Camp diary
Saturday 21st
No freedom of travel into Federal Republic of Germany
The first disappointment: We learn that the five people from the Congo, who have registered for the camp, are not allowed to come. Despite our invitation, they did not receive visa. We had been looking forward to meeting our African guests, not only because of the expected multi-cultural atmosphere, but because their – Southern, existential – perspective on climate change would have enriched the camp. But why are we surprised? This incidence is only representative for the existing global injustice. The freedom to travel – a thing Westerners are so proud of – works only in one direction.
Last preparations
Incertainty prevails also in other aspects – about 100 people are registered. But how many are really going to come? Will the space for camping be big enough, will the sanitary facilities be able to deal with everything, will there be enough food? Are the people from ecotopia biketour, who are cycling from Northern England to France to here, arrive in time for our camp?
The camp is almost completely set up. The handbook is – after a night shift – NEARLY ready. For our first press contact we connect the printer to our bike generators, 12 people are pedalling, and the first version of our programme sees daylight under extremely media-friendly conditions.
First visit to the pit
In the meantime, 60 people have arrived on the camp, from all parts of Germany, from Holland, Belgium, France, Hungary. Some of them covered long distances by bike to get here.
First visit to the coal-mine. We are on the way with bikes and tandems, a guitar player sits on somebody’s front seat and takes care of the acoustic background. When we went to look at the mine in February, we were able to walk all the way to the hole. In the meantime, RWE built up dirt walls, the old paths are blocked. Security prescriptions, so it says. Now we are at the public view point. A RWE speaker had pointed out to us, what a wonderful view you have from here. Wonderful indeed. A small grand canyon, human-made. Puddles, baggers, a grey-brown desert in terraces until the horizon. Isn’t it great what humans are capable of achieving.
Dorothee
Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd
Climate camp starts
Big, colorful, international – that’s what climate camp in Borschemich looks like.
It’s a rainy day, but after an unusual wake-up call the participants crawl out of their tents and enjoy the breakfast. Shortly after the next plannery starts. Important things have to be clarified: “Who cleans the toilets? Who needs a bike for the demonstration?…“
The different workshops in fact start half an hour later, but of course they are very interesting.
Role plays, lectures, creative working in groups and a lot of discussions – everyone is really fascinated. We talk abaut many exciting issues, e.g. nuclear phase-out or violation of human rights.
Moreover, we learn what chances we have to act and what could be a global answer.
We have to admit, that the climatic conditions could be better, but it’s the change we are here for.
Tuesday 24th
This morning we were woken up ruggedly by a drumming group, but when I took the first view out of the tent the sun was greeting me.
After a manifold breakfast we started plannery under the trees. It was hard to choose a workshop, because there was such a diversified offer.
The workshop “non-violent blockade training” was about different kinds of demonstrations. Then it was our turn: in small groups we tested right reactions to difficult situations and presented our own ideas.
In the workshop “resources and human rights” we heard an impressive lecture and learned that even people, who are least responsible for CO2 emissions, are mainly affected by the climate change.
Then we enjoyed lunch and some sunbathing, exchanged experiences with other participants and went to the second workshop phase.
Then we had a wonderful end of the day at the camp fire, in the cafe or in our tents. It’s nice that we’re able to look forward to tomorrow with pleasant expectations.
Wednesday 25th
Bike demonstration around the pit
“Riding bike for climate“ – that was today’s motto. We started early in the morning. In the evening the day befor we painted and decorated our bikes with a lot of banners and signs with slogans like “tail wind for climate“, “against climate killers“ and so on.
Honking, ringing and shouting loudly we rode through old villages that seemend to be dead, vegetated mining boundaries and we passed the management of RWE. We wanted to ride across this big place, but the policemen didn’t agree with us. So we just waited and made a great noise.
Rolf Behrens from “Friends of the Earth“ informed us about the background and local consequences of lignite mining when we reached interesting places.
Some people of our group made a side trip to Neu-Otzenrath to see what a relocated village looks like. In the evening they came back to the camp, tired but in a good mood.
After our tour we enjoyed the evening with music by the band “Society of Suicide”.
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