2009-11-14

Protester Guide to Copenhagen

Accommodation

To better organize accommodation for all of you, we would love if you could let us know you are coming, if you need us to provide you with a sleeping place.
We are not asking you to register! You just have to tell us how many people you are coming with, from when to when, and, only if you like to, you can leave us a name, a contact and your country of origin.

Please fill the form in only if you need to be accommodated by us!
You can find the form here.

As it looks right now there are 3 different possibilities concerning accommodation.

1. Communal accommodation:

The situation is that we are (still) negotiating with the local municipality of Copenhagen in order to get access to big sports halls and schools in the area of Copenhagen to use for accommodation. We are doing it on a non-registration base. Accommodation will be free, but of course always happy about donations, as there will be some expenses for e.g. heating and electricity.

The sites will feature the basics; heat and proper sanitary conditions. Not all sites may have access to showers, but in that case shower locations will be made available elsewhere in the city, although this might include a small user payment.

The state of the art:

• We have been granted some spaces, and, at the moment, it looks like there’ll be some additional funding, earmarked for us, from the municipality for renting additional sites.

• We’re mapping and working on vacant buildings in Copenhagen and establishing contact with Copenhagen Project House, already working with this.
• We’re still collecting support and building relations with unions, that might lend us some of their spaces.

• In the nearest future, we might be getting our hands on some big industrial halls, that could be turned into accommodation areas.

• We are working on getting rooms in community and cultural centers, and some of these should be sorted out in a few days time.

In the nearest future, we will give infos on the different sites and distribute more specific information.

During the summit, you can always just go to an info point (see below), when you arrive to Copenhagen to know where accommodation is available. The info points will also be reachable by phone, again details will come out in a later update.

We expect the halls to open for accommodation from when the summit starts, but we’ll also be able to accommodate people in the run up – so you’re more the welcome to come early and help out. Contact us by mail if you need accommodation before the COP starts.

2. Private accommodation with (random) locals:

If you want to sleep privately, sent an email to: (the deadline for sign up is the 8th of November)
contact@newlifecopenhagen.com

It’s an art project, in order to get people together. Everyone within an hour of transportation from Copenhagen can sign up as a host. The host and guest are put together randomly, so you can’t choose your host. Go to the website www.newlifecopenhagen.com to check out details.
This option involves some registration and centralized, bureaucratic distribution.

3. Private accommodation with Danish activists:

If you have particular reasons for not wanting to use the communal accommodation, which we advise you to as much as possible, you can stay with local Danish activists and avoid to go through the general public sign-up (New Life Copenhagen, see above), you are asked to use the following email-address.

privateaccommodation.cop15@gmail.com

Please send us an e-mail, containing name, how many you will like to stay together (if you don’t mind staying individually, please state so in the mail), if possible the duration of your stay and contact information. You will then receive a mail with contact info of your host a few weeks before the COP15, so you can do the actual arranging yourself. We cannot guarantee people a spot though.

Please note, that the Danish scene can only provide sleeping opportunity for a limited number of guests.

If you live in Copenhagen and would like to host activists during COP15, please write to the same e-mail address.

4. Couch Surfing

Check out the COP15 hosts group on Couch Surfing and try to get accommodation through fellow surfers. The group can be found here.

Food

People’s kitchens will be set up on central spots in Copenhagen, such as info points, accommodation spaces, when possible, and in areas of activist activities. The biggest kitchen will be placed close to KlimaForum, and the Central station, at an infopoint. Other big kitchens will be at Folkets Hus in Nørrebro and at Nemoland in Christiania. All kitchens will need volunteers during the hole period. Food will be brought out to the larger demos and actions. We will have to ask for donations, around 20 DKK (2-3 Euros) per meal.
We are sending a call out to all vegetarian restaurants, cafe’s and walk by shops, to have special low cost offers.

If you’re part of a people’s kitchen planning to come for the COP15 and have not been in contact with us yet, please contact the logistics-group at: logistics.cop15@gmail.com for coordination.

Info points

Info points will be set up several places in Copenhagen and we are trying to mobilize Danish organizations and groups to help out, but international volunteers will be needed, especially as groups taking on organizing the management of a specific site for a determined period of time.

Sites: (see map below for exact location)

• On the Central Station, primarily as an information and “redirection” stand

• In Råhuset next to one of the communal kitchens by KlimaForum09 nearby the Central Station

• In the convergence center Støberiet on Nørrebro

• In Christiania, near the communal kitchen

• At the social center Bolsjefabrikken (The Candy Factory) in Copenhagen North-West area

So far we’re thinking that the info points would be places with:

Information on various practical matters and contacts, among others on:

- Food and accommodation space
- Geography of Copenhagen (maps)
- Legal rights, trauma and medics

Free internet services, with some computers available.

Hot drinks for freezing temperatures.

