What to bring
Here’s a list of things that you will need to organise for the swoop. Ideally this could be sorted out between you in your affinity groups or as a neighbourhood to help share the load.
Download printable maps of ratcliffe here.
Absolute Essentials!
Things we strongly suggest everyone should bring.
- Food and water. This is absolutely the most important thing! Remember you need to bring enough to last you for 2 days (and maybe a little to share with your new found swoopers). High energy stuff like Flapjacks, Houmus, Sugary foods or Kendel Mint Cake are great for keeping you going through a long blockade. You should bring at least 2 litres of water with you as there won’t be any taps nearby!
- All your warm clothes (and then some!). We’ll stay overnight, and it’s going to get really cold, especially without the heat from the coal fires next door! Hat, Gloves, Coat andthick socks are essentials … plus with this being October in England, you may well need to think about Waterproofs too.
- Sleeping bag. It’s a good idea to also bring a roll-mat and some tarp (e.g. these blue plastic sheets from garden shop) along with some lines to hang the tarp up with. This would be perfect to sort out with your friends and other people in your neighbourhood as besides spreading the load being carried, getting as many people under a tarp as possible means a warmer night for everyone.
- Sturdy boots. Take a look at the arial photographs and you’ll see that flip-flops or high heels are going to make for a pretty rough time on your feet. Keep your feet happy and you’ll have even more energy to put into a successful action!
- Bustcard. Download this absolute must have item, also available as an A4. Make sure everyone in your group has a copy and try to memorise the number of a good solicitor just in case (details will be on the card. It’s highly recommended to writethis number on your arm in something that won’t easily wash off. Even if you’re not planning to get arrested, it’s still worth havin this just in case (see seizure of crayons, board games etc at Kingsnorth last year for evidence of weird policing)
Highly Recommended
We would suggest to bring these things for your group to share
- Torch. There’s no street lighting nearby and if it’s cloudy it’ll be pitch black. Don’t forget to switch it of if you’re trying not to be seen…
- Map and compass. Knowing the layout of the area well before you arrive is a great idea, and your action may well depend on you knowing exactly where you are at any time. In this situation, stopping and asking a policeman for directions might not be the best idea :-) So check out (the website with the map) and learn how to use a compass.
- Tent. Not only great for sleeping in, it presents both a handy billboard to get your message across along with a cunning obstacle for road traffic if you plan to stay put for a while! Pop up ones may be best for this but planning this as an affinity group or neighbourhood and spreading the load is ideal. Remember though that there is no campsite planned for his action and so you will have to bear this in mind when deciding whether or not to pack the extra weight.
- Mobile Phone. A pay as you go mobile with a camera is ideal. If you’re using your own phone, remember to back up your contact list and then delete it from your phone just in case before arriving. It’s pretty important to get a new sim card to use for this action and make sure the other members of your affinity group have the number. If you’re taking pictures of your action, remember to ask before shooting and don’t incriminate anyone. Reception probably won’t be too great so don’t rely on it too much but if your phone has an internet browser you can go to mob.notts.indymedia.org.uk and upload your photo’s/videos/text straight to the Nottinghamshire Indymedia website to tell the world about your exciting action.
- Action Specific Stuff. Between your group you may have already decided how you are going to go about your action against Ratcliffe-on-soar Power Station so don’t forget all the bits and bobs you’ll need to achieve your aims, be it a couple of D-locks to secure your bike whilst you demonstrate, some flotation aids in case you decide to cool off in the river after a hard days action, or perhaps 3 pieces of scaffold pole securely joined together to give you a better view over the fence to the beautiful scenery behind. Don’t forget as you’re planning to consider how you’re going to get this stuff there (and back again for another day?) and divide up the load between yourselves. If your action absolutely depends on something, one person carrying it all is a bad idea as if they wander off and get lost you may need to hastily replan your action.
- Small amount of cash. May be really useful to get yourself out of a pickle, particularly if you’re making your own way there. There’s no shops particularly nearby to get food/drink/cigs etc so you should already have all this with you when you arrive, but there’s always the chance you were following a Sat Nav and ended up at Ratcliffe on the Wreake in Leicester by accident. It should be noted that bringing a cash card is a bad idea if you don’t want to be identified (along with any other kind of ID – leave it at home unless you are a driver, in which case you will need your license with you).
Stuff to avoid
Here’s some stuff we very strongly recommend you do NOT bring with you!
- Knives. (or anything that could be considered a weapon) You can guarantee that the next days papers will be full of “Bumper weapons haul seized at power plant action”, despite the fact that you were dividing up a carrot between your mates. Plan your food so that you won’t need a knife, and there’s always another way of cutting string etc.
- Dogs. The little ones can get really stressed out on actions like this and it won’t be very fun for them. Also consider what will happen to them if you find yourself unexpectedly detained for any reason. Even those seemingly inseperable from their furry friends will be making dog-sitting arrangements for a large action like this.
- Booze/Drugs. Quite apart from the lack of toilets and overpriced bags of salted peanuts at the action, alcohol will dehydrate you very quickly (and may well turn you into a liability for others) and taking drugs into an area that is likely to be heavily policed and which may have a blanket stop and search policy in place is clearly a bad idea. Keep a clear head and focus on why everyone is here and you’ll soon find out that it’s a much better way to spend a saturday night out with your mates!