April 2009
We've been trying to think up an opening gambit for the last half hour. But we're going to spare you the April fools gags that google provided, and just wish you a happy fossil fools day.
Turn On Turn Off
We live in financial times Beijing backed out of Earth Hour
Wheel to reel
We're incredibly proud, overjoyed and astonishingly excited to announce the arrival of our cycle tour film. This short video, filmed by the Wild West and Deep South cycle tour members on the road last summer, was edited together by Wild West volunteer Pete. Thank you Pete.
The film gives you a little insight into the 2008 tours. Watch the wet and wonderful world of the Wild West tour as they cycled around Wales during the month that rained every single day. See the Deep South tour as they literally road tested the whole concept of cycling a carnival of campers around the UK with a play, some workshops and a great big grey trailer called the slug.
We learnt a lot last year: that it's possible to have 8 punctures on a single bike in a single day; that tipis do flood and marquees sometimes fly away; that if you ask the bakery nicely at the end of the day, they may well donate baked goods to the cause; that a toaster and kettle are about the most exciting things you can imagine after several weeks of camping; and that cycling is more than just an excuse to wear lycra. It'd have to be a feature length film to fit everything in, but you can see snippets of it all here.
On your bike Jeremy
Transport for London tells us that ‘you're better off by bike' and whilst we struggle to believe that engineering works will ever end on the central line, we believe them on this one. We like to ride our bicycles (and we often sing as we do), cycling is healthy, inexpensive (a second hand bike costs less than a monthly travel card in London) and it's good for the environment. ‘Nuff said.
So, to prove just how easy it is to get on a bike, we're asking the nemesis of cyclists himself, Jeremy Clarkson, to get on a bike. If Jeremy can do it, anyone can.
If you too would like nothing better than to see Jeremy Clarkson ride a bike, then join the campaign. Send us a photo of yourself holding an ‘On Your Bike Jeremy' sign (you can download one and find out more here).
Everyone else on their bikes too
In February we challenged you to customise, repair or refashion an item of clothing. See the results here.
This month, the challenge is about getting around town. Wherever you spend your days, we challenge you to cycle there one day this week. If you're already a committed cycling commuter, we challenge you to get an unsuspecting friend on a bike or, if you can't cycle for any reason, we challenge you to find a creative low-carbon way to get around. Then tell us about your adventures.
We want to know who cycles the longest, the fastest and the most exciting route. Have you ever hitched a lift on a barge? Made a friend on a bike? Given up your car? Or have you just had enough of the rush hour crush and found your way on two wheels instead?
It's a challenge not a competition, so there are no losers, but there's an Otesha t-shirt in it for the winner. The stories and photos we receive will go on our website.
And finally
This month we have mostly been getting social with our networks. You can befriend, poke, find, tag, follow, or stalk us on Facebook and Twitter these days. Tweet tweet.
Jo, Liz & Hanna
The Otesha Project UK
www.otesha.org.uk