Changing Cycles

Biospherical pt 3

2010-04-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

Still can't make the video upload, but here's the text for my North Devon Biosphere piece, working title, Bioculturaldiversity...(!)

primrose, campion, cranesbill, vetch, dog-rose, foxglove, holly

hawthorn, blackthorn, cross-leaved heath, bracken, bristle bent, beech

purple moorgrass, yorkshire fog, sheep fescue, tormentil

birdsfoot trefoil, pedunculate oak, bell heather, western gorse

lundy cabbage, rowan, hazel, irish lady’s tresses

wood anemone, buckler fern, orchid, ash, thrift

orange fruited elm lichen, purple ramping fumitory

sea rush, common reed, marram grass, thyme, eyebright, portland spurge

Aspi-what? What like breathing? I dunno what you mean by aspiration

Oh, oh right! No, I don’t need no further education

My situation’s sorted, all mapped out, I’ve got it set so

I don’t need to worry, Mum’s gonna get me on the checkouts at Tesco,

Not gonna let go of that am I? It’s a great job. Ironic?

What like that shit song? It’s like Mum says, when the gravy train comes, get on it,

Simple as that. Might be unfair but with so little jobs we have to look after ourselves.

Leave? Why would I wanna leave? We’ve always lived here. I don’t need to go nowhere else.

tortoiseshell, red admiral, peacock, orange tip, green hairstreak, speckled wood

pearl bordered fritillary, high brown fritillary, plume moth, marbled white

dingy skipper, grizzled skipper, goat moth, dragonfly

great green bush cricket, bloody nose beetle, brown argus, large carder bee

Look, even if I wasn’t black, I’d always be an outsider,

You’re not Devonian unless you’ve been here three generations and when you’re cut you bleed cider!

Well, I decided to buy my second home here cos I fell in love with it when I was a kid,

Our school brought us here to work on a farm for a week, best thing they ever did.

A few months every year, but when I retire I’ll move here full time

No, you get the odd look or comment, but everyone else is fine.

It’s mostly those who moved here from cities cos the multicultural project was failing ‘em,

Irony is, they move down here, and they also get treated as aliens!

yellow hammer, whitethroat, chaffinch, song thrush, dunnock, bullfinch, teal

bar-tailed godwit, cormorant, curlew, shelduck, dunlin, knot,

lapwing , wigeon, wheater, woodpecker, wood warbler, stonechat, chough

pied flycatcher, cormorant, gannet, nightjar, fulmar, gull

oystercatcher, cirl bunting, skylark, corncrake, cuckoo

golden plover, redstart, redshank, grey partridge, barn owl

common sandpiper, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, roseate tern

peregrine falcon, sparrow hawk, kestrel, buzzard, snipe

Well, I still do the milk round, course it’s not my milk any more,

After the cull we couldn’t go back to the way it was before.

Still do a bit of arable, beef, sheep, farming’s in my blood.

Try not to ruminate too much, we’re not made for chewing cud.

But dairy was dying before foot and mouth, we were tied up and buried in paper

The iron lady cast a long shadow, we always knew we wouldn’t escape her.

There’s no money in milk no more, ‘less you’re prepared to go big

And these hands weren’t made for pens, but tools, for my challenges, I’ll dig.

badger, rabbit, seal, otter, greater horseshoe bat

hedgehog, fox, red deer, dormouse, soprano pipistrelle,

brown hare, slow worm, grass snake, adder, greater mouse eared bat

natterjack toad, common frog, sand lizard, great crested newt

I tell him, ‘Dad, read the sticker, if it’s off shore, I’m off work!’

He says I’m lazy but it’s his fault, he taught me to surf, the berk!

He wanted me to follow the family trade, work in the big shipyard,

But I knew I’d fail to show when the sea called me to rip hard.

And I’m not some hippy peacenik, but I did sort of question why

I’d want to build a boat that sent young men off to die

So I make my paper cutting limbs off trees in my chain-saw surgery,

And when my mistress the sea throws those sets at the beach, that’s life’s only urgency

flat fish, flounder, mullet, salmon, sea trout, shore crab, shad,

common lobster, limpet, bass, painted topshell mussel

leopard spotted goby wrasse, pollack, undulate ray

acorn barnacle, spider crab, peppery furrow shell

beadlet anemone, snakelocks anemone, hydrobia, honeycomb worm

oarweed, bladderwrack, irish moss, amber sand bowl snail

devonshire cup coral, Pink sea fan, scurvy grass, breadcrumb sponge

early gentian, lady’s bedstraw, round headed club-rush.

Nah I’m not scared, can’t wait, it’s exactly what I’d planned.

But it’s weird to think these dunes’ll soon be Afghanistani sand.

I’ll miss ‘em. And my family of course, even this shitty town

Why did I join? Well there’s nothing else going for me, take a look around.

You get good pay, qualifications, I’ll have a serious career

As long as… look it’s nearly last orders, do you want another beer?

You know my granddad trained for D-day here, taught him how to fight…

No. I don’t mate. We’re not trained to question wrong or right.

Biospherical pt 2

2010-04-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

Apparently Blogger hates my work. It won't publish a copied and pasted version of my Devon poem as it doesn't like something in the code, and I'm too lazy to re-type the whole thing, or learn html to sort out the problem. Neither am I able to upload the video of me performing the piece as it's too big a file. I'm exporting it as a smaller one which I'll try and upload in a separate post, but meanwhile here's a couple of clips from the rest of the evening:

First a bit of Byron:

Then a bit of Maxwell:

Biospherical

2010-04-07T09:20:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my last post, a couple of weeks ago I had a gig in Bideford, North Devon and spent a few days prior to it roaming around the area, meeting people and witnessing landscapes with a view to researching and developing a new piece in response to the Biosphere Reserve.
I was driven about all week by Beaford's programme manager, the very wonderful Hannah Ashwell, who not only arranged meetings and transported me to them but tirelessly filled my head with information and my belly with food en route and at the end of each day, usually along with a glass of wine or two as she generously put me up at her house. I 'd brought my bike down with me, but my schedule was so packed, and the weather so miserable that the bike stayed in the boot most of the week.
The idea was that I would blog about it whilst I was down there, posting video diaries and bits of writing that tracked my progress. Hannah lent me a pocket sized digital video camera and I duly stuck it in people's faces to record sound bites, including my own, and attempted arty landscape shots through the drizzle-streaked car window. Unfortunately I realised early on that my video editing skills were not what I thought they were and as my laptop didn't want to be friends with Hannah's wifi there was little opportunity to even write posts, let alone the slick media-savvy videoblogs I had envisaged.
So what follows is edited diary-lights of my time in North Devon, along with largely unedited clips of a few of the people, animals and places I visited. Once I've brushed up my digital media skills I might post a longer shinier compilation of the whole week, but don't hold your breath...

Day 1 (Mon): Spent the whole day on the train. Hannah met me at Exeter and drove me to her village where we drank beer and discussed the week ahead. Had a nice dinner back at Hannah's house in the company of her housemate Steven, and cats Max and Charlie.

Day 2 (Tues): Met Mark, the director of Beaford Arts in the morning and chatted about possible lines of enquiry. Went for lunch in Bideford and checked out the venue for Saturday's gig, the Burton Museum and Art Gallery. Afterwards we drove out to Westward Ho! and visited Northam Burrows and the pebble ridge, a long line of stones that protects the burrows behind. Created by the sea, maintained by locals over many years (in the annual pot-walloping festival) but now being threatened by the sea, the ridge is an interesting site of conflicts; environmental change, human need and traditional customs; and as such epitomises some of the tensions at the heart of the Biosphere concept (which I will write a poem about in due course)

In the evening we went to visit a village called West Buckland, whose inhabitants are considering programming arts events through Beaford for the first time. Chilly village hall warmed by friendly locals, tea and kit-kats.

