Direct-action environmentalists occupy Dragon Field during Glastonbury festival. Campers promise workshops, music and practical guides to taking direct action against climate criminals.

The Camp for Climate Action, the environmental activists who have set up camps at Heathrow Airport, Kingsnorth Power Station and more recently the City of London during the G20 Summit, have for the first time been invited to take over part of a field during the Glastonbury Festival where people can come and pitch their tents.

The Camp for Climate Action will be using the festival as an opportunity to train and recruit more people to take part in both the Summer Camp, taking place at the end of August near London, as well as a mass action in October to blockade a coal-fired power station.

Festival goers will be offered practical training in how to erect tripods to use as blockades, as well as other direct action techniques, and there will also be discussions on issues ranging from carbon trading to the Copenhagen climate talks at the end of the year.

Michael Eavis, the founder of the festival, said, “We’re always keen to welcome environmental campaigns to the festival. This year we’ve given Climate Camp some space in the Dragon Field at the top of the site. Let’s hope they stir everybody up to take action against the way our planet is being polluted.”

Tanya Stephens, one of the Climate Campers, said, “People who’ve experienced the mud baths in previous years at Glastonbury have some insight into the havoc that extreme weather events can bring. This is small potatoes compared to what could happen if we don’t make big cuts in carbon emissions soon. The Climate Camp field will be providing an opportunity for people to get involved in the growing social movement of people committed to taking action on climate change.”

The Climate Camp field is also promising informal and intimate acoustic performances by specially invited guests, as well as activities such as the Direct Action Olympics, photo exhibitions, site-wide night time games and some high-profile surprises to look out for.

For more information, contact Richard Howlett on 07960 465594 or contact festivals@climatecamp.org.uk

Notes

Climate Campers will be available for comment and interview during the festival. They will be on site from Monday onwards

The Climate Camp can be found at the top of the Dragon Field towards the Stone Circle.

For information on previous Climate Camps, see www.climatecamp.org.uk

Posted: 06|23|09 at 9:54 am. Filed under: News.