Joy of joys - I'm writing this with another local ale in my hand, this time a traditional pale ale recipe from Alnwick. I'm staying tonight with Demo in the home of a very kind family in Alnwick who are treating us extremely well.
Demo is our marcher from the Philippines, and today has been a big day for him. We walked 17 miles from Wooler to Alnwick in the baking heat, and at the end of it Demo had to talk to the people of Alnwick about climate change and the Philippines. He told of how the number of typhoons has been increasing to around 20 a year, causing extreme flooding.
Typhoons, or hurricanes as they are known in the Atlantic, are caused by warm water releasing its energy. As the seas get warmer the frequency and intesity of typhoons increase.
In 2004, one flooding event killed thousands of people in Demo's home region, including 10 of his relatives. Demo is passionate in telling us that "Climate change is not a future crisis, it is a present crisis."
Today was a big day for Demo for another reason. He announced to us that his wife is expecting his second child; great news which we have all rejoiced in. But in the same meeting tonight, Demo was sombre when he wondered, if climate change is allowed to get worse, "What kind of world will our baby live in?"
Distance covered so far: 213 miles
Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Monday, 30 July 2007
The news
We had a rest day on Monday 30 July and I took the opportunity to wash my clothes, cut Chira, mine and Mohammed's hair, and even sample a local Northumbrian ale. I also relaxed by reading the Guardian, New Scientist and my emails.
Not that this was a break from climate change. The Guardian reported that the Environmental Audit Committee is set to issue a report arguing the climate bill should set a target of at least 80 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050, and that this needs to include aviation.
The New Scientist had an article by James Hanson, a famous climate scientist, arguing that sea levels could rise by 5 metres by the end of the century and therefore there needs to be a radical reduction in emissions starting straight away.
And in my emails I could catch-up on BAA's attempts to ban members of environmental organisations campaigning on climate change, including the World Development Movement, protesting at Heathrow. The request for an injuction is to be heard in court on Wednesday.
I wonder if a 5-metre sea-level rise would take out Heathrow or any of BAA's other airports?
Not that this was a break from climate change. The Guardian reported that the Environmental Audit Committee is set to issue a report arguing the climate bill should set a target of at least 80 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050, and that this needs to include aviation.
The New Scientist had an article by James Hanson, a famous climate scientist, arguing that sea levels could rise by 5 metres by the end of the century and therefore there needs to be a radical reduction in emissions starting straight away.
And in my emails I could catch-up on BAA's attempts to ban members of environmental organisations campaigning on climate change, including the World Development Movement, protesting at Heathrow. The request for an injuction is to be heard in court on Wednesday.
I wonder if a 5-metre sea-level rise would take out Heathrow or any of BAA's other airports?
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Wind turbines
Our stroll on Sunday 29 July was a 17 mile-er from Norham to Wooler. We are now in England, and unfortunately moving away from the coast. As we've passed through lots of rural areas over the last week, it has been a reminder that not everywhere is connected into the internet and the burdens of 21st century communications.
At lunchtime today I was accosted by a local complaining about wind farm applications in the area. He was scared about the damage wind farms in the Northumbrian countryside will have on the landscape and tourism.
There is obviously a tension between local and global environmental damage. This is why the first thing we need to do as a society is limit the amount of energy we use as much as possible. The more energy we try to extract from the Earth, the more likely we are to damage it, whether through climate change, or through covering lots of land with wind turbines - if that can beseen as damage.
As a non-Northumbrian I couldn't argue for wind farms in Northumbria. I won't be living near them. However, I did tell the local man that I spent several years in my childhood living next to Didcot coal fired power station, and would rather it had been a wind farm.
Distance covered so far: 194 miles
Reading so far: Once through 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'
At lunchtime today I was accosted by a local complaining about wind farm applications in the area. He was scared about the damage wind farms in the Northumbrian countryside will have on the landscape and tourism.
There is obviously a tension between local and global environmental damage. This is why the first thing we need to do as a society is limit the amount of energy we use as much as possible. The more energy we try to extract from the Earth, the more likely we are to damage it, whether through climate change, or through covering lots of land with wind turbines - if that can beseen as damage.
