the decisions made, check them out: http://climatecamp.org.uk/?q=node/501
The most urgent project going ahead is “Climate Camp hits the City”, a one day and night camp in the square mile of London taking place on April 1st, the eve of the G20. Climate Camp has never organised an action at such a fast pace, and so everyone is encouraged to get networking locally across the UK to make Climate Camp first event of 2009 an enormous success! To find out more about the details of the G20, go to http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20
2) PRACTICAL INFORMATION
CONVERGE. There will be a convergence centre from Saturday the 28th April, so you can go to the ‘Put People First’ march by the big NGO’s and Unions, and stay in London until the Wednesday 1st April, and camping in the City.
There will be plenty of work to do over those last days! See www.climatecamp.org.uk nearer the time for the exact location.
ARRIVE. Come for the day, or if possible come for the day and night! The adventure will begin at noon, April 1st, European Climate Exchange, Hasilwood House, 62 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AW. More details nearer the time. For some background on carbon markets, and why we’re shutting down the exchange, visit http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20-why
LOOK AFTER EVERYONE. Although we hope to provide some food, and shelter for those who want to sleep, please try to arrive as self-sufficient as possible — when you are camping in the heart of the financial district, there are no guarantees that we’ll be able to have much infrastructure!
Bring water, warm clothes, a pop-up tent if you’ve got one, sleeping bag, and if you can, some blankets and tarp. Carrying your own food to share and water will also put less strain on our kitchen, and please arrive well fed.
TRANSFORM. We also want to transform the financial district, both symbolically and visually into a physical manifestation of our desired worlds. Doing that is up to all of us. We want our space to look beautiful. So come with your own plans, costumes, theater, entertainment and spectacle. Wind turbines, mobile cinemas, action plans — whatever you think you can pull off.
Let’s imagine another world or two or three….
3) INFORMATION FOR NEIGHBOURHOODS AND AUTONOMOUS GROUPS
If you are part of a Climate Camp neighbourhood, or would like to be part of one, contact your local group: http://climatecamp.org.uk/node/40.
If you are in a local group, give the Process Group (process@climatecamp.org.uk) your details for the Climate Camp website.
With an exciting process up and running again, people are hopefully looking to get involved. However, our Local Group page is out of date.
Therefore, if you are a local Climate Camp group (whether or not you were a neighbourhood at the Camp ’08), give us some text about the basic details (when and where you meet, contact details, a bit about yourselves) and we’ll get it on the website. We can also arrange for your local group to have an @climatecamp.org.uk email address.
If groups arrive sorted, that will put less strain on everyone. Think about how you would like to transform our space, and come with the materials you need to do so. We are also urging all groups to have back up plans and actions. There is no Planet B, but everyone should have a Plan B…
4) WORKSHOPS AT CLIMATE CAMP PART 1
The camp is looking for workshops for the day. We would love to hear from you if you can offer a workshop, especially (but not limited to) workshops on carbon trading, market solutions to climate change, and the economic crisis. We are also really keen to hear from you if you can offer music, street theatre or anything else which will make the day inspiring and educational!
Please let us know if you would be able to offer a workshop. Contact: at g20workshops at riseup.net
5) LEGAL OBSERVERS FOR CLIMATE CAMP PART 1
Want to be a trained legal observer? If so we really want lots of legal observation for the G20 camp on the 1st April. There will be a training event on 31st March. Remember we need people for both the 1st and 2nd of April. Email: legal at climatecamp.org.uk.
6) FOOD AT THE G20 CAMP, MESSAGE FROM THE FOOD GROUP
First. Bring plenty of fresh WATER; Bring Food; Bring a bog roll!; Bring bin liners to take away rubbish; bring a bowl, cup and fork.
Second. Do NOT bring propane bottles or sharp knives.
Third. If you can bring a Rocket Stove – it would be wonderful – it’s proper camping and visually cool.
Fourth. There is a food and kitchens group who will work hard in collaboration with local groups to pre-prepare SUPPLEMENTARY vegan food throughout the 24 hours of action — some in the location and in other places. This could include a light dinner on the 1st April and possibly hot breakfast on April 2nd. Donations of £2-3 per head will be requested to fund this provision.
