Exceedingly rare public post.

[doop]

Hello.

julietk is currently at Climate Camp, a gathering of people in Kent to protest against plans to build the first new coal-fired power station in the UK for 30 years, and the general expansion of fossil fuel use. The camp also hosts a large number of workshops on sustainable living and politics of climate change, and will be attended by people such as Green MEP Caroline Lucas. My understanding is that the landowner is fine with what's going on, so they are not doing anything illegal. Unfortunately, the police have been quite heavy-handed this year, searching everyone on the way in and confiscating dangerous items such as guy ropes and children's crayons.

I just had a phone call from Juliet to tell me that riot police are currently trying to break into the site and using pepper spray, tear gas, and general physical violence. Ambulances are on their way for the people who got gassed. Juliet phoned me about half an hour ago to get Caroline Lucas' number; if you could spread the word too, that would be awesome.

Update: "head injuries already taken to hospital so ambulance cancelled, but the police are already refusing it access". Live updates on Juliet's twitter feed.

(incidentally: you might think "oh, eco-terrorists, they were going to cause trouble anyway". Thing is: every single person on site was thoroughly searched by police before entering. You couldn't bring a pen-knife onsite without police consent. Calling in the riot police, unprovoked, during a week of talks and demos on sustainable living seems a little over-the-top..)

Comments

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

Whoa! OK, will repost in my own journal for you guys.

[catsgomiaow.livejournal.com]

JESUS. OK, I will link on mine own LJ too...

[taimatsu]

Insanity. Thanks for the heads-up. Hope she's ok.

[juliet]

See my LJ for a post as well (just got the internets set up).

NB I am OK personally.

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Dear God. Is there footage?

[blech.livejournal.com]

You may be interested in the mainstream media's reporting.

[arkady.livejournal.com]

The Guardian has a more balanced approach (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/04/kingsnorthclimatecamp.climatechange). Sky News appear to be waiting for 5 environmental protestors due to show up at 2pm (and thereby breaking their bail conditions (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Kingsnorth-Power-Station-Protests-Camp-For-Climate-Action-Over-Government-Coal-Plan/Article/200808115066524?lpos=UK%2BNews_1&lid=ARTICLE_15066524_Kingsnorth%2BPower%2BStation%2BProtests%253A%2BCamp%2BFor%2BClimate%2BAction%2BOver%2BGovernment%2BCoal%2BPlan)) which is likely to precipitate further altercation between the police and protestors. I suspect they're hoping for a nice big juicy riot to lead on primetime news. :-/

[karen2205]

You know about the IPCC, don't you?

Lots of well drafted complaints regarding police conduct arriving on their doorstep for the next month or so would hopefully keep the pressure up over how *not* to treat peaceful protesters once the immediate media interest has gone away.

[mzdt.livejournal.com]

am going over tomorrow - will bear this in mind.

Last year there were random searches and stupid arrests (most of which were 'de-arrested' before they'd got to court and would have been thrown out anyway), but the police presence _on site_ was muted & controlled by the camp. particularly after they tried to come on site mob-handed, and the residents formed a wall, hands in the air and forced them off site again.

[(Anonymous)]

The police were initially onsite, then moved off yesterday. (They had a presence up the road & were searching *everyone* on entry.) Then tried to come back on today, as per above. 7 hrs later, people are sat down around the vehicles blocking the relevant gate, & the police are standing in front of them, & nothing much is happening. I really, really hope they just *go away* soon b/c it's impacting on the proper running of things (workshops, getting stuff up, etc etc).

Juliet (not logged in, sorry).

[absinthecity.livejournal.com]

thanks for passing on this info - I've posted your/Juliet's observations over on hippyshopper's news section (http://www.hippyshopper.com/2008/08/climate_camp_a_report_from_the_front_line.html).

[juliet]

Thank you!

[absinthecity.livejournal.com]

no probs at all - it's really intersting hearing it first hand.