As a non-Northumbrian I couldn't argue for wind farms in Northumbria. I won't be living near them. However, I did tell the local man that I spent several years in my childhood living next to Didcot coal fired power station, and would rather it had been a wind farm.
Distance covered so far: 194 miles
Reading so far: Once through 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'
Do they all support us number 5
On Friday and Saturday we met two Lib Dem MPs in a row: Michael Moore in Eyemouth and Alan Beith in Norham.
The Lib Dems seem tuned in to the need for at least an 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050, and to include all aviation emissions. Hopefully it will stay that way and all Lib Dem MPs will vote that way in the autumn.
The Lib Dems seem tuned in to the need for at least an 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050, and to include all aviation emissions. Hopefully it will stay that way and all Lib Dem MPs will vote that way in the autumn.
Friday, 27 July 2007
Nuclear
The coastal walk from Dunbar to Cockburnspath on Thursday took us past Torness nuclear power station, one of the most recent nuclear power plants built in the UK.
The night before I’d been speaking to someone who works at Torness. He told me the plant transfers 43 per cent of the energy it generates into electricity, gets its uranium from Canada, South Africa and Australia, and is due to be decommissioned in 2025. I asked him what his view on nuclear power in Britain is. He reckoned it is not the best way to create electricity, but new nuclear power plants will be needed for the next 40 years before renewable power can fully take over.
I asked some of the other marchers their views on nuclear as we passed Torness.
Mahesh from India told me that India already has four nuclear power plants. He is against more nuclear plants as the radioactive waste stores up problems for future generations which they may not be able to deal with - nuclear is not morally justifiable.
Cassia from Brazil was also against nuclear. She said there are two nuclear reactors in Brazil and there are plans for a third. Cassia thought the first two are not currently working. However, they were paid for by loans from western countries which are still being repaid.
Demo from the Philippines has a similar story to Cassia. President Marcos borrowed money from the World Bank to build the Philippines’ only nuclear reactor. Since then, popular opposition means the nuclear plant has never been used. But the people of the Philippines continue to pay the debts created by Marcos’ reactor.
Local ale
Wednesday 25 July was a historic day on the march; we finally sampled our first local real ale. The Belhaven Brewery and the good people of Dunbar were the providers.
Cassia, one of our Brazilian marchers, had been unsure about how real British beer would compare to Brazilian. Not anymore. Cassia now claims that real ale is "a beer good enough to drink warm".
If I were an entrepreneur I’d be trying to corner the market in selling real British beer around the world, and take on the many varieties of lager which all taste the same. However, the transport emissions from doing so might be quite high. Maybe it is best for Dunbar’s best beer to stay in Dunbar.
Cassia, one of our Brazilian marchers, had been unsure about how real British beer would compare to Brazilian. Not anymore. Cassia now claims that real ale is "a beer good enough to drink warm".
If I were an entrepreneur I’d be trying to corner the market in selling real British beer around the world, and take on the many varieties of lager which all taste the same. However, the transport emissions from doing so might be quite high. Maybe it is best for Dunbar’s best beer to stay in Dunbar.
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Grain
Some nights we stay in people's homes, and others in church halls. Tuesday morning we had a mixture of both; a church hall to sleep in and breakfast and a shower in a home.
I went with Stuart, our second Scottish marcher, to the home of Dave and Sheena. Dave works as a grain merchant in East Lothian, one of the main cereal growing areas in Scotland. Dave told me that the price of grain has increased 50 per cent over the last couple of years, initially due to drought in Australia, heavily linked with climate change, but also because the price is beginning to be increased by the worldwide shift to using land to grow biofuels rather than food.
Over the last year, Dave said EU countries had been releasing their stockpiles of grain to stop the price from increasing too drastically.
Grain stockpiles have been attacked by free market economists as an unwarranted intervention in the market, but Dave said their existence has been justified over the past year. Unfortuantely some impoverished countries have been forced not to have such stockpiles. In Malawi, drought has been increasing over recent decades; southern Africa is and will get drier with climate change. But drought in 2002/2003 was exacerbated because the International Monetary Fund had told Malawi to sell off its grain reserves, another 'unwarranted intervention' in the market.
