Climate Camp Reader

I've just read this, and it is a seriously important document that all those: connected to the Climate Camp; critical of the Climate Camp; those considering themselves 'spokespeople' of Climate Camp; those seeking to understand the principles that Climate Camp has emerged from; and those considering getting involved with Climate Camp in the future, should read.

It expresses many of the concerns that many (from within and outside Climate Camp) have with it. Namely, that is has drifted from its anarchist roots in favour of becoming increasingly media savvy, liberal and authoritarian. Consequently it has alienated that class (working, of course!) that will be most adversely affected by climate change, and through their isolation of the working class they have ironically prevented themselves from achieving their goal of building a mass movement -- the reason for their increasing media savviness and liberalism.

I hope that anarchist and other radical readers of this who have been cynical of climate camp will see that it has anarchist roots that just need to be illuminated once again. And I also hope that the more liberal types who read this realise that they have hijacked the Climate Camp movement, and not the other way round (as is often suggested. I have even heard people say, why don't the anarchists go and set up their own anarchist Climate Camp?!! We Have!)

Good stuff

I genuinely cannot express how happy I am that climate camp are finally dealing with these issues (although I gotta admit I didn't read the articles by the guardian and the AF.) This really goes right to the heart of what has been going wrong with this once inspirational movement, especially the acknowledgement of the class/race/gender divides the camp seems to have picked up over the last couple of years and the anarchist/liberal split (I actually had a member of outreach come up to me at blackheath this year and say "you're with the anarchists arn't you? Can you come and sort out some troublemakers for us?") They have even addressed the quite sickening camp heirarchy that has emerged since DRAX. It would be wonderful to see CCA get back to its mass action roots and become the radical tool for change it always had the potential to be.

I agree that It's great that this has come out ahead of regional gatherings. However, I don't see that a few people putting together a collection of, for the most part, previously published criticisms of the CCA means that the Camp is 'dealing' with its issues, or engaging with the criticisms. Hopefully collecting these articles together will make it easier for people to read these articles and form an opinion etc.

It seems another step towords Anarchism do we not have enough with AFED desireing to be the vangurd of the working class?

Reading Ian Bone’s Blog and this comment I have abridged:

Orwells’ ‘Road to Wigan Pier’ was written 60 years gone. Part II seems like it could be juxtaposed (ah! sorry psudointellectualism), it could be applied to the state of (or to be fare, perceptions of) much of the radical left today in many senses. ‘Bearded, sandal wearing fruit juice drinkers,’ is a phrase that springs to mind. Much of what disillusioned me with the @’s during the mid to late 80’s.

Now i don’t want to trivialise climate change or practices perpetrated on pinky & perky down on animal farm but you know when I wander around south London I see people struggling with staying alive. People who squat not as a lifestyle choice, the mentally ill abandoned with their troubles, pensioners eaking out their meagre allowances, folk eating out of discarded Mcdonald’s bags, the obligatory sleeping bags & cardboard in shop doorways, addicts hustling for the next fix, minimum wagers juggling jobs, disaffected and disempowered youth hanging on corners (just replace hoods n trainers with flat caps and clogs and it looks like the 1930’s.)

Climate change and equal rights for mink are a million miles away from here, where getting through to tomorrow is the first order of the day. The working/underclass would be right to feel abandoned by all, even by the traditional champions of their interests who appear to have the luxury of vanguarding on ‘issues.’ It appears that If ALF’ers or Plane Stupid, for example, achieved their ambitions they would be satisfied, having hacked off the limbs of the beast that offended them they would be able to return to the comfort of their existence within a system that remains unchanged for those beneath. I and I presume those around me on the estates of south London can only consider that those who channel their energies into such groups (consciences assuaged) must be content with my/our position in the structure of an unequal society.

The Working Class must reject theses groups and make a call, not to amputate the tentacles of the beast that offend but instead to decapitate it and leave the body to wither.