Day 3(Wed): I'd begun to get an idea of the piece I wanted to write for Saturday, a combination of the biodiversity and the cultural diversity that make up the 3000 odd sq km of the Biosphere. Hannah suggested we go to meet Rob Woolton, co-chair of the Devon hedge group who also has a small farm.

Turns out it's actually his wife Paula who is the farmer and is just as fascinating and knowledgeable about the countryside as her husband. Time didn't permit me to interview her as well, but I hope to meet them again next time... Though I did get to meet their friend Dora:

Rob and Paula both came to the gig too, which was lovely, though Dora already had plans. That evening we went to meet Andy Bell, the coordinator of the Biosphere, at Braunton Burrows, another important ecosystem in the area, a sand dune system of world importance:

It was beautiful, but windy, and as the night drew in we decamped to a nice pub where Andy bought us dinner. Cheers Andy!

Day 4(Thurs): Tired from all our visits and the mental overload entailed, as well as starting to feel nervous about writing something for the gig, I spent the morning editing lists of North Devonshire flora and fauna, before going off for lunch at Tapely Park Estate. Tapely is owned by a guy called Hector Christie, whose family also own Glyndebourne. Hector owns a lot of land in the Biosphere, including Braunton Burrows, but is not your usual large landowner. He became radicalised during the foot and mouth crisis, barricading his land against the police, army and MAFF vets to save his herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle. Since then he has become a prominent evironmental campaigner and runs the house as a sort of commune. We had lunch with Hector, his girlfriend, Andy, Hannah and a documentary maker called Sheilagh. Wished I could have stayed all afternoon to find out more about Hector and his campaigns, but had to be whisked off to meet another great character in the shape of Paul Niemiec, a community priest and youth minister. Paul once put on a rave for under-eighteens in Salisbury cathedral, and runs his church as more of a community centre, putting on film screenings and youth and community events. When we met him he was listening to a CD of early Elvis recordings on the church sound system and they were advertising a screening of Age of Stupid the following evening. Paul told me about some of the young people that he works with in the area, and some of the problems they face.

That evening I bought Hannah dinner to say thanks for being such a great host, as it was my last night at her house, and tried to do a bit more scribbling before I passed out.

Day 5 (Fri): Spent the morning/afternoon at Hannah's writing some of the characters I'd decided on for my piece before heading over to Beaford where I was staying for the next two nights. Hannah was off to help a company called Jammy Voo do their get in so I had the place to myself until the evening when Maxwell Golden arrived. Maxwell is a brilliant hip hop theatre artist, MC and producer who I met a few years ago, and bumped into again recently. We were chatting about my upcoming work at Beaford and he asked if he could come down and check it out, so we arranged it and he thankfully agreed to a spot on the night. That evening we had a few too many drinks at the local pub and had a good time meeting Jammy Voo back at the centre.
Day 6 (Sat - showtime!): Spent the morning going over material with Maxwell and Hannah, was great to have their direction and made me feel a lot more confident about the gig. Headed over to Bideford in the afternoon to set up, and after various techncial hitches had everything set up and ready to go. As well as Maxwell we were joined by the always excellent and only slightly elf-like Byron Vincent, and also showed a video by Forkbeard Fantasy called Carbon Weevils:

The gig went off brilliantly, with only a few minor gremlins. The crowd were great, really warm, friendly and responsive. Below is a transcript of the new piece I performed. I'll post some clips of the gig shortly but it's taken hours just to publish the ones I've done!

The poem itself is a combination of species particular to the North Devon biosphere, some of which are endangered or have become extinct to the region or even the country, and characters I imagined from the places I visited and the people I spoke to. I tried to imagine what they might say if I'd had a chance to stick my camera in their face and ask them questions. I hope I haven't trivialised or over-simplified any of the people or issues in the area, but it's hard to feel you know your subject deeply after only a week!

Thank you to Hannah, Beaford Arts and Burton Museum and Art Gallery for making the week and the gig go off so well, and thanks to everyone who came down and made Saturday so special. I look forward to returning and making the work bigger and better... (and maybe having a crack at those accents!)

De-tour

2010-03-04T08:44:00.000-08:00

Since I last posted here, a lot has changed. Which is to be expected, as that was about 8 months ago, but it's been a more eventful 8 months than most.
Things were going well; I'd found a solution to some of my production problems in the shape of Kate Reynolds, who'd come on board to help me book the tour and apply for Arts Council funding; in October I won the BBC Radio 4 National Poetry Slam which promised to increase my profile and make selling the show easier. And then my dad died.
I won't go into all the messy details, but needless to say for a couple of months I didn't have the time or energy to get much work done. So as I gradually began to resurface I had to make the difficult decision to cancel the Voices of Dissent tour for this year.
This was an eventuality I'd considered before when having problems finding a producer, and I found the prospect unbearably frustrating at the time, but faced with the death of a loved one you become remarkably stoical about such decisions.
It may yet all work out for the best anyway. I still have Kate on board to make the tour happen next year, and hopefully Ric Watts who produced the show previously should be available again after he finishes at Queer Up North in the summer. We have more time to do it properly now, as, at the risk of stating the obvious, it's a lot more complicated to try and organise a theatre tour by bicycle than by regular petrol-power.
I'm also continuing my relationship with Beaford Arts who've been brilliantly understanding and supportive. They'd provisionally booked me some dates in Devon and Cornwall, one of which was too late to back out of so I'm going down to the Burton Museum and Art Gallery in Bideford on the 27th March to perform some new material along a similar theme, with the support of the excellent Byron Vincent. While I'm down there I'm going to take a few days to meet people in the area as part of my research for some new work in response to the biosphere reserve there. That research, and also the concept for my new work, is actually really exciting, and I'll write a separate post about it soon, but if I don't end this one soon I'm never going to get my poems done...

Getting the pedals turning...

2009-07-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

Things are starting to take shape for the tour of Voices of Dissent next year, albeit slowly and in unpredictable ways. I've been given the support of a great organisation in North Devon called Beaford Arts, who are not only offering me space to rehearse the show in Spring but promotion to their rural touring networks in Devon and Cornwall and connections to other venues in the area. So the idea is to start the tour in the South West, before heading over to London, up to East Anglia and back to the North West via the Midlands, possibly ending up in Newcastle. By bicycle. And, realistically, one or two trains - though we're aiming to keep them to a minimum. Anyone who wants to join us for any of the legs would be most welcome. Particularly if you have a portable sound system...

Beaford are also interested in me developing a new piece of work there in response to the region being a UNESCO Biosphere reserve, and possibly in collaboration with other European or international partners. But more of that as it develops...

For now I'm working on getting the tour booked, re-working the script, and writing the obligatory funding applications. And with the help of my renewable technology expert Charlie Baker, and designer Dan Steele, we're trying to develop a system to power the whole show self-sufficiently, through pedal power or other renewable means. So far I think we have the lighting sorted, barring some re-design of the pedal generator Charlie has created and sourcing of the right sort of lights at the right price, but we still have a little way to go on powering our own sound renewably. Rocks in (recycled) oil barrels anyone?

Above are some pictures and below is a video clip of the pedal generator. The video made me laugh an inordinate amount. (I am easily amused).

Eloquent Protest, Effective Protest?

