ONCE YOU COP YOU JUST CAN'T STOP

SchNEWS' GUIDE TO VISITING THE COP15 PROTESTS IN DENMARK...

Going to COP15 at the weekend? Wondering which pair of socks to bring? A space-hopper and a peace flag or a gas-mask and a bag of transit wheel nuts? Ask no longer as SchNEWS brings you our prepare-for-action guide to the week long climate protest in Denmark, a country which professes itself to be a 'key developer of climate solutions'. Let's hope they're right. Read on for yer essential what's-what: border checks, police tactics, and probably most importantly, what will the weather be like?
See www.schnews.org,uk or click 'full article'

WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON SO FAR?

The 50,000 strong 'wave' protest in Trafalgar Square on the 5th has continued into its first week as Climate Camp organisers pledge to remain there for the rest of the conference. For those that can't make it to the continent, the place to be is central London with your warm clothes, sleeping bag and tent. And all yer mates of course.
Over the choppy North Sea, successful demos have already been held, although police have been carrying out raids on several of the key locations within the community set up to deal with the influx of global demonstrators. Convergence centres and sleeping spaces have been hit, but reports coming through are of firm, but not aggressive, police throwing their weight around (and we're all used to that) and seizing a few tools (because cordless power drills are obviously dangerous weapons of the revolution). No arrests have been made as yet, and police have been keeping their batons to themselves

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

Firstly, enough clothes to wrap up warm. Snow is forecast for the beginning of next week with temperatures dropping just below freezing at night, with so-called highs of 1 or 2°c during the day. Thus a good sleeping bag and plenty of blankets are a must. Finally, a good mood and plenty of colourful clothes to brighten up the chilly Danish weather are the only other requirements! Kitchens and workshops are already fully equipped, but obviously if you have special dietary requirements beyond mere veganism, bring yer own tucker to make sure you can protest with a full belly. No one likes a hungry anarchist.

SHOULD I BE SCARED OF THE BORDER CHECKS?

No. Until now the potential 48hr detention for people crossing the border has not been used by immigration officers, and all they've been doing is checking passports and luggage thoroughly. Advice is to NOT bring anything to give them an excuse to detain you, i.e. tools, stuff that can be directly linked to use in actions (like bike locks, surface-to-air missiles etc.), clothing specifically designed for covering the face, or anything sharp. Six Swedish students and a teacher were refused entry on the Sweden-Denmark border today (10th) 'cos one of the group had been previously arrested for a minor offence which had not yet gone to trial. However, others passing into the country that way have encountered no problems since.

OK, I'VE GOT THROUGH THE BORDER, I'VE ARRIVED IN COPENHAGEN, NOW WHAT?

Go to one of the many info points set up across the city to get your activists handbook and find out where to rest your weary head. Sleeping spaces have been set up with basic facilities (heating, toilets etc.) and there is a suggested donation to help cover the costs. In your handbook you should find all the info you need to know including numbers for legal advice, medic centres and how to get fully involved.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET BUSTED?

Although mass arrests at protests are quite normal for Denmark, people are rarely charged with anything, the usual procedure is just to be detained. Foreigners can be held for up to 12 hours on suspicion, 72 hours if you were caught in the act. In both cases they must tell you what you are being detained for, and after the time is up they must put you in front of a judge and charge you, or let you go. The only thing that might cause you a bit more trouble is masking up, which is illegal. Maximum penalty for this is a fine. If arrested, you MUST tell the police your name, birthday, and address and that's it. You have the right to:

- know your charge and time of arrest 
- remain silent
- not sign anything or stand to your charge
- make necessary phone calls (although police can make these on your behalf)
- have access to medical care, medicine and legal advice

ANYTHING ELSE?

Have a good time! Stay safe and sensible, and don't forget what this is all about. Fire-bombing delegates. No seriously, time for this planet is running out, and those idiots in power need a big urgent shove in the right direction...

For more info about action timetables, locations of info points etc. see: /archive/news700.php

Up to date info about what's going on in Copenhagen: http://indymedia.dk

Keywords: climate change, copenhagen, denmark, direct action

 

NOT WAVING BUT FROWNING

A SchNEWS CORRESPONDENT REPORTS BACK FROM THE CLIMATE  WAVE...

This year’s national climate march. tagged the 'Wave', started at Hyde Park as more of a ripple. The usual sorry bunch of mealy-mouthed MPs held forth - Michael ‘six houses’ Meacher, Simon Hughes – and so it fell to a Bolivian speaker and merry pranksters Seize the Day to try to add some urgency to proceedings. Not that you’d have noticed, this looked more like a mass Unison meeting – the rumoured black bloc having packed up and gone home if they’d bothered to turn up at all.

Numbers were down on last year’s opening when the US embassy was given some stick. This time it all went multi-media on our ass when we arrived in Grosvenor Sq, although at least by then crowds had built (to around 50,000). Two or three giant screens set up at various points were a complete and utter waste. No one stopped to look at them, in fact more interest was generated by the Hare Krishnas, who turned out with free hot grub, and a four-piece band which included a long-haired fat bloke on drums being drawn along on a bicycle-towed stage. SchNEWS can exclusively reveal that Jim Morrison is in fact alive and well and living in a squat in Tooting from which he exits now and then to spread some loving kindness.

As the march veered into Whitehall anyone hoping for a bit of argy-bargy outside Downing Street would have been sorely disappointed. Decibel counts may have risen as we came into Parliament Square - but they needed to in order to drown out the chanting of young Labour Party bucks shouting inane support for Brown. Who he? Yes the same greedy twat who for the past decade has lorded it over some of the most conspicuous consumption known to man. How the climate march has changed in the space of just four or five years.

This SchNEWSer turned in despair to the weather-beaten figure of Brian Haw and slipped him a copy of last week’s issue, as others donated tenners – well, come on we are skint. At this point some kind of blue Chinese dragon thing was being waved around up by Big Ben.

Fortunately just then “The Cop Out Come Down” text from Climate Camp came through. We legged it up to the Trafalgar Sq set up – but instead of the battering handed out at Bishopsgate last April by the Met the only hindrance this time came from the driving rain.

The camp was up and running by early evening with all-new-friendly-face of the Met Julia Pendry in smiley attendance. Keep up to date with camp actions – originally the plan was to stay for 48 hrs but now the campers are pushing to stay for the full length of the climate talks in Copenhagen.

So far a group of sulky Santas have disrupted the departures lounge at London City Airport and the entrance to the European Climate Exchange in Bishopsgate has been blockaded. A farewell meal was also organised for COP15-ers heading off to Denmark in the hope of more demonstrative demos in the week to come...

* For more about those out there still surfin that wave, see www.climatecamp.org.uk/actions/copenhagen-2009/cop15-out

Keywords: climate change, london, wave

 

INSIDE SCHNEWS

Letters of support to the guy inside for two years for trying to set fire to the blinds in RBS during the G20 demos (see SchNEWS 702):

Mindaugus Lenartavicius XT6221,
HMP Wandsworth,
Heathfield Road,
London, 
SW18 3HS