May 2008
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On the road
The next instalment of the Otesha UK Book is speeding off down the online autobahn that is our well trafficked website.
Have a read.
This one’s all about transport, how you commute and how it pollutes. We’re building a collection of the most exciting, interesting and generally strange things that have happened to people on trains, it would seem that aside from leaves on the line, it’s a very eventful way to travel. Get on board and email us with your tremendous train tales and any other transport related stories.
On your bikes
Thanks to Bikeworks you don’t even need to be a proud possessor of the pedalcycle to join a cycle tour.
They’ve offered to kit out those in need with one of their extraordinary and extra special attention-seeking bikes at
an extra special discount. Bought from police auctions, Dave and Jim lavish them with love, fix ‘em up and sell ‘em on from their workshop near Victoria Park, East London. They also specialise in modifying bikes for disabled riders. Contact them for details of their regular recycled and refurbished bikes sales.
On a skateboard, on the southbank
The Undercroft, below the Queen Elizabeth Hall on London’s Southbank, an open public space that has been used by skateboarders since the seventies - is under threat. A film, Save Southbank, has been made in response to it's uncertain future, as has a petition to protect the space.
Apart from the question of turfing out skaters and other people who've happily and creatively been using the space for the last 35 years, this threat also begs the question 'what do we want our public space to look like? Do we want commercial space in favour of public space?' Beloved by tourists and Londoners alike, it'd be a crying shame to add this space to the row of chain restaurants and coffee shops that's popping up along the Thames.
Save the Southbank, save our public spaces, stop the whole world from becoming a shopping centre. Read- watch –sign.
On tour
Come and be witness to the debut performance of the Otesha UK play at the Sunrise Celebration from 29th May- 1st June.
Nominated for 5 UK festival awards last year, this year they've got their eye on the Best Festival Toilet Award. Sunrise have pledged to make their toilets the most pleasurable on the circuit, and have been pioneering composting festival toilets, (which as well as being the green option, incidentally smell a whole lot better than the usual chemical version) and this year have 3 variations for festival goers to try. If that's not reason enough to visit the festival, we don't know what is.
On to other things
You've reached the Cycle Tour last chance saloon. The first tour heads off into the sunset on May 24th, the second tour (leaving in August) is already almost full, so if you want to join either of 'em, do it now. But it's your first chance to host a tour.
We’ve already been invited to stay at Ourganics Evolving Systems. If you too would like to host a cycle tour get in touch, especially if you're in Somerset, Wiltshire, Devon, dorset or Cornwall. You’ll find us in southwest England between May and July. From August to September we’ll be taking our (tupper)wares through the Midlands, Wales and Ireland.
And finally...
This month we’ve been growing grub and generally germinating. Watch the progress here .
Jo, Barbora, Liz & Doudou
The Otesha Project UK
www.otesha.org.uk
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