Government intervention in agricultural markets will become more important in the future to ensure food security. Climate change will hit crop yields worldwide. But unfortunately the EU and US's rush to grow more crops for fuel will also affect food supply and increase the world price of grains even more. It is the poor who will suffer most from the higher cost of food.
I went with Stuart, our second Scottish marcher, to the home of Dave and Sheena. Dave works as a grain merchant in East Lothian, one of the main cereal growing areas in Scotland. Dave told me that the price of grain has increased 50 per cent over the last couple of years, initially due to drought in Australia, heavily linked with climate change, but also because the price is beginning to be increased by the worldwide shift to using land to grow biofuels rather than food.
Over the last year, Dave said EU countries had been releasing their stockpiles of grain to stop the price from increasing too drastically.
Grain stockpiles have been attacked by free market economists as an unwarranted intervention in the market, but Dave said their existence has been justified over the past year. Unfortuantely some impoverished countries have been forced not to have such stockpiles. In Malawi, drought has been increasing over recent decades; southern Africa is and will get drier with climate change. But drought in 2002/2003 was exacerbated because the International Monetary Fund had told Malawi to sell off its grain reserves, another 'unwarranted intervention' in the market.
Government intervention in agricultural markets will become more important in the future to ensure food security. Climate change will hit crop yields worldwide. But unfortunately the EU and US's rush to grow more crops for fuel will also affect food supply and increase the world price of grains even more. It is the poor who will suffer most from the higher cost of food.
Do they all support us number 4
On Monday 23 July we had lunch with Gavin Strang MP (Labour). He was very responsive to our demands, publicly committing himself to support the need for at least an 80 per cent cut in emissions by 2050.
In conversation, he told me it was "ridiculous" that aviation is not included in the government's figures, targets or the climate bill. He had only realised this six months ago, and felt misled by the government when they use statistics which do not include aviation.
So that's two Labour MPs in a couple of days who have supported our demands on the climate bill. If it carries on like this, and Labour MPs follow through on their commitments, the government will be forced to make the climate bill stronger.
In conversation, he told me it was "ridiculous" that aviation is not included in the government's figures, targets or the climate bill. He had only realised this six months ago, and felt misled by the government when they use statistics which do not include aviation.
So that's two Labour MPs in a couple of days who have supported our demands on the climate bill. If it carries on like this, and Labour MPs follow through on their commitments, the government will be forced to make the climate bill stronger.
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Do they all support us number 3
As we arrived in Edinburgh on Saturday we were greeted by Mark Lazarowicz MP (Labour). Mark is on the Environmental Audit Committee of the House of Commons and the committee of both Houses of Parliament which is scrutinising the draft climate bill.
Mark told us he was personally convinced of the need for a target of at least an 80 per cent reduction in emissions, and for aviation to be fully included in the climate bill. The committee scrutinising the bill meet next week, and hopefully they'll come collectively to the same position as Mark, and put real pressure on the government. Mahesh and Mohammed both forcefully told him a strong climate bill is needed for the UK to lead the way in international negotiations on climate change.
Mark showed his support by joining us on our march through Edinburgh in the pouring rain. I hope he maintains his support for our demands, even if it means voting against the Labour government in the autumn.
Distance covered: 103 miles
Aggregate blister count across all the marchers: 27 and rising...
Mark told us he was personally convinced of the need for a target of at least an 80 per cent reduction in emissions, and for aviation to be fully included in the climate bill. The committee scrutinising the bill meet next week, and hopefully they'll come collectively to the same position as Mark, and put real pressure on the government. Mahesh and Mohammed both forcefully told him a strong climate bill is needed for the UK to lead the way in international negotiations on climate change.
Mark showed his support by joining us on our march through Edinburgh in the pouring rain. I hope he maintains his support for our demands, even if it means voting against the Labour government in the autumn.
Distance covered: 103 miles
Aggregate blister count across all the marchers: 27 and rising...
