As the police led me away from the Department of Transport on Monday afternoon, into a ramble of cameras, I made the choice to cover my face. It wasn't that I was ashamed or embarrassed about what I had done, but I was worried that my family would see me on TV before I'd had a chance to tell them what I'd been doing. For some reason the arresting officer found this quite amusing. But then he doesn't know my Mum!I suppose at my age it might seem silly to worry about what my Mum might think. But I felt that I should have the chance to explain my actions to her in my own words. I wanted her understand my motives so she knew I wasn't a thug or a terrorist, and that I have a strong commitment to non-violence.
So the day after I was released I made the call. I told her why I was angry about the Conservatives having the nerve to claim to be the greenest government ever, yet continue to disprove this at ever turn. I felt let down by the Liberal Democrats, who seem to have entered into a Faustian pact for a taste of power. And I am really worried that we seem to be speeding towards an environmental catastrophe and our leaders are sitting around twiddling their thumbs.
In the end she took it much better than I thought. She seemed reassured by the non-violent nature of it, and the fact that the police had shown us a good deal of respect and sympathy to our cause. She did ask me how it might effect my future career, and I had to fess up – I think I might have just ruined my chances of ever getting a job with Shell or BP.
Of course being chained to the Department of Transport for five hours isn't everyone's cup of tea. And it is just one part of what Greenpeace activists do. If you are interested in getting involved without fear of arrest come along to the next meeting at the Rose and Crown at 7pm on Wednesday 7th December. Walthamstow folk have a great history of campaigning victories and it would be great to have some of that passion and enthusiasm in the local Greenpeace network.
The video below is of another Waltham Forest volunteer, whose Mum (as far as we know) doesn't yet know......
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