Warning: There are Some people involved with Climate Camp you may not agree with, get over it! if only Climate Camp would but I shall not hold me breath, in the broad term of this I agree, but in the longer term I feel what we did this week on our street in Sheffield holds more, 330 we gather and take direct action ourself clear the fucking snow of the road and pavement, take the bins of rubbish down to the end for collection next day, and the children of all our tomorrows built a wicked snowman, meanwhile we got to know each there a little more this is the direct action I want to see more of then some pointless Climate Camp, it is akin to how big is your prick oh mine is bigger, get over it Anarchy starts on the streets we live, not at another meeting of self platitudes I want Anarchy not Anarchism, and when I say see you on the streets I hope it is the form of direct action we took instead of moaning about the lack of response from those up high we cleared the fucking snow ourself s, got drunk in the local pub following, here friendships and concetions was made now we are no longer the freaks in the squat on the hill we have become the community you see direct action works better than Climate Camp.

I entirely agree with your views on the incompatibility of the state and sustainability. However, if you want other people to learn about these views and eventually share them, you have to be careful not to alienate them.

My first Climate Camp was Kingsnorth (but don't dismiss me as a newbie), there were the 'intimidating anarchists' (evil), and 'normal' liberals, and even Arthur Scargill (wtf?). I got to learn about the anarchist opinions but didn't get scared off at the first neighborhood meeting. I came home more sympathetic to radical views so joint my regional group and learnt even more. After about a year my whole worldview had changed, but it didn't happen immediately!

I think the writers are over-worried about the camp becoming more liberal, the banner over Blackheath mentioned Capitalism but not Climate Change, a strong political message. But it is good that they are concerned because then we have no risk of turning into FoE etc. There are hierarchies forming and formed but we will take them down, it is possibly due to the amount the camp has grown, it may help to go with the regionalisation proposal.

I'm sorry to be so compromising but the fact is that if a non-radical wants to discuss climate change and politics, I could influence them by talking about the power of corporations, or put them off entirely by talking about an anarchist revolution! We need to be autonomous, adaptable and smart!

To Abody

While some people might have read some of the critiques, I suspect that most campers will not have. From what I can see the purpose of the pamphlet was to bring them altogether with some new stuff going into more detail on some of the issues. The Camp is going to go through a period of introspection as it decides where next so it is timely as far as I can see.

Underclassrising.net - really, do get over it. Some of us manage to do both local and national stuff. There is no one way uber alles. Just because someone does not do something your way does not mean that it is automatically wrong. As another member of the lumpenproles, spit on your hierarchy of action.

To a tortoise
If the camp went even more liberal then your experience would probably not have happened; and I know enough who came away more disappointed than empowered because of the lack of depth of criticism. My own experience is that there is quite a struggle going on against the liberalising tendancies and it is a shame if that is having to be fought constantly. I agree that you do not convert by talking about the anarchist revolution straight away, but if the camp heads too much in the liberal direction, you will not even get criticization of corporations, and stupid comments such as the police are okay. And as some of the articles point out, no point building a mass movement in a way that actually alienates your own people...

Just because someone does not do something your way does not mean that it is automatically wrong and just who was saying this?

I might disagree and here we are disagree but I did not say wrong, there is a lot to disagree with regards climate camp and I feel you might agree?

But please do stop turning around what is been said, ha I laugh at this As another member of the lumpenproles, spit on your hierarchy of action , it was not organised by such a group of people but the community therefore it was very much not an hierarchy of action unlike the climate camp yes I have read and was well up to date with events of last year, how some people sat drinking tea with the police in tents.

The rules at the camp now I agree with not being racist or sexist but coming from quasi fascist others that have used there sexuality to gain power it seems a little rich to have such rules, all right guidelines giving thought to some involved with climate camp and they need to moralise at the lumpenproles your use of words shows what contempt climate camp has for the working class.

The word lumpenproles is a term of abuse used by Trotsky in 1917 just before the White Army murdered the masses because they wanted bread to feed them self along with there hungry children it is an ugly turn of phrase, no we are the working/underclass I know my status in this world have to aprations to change it..

Reply to FTP - yes agreed, good to get these things in one collection. Hopefully people will reflect on it. Am aware CFCA is going through period of transition etc. Will be interesting to see what happens...