2008-12-01T00:20:00.000-08:00

For the past few months I've been involved with a production called Eloquent Protest, which was first produced by Feelgood Productions three years ago and is now in its third incarnation. The piece was conceived as 'an artist's response to the human cost of conflict' and contains a lot of powerful and moving material. I was honoured to be able to perform in the West End show this year, and also to be part of the version of the production that made its way out to Nepal at the Kathmandu International Festival. I've written a bit more about both experiences here but what I want to write about pertaining to this blog, is about the effectiveness of this sort of artistic protest, and whether it is possible, in a world choking on carbon, to justify flying halfway across the world to make these sort of statements.
I think the London production was a very effective piece of action/protest, albeit a quite comfortable, middle class one. The West End venue and high ticket price (though 15 pounds is quite cheap for the West End) might lead to accusations of elitism, but war veterans were given free entry, the performers gave their time for free, and all the proceeds went to Medecines Sans Frontieres, an organisation for which I have a great deal of respect. Some may question how much sitting in a theatre and listening to songs and poetry can achieve in resisting current or future wars, but there is a certain power in gathering together and remembering and reiterating artistic statements against conflict - they are a strong and important part of the culture that leads people to protest.
As for the production in Nepal, I wondered what we really had to say to a country that is still suffering the legacy of civil war, and I know a lot of the complex literary language was lost on a predominantly non-English speaking audience. The same questions remain for me about the effectiveness of this form of protest, but coming to Nepal made me realise the power of theatre in the context of revolution. The theatre school we were performing at was a focus of action during the uprising against the monarchy here, and street theatre was an important mobilising tool. Also, the director of the Thai company at the festival said our production had inspired him to write about the economic conflict occurring in his own country, the takeover of Tesco in Thailand and other such issues. This is the sort of cultural exchange and cross fertilisation that an international festival can bring about, and I've certainly taken away a lot of ideas for my own work.
I suppose the main problem I feel with being here is the paradox of being an artist making work about humans' impact on the environment flying to another continent to perform in a festival. It's not a direct hypocrisy I suppose, as our piece was about war rather than ecology, but how many wars, past, present and future were, are or will be fought for control over earth's dwindling resources? And yet, despite my pledges to my myself not to fly any more, I feel visiting other countries is more and more important in my understanding of the world, my ability to be able to make informed statements about my own and other cultures, and my own personal development and fulfillment. But how can I say my work is so important that I deserve to fly, at the same time as campaigning against airport expansion and increasing carbon emissions? How can I possibly be so self-important?
Part of the answer is that you don't have to fly in order to travel, and my next bike-based theatre project (once I've finished my long over due tour of Voices of Dissent) is to join the peace ride from London to Jerusalem and perform a piece of theatre in refugee camps in Palestine.
But meanwhile, I now have contacts and invitations from companies in Thailand, Bangladesh and others. I can't cycle everywhere, so do I take it on myself to sacrifice my wander-lust in order to practice what I perform, or do I just hope that rising oil prices and financial depression make flying prohibitively expensive for everyone (except the super rich), to public detriment and planetary benefit?

Reasons I don't write this blog

2008-09-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

1. I'm too lazy.
This isn't entirely true. Sometimes it is, but I'm generally a pretty active person. I even get up and go swimming some mornings. When I think about it, most of the time what I feel is laziness is actually apathy , lethargy or despondency caused by some of the other reasons given below.

2. I'm too busy.
Again, this is only partly true. I am involved in a lot of other things than this project, and have to be in order to stay afloat as an artist living in a market dominated society. But I'm also getting a lot better organised, and could write more regular blog posts if I gave myself the opportunity.

3. Other people are writing much better blogs about the environment.
Now we're getting to the roots of things. It's so easy to look at the reams of writing out there that deal with these issues from a much more informed and active point of view, and just think 'what's the point?' I can't add anything to the 'debate' apart from opinions I've received from other writers, most of whom know more than me, or are doing much more about it than writing poems and making theatre pieces noone comes to see. But if there's anything interesting about this blog, I think it will be just that - a pretty ordinary sort of artist trying to make sense of a lot of overwhelming scientific evidence and political opinion, trying to make entertaining performance work about it, whilst dealing with the apparent contradictions of the urgency of the situation we face, and the sort of reflective work I think is necessary in order to consider where we are, how we got here, and where we need to go...

4. No one will read it anyway.
Well, that's as maybe. But you won't know until you start doing it more reguarly than every three months. And I learned recently, from my girlfriend (whose excellent blog you can read here) that the way to increase your readership is to read other people's and comment on them. Which concerns me slightly as I find it hard enough writing my two blogs, and all the creative stuff that they're supposed to be about, but I think if I stop letting my insecurities and self-doubt get in my way, I should free up some time to be interested in what other people are writing.

5. I should be going out and taking action, rather than sitting at home writing about it.
This is partly true, and being at Climate Camp for a few days this summer (which I haven't yet written about, because as soon as I started looking around for what other people had written so I didn't duplicate too much information, I immediately felt innadequate and got put off. See above.) has reignited my taste for being involved in direct action and protest. But it's important to reflect on the nature of that action, what the motivations are, how effective it is etc. So whilst I am going to be involved in more actions in future, and continue to make theatrical/literary work about it, this will also be the space where I will write about being involved in both of those processes. It's all about balance...

6. We're all f**cked anyway, what's the point writing a blog about it?
Yeah, it's easy to look at the evidence laid before us and give up all hope, but the truth is that's just not as much fun as trying to do something about it! My experiences over the last few months - at Climate Camp, at the Permaculture Convergence, at various theatre events - have reminded me that being engaged in creative grassroots movements - be they trying to shut down power stations, or getting involved in community urban gardening projects, or performing to people in fields on bike powered sound systems - is loads of fun! Much more enjoyable than sitting around all defeated, or going out and hedonistically burning as many fossil fuels as possible while we still can (which sounds fun, but had you the least conscience or understanding of the likely impacts, would be impossible without releasing simultaneous plumes of guilt).
I'll end this little public session of self-therapy with a quote I found in my notebook as I was desperately scouring around for some inspiration. It's by Howard Zinn, from the documentary You Can't Be Neutral On A Moving Train (which is quite apt in itself...):
'The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now, as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvellous victory.'

Butterflies Effect

2008-04-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

Well it's opening night tomorrow at Contact for Voices of Dissent, and I've so far failed to post anything about the rehearsal process. I don't feel that's actually much of a failure though as I've realised that documenting something like this as you go along isn't necessarily the best course, and is probably best done in retrospect. Without wanting too sound to artsy and pretentious the creative process can be a fragile thing, and not necessarily something you want to share publicly while you're in the thick of it. And this has definitely been one of the most painful births of a piece of work I've experienced. I wasn't really happy with the writing I had going into rehearsal, which meant doing a substantial amount of re-writing as I was going along - not ideal for separating the jobs of writer and performer that I've learned is essential from previous projects! But sometimes that's just the road you get given to walk and you have to make the best of it, and I feel we have. And I've learned alot about my self and the way I need to work in future through the process, pressured though it has been. I still feel like there's a lot of room for development/improvement in the piece but I think it'll evolve as it goes along, and I've always wanted it to be the sort of piece that can respond to new events as they arise. Public attitude to environmental issues has changed a lot even in the three years I've been working on Changing Cycles, and they'll continue to, increasingly, I think.
It's actually Earth Day today, which is why I felt like I had to post something, even though I'm tired and have got a massive day ahead tomorrow. Earth Day is a US creation that begin in the 70s as a series of grass-roots teach-ins and now seems to have been embraced by politicians and corporations keen to promote their green credentials. I didn't actually know about it until I got home tonight and read about it on Grist. I'd like to think it passed with little mention here in the UK because we don't go in for dubious tokenism and are too busy considering the earth the remaining 364 days of the year, but I suspect that's not the case. Still, to mark the occasion I thought I'd share one of the best motivational quotes I've been reminded of over the last few days, wrongly attributed to Goethe (see here for why): Whatever you can do, or think you can, begin it; Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Fossil Fools

2008-04-01T03:54:00.000-07:00

All around the world people will be taking action today to remind the world that the only way to avert runaway climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground. Have a look here for details of what's going on in your area.

But hold the front page! News just in, looks like we're all going to be ok, following this post on Chris Arnold's blog. (I've included the text below, as I think you might need to register with Brand Republic to read it online, and that may or may not be something you want to use your time to do...)

Meanwhile, if you want a serious, impassioned speech, beautiful in its simplicity and clarity (unlike that sentence) check out David Suzuki's Commonwealth Lecture which he recently gave in London

Happy reading, and happy fooling...

Shell, BP and Esso combine to launch new environmental ‘A Fuel’ with record £5bn budget

by Chris Arnold 01-Apr-08

The big three oil companies are pooling marketing budget to launch the much talked about 'A Fuel' which will be available from 2009.The alternative fuel to petroleum is based on common sea water and produces almost zero pollutants while delivering 40% more energy.

