I have been interested in environmental issues for over 25 years, when I joined Greenpeace as a teenager. In those days the main topics in environmental campaigning were whaling, deforestation and acid rain. Since then we have seen the ozone hole crisis be averted, largely due to international, political will but we have also seen the 'rise' in awareness of another, greater threat. Climate change.
Back in the late 80s and early 90s I remember thinking that what needed to happen was that people should be made aware of the issues around climate change. Once global populations and governments became aware, I figured, surely they would make a fuss about it. I made my personal choices in support of this ideal. For example, I chose never to drive and thus never took a driving test, preferring to cycle everywhere. I found that I engaged in lots of discussion with people about climate change and other pollution simply in response to the question “How come you don't have a car?”.
Then in the 2000s I became a primary school teacher and also worked overseas with VSO for 5 years, in Eritrea and Nepal. This gave me the awareness that climate change is already having a serious impact on the poorer places in the world. I also realised that the next generation will be suffering worse than us. It also became apparent that the knowledge of climate change had spread, just as I'd hoped that it would, so that most people and all governments had heard about the 'Greenhouse Effect' and how humanity was causing it. Unfortunately, the sense of crisis never seemed to make the transition into effective action. It is almost as though the populace just can't quite make the sacrifices needed to when themselves off of fossil fuels.
Now in the year 2015 the climate crisis has reached the level where, we're told, if we don't seriously cut emissions within 5 years, our atmosphere will be committed to a likely 2oC rise and dramatic climate effects will be unstoppable (largely hitting the poorest people, as always). Of course I talk to the children about climate change and human impacts but, in reality, relying on the wisdom of the next generation is now too late. This generation needs to act. I have decided that even if, as seems likely, the global citizenry fails to stop devastating climate change, I must do something more. When I heard that these Paris talks were occurring I knew that I would try and go. Since no long distance travel is as environmentally friendly as cycling, then I had to cycle. I was half-way through organising my own ride from Leicester to Paris when I heard about the Time to Cycle ride. I was inspired that so many other people had the same intention as me and that people had given their valuable time into organising this ride, and I knew I had to be a part of it. In the future, if I ever meet, as adults, the children that I now teach, and they wonder how we managed to let the environment be so badly treated, I will know that at least I was part of something that tried to help.
Back in the late 80s and early 90s I remember thinking that what needed to happen was that people should be made aware of the issues around climate change. Once global populations and governments became aware, I figured, surely they would make a fuss about it. I made my personal choices in support of this ideal. For example, I chose never to drive and thus never took a driving test, preferring to cycle everywhere. I found that I engaged in lots of discussion with people about climate change and other pollution simply in response to the question “How come you don't have a car?”.
Then in the 2000s I became a primary school teacher and also worked overseas with VSO for 5 years, in Eritrea and Nepal. This gave me the awareness that climate change is already having a serious impact on the poorer places in the world. I also realised that the next generation will be suffering worse than us. It also became apparent that the knowledge of climate change had spread, just as I'd hoped that it would, so that most people and all governments had heard about the 'Greenhouse Effect' and how humanity was causing it. Unfortunately, the sense of crisis never seemed to make the transition into effective action. It is almost as though the populace just can't quite make the sacrifices needed to when themselves off of fossil fuels.
Now in the year 2015 the climate crisis has reached the level where, we're told, if we don't seriously cut emissions within 5 years, our atmosphere will be committed to a likely 2oC rise and dramatic climate effects will be unstoppable (largely hitting the poorest people, as always). Of course I talk to the children about climate change and human impacts but, in reality, relying on the wisdom of the next generation is now too late. This generation needs to act. I have decided that even if, as seems likely, the global citizenry fails to stop devastating climate change, I must do something more. When I heard that these Paris talks were occurring I knew that I would try and go. Since no long distance travel is as environmentally friendly as cycling, then I had to cycle. I was half-way through organising my own ride from Leicester to Paris when I heard about the Time to Cycle ride. I was inspired that so many other people had the same intention as me and that people had given their valuable time into organising this ride, and I knew I had to be a part of it. In the future, if I ever meet, as adults, the children that I now teach, and they wonder how we managed to let the environment be so badly treated, I will know that at least I was part of something that tried to help.
