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I'm too terrified of jail to carry on, says eco-warrior (reality check for 'Face'of activism chic)
The Evening Standard (U.K.) ^
| October 15, 2008
| Benedict Moore-Bridger
Posted on 10/15/2008 12:00:18 PM PDT by Stoat
Tamsin Omond: Retiring from the 'frontline'
I'm too terrified of jail to carry on, says eco-warrior
Benedict Moore-Bridger
15.10.08
CAMBRIDGE graduate and "face" of the climate change campaign Tamsin Omond today revealed she was withdrawing from frontline action, admitting the thought of prison "terrifies" her.
The 23-year-old told the Standard that her first full night behind bars had given her a "reality check", and how her parents are now concerned for her future.
Ms Omond became one of the leading names in climate change campaigning after joining the so-called "Commons Five" who scaled Parliament in February to protest over plans for a third runway at Heathrow.
The rooftop stunt earned her a trial next month and bail conditions prevent her from entering Parliament.
Despite this, on Monday night she led 300 demonstrators as they charged the building to protest over the Government's climate change policy. But having been held in custody for 20 hours, the first-class honours degree graduate and granddaughter of baronet Sir Thomas Lees said she was withdrawing from direct action to concentrate on her studies and also plans to get a job.
At a hearing yesterday over breaching bail, Judge Mike Snow told her she would be "in grave peril" about being remanded in custody if arrested again before her trial. Ms Omond said that warning and her first night behind bars had been a sobering experience.
Speaking to the Standard hours after her release, she said: "I was prepared for it [prison] but the reality of it was terrifying. The judge made it pretty clear. I am definitely not doing anything or taking a role in front-line demonstrating.
"The thought of prison is big and scary. It is easy to sideline that in the excitement of the day but the reality of going to prison is very different. My parents are very supportive but are also really worried.
"It is something that people who take direct action have to confront. We need to be very courageous if we are to change society."
As for her future, Ms Omond said: "I saved enough money for a month but after I finish writing my dissertation I will have to get a job."
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: britain; climatechange; commonsfive; constantine; ecoterror; ecoterrorism; ecowarrior; england; environment; envirowackos; greatbritain; markconstantine; planestupid; realitycheck; tamsinomond; uk; unitedkingdom
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A few reader comments from the Evening Standard:
1
posted on
10/15/2008 12:00:20 PM PDT
by
Stoat
To: manc
2
posted on
10/15/2008 12:02:13 PM PDT
by
Stoat
(Palin / Coulter 2012: A Strong America Through Unapologetic Conservatism)
To: Stoat
Winter is around the corner and it’s getting too cold to sit in trees so she’s retiring. What a wuss.
An eco-nut who smokes?
3
posted on
10/15/2008 12:03:29 PM PDT
by
itsthejourney
(1 of every 10 people you pass in the mall is here illegally)
To: Stoat
Lemme guess. It was quite chilly in that jail cell, and the whole experience really shook her faith the global warming religion.
And about that photo . . . does she actually SMOKE? I mean, isn’t that, like, polluting the atmosphere with unnecessary smoke, and contributing to global warming?
To: Stoat
No worries...Tamsin....contact Bill Ayers...I’m sure he will hire you to indoctrinate school children after your dissertation is done..... ;)
5
posted on
10/15/2008 12:06:13 PM PDT
by
BossLady
(Say Hello to .....Jericho....)
To: itsthejourney
Is she aware that plants had to suffer and die to make that cigarette?
6
posted on
10/15/2008 12:08:14 PM PDT
by
ducdriver
(Quantum potes tantum aude.)
To: Stoat
Somebody ID her. She looks too young to smoke legally.
7
posted on
10/15/2008 12:08:29 PM PDT
by
DieHard the Hunter
(Is mise an ceann-cinnidh. Cha ghéill mi do dhuine. Fà g am bealach.)
To: Stoat
granddaughter of baronet Sir Thomas Lees said she was withdrawing from direct action to concentrate on her studies and also plans to get a job. Horror of horrors! She's going to get ......gasp.....a job!
L
8
posted on
10/15/2008 12:09:06 PM PDT
by
Lurker
(She's not a lesbian, she doesn't whine, she doesn't hate her country, and she's not afraid of guns.)
To: Stoat
Man made global warming will soon be all debunked.
