This morning I had intented to pay a visit to the occupied UBS building on London’s Sun Street. I am very much in two minds about certain aspects of the movement, so I felt I needed to see for myself what was happening in there and hopefully chat with the occupiers.
It turns out occupation needs days off, and today was one of them. Slightly disheartened, but still hopeful, I crossed a couple of streets and arrived at the Finsbury Sqaure camp, where a number of occupiers have set up tents. Some of them camp out there 24/7, others a few days a week. I met Graham, who initially mistook me for a volunteer who sometimes comes in to check on the occupiers’ health. He showed me around the camp, offered me a cup of tea and we chatted for a good while. Everyone I came across was very friendly and the whole camp was quite well organised, despite the lack of running water and electricity. Graham told me the occupiers who probably leave around Christmas time, when the weather would make it unbearable to camp there. Come springtime, however, they would return.
I am still unclear as to the short or long-term benefits and strategy of this particular occupy movement, however their friendliness, and self-sufficiency made me realise that there is no harm in having them there…if you’re in the area, drop by and Graham will make you a mean cup of tea.
