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I am astonished at the kind of venomous language used about the protesters: 'vermin', 'layabouts', 'scum'... how long will it be before people realise that the climate camp is a last brave hope; a peaceful, courageous, utterly erudite movement? The ignorance and hate is depressing really, I feel sorry for those below who are in such obvious denial. Being part of Climate Camp makes myself, a seventy two year old grandmother of seven makes me immensely proud and gives me a slither of hope for my grandchildren. Once you are in the camp, you will know the truth of how peaceful and focussed and brave these young people are. There is no question that this movement is the beginning of a massive grassroots movement that I believe is our last chance to turn things around. Nature doesn't do bailouts! Come down and see what can be learned. It is a university of hope.

- Mary, avebury wilts

@Sharon Bonnell, hertfordshire uk

"this is not about climate change, its about a bunch of irresponsible individuals with a grug against the police hence the meeting sites, who have no regard for other law abiding people." - - What a fantastic generalisation. Are you perhaps confusing the actions of a few people at a completely separate protest (g20) with the one currently under discussion? Ok wait sorry yes climate camp is clearly about handing our indiscriminet beats to the police!

"Listen we dont want you disrupting our lives, go and get a job and work like the rest of us, maybe you won't be so bored, and bore the rest of us" - - What is it that makes people assume that anyone who stands up and speaks against the status quo must be an unemployed wastrel scrounging off the state!? If anything is boring its the continuous and brainless flogging of last centuries stereotypes. is that really you speaking anyway? or have endless days reading your corporate sponsored news opinion columns relieved you of your ability for free thought?

- Dan, London

In answer to many of the assumptions that are being made here: I like many of the people on the Swoop and staying at Climate Camp am a very well educated, working professional (in fact I'm very senior level management but that's not strictly relevant). I pay taxes gladly - and higher rate ones at that. I'm very tidy and responsible, respectful of other peoples' property - I even organise the annual litter pick in my village. I've never been arrested, cautioned or had anything to do with any agent of the law. I'm not misguided and have thought hard (read much) about climate issues before getting involved with "the movement". I don't seek to disrupt your working week and I have taken annual leave to join the camp - you know like the time you take when you go to Spain or wherever on holiday.

I also don't prejudge people and assume that because they have chosen a different path from mine in life that they are dirty lay-about anarchists. People from every walk of life have something to contribute to our society.

- Fairies For Change, Berkshire

I am a law abiding citizen, who suffers from aircraft noise from London City Airport, but also Heathrow jets which over fly the area. It never used to be around here. The airports are greedy for expansion, but they don't realise it blights residents lives. I get no peace and quite and the noise is driving me mad.

I can't sell my home due to the credit crunch.

I have written so many letters, but I keep getting fobbed off by politicians who are siding with big business.

So, I am pleased that green activists are highlighting the residents face around London City Airport.

I hope the police respect people's democratic right to free protest....

- Op, London Docklands.

I find it laughable (and so do the majority of serious scientists) that anyone really doen't believe that climate-change is manmade. Keep taking the tablets...

Meanwhile, have a think about how our present unsustainable lifestyle 'disrupts' the ecosystem, other 'hardworking people' in developing countries, and families. Think about how it will affect *your* grandchildren.
We have a noble tradition of dissent in this country and our predecessors have fought hard for our freedoms; peaceful direct action (the majority view at climate camp) is part of our English heritage. And all you can think about is four days of possible delays to your working week. Or thinking up lazy insults about protestors.
Who is calling who a 'nogoodnik' here?

- Iz, Bristol

The people on here saying climate change is not man made have been conned. Every sceintific body in the western world now agrees it is from manmade CO2 - from NASA to Harvard to Yale to Oxford to Cambridge. There were a handful of minority view scientists who believed that HIV does not cause AIDs and that passive smoking does not cause Lung Cancer - but that doesnt mean they are right. People need to be aware of the massive campaigns funded by the oil companies to keep the public confused. Who do you believe - the odd scientist, mostly funded by right wing oil funded 'think tanks' or NASA and the Royal Society. WAKE UP. Even if you are sceptical, you have a responsibility to listen to NASA etc and find the truth. As NASA's head climatologist, James Hansen says, our childrens futures depend on it.

