I'm not normally stuck for words, certainly when writing, I usually flow, and don't know when to stop.
On October 24th I was arrested for protesting at Tinker Lane I-Gas Fracking site. I wasn't violent, I wasn't putting myself or anyone else in danger, I wasn't verbally abusive, I was just demonstrating my democratic rights to peaceful protest. Five years I have been involved with the anti-fracking movement.
I will be quite honest that it has taken the wind out of my sails, and this is why I want to share my experience with you. I have had just over a week now to process this event, and still can't help feeling violated.
The ironic thing about this day is that we (anti-fracking campaigners), were all feeling so positive. I spoke to a couple of people before I went to the gate that day, including Ian.R.Crane, and everyone is talking about what they are going to do after we have won, because we feel it is imminent. We recently had a massive solidarity day at Preston New Road, Lancs, with over a thousand of us there, and everyone was feeling good, the Frack Free 3 had been released from prison and things were looking brighter.
Unfortunately for those that live in Fylde, near PNR, they have been living in fear suffering the earth tremors from the fracking since they started on October 15th. They have had over 30 earth tremors breaching regulations, so Cuadrilla (the frackers) keep having to stop work. Hurray!
This week Frances Egan the head of Cuadrilla, is asking for regulations to be lowered, share prices have plummeted, and he is in a panic. If only he would listen to the environmental scientists and experts, it could have saved him a lot of time and money.
Yesterday, there was a historical environmental protest at Parliament Square, London organised by Extinction Rebellion. Something I would never have wanted to miss, but I have had to re gain my strength (mentally) from my arrest last week, and also, I was aware it was an event where people were going specifically to get arrested, and although I could have avoided it, I couldn't cope with being part of the 'chaos'. My, friend and fellow activist Steve and 14 others, were arrested at this for obstruction of the highway, as they blocked the road for over 2 hours. People purposefully, getting arrested, to get the message across, that our government need to act, and act quickly and take climate change seriously. This is what it has come to.
Getting back to my arrest, I need to get this off my chest, and then move on. But I am still angry and in a state of confusion about it. Friends called it a spoof arrest, and it was a shock, my power and rights were taken away from me in a split second. I never realised it would affect me like this. The system took me captive, because I wanted to protect the area from fracking, an area where friends and family members, and fellow human beings live close by, some too weak or vulnerable to make a stand.
Because I care, because I am involved, and there is no going back, I desperately wish that more people would get involved and fight this. Because it is not just a fight about the environment, it is a fight for our human rights, and it is a fight for democracy.
People in Fylde, voted against fracking in their area, and so would you if were on your doorstep, so would any other politicians who are pro fracking. But they (government) seem to think its what we need to do, and are burying their heads in the sand. The local council there voted against it, and then, then, the government over turned it, and decided to go ahead with this backward, dangerous way of creating energy.
We have had the technology for 10 years, to survive on renewables, but it costs (currently) a lot of money, and this is where the problem lies, as well as the fact that many people in high places are connected with the oil industry.
Money, money, money, their wont be a decent world to make go round, if nothing serious is done in the next 12 years. Its frightening. Last month the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have stated that we musn't exceed the earths temperature of 1.5 degrees, else we will start losing things dramatically, please read the Guardian Article for further information
The Guardian article on the IPCC report
I can barely think about it, so I take action instead, I try and do positive things to help in preventing this catastrophe that is about it happen. Not only will the planet be screwed, the human race is, their will be famines, diseases, wars. Villages, towns, counties, country's, nations fighting for survival.
My brain is in a state of chaos, which is possibly reflected in this piece of writing. Its ok, don't worry about me, I have strategies to work on it. Who knows, once I have shared this, I might feel the sense of relief that I am yearning.
Getting back to the arrest, It was completely ridiculous, I stood in front of a lorry about to leave the site, as I believed that I had the right to stalling it for 20 minutes, as my 'right to protest'. The security guards called the cops to return to the site. As the cops approached I moved away from the lorry, but then once they got out of their van preceded to follow and arrest me and one other. We didn't even get a warning, which is what should happen (we were spotted on CCTV apparently).
I was taken on a 45 minute drive to Mansfield station, then I was in a cell for over 6 hours (apart from the short time I spoke to a solicitor and was interviewed). It was horrible, I wasn't prepared for it. It may sound strange to those of you that have never been involved with activism, but it was a 'shock' arrest, possibly unlawful.
There are occasions where protectors are doing something they know will be breaking the law, and will have thought about the consequences, and therefore prepared practically and mentally for it. This was not the case for me, I had no idea that the 'small' action I took would lead to this, I am not being naive, I thought I was allowed to demonstrate in this manner, as this is what normally happens at the sites. If soI had been told by an actual police officer to stop what I was doing or I would be arrested, I would have done so.
