By Harry Helios
The spirit of ‘energy-descent-meets-energy-dissent’ took a major leap forward (or perhaps away from the cliff-edge) this summer, with the Camp for Climate Action. The Camp announced in the build-up its intention to share ideas and inspiration about how we can ‘live the solutions’, as well as a trifling intention to shut down neighbouring Drax power station, Europe’s largest emitter of CO2.
While the shutdown didn’t quite come to pass, those who spent time at the Camp still speak warmly of a cynicism-free space that allowed the prospect of an inclusive, good-hearted, solution-focussed, direct action-committed, more or less anti-capitalist mass movement to address the root causes of climate chaos seem within our grasp. So at October’s follow-up meeting in Manchester, over 70 people came together to look at where this newfound (non-fossil fuel) energy could be best directed. Should there be another camp? Maybe smaller regional camps? Maybe an urban version, partly to start a conversation with people not entranced by the prospect of field-based compost toilets with limited privacy? Finally, on Sunday afternoon the (metaphorical) smoke signals began appearing from the (imaginary) chimneystacks of Manchester’s MERCi building: there would be another camp in summer 2007.
With that decision in the bag, there was still the issue of how we would use the next ten months or so before Camp 2 kicks off. After all, if we’re looking at a ten year time frame to cut CO2 emissions by 90%, and cut inequality by even more, every moment is crucial. Possibly ridiculously, we have to find time in the midst of this planetary emergency to sit quietly and think strategically, to communicate clearly and passionately, to take confrontational direct action and learn how to live lightly, not to mention making a living and dancing like lunatics.
Rising Tide threw a lot of energy into the Camp this year, with Tiders from Edinburgh, Reading, Manchester, London and North America present near Drax, adding to the overall mix. Here’s a Tidal guess as to what some of the run-up to Camp 2 will look like, and what could do with a hand if you’re looking round for a place to input your climate justice-creating energies:
* The next Camp organising meeting will be in January 2007, (all v. welcome).
* There will be a growth in the number of smaller direct actions on high profile emitters, like the occupation of East Midlands airport runway in September 2006; (see separate article.)
* Local groups, fired by in part the Camp experience, will continue to sprout around the UK and beyond, (and Rising Tide North America will hold its own Camp, perhaps coinciding with its UK sister; www.risingtidenorthamerica.org
* London Rising Tide (LRT) will create a squatted, politicised, enchanted, food-growing ‘CoMutiny Garden’, where the group’s ‘Art Not Oil’ project may well also find a home; www.londonrisingtide.org.uk
* LRT’s campaign to oust Shell as sponsor of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Award will continue, (as will the wider campaign to get oil companies out of culture altogether), with its success coming more quickly if you’re able to help out, particularly with web design and maintenance skills; www.shelloiledwildlife.org.uk, www.artnotoil.org.uk
* There will be increasing demand from those in education and others just getting to grips with the urgency of the crisis (and the inability of the warmongering powers-that-be to address it) to hear more about what we’re up to. So public speaking, workshop-running, stall-running, article writing and media communication will all become increasingly important. As will our ability to listen to and connect with sectors of society at its sharp end that are forced to focus on their immediate survival more than whatever’s coming down the line in the years to come.
If you can get involved in any of that stuff, great. Or maybe you could dream up your own strategy, form your own group and get going with that – but whatever you do, even if it’s setting up a sustainable community in the outer Hebrides, let’s keep it connected!
Camp for Climate Action: www.climatecamp.org.uk
Rising Tide: www.risingtide.org.uk
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