Fifth. Join the food group and help to make and distribute food. Email tummyfiller at riseup.net
7) NEXT MEETING — NOTTINGAM MARCH 7/8
The next national Camp for Climate Action gathering is going to be in Nottingham, from the 7th to 8th of March. The Venue is the wonderful Sumac Centre, details of which can be found on their website at:
http://www.veggies.org.uk/sumac/welcome.html
The Gathering will run from 10.30am on the Saturday till 5pm on the Sunday, so get booking your trains and coaches. We’ll not only be discussion the G20, but also, other climate camp projects.
——
Update (25th March):
The G20 Swoop & crucial information for the Climate Camp in the City of London!
April 1st is only a week away! Below is the crucial information you will need for camping in the square mile during the G20.
Please forward this to your friends, any groups you are a part of, and post it on websites. Check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20 for updates. Once again, our list goes to 11.
(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING
(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION
(3) THE MAP
(4) INFOPOINTS & BRIEFINGS
(5) SLEEPING SPACE
(6) THINGS TO BRING
(7) AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS & MEDIA
(8) LEGAL
(9) WORKSHOPS & CEILIDH
(10) PUT PEOPLE FIRST MARCH
(11) IT’S A NUMBERS GAME
(1) THE SWOOP & OVER-POLICING
To be successful, we must all arrive at the Climate Exchange at the same time. We must swoop in from different directions, using different means to arrive within a minute or two of each other. Its a good idea to meet up with your friends early, and somewhere within easy reach of the Climate Exchange. Then, at the appropriate moment, leave quickly, to arrive at exactly 12:30. You may even want to practice beforehand.
Be aware that in light of current over-policing tactics, if you miss the swoop, you may be unable to join the camp. In places where our numbers are too low, the police may attempt to stop and search individuals, and confiscate items to prevent us from setting up the camp safely. We can avoid this by moving confidently and together. The police may also attempt to surround people to prevent us from moving (sometimes called a “kettle”). Nearby tube stations, particularly Liverpool Station, as well as the Bank (where the G20-meltdown protest is occurring at noon), are possible locations where the police may try to kettle people. If you see a kettle forming and don’t want to be stuck for the day in one, move and help others move out of it before it closes.
You are likely to have greater freedom of movement if you’ve planned your swoop and know the area. Because things may change on the day, please take copies of our map with grid reference points, and have a person in your group subscribed to the text alerts.
(2) TEXT ALERTS & COMMUNICATION
Things may change on the day, perhaps significantly. There is a text message news service which will be available in advance and during the G20 Leaders meeting. We strongly recommend that people subscribe to it. It is possible, even likely, that the place that we finally set up camp will not be the Climate Exchange.
http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/text-updates
We also use Twitter http://twitter.co /ClimateCamp but please note that twitter does not reach mobile phone numbers and is now a web-service, so on the day this will only be useful for those with web-enabled phones or those with friends at home ready to call.
You may want to also exchange phone numbers with your friends and people in other groups so that our communication network is as decentralised as possible.
(3) THE MAP
A map of the city, with grid reference points will be released at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/map in the coming days. Please print copies for you and your friends. It will be used on the day when the text alert gives the location of the camp, or any other information throughout the day.
Various carbon off-set companies, carbon trading firms, greenwashing firms, and other climate-criminals will also be highlighted on the map. If the police prevent us from safely setting up the camp, groups are especially encouraged to do an action at one of these locations, or any other location they have researched. It can also aid communication between you and your mates. Losing your friends in a crowd really sucks!
(4) INFOPOINTS & BRIEFINGS
From Thursday March 26th until Thursday April 2nd rampARTS will be a G20 infopoint, open to drop by from 2-10 pm. The Camp for Climate Action will have information there during this period.
On Saturday March 28th at 5 pm, and on Sunday March 29th at 2 pm, the camp will be serving tea and cake for those who want to meet up and share information, or make some banners and props.