I hated being in the cell, no idea of day light or dark, although it just felt dark constantly, I had entered another world, a world in which I was not in control. As the evening went on, I heard someone being charge for rape, someone being violent, and other shenanigans, real criminals. Not some mum that wants to keep the peace and save the planet. I don't expect you to feel sorry for me, after all I choose (in a fashion) to do this, but I need to share the fact it was unpleasant for me, and maybe this could have been avoided if more people got involved and helped us (environmentalists). I am not even an environmentalist really, I am just someone that cares about us all, it just so happens that its the planet thats broken, and together we need to fix it, before its too late. Petitions, and writing to MPs can work, but its got so desperate that we need boots on ground.
Inside the cell, I struggled to think nice positive thoughts. I was worried about when I would get released, I was thinking about my daughter (although I knew she was in safe hands), how would I get home. The not knowing did my head in, and the injustice of it all. I even felt like a crap activist, as I didn't do anything heroic, or useful, like doing a lock on or a lorry surf. I thought about people like Terry Waite and the suffragettes, and how horrific being imprisoned must have been for them, trying to put in perspective, that I would only be there for a short while.
When I was released that night, I was told that I had friends waiting outside for me (other campaigners) to take me home, I almost burst into tears, I was so relieved and uplifted by this, I did not expect it. And I thank them with all my heart.
 |
| Released |
I am not the criminal. The criminals are those that are choosing to make this planet suffer more and ruin it for our children and grand children's futures. The evidence is out there, this is no 'conspiracy theory', I would like it to be, but it isn't.
Have I got it all off my chest?
No not really, I am still angry that the 'system' took me and spat me back out. At least I wasn't physically abused or assaulted like many people have been (including myself) during this (fracking) campaign. But to be honest, taking away someones freedom, rights and spirit, can be as detrimental as physical abuse.
I am pleading, please support the anti-fracking campaign, and any environmental campaign, do not, I stress, do not wait for the government to sort things, because they have their own agendas and time is ticking.
I don't expect you to get arrested, but there are many things you can do.
Share information on social media, write to your MP, sign petitions, visit a camp and say hello, go to a rally, hold a banner, you cannot get arrested for doing this.
Spend some time in nature, and be mindful that it needs to be protected.
Frack Free Tinker Lane Facebook Group
Frack Free MIsson Facebook Group
Frack Free Nottinghamshire Facebook group
Frack Free South Yorks Facebook group
Frack Off - For all UK information
Finally, I would just like to point you in the direction of a blog I read this week, from fellow Fracktivist and Friends of the Earth Campaigner, that has gone to Ende Gelende the coal mines in Germany. Their are thousands of them currently protesting to shut the coal mines down. They are much bigger and better than us a protesting, hear her story, she has really put her neck on the line, and I have so much admiration for her (shes just like me or you, but a bit more determined)
A truly epic and incredible action to be part of. Over 6500 activists took part. I have been catching up on pictures and media as my phone, both annoyingly and restoratively lost roaming reception after leaving the UK. I feel I should offer up my story as I did a call-out for help to attend and thank you for all those who donated and made it possible for me to go.
On arrival on Thursday morning from the night bus we were told that the EG camp had been evicted throughout the night so like many others we headed to the Hambi camp. Luckily having our heavy backpacks shuttled there by a very welcoming local, she took me to show the devastation that RWE workers and police had done the fields housing the original camp to stop anyone camping there. The surrounding town being a ghost town as houses are bought up by the coal company so they can expand their mining. We were told that a new camp was being set up 10km away on a sympathetic farmer’s field and after a few hours I was itching to set up and very fortunate to have my travel companions get me a lift. The camp quickly grew with the police releasing the confiscated infrastructure. The Friday afternoon we were told the police had detained everyone leaving a special train with over 1000 activists as passengers and refused to let them go until they provided their ID. They were eventually let go after 10 hours. Over next two days we had brief training sessions, formed affinity groups with same objectives (so happy to join with fellow fractivists from PNR) and watched the camp grow to 4000+ people. I have never stood in a dinner queue so long and still find it awe inspiring to have cooking provided for that many people.
Leaving for the action on Saturday morning and seeing the sheer numbers about to walk over 10km was even more awe inspiring. After around 7km we came to a halt as the police were refusing us to continue on the preorganised legal demonstration. They tried to bring a water cannon in at the back but we sat and blocked the road. Spirits were high and we were told that around 40 activists had locked-on to one of the coal diggers in the open cast mine in the morning. Eventually we were allowed through and once on a field track we were all running and chaos ensued. Being so far away from the mine the route was across the A4 autobahn and it was easy for the police to block the bridges. The front of the formation of ‘fingers’ managed to cross but around 2500 were cut off and were kettled by more and more cops. We heard later that over 1000 had reached the mine but that RWE had dug trenches and put up fencing and due to numerous police not many made it in. Some of our group who managed to get to the motorway bridge were pepper sprayed and forced to return. It was very frustrating being so helpless in such large numbers but there was an action consensus that we abided by and as we weren’t doing much by being held in a field other than use up police resources, we eventually moved. Back on the road the riot cops got violent and we were aggressively pushed and punched, as they try to trip some of us up. My buddy and another friend were dragged by their faces and throats out of the crowd and it was difficult to remain calm. I got my buddy back but B was handcuffed with cable ties and under the disguise of looking for lost clothing was lucky to get to see him to ask if he was ok whilst he laid by the van.