Free shop (with warm clothes, etc.).
If you would like to see any more features in the info points, please feel free to write suggestions to logistics.cop15@gmail.com

Convergence centers

We are working with a few convergence centers spread around the central parts of Copenhagen. Convergence center will be spaces to get together, relax, plan actions, discuss and research, a space for practical and other preparations. Some of them will have trauma support and medics.

Sites: (see map for exact locations)

• The “main” convergence, Støberiet on Blågårds Plads on Nørrebro, which will feature medics, trauma support, legal aid, meeting and social spaces and info point.

• Bolsjefabrikken, The Candy Factory, which is a social center in Copenhagen NW (next to Nørrebro). This will be a more practical center featuring workshop areas with tools and accessories, kitchen, social and meeting spaces and an info point.

• A smaller convergence, Råhuset by KlimaForum09 on Vesterbro. This will primarily feature a social space and info point, also some KlimaForum09 activities and more. It is located next to the main communal kitchen.

• The House of Solidarity on Nørrebro will feature a be-the-media activist centre open for everyone. It’s located very close to the “main” convergence, Støberiet.

Legal rights

A legal team of law-students has been set up in Copenhagen. They have worked out a paper on basic rights in Denmark for Danes and foreigners, and you can download it here. They are in contact with lawyers and will work from their office during the whole period of the COP.

Meanwhile we are setting up a prison solidarity support group, that will do the overall coordination of legal aid and prison support. They will be based in Støberiet, the main infopoint at Nørrebro.
If you have any legal issue or question, go to Støberiet. Then they can redirect you to the office of the legal team if it’s needed (which is very close to Støberiet).

If you or your group wants to work on legal support during the COP, please contact climate09legalaid@gmail.com, for coordination.

Border control

We strongly recommend you to bring your passport or form of ID valid for entering Denmark, even though you are travelling from a country member of Schengen. People going to the G8-summit in Rostock in 2008 were checked at the Danish/German border and people not possessing a passport or other valid ID were immediately sent back. We expect the same to happen during the COP15.

Border support teams are being set up at the German/Danish border and the Swedish/Danish border, together with lawyer support from Copenhagen. There will be organized pick up spots for people being denied entrance. We will have more specific information on this in the final newsletter, such as phone number, etc.

If you want to help out with border issues, please contact climate09legalaid@gmail.com, for coordination.

Visas

From some countries, including all Schengen countries, you don´t need a visa.
See the list at this link to see if you need one:

PLEASE BE AWARE: It can take up to 8 weeks to get a visa, and it could cost around 60 Euros. If you need a visa you need to start the process immediately.

How to apply? Click here!

If you have any questions or concerns, please write us at climatevisa@gmail.com

Volunteers

We need your volunteer help to make our convergence on Copenhagen successful. Sign up both as an individual and even better as a group that is prepared to take on coordinating the logistics of a specific site for a specific period of time:

• Keeping an eye on accommodation areas, media centers, etc.: Look after an area, give out basic infos and make sure everything runs smoothly (both day and night shifts will be needed)

• Cooking food: chop veggies in one of the many communal kitchens and save the starving activists!

• Working in an Info point: Give out info of all kinds about town and COP15. You will be given all the info you might need, but it might help if you know Copenhagen, COP15 or the alternative activities a bit beforehand.

• Working as IT and technical support (media center): help solving any kind of IT crisis we might face

• Coordinating volunteers: You will be in charge of coordinating one group of volunteers connected to one specific place/role. Coordinate and smoothen up shifts, time tables and so forth.

• Driving/being a runner: Drive food around, go buying stuff or materials, etc

• Making Propaganda, hand out flyers, put up posters

• Translation: help us translating from and to different languages, both spoken and written (press releases etc.)

You can read more and sign up as an individual here.

If you have questions, or you want to sign up as a group, please write an email to climatevolunteers@gmail.com

Medics and Trauma support

For both the medics and trauma support, there are Danish groups coordinating affinity groups from a series of countries. Both groups will have a central area in the convergence center Støberiet, as well as other locations.

Are you an affinity group or individual doing medic work, please write streetmedics-d09@aktivix.org.

Are you an affinity group or individual doing trauma support, please write efa-cop@activix.org.

Kids

There will so far be one medium sized space for kids to hang out. This space will be organized in collaboration with The Bottom meeting in Christania, and will need some parents to help out, take turns etc. We don’t really have an overview of what is needed in relation to kids, so if you’re interested, have suggestions, can help out or have questions – send an email to logistics.cop15@gmail.com. We hope to make another space for kids if it’s needed.

We are planning on reserving (if possible) some accommodation places/rooms for families or people with kids.

What to bring

• Warm clothes, average temperature in DK in December is between 5 and 0 degrees Celsius, and at night below zero.

• Rain clothes, as it can be raining a lot, but usually snow will not come until January.

• Money for donations for food and to cover other needs.