The 3 year ad campaign will be the largest ever ad spend in history. But what has also surprised many is that the oil group has appointed an unknown Swedish agency EGG to create all the work. Media is currently under pitch.

‘A Fuels’ (alternative fuels) were originally developed during the Second World War by British chemists who needed an alternative due to limited oil supplies. Many were too poor performers to be productive but one that used salt water and a niobium nickel catalyst has undergone millions of pounds of research to perfect. The breakthrough has been the discovery of a new catalytic enhancer called ‘Pril’. When added to ‘A Fuel’ it creates a dramatic exothermic reaction that produces 40% more power than the equivalent quantity of petroleum.

Oil companies have refrained from releasing ‘A Fuels’ but due to world political pressure (it’s believed Bush has been instrumental in persuading the big three to bend) and a secret agreement in Paris last summer, they have finally agreed to launch this much acclaimed technology.

‘A Fuels’ will require a new generation of engine but they produce minimum pollutants. All the major car companies have been developing ‘A Fuel’ engines and Honda plan to launch their first later this year, with Skoda following in January. However, despite its amazing environmental benefits, Earth Watch have voiced concern over Chlorites that are produced due to the chemical reaction between the water and the Sodium Chloride. “We don’t know what the consequence of increased Chlorites are yet,” said David Greenbaugh, environmental director of the charity.

A spokesman for the oil companies said, “We are all aware that there is a finite amount of oil left. Using it to fuel cars to go shopping or to do the school run is insane when it is far better used for producing plastic products like buckets for the Third World and toys. We believe the time is right to launch ‘A Fuels’.”

The first stage of the campaign will launch on April 1st with a 6 week educational campaign on TV supported by posters and press. The TV ads feature a series of talking goldfish who mock humans for always doing the same old thing. The campaign line is “time for A change, time for A Fuels”. The TV commercial has been directed by Peter Jackson and was shot in New Zealand. The fish are voiced over by Tom Hanks and Dan Castellaneta (who also voices Homer Simpson). The commercial features a new version of Pink Floyds ‘Wish you were here’, recorded by ENO and Bono. The track will be made available to all O2 customers for free in a unique deal, but can be purchased from the ‘A Fuel’ website.

The surprising choice of the Swedish ethical specialist marketing agency EGG, has sent shockwaves through all the major groups. ”We picked EGG because of their creativity and skills at co-creation. They also have a nice sauna,” commented Kevin Woodhouse of the ‘A Fuel’s’ marketing team.

Sven Ögren, creative director of EGG just said, “this is fab, my mother was really happy for us and is baking us a cake.” (Please note this was translated from Swedish and we aren’t sure it’s accurate.)

So who would have thought, to save the planet all you have to do is add ‘pril’ to ‘A Fuel’ and you get a great reaction.

Voices of Dissent Flyer 2008

2008-03-30T16:05:00.001-07:00

And the prize for rubbishest blogger in the world goes to...

2008-03-30T14:26:00.000-07:00

Me!
My last post began 'so much has happened since my last post I don't know where to start...' And now, so much has happened since my last post I don't know where to start!
Well basically, to get a very long and pretty dull story short, I got the funding from the Arts Council (thanks Arts Council), and am currently furiously chipping away at the final version of the script, ready to start rehearsing on the 10th April.
Unfortunately, Dawn Walton had to pull out of directing the show as she was offered a job at the Royal Court which was a guaranteed pay cheque, whereas I was still waiting for confirmation for funding. However, the fantastic Leo Kay, who worked with me on my R&D phase has stepped in, so I'm looking forward to working with him. He co-directed I Hear Voices, a spoken word theatre piece we've just finished touring, so I know it'll be hard work physically (Leo's background is in dance and physical theatre) but I think that's what I, and the show, need.
For this stage of the show we're piloting the feasibility of touring the show by bike also, as we are taking the show from Contact, Manchester up to The Brewery, Kendal, and I have miraculously managed to find a technician, Dan Steele, who is also a cyclist and up for coming on the road with me. As well as a technician and cyclist Dan is primarily a great sound designer and worked on I Hear Voices with us, which means he'll also be bringing his audio skills to the project, adding a much needed extra dimension to make up for what we miss in lighting the show by pedal power (although I'm currently looking into having him on some sort of contraption to control the sound in the same way as the lights are controlled by my bike...).
Finally I have Sumit Sarkar in charge of Art & Design. He's designed a beautiful flyer/poster for the shows (see above) and will be directing any other design elements such as set, costume etc (though these are looking pretty minimal right now so I'm roping him into making me a website!)
Though I have my work cut out getting the final script ready, I'm going to try and post on this blog as much as possible from now on because I want people to be able to discuss issues arising from the show when it comes up, so I need to start discussing them amongst myself first I suppose!
While things have been changing and developing rapidly in my world, events have been moving even faster in the wider national and global world of environmentalism (I know that was a terrible sentence but I'm tired, please bear with me!) There's been the UK Govt Climate Change Bill, The Stern Report, The Bali conference, announcement of this year's Climate Camp at Kingsnorth power station to name but a few. Too much to go into now, but I'll try and make comment on them and new matters arising in the weeks to come...
Meanwhile, check out my lovely flyer, and book your tickets!

Next Phase...

2007-09-26T14:48:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been so long since my last post I don't know where to start...
Well basically, the state of play with the show is that I finished my period of research and development, which was useful, but I still feel like I have a way to go with the writing before I'm ready to do a full touring production.
However, I do at last have a bit of a team around me to help me make it happen. Ric Watts, the guy who helped me write my last Arts Council proposal has come on board as my official producer, and we've just finished writing the bid for the production next year. I've got dates booked provisionally at Contact in Manchester in April and we're looking at a couple of other venues that are interested.
My dream is to be able to tour the show by bike, though I realised I wouldn't be able to do this on my own and would have to find a technician/stage manager who was also up for cycling around parts of the country (I'll resist making a cheap joke about the physical attributes of most theatre techies I've met, but suffice to say I thought it would be a tough call!) and I've found him, in the shape of Dan Steele, who is also an excellent sound designer.
One of the main things lacking from last year's work in progress version was some strong direction, so I've got Dawn Walton, a fantastic director I've been fortunate enough to work with once before, interested in the project.
And then there's my mate Sumit Sarkar, one of the best young artists in the country for my money (don't take my word for it though, see for yourself: www.kriksix.com ) who will be designing publicity and some new set and costume elements.
Woo! Just better hope I get the funding now... Though with the current climate that's far from certain. If you're not involved in the arts you may not be aware that the government, in their boundless wisdom, have raided the lottery for money to cover the Olympics. This means that money available to people like me through the Arts Council has been cut by 35%! Boo. Still, I think it's best that we, as artists, don't rely too heavily on funding from one source, and try to create our own economy so we're not constantly reliant on hand-outs... Easier said than done.
Anyway, it's time for me to go, as even though I know no-one's reading this I don't want to waffle on too long. Now I'm getting on with the show again though I will be making regular contributions to this blog again, updating the progress of it, and dissecting any relevant topics that come up in the news as I do so... Whilst trying to be moderately entertaining.
Good luck.

