September 2009
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Science doesn't argue like politics Blooming algae
Give carbon not cash
Our friends, Sara and Hermione, are cycling from Edinburgh and London respectively to the Sahara Desert. That's a long way, about 2,400 miles. They're not looking for sponsorship but for carbon stewardship, so instead of asking you to just give money they're asking you to to just save carbon through JustSaving.
‘But' we might ask, ‘what difference can we make while governments and industries fail to play their part?' They're answer is: a lot. Forty-two percent of the UK's carbon emissions are a direct result of decisions that we all make every day, at home and in travel. That's 42% directly in our control.
Sara and Hermione are aiming to raise 15,000 kg CO2, which is the equivalent of 60 flights to Morocco! Just Saving gives loads of easy options that'll help you reduce your carbon footprint, like making draught excluders, emptying your car boot out, or washing your clothes at 30°C.
Then give 10% more carbon
If you like Just Saving, you'll love 10:10, a new campaign by the people who brought you the film The Age of Stupid. They're trying to get individuals to reduce their carbon emissions by 10% by 2010. The 10:10 campaign made the front pages of the Guardian and the Sun on the same day, which we think is a pretty amazing thing in itself.
Pulling a cinema around Scotland
The Screen Machine, brainchild of actor Tilda Swinton and director Mark Cousins, is a mobile cinema. The project takes independent films to the hardest-to-reach Highlands and islands of Scotland in a great big lorry. The lorry is driven most of the way, but it has been pulled some of the distances (by 40 willing volunteers and some very big ropes) for both symbolic and practical reasons (the truck broke down at one point and was pulled to its destination). Pulling the cinema in the midst of drizzle and midges might not be everyone's idea of a good time, but they were beaming. According to Tilda, Mark and French film director Robert Bresson, "the sight of movement gives happiness", so perhaps the act of moving a cinema brings happiness too.
Caledonian Road Cycle Tour
They may not be pulling a cinema, but they're still pushing themselves pretty hard. Here's an excerpt from the latest Caledonian Road Cycle Tour Journal:
This week has been massive. Like a year and a week and several long days...
Beginning in Edinburgh, after TORRENTIAL times, our debut performance was born at the Edinburgh Fringe - just the world's biggest arts festival. Our first 3 gigs were sprinkled with more than a little magic from the fairy-tale delights of the Big Red Door and the people of TePooka, the smiling friends and the unexpected visitor from Otesha Canada! The most lovely Sara and flatmates' flat was descended upon... filled to the brim with panniers, tupperwares and fantastic chat.
We sang, we 1-minute discoed and we waved goodbye to Jo, Busayo and Chris. Though Jo and Busayo's departures were scheduled, Chris has sadly had to bid the team farewell for now due to unforeseen commitments. Our team is now one kind, cheeky, strong, hilarious Liverpudlian the lesser. Fingers crossed...he will return!
Sign up for a weekly tour journal (email liz@otesha.org.uk with the subject 'Whatever the heather') or check out regular updates right here. Or if you're on twitter, check out @caledonianroad.
East Coast Cycle Tour
And those pedalersdown in East Anglia have been busy too:
The East Coast team is now well on its way with a whole week of plays, workshops and 163.42 miles of hardcore cycling secured firmly beneath its 30 trustworthy tyres! And what a week it's been...
Highs of the week: punting in Cambridge, large play audiences, meeting our loverly hosts
Best thing seen: the lake in the morning at Nene Park, with a flying group of swans preparing to land
Low of the week: Anna's bike being stolen
Fact of the week: Bringing 3 apples to UK from New Zealand produces the same amount of CO2 as transporting 3500 apples around the UK.
Sign up for a weekly tour journal (email liz@otesha.org.uk with the subject 'Flat as a Pancake but blow me, it's windy') or check out regular updates right here. Or if you're on twitter, check out @eastcoasttour.
Power Shift
Power Shift are shifting the power from the grey suits in politics to the kids on the streets. From October 9th-12th, Power Shift will be taking place at the Institute for Education, a four day event organised by young people for young people who want to do something about climate change but don't know what the perishing polar bears to do about it. Register for Powershift here.
Full on Fairtrade
Last month we challenged you to go climate camping at one of the three Camps for Climate Action that happened in Scotland, Wales and England.
This month we challenge you to go Fairtrade, full on Fairtrade! Buy the fairest items in the land and send us your shopping list (email jo@otesha.org.uk). Send us the longest Fairtrade shopping list and you'll receive a Fairtrade chocolate bar for your efforts.
We also want to know if you've been looking, long, hard, high and low for an elusive Fairtrade item that no one can provide. We're searching for Fairtrade phones.
And finally
This month we've mostly been mourning lost bikes and building and gold-leafing new ones (to make them less desirable to thieves of course).
Jo, Hanna, Liz, Busayo & Tom
The Otesha Project UK
www.otesha.org.uk
P.s. Innes, from Fife, is the winner of our postcard of the month competition for "thinking before buying everyday items". We think that's a ingenius idea.