June 2008
Hello, hello, hello,
Turn On Turn Off
Play Littering London with free papers
Cycle Tour Saga
The training for the first ever Otesha UK cycle tour started last week. We were camped out at the site of the Sunrise Celebration , all very eager to try out the three types of compost loo that'd been promised. Unfortunately the weather had something else in store. After we survived the great marquee disaster of 2008 and watched as our campsite gradually turned into a paddy field, we were very disappointed when the festival, compost loos and all, was cancelled at the last minute. However, we will persevere on our cycle tour mission. Read more on the team's journal , and see some photos (maybe even some videos when we get around to it).
Radishes on Roundabouts
Last year 1,000 residents in Middlesbrough were challenged to rethink food miles, food production, health and their local urban environment. With the help of Groundwork South Tees, schools, mental health hospitals, care homes and retailers planted fruit, vegetables and herbs in any space they could find. Disused urban spaces were transformed into urban farms. People helped to regenerate their own area. And at the end of the project, they celebrated with a Town Meal in Centre Square, with thousands of people enjoying the delicious results.
The artists Bob and Roberta Smith and Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art organised The Really Super Market, to coincide with the Town Meal. As well as a Tug O’ War between artists and farmers, there was a public ballot to decide which is more important, food or art. Although there are no official records of the ballot results, the staff at Mima remember the artists declaring, “you all voted for art but of course you are completely wrong as food is far more important”. They assure us that no riots broke out that night over the food vs. art debate, but we’re sure that question filled many a long night in a pub. Read more and ponder the question ‘How can design help us eat more ethically?’
Fish
After 10 years of campaigning by COAST (community of Arran sea bed trust), a marine reserve has been proposed in Lamlash Bay on Arran. This would be the first Marine protected area (MPA) in Scotland, but it is in danger of being rejected and needs support.
Current dredging for scallops is destroying the sea bed, including a special habitat called marl beds - a type of coral which takes hundreds of years to grow and on which thousands of species depend. Dredging is basically like dragging a huge rake over the sea bed, and damages everything in its path. Other countries' experiences have shown that having a MPA allows habitat and fish stocks to recover, giving species a chance to grow, reproduce and replenish surrounding areas. In the long term everyone, including fishermen, benefit.
If this goes ahead it will set the precedent for fisheries management and conservation throughout the UK, so it’s important to show support. Please write to telling them that you support the proposed Marine Reserve. The closing date for responses is June 5th. More info here.
Escape London
Or any other city for that matter. Recognising the need for this, escapelondon isn't trying to sell you anything, especially not last minute package deals to the next European destination about to be blighted by the curse of the cheap airline. Instead they'll gently tempt you to escape to beautiful places in the UK, with reviews, photos, tips and information.
Escapelondon was born last summer when a couple of escapees were considering their holiday options. It was a toss up between a package holiday to a Greek island and a camping trip to the beautiful Gower Peninsula. Being a bit skint, they opted for the canvas option, and found themselves to be unexpectedly happy campers. Sat around the camp fire at night, they bemoaned the fact that every year people pile on planes to sit on polluted beaches full of their fellow compatriots, stressing about whether they've spent their 20 days wisely. The escapees decided their new purpose was to get people out and about in the UK on cheap, fulfilling, fun holidays that aren't fraught with the usual stresses or planet-polluting planes. Escapelondon is an interactive resource and the escapees invite you to share your escapes and adventures on their website too.
Sign up to the Deep South Cycle Tour Journal
If you enjoyed our little excerpt on the first ever Otesha UK cycle tour, sign up for more. Every week we'll be emailing out a journal written by the cycle tour members, telling you all about our punctures, politics and progress as we peddle our wares around the South West for the next month and a bit.
And finally...
This month we've been getting over our cynicism.
Jo, Hanna, Barbora, Liz & Doudou
The Otesha Project UK
www.otesha.org.uk