- Daniel, London

this is not about climate change, its about a bunch of irresponsible individuals with a grug against the police hence the meeting sites, who have no regard for other law abiding people. Listen we dont want you disrupting our lives, go and get a job and work like the rest of us, maybe you won't be so bored, and bore the rest of us. I have a very good idea where the camp is going to be. ask me?

- Sharon Bonnell, hertfordshire uk

@almost all the previous comments.

All the people on here dismissing "man made climate change" as a farce are seriously missing the point. Even without proven climate change (natural or man made) this camp would still have reason to happen. Sustainability is the key word here. The current madness of oil consumption and wasteful consumerist culture, where every food item is wrapped in three layers of plastic and millions of tonnes of materials and food are wasted every day is completely unsustainable. Our grand children will not live in a world the same as ours. Never mind climate change. Society must adapt if we are to sustain human life at a comfortable level for more than a couple more generations.

- Chris, Brighton UK

I don't think that protests will really change people's minds. A process of education is one way forward. After all how many parents will be shamed into not ferrying their children to school in 4x4 vehicles, for example? Very few probably.

- Mark, Venice, Italy

>And a week of occupation will leave them severely >damaged, and full of litter. Some environmentalists. >Hypocrites would be more accurate.

If I remember correctly the farmer whose land they were on before thanked them afterwards. They'd had their waste disposal and composting set up that his land was cleaner and in better condition when they left than when they arrived.

- Gerrard, St George's Hill, Surrey

how can people afford to stay of work for 4 days demonstrating? have they no jobs to get to? o yeah bet you 1/2 of the demonstrators are on benefits and dont realise how many people they are going to disrupt to get to work on those days, lock them up, thats what i say

- Ray, london

There is no such thing as man made climate change.
Read Professor Ian Plimmer

These protesters are anti - Western layabouts.
The police should use tear gas to disperse anyone preventing citizens going about their lawful business.

- British Not Racist, Bracknell England

Patch Bodenham, what do you mean exactly when you talk about the "threat" posed by Climate Camp?

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent

I tell you what. Let's stop making cars, aeroplanes, trains, buses , houses, growing grass for cattle, anything that requires some emissions. Get back to the caves and spend our lives, short ones without energy, knitting sandals and veggie skirts etc. But for God's sake no fires and just see how many of these stupid, stupid people will survive.
How do they get to London and beyond. In a "GREEN" train or bus powered by DIRTY fossil fuels. They are so stupid it defies belief.
Global Climate is affected by sunspots. How the heck do we affect them?
Let them go to wherever it is and Keep them there for not just 4 days but 40days without toilets, frozen food and fuel. I do not think many would come out.

- Aylyn, Spain

Peaceful demonstrations will cause inconvenience to others that much is true,but if the freedom to demonstrate is taken away,free speech goes with it.Britain today is the nearest it has ever been to a communist country,Zanulabour want us all to just pay our taxes and be quiet,"it aint gonna happen".

- Aufdeutsch, Canterbury Kent England

@Nick Fraser
Most of them have children? Hilarious. Most of them are middle-class parasites do stupid, lazy or incompetent to do any actual work.Vermin.

- Mikes, London

No Patch, this movement is just the same collection of middle-class students, public sector parasites, hardcore lefties and losers hijacking the latest trendy cause. You’ll see the same old Socialist Workers placards. Don’t give us the tired old, “we must save the World” rhetoric. Let’s face it more people turn up to singalong to the latest mobile phone advert or to stage a pillow fight. The Greenpeace chief recently stated that its not the evidence that is important, its the emotional message. If these people were true environmentalists, they would be doing something constructive in the home counties and south coast where they live. Instead they travel to London, burning Co2, to cause inconvenience to the working-classes.

- Danny, NW5

Good luck to the campaigners,there cause is a just one.And who would wont to have anything to do with the Police after there behaviour on previous occasions,the only violence i saw was perpetrated by the Police.it was a carnival atmosphere before they started to beat people,the advice from the campaigners to the police to stay away is sound advice and it will then be peace full,the campaigners didn't kill any body!

- Kev, London-UK

Now that the IPCC and the Labour Party have hobbled the Met from carrying out their duties 'allowing ordinary people to go about their lawful business unhindered' these idiots will do their best to cause mayhem in Londons commercial areas. Why would anyone in their right mind invest in or do business in London ? Send the scum up to Glasgow and let the 'lads from Strathclyde' get tucked into them it's never so much fun when it is wet and cold !!!

