Arriving in Copenhagen

We arrived in drizzle. Ourselves and other activists from Climate Camp Ireland stood in a clump on the pavement where our eurolines left us with a huge pile of luggage. Across the road we found the alternative people's summit, and thankfully some maps. After two nights in transit our sleepy heads found it hard to co-ordinate communal bus tickets and directions. Then came relief. A warehouse in Teglholmen. Food. Stacks of carefully prepared briefings, leaflets, guides and bust cards. Beards of familiar activist faces passing in the field kitchen. Vegan hot dishes and, despite the long queues for toilets, a great atmosphere of solidarity and anticipation.

We have come to Copenhagen to fight for climate justice. We have a few approaches to try out - demanding legally binding targets and no false solutions inside the Bella Centre, marching outside it, listening to inspiring speakers at the Klimaforum, and getting to know one another. I'm most interested in this last approach. As we settle in to our camp in Teglholmen I decide to get to know this group. I'm curious - what motivates us to be here? What will motivate us to stay? What will it take to make us into a stronger, effective campaigning group for environmental justice in Ireland? What would motivate others to join us? Will it be the inside actions and the experience of meeting FoEI delegates from the Global South? Will it be the demonstrations and actions outside that will bring us together? Or maybe it'll be conversation and a few pints?

We skipped the UN convention centre for the evening and stayed at the people's summit or Klimaforum. We sat among hundreds of people gathered to listen to speakers from all over the global south speak about ecological debt. Angela Navarro, a climate negotiator for Bolivia, gave us our first warning of how hard it is inside the Bella Centre. Canadian Naomi Klein tells us it's 'ugly in there', 'like something is dying', as lobbyists avert their eyes from delegations such as Tuvalu voice their refusal to be wiped off the earth. Then she tells us a story. Around the time Bush was being re-elected, she and Arthur, a first nation activist when to visit the man who issues Canada's credit rating. They proceeded to inform him of the colossal debts Canada owes to first nation communities for stolen lands, which should ruin Canada's perfect credit rating. The man said - We know. We've been following your court cases. But we've decided that you are not going to call in the debts. Naomi said this is what happens when we don't have the muscle. They can just laugh at us if we don't have a powerful social movement to back up people's demands, however legitimate they are. It's not that easy to be invigorated when you've just stepped off a bus and haven't had a bed, and shower or a proper meal in 2 days. But the energy in the orange hall at the Klimaforum kept me awake - it was a new to me. This is the first time that I have felt that we may have global climate justice movement that is getting strong enough to be that muscle. There is applause, questions and calls for direct action. We are urged by all to take part in the Reclaim Power action on the 16th. More applause. The room buzzes with personal responses and thoughts about what to do now the next round of panelists takes their seats.

Tomorrow some of us will be inside the Bella Centre, hopefully helping Young Friends of the Earth Europe with their activities. I wonder where I will be most drawn to spend my time. I wonder where the power for change resides; inside or outside? Will our group want to stay 'inside' if it feels like something 'ugly', if it is a process that is 'dying'? Or will we want to be in the Klimaforum and on the streets where perhaps something is being born? It's going to be a busy week.