The ironic thing is, I thought that Climate Camp would be the least dramatic of the G20 events.  I could not of possibly landed my assessment further from the truth.

When we arrived, the atmosphere was incredible.  We strolled in to what is normally a concrete jungle of world-ruiners, to find a lean, green festival campsite machine. People drank beer, listened to music, held workshops on how to make our world a safer place for our children, and generally relaxed. They had even erected toilets... all in the name of the climate revolution.

It was around 7pm when things turned ugly.  I was busy enjoying a jacket potato with beans from the communal kitchen area, another indicator of the peaceful environment, when I saw police charging down the pavement behind me.  I rushed over to see people stumbling away with heads bleeding; yet more victims of the brutal baton-to-the-head treatment.  Their excuse?  We were not supposed to be on that particular pavement.  The people had been since 12:30pm, and were still occupying the road and opposite pavement... but then the police don't need a real excuse do they.  This is not democracy.  This is a police state.

The riot men occupied the pavement from then on, creating a clear atmosphere of fear and tension.  I asked one of the officers:

"What is your opinion on all this?"
"Don't have an opinion, sir."

They claim to be "doing their job".  If someone told me to beat people up, I would undoubtedly have the guts to defy such orders.  We just wish the BBC cameras didn't leave... things were to get worst.

In another violent assault on the camp, four riot police burst through this pavement barricade to aggresively grab a man standing next to me, who I can only describe as a "hippy" (long hair, big glasses...), smash him in the face with a riot shield, take him onto the now occupied pavement and pin him to the wall as they searched him.  Apparently, they suspected him of having a weapon.  Of course, he had nothing of the sort.  Soon afterwards, police blocked both ends of the camp and laid thousands essentially imprisoned, indefinitely.

But despite the fear tactics, the attacks on civil liberties, the attacks on civil faces and the siege, the Climate Camp are a resilient bunch.  They were not going to be drawn to violence, and their spirits would not be dampened.  As the night drew darker and colder, the music and singing grew warmer and louder...

If only we could end the story there.

At around 1am, the early hours of the day the criminal world leaders would meet at the G20, we all rushed up to the north end of Bishopsgate where the riot police were attempting to push their line further and further forward.

It was not a riot.  In fact, our response was to all sit down in front of them, preventing their bullying tactics.

From somewhere behind the police line, an announcement was made that no-one could hear, as we were busy deciding which end of the camp to try and hold.

All of a sudden, the police began beating the sitting-down protestors with batons, and pulling them up to be arrested and dissolved into their faceless mass.  We had passion on our side, and it took at least five riot police, five batons and several minutes to pry each activist away from their adoring crowd.  Nevertheless, they persisted, and we were powerless to stop them.

When they got to the last two rows of people sitting-down, where me and Martin were situated, they charged the camp, again with weapons flailing in all directions.  To remove an entire campsite, I predicted it would take them hours, but in fact it took under five minutes.  They had no mercy for the people who could not move quick enough to avoid the force of their batons.

We walked home, after being followed for a mile down the road, depressed. 

But we will be back. As always.

Words: Jody McIntyre, 18.
Photos: Martin Newman, 20.