From Footsteps to Pedal Power

- help us get the Climate Vision report to Paris for COP21

What is it?

Three climate activists from Cornwall and Devon are cycling to Paris to deliver the Climate Vision report to delegates to the COP21 United Nations Climate Talks at the beginning of December.

In 2009 Truro Cathedral coordinated individual actions and pledges across Cornwall under the banner “Footsteps to Copenhagen” and delivered the pledges to the COP15 talks in a Cornish Pilot Gig.

Five years on governmental action is still sadly lacking and scientists are clearly talking about a climate emergency. Meanwhile in Cornwall, Climate Vision Crowdfunded to follow up the 2009 Pledges and demonstrated that these individual actions had made very significant carbon savings at extremely low cost. The report detailing the results and showing that citizens can play an active role in transforming the world is being delivered to representatives in Paris for COP21 by low carbon transport – a team of cyclists.

Why fund us?

With the timing of ferries and the desire to maximise opportunities for engagement along the way it will take us 10 days at about 65km a day to get from Truro to Paris. Along the way there are actions and events to set up in all the stage towns. When we return we will be travelling around the SW talking about the Paris outcomes and opportunites for further action. If you can't come with us, you can take part by helping with the costs.

Results and future actions will be fully documented on the www.Pedal2Paris.uk website.

This project has a high target to enable continuing action, but is set so that every contribution counts - £3000 is a real stretch goal, but every £5 will be well spent enabling actions along the way and beyond Paris (and yes there is a five pound option but it seems to have moved itself to the bottom of the list)

When is it?

Stream 1 (led by Euan & Roger) departs Truro Cathedral at 11am on Tuesday 17^th November,
Stream 2 (led by Ricky) departs Barnstaple Square at 10am on Wednesday 18^th November.
They meet at Saltash Tamar Bridge at 4pm on Thursday 19^th Nov with others for a mass cycle ride to a reception in Plymouth before catching Brittany Ferries overnight sailing to St.Malo.
From Friday 20^th they traverse Northern France through Normandy arriving in Paris on Thursday 26^th to be greeted by SW MEP Molly Scott Cato and others. Various meetings and events are arranged for the weekend including participation in the mass cycle rally on Saturday and the big demonstartion on Sunday 29th.

Who is going?

The main riders are

Euan McPhee, 68 from Falmouth, Ewan Jones, 45 from Bruton, Ricky Knight, 66 from Barnstaple, Roger C-O, 63 from Launceston,
All are long time environmental activists and involved in green politics. See below for biographical details.

They will be joined by other riders for all or part of each stage. If you would like to accompany us for a mile or more check the website www.pedal2paris.uk or the facebook group

Events en route

At each stage town they will be met by local activists to cycle in to the town and take part in various events and activities. Full details will be available on the website www.Pedal2Paris.uk The site will also host a daily diary (blog) from the ride.

Itinerary

• Tues 17^th Truro (11:00) to Wadebridge (50km)

• Weds 18^th Wadebridge to Liskeard (40km) and Barnstaple (10:00) to Lydford (75km)

• Thurs 19^th Liskeard to Saltash (30km) and Lydford to Saltash (40km).
  Meet Plymouth cyclists about 4pm for mass bridge crossing and ride to departure reception in Plymouth. Ferry to St.Malo departs 20:45.

• Fri 20^th St.Malo (09:45) to Avranches (65km)

• Sat 21^st Avranches to Saint Lo (65km)

• Sun 22^nd Saint Lo to Caen (60km)

• Mon 23^rd Caen to Honfleur (65km)

• Tues 24^th Honfleur to Rouen (85km)

• Weds 25^th Rouen to Magny-en-Vexin (75km)

• Thurs 26^th Magny-en-Vexn to Paris (70km).
  Meetings with SW MEP Molly Scot Cato, Italian Environment Minister and others.
  Events in Paris 27th-30th including mass cycle assembly on Saturday and march on Sunday.

The stages are realtively short to allow for events at start and arrival and short daylight hours. Full details on the website www.pedal2paris as they get arranged.

Backgrounds

Euan is an ecologist and recently-retired environmental science lecturer. "As a former eco-smallholder, I devoted much time to practical conservation. I am currently Chair of the Friends of Tregoniggie Woodland in Falmouth where I still get my hands dirty helping manage this public space. Having taught students for many years about climate change, I feel the time has come to act and not just speak on the issue. By cycling from Cornwall to Paris, I seek to act in solidarity with all people of goodwill who are determined to bring about a binding, meaningful agreement in Paris."

Ricky is a retired teacher (now a Bikeability training instructor), manic cycling enthusiast and indefatigable eco-warrior and anti-nuclear campaigner, steeped in NGO & Green ‘politics’. “This is my own personal ‘tipping point’ – I have to be in Paris this time. Having wept after the Copenhagen stitch-up, I will not be traumatised into inaction by the UK Government. I will bear witness”.

Roger is a semi-retired engineer and now a part-time organic fruit farmer. He has been involved in various eco-action and transition groups and many political campaigns. “I had high hopes in 2009, this time hope has ended and the time has come for action. We must travel together as a world or all is lost.“

Ewan is a physicist, a geographer, a business strategist and entrepreneur. He co-founded and led The energy saving co-operative until George Osborne decreed that energy saving was ‘Green Crap” in December 2013. Like Al Gore, he is “puzzled” about the current UK Government’s failure to understand the business case for investing in our green energy future. Having advised many global research projects, he is all to aware that public understanding of climate change is way ahead of our supposed political leaders. "Paris COP21 is the time for Actions not Words to break the cycle of man-made climate change."

Thank you for your support. Whatever happens in Paris this is the start of a new world. Help us make a difference. Sign up for the Footsteps pledges. Take the word into your own community.