- Nick Holland, glasgow

What is the purpose of this? To make us aware of the theory of man made climate change? I think we've heard of it, thanks. It's interesting to note that the people who disagree with the theory try to explain their scientific arguments while the people who support it just try and cause trouble and whip up hysteria.

- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent

"I guess I had better stay late at work tonight to generate the extra taxes to cover the costs." No Frank, you'd be better off not spending most of your time at work posting stuff on this website.

- Austen, London

The police have so far acted almost schitzophrenically towards these protesters - one minute they're all chummy chummy (this one) and the next they're trying to smash them all to pieces. There is a definate reaction to the threat posed by Climate Camp, and you can really feel it in this article. This movement has force, which is gathering momentum every day.

- Patch Bodenham, London

Its inevitable that more and more people do this type of thing. we have a government that speaks with forked tongue claiming green credentials and then building airports, coal power stations and allowing green factories that build wind turbines to close while subs go to car companies and aircraft makers. The cynical approach is of course made all the worse when one realises its all done to protect votes (soth wales airbus)or please mates (BAA is staffed with Labour stooges in PR). While Londoners continue to choke on pollution from Heathrow, while Londoners die younger because of Heathrow and while no one seems ever willing to tackle these real Health and safety issues because of the DFTs unhealthy opsession with keeping its senior civil servants airmiles accounts topped up we will find ourselves invested in legacy transport when the rest of europe is invested in rail - the smear campaign from BAA/BA re pollution from Trains versus Planes has been proven to be fabricated as it only used a portion of journet impacts and undersestimate passenger ratios. You can all squeal about the unwashed - how medieval of you, but while real corruption and collusion at the heart of our state allows one industry ride roughly over the rights of the citizen these challenges will only get worse - its time to fight vested interest and thing strategically about our future not short term about shares or votes.

- Christian Ball, London, UK

Environmentalists planning to 'camp' in central London for a week. I doubt they'll pitch whatever it is they pitch at these things on paved areas - they'll be looking to set up in some green squares or other. And a week of occupation will leave them severely damaged, and full of litter. Some environmentalists. Hypocrites would be more accurate.

Oh wait, they are all about climate change, so other environmental issues don't matter!

- Hutch, High Wycombe, UK

@ Andy Davids, London

Collecting signatures is akin to protesters bringing chaos to London? Hmm... a very responsible attitude. Yes why not have some chaos in our society, this government hasn't created enough.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

I hope it's not Liverpool Street station, as I have to get back to Essex on Thursday.

- Keith, King's Cross

Send in the Met with soap and water. The pinko lawyers won't know on what basis to bring the compensation claims.

- Bj, London

Again, it's the protesters that are the problem! Most of them probably have kids, that's why they go there. Because if you think climate change isn't real, you're crazy. The signs are all over. Australia had a ten year drought, Greece is burning for the third summer in a row, and just wait for the Californian fires...

- Nick Fraser, London, UK

I think it's a bit two faced from the authorties. They have constantly encouraged people to holiday in the UK on 'Staycations' to swell the coffers. Unless anyone else can suggest a reasonably priced Central London campsite with decent facilities and access to attractions, then these people have very little choice but to camp at Canary Wharf/London City Airport (worth pointing out Jubilee Line is down at weekends - don't buy travel pass).

- Hansel, London

Bit cynical Frank - I'm sure if there was a proposal to build a landfill in your back yard you'd be out there collecting signatures opposing it.

- Andy Davids, London

Bring in the water cannon to deal with these troublesome layabouts. Many of them could probably do with a wash.

Like Frank says, it'll be interesting to see how many jump on the compensation bandwagon after the first one lodges a claim for a broken fingernail.

- Jock, London

Sad thing is that global warming is at best unproven, and at worst a fabrication as the notorious 'Hockey Stick' computer model showed. Some real scientists found that no matter what data you fed into it, it still produced a graph showing a massive temperature rise!

I feel sorry for the idealistic flat-earthers who have been taken for a ride, but hope that the authorities take firm action against the organised criminal elements. They seem to find any holy excuse to put the boot into their real target, private enterprise, and couldn't care less about whose lives they disrupt.

- Jools, London

".. prepare to bring chaos to London."

Shouldn't that be prepare their lucrative court cases?

I guess I had better stay late at work tonight to generate the extra taxes to cover the costs.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

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