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Protesters at G20 climate camp could triple to 3,000
Neil Millard23.03.09
UP TO 3,000 climate change campaigners are set to descend on the City for a protest over next month's G20 summit - three times the number originally thought.
Activists are planning "flashcamps" in the Square Mile outside the European Climate Exchange in Bishopsgate for the duration of the convention of world leaders.
So far 1,200 members of Camp For Climate Action have used Facebook to confirm their attendance on 1 April, while 1,600 have said they hope to attend.
The figures come after the group held direct action training sessions in the City at the weekend, during which the Evening Standard got a sneak preview of the campaigners' plans.
A total of 46 campers gathered at the Arcola Theatre in Dalston yesterday to begin preparations.
At 12.30pm on 1 April, the day before the two-day G20 summit begins at the ExCeL Centre in Docklands, protesters plan to converge on the Exchange at 62 Bishopsgate and put up their tents.
They aim to transform the site for 24 hours by unfurling bunting, setting up a farmers' market and holding climate workshops. Camper Kevin Smith said: "It's about getting as many people as possible in one space as quickly as possible so we have numbers there to hold the space. The point isn't to be adversarial for the sake of it. We don't have any intention of provoking violence. It will be exciting and very positive. It would be great if thousands of people were there."
They aim to persuade the G20 leaders that the search for economic growth will never successfully tackle the problem of climate change. The campers are also accusing traders of complicity in causing environmental problems.
"I don't think it's about scapegoating bankers," said Mr Smith. "It's about highlighting the problems in the system that have created the financial crisis and the fact it goes through the motions of pretending to address climate change but doesn't."
A Met Police Forward Intelligence Team was at yesterday's event taking photos of group members.
Mr Smith, a climate change policy researcher from north London, said: "It will be interesting to see how the police react in light of the enormous amount of criticism they have received in Parliament."
The camp will be one of a series of protests on 1 April - dubbed "Financial Fools Day". Also taking place will be the G20 Meltdown march which will go through the City converging on the Bank of England.
Stop the War Coalition will march from Grosvenor Square to the US Embassy at 2pm, and at 4pm the Alternative G20 summit will take place at the University of London.
On Thursday 2 April various groups will protest at the G20 summit.
Reader views (8)
Unbridled consumerism is the underlying cause of the devastation to the environment and the progressive yet rapid alteration of our world's climate. We need a radical change of culture if the natural world, as we know it, and our civilisation are to survive. A real change of attitudes and behaviour is essential, and soon. A Climate Camp in the heart of the financial sector which promotes and fuels our addiction to run-away materialism seems so apt and poignant! This is a spiritual as well as an economic and ecological challenge. Adapt and survive or go the way of all other evolutionary cul-de-sacs and perish. We deserve to if we don't get out of this "age of stupid"!
- Amadis Cammell, LONDON, UK
Ross Glory, London- Really? Show me the evidence that you have that disproves what I have said.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
One of the few articles that doesn't completely demonise those who are actively promoting change.
We will await the arrests and police stories of protester violence that will be subsequently found to be complete lie.
- John Hatley, London, London
Keith Lonsdale, I think you deserve an award for the most disinformation and nonsense in a single post.
Now let me see, Keith from Doncaster says don;t worry it's all fine. The national scientific academies of every industrialised nation say it is a problem. Um, ahhh who to believe?
- Ross Glory, London
Alasdair Cameron-"While I am sure we will see the usual comments from the climate deniers and the cynical denuciation of the 'greenies'..."- Every prediction made by the Church of Man-made Climate Change has thus far failed to materialise. Ther are as many scientists who disagree with the EcoStasi as there are that agree.
Climate change is nothing new, as ths fossil record and historical accounts show.
The Eco lobby would find themselves far better supported if they stopped pretending that punitive taxation and a return to the stone age are going to halt climate change and started promoting our adaptation to the inevitable.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
While I am sure we will see the usual comments from the climate deniers and the cynical denuciation of the 'greenies', I am all for it. We need a mass protest movement of all kinds to pressure the government into leading on the climate. This is a true crisis, and we all need to get involved. It is not about the hair shirt, or the eco-nazi, but about saving our civilizations and standards of living by making some fundamental changes to the way we run and produce things. Bring it on.
- Alasdair Cameron, London, UK
Great! Let's make sure it's 10,000 people! We can't let the traders do to the climate what they've just done to the banks...
- Jeremy, London
What would be great, and possibly effective, would be for all of these groups (and many others) to join forces and march on Westminster demanding a general election and the restoration of British democracy and the right to self determination.
Until both of thes issues are addressed any other protests will continue to fall upon deaf ears.
Gordon Brown and Soviet Labour are not interested in the hopes and desires of anyone, save for those whose views happen to coincide with theirs.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
