Cyclists fly the flag for climate justice and democracy
Over 125 people will be taking part in a mass cycle ride from London to Paris from the 6th to the 10th December, to join calls for more urgent action to prevent runaway global warming. The riders are taking to their bikes during the UN climate talks (COP21) in Paris, which have been billed as the final chance for a global agreement to limit warming to within safe limits.
The ‘Time to Cycle’ ride kicks off with a celebration event on the evening of the 5th December, and then leaves from South London on the morning of Sunday 6th December, with cyclists joining from all corners of the UK. The aim of the ride is to highlight the importance and joy of sustainable transport, and also the critical need to keep fossil fuels in the ground in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Caroline Lucas, Green party MP for Brighton Pavilion declared 'This cycle ride is hugely inspiring and is part of a growing movement for climate justice. Communities are taking the climate challenge into their own hands- with local power generation leading the way in spite of short- sighted Government cuts to support for solar and wind.
'I wish the cyclists all the best on their journey to Paris.'
The ride will pass through Balcombe, Brighton and Newhaven and then over the channel to Dieppe, Rouen, Freneuse, and will finally arrive in Paris on the evening of the 10th December. The cyclists will be riding a combined total of over 25,000 miles!
En route, the cyclists will stop off at several destinations to meet with local community groups, and celebrate their work and learn about how they have reduced their own use of fossil fuels. One of the stops will be at Repower Balcombe, a solar energy project in Sussex and cyclists will also learn about the village’s successful campaign against fracking.
There will also be knowledge-sharing workshops held at each stop along the route, with the cyclists themselves offering their skills to the group in subjects as diverse as off-grid living to yoga and green parenting.
“We’re seeing a different kind of tipping point now, a social shift, as civil society mobilisations addressing the environmental crisis start to hit critical mass” commented Hillary Vipond, a member of the Time To Cycle organising committee.
And these cyclists are not planning to go quietly either. In Brighton, on the 7th, they will parade through the city centre with music and flags flying, before converging at the Brighthelm Church & Community Centre where Caroline Lucas (Green party MP for Brighton Pavilion) and several other speakers, will welcome them. And once in Paris, the riders will draw attention to climate change issues through a series of creative and fluid demos around the city. At night they will project personalised photo-messages from UK supporters onto iconic buildings around the city. (Photos can be posted to timetocycle@lensmob.com.)
The cyclists will also be eating as sustainably as possible on their long cycle. And in Brighton they will be treated to a low impact feast made from food which otherwise would have been diverted into waste, courtesy of the Real Junk Food Project.
Chair of the Brighton Climate Action Network, Duncan Blinkhorn, who will lead the ride said: “the COP21 negotiators know that to keep temperature rise within the critical two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, 80% of fossil fuels must be left in the ground. Failure to do so, will trigger an uncontrollable situation in the coming years. It’s like a slow motion car crash where we haven’t even fixed on our seat belts, let alone changed course to avoid collision.”
Commenting on the recent atrocities in Paris, Sama Bakr, from Time To Cycle said: “With the eyes of the world on Paris for the COP21, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to send a powerful message through our actions. We are honoured to join the people of Paris in calling for peace at all levels, and to stand in solidarity with front line communities already affected by climate change."
Cycling to Paris for climate justice, democracy, and - now more than ever - for peace.
There are still some spaces available for the London to Brighton leg of the ride on the 6th Dec, for more information visit www.timetocycle.org
ENDS
PHOTOCALLS & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday 6th December:
- 8am at Holy Trinity Church Trinity Rise, Tulse Hill, London, SW2 2QP,
- 1pm at Balcombe fracking site
- 4pm at Withdean Park Brighton
- 5pm at Brighthelm Centre, North Road Brighton
Monday 7th December:
- 6.30am at The Level park, central Brighton
- 8.30am Newhaven ferry terminal
NOTES TO EDITOR
Time to Cycle is a network of people who share a love of cycling and the dedication to make a positive change on this planet.
