BLACKHEATH: Protesters arrive on heath for Climate Camp protest

3:36pm Wednesday 26th August 2009 in News

Climate change protesters begin setting up the Climate Camp on Blackheath Climate change protesters begin setting up the Climate Camp on Blackheath

PROTESTERS are converging on Blackheath for a week-long camp.

The location of Climate Camp had been a secret, but 1,000 environmental protesters have now started to set up camp on the heath.

Police have said they will send 500 officers to the event, which aims to draw attention to industries which protesters say are damaging the environment.

Student Tom Costello, 21, from Forest Hill, is taking part in the event.

He said: “It’s great - everybody’s just arriving.

“There’s probably 1,000 or more people here.”

He added: “We needed a site that was big enough to hold 3,000 people.

“I think we chose it because we’ve got such a good view overlooking the city and that’s what the message of Climate Camp is.

“We’re holding the city to account.”

Organisers of the camp said this year's venue symbolised the financial and corporate centres of power, and was within the floodplains of the River Thames, which activists warned was at risk of bursting its banks as climate change escalated.

One of the organisers said: "Having previously camped at sites of climate crime such as Drax, Heathrow, Kingsnorth and the Climate Exchange on Bishopsgate, today the Camp for Climate Action is setting up camp at the doorstep of the economic and political systems that are fuelling catastrophic climate change."

One of those joining the camp, Lizzie Jacobs, said: "This year the camp is pitching its tents at the doorstep of the root causes of climate change. That's why we're in London - it's the hub of climate business and a symbol of the failed political and economic systems that are causing climate catastrophe.

"I'm really looking forward to the next week - it will be packed with opportunities to learn and to build a movement that is taking action on climate change.

"Climate change is relevant to absolutely everyone, so everyone is invited to come down to the camp to find out more and join together to demand and create a more sustainable society."

The first of the campers arrived on bicycles at the entrance of the site, close to historic Greenwich Park.

The so-called Camp for Climate Action is on common land, where in 1381, preacher John Ball gave what was probably the country's first speech against class oppression.

Comments(17)

Make Life says...
5:31pm Wed 26 Aug 09

And when they leave I wonder how much rubbish they would have left behind?

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madras says...
5:41pm Wed 26 Aug 09

oh goody, Blackheath is now an official camp site - let's all pitch tents/caravans and have a good time. I'm sure the council / residents / police will be suitably accommodating...

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plug says...
8:59pm Wed 26 Aug 09

So, who is going to pick up the tab for clearing up after them? The local authority no doubt and local tax payers....and what about the hundreds of people who use this area on a daily basis, is it fair that local people cannot now use a local green space because it is fenced off by the so called campers. Do us all a favour and go camp somewhere else...

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doughty says...
10:31pm Wed 26 Aug 09

And will these environmental warriors have the decency to clean up the environment when they leave?....and pigs will fly too!

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It's Me again ! says...
8:38am Thu 27 Aug 09

because setting up a tent on a common is going to work and make such a difference isnt it.....I can just see the companies sitting up and taking notice !!

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justin cider says...
10:07am Thu 27 Aug 09

Take a look at the weather over the last few years. Has it changed dramatically? NO still **** summers still mild winters. Ok every few years we get a heatwave or a cold snap just like we've always had. Climate change is crap, it isn't happening. And contary to popular (?) belief the polar ice cap is prety much the same as it was 50 years ago. Some times it melts a bit then it re freezes as its always done. This camp is just another excuse to protest and look 'cool' go and do something that will really help your country........GET A JOB!

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justin cider says...
10:07am Thu 27 Aug 09

Take a look at the weather over the last few years. Has it changed dramatically? NO still **** summers still mild winters. Ok every few years we get a heatwave or a cold snap just like we've always had. Climate change is crap, it isn't happening. And contary to popular (?) belief the polar ice cap is prety much the same as it was 50 years ago. Some times it melts a bit then it re freezes as its always done. This camp is just another excuse to protest and look 'cool' go and do something that will really help your country........GET A JOB!

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Sunny Girl says...
11:16am Thu 27 Aug 09

They probably couldn't afford to pay for a camping site holiday and thought 'lets camp on Blackheath Common'. Are toilets going to be set up for them??? or did they bring their buckets?

They probably won't clean up the rubbish after they have used the area, but whoose going to clean up the 'toilet' remains?? the rats??

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esscee says...
11:22am Thu 27 Aug 09

what a waste of time/space/energy!
i really hope a lorry doesn't lose control and plough into the rows of tents...that would be a huge shame!

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popps21 says...
11:38am Thu 27 Aug 09

Another bunch of middle class gap year students who fancy doing something a bit craaaaazy This is exciting, isn't it? NOT ...".it'll probably be full of gap-yearistas prattling on about 'REVOLUTIONS BEFORE RUNWAYS' (What? And how will you go on the grand tour of South America you've planned with Tabatha and Rupert?)" (From the i Love Blackheath website ) Excellent

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It's Me again ! says...
1:26pm Thu 27 Aug 09

esscee wrote:
what a waste of time/space/energy! i really hope a lorry doesn't lose control and plough into the rows of tents...that would be a huge shame!
Ooo that's abit harsh !

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Sunny Girl says...
3:59pm Thu 27 Aug 09

All these campers are doing is causing huge traffic jams. Will probably take me ages to get home this evening. Greenwich is jammed packed!

If a lorry does lose control and plough into the rows of tents (and quite a possibility) I for one will not care and hope they think before they start camping somewhere again.

Annoyed Sunny Girl

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Jules8 says...
6:11pm Thu 27 Aug 09

Communication all set up through their mobile phones and other technological gadgets no doubt. Not so worried about supporting large corporations by purchasing their products when it suits. I wonder what companies made their tents or how their mobile toilet waste will be disposed of.

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*Artemis* says...
5:15pm Fri 28 Aug 09

Yeah people dare to want to act on thier beliefs! Lets mow them down with lorries and laugh and say "yeah serves you right" Because, you know, people setting up tents for a week to try and do something positive warrants murder.

The camp intend to use composting toilets not just crap indiscriminately in bushes. I have no doubt however that every dog turd found on the heath (and which there are many) from now till the end of next week will be blamed on some smelly gap year student.

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porkpie says...
6:24pm Sat 29 Aug 09

Fine you have answer those questions. Now what about the moblie phones, laptops & tents?

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*Artemis* says...
7:54pm Sat 29 Aug 09

they just knit them all out of lentils of course. oooh but then where did they get the knitting needles...... and so and so forth.

Really, to argue that any use of modern technology at all negates their standpoint is silly, and to suggest tent ownership some sort of hippocracy is even more ridiculous.

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porkpie says...
1:27pm Sun 30 Aug 09

*Artemis* wrote:
they just knit them all out of lentils of course. oooh but then where did they get the knitting needles...... and so and so forth.

Really, to argue that any use of modern technology at all negates their standpoint is silly, and to suggest tent ownership some sort of hippocracy is even more ridiculous.
When many of their tents are made in China and shipped over here adding to global warming. You can get wooded knitting needles that are made by hand = No green house gas aadded to the world. Anyway they should not be allowed knitting needles as these could be used as aweapon. It's rent a mob end of !

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