Aug 27-Sept 2 Climate Camp returns to London

[paolo]

I've heard some persuasive arguments that nuclear has a fairly high carbon footprint when you look at the whole process from extracting the uranium, using concrete to build numerous facilities (power stations, reprocessing plants, storage bunkers) and finally managing the waste product for centuries into the future.

I've also heard persuasive arguments that the potential to substitute to nuclear is limited by the scarcity of uranium as a resource. As supply dwindles the purity declines and more resources will be spent extracting uranium and more waste produced i.e the waste from which the uranium has to be extracted.

Which isn't to mention the nuclear industries other 'green' credentials.

I've heard similar - I've yet to do the reading to make my own mind up.

IMHO:

If it is the case, then we're left with reduction in energy consumption as the immediate strategy?

Against: It requires buy-in on a level that requires a rapid acceleration of awareness, or (stick version) drastic measures that are politically unacceptable.

Pros: There's no technical impediment or build-time issues. If attitudes change, it can happen quite quickly.

 

[boskysquelch]

clak_clik

 

[paolo]

Just got back.

Awesome. Tar Sands, B.P, Hell Centre.....

Pics later.

Looking forward to your take on it.

 

[free spirit]

This is one of the problems I have with the Climate Camp lot. They're great at pointing at all the ills at the moment, but their solutions leave a lot to be desired. Singing "kum-by-yar" won't power electric cars or even our existing power requirements. They are going to wish we had built those coal powered Power Stations when we had a chance...

I think they'd be more likely to be wishing that we'd built the wind, wave, tidal and tidal stream generating capacity this country should have been building for the last 30 years rather than the own goal that was the dash for gas.

all the above would have happened as well if it hadn't been for the nuclear lobby successfully closing down the wave power programme in the 80's through skullduggery, followed by further skullduggery to fuck up wind power through the 90's to the present day, and ensure that r&d funding for other renewables was kept at miniscule levels.

this country has the biggest wind, tidal, wave and tidal stream resources of any country in europe, yet has among the lowest proportion of renewable energy production of any country in europe. We do not need a new generation of nuclear or coal, we just need to pull our fingers out at last and actually put in place a proper long term well funded strategy agreed by all parties to go ahead full tilt with the transition to a renewable energy based future.

 

[In Bloom]

I know nothing is simply when it comes to energy, but I do think Nuclear is a 'Green' as in low carbon source of natural energy that could be made use of alongside renewable.

Even if the reduction in carbon from switching from coal to nuclear were worthwhile on those terms, there's no point in switching from one environmentally disastrous form of energy production to another. We simply can't keep building up nuclear waste and storing it for ever, eventually we're going to run out of room.

 

[In Bloom]

Anyway, on the off chance that anybody's interested, AF members who attended the camp have produced a perspective paper on their experiences and the relationship between class struggle anarchists and the green movement, Climate Camp and Us.

 

[TopCat]

Anyway, on the off chance that anybody's interested, AF members who attended the camp have produced a perspective paper on their experiences and the relationship between class struggle anarchists and the green movement, Climate Camp and Us.

This is a thoughtful analysis by people who actually attended Climate Camp and is well worth a read.

 

[boskysquelch]

Anyway, on the off chance that anybody's interested,

I was, am & have.

 

[boskysquelch]

& out of interest...and randomly chosen...was "anyone" in attendance of these...

Making our workplaces Red, Black and Green

MM2, Fri, 10:30-11:30

short, introductory discussion outlining the history of ecological struggles in the workplace. This will be followed by an open debate/discussion focusing on some key practical issues: _ How do we challenge the perceived divide between the workers and ecological movement? Why is it important? _ What are the limitations of “Green” trade unions and how do we re-connect with rank-and-file workers? _ What could a “Green New Deal” mean for us? How do we interact with workers tied into the carbon economy?

UBUNTU Holistic Planet Repairs: The Pan-AFrikan Way Out of the World Crises

SM1, Fri, 14:30-16:00

Explanation and discussion of UBUNTU Holistic Planet Repairs as the Pan-AFrikan revolutionary way out of the crises of Maldevelopment to avert Climate Chaos and to achieve Sustainable World Development in furtherance of Global Justice. Expected outcome: planning with PRYPAC/ASASEYAAMMA guidance for UBUNTU Internationalist Solidarity Action locally, nationally and globally.

from.. http://climatecamp.org.uk/actions/london-2009/programme natch.

 

[Balbi]

I'm going to keep this very brief about what I took away from Climate Camp this year.

I'm not that clued up about the climate change debate other than what has been presented to me by the media as the issue has charged up the 'popular media likes this' ladder. So when I heard about the swoop onto Blackheath I was intrigued by the aims of the camp. By not trying to pitch a thousand tents on Canary Wharf or Bishopsgate it looked like something different, and as a bit of a fluffy fluffy type - I thought I would go down.

It's seven days later now, and I've been to numerous workshops on subjects from anti-capitalism to communicating climate science. I've marched through london on the most fluffy of protests (nicking the S from the Shell Centre aside) and learned about some struggles going on around the world which would otherwise have passed me by entirely. But the most important thing i've found from this whole experience has been the opportunity to actually meet up and discuss things with people.

