The mainstream media imagery that emerged this morning in London, England was largely focused on the violent demonstrations, graffiti and the broken windows at the Bank of Scotland. It seems that while holding to the mantra that destruction and violence sells papers, they missed the non-violent civil disobedience images of Climate Camp in the City.
Workshops, music, games and free vegan food were the order of the day outside the European Climate Exchange on Bishopsgate in London. Campers were spotted reading papers outside their tents, growing flowers, gardening bus stops and cooking meals. The camp was complete with a free vegan kitchen and composting toilets.
Despite the non-violent actions of all the campers, the police tactics changed abruptly after dark as they kettled the camp. (Kettling is a controversial police tactic to encircle the protest and not let anyone out or in, including families and children). After 3+ hours of kettling, those campers that were caught and wished to return home were allowed to go free. Several hundred chose to stay and were forcefully and violently evicted by the police early in the morning. Despite the police actions, the campers maintained a spirit of satyagraha until the end.
Robert your photo at the beginning of this blog is probably one of the most powerful photo’s I have ever seen. I think it speaks volumes to what we should expect to see more of in the future.
The child is adorable!
I can ony imagine what it would be like to be there – Im glad to hear that the climate campers maintained their peaceful position.
Bonne Chance to you and everyone over there. Take care of yourself and keep the updates coming!
Yes, me and my friends, traders, bankers and politicians want to thank you for staying peaceful and for playing balloons. Please, remain peaceful for your entire life while we continue to make money at the expenses of millions of people around the globe. I always love to see people in weird costumes parading and dancing in front of my restaurant window. Better 1000 people dancing (I even could join you for fun) than 1000 angry people charging on me and my bank for my bloody sins. Definetly, I’m entireley for peaceful armony. And I love that child too. Life is wonderful for you and for me!
hey people,
using irony to comment on the struggles of each other does not lead anywhere! man, we need to make a change! Ihave participated in many demos, protests, actions, camps the spirit should rise up from togetherness.
we definitelly need to brainstorm and refine our actions! me, personally i do not have problem on causing material damage to institutions of enslavement that are more brutally degrading our lives and our planet, but we should think of the results of these actions. unfortunatelly, they have not stopped the machine after all these years of struggle – the ultra-capitalist machine is in full engines.
we should be effective and constructive, we should create alternatives where we can channel our energy along with our social and political fight. anyway, to participate in a transition we need the other people! we cannot be against them!
sorry for the length, amybe even the content is not so relevant. the picture looks good by the way
cheers guys!
keep on, everybody in his own way – but united!