Activists occupy Trafalgar Square as Copenhagen talks start

December 06, 2009

Over 100 climate activists kept a full functioning campsite going last night in the middle of Trafalgar Square in London, the fourth most visited tourist site in the world. (2). The Camp for Climate Action intends to stay till Monday morning, when COP15 climate negotiations in Copenhagen start.

The camp was set up on Saturday at around 4.30pm following a march of 40,000 people through the capital. (3)

One climate activist there, Tobia Revell, said "For the politicians in Copenhagen it's no more than business as usual.

That's why we are camping within sight of Big Ben. The COP15 talks are part of an elite and undemocratic political system that puts profit before the needs of people. So called solutions like carbon trading will not solve the climate crisis." (4)

The Climate Camp includes film showings, vegan meals, live music, workshops, and space for people to plan direct action.

Tobia continued "There are all sorts of climate criminals around us - the Canadian Embassy, representing one of the world's biggest climate criminal, on the right; and the Department of Energy and Climate Change just round the corner.

"Copenhagen might seem far away, but the businesses causing climate change are right here."

Hundreds of climate activists will be heading to Copenhagen on coaches leaving from London and Leeds on Friday 11th. An open letter has been sent to Dover police regarding concerns over the use of counter-terrorist legislation to stop activists from going to Copenhagen. (5)

Contact: 07040 900 905
press@climatecamp.org.uk

Notes for editors:

  1. Photographs from the camp are available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/campforclimateaction/ Please e-mail press@climatecamp.org.uk before using.
  2. The Camp for Climate Action is a growing grass-roots movement of diverse people taking action on climate change. www.climatecamp.org.uk
  3. http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/the-wave-press-release The Wave was a carnival-style street procession beginning at 12pm from Grosvenor Square in London, and finishing at 3pm at the Houses of Parliament. It  was organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition.
  4. On Saturday's march London climate campers dressed as carbon trading bankers. Campers say carbon traders are leading us into a climate crisis in the same way way that bankers led us into a financial crisis (see photo - http://www.flickr.com/photos/campforclimateaction/4162851436/)
  5. Open letter to SI A Lyttle at Frontier Operations, Kent police sent 29 November.