January 2009
Happy new year!
Turn On Turn Off
Acme Climate Action Christmas over-consumption
Who's looking forward to the new year?
With less spending money and more spending time with people making and doing fun things for free, we definitely are. It's all about free transport (cycling), free food (foraging and freeganism) and free stuff (freecycle) this year.
What happened at Otesha in 2008?
It was the year we stopped talking about all the amazing things we were going to do and started doing them, cycling the talk if you will. We popped next door to Tower Hamlets Summer Uni where we cooked up a spectacular seasonal feast; we took our bikes down Deep South and way out Wild West: we went abroad to the European Social Forum in Sweden; the US embassy sent Hanna to Colorado to witness green stuff yank style, and finally we went to Poland with the UK Youth Delegation to the UN Climate Change negotiations to save the polar bears and the small island peoples.
Where are we going next?
We'll be sticking to UK shores for a while. But we've got grand plans for the summer, when we unleash 4 (yes 4!) cycle tours into the world. The Wild West tour of 2009 will take in the sights and swimming spots of the Welsh coast. Northern Soul tour members will peddle their wares and selves from Machynlleth in Wales through many shires of the West
Midlands and North-West England to the 2008 European Capital of Culture (if you don't know where that is you've never met a scouser). For those adverse to a hilly ride, Hanna is also organising the East Coast tour, which will enjoy cruising the flat lands of East Anglia. Caledonian Road, the fourth tour of 2009, will not be shy of large hills and small mountains, starting in Edinburgh and ending on the Isle of Arran.
As usual, we're looking for people and projects to visit; schools, youth groups and communities to perform the Otesha play to; fields to pitch our tents in and, most importantly, people to ride with us. If any of those are you, read on. If none of those are you, you should probably read on anyway, there's bound to be a way you can get involved.
When can you apply to join us on this magnificent cycling
adventure?
Right now, as it happens. To join us on a cycle tour you need to be aged 18-28 and available for at least 6 weeks this summer. Each tour has 2 tour liaisons who be involved in planning the tours before they set off, and will lead and support the tours on the road. The deadline for applications to be a tour liaison is January 9th 2009. There's no deadline for applications to become a tour member, but places will be allocated on a first come first-served basis, so don't wait too long to apply!
By the accounts of 30-odd people who took part in cycle tours in 2008, it's a life changing experience. By the accounts of people who watched the play and met an Otesha tour along the way, they're a bunch of crazy cyclists having a lot of fun.
How did we get on in Poland?
In December we joined the first ever UK Youth Delegation to the UN Climate Change negotiations, in Poland. There were tears but thankfully no tantrums. We shared frustration and fun. We moaned about our sleepless nights and raved about our amazing breakfasts at Barbara's B&B. We launched a calling campaign to put pressure on Gordon Brown to ensure a strong EU Climate and Energy Package and we weren't best pleased with the package itself but we were amazed, astonished and delighted by how many friends, family and folks unknown to us exercised their democratic right and called Gordon. This is just a fraction of what we got up to in Poland - there are blogs galore if you want more. What's more, this is just the
beginning. You'll be seeing more of the UKYD this year, much more. Watch out.
And finally...
This month at Otesha, we have mostly been searching long and hard (and without any luck) for recycled paper diaries. Let us know if you find any.
Jo, Liz & Hanna
The Otesha Project UK
www.otesha.org.uk