Could you be a climate camper?
Emily looks back at 2 days spent at the climate camp, near the site of the proposed new coal power station, Kingsnorth, Kent.
Emily went to her first climate camp and found welcoming people, inspiring workshops and an overwhelming feeling of the need to do something about climate change.
There are a lot of inspiring young people at the climate camp. I was lucky enough to meet one of the younger campers in a minibus on the way from Strood Station to the campsite on Sunday evening. My 8 year old travelling companion was wearing a wild, sprouting newspaper hat that she had crafted on the long train ride down from Scotland with her family. I was a bit nervous on the way to the site, being a climate camp first timer, but was reassured by the wisdom of this little girl travelling to her third climate camp.
This veteran climate camper doesn’t really fit the stereotype you might imagine and that the police and media might have us believe. I was pleased to have the opportunity to make up my own mind this week. I had an amazing few days at the camp, the location is stunning: a beautiful field with dramatic views of the power station and beyond.
I found myself really welcomed into the life of the camp immediately: getting involved with cooking for others from my local area, getting a chance to be a plumber’s apprentice one afternoon to help keep the water supply flowing to my fellow campers. I got a chance to attend some really inspiring and thought provoking workshops and meet many amazing people from all over the UK. I felt that there was a place for everyone who is concerned about the devastating threat of climate change at the climate camp.
I was really shaken by the behaviour of the police over the few days I was at the camp, but feel even more strongly that the most important thing we can do is to make our voices heard with our feet and get ourselves to the climate camp down in Kent, whenever we can before this Saturday.
Whatever contribution you can make, however you would like to get involved, this really feels like a moment of a lifetime. You can be a part of it.
Find out more about the proposal to build the first of 8 new coal power stations in the face of impending climate chaos.
Find out more about the Climate Camp on their website.
Kingsnorth is a terrible idea. One power plant with a lifetime of several decades will destroy the efforts of millions of citizens to reduce their emissions.
James Hansen, Head of the NASA Goddard Institute of Space Studies
Watch a video of Emily’s experience
