Genoa summit: Another mass demonstration for the White Overalls

At the entrance to the ugly concrete stadium that has become the anti-globalisation headquarters, Mara is desperately trying to find 3,000 sleeping spaces.

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Anti-aircraft guns and 150,000 protesters await world's leaders

At the entrance to the ugly concrete stadium that has become the anti-globalisation headquarters, Mara is desperately trying to find 3,000 sleeping spaces.

"We have four special trains in from around Italy and we still have to erect more tents," she said, as her mobile phone trilled sharply. The petite 20-year-old, who makes ethnic jewellery when she's not organising protests, rustles through sheets of handwritten paper and consults a red-haired ex-hippy in a cowboy hat. Still bleary from long nights "involved in big political discussions", Mara lights a cigarette and sits on the floor.

"We have made incredible progress here. Our whole concept of civil disobedience has been accepted by other groups who were pretty sceptical, and whatever happens that is already a success," she said. Mara is a member of the Tute Bianche ­ White Overalls ­ whose smart play of the media have not always endeared them to other radical protest groups.

The day ahead of her is typical of many of the thousands of activists who are flooding into the city. There will be a strategy meeting to decide how they will penetrate the hated Red Zone and then later in the day, as the temperature drops, they will don their body protection ­ helmets, shields and knee and arm pads, for a trial run.

"Mara! The German television is here they want to go down to the encampment" yells a dark-haired boy in a Zapatista T-shirt. "Media visiting hours are over, tell them to come back at 4pm," she retorts. "The Germans are a bit nervous. They are not media-friendly like we are and yesterday a photographers camera was smashed, so we need to respect their privacy," she said, lighting up a Camel cigarette.

Lunch was snatched from a stall selling Farinata, a local chick pea pancake.

In the afternoon, Mara and most of the other occupants of the makeshift camp headed downtown to the Migrants March, the first big rally of the counter summit. The evening was dedicated to debates, debates and more debates ­ on issues, tactics and logistics.

"It is wonderful for me after all these months of planning and dreaming of what we would do in Genoa to be right here. I probably won't be able to sleep for the adrenalin," she said.