“Photographer and investigative journalist Marc Vallée on protests, breaking stories and police poundings” – ideastap.com

The nice folks at Ideas Tap interviewed me last week about my work and here it is. You have to sign up to view it or you could click here.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 02.04.09. A City of London police inspector orders the media to leave the area as police ‘kettle” protesters outside the Bank of England on Thursday 2 April 2009 in London, England. The police officer ordered members of the media to leave the area for 30 minutes under the threat of arrest by citing Section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986. The protesters had congregated to mark the death of a man who had died on an anti-G20 protest the day before. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

“Adapting to Protest – Nurturing the British Model of Policing” – inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk

“HMIC press release” – inspectorates.homeoffice.gov.uk

“‘Aggressive’ policing of protests condemned in post-G20 inquiry” – Paul Lewis, The Guardian.

“Journalists on the G20 front line” – Marc Vallée, The Guardian.

My friend and colleague Paul Lewis writes in The Guardian today, “Senior police officers could lose the consent of the British public unless they abandon misguided approaches to public protests that are considered “unfair, aggressive and inconsistent”, an inquiry has found.”

Paul goes on to say, “Denis O’Connor, the chief inspector of constabulary, used a landmark report into public order policing to criticise heavy-handed tactics, which he said threatened to alienate the public and infringe the right to protest.”

Many will welcome the report. But – and its a big but – what impact will this report have on frontline journalists who report and document political dissent in Britain? As the report almost fails to mention photographers and journalists covering protests, I think we will have to wait and see.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 18.05.09. Commander Bob Broadhurst at the NUJ Photographers Conference held at the Institute of Education on Monday 18 May 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 01.09.09. Environmental activists blockade the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) headquarters in the City of London on Tuesday 1 September 2009 London, England. Around 100 climate campers congregated outside RBS – 70% of which is state owned – to protest at the banks investments in carbon intensive projects. Environmental activists set up camp in south east London on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight the impact of climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

Yesterday I attended a meeting with members of the Climate Camp media team – at NUJ HQ – to discuss the assault of Jonathan Warren and myself which took place at the Climate Camp in August. The meeting also looked at the wider issue of press freedom and the environmental movement.

To use diplomatic language, there was a full and frank exchange of views. Two positive things did come out of the meeting. The first was that the media team will raise the NUJ demand for the Climate Camp to specifically condemn this attack on media workers at its next national gathering. I think this is important move forward whatever the outcome.

The second thing that was agreed was to look at ways of how the NUJ could engage with the Climate Camp over its media access policy.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 28.08.09. Part of a metal fence around the Climate Camp site on Friday 28 August 2009 in Blackheath, London, England. Environmental activists set up camp on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallee, 2009.

Early next week the National Union of Journalists is to meet with members of the Climate Camp media team. The meeting is to discuss the assault of Jonathan Warren and myself which took place at the Climate Camp in August in south east London. The meeting will also look at the wider issue of press freedom and the protest environmental movement.

Both Jonathan and I will be at the meeting.

Publication: Pages 50 and 51 of Huck Magazine, October 2009.

Out now – a feature length interview by Olly Zanetti with yours truly in HUCK – the international surf, skate and snowboarding magazine. Without doubt the most definitive interview about my work and life yet!

Make sure you pick up a copy or you can read it online here.

Publication: Pages 52 and 53 of Huck Magazine, October 2009.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 01.09.09. Environmental activists blockade the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) headquarters in the City of London on Tuesday 1 September 2009 London, England. Around 100 climate campers congregated outside RBS – 70% of which is state owned – to protest at the banks investments in carbon intensive projects. Environmental activists set up camp in south east London on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight the impact of climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

Link : Click here to view more images. Click here to view slideshow.

Clients : Images are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 30.08.09. A sign outside the entrance of the “Climate Camp” on Sunday 30 August 2009 in London, England. Environmental activists set up camp on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

“NUJ condemns alleged assaults on Climate Camp photographers” – John Plunkett, The Guardian.

“NUJ condemns assault on photographers at Climate Camp” – Martin Dominquez, Press Gazette.

“Apology sought after climate camper attacks journalists” – National Union of Journalists.

“Climate Camp: An Open Letter” – jwarren.co.uk

The Climate Camp has been urged by the National Union of Journalists to “unequivocally condemn” a man who assaulted Jonathan Warren and I covering the camp on Sunday – we are still waiting.

Jeremy Dear, NUJ General Secretary, said: “In the past journalists have exposed heavy handed policing of climate protests. Demonstrators need to understand that photographers must do their job without showing bias.

“I join with Marc and Jonathan in calling for the climate camp organisers to condemn this attack.”

Will this assault by one person attending the camp impact on me covering the Climate Camp in the future? No is the short answer. Last year I was assaulted by the police covering the Climate Camp at Kingsnorth and that did not stop me working on three major investigations on the environmental movement for The Guardian.

One investigation was on police surveillance of protesters and journalists at the Kingsnorth camp – the second investigation was on the covert state targeting of Plane Stupid and the third investigation was about the police violence at last years camp – the violence of one person – backed up by a few mates – at this years Climate Camp will in no way impact on me documenting political dissent in this country – far from it.

But and it’s big but – it does make me think about the nature and character of an environmental movement – which claims that it wants to take on the anarchic market system of capitalism that is destroying our planet.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 31.08.09. Environmental activists protest at London City Airport on Monday 31 August 2009 in London, England. Around 40 climate campers protested against plans for the expansion of the airport and increase in CO2 emissions. Environmental activists set up camp on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

Link : Click here to view more images. Click here to view slideshow.

Clients : Images are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 31.08.09. Environmental activists protest at London City Airport on Monday 31 August 2009 in London, England. Around 40 climate campers protested against plans for the expansion of the airport and increase in CO2 emissions. Environmental activists set up camp on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 28.08.09. Canary Wharf security film environmental activists outside Barclays Bank headquarters in Canary Wharf on Friday 28 August 2009 in London, England. Around 150 climate campers plastered notices across the front of the banks building – unfurled a banner saying “More Future, Less Capitalism” – protesters allege the bank funds coal power and arms trade industries which contribute to the death and suffering of millions people across the world due to climate change. Environmental activists set up camp on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallee, 2009.

Link : Click here to view more images. Click here to view slideshow.

Clients : Images are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 28.08.09. Environmental activists congregate outside Barclays Bank headquarters in Canary Wharf for a direct action protest on Friday 28 August 2009 in London, England. Around 150 climate campers plastered notices across the front of the banks building – unfurled a banner saying “More Future, Less Capitalism” – protesters allege the bank funds coal power and arms trade industries which contribute to the death and suffering of millions people across the world due to climate change. Environmental activists set up camp on Wednesday 26 August 2009 – in clear sight of London’s financial and corporate centre – to hold a week long protest to highlight climate change. (Photo by Marc Vallee/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallee, 2009.

Link : Click here to view more images. Click here to view slideshow.

Clients : Images are available for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.