Alternative development
Everyone on the march has distinctive pieces of clothing, such as Merryn, our retired marcher, and her amazing hat. On Friday morning I was delighted to be given a Via Campesina neck-scarf by Cassia, one of our marchers from Brazil.
Cassia works for MST, the Brazilian landless workers movement. Via Campesina is the international network of peasant campaigns. As we march along, Cassia is reminding us all that climate change cannot be fought without challenging the economic structures which underlie the world.
Like Mahesh, Cassia has worked with communities who are suffering from western companies buying carbon credits from companies in developing countries. MST are also struggling against the expansion of US corporations growing biofuels in Brazil and denying land to peasants, something I’m sure we’ll discuss more as the march progresses.
Today, when we were greeted with a lovely lunch in Inverkeething, Cassia spoke to those present about the need for an alternative approach to ‘development’. Whilst rich countries emit far more greenhouse gases per person at the moment, some developing countries are increasing their emissions as they pursue industrial development.
As a citizen of a rich industrialised country with high and growing emissions I have no moral right to comment about emissions from developing countries. But Cassia does, and today she stressed the need for a clean development process which genuinely helps the poor without contributing to climate change:
“We need alternative models of development and to change the system we are working in. Today you can take action to cut the carbon, tomorrow you can do even more.”
Distance covered so far: 94 miles
Beer quality: No time yet to search out a real ale. Maybe tonight…
Climate change in the UK
As we go round the UK, our message is that climate change is impacting on the poorest people in the world first and worst. But of course it is and will have effects here in the UK as well.
On Friday 20 July we passed through Gordon Brown’s constituency. I had the honour of speaking at the meeting where we met his election agent. Whilst Gordon had passed on his support for our march, we were clear that the real support we want to see is a stronger climate bill.
In the evening we had an evening cruise on the Forth with members of the public to speak to them about climate change. The captain of the boat had something to add as well. Puffins in the Forth are disappearing as the sea gets warmer and the fish they eat head north.
Across the Fourth we could see North Queensferry where Prime Minister Brown has his home outside London. We didn’t know which house was his, but given how low and close to the sea they were, I’d guess half of North Queensferry will be underwater by the end of the century.
Thursday, 19 July 2007
Suffering
When starting this blog, I did not intend to glorify in the pain we are feeling along the way, but today you will have to indulge me. Thursday 19 July was a 20 mile trip from Falkirk to Dunfermline. On top of 61 miles in the three days before it was by far our hardest trip.
One of the heroes of the last two days has been Rosalia from El Salvador. Rosalia works with communities in El Salvador who are battling against the effects of increased flooding over recent years due to more frequent and intense storms. But she was one of many who carried on through blisters determined to keep knocking the miles off. As we were covering the final few miles up to Dunfermline this evening, the two of us sang the words of an old song from apartheid South Africa:
"We shall not give up the fight we have only started.
"Together we'll have victories hand holding hand."
Elsewhere in the march Mahesh was speaking to Chira from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mahesh said: "I wonder why we are suffering like this. We are doing it on behalf of others. We cannot give up."
Distance covered so far: 81 miles
Estimated banana consumption: 120
One of the heroes of the last two days has been Rosalia from El Salvador. Rosalia works with communities in El Salvador who are battling against the effects of increased flooding over recent years due to more frequent and intense storms. But she was one of many who carried on through blisters determined to keep knocking the miles off. As we were covering the final few miles up to Dunfermline this evening, the two of us sang the words of an old song from apartheid South Africa:
"We shall not give up the fight we have only started.
"Together we'll have victories hand holding hand."
Elsewhere in the march Mahesh was speaking to Chira from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mahesh said: "I wonder why we are suffering like this. We are doing it on behalf of others. We cannot give up."
Distance covered so far: 81 miles
Estimated banana consumption: 120
Cycling
Wednesday 18 July was our longest day of the whole march; 27 miles from Glasgow to Falkirk. When we were speaking to supporters who gathered to meet us in Falkirk, it was with genuine feeling that we demanded that they join our campaign as 'we're not doing this for the fun'.
Our two great helpers on the march are Mike and Liz in the support electric vans, carrying our luggage, bringing us lunch, providing plasters and bandages and keeping us all going. But one further vital thing Mike provides is regular updates on what is happening in the Tour de France.
