Climate camp - London- G20 - 2 April 2009

(See also Operation Noah Blog)

Ruth Jarman writes:

This is my photo of the poster that Helen and I made and stuck to the bus stop pillar next to my tent, which has been camping amongst black bears in Yosemite but never before on a street in the City! Beautiful camp of pretty fabric bunting, daffodils everywhere, music from a sound-system powered by pedal power....

Fabulous workshops on the history of direct action....how about these for some quotes from the climate camper who led the work shop -

"Direct Action is about telling a different story about how the world should be, about showing the new world in the old. We need to show people a sense, a feeling, of the future in the present – so it must be enjoyable so that we want to make that future happen"

I was then interviewed by Premier Christian Radio and was able to quote him verbatem!...Don't you just love it when things are so spiritually true that all faiths and none know them! (Dave Bookless also on the call about "does protest work" = I expect they were very disappointed that he agreed with everything I said!)

Andrew Simms of NEF also ran a workshop and quoted Walt Whitman:

"Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your Soul."

I'd brought along 8 large vegan chocolate cakes which were very much appreciated by people!

Here is the recipe

The police "kettled" us all in from about 7pm till 11 or so, with no one being allowed in or out. When they moved in the take the side street, they were using their batons an awful lot, with the campers with their hands in the air shouting "This is not a riot". when someone threw a plastic bottle the campers pointed at him shouting "No".

A group of us prayed and shared communion. It seemed so right that we were supporting the protest with prayer, presence and cake.

The plan was to stay till noon the next day, but Riot Police moved in on us at 1pm and forced us, through aggressive shouting and wielding their batons to leave. Strangely, I found myself in between the riot police and the protestors saying "Shush, it's ok" at the police as if they were a bunch of 3 year olds.

We told our story, and we were all inspired to bring that future in!