Climate Camp takes to the streets of London
On April 1, 2009, Climate Camp took control of the City (London's financial district) in full-on Summer of Love style.
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Riots, death and violence. While the world's leaders and financial experts meet for the G20 summit in Docklands ExCel centre today, a far bloodier picture of London has been painted by the mainstream media in headlines.
But despite the reports of a tragic death and masked antagonists breaking into the Royal Bank of Scotland (according to today's Guardian, when urged to stop and not to use violence by a member of the Gandhi Foundation, another protestor answered: "This isn't violence - we paid for this building!"), not all the 10,000 protestors were out for a fight. Just down the road from HUCK HQ in Bishopsgate, the protest organised by Climate Camp was 100 per cent peaceful, taking control of the City (London's financial district) in full-on Summer of Love style - no chair through windows, no brick smashing a cop's face .
After G20 Meltdown's four 'modern horsemen of the Apocalypse' had passed through, it was those with the eco agenda who took over: using pop-up tents, music, organic chocolate and probably more than a few fat spliffs, they transformed this centre for commerce into something more like a mini Glastonbury.
While the Anarchists were planning bedlam down the road, these protesters were focused on education (with workshops held throughout the day), friendship (I saw countless hugs, hellos and introductions) and celebration, helped with live music, lots of cider and piles of homemade vegan grub. Some cops were even offered a piece of cake.
Yes, it was hippie, but there was also a distinct edgier contingent of under 20s. Faced with a future of dwindling employment opportunities, increasing education fees, lack of loans and a volatile post-climate change environment, they feel lost and hopeless - but are finding solace in an emerging community, who are ditching failing consumer society for something new, self-sufficient and empowering - with the focus on eco-efficiency, slow living, and respect.
The anarchists may have have grabbed the headlines, but their quieter compadres, naive or not, are offering more positive solutions.
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To read on what happened after I left Amelia's Magazine have a great blog entry from the frontline (although a tad biased), the Guardian's George Monbiot also wrote a thought provoking couple of posts on the G20 in general and Bibi Van der Zee also questions the police's closing of the camp - fairly and objectively - in another great Guardian blog... The story continues...