I love cycling, both the sport and as a mode of transport. It was great to see lots of cyclists on the Clyde-Forth canal as we were covering our 27 miles. Cycling is a genuinely carbon neutral form of transport. However, cycling has many more benefits than just tackling climate change. It lowers congestion, is cheaper, makes people healthier, does not cause hundreds of deaths each year and, certainly in many cities, is quicker than any other form of transport.
A low carbon world will be a better world for many reasons other than tackling climate change. A world with less cars and more bikes will certainly be a better one. And today I discovered one more benefit of cycling - it would have been a lot easier to cycle 27 miles than walk them.
Our two great helpers on the march are Mike and Liz in the support electric vans, carrying our luggage, bringing us lunch, providing plasters and bandages and keeping us all going. But one further vital thing Mike provides is regular updates on what is happening in the Tour de France.
I love cycling, both the sport and as a mode of transport. It was great to see lots of cyclists on the Clyde-Forth canal as we were covering our 27 miles. Cycling is a genuinely carbon neutral form of transport. However, cycling has many more benefits than just tackling climate change. It lowers congestion, is cheaper, makes people healthier, does not cause hundreds of deaths each year and, certainly in many cities, is quicker than any other form of transport.
A low carbon world will be a better world for many reasons other than tackling climate change. A world with less cars and more bikes will certainly be a better one. And today I discovered one more benefit of cycling - it would have been a lot easier to cycle 27 miles than walk them.
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
Corrupt emissions
One thing I share with our Indian marcher Mahesh is a fear of dogs. Mine comes from having been run over by one as a toddler. Therefore slight trepidation came to both our faces when we were sent off in Kilmarnock to stay in the home of a dog owner. Thankfully our host Mike was as gracious as any host could be, and as well as keeping the dog out of sight, he provide much needed clothes-washing facilities.
On the long march to Glasgow the next morning I spoke to Mahesh about his campaigning in India. He lives in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the most heavily industrialised state in India. Largely unregulated expansion of factories is producing big health problems for local people through air and water pollution.
But Mahesh tells me of a perverse effect of attempts to tackle climate change. The EU and UK allow companies to avoid reducing their emissions by paying for them to take place elsewhere. Many of these ’reductions’ are being bought from Indian factories. Except there are few checks that real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are taking place. Instead factories take the money, expand their operations and increase both their global and local pollution. Western companies are also able to increase their emissions due to the ‘reductions’ they have bought.
As Mahesh explains the situation in Gujarat, he is filled with righteous anger. “It is unjust that the rich are allowed to emit whilst paying for more pollution for the poor. It is corruption.” Unfortunately this system is set to continue. A little mentioned clause in the UK government’s climate bill is to allow the UK to buy emission ‘reductions’ from developing countries rather than make them ourselves.
Walking distance covered so far: 34 miles
Best sight: Coming off Fenwick moor into Glasgow, with the sun shining and mountains behind the city
On the long march to Glasgow the next morning I spoke to Mahesh about his campaigning in India. He lives in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, the most heavily industrialised state in India. Largely unregulated expansion of factories is producing big health problems for local people through air and water pollution.
But Mahesh tells me of a perverse effect of attempts to tackle climate change. The EU and UK allow companies to avoid reducing their emissions by paying for them to take place elsewhere. Many of these ’reductions’ are being bought from Indian factories. Except there are few checks that real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are taking place. Instead factories take the money, expand their operations and increase both their global and local pollution. Western companies are also able to increase their emissions due to the ‘reductions’ they have bought.
As Mahesh explains the situation in Gujarat, he is filled with righteous anger. “It is unjust that the rich are allowed to emit whilst paying for more pollution for the poor. It is corruption.” Unfortunately this system is set to continue. A little mentioned clause in the UK government’s climate bill is to allow the UK to buy emission ‘reductions’ from developing countries rather than make them ourselves.