I think it's wonderful that you has an ultimately a radical experience there, but as has already been pointed out, that may not have happened if you went to a recent climate camp.
In Trafalgar Square there was little to no discussion of politics when I was there (I was coming and going throughout the two weeks), and I cannot see how it would have been a radicalising experience for anybody present. Banners - if they mentioned politics at all - said things like "Less Capitalism, More Climate Action'. What the fuck? We don't want less capitalism - it is not even possible to have less capitalism, you either have it or you do not, as is argued by one of the articles in the document on this page. Police wandered through the Square, passing right by as the daily consensus decision-making meetings were taking place. It most certainly had lost its edge. So-called Direct Action included such 'radical' things as placing a banner over a lifesize ice polar bear sculpture.
I am prepared to accept that Trafalgar Square was an exception - it went on for long and was poorly organised so numbers were low. But it must not be repeated.
I probably come across as another sceptic. I'm really not, and will continue to support and particiapte in Climate Camp (among other things, underclassrising - I agree with the previous poster, stop moaning people can do more than one thing and increasingly climate change will be THE major cause of poverty, inequality (though in turn caused by capitalism, don't get me wrong)), and I'm active in my regional group.

It is not enough to have a group of anarchists and a group of liberals (don't forget Scargill!), we need more unity and agreement over the core principles that make us what we are. Originally they were anarchist principles. I hope they will remain so and they will once again come to the surface.
The debate has started...

"your use of words shows what contempt climate camp has for the working class"
Anti-intellectualism gets us nowhere. Nobody should dismiss those who use language differently as simply "moralising" to the under/working class. It's wrong to generalize in such a way. Most middle and even upper class people (especially youth) use language in ways considered more 'improper' than most working/underclass people.
I don't think the word lumpenproletariat need be a term of abuse. It has been in the past by Trotsky, yes (and even Marx), but why do we care what they think? If one fits into their definition of the lumpen then take it on and extend a hearty fuck you to those who interpret it as an insult. I certainly don't consider it insulting.

anarchist climate camper I was not moaning but putting forward a disagreement,and no the the major cause of poverty, inequality is capitalism and as Emma Goldman said I want Anarchy not Anarchism I could not agree more, what CFCA are asking for is a revolution i.e. a reform of capitalism just the same old bureaucratised revolution that has seen millions of the working class killed no I do not want to replace one system with another, Anarchy will get you in trouble and Anarchism is a whole other matter.. never fucking trust an Anarchist, we want ANARCHY.

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-523220/Posh-protesters-How-anti-Heathrow-Commons-invaders-included-Baronets-granddaughter-MPs-grandson.html

The members of "Plane Stupid", as they call themselves, may wear the protester "uniform" of woolly hats and camouflage-style jackets, but that's where the resemblance ends. They are resolutely middle class: university educated, polite and include an MP's grandson, a baronet's granddaughter, a philosophy graduate and a well-spoken young lady who still lives with her parents in the well-heeled suburb of Dulwich

Tamsin Omond would agree - and certainly, you would struggle to find a more unusual direct action poster girl: she is reported to have told a friend that her actions this week were inspired by the suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.

The 23-year-old is the granddaughter of Sir Thomas Lees, a fourth generation Dorset baronet and wealthy landowner of the Holton Lee estate. Raised at a large family home in London by her mother Sarah and painter father John, Tamsin was privately educated at London'sWestminster School and went on to study English at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating with a 2:1 last summer.

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1580135/The-protesters---middle-class-and-militant.html

A central figure was Tamsin Omond, 23. The former Westminster School pupil graduated with a First in English Literature from Trinity College, Cambridge, last year and is said to be inspired by the Suffragettes. Joss Garman, 22, the co-founder of the group, is the son of an airline pilot and is "Britain's coolest activist" according to Bliss magazine. Leo Murray, 31, a Royal College of Art student, is the grandson of Lord Greenwood, who served in Harold Wilson's cabinet.

Compare their reporting to this  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/01/activists.theairlineindustry that tranlates this privilege into simply being more aware than other people.

Yes your right one is anti Middle Class..

