Social Change yes,
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Climate chaos has been particularly impossible to avoid this summer - you really would have to put your head in the sand. Across
Other areas of the world have not escaped either, for example at least 600 people are dead as a result of severe floods in
The camp brought together around 1400 people for a week of discussion and protest in a smoothly organized operation marked a significant step forward for the movement against climate change. The camp and the publicity it received succeeded in achieving something that few left initiatives manage - it triggered a debate in the mainstream media and one that was won by the activists. BAA’s inane attempts to ban the protests boomeranged back in their faces after they sought injunctions that would have banned thousands of members of groups like the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds from travelling on the Piccadilly line, resulting in more publicity and more support for the protesters. But those involved played an intelligent game too. Part of BAA’s cry was their responsibility to those trying to get away on their summer holidays The final press release issued from the camp points out: “As previously stated, none of the actions were intended to disrupt passengers, but instead, targeted the corporations who profit from climate chaos.” The direct action that did take place around Heathrow itself focused on other targets. So for example there was a blockade of Israeli company Carmel Agrexco’s main British warehouse near Hayes. Action also took place at BA’s World Cargo depot while BAA’s national HQ at the Heathrow site was the focus for an overnight encirclement which prevented it opening for business on August 20. But the camp also went beyond the issue of aviation. Protestors dressed as red herrings targeted carbon offset companies in
Activists also targeted BP, while a “lock-on” took place at Sizewell A and B where a banner was flown proclaiming “Nuclear power is not the answer to Climate Chaos”. Then there was the demonstration through the local area, already plastered with “No Third runway” signs which aimed to mark out the area that would be destroyed if BAA gets its way. Local MP John McDonnell, who spent much of the week at the camp, told the 500 demonstrators that the runway would be stopped. A third runway would increase flights from Heathrow to a staggering total of 71,000 a year - equating to 100 million passengers. 31 millions tons of carbon dioxide is currently produced and this would increase by a third. It is not surprising that local communities are up in arms about this. Certainly there can be no doubt that the vast majority of local people supported the camp, and many visited it and thanked activists for their involvement. As always, there were things that could have been done better. It is particularly a shame that the demonstration on the Sunday was not decided on until the Saturday, as it had the possibility of drawing in thousands who oppose climate change and want to take collective action against it, but for a whole series of reasons were not able to commit to camping at Heathrow for the week. It is certainly right that direct action can have an important role to play in building the movement against climate change and other movements against aspects of neo-liberal globalisation. Indeed direct action, such as occupations and sit ins has been among the tools of the labour movement for centuries. In order to build a movement that can stop climate change we need inclusive methods of organizing. We need “lock ons” and mass demonstrations, actions that involve hundreds of thousands as well as symbolic protests that only a handful are involved in planning. That’s why activists need to start building now for the December 8 demonstration against climate change and for the February trade union conference too. The climate camp has taken us several important steps down the road to building such a mass movement, Socialist Resistance is fully committed to contributing to the next stages in strengthening those voices of protest. |
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