Climate weblog

Life in The Camp

RODA ANGELES - Camp Manager

My name is Roda and as camp manager at the Greenpeace Climate Defenders Camp I oversee the logistical side of things, including transportation and supplies.

My main task is to make sure the camp is secure, comfortable and clean and that everyone does their little bit to keep it that way. I am also in charge of land transportation from the city of Pekanbaru to the camp and boat transportation from Teluk Meranti to the camp. All up it's a four hour journey.

The camp in it self is quite large, there are several meeting areas, a kitchen, bathrooms, showers, two office rooms, two large bedrooms and four large tents.

Currently it is hosting 60 people, mostly volunteers, but we expect the number to raise in the next weeks.

I arrived when the camp was almost fully built and was impressed by the work that was put into it. In fact few days ago we had the opening ceremony and 200 people from the local community came to visit us. It was an exciting moment and I am glad I had the opportunity to contribute to it.

It's a very interesting experience for me and everybody else because they come from many different countries and regions. Beside the volunteers, there are also campaigners, communication people, logistics people and a support crew.

TOM KUNEN - IT

My name is Tom and, together with my team mate Geoff, we are responsible for the communication equipment and electricity in the camp.

I arrived during the building stage and, with the help of local workers and carpenters, we set up the power supply which relies on solar panels and in case of emergency is backed up by a generator.

One of the main tasks, to be fulfilled daily, is to secure the electricity needs and keep the communication equipment up and running. Unfortunately out here we can only rely on GPRS data connection, which means our video transmissions are broadcast to the outside world through a satellite connection kit, which Greenpeace often uses in remote areas.

I have already often worked onboard Greenpeace ships as a radio operator and the experience is quite similar to the one here, although at sea we can rely on the usage of desalinated water, while here we use water from the river.

It's very hard for us to buy spare parts for our equipment, because the main city is four hours away, so we often plan and improvise with the tools we have already here.

This is another chance for me to witness what makes Greenpeace so special: it operates directly on the frontier and together with local communities.

RAGIL - Volunteer

My name is Ragil and I am responsible for all the activities in the kitchen. I work with 3 volunteers and have always a very tight schedule:

We prepare breakfast at 6.30 as everybody starts their campaign activities and the maintenance of the camp very early in the morning. Lunch is served at 12.30 and dinner at 19.00.

On average we prepare food for 60 people but, at the opening ceremony, we had almost 200 guests. Luckily volunteers from the local community came to help.

Provisions are bought at the fresh grocery market in Teluk Muranti, the nearest village, which is about 10 minutes away by boat.

Unfortunately the market takes place only on Sundays, so food like fish can be prepared at the camp for a maximum of two days. Our meals, therefore, follow mostly a diet based on rice, vegetables and tofu.

It's very hard sometimes, but everybody tries to help by cleaning their own plates and cutlery. Without wasting too much water of course!

SURI - Nurse

My name is Suri and I am the nurse, along with another colleague of mine, at the Greenpeace Climate Defenders Camp.

It's the third time I participate to a Greenpeace camp in the forests and I am happy to have again the opportunity to give my contribution to the organization during the Climate campaign activities here in Indonesia.

As a nurse, I always have to make sure that everybody is well, and that vitamins and nutrients are provided to everyone on a regular basis. Considering the type of work our activists do, I also look after their turn-overs to make sure everybody is well rested.

Given the existence of diseases such as malaria in the forest, I distribute anti-malaria medicines, as well as more generic medicinals against allergies. With close supervision the situation is quite safe here, even if we operate in such a remote area. I will stay at the camp for another month and will always be available to assist our activists and guests.