"anarchist climate camper I was not moaning but putting forward a disagreement,and no the the major cause of poverty, inequality is capitalism and as Emma Goldman said I want Anarchy not Anarchism I could not agree more, what CFCA are asking for is a revolution i.e. a reform of capitalism just the same old bureaucratised revolution that has seen millions of the working class killed no I do not want to replace one system with another, Anarchy will get you in trouble and Anarchism is a whole other matter.. never fucking trust an Anarchist, we want ANARCHY. "

I apologise for saying you were moaning.
I agree that capitalism is the major cause of poverty and inequality. But increasingly capitalism will be creating climate change, which will have an incomparable impact on the lives of the underclasses and working classes. We will see millions and ultimately billions of climate refugees, dispossessed of all they previously had. We can expect a more authoritarian government, again this will impact most on the poorer classes. We agree that capitalism is the root cause.
We also agree that reforming capitalism is close to pointless, and we do not need another beaucratised revolution. Like you, I long for, demand, and try to create, Anarchy, not anarchism. (I describe myself as an anarchist, but that's just language, not an actual difference I don't think)
The single thing you say I disagree with is your accusation that CFCA supports reformism and beaucracy. It doesn't and never has. If you haven't then do read that document, because it sets out the anarchist (I don't think it matters too much if we use this word, not just Anarchy - though I do appreciate what you're saying. We don't want to create a new system, we want to tear down the whole concept of systems. And Emma Goldman is fucking fantastic...) principles behind anarchism. It expresses the same concerns you have, that it is increasingly reformist and has lost its previous vision and anarchist spirit.

The Camp for Climate Action gatherings that this has been produced for are happening around the country in January/February. Details here:

 http://www.climatecamp.org.uk/get-involved/national-gatherings/next

I agree that the camp in Trafalgar Sq was pretty crap, but it was organised entirely by the London neighbourhood, not the entire camp.

"In reality "ethical lifestylism" ignores the social aspect of our lives, fails to attack the political
and economic system and creates a moral hierarchy of those who can afford (and we're not just talking money) to give up a few modern luxuries and the majority of those who can't, and quite rightly, don‟t want to!"
Really? Then what will you eat when you go on strike and don't have an allotment?
The issue of class is addressed in the linked article.

I credit Camp for Climate action for making me into an activist and an anarchist. Before Drax I'd only ever been on route marches and rallies. CfCA introduced me to direct action and horizontal organizing and got me into loads of other stuff and it's been amazing to see so many other making similar journeys.

In recent years CfCA has gotten huge for what it is; over 5,000 people came to the Blackheath Camp and in a plenary meeting nearly half said this was their first experience of CfCA. That's a lot of newbies and it was fucking cool to have them all there. It did make it hard though. It is frustrating to constantly have the same discussions with people. However, we need to have experienced activists willing to go to the meetings and explain why we need to keep the cops of site and to participate in workshops to talk about capitalism and to teach people direct action tactics and to let people know about good projects happening in their areas.

Climate Camps won't be anarchist unless anarchists show up. It isn't reasonable to expect new people to have the opinions or the skills that you have gained through experience. Please folks, come to the regional meetings and the national gathering and get involved.

> we need to have experienced activists willing to go to the meetings
> and explain why we need to keep the cops of site and to participate
> in workshops to talk about capitalism and to teach people direct
> action tactics and to let people know about good projects
> happening in their areas.

The problem isn't just one of radicalising new people. If we concerned ourselves less with presenting a respectable image to the media and instead focused on demonstrating the potency of direct action as a tool of social revolt, making clear solidarity with those most oppressed by our society, then we would attract people who have already been radicalised by their daily experiences.

I know this is an over-simplification, but the Camp mainly attracts relatively privileged folks.

Someone who faces racist harassment from the cops won't have trouble understanding why we keep them off-site. Someone who has to slave away at a low-wage job to support their family will grasp pretty quickly why market solutions to climate change are bollocks. Someone who's spent time in prison will know clearly why we can't solve climate change by giving the state more power.

More to the point, these people at the sharp end of capitalism will have plenty to teach US.