Walking distance covered so far: 34 miles
Best sight: Coming off Fenwick moor into Glasgow, with the sun shining and mountains behind the city
Do they all support us number 2
A big day of 21 miles left us with little time to talk to the politicians who supported us between Kilmarnock and Glasgow. So I can only be left with the assumption that those listed below fully support our demands for at least an 80 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050 and to include all aviation emissions in the climate bill:
Ken McIntosh MSP who also passed on support for our march from Jim Murphy MP (Labour)
Patrick Harvey MSP
I hope Jim Murphy will follow-up his support by calling on the government to make the climate change bill stronger and voting for amendments.
Patrick Harvey MSP was a rare example of a politician going further than campaigners. He reminded us of the importance of year-on-year accountability within the Scottish and Westminster climate bills. It is no use just setting targets for 2050 – most politicians doing so will be dead by then. What we need to make sure happens is that emissions are being reduced year-on-year, something the UK is failing to do at the moment. Thanks to Patrick for that reminder.
Ken McIntosh MSP who also passed on support for our march from Jim Murphy MP (Labour)
Patrick Harvey MSP
I hope Jim Murphy will follow-up his support by calling on the government to make the climate change bill stronger and voting for amendments.
Patrick Harvey MSP was a rare example of a politician going further than campaigners. He reminded us of the importance of year-on-year accountability within the Scottish and Westminster climate bills. It is no use just setting targets for 2050 – most politicians doing so will be dead by then. What we need to make sure happens is that emissions are being reduced year-on-year, something the UK is failing to do at the moment. Thanks to Patrick for that reminder.
Dancing alone
On Monday we finally got some walking done with a brisk 13 miles from Troon to Kilmarnock. We were greeted with an evening of traditional scottish dancing, where we were told "dancing is the one thing in Scotland you can't do alone". Having been thrown around the dance floor by one of our Scottish marchers, Angela, I rather wish you could.
Acting together is a strong message in our individualistic world. We see this with climate change where so much responsibilty is placed on individuals. 'Change a lightbulb', 'turn down your thermosts', 'put in insulation'. But the reality is that we emit greenhouse gases as a society not as individuals. An individual cannot control how electricity is generated for the national grid, how many roads and runways are built, or if like me you don't own the house you level in, how much insulation you have. It is governments through decisions, regulations, subsidies and taxes which control these things. And this is why our most important response to climate change is collectively campaigning for the government to change and implement such policies.
Walking covered so far: 13 miles
Abuse from drivers: 3 (I'd like to publish number plates, but am worried about the legal consequences)
Acting together is a strong message in our individualistic world. We see this with climate change where so much responsibilty is placed on individuals. 'Change a lightbulb', 'turn down your thermosts', 'put in insulation'. But the reality is that we emit greenhouse gases as a society not as individuals. An individual cannot control how electricity is generated for the national grid, how many roads and runways are built, or if like me you don't own the house you level in, how much insulation you have. It is governments through decisions, regulations, subsidies and taxes which control these things. And this is why our most important response to climate change is collectively campaigning for the government to change and implement such policies.
Walking covered so far: 13 miles
Abuse from drivers: 3 (I'd like to publish number plates, but am worried about the legal consequences)
Monday, 16 July 2007
Do they all support us?
One of the things I find irritating as a campaigner is politicians being happy to join in a publicity opportunity attached to a campaign, but not to support the campaign's demands. I suspect I might get irritated a lot on this march. Whilst I'd love to think all the politicians who are joining us along the way fully support our demands, it would leave me wondering why UK carbon dioxide emissions are still rising (5 per cent since Labour came to power in 1997).
The main aim of our march is to get a stronger climate change bill, which is going through the House of Commons in the autumn. Our key demands are that we need at least an 80 per cent reduction in UK emissions by 2050; the UK government is currently promoting an out-of-date target of 60 per cent. The government is also refusing to include emissions from international aviation - the fastest growing source of UK emissions. If aviation is not included, it will continue to grow unheeded, and all our efforts to tackle climate change will be in vain.