Slow progress

2007-02-09T05:14:00.000-08:00

I'm finding it hard to juggle the things I have to do to make a living (ie running youth arts projects/workshops etc) with the things that are ultimately most important and inspiring to me (ie writing this show, and keeping all my other creative irons in the fire), but I am making progress, albeit a bit glacial (mind you, with the effect of global warming, the rate of movement that metaphor implies is speeding up a bit...).
I'm still going over my original research, trying to answer questions about my central trickster character that I never properly answered in the first script. Weighty mythological questions about who the gods are and what Tali's relationship is with them (I've decided that making corporations the gods is too simplistic, and gives them too much power...), but also more practical problems about the piece such as if this is supposed to be an interventionist piece of art that stimulates action, what pragmatic solutions to global meltdown can I offer when my protagonist is a mythical being capable of magical feats beyond the average mortal? Hmm... I can feel a headache forming.
My course in London is proving very stimulating anyway, particularly for asking, if not answering, these sorts of questions. This week we will be talking about a recent PLATFORM project 'And While London Burns' - a walking opera around London that you download onto an MP3 player.
Meanwhile, an excellent alert was sent out by Media Lens this week in response to the hypocrisy of papers like the Guardian and the Indepent reporting on the most recent doom-laden report on climate change by the IPCC, interspersed with the usual adverts for gas-guzzling cars, cheap flights and all the usual consumer nonsense. The alert can be found here, I recommend a read, and then maybe a letter to one of the editors...

It's been a long, long time...

2007-01-23T11:36:00.000-08:00

... Since I got you on my mind...

But now I'm back, and I've got some funding!
The good people at the Arts Council have granted me a bit of cash to research and develop the show from what it was at the summer into a full length, shiny, spangly production ready for touring in Autumn.
Sooo, I thought it was about time I caught up with the blog, as it's supposed to be a record of my creative process and general thoughts about stuff...
Since the summer I've been involved in a couple of other projects, so it was only around Autumn time that I started getting my head back into the show, and trying to access some money to develop it, which, as it was my first attempt at writing a funding bid took me almost until Christmas! In the mean time I've been going back to some of my original sources of inspiration for the main character, Tali, and making more notes to develop him, and figure out where his story is going to take him next.
I'm planning to have a second draft ready by April in time to work with an excellent movement director/performer called Leo Kay, who's going to help me develop the physicality of the work.
I'm doing a course down in London once a week now too called The Body Politic. It's all about art, activism and social and ecological justice, and so far it's excellent. It's run through Birkbeck College by a company called PLATFORM, who I found out about just over a year ago and have wanted to work with ever since. I'm hoping to use my second draft of the show as the assessment for the course, another way of testing it's strength and getting more valuable feedback... More about that, and about other general ecological matters to follow soon anyway...
I've made a new year's resolution to write this blog at least once a week so keep checking back, you'll not be disappointed...

Show shots

2006-07-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a few of the beautiful shots taken for me by my lovely (and talented) friend Elise McCave. Cheers Elise x

What they said...

2006-07-11T07:05:00.000-07:00

Below are some of the comments, good and bad, that people made about the show... I won't add anything to the positive things that people said (neither vanity nor false modesty are particularly becoming qualities) but I may try to answer some of the criticisms...

"Excellent show - thought provoking - great simple theatrical ideas - the show generating itself is great!"

"I would like to see you take the "content" much further. I'm already angry/frustrated with corportate power. Did you meet people taking action? Positive examples??"

(In writing this show I had to try and address a wide spectrum of people. Because of the nature of it I knew there'd be people coming who were already well versed in environmental issues, but it was also my intention to challenge people who hadn't thought much about these things to do so. It's always going to be difficult to satisfy everyone, but of course I met people taking action - they were the people who really inspired the show to go in the direction it did. That said, I'm still quite a wetback when it comes to activism so my characters may have seemed caricatured to those who've been involved for a long time but they'll develop with time. I'm sorry this person found them negative though. You tend to end up loving your characters for their follies as much as their virtues, but I suppose not everyone sees them like that...)

"The humour throughout was not only useful in carrying through from scene to scene but had the very essence of the subject underlined"

"Makes me want to get my bike out and get on the road. Well entertaining!"

"I...feel that the anti-corporation message was repeated too often - it's an easy target & the message loses currency quickly & detracts from the piece as a whole"
(Hmm, not sure about this one. On the one hand I don't think you can repeat the anti-corporate message enough as they do run (and are destroying) the world at the moment, if they're such an easy target then why haven't they been picked off yet? On the other hand I guess if the message is losing currency then you have to find a new angle to come at it, and maybe a more difficult target are the millions of us who consume products we don't really need and keep those corporations alive... Anyway, this is all stuff for my next phase of research, but good to be thinking about now)

"Fantastic! Really enjoyed it. Ben has so much energy & a really innovative way of putting the message out."

"I just can't absolutely agree with the ironic end because I think saving water and energy is the first step to protect the environment and its sources"

(This is in response to the piss-take 'government advice' I gave at the end of the show, such as listing a load of measures to save water and then undercutting it with something like 'water is privatised, so the more you save the more can be sold back to you at a profit, thereby boosting the economy'. I did this partly because I couldn't have included all that information without making it funny, but mostly because yes, we should all do those things to save energy, water, reduce emissions etc but we should also be aware of the wider issues governing where those resources come from, where they go to and who's in control of them...)

"I thought it was a really great performance - dynamic and innovative. It made me consider different points of view"

"I thought the middle-class woman was over-stereotyped and didn't really make me think. I knew what was going to happen"

(Fair enough! I think all the characters could do with shading and detail at the moment, that's why its a work in progress, and why comments like these are useful. And it was the first time I've played a woman!)

If you've got any comments to add to any of those, or a new one to make, on the show or anything else, please feel free. I'm going to be using this blog to discuss the issues I tackled in the show over the coming months as I have a break and think about where to take it next so drop by regularly (and I will be posting a bit more consistently from now on...) and join in the discussion...
X

All Over... (for now)

2006-07-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

So the show has been and gone, and hardly any of the process made its way onto this blog as I'd intended. That was largely due to the fact that it took me so long to get down to the writing that before I did I felt guilty for blogging as any keyboard tapping should have been directed at my script, and once I did start writing, which took me right up to the week of the show, there just wasn't any time left...

But despite my eleventh hour panicking and general insecurities, it all came together in the end, and was pretty well recieved. I still have a lot of work to do on it of course, but for a first showing it was ok. I'm going to have to think about how much more I write though, it's already running at about 45 minutes, and that's with less than half the characters I'd intended to create. The key really is to develop my narrator character, Tali, as all the other characters come from him.

For those who weren't lucky enough to see the show, or be bored by me about it beforehand, Tali is a trickster character who is immortal, but must survive from mortal food. When he wakes up after centuries of sleep and tries to feed himself, he realises the massive unsustainability of global food production and sets off on a mission (by bicycle of course!) to make humans act sustainably, so he can ensure that he will be fed forever.

On his journey (so far) he steps into and influences the lives of Linda - a middle aged, middle class, middle-Englander who gets involved in a tree protest to stop a supermarket being built, (with dramatic consequences for her marriage); Jim - a recently elected councillor from a certain far-right political party trying to convince his local community of his green credentials; and Dan - an unhinged veteran activist who abandons peaceful protest and takes violent action against a childhood hero.

These were characters who I'd imagined before Tali came about so in a way they've had to be fitted into his story, or rather his story had to be fitted around them, when really I want to send him to put a spanner in the works of the dominant institution of our time, the corporation. But I've a lot more research to do before that... (Didn't really visit any corporations on my bike ride)

Technically we managed to control all the lights for the show from a dynamo on the bike. This gave a signal to an analogue dimmer which meant the harder you pedalled, the brighter the lights were. Which tended to vary according to which audience member was pedalling at the time... Well, I couldn't have done the whole show on the bike could I? The power was meant to be provided by a solar generation unit, but unfortunately they sent us a faulty inverter so we had to rely on the mains in the end. Still, the system is in place for whenever the show gets its next airing...

I'll post some photos in a minute (when I remember how!), and some of the written feedback I got from audience members. Thanks to everyone who came to see the show, and for those who didn't, well, you'll just have to come and see the more finished version sometime next year...
Peace out x

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!