A couple of shuttle buses came to pick up the hundreds who were evicted but small groups of us decided to try again in the cover of darkness. After an hour we managed to cross the autobahn into the forest and make our way to RWE’s coal rail tracks where we were greeted with the vision of over 1200 people who had decided to stay on the tracks from an occupation of over 2500. It was a sight for sore eyes and we made ourselves as comfortable as you can on rail tracks and ballast to settle down to a cold night sleep after swapping stories of who made it through, where and when. Most definitely one of the strangest places I have ever slept and I did manage a chuckle when I woke at some point in the particularly cold night to find my face had slipped off my tarp to be squashed up against cold and dirty rock ballast!
We awoke to groups of people from camp managing to get through police lines to bring breakfast and a round of meetings to discuss next steps. Our designated spokesperson gave us the alternatives and our new affinity group wanted to stay past the official end of the action at 12pm and at least make it 1.30 for a 24-hr occupation of the tracks and maybe support others that would try and stay another night. Unfortunately, things changed and in the next meeting with four or more affinity groups wanting to break action consensus, it made others feel uneasy and despite having figures of around 400-500 wanting to stay when it came to the first round of people leaving, well over a thousand left leaving around 200 people. I had counted around 46 cop vans at the top of the ridges making it around 400 cops which wasn’t great odds. After 11am mounted cops on horses arrived on the ridge and cops descended on the tracks and our affinity group changed the consensus decision and decide to leave. You got the feel that it is going to get violent and despite being up for being arrested 24 hours previously the idea of less support and the prospect of missing my bus home I went along with that decision.
On the ridge I try and get others to go down and clear the recyclables from the track so the Hambi camp can use them. Whilst I have time to think on my own I return to the ridge to tell my group I can’t leave and am going to re-join the occupation, and another new member from France joins me. We rush down to lock arms with the others amongst the cheers. The police keep giving us plenty of warnings to leave, even telling the internationals they will be immediately deported after eviction. It was hilarious to watch how long it took the police to carry people up the ridge and shortly after we were told they were bringing in trains to take us away. We were already split into two groups, one that have performed a lock-on to the tracks further up and ours closer to where they were going to bring the trains in. Spirits were high with singing and chanting despite hearing the fear in some voices. The first train arrives and they announce that if we don’t remove our backpacks they will rip them off and will leave them which is totally illegal and there is lots of shouting and chanting at the cops. The first small train leaves and another arrives but has to have some high-mounted chrome steps to get to the door. They get around to me tightly locked on with arms and legs to my new French buddy and I’m prised out and carried dead-weight to the train and up those rather difficult steps and around 25 us leave around 2.30pm.
It all became a little surreal being taken out by a German coal train under police guard with no idea where you are going and after around 30 minutes we come to a stop and the cops don’t know why. We find out that a crew of activists had abseiled down a rail bridge stopping the train in solidarity with the occupation. The cops won’t let one of us go for a piss and bargain that if one of us goes out and tells them to move we can! We reach the end of train journey in fields with around 14 cops vans lined up and we were taken onto a hired bus refusing to give names. To make things even more surreal we were then escorted with 2 police vans with flashing lights and sirens for 40 mins to Cologne! I just had to wave at everyone we passed. What a ridiculous waste of money and resources!
Not knowing how long we were going to be held or if we were to be arrested the only solace was we were all in it together. We were not alone. Processing was quick, a dodgy photo, no finger prints (making 4 rounds of super glue pointless!) and after refusing ID and a no comment brief interview was led out the back and through a number of doors to be released onto the street to the “arrestee support” and promptly had a beer in my hand. Big smiles all round! It was a long journey back and 3 of us had to walk over an hour back to camp from Düren. Upon our return we hear the news that the other occupation group had to be winched out with rescue stretchers due to the people stopping our policed trains, meaning the action had closed down the coal rail tracks for 27 hours and RWE had to reduce their output at power plants and factories. I would have liked to have got shit-faced but was completely exhausted and with a 6.30 start to pack up tent and backpack and make our way back to Cologne, I was in bed by 1am and I was out before my head hit the pillow.
A big heartfelt thanks to all those that financially contributed to make this possible and solidarity with the activists there were injured by police (some of hospitalised), pepper-sprayed, water cannoned, arrested and detained and those that were stripped naked for no reason, and also the incredible amount of work that it takes to make the biggest civil disobedience against fossil fuel happen!
No comments:
Post a Comment