The Wessex Green :: Wessex Scene Online

The Wessex Green

24th January 2008
Jack Haines

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On 8 December, ten thousand wind swept marchers descended on the US Embassy in London to protest about the increasing danger of climate change.

A mix of radical political groups, left wing causes, centrist mainstays and a few right wingers, identifiable due to their wellys and warm looking jackets, the column was surprisingly good natured and jovial about a serious event.

However, despite the sight of thousands marching with well used banners and waving flags calling for action on issues such as the ice caps melting, increased methane in the atmosphere, carbon neutrality, the dangers of fossil and bio fuels, and of capitalism as a form of green action and green action as a form of anti capitalism, a certain sadness swept the ranks. It seemed that the marchers already considered the battle lost but wanted to fight anyway. Amongst the increasingly wet and bedraggled looking march were a group of Southampton students for which this was more than a simple complaint but rather, one of the most important days of the year, the Global Day of Action on Climate Change.

The march followed a central route, winding its way through Parliament Square towards Trafalgar Square and finally the US Embassy, where speakers and music had been arranged to meet the march. Despite the rain, a carnival atmosphere enveloped the crowd; the Hare Krishna’s were playing music on pipes and guitars as a woman wrapped in a multi coloured sari danced through Westminster, a group marching near them were dressed as Father Christmas and arguing for a Carbon Free Christmas, marching hand in hand with a group of cartoon cattle who were protesting increasing ranching in Brazil at the expense of the rainforest. It was only when the conversations being held amongst these colourful groups lifted free of the sound of the march that the serious nature of the protest was made clear - that unless far more action is undertaken by both individuals and governments, then the world will be in increasing danger of disaster and that there are signs that is already occurring.

More worrying for many of the marchers was the turnout though, as despite the march being scheduled for a weekend, numbers were rather low. The weather itself may have been a cause, with soaking rain whipping the column and gale force winds. The idea that if the climate was warmer, there may have been more protestors drew a grim smile from a man marching alongside me:"Yeah, but by then we’ll be dead" he answered, which more or less ended the conversation.

It was this rueful humour that seemed the relevant point to take from the march, far more than the pleas of the scheduled speakers. President of Green Action, Imogen Mitchel, told me that whilst she did not expect the march to achieve anything in real terms, it would at least show that the fight was ongoing and show the United States that action must be taken. This was echoed by Rob Embry, head of Socialist Students, who argued that the fight must be sustained.

Indeed, even the speakers had a world weariness about them, or at least a frustration with the world: the speech of George Monbiot, a respected environmental campaigner could be reduced to the same message as that of Labour MP, Michael Meacher, Liberal Democrat Leadership contender, Chris Huhne and Zack Goldsmith, Conservative parliamentary candidate and environmental activist. The message being, more needs to be done, and while individuals are important, what must be focused on is the fact that governments, which have the means to effect real economic and social change, realise that there is a problem but do not have the will to actually do anything.

Monbiot called for greater radicalism, to the delight of the crowd, who cheered and roared approval, but by far the most poignant moment was Meacher, appealing to Gordon Brown to act further on the issue and for the UK to take on the U.S.A’s negotiators over climate change. The personal nature of the appeal and the way in which Meecher effectively argued that the government had listened but were almost afraid of acting drew cries of anguish from the crowd, a crowd that still believed that the fight was ongoing and could be won through protest, even as Bali produced what was for many, a disappointing result.