2006-06-14T01:37:00.000-07:00

Good grief!
I have to be the rubbishest blogger in the world, ever! (part 3)
It's now nearly a week until my show starts, and I'm just about to start rehearsing, having finished the script ooh, about last week?! I'm assured this is the way that all good theatre productions should work, but it still feels a bit hairy.
Technically, we've figured out a way to make the lights run off my bike, all we need now is to get our hands on a solar generation unit and the show should be almost entirely emissions free! (apart from all the people who drive to come and see it...)
Artistically, I'm pleased with the characters I've written, though they all need some work... The next week will be a strange mixture of editing and rehearsing simultaneously, whilst being glad of not having any hair to pull out.
I also started a good little project with some young people from Contact, exploring what the word environment means to them... We didn't quite finish what I was planning to do with them but I'm hoping to pick it up once the show's finished. So, update over, come and see the show, and here's a look at my lovely flyer... I know it's a bit small, but if you click on it you should be able to enlarge it... Hope to see you next week!

Where'd it all go?!

2006-04-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

Whoa! I genuinely can't believe it's been over 2 months since my last post on this blog... Could whoever's got their foot on the time accelerator pedal please ease off a bit?!
I guess one reason for my lack of online correspondence has been that until recently the writing has been very intermittent due to other work commitments and a lot of un-planned for research necessary for my trickster/narrator character. So as my writing was so inactive it seemed a bit naughty to be spending time blogging...
However, things are bubbling along nicely (for now), I've recently acquired a cycle trainer to start building my pedal powered generator with the help of super technician and renewable energy enthusiast, Veronica McDonald, and the script is coming together. The trickster character (provisionally called Tali) has really taken over the show, and it's definitely more his journey than mine, he just happens to be riding around the country on a bike too! I'm happy with his voice now finally, and I hope that others will find him as entertaining as I do... I'll get to try out some of the new material in a couple of weeks when we go to visit the young artists in residence at Victoria theatre in Belgium and share some of our work (and possibly drink a little Belgian beer...).
I'm still looking into doing the piece outside and using the indoors space for some sort of exhibition, but it's proving difficult to administrate and with only ten weeks to go I'm not sure it will happen. Still, this is only a work in progress so should the piece get commissioned and developed there'll always be the possibility to do it outside later down the line...
Finally, I now have a group of young people from Contact's Drama Drop In classes to take part in some sort of participatory project. We've not started yet and I may have to scale down my ambitions with them a bit, but I think we're going to do something around film and spoken word, on the theme of 'My Environment' (whatever that may mean...)
So if I take another two months until the next post, well, it probably won't happen because I'll be in the middle of doing the show, so I'd better try to get a bit more regular... Bit more fibre in my writer's diet! Until then put these dates in your diary to come and see me at Contact theatre:
22nd - 24th June!
peace x

Back in the saddle...

2006-02-09T13:22:00.000-08:00

Well, metaphorically anyway.
After a warm and wonderful three months cycling around the country I'm back in cold, grey (but unusually rain-free) Manchester wondering how I'm going to turn the experience into a performance.
I've been awarded a 6 month (well, 5 now I suppose!) residency at Contact theatre which means I get a bit of money, a mentor, rehearsal space, technical support and a week in June to show the public what I've been doing... eek! I also have to do some participatory work with young people around the themes of my show but that hasn't started yet...
The show as it stands at the moment will be a solo performance with multiple characters who represent different 'Voices of Dissent' (tentative working title) around environmental issues in this country. This means I'll be playing the girls as well as the boys! Fortunately my mentor is the inimitable Gerry Potter, aka Chloe Poems, so I have a good guide for my first foray into drag... All these different characters will be linked by a part me/part mythological trickster type character (on a bike, naturally) who will act as a guide, commentator, provocateur, mc, joker etc.
This is also where I will be bringing renewable energy into the equation, providing some of the power for the show from a pedal generator, and hopefully the rest from solar... Looking into the technicalities of this raised questions about how to generate electricity inside a building connected to the mains so now I've started taking seriously the idea of performing outside under some sort of marquee. Seems a shame after spending so long under canvas that the audience shouldn't get to do the same!
So that's about where I'm up to, not much script to speak of yet though so I'd better stop writing this and start writing that. Watch this space for new information and over the weeks I'll be keeping the blog updated with comments and comedy regarding the local and global environment. Riveting.

Back in da hood

2005-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

And so, some 86 days and 2400 miles since setting off from Salford, I have finally swapped my saddle for a swivel chair and hung up my cycling shorts (well, not entirely - I still have to get about and it'll be a while before the tender spots heal... but enough of that!).
After Brithdir Mawr I continued up to Aberystwyth and the warm hospitality of the family of Hannah, a friend from the G8 bike ride. Great food, conversation, music, card games and a stunning sunset backdrop... beautiful!
The next day I cycled to the Centre for Alternative Technology in Machynlleth, one of the longest established eco centres in the country and probably the biggest tourist attraction in Wales. Well recommended to anyone who's never been... Bumped into a friend from Brithdir there so had a camping buddy for the night too.

Then came a two day mission from mid-Wales to Derbyshire to the Earth First! Gathering for four days of discussions, workshops and training sessions aimed at anyone wanting to take action to stop the destruction of the planet. I'm not bothered really, I just liked the vegan carrot cake! Seriously though, it was great to meet up with friends from the bike ride as well as meeting lots of new, and on the whole brilliantly inspiring, people. I did find myself having to hold back from getting involved with every worthy campaign I heard about, but there's a lot of things I can do as I get on with writing, from organised protests to personal lifestyle changes,and I'm excited about those too, as long as they don't start taking over my life!

It's been an amazing journey, completely different to how I'd imagined it but then it was always going to be. I've met a lot of wonderful people and been inspired in many unexpected ways. And now I have to try and shape it all into some sort of meaningful and entertaining experience for other people... when all I really want to do is plan the next ride!
Off to catch up with friends and family in Edinburgh, London and Hitchin for the next couple of weeks, and may happen to chance upon a certain arms fair while I'm down, but after that it's all about pens, desks, chairs, and keyboards... and the odd cup of tea/coffe/wine/bike lubricant.
I'm going to keep the blog going for now as I'd like to continue to document the project, though maybe more intermittently as there's also the thorny little problem of supporting myself while I do so... However, there'll be a website along shortly, and before long you're going to have to relinquish your computer entirely and come and see something live... Unless I come to you first!
Thanks to everyone for all your support whilst I've been away, from hosts to centres to those at home and abroad leaving messages of love and sympathy! You've been wicked. Keep checking the blog for news and updates, it'll be cool to get people's opinions about the direction of things as they go along...
Coming to a theatre near you soon...
PEACE X

2005-08-12T12:54:00.000-07:00

Harlock Hill wind farm. Not at all noisy, and the sheep like it too!

2005-08-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

Tired of lovely views yet? I am...

2005-08-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

This is what a container for high level radioactive waste looks like. You can drive a train into it and it will stay intact. I feel so much safer knowing that!

2005-08-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Sellafield! Mmm, smell that radiation...

2005-08-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

Me in the Lake District! By a lake! Think this one is Lake Buttermere...

2005-08-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

That party I mentioned I went to in Hebden Bridge...

2005-08-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

...And the morning after!

2005-08-12T12:39:00.000-07:00

Boa Viagem Laura... We'll miss you!

2005-08-12T12:36:00.000-07:00

Forgot to mention I went here, this is New Lanark World Heritage Centre, a former cotton mill village run by Robert Owen (progressive educationalist and fore-father of the co-operative movement) restored to it's former glory and also home to Scotland's first hydro-power station and some pretty impressive water-falls...

2005-08-12T12:34:00.000-07:00

Cora Linn, the tallest waterfall in the UK...

2005-08-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

... And the massive hydro power station that has stolen half it's flow. Once again, renewable energy robs the people of the picturesque...

2005-08-12T12:31:00.000-07:00

Thought this looked like a face so I took a photo of it.

2005-08-12T12:27:00.000-07:00

Eek! At least this one was downhill...

2005-08-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

People of Scotland seem unsure of whether to save the planet...

2005-08-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

... or the view!

2005-08-12T12:04:00.000-07:00

Coming back across the Cairngorms, stopping at Glenshee ski centre... Think these two were here for a while.