• Sleeping bag and sleeping pad (if sleeping privately, ask your host what’s necessary)

• A positive attitude and a good spirit

• Electricity adaptor if you need it (Danish plugs have two pins)

Transportation

Transport to Copenhagen:

People are coming from all directions to the COP, try to hook up with someone already planning to come. The website is gathering all information on how people come here if they have place for others. So if you have place for others, (for instance on a bus), download the form here fill it out, and send it to convergence@climate-justice-action.org. Then people have the possibility to find you.

If you want to hook up with other to come, check out the practical info section in a few days or click on the “Converge on CPH” button on the webpage. Information will be updated constantly, so keep your eyes open and let us know how you are coming as soon as you decide.

Transport within Denmark:

Danish Railways: www.dsb.dk . Right corner to switch to English. It’s easiest to use the “journey planner”.

In order to go to KlimaForum09, get off at “Hovedbanegården”, which is the main station.
In order to go to Nørrebro with convergence centers, info points etc. get off at “Nørreport st.” (but be aware that not all trains stop there). See map for details.

Maps and places of interest

This map shows the key places of Copenhagen during COP15:
See COP15 locations in a bigger version

Cultural house “Støberiet”
Main info-point/convergence centre during the COP. It will be functioning as a hang out place where you can find information on activities/actions, accommodation, have some food and chill out with a beer and talk with other activists. All kind of support will be provided, such as legal aid, first aid trauma support etc.

Christiania
Christiania is a squatted free town in the center of Copenhagen. It is home to around 1000 people, has many music venues, food places a market, lots of green space and a lively community. There is collectively run venues, a sauna and a health house. It is subject to police harassment but is also a good refuge from ‘normal’ Copenhagen. The parallel meeting the “bottom” meeting organized by Christania will be taking place here during the COP15. In relation to that a people´s kitchen will be located here as well during the COP.

Folkets Hus
It’s an open house used for all kinds of political and cultural activities. During the COP it will be functioning as a place for creativity and an open space for whatever your group would like to do, prepare or organize. The non-commercial café which is part of the house will be running as usual, selling cheap organic coffee and other beverages. A big people´s kitchen will be located here as well.

Solidaritetshuset
During the COP it will be functioning as an activist media centre open for all activists, with internet connection and available computers. If you can, feel free to bring your own computer! The place will provide wireless internet and printing facilities. This will be the ideal place to coordinate, read news, post information online and so forth.

The Bella Center
The place of the official summit with all the delegates, VIPs, etc.
Enjoy a cozy atmosphere of greed and corporate wellness in Copenhagen’s largest congress center.

Pledging and donations

In order to set up this infrastructure in Copenhagen and plan the different CJA actions it requires quite a lot of money. Contribution is always needed, you can of course make a contribution when coming to COP15, but it’s actually a bigger help for us if we have it beforehand.

Organizations/groups/network/individuals can transfer money using this information:

IBAN: DK2484010001125014
SWIFT-code:
VEHODK22 for international currency except Euros
MEKUDK21 for Euros

As an individual it might be easier just using paypal, see more here.

If you’re having problems transfering money or so, please write to: climate09accountancy@gmail.com

About Denmark

Money:Denmark has its own currency (kroner) as it is not part of the Euro. Danish money can be bought at the Airport or at Forex Shops around town, but it will be cheaper (if you have the possibility) to withdraw money from ATM´s in Copenhagen (easy to find everywhere). It might be a good idea to enter the country with some Danish money already with you.

You can check out the exchange rate to your own currency for instance here: www.xe.com

Weather: The weather in Copenhagen in December is cold, so come prepared! The average temperature is around 5 Degrees Celcius and it is only light from at most 8 till 4 on average. There are a few places to get cheap or free clothing- but don’t rely on that. There is a free shop in Christiania (the put and take near the general store) and others will be set up near the info points.

Bring warm clothes and rain clothes and from home!

Transportation: Public transportation is very expensive in Copenhagen. Traveling from the airport to the city costs 30 DKK per person. A ride itself never costs less than 21 DKR. However the prices can be reduced by buying 10 trip coupons. You can buy a ticket for the metro and then use it also on a bus. Copenhagen is really small so you can get to most places within 20 minutes on public transport but bikes are a better way to go! There will be bike recycling spaces set up with tools and parts and partial bikes for activists to make themselves bikes. The location of these workshops will be posted closer later on.
At the moment we are negotiating with the national train company in order to get free or cheap public transportation during COP15, but we can’t say what the outcome will be, yet.

To check out how to get to a specific destination in Denmark, and which means of public transportation go there from the place you are at, you can use this route planner: www.rejseplanen.dk

Contact

If you don’t know exactly which group to get in touch with, then write to this address:
info@climate-justice-action.org

Media group

media@climate-justice-action.org
Phone: +45 41294994

Logistics group

logistics@climate-justice-action.org

Visa questions

visa@climate-justice-action.org

Website team

web@climate-justice-action.org

Source: http://www.climate-justice-action.org/practical-info/copenhagen-info/#Legal%20rights