Why sit and rot in prison once your cause becomes defunct.
9
posted on
10/15/2008 12:10:40 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
To: Stoat
Don’t like the time, don’t do the time. Most of us who don’t like what our government does, vote. And if your opinion isn’t heard, then too bad. You should have had better opinions. Either that, or a better standard bearer. Us freepers are going to learn the latter lesson the hard way.
10
posted on
10/15/2008 12:11:39 PM PDT
by
TypeZoNegative
(Pro life & Vegan because I respect all life, Republican because our enemies don't respect ours.)
To: GovernmentShrinker
Back in the 70s, when “earth day” started on campus,
it seemed that almost all those in attendance were smokers, at least from my casual observation.
I guess they were worried about cumulative lung damage and felt they needed pristine atmosphere to offset the inhaled tar.
To: Stoat
She should be thankful that she didn’t learn the really hard way like Lori Berenson.
To: All
More on Tamsin Omond Posh protesters How the anti-Heathrow Commons invaders included a Baronet's granddaughter and an MP's grandson Mail Online
Cambridge girl Tamsin Omond and Olivia Chessell were part of the five protesters who scaled the Palace of Westminster over the third runway at Heathrow
The members of "Plane Stupid", as they call themselves, may wear the protester "uniform" of woolly hats and camouflage-style jackets, but that's where the resemblance ends.
They are resolutely middle class: university educated, polite and include an MP's grandson, a baronet's granddaughter, a philosophy graduate and a well-spoken young lady who still lives with her parents in the well-heeled suburb of Dulwich.
********************************************************
Church Times - Ration your flights, airport protester tells churchgoers
********************************************************
Peer's grandson among the new Greens News
Plane Stupid: Protesters Graham Thompson, Leo Murray, Richard George, Tamsin Omond and Olivia Chessell
13
posted on
10/15/2008 12:21:34 PM PDT
by
Stoat
(Palin / Coulter 2012: A Strong America Through Unapologetic Conservatism)
To: Stoat
“The fear of the policeman is the beginning of wisdom.”
—Old French saying
[I know that we would say “G-d” instead of “the policeman,” but today Miss Omond seems very French.]
14
posted on
10/15/2008 12:28:13 PM PDT
by
Slings and Arrows
("Poisoning the customers is bad for business." --Quark, *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine*)
To: Stoat
loved the last line
she will get a job
the fruit cake should never take a car, plane, train or anything, I expect to see her living in the winter cold, living in the summer hot, oh wait this is England, it has got colder since queen Elizabeth reigned
eco warrior how about soap job dodger.
15
posted on
10/15/2008 12:38:38 PM PDT
by
manc
(Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick MA,CT sham marriage end racism end affirmative action)
To: Stoat
YES they are plain stupid alright bunch of stuck up rich brats as for those girlie men they need a good kicking to bring them to reality not that I am advocating violence against the soap dodgers ARF wonder what car mummy and daddy drives
16
posted on
10/15/2008 12:42:11 PM PDT
by
manc
(Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick MA,CT sham marriage end racism end affirmative action)
To: Stoat
YES they are plain stupid alright bunch of stuck up rich brats , from Cambridge too, must be nice to have money as for those girlie men they need a good kicking to bring them to reality not that I am advocating violence against the soap dodgers ARF wonder what car mummy and daddy drives she's giving it up because mummy and daddy might cut her money off for being a naughty girl and she wont be able to get those smokes she so much likes
17
posted on
10/15/2008 12:44:38 PM PDT
by
manc
(Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick MA,CT sham marriage end racism end affirmative action)
To: Stoat
No kidding. That’s one of the reasons there are jails - to deter crime. Good to see the environmentalists are figuring that one out.
18
posted on
10/15/2008 12:46:45 PM PDT
by
popdonnelly
(Government, liberals, leftists: Just get off our backs!)
To: Stoat
It looks like she’s also afraid of an eyebrow waxing or tweezers....geez!!
19
posted on
10/15/2008 12:58:42 PM PDT
by
Clintons Are White Trash
(Lynn Stewart, Helen Thomas, Rosie ODonnell, Maureen Dowd - The Axis of Ugly)
To: Stoat; WL-law; Genesis defender; proud_yank; FrPR; enough_idiocy; rdl6989; IrishCatholic; ...
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