Happening in Copenhagen....

[juliet]

The head of the IPCC has walked out of the Bella Centre to join the protestors. Bloody hell. (the Bella Centre is where the current main talks are happening).

Various NGOs including Friends of the Earth have been banned from the talks (FoE held a sit-in in the reception). Tear gas and police batons being used on the protestors outside.

More information as-it-happens here: http://www.scribblelive.com/Event/Reclaim_Power_Cop15

Meanwhile, back in the UK, tar sands protest yesterday outside the Canadian Embassy went very well. Photos here, and Canadian press coverage here.

There's a demo tomorrow (Thu) outside the Danish embassy about the treatment of protestors in Copenhagen. Address: 55 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SR; time: 16:00; dress code: black; mood: pissed off.

Comments

[half_of_monty]

Ta for that. Will ditch this dire business side event (whose main attraction was that it isn't in the Bella centre) and go join the wonderful Pachuri.

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

Hm. Am on site then, wrong bit of the borough but still. Wonder if I could get to the protest after work - depends on how time pans out.

Are you going?

[juliet]

Yes, I will be there! Possibly as legal-person. Possibly not (depends on whether everyone else thinks they need legal or not).

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

Is it a Highly Illegal protest then?

I shall have to inform people, in case I get arrested (I've never been arrested!) - am supposed to be visiting house-bound friend than evening...

[juliet]

I don't think so! I mean, it's not a legal protest in that it won't have been run past the police etc etc; but basically one won't get nicked just for hanging around outside the Danish Embassy shouting a bit[0]. Currently, even things like "sitting down in the middle of the road" appear to lead to the police redirecting traffic, rather than arresting everyone. (Frankly, it is a bit peculiar, although in a good way!) Post-HMIC report they are all about facilitating peaceful (i.e. it needn't be lawful) protest.

I wouldn't care to guarantee that no one who's there will do anything for which they could or even will be arrested, but the protest as a whole isn't legally problematic. So it's your call as to whether you do anything arrestable!

(The legal-observer-or-not question is just that blah blah consensus etc would not wish to impose legal observation on ppl :) )

[0] Even if the police were being arsey, which they're really not ATM, they have to warn you to move before they can arrest you. So if you don't want to be arrested you move when told to.

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

one won't get nicked just for hanging around outside the Danish Embassy shouting a bit

Ever so slightly disappointed now.

[juliet]

Feel free to think of something illegal to do as well :) Apparently climbing onto an embassy balcony and dipping their flag in oil is sufficient! (Although getting nicked after 4pm would probably mean a night in the cells...)

[friend-of-tofu.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'll pass.