I'm educated, but not in some of the key stuff surrounding anti-capitalism and climate change. The last week I have talked with people from every part of the political compass from Whitechapel to Westminster. I've done it in an environment with almost no imminent threat of police intervention, or judgement based on naivety (which increasingly I find has been my situation). I've got a long list of names and numbers of people I am keeping in touch with, both local and further afield - I have an equally long list of websites and books that I can go through to seek out stuff about Climate Camp. I'm certainly a lot more sorted in terms of my knowledge of direct action, and the legal consequences of that.

So it wasn't a G20 or Drax or Kingsnorth. But for fluffy fluffy types, it was a good bit of education and practical advice on how to take things up a few notches and the opportunity to meet people either who were up those notches or who were seeking to do so. Lots of community outreach, lots of local/regional/national/international linking going on.

 

[cesare]

Anyway, on the off chance that anybody's interested, AF members who attended the camp have produced a perspective paper on their experiences and the relationship between class struggle anarchists and the green movement, Climate Camp and Us.

I enjoyed reading it. Is it aimed at persuading Climate Camp participants of a change in strategy?

 

[boskysquelch]

I enjoyed reading it. Is it aimed at persuading Climate Camp participants of a change in strategy?

That's how I "embarced" it.

 

[cesare]

That's how I "embarced" it.

Apparently there are three obvious ones at last count

 

[Balbi]

Poor spelling is just another tool the State has employed to disempower the workers

 

[boskysquelch]

Poor spelling is just another tool the State has employed to disempower the workers

bleddhi enviro_n00bz.

niece summerary of yr Xperirantz btw ... purdy rundly wot i tinx teh Camp is all aboot meslef. innit.

 

[smokedout]

these are worth a listen:

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


best bit, climate camp liberal: Whose Harry Roberts?

everyone: He's our friend

 

[TopCat]

That radio interview was great. Totally unapologetic. 8)

 

[Balbi]

bleddhi enviro_n00bz.

niece summerary of yr Xperirantz btw ... purdy rundly wot i tinx teh Camp is all aboot meslef. innit.

Not a problem old chap, highlight of my experiences was a West Mercia Plod - drafted in to assist the Met, describing said force as 'A complete and utter beast'.

 

[In Bloom]

I enjoyed reading it. Is it aimed at persuading Climate Camp participants of a change in strategy?

I wasn't one of the authors, but that seems to be the general intention, to persuade Climate Campers of the merits of radical, pro-working class politics.

 

[In Bloom]

That's how I "embarced" it.

This is why dyslexic proof readers are a bad idea

Any others I've missed?

 

[winjer]

e.g (should be e.g.), infastructure, newsheets, occuring, seperated, sustainebly, chage, exapnd

 

[In Bloom]

e.g (should be e.g.), infastructure, newsheets, occuring, seperated, sustainebly, chage, exapnd

Cheers, I'll fix those.

Is "newsheets" wrong then? Should it be two words?

 

[winjer]

I'd say one word is fine, but it needs two esses.

 

[Balbi]

It does grate a bit as it is, but I couldn't say one way or the other. To make it utterly clear, two words would work.

 

[Treacle Toes]

It does grate a bit as it is, but I couldn't say one way or the other. To make it utterly clear, two words would work.

Your pics uploaded yet?

 

[Balbi]

On facebook yes.



http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=152852&id=640940995
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid=152895&id=640940995&ref=mf

 

[durruti02]

I wasn't one of the authors, but that seems to be the general intention, to persuade Climate Campers of the merits of radical, pro-working class politics.

i only went on the thursday and didn't return as it looked soo young (and m/c) which fitted my ( and lots of people i know) prejudices at what THIS years CC would be ( kinda suprised when TC said he liked it )

.. so one the one hand i am not convinced that these people can be persuaded .. surely it is meaningless unless you have some sort of hook to comprehend .. my bag these days is 'radical localism' for want of a better description and again i think the concept is probably meaningless ( and possibly quite rightly ) to young people ..

but in the other hand we all get radicalised somehow and i guess for some people it could be this event

 

[paolo]

Anyway, on the off chance that anybody's interested, AF members who attended the camp have produced a perspective paper on their experiences and the relationship between class struggle anarchists and the green movement, Climate Camp and Us.

Although I'm not, and probably never will be, an anarchist (in anything other than a dreamy "wouldn't it be nice" kind of way (c) Brian ) - I thought the piece read very well. It's coherent and I like the thoughtful and calm tone. (Perhaps, maybe unfairly, I expect anarchist stuff to be ranty.)

If I would make one change, I'd put more paragraph breaks in. It's a bit hard on the eye as it is. I'd also summarise the key questions it is raising at the top as bullets - not giving the verdicts found within, just bringing out the issues, basically so the reader can see at a glance it will cover some interesting stuff.

 

[cesare]

I wasn't one of the authors, but that seems to be the general intention, to persuade Climate Campers of the merits of radical, pro-working class politics.

I think it's a well timed piece, and I like the tone of it. Sure, there are typos and paragraphing and other things that people have pointed out, but those are cosmetic really.

Do you think that they'll read it?

 

[In Bloom]

I think it's a well timed piece, and I like the tone of it. Sure, there are typos and paragraphing and other things that people have pointed out, but those are cosmetic really.

Do you think that they'll read it?

If we go around promoting it in places online where climate campers frequent, yes

Apparently the leaflet posted earlier was fairly well recieved.