Kingsnorth Climate Camp Protest Kent, UK
E-ON Coal Power Station Demonstration August 9, 2008
Aug 11, 2008 Joanne E. Brannan
The protestors who set off from the 2008 UK Climate Camp to march to the gate of E-ON’s coal-fired power station were in a good-natured, carnival mood. From young children to senior citizens, all had gathered to express their outrage at the company’s plan to build a new coal fired power station to replace the existing plant when it closes within a few years. Organizations including Greenpeace demanded more solar panels and wind power to help fill the energy gap faced by the UK.
UK Carbon Capture Policy Vacuum
The British Government has no clear policy on the implementation of Carbon Capture equipment for new coal fired power stations. According to pressure groups such as Greenpeace, this policy vacuum leaves generating companies such as E-ON free to plan new coal-fired power stations with no CO2 capture provisions whatsoever, despite vague terms such as “climate capture ready” used by policy makers. One protestor succinctly expressed the issue on the lower part of the back of her t-shirt, “Carbon Capture My Arse”.
Peaceful March alongside Direct Action
Other protestors had chosen to get involved in direct action with the publicized aim of shutting down the power station by scaling the perimeter fence; however there was absolutely no pressure on visitors to the climate camp to get involved in this more confrontational approach. Although some protestors did scale the perimeter fence, they did not succeed in stopping electricity generation.
Climate Camp UK 2008
The 2008 UK Climate Camp was held in the week leading up to the day of protest on the 9th August, a few miles from the Kingsnorth Power Station. All were invited to this well organized and welcoming event. Visotors included both MPs and some curious locals who visited to better understand the issues raised by the campers. Some local residents either opposed, or were neutral towards, the protests, however many were sympathetic. The camp took a very hands-on approach to the issue of sustainable energy generation; all the electricity produced on the site was from solar panels and small wind turbines.
Heavy Police Presence Criticized
There was a heavy police presence around the climate change camp, surrounding the marchers, and in the vicinity of the power station on the day of protest. Police horses, dog handlers and helicopter were all involved in the police operation. The police altered the route of the march to avoid the local village of Hoo, and changed the destination to a secondary gate at the power station rather than the principal gate as the march organizers had requested.
Peaceful protestors arriving the evening before the march had to wait for over an hour in the rain to be searched for any items that could be used for criminal activities, and police video cameras surveyed all those who entered the camp or took place in the demonstration. A police helicopter flew low over the camp during the night preceding the demonstration.
The police presence throughout the week of the climate camp has been criticized as being disproportionate to the threat posed, and allegations of unnecessary harassment and violence were widespread. Kent police maintain that the police operation was necessary to ensure the safety of the majority of law abiding protestors, power station workers and local residents.
Protestor Looks at Kingnorth Power Station
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Protestor Looks Back at the Climate Camp
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Police Video Marching Protestors
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Police at Kingsnorth Protest
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Protest March Kingsnorth 9th August 2008
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