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Down in the shambolic climate camp, protesters plot a campaign of panic
By Rashid Razaq, Evening Standard Last updated at 16:38pm on 19.03.08
Inside view: Standard reporter Rashid Razaq at the climate camp
Caught on camera: police are keeping a close eye on protesters
Our writer joins the climate camp outside Heathrow airport, where 2,000 protesters are expected to congregate this week.
The two policemen at the entrance to the eco-camp waved me through after perfunctory questioning. "I'm a student and I just wanted to join the protest," I explained as the officers allowed me into the camp - no more than a bare bit of scrubland at Heathrow's northern perimeter and about a mile from the terminals.
Now to get past the camp organisers' scrutiny. There was no welcoming committee and no questions asked by the eco-activists, now numbering about 150, who were milling about the field, plotting the week ahead.
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I pitched my tent in the "eastside", the area set aside for activists from the east Midlands, Nottingham and Cambridge, though London activists were supposed to pitch in the camp's main belt, next to the perimeter.
Around the camp was a heavy police cordon. The advance party of activists, mostly in their twenties or thirties - a typical bunch of students, mature students and perennially unemployed - were joined by several veterans in their fifties and sixties. They were well organised and well supplied. New arrivals were asked to donate £30 a day towards the £40,000 cost of running the week-long camp. The money would also pay for communally cooked food. I stumped up the money, hoping I would blend in and not wishing to stand out.
By 9.30pm the first of several tedious site meetings had been called. It was conducted by an American man alongside an English man and woman. None would give their real names, referring to themselves only as "elders" and saying there would be no hierarchy. All decisions would be made by total consensus and not majority votes. It was shambolic. One meeting - on how to dig a hole for a latrine - took 45 minutes to complete.
Priorities were to establish base camps for each "neighbourhood" unit so that contingents from London, the South Coast, Manchester, Yorkshire and others would all be self-sufficient.
One "elder" said each neighbourhood would elect a representative who could be vouched for by a known activist so they could be trusted with confidences.
After the first meeting, groups sat late in to the night drinking and smoking and talking of their plans.
Two protesters said they had taken part in clashes with police at the recent G8 Summit in Germany.
Another woman in her thirties said: "Climate camp will be bigger than G8 and we have to make people sit up and take notice around the world." One of the G8 veterans said: "Security is the key," urging us to "get them panicked with different things at the same time like bags left around the airport and people climbing the fence". Late that night I saw two protesters carry out reconnaissance on the security fences. There were no police to see them.
I was told by one woman that though climate change was the focus, the week would also see the arrival of experienced anti-capitalists, rioters from mainland Europe. Who would they be targeting? "The usual - Starbucks, McDonalds, all the corporates are at Heathrow."
Next morning police moved in to conduct searches. Only after I identified myself as a journalist did officers let me get back to my tent.
Most of yesterday was spent hammering in tent pegs for 300 or so activists who had by now turned up. Police patrols appeared hourly.
By now more and more journalists were arriving. Organisers spotted my camera equipment and asked why I had pitched in the wrong area. London activists declared they had never seen me before and my identity as a reporter was rumbled. Last night I left, heading for a hot shower and a decent meal, leaving about 350 protesters to bring chaos to Heathrow.
Reader views (10)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
People are worried about the environment. There were no terrorists there just real people worried about the environment. It was peaceful for most except for the ones that need an effective story to downgrade us all as dirty hippies. Or for the ones that treat us like terrorists round us up like sheep and record our faces for no particular reason other than to criminalize us.
- Jc, London
Jules how would you feel if half way through your diner a squad suddenly forced there way into your home without any apparent explanation? I feel we had a very calm response considering and there was certainly nothing more aggressive than shouting from us, although a cop did get a bit baton happy apparently.
- Owen (Camper), Shropshire
I detect perhaps being "rumbled" has somewhat swayed your view on the camp and how it was run. It was fantastic I took my children there to learn about climate change and how to live in a more eco-friendly way they all learned much more than they have at school for the past 5 odd years. A wonderful experience well-organised and fantastic people! You should of investigated the solar showers more!
- Climate Camper, London
Typical Evening Standard. As someone who is at the camp now (yes we've got internet) I can assure people that it is no way shambolic, and is also very welcoming (of course people trying to obstruct the camp such as the group of police on Tuesday aren't welcome however). I've heard no talk of leaving bags in Heathrow to cause panic - there is an overwhelming consensus not to disrupt passengers. Come on down - it's also great fun!
- Climate Camper, Eastside
If everyone's welcome, then why did the police get pushed out the other day? That looked quite aggressive to me... not exactly a welcoming place, is it?
- Jules, London
I was told by one woman that though climate change was the focus, the week would also see the arrival of experienced anti-capitalists, rioters from mainland Europe. Who would they be targeting? "The usual - Starbucks, McDonalds, all the corporations that are at Heathrow."
The above paragraph says it all. Protest against an expanded Heathrow is right, but lack of focus and incorrect targeting will be the protester’s downfall.
- Tony P., chippenham, wiltshire
Greenham Common Mark II! The re-incarnated hippies will assemble with their protest songs. The more militants will attempt to enter the airport with wire cutters. Mobile benefit pay-out offices will arrive to avoid compromise of their human rights. Support groups for lesbians will make a presence and the 'great unwashed' will grow into a presence over the coming months. Who pays? We, who go to work every day, have trouble in getting rubbish shifted and travelling to work! The solution? Return the land to agricultural use and a weekly spread of cattle slurry to enrich the soil.
- Roy G, Solihull, England
No-one is known as an 'elder' (what rubbish!). Why would you be questioned at the entrance? It's not a police camp. The meeting took 20 minutes and covered several different issues, primarily to explain to newcomers about compost toilets and how to make them. The meetings are led by everyone attending them. You clearly sat back, waiting to be spoon-fed. The camp is partly a protest, but mostly an educational event to help people learn how to be more sustainable in heir own homes and communities. Anyone can camp in any area they wish. A limit is only imposed upon journalists, to protect the privacy of people, after 'hatchet-jobs' done on individuals who devote all their spare time (most people there have jobs) in unpaid efforts to protect the environment.
- Jane, UK
Good for them! They are doing the most important job in the world, saving it.
- Sonia Hayward, Kent
Why doesn't the landowner have them evicted?
At the first deliberate provocation resulting in travel disruption the camp should be cleared immediately and ringleaders arrested and prosecuted.
- Stan, Expat
