Democracy Village. All photography by Amelia Wells.
Parliament Square is currently home to the Democracy Village; a few tents, a couple of marquees and a whole lot of passion. It was set up on May the First and will be there… until people leave, or for some, until the war is over. I went down on Election Day, since I couldn’t vote anyway having failed to register, to see what was going on at the Festival of Peace. I found a vibrant and close knit community of anarchists, doing what they colourfully could to challenge the establishment, promote democracy and bring the war that we’re still at to an end.
Banners were being painted and erected as I arrived, the most striking declaring ‘Capitalism Isn’t Working’ against the backdrop of Big Ben. Others encouraged peaceful feelings, demanded ‘TROOPS OUT’, and my favourite, ‘If Voting Changed Anything, It Would Be Illegal’ – a good point when you consider quite how opposed the establishment are towards those actions which do make changes, such as occupations, mass protests, swoops and other forms of direct action. In the name of protecting our security, of course. Strangely, the police sniffing around the set-up didn’t make me feel more secure.
The atmosphere in the Village was peaceful and playful, in spite of the threat to national security which we represented. Peace-mongering music was played and danced to, the lyrics encouraging politicians not to go to war and to love their fellow man, with some Rage thrown in to sate the more militant. I watched people paint their shoes and bags with Ghandi’s most famous quote while a girl called Cloud handed out homemade fairy cakes.
Eventually, the open mic picked up, starting with a chap standing up to remind everybody why we were there and what we stood for when he asked whether politicians represent our views, or if we do? He also pointed out that being peaceful is not equivalent to being apathetic. Anything but, in fact, in a country run by the power and conflict hungry, seeking peace is downright subversive. He was rightfully applauded and whooped for his impassioned speaking, after which a gent who had been filming the event and interviewing the Villagers stepped up to spout well-crafted words of poetry in the exact spirit of peace we need – calling out the hateful on their actions and encouraging us to make a difference. Next up, a red nosed, bewigged gentleman incited us to love, respect and welcome one and all. His motto; one world, one society.
The most controversial speaker was a mouthpiece for the Tories who encouraged us anarchists to register as such in return for mind-altering substances. A few Villagers didn’t seem to have a prior understanding of satire and became quite riled at the ‘Tory’s’ opinions; one lady began shouting about the Village being funded by oil and arms companies… and the Israelis. After a calming down period, he suggested that we find a child and ask its favourite colour, informing us that he was voting Lib Dem because his son likes yellow, and voting isn’t going to make a difference to how the country is run.
Herein lies my gripe with actions such as these. It’s so easy for activists embroiled in occupations and demonstrations to believe that the means to change are obvious to all, but the man-in-the-street being told that his vote is irrelevant will only feel more powerless, if they pay any attention at all. The act of occupation is an act of power – reclaiming public space – but is standard passer-by going to stop and ask what they can do instead of voting, or keep passing by and shake their heads at foolish hippies?
The true message is that we can take the power back through direct action, occupations, protests, swoops and marches. Camps like these do force people to consider, if only for the moment it takes to read a banner, that our political system lies to us about the importance of our vote while trying to make us believe it is the sole extent of our political voice, and therefore reducing our power and influence over them (long banner, eh?) . However, most won’t and don’t wander into places like these and ask what they CAN do. As the Tory said, ‘I’m preaching to the converted here’. The outreach didn’t seem to be reaching out. An occupation in Parliament Square is the perfect opportunity to reach hundreds of people every day, not just with a message, but with suggested actions which everyone can take to make those changes we so desire and need.
The Village is going on indefinitely, and there are also events this weekend at Kew Bridge Eco Village and Transition Heathrow as well. Get down there to Kew for some face painting fun, or get along to Grow Heathrow and get stuck into their work weekend.
Tags:
camping, Direct Action, grassroots, Kew Eco Village, Lib Dem, parliament, Peace, sustainability, Tory, Transition Heathrow, transition towns, war
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Well, Amelia, one cannot do everything but if some grouping that has the capabilities to do outreach (climate camp London perhaps) were to come along to the Democracy village and do it, I for one would be delighted.
Hi Igor, thanks for the message – this post was written by Amelia Wells, who to my knowledge has never been involved in Climate Camp. Personally I wish I had the time for everything, but I don’t. My own thoughts? Even though I think what you are doing is very commendable, I think that the messaging of the Democracy Village is unclear. I think there is too much focus on the war (clearly pissing Brian Haw off big time) and not enough emphasis on clear alternative democratic ideals. Plus there is no mention of climate change, which (although I know most of you care about this too) would be a clear reason why more people from Climate Camp have not come down, Amelia x
Hi Igor,
I’m well aware that organising the camp would have taken a lot of time and preparation, but I also saw people handing out flyers and leaflets. However, it was a bit of surprise when this information was only spread within the camp. Would it have taken so much extra effort to write and photocopy a quick manifesto to hand out to people explaining why the Village & occupation are an important way of reclaiming power? As I said about the elections, anyone can point out what’s not being done properly, but we need to be informing the people of the alternatives of which we are aware. I think the Democracy Village had a huge opportunity for outreach thanks to its location and the tenacity of its inhabitants, but it could have been leveraged better.
“I found a vibrant and close knit community of anarchists, doing what they colourfully could to challenge the establishment, promote democracy” Perhaps I am being a bit silly but aren’t anarchists opposed to Democracy?
very good point…
To the extent that capitalism ever existed in man’s history, human life in this world was possible and more importantly free. everything else attempted by man has been variations of slavery, the consequence of which has always led to the stagnation and death of human life.
just one look at the death toll of human life during 20th century alone demonstrates vividly the consequence of contradictory premises evident in socialist, fascist and monarchical forms of governance.
Event url
http://tinyurl.com/23qa39v
This country is talking democracy, proportional representation, banker’s bonuses,
Unfair cuts, the erosion of civil liberties and peace. Let’s all get on the same playing field, and write a new page. Democracy village fair and Peace weekend, 19 & 20th June, starts 2pm Parliament Square London SW1, bring food and refreshments and something to sit on.
Unite a Kingdom, many choices, one voice, “The Peoples”.
Please Network this event to your friends and contacts, thanks
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113998618637971
http://meltdown.uk.net/election/Cut_the_War.html
I fail to see how pitching a load of tents and waving hand-painted banners will change anything? Other than destroying a heritage site and major tourist attraction, that is.
Peaceful protest is an excellent thing, and must not be restricted without justification. However, in this case their point, if they have one, has been made long ago, and the few arguments for them remaining are far outweighed by the arguments for clearing them off and trying to repair the damage they have done to this beautiful spot.
erm, beautiful? erm, not sure about that as a reason for moving them!
I don’t myself see anything beautiful about Parliament Square – it’s a basic patch of grass! Also the fact that it faces an institution somewhat cut-off from the people and democratic will. NOTHING beautiful about a failing institution, is there?
If you want beauty, try the Lake District. If you want an attractive urban aquare, there’s plenty of nicer ones, quiet of the disgusting, choking traffic that Parliament Square ‘enjoys’.
True that since MPs are slaves to an antiquated system and/or lobbyists and corruption, etc, then pitching some tents and showing some banners will make little to no difference. Power is never given, it has to be taken.
“Other than destroying a heritage site and major tourist attraction, that is.”
The square is not a world heritage site – this is a myth which is still being spouted by the mayor and wcc – check the unesco website… only the surrounding Westminster Palace, Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church are – UNESCO World Heritage Sites
And it was hardly destroyed – some minor damage to grass and some shrubs cannot compare with the damage western forces are doing in our name to the ‘unpeople’ of the world