‘Time to Cycle’ London to Paris climate ride: www.timetocycle.org
Brighton Climate Action Network: www.BrightonCAN.org
Bike Train: www.facebook.com/groups/biketrain
Send messages for projection to timetocycle@lensmob.com
For more information:
Time to Cycle: info@timetocycle.org
Duncan Blinkhorn (Time to Cycle/Brighton Climate Action Network): 07944 152706
The ‘Time to Cycle’ ride kicks off with a celebration event on the evening of the 5th December, and then leaves from South London on the morning of Sunday 6th December, with cyclists joining from all corners of the UK. The aim of the ride is to highlight the importance and joy of sustainable transport, and also the critical need to keep fossil fuels in the ground in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.
Caroline Lucas, Green party MP for Brighton Pavilion declared 'This cycle ride is hugely inspiring and is part of a growing movement for climate justice. Communities are taking the climate challenge into their own hands- with local power generation leading the way in spite of short- sighted Government cuts to support for solar and wind.
'I wish the cyclists all the best on their journey to Paris.'
The ride will pass through Balcombe, Brighton and Newhaven and then over the channel to Dieppe, Rouen, Freneuse, and will finally arrive in Paris on the evening of the 10th December. The cyclists will be riding a combined total of over 25,000 miles!
En route, the cyclists will stop off at several destinations to meet with local community groups, and celebrate their work and learn about how they have reduced their own use of fossil fuels. One of the stops will be at Repower Balcombe, a solar energy project in Sussex and cyclists will also learn about the village’s successful campaign against fracking.
There will also be knowledge-sharing workshops held at each stop along the route, with the cyclists themselves offering their skills to the group in subjects as diverse as off-grid living to yoga and green parenting.
“We’re seeing a different kind of tipping point now, a social shift, as civil society mobilisations addressing the environmental crisis start to hit critical mass” commented Hillary Vipond, a member of the Time To Cycle organising committee.
And these cyclists are not planning to go quietly either. In Brighton, on the 7th, they will parade through the city centre with music and flags flying, before converging at the Brighthelm Church & Community Centre where Caroline Lucas (Green party MP for Brighton Pavilion) and several other speakers, will welcome them. And once in Paris, the riders will draw attention to climate change issues through a series of creative and fluid demos around the city. At night they will project personalised photo-messages from UK supporters onto iconic buildings around the city. (Photos can be posted to timetocycle@lensmob.com.)
The cyclists will also be eating as sustainably as possible on their long cycle. And in Brighton they will be treated to a low impact feast made from food which otherwise would have been diverted into waste, courtesy of the Real Junk Food Project.
Chair of the Brighton Climate Action Network, Duncan Blinkhorn, who will lead the ride said: “the COP21 negotiators know that to keep temperature rise within the critical two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels, 80% of fossil fuels must be left in the ground. Failure to do so, will trigger an uncontrollable situation in the coming years. It’s like a slow motion car crash where we haven’t even fixed on our seat belts, let alone changed course to avoid collision.”
Commenting on the recent atrocities in Paris, Sama Bakr, from Time To Cycle said: “With the eyes of the world on Paris for the COP21, we have an opportunity and a responsibility to send a powerful message through our actions. We are honoured to join the people of Paris in calling for peace at all levels, and to stand in solidarity with front line communities already affected by climate change."
Cycling to Paris for climate justice, democracy, and - now more than ever - for peace.
There are still some spaces available for the London to Brighton leg of the ride on the 6th Dec, for more information visit www.timetocycle.org
ENDS
PHOTOCALLS & INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday 6th December:
- 8am at Holy Trinity Church Trinity Rise, Tulse Hill, London, SW2 2QP,
- 1pm at Balcombe fracking site
- 4pm at Withdean Park Brighton
- 5pm at Brighthelm Centre, North Road Brighton
Monday 7th December:
- 6.30am at The Level park, central Brighton
- 8.30am Newhaven ferry terminal
NOTES TO EDITOR
Time to Cycle is a network of people who share a love of cycling and the dedication to make a positive change on this planet.
‘Time to Cycle’ London to Paris climate ride: www.timetocycle.org
Brighton Climate Action Network: www.BrightonCAN.org
Bike Train: www.facebook.com/groups/biketrain
Send messages for projection to timetocycle@lensmob.com
For more information:
Time to Cycle: info@timetocycle.org
Duncan Blinkhorn (Time to Cycle/Brighton Climate Action Network): 07944 152706
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