Climate Camp activists march on RBS headquarters

The Camp for Climate Action said it was targeting RBS because of its "commitment to financing the fossil fuel industry", such as loans to coal, oil and gas companies.

Protesters were busy setting up camp in a field behind RBS headquarters. A site office, medical tent and compost toilets have been erected. Police guarded the two entrances to the site but there was no sign of any antagonism between them and the activists.

The Climate Camp website said 100 activists set up camp at 9.15pm yesterday, a day earlier than planned, to "outfox authorities who were keen to prevent the camp from happening".

The location of the site, in Gogarburn on the west of the city, was announced through a mass text message.

Climate Camp spokeswoman Ruth McTernan said: "It's been a dramatic start to what's going to be a week full of workshops, sustainable living and direct action against RBS's crimes against the climate.

"We're in a beautiful location here at Gogarburn, surrounded by the woods. People should come down, have a cup of tea and check out what's going on for themselves."

Activists have also declared a day of action against RBS on Monday.

Campaigners explained why the group was directing its attention towards the bank.

Writer Robbie Gillett, 24, from Manchester, said he opposed the fact that the bank was not accountable to the public "shareholders".

"There's been a public bail-out but no public control as to where that money is spent, and they continue to pay their executives multimillion-pound bonuses.

"We really need to stand up to RBS, who receive public money but who are not under any democratic control."

Cambridge history student Ellie Roberts, 22, said: "We need to be raising questions about banks, about how they are run and why they are run in this way.

"What do we value in our society, profit for a few or involving communities and giving people control over their lives?

"We need to make the transition as rapidly as possible away from fossil fuels. RBS aren't helping with that. They're jeopardising our future to make a quick buck."

Police arrested two people in Gogarburn last night. A spokesman said: "We are fully aware of the Climate Camp being set up. Lothian and Borders Police have a duty to facilitate peaceful protest and allow for freedom of assembly."

Previous camps were held targeting the now axed third runway at Heathrow in 2007 and Kingsnorth coal power station in Kent in 2008.

Ruth Brown, a community worker from London, said: "Destructive projects like open cast coal mines in the UK are only made possible through finance from banks like RBS. The government bailed them out, and now they use their profits to destroy our communities and are causing catastrophic climate change."

This month RBS posted profits of £9 million for the first half. It followed a £1.04 billion loss last year.

An RBS spokeswoman said: "As a major international bank we provide support for businesses working across many industries and reflect the make up of society and the economy.

"Just as society as a whole has to make a transition to renewable energy sources so will banks like RBS. In fact in recent years RBS has been one of the most active banks in the world in providing funding for renewable energy projects so we are at the forefront of helping finance the transition.

"Therefore, while we understand the protestors' intent and publicity tactics we clearly cannot agree with their decision to target RBS. We have offered to meet with the leaders of the protest, and although they have not accepted, this offer still stands. Our top priority is securing the safety of our staff and customers and we urge the protestors to make their point peacefully."