2005-08-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

And this is some of the lovely Findhorn folk and the pot luck dinner I was invited to when I arrived... amidst some of the less glamourous abodes!

2005-08-12T12:01:00.000-07:00

Didn't take many photos of Findhorn as I was too busy chilling but this is one of the many different dwellings there, this one built from an old whisky vat!

Brithdir's Brilliant!

2005-08-12T08:45:00.000-07:00

Once again I'm rushing this because I have about 5 minutes before the library closes and I've just spent ages trying to post some more lovely photos but have been denied... damn these watertight download proof public computer systems! Anyway, I am now safely in Pembrokeshire, staying at the beautiful Brithdir Mawr organic farm/ecovillage. It's a community of about 7 or 8 permanent residents, a few kids (human), some goats, chickens, ducks, a couple of horses and acres of organic gardens. They're completely off-grid electricity wise and supply all their own energy from hydro, wind and solar power. The deal is you garden for four hours a day in return for your food and board, which is a pretty good deal as far as I'm c0ncerned... Loving the gardening, have been inspired to get myself an allotment when I get back! Help, I'm turning into a young fogey... (turning into?). The good news is that you too can take part in rewarding, soul nourishing work like this in places all over the world, courtesy of WWOOF. Recommend it to all, will be sad to leave... Oh, and being on the west coast the beach plays host to some amazing sunsets. Lush, as the welsh would say! More pics on the way... Peace x

Last Leg

2005-08-09T04:43:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I did one of these, and much has happened! After Penrith I cycled across the Lake District to visit Sellafield, which has a glitzy, state of the art visitors centre, complete with interactive cinema that allows you to be energy minister for a few minutes and decide where you'd build lots of lovely new nuclear power stations! It wasn't as biased as I'd expected but still a much more sanitised view of the industry than I got from the people at CORE (Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioavive Environment). Whilst in Cumbria I also got to visit one of my theatre heroes, John Fox from Welfare State International, and have a good chat about my ideas and where to go with the project... excellent stuff.
Then it was back to Manchester, where I spent a few days enjoying clean clothes, baths and a kitchen to cook in, whilst frantically trying to decide where to go next. Eventually I decided that as it was all the direct action stuff around the G8 that has most gripped my imagination so far, I should pursue that rather than continue to aimlessly meander down to Devon and Cornwall via Wales, as was the plan. This is a bit sad because I was really looking forward to getting down there but it was all a bit badly organised anyway and I need to get back by the end of the month for a few things, not least the urgent need to stop buggering about and start writing!
So, I resolved to combine a couple of places I'd planned to visit in Wales with a couple of activist gatherings and here I am in Brecon library, fresh from a weekend in Monmouth at the Dissent! Gathering. Dissent! is a network of groups who organised the resistance against the G8 and are now trying to figure out where to go next, bit like me (apart from the organising resistance against the G8 bit)! Cue lots of tea, cigarettes, lentils, cider, and lengthy political/philosophical debates about the difference between a network and a group. My idea of a fun weekend, if not yours!
So now I'm cycling across to Pembrokeshire where I will be visiting the West Wales Eco Centre, staying on a sustainable organic farm for a couple of days, then cycling up the coast, visiting the Centre for Alternative Technology and then cycling to Derbyshire for the Earth First! (what is it about activists and exclamation marks?!) gathering (environmental activism training/meeting thing). Phew! Good thing it's bank holiday when I get back, I'm gonna need a break!

Saudades...

2005-07-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

For anyone not proficient in portugese, this word doesn't have a direct translation in english but it perfectly describes the mixture of nostalgic sadness and warm fondness I'm feeling at the moment...
I've just arrived in Penrith having taken a day out of my itinerary to attend the leaving party of my dear friend Laura Myers in Hebden Bridge, at the house of one of my other dear friends, Leah Whitaker (who we are also currently congratulating on her acceptance to RADA - well done Leah!).
It meant being a bit naughty and jumping on a train to get there, not to mention the additional burden on my credit card bill, but it was the sort of gathering you can't put a price on. It's a big time of change for a lot of us personally; Laura's off to Canada indefinitely, others are moving to London, or preparing to travel to far off destinations; and in the context of the rapidly shifting world around us to be able to get together and mark these moments in the ever changing flux of our lives with dancing and drinking and camping and barbecues and big fires seems all the more precious...
And I know I'm getting a bit gushing now but I feel really blessed to have the support of so many beautiful people and next time I'm feeling miserable and tired and hungry and wondering why the hell I'm putting myself through it all I'll think back to last night, and all my other fond memories of friends and family, past and present, and draw strength from having such excellent companions in my little journey through life. So to all who've been reading this blog, and particularly leaving comments, thank you. Knowing you're out there makes every gruelling inch worthwhile. Ok, gush over, please dispose of your sick bags responsibly and return your seats to the upright position...
I'm staying tonight in the beautiful Bluebell Bookshop, which would be well worth a visit to Penrith alone. We stayed here on the G8 bike ride and the owner Derek has very kindly put me up again. It's a very progressive minded, lefty, socially/ecologically oriented place, and to top it off they do a great range of organic, fair-trade teas and coffees, and bookshop-made food, including freshly baked bread. Screw Waterstones, the world needs more Bluebells!
Tommorrow I cycle across the Lake District National Park to reach the Cumbrian coast where I will be visiting Sellafield before heading south to see a co-operatively owned wind farm, drop in to speak to the artistic director of Welfare State International and meet some anti nuclear activists. By the end of next week I will be back in Manchester for a little pit stop and to finalise the details of the last leg of my journey...
Although I'm doing a lot of head-work on the outcome of this project as the end of my journey draws ever closer, I'm trying not to worry too much about what will happen when I get back. As the scribble on the desk I'm sitting at says: 'Anticipation of the result stifles the process'.

photo fest

2005-07-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

At long last! A splurge of photos of the last month of my journey... Not sure when I'll be able to post more so these'll have to do for now, they're not in much of an order but you can figure it out I'm sure...
Tomorrow I reluctantly leave Findhorn after spending nearly a week here having a much needed rest and reflection on all I've taken on-board over the last few weeks. The G8 experience has really re-framed things in my head and may have set me on a different course, but now I need to work out where that new direction might end up ultimately... Part of me just wants to leave theatre aside and go and be an activist, whilst part of me is aware that theatre can be direct action in itself and I've seen the effectiveness of increasingly creative responses to injustice, and even the use of traditional theatre forms as part of this such as clowning... (check out C.I.R.C.A). I've got a lot to think about... so it's just as well I've got a lot of hours in the saddle ahead of me to do just that!

2005-07-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

On top of the Cairngorms! Have just worked out I can use the self timer button on my camera and my tripod so expect many more cheesy photos like this... And don't be fooled by the smile, it hides a world of pain!

2005-07-18T09:18:00.001-07:00

Oh flower of Scotland...

2005-07-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

My last night in Stirling. I wanted to get a picture of the American flag being burnt but it was a cheap plastic job and went up too quickly... probably made in ...?

2005-07-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

My lunch spot half way across the Cairngorms where I had a wee dip. Worth it. Just.

2005-07-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Coming back from Glasgow the day after the end of the summit, musing about where Tony Blair's Africa/Climate Change agenda had ended up... and this sort of spoke to me!

2005-07-18T09:13:00.000-07:00

The red on my face is paint courtesy of my make up artist here, the red on my chest is unfortunately courtesy of the sun. When will I learn?!

2005-07-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the summit. We hold a kid's party in response to the sombre mood around the camp and have a great day in spite of the horrors around us...

2005-07-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

The first day of the summit. Don't know who these crazy characters are but the police look amused don't they? Don't they just.

2005-07-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

The artwork adorning the entrance to the convergence space in Stirling... how many plays on the number 8 can you cre8?

2005-07-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

Rinky Dink Sound System at the Make Poverty History rally... Aren't they a colourful bunch?!

2005-07-18T08:41:00.000-07:00

Grangemouth oil refinery. Another glowing image of the future of fossil fuel economies...

