October 2008
This summer we've also cycled the talk, camped the talk, shopped the talk, ate the talk, invested our money the talk, tried to live the talk and done an awful lot of talking the talk.
Turn On Turn Off
Hula Hoops Sarah Palin vs. the Polar Bear
Otesha Abroad
Barely had our weary feet touched the ground after the Wild West cycle tour and we were off again, with Wild West Tour member Georgie with us for company. Not content with spending most of the summer under canvas, we set off for one last field, that just so happened to be in Sweden. Leaving our trusty steeds at home, we set off on a slightly singed Eurostar, a sumptuous sleeper and a magnificent train-boat-train (train that drove straight onto and off of a ferry over the Baltic) to the European Social Forum in Malmo (yes we camped, yes it was cold).
While we were there, not only did we admire all those different, exciting and efficient forms of transport, we also took in some sights, some seminars, a few exhibitions, the odd workshop and met the odd aggressive environmentalist. Read all about our exploits.
The Book is back!
After a couple of months off, the Otesha UK Handbook is back with a vengeance. This time we're taking on the myths, memories and molecular structure of the media. It's no mean feat, and that's why we'd like some help with it.
Here's how it works. (Almost) every month we gather our thoughts and our friends and put to paper some facts, personal stories and general chat about a theme. We've already covered Food, Fashion, Money, Energy, Transport and Fairtrade - next month we'll be writing about Water. Once we've done our bit we put it on our website for all to see and download for free. This month's Media is fresh off the press and onto the line now.
But that's not the end of it. Eventually we're going to seek out a publisher for the Otesha UK Handbook, and make it a real life paper thing. We don't want to add just another guide to living sustainably to our already over-crowded bookshelves. We want ours to be a participatory publication, full of the ideas and opinions of lots of different people. So email (info@otesha.org.uk) us your bits - you'll make us happy, and we'll put them online with the rest of the book.
Join the UK Youth Delegation - come to Poland!
Last December our Liz went to the UN Climate Talks in Bali as part of a Canadian Youth Delegation to take on the Canadian government, who were being bad guys about committing to combat climate change. This year, the next round of UN negotiations COP14 (Conference of the parties) will be held in Poland. Emma and Casper from the UK Youth Climate Coalition thought it was high time the UK youth got involved, so us and them are coordinating the first ever UK Youth Delegation to a UN Climate Change Conference.
We're looking for 15 diverse young people (18-26) from around the UK (you must be either living in the UK or be from the UK to apply) to learn about international climate policy and have their voices heard by their governmental leaders and the media. The application is available here now (deadline October 10th). Pass it on.
Cycling into the sunset
Summer's over and so are the cycle tours for this year. We wouldn't like to leave you cold turkey, so the last installment of the Wild West Tour Journal, along with the back catalogue from the Deep South and Wild West tours, are all available for your perusal. Catch up on what you missed, or hide yourself away and read them all at once, as if it's a box set of The Wire. And to tide you over until next year, here's a final note on the tours from Michelle, of Wild West Tour fame:
Otesha inspired me to believe in the power of a community and that it is possible, and even so easy to create a community of people working towards one common goal. We were just that - a mobile community and I've never met a group of such dynamic and interesting people. We've had so much support from each other, it's incredible, but also such an unusual and special opportunity, where each detail of our journey really mattered.
So much inspiration! Everywhere! I want to continue to pass the message of Otesha on and on to many other people in different parts of the world. I'm on my way to Israel for the year and have some initial plans to translate our play into Hebrew to start to plant some seeds of Otesha in Tel Aviv. There are so many opportunities to get into people's hearts and brains in this world and Otesha has really mastered the art of inspiration and positive thinking. Where else could be a better place to start?
And a few parting facts from the tours:
Deep South
Miles cycled: about 750
Record distance in a day: 72 miles
Number of people we've reached: over 1300
Number of punctures: 32
Visits to bike shops for repairs: 14
Number of times we visited Yeovil: 3, although it felt like more
Times we've blagged free stuff off bakeries at 5pm: most days
for 6 weeks
Wild West
Miles cycled: 645
Number of days where it didn't rain: 3
Number of people we've reached: approx 1600
Number of performances planned: 18
Number of impromtu street theatre performances: 5
Number of fake moustaches donned for a night out in
Carmarthen: 18
Number of banks we asked about their ethical
policies: all the big boys
Number of post bikes spotted cycling the welsh hills with 3 gears and a heavy enough sound system: one, just our Peter
And finally
This month we're going to practise our hula hooping skills on our homemade hoops.
Jo, Hanna & Liz
The Otesha Project UK
www.otesha.org.uk