So, I've decided to publish the names of all elected politicians who join in with the march, with the assumption that they support our demands. In Troon on Sunday we had:
Sandra Osborne MP (Labour)
John Scott MSP
Councillor Hugh Hunter
Councillor Nan McFarlan
Councillor Peter Convey
Unfortunately, in conversation with Sandra Osborne MP, it sounds like she intends to stick with the government's position on 60 per cent and not including aviation. Thankfully, there were several Ayrshire World Development Movement group members present who I know will be carrying-on the campaigning in the autumn. Hopefully Sandra will be willing to support climate justice by the autumn.
Lobbying MPs on the climate bill will be a mammoth but vital effort in the autumn - please do it. If you want to join in with your local World Development Movement group's lobbying, you can get in touch with them through:
http://www.wdm.org.uk/groups/index.htm
The main aim of our march is to get a stronger climate change bill, which is going through the House of Commons in the autumn. Our key demands are that we need at least an 80 per cent reduction in UK emissions by 2050; the UK government is currently promoting an out-of-date target of 60 per cent. The government is also refusing to include emissions from international aviation - the fastest growing source of UK emissions. If aviation is not included, it will continue to grow unheeded, and all our efforts to tackle climate change will be in vain.
So, I've decided to publish the names of all elected politicians who join in with the march, with the assumption that they support our demands. In Troon on Sunday we had:
Sandra Osborne MP (Labour)
John Scott MSP
Councillor Hugh Hunter
Councillor Nan McFarlan
Councillor Peter Convey
Unfortunately, in conversation with Sandra Osborne MP, it sounds like she intends to stick with the government's position on 60 per cent and not including aviation. Thankfully, there were several Ayrshire World Development Movement group members present who I know will be carrying-on the campaigning in the autumn. Hopefully Sandra will be willing to support climate justice by the autumn.
Lobbying MPs on the climate bill will be a mammoth but vital effort in the autumn - please do it. If you want to join in with your local World Development Movement group's lobbying, you can get in touch with them through:
http://www.wdm.org.uk/groups/index.htm
Sunday, 15 July 2007
Sailing the Belfast Loch
Saturday 14 July was the official start of our march sailing from Bangor in Northern Ireland to Troon in Scotland; letting the wind take the strain and our feet rest a bit longer yet. Myself and Mohammed from Kenya drew the short straw and were placed on the smallest sailing boat 'Nanuq' with our extremely welcoming skipper Peter.
Mohammed works for the organisation Northern Aid in Kenya, supporting pastorilists in northern Kenya as they struggle to cope with the demands of climate change. Droughts in northern Kenya have been occuring more frequently in the last twenty years due to rising temperatures. Mohammed is on the march to tell people of the problems of climate change, and to demand that rich countries reduce our emissions, and support communities who are suffering from the climate damage we have already caused. He is insistent that "it is not the emissions of the poor which are hurting my people".
As we set out to sea it was fantastic to feel the power of the wind taking us north to Scotland. Unfortunately, forecasts came in of very bad weather ahead, which our small boat might not be able to deal with, and our stomachs definitely wouldn't. So ourselves and the other smaller boat had to head back to Northern Ireland, whilst the largest sailing boat carried on to Troon.
When we docked in Carrickfergus, our Captain Peter gave Mohammed and myself a shirt with 'Nanuq' on it which I will definitely treasure for the rest of the march. Mohammed may not when he gets home; 'Nanuq' means 'to breastfeed' in Somali.
We eventually arrived in Troon on Sunday morning on the ferry from Larne. Having been fooled by the usual cheap airline trick of giving aiports names from miles away from where they are actually situated, I hadn't realised Glasgow Prestwick airport is next to Troon. As we watched plane-after-plane fly overhead Mohammed said to me: "This is what I don't like, all these planes. They never stop. Does no one realise the damage they cause?"
Walking miles covered: 0 (!?)
Beer: V. poor; not a sight of a cask ale in N.Ireland...
Hospitality: Fantastic
Mohammed works for the organisation Northern Aid in Kenya, supporting pastorilists in northern Kenya as they struggle to cope with the demands of climate change. Droughts in northern Kenya have been occuring more frequently in the last twenty years due to rising temperatures. Mohammed is on the march to tell people of the problems of climate change, and to demand that rich countries reduce our emissions, and support communities who are suffering from the climate damage we have already caused. He is insistent that "it is not the emissions of the poor which are hurting my people".