On Tuesday March 31st at 7 pm, there will be a briefing at rampART, with a particular focus on new people who need information about the April 1st camp.
rampART is located at 15 -17 Rampart Street, London E1 2LA (near Whitechapel, off Commercial Rd). rampart[at]mutualaid.org, 07050 618445
http://therampart.wordpress.com/location-contact/
(5) SLEEPING SPACE
If you are coming from out of town, places are available to stay! Please contact us early so that we can reserve you a place. Email iwanttocrashinasquatfortheg20@hushmail.com to let them know how many people will be staying, and the dates you need.
(6) THINGS TO BRING
If you’re staying for the full 24 hours, please check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/what-to-bring for what to bring.
(7) AUTONOMOUS ACTIONS AND MEDIA
Are you planning an autonomous action and would you like to try and get media there as soon as it happens? You can chat to the climate camp media crew about it beforehand who can point the media your way, or can help you get your press release out. You don’t have to give them the details beforehand, but do get in touch with press@climatecamp.org.uk or call 07040 900905 to arrange something.
(8) LEGAL
Our legal team have prepared a handy crib sheet of information about your legal rights and what to do if something goes wrong. These will be handed out on the day, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get one before encountering the police, so we advise you to print a copy to bring along.
Check it out at http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/legal
(9) WORKSHOPS & CEILIDH
Workshops and music are on! Workshops will include: Trading our way into trouble, the Fossil Fuel Economy, A history of Direct Action, Techno fixes, Transition to a low carbon economy, the latest climate science from Copenhagen, Mobilising for Copenhagen, Debt and Climate Change, Carbon Trading and Copenhagen, Sustainable Activism, Samba, Poetry vs Climate Change … and more!
Check out http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/events for the latest schedule
We also need more musicians to play at the ceilidh. More musicians and sound systems are welcome!
(10) PUT PEOPLE FIRST MARCH AND LEAFLETING
A Camp for Climate Action block for the Put People First March on Saturday the 28th of March will be meeting at 11 am outside Charing Cross National Rail Station, on the strand. We need help handing out leaflets during the march. 07534 598733 for more info.
(11) IT’S A NUMBERS GAME
The only way we can win this is through a mass mobilisation of people. With a week to go we can still get people to join us for the camp. Talk to your friends and bring them along; change your status and profile picture on social networks, and invite your contacts to our facebook event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=49600653225 . On the day, make sure you let the people back home know how the camp is going, and how they can disseminate our message. If each of us brings someone along, we double our numbers and our strength.
——
Final update (31st March):
Hi campers, not long to go before we join each to set up camp in the city on April 1st! This is the final update, please read it carefully and forward it to all your friends who are coming…
WHAT TO BRING:
We hope many of us will be staying overnight, please bring a popup tent, food, 4 litres of water, warm clothes, hand cleaning gel (for hygiene, we might not get water) and whatever you might need for 24 hours of rebel camping adventure. (a full list is here http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/what-to-bring)
HOW TO DO IT:
1) SYNCHRONIZE YOUR WATCHES: It is important that we swoop at exactly the same time, and those arriving too late or too early might not make it in. You can use the speaking clock or this: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com
2) PLUG IN: Sign up to text messages here: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/text-updates You will only get text messages if there is a change of plan.
3) PREPARE: Print out the map from http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/map and if you still need somewhere to sleep the night before check http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/g20/sleepspace Remember that there may be limited toilet facilities so don’t arrive with bursting bowels !!!
3) SWOOP DOWN: Arrive at 62 Bishop’s Gate, the European Climate Exchange at 12:30 on the dot. Swoop swiftly and stealthily from a location of your choice. It might be good to avoid Bank and Liverpool Street stations where other protest groups are meeting at 11.00am as you may be unable to leave due to police Kettles (when police surround a crowd). Avoid kettles at all costs and if when you get to the Climate Exchange the police invite you into a protest pen, say “no thanks, we’ll camp elsewhere”, keep moving and wait for text messages.
4) SPREAD INSPIRATION: You can use your phone to send reports, pictures, audio etc from the streets to Indymedia. Its very easy – see http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/03/425262.html for numbers and details.
If you are covering the action using twitter, please include the hashtags #g20cc or both #g20 and #protest so we can pull tweets into one single feed of the event.
5) AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST – ENJOY: The next few days will be extraordinary days for extraordinary times…