Camp For Climate Action - General

General

Camps are organised through the preceding year with a series of monthly meetings, previously held in Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford, Leeds, Bristol, London, and Talamnh (near Glasgow). Anyone is welcome to attend a planning meeting and to join one of the working groups. There were no 'leaders' and meetings used consensus decision making. Camps are run entirely by volunteers and are funded by private donations.

Much of the material used to create structures for the camp is reclaimed waste from building sites which would otherwise have been sent to a landfill. Compost toilets, comprehensive recycling, grey water systems and a pedal-powered laundries. The site of the camp is divided into loosely bounded 'neighbourhoods', most corresponding to geographic region (one exception being the queer neighbourhood of the 2006 camp). Daily consensus-based meetings are held in each neighbourhood, with spokes-people sent to a central meeting. It is considered to be in the nature of the camp that organisational structures are loose and reflexive, so as to be open to change if they are not seen to be effective or efficient.

During the camp there's a lot of training on practical skills (including consensus decision-making) to be able to run such camps, different aspects of taking direct action, as well as a large number of workshops on themes of sustainability and climate-related issues.

Power for lighting, radios, mobile phones, sound equipment and laptop computers was supplied by solar panels and a wind turbine. Biodiesel from recycled cooking oil was available for vehicles. Cooking used conventional propane cylinders. In 2007 a satellite up-link was installed, together with a media tent with ten laptop computers, this was also used to send media to the press as well as Indymedia UK.

In 2008, a new sound system made its first appearance at the Camp for Climate Action. All of the system was made from recycled materials, except its battery. During the stop searches the battery was dropped and damaged yet the sound system still worked throughout the camp. This sound system mainly played reggae/lovers rock and dubstep at Gate 5 throughout the night and during the raids. The sound system was powered by a 12-volt leisure battery, charged using solar power. A car amp was used to power the speakers the system was mono and the amp was bridged. The sound system was built by Onedread and Dec. 'Son of pedals' sound system was another sound system at the Camp for Climate Action Video.

There is a strong emphasis on the use of bicycles and public transport, including a Bicycology tour from London via Lancaster.

As the United Nations has reported that "livestock is a major threat to environment" all food is vegan, mostly organic and locally sourced to minimise food miles, provided by communal neighbourhood kitchens, many associated with the Social Centres Network.