As we set out to sea it was fantastic to feel the power of the wind taking us north to Scotland. Unfortunately, forecasts came in of very bad weather ahead, which our small boat might not be able to deal with, and our stomachs definitely wouldn't. So ourselves and the other smaller boat had to head back to Northern Ireland, whilst the largest sailing boat carried on to Troon.
When we docked in Carrickfergus, our Captain Peter gave Mohammed and myself a shirt with 'Nanuq' on it which I will definitely treasure for the rest of the march. Mohammed may not when he gets home; 'Nanuq' means 'to breastfeed' in Somali.
We eventually arrived in Troon on Sunday morning on the ferry from Larne. Having been fooled by the usual cheap airline trick of giving aiports names from miles away from where they are actually situated, I hadn't realised Glasgow Prestwick airport is next to Troon. As we watched plane-after-plane fly overhead Mohammed said to me: "This is what I don't like, all these planes. They never stop. Does no one realise the damage they cause?"
Walking miles covered: 0 (!?)
Beer: V. poor; not a sight of a cask ale in N.Ireland...
Hospitality: Fantastic
Saturday, 14 July 2007
Yet to start...
So far we've been tucked away in Northern Ireland waiting for the march to start properly. Whilst we've had little chance to see Belfast and the surrounding area one constant has been the optimism present in the area. Many locals mention 'the troubles' in the past tense-the landlady in the guesthouse in which I am writing this says business is booming since 'the troubles fnished'.
Climate change is a huge issue which can often seem impossible to tackle. This is no reason not to try. The catastrophic consequences of the world failing to limit and cut greenhous egas emissions would be disastrous. But it is encouraging that to be reminded that change is possible, however hard and far away it seems.
Climate change is a huge issue which can often seem impossible to tackle. This is no reason not to try. The catastrophic consequences of the world failing to limit and cut greenhous egas emissions would be disastrous. But it is encouraging that to be reminded that change is possible, however hard and far away it seems.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Intro
For the next three months I'm going to be walking round the UK as the World Development Movement activist on Christian Aid's 'Cut the carbon' march. The plan is to walk 1,000 miles as part of campaigning in the UK to get the UK government to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.
But along the way I intend to report on the best local beers, friendliest towns, highest number of SUVs, messiest roadkill, and much else beside. I don't know if it will be fun enough to keep the reader interested, but I'm certainly excited.
It all kicks off on Saturday 14 July in Belfast, where we will put our lives in the hands of a few sailing boats and set-off across the Irish Sea to Troon in Scotland. There are 18 of us on the march; 10 from the UK and eight international marchers. My sea-sickness tablets are packed, but I suspect the contents of my stomach will see more of the sea than I would like.
Until my next post, I suggest you check-out www.wdm.org.uk/aroundtheworldin80protests which takes you on a journey showing that protest is alive-and-kicking around the world.
But along the way I intend to report on the best local beers, friendliest towns, highest number of SUVs, messiest roadkill, and much else beside. I don't know if it will be fun enough to keep the reader interested, but I'm certainly excited.
It all kicks off on Saturday 14 July in Belfast, where we will put our lives in the hands of a few sailing boats and set-off across the Irish Sea to Troon in Scotland. There are 18 of us on the march; 10 from the UK and eight international marchers. My sea-sickness tablets are packed, but I suspect the contents of my stomach will see more of the sea than I would like.
Until my next post, I suggest you check-out www.wdm.org.uk/aroundtheworldin80protests which takes you on a journey showing that protest is alive-and-kicking around the world.
Wednesday, 11 July 2007
Christian Aid : Cut the carbon climate change march
Start here for all the information you need to know about the 2007 Climate Change March - organised by Christian Aid. This map shows Tim's complete journey up to his last blog post!
N.B. This map is approximate - even Tim can't walk on water. (+ I've added Tim's trip to Greenbelt hence the other add on to the map!)
N.B. This map is approximate - even Tim can't walk on water. (+ I've added Tim's trip to Greenbelt hence the other add on to the map!)
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