2005-07-18T08:40:00.001-07:00

Tired bunny rabbits

2005-07-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

'We'd better be going the right way cos I'm not going back down that hill!'

2005-07-18T08:38:00.000-07:00

Knackered cyclists celebrate their arrival in Lanark by making percussion instruments out of bikes, beer cans and wheelbarrows. Crazy.

2005-07-18T08:37:00.000-07:00

The official finish line at Talamh community in Lanark, from there on it was uncharted G8 territory... who knew what was in store?!

2005-07-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

Cracking open a bottle of Scotch to celebrate my 1000th mile... one of the highlights I previously forgot to mention, but one of the best! The monument is one of 1000 milestones erected around Scotland, so rather convenient it was there really...

2005-07-18T08:34:00.001-07:00

Gettin all blued up to cross the Scottish border!

2005-07-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Local people just don't like wind farms!

2005-07-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

The ancient stone circle at 9 ladies where we stayed with a bunch of about 30 activists who've been living in tree houses for the last 5 years to stop the reactivation of quarries in that area, not road building as I previously mentioned. Still means big diggers ripping up the countryside though don't it?!

2005-07-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

Critical Mass hits Manchester's Canal St.

2005-07-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

James argues with the life guard about why he should be allowed to swim in a public lake... This was shortly before we stormed the water in an impromptu critical splash action.

2005-07-18T08:27:00.001-07:00

The insides of Pedals, our mobile sound system... she might not look like much but she sure packs a punch!

2005-07-18T08:27:00.000-07:00

One of the lads from Coventry Peace House, and Dillon, the youngest (and probably cutest) member of our contingent...

2005-07-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

Closing down Coventry Airport, and having a few words about its illegal expansion...

2005-07-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

Redfield Community and Low Impact Living Initiative where we stopped for the first night... outside, not in unfortunately!

2005-07-18T08:23:00.000-07:00

The G8 Bike Ride leaves London on the hottest day of the year... and promptly gets lost!

2005-07-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

BedZed - A truly inspirational answer to the problem of high density sustainable housing (ZED stands for Zero Emissions Development, Bed is short for Beddington which is in Surrey) John Prescott should get out of his jag(s) and have a look...

2005-07-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

One of the most fascinating photos I've ever taken, I'm sure you'll agree! This is at a camp site in Northamptonshire, a possible warning of things to come if our summers keep getting hotter?

2005-07-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

The lovely Islington Ecology Centre... slightly overshadowed by the new Arsenal stadium being built next door but well worth a wander nonetheless...

2005-07-18T07:26:00.001-07:00

Renewably powered traffic signs! Leicester council are sooo progressive... (Well it was the country's first environment city)

2005-07-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

Eggborough coal fired power station. Beautiful eh? Let's build lots more of these... and no more ugly wind farms.

2005-07-18T07:24:00.000-07:00

Heeley City Farm in Sheffield, one of the best of the many amazing urban farms in the UK, providing inner city young people and adults with life enhancing encounters with nature through agriculture, animal husbandry, alternative energy etc. Visit your local one now!

2005-07-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

World Naked Bike Ride! As you can see, not everyone was getting into the spirit...

2005-07-18T07:20:00.000-07:00

But some were very colourful!

2005-07-18T07:11:00.000-07:00

Just to prove I was (at least half) naked...

Finding Findhorn

2005-07-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

Well the Cairngorms and the scorching weather did their best to kill me but I made it and am now chilling out in one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to.
My first day's cycling from Stirling, after leaving the declining camp and the last few stragglers from the bike ride group, was relatively light - about 60 miles but no killer hills. I camped in a farmer's field just outside of Blairgowrie against a spectacular sunset and spent the evening readjusting to my own company.
The next day will go down as probably the best and worst day of the whole trip so far. I'd decided to do two days in one in order to be able to spend more time up here, which meant doing nearly 70 miles and climbing four hills marked with chevrons on the map (for those uninitiated with OS, read: bloody steep!).
The first, known locally as 'The Elbow' as it climbs up around a big mountain, was a toughie - you know you're in for hard work when you see the signs offering ski hire! This took me to Braemar in the heart of the Cairngorms, where I stopped for lunch and had an amazing swim in an impossibly beautiful river. The next hill after lunch was as long as it was steep, and the following one was a 1:5 gradient that felt like cycling vertical. It was nearly 7pm by then and I was wondering how I'd make it up the next one, but it never came! I'd already climbed it thinking it was part of one of the others (my map's not very detailed...) and just sailed down hill all the way to a great youth hostel, a shower, and a real bed!
The next day, a mere 40 odd miles, was still pretty hard work - legs tired and battling the coastal wind coming off the Moray Firth I was rapidly approaching. I had a great evening of doing nothing when I arrived in Forres at the house of my former English teacher who has very kindly let me use it while I'm here...
So now I'm spending a few days getting to know the Findhorn community and local area. I was lucky enough to meet the artistic director of the arts centre here when I was in Edinburgh, and she was also at Stirling so I've had a good introduction already and everyone has been exceptionally welcoming and friendly. The community began with two people, a caravan, a garden and lots of meditating and grew rapidly in the 60s when all the hippies heard about the amazing garden that had flourished and started moving here. There are now about 180 people in the community itself and many hundreds more in the nearby village who work and volunteer for the foundation. So far I have seen various different meeting/meditation/ritual spaces, a community centre, arts centre, cafe, amazing shop, and an out-door wood-fired hot tub! I'm meeting someone today to talk about the sustainability side of things in more detail but I've also noticed wind turbines and a 'living machine' that processes everyone's sewage and grey water (shower, washing etc) using natural mechanisms like reed beds. They even have their own local currency! Accomodation ranges from 70's prefabs to caravans to houses made out of old whisky barrels to the very latest in eco housing technology. And the people, and their spiritual practices, are even more diverse than the dwellings they live in, although meditation is a common thread that links everyone here. It's a fascinating place, and one I'm glad I've given myself a decent amount of time to explore properly. There was a big pot luck dinner at one of the women's caravans here last night, and when I mentioned I hadn't decided when I was leaving yet they all replied 'yeah, that's what we said too!' So if you don't see me some time soon, you know where to find me...

Solidarity

2005-07-09T00:22:00.000-07:00

My brief respite in Edinburgh and the luxuries of staying in a flat are now over and it's back to campsites and warehouse floors. I left on tuesday having avoided the violence there on monday, only to encounter more 'riots' when I reached Stirling. Most of this violence is of course heavily provoked by police and blown out of proportion by the media, but a majority of protesters I spoke to, still condemn those who spoil the party by throwing their toys out of the pram... (Even if they are only throwing them through the windows of the outlets of multinationals, it still doesn't make sense to trash the town that's hosting you and give the police more reason to be heavy handed...) Anyway, if you do want to see a perspective on the protests from a source unsullied by the vested interests of mainstream media, check out Indymedia or Schnews, both excellent sites of 'honest' reporting...
For the last few days I've been staying at the rural convergence space in Stirling, a huge tented village organised into neighbourhoods or 'barrios' responsible for cooking, cleaning, caring for and entertaining its inhabitants. The place is mostly (but not entirely) run off biodiesel generators and wind turbines, has medical tents, an independent media centre and even a solar powered cinema! I was really amazed by it all and was sorry to leave the convivial community atmosphere created there.
The first day of the summit saw a load of our bike posse (excluding me unfortunately) get right to the gates of Gleneagles, holding up all the press and workers in the process and creating a lot of media attention. I spent the day riding around trying to give support to those blockading the road, and then running away from the police as they took exception to us holding up both lanes of the A9 back to Stirling! All good honest fun...
And then Thursday morning came, with the news that riot cops had arrived in the night and penned us in at camp and that several explosions had occurred on the London transport system. Needless to say the mood was very sombre, despite the radiant sunshine, and we struggled to maintain the active optimism and triumphant feeling of the previous day. Then Tony (who built our sound system) and I decided to hold a kid's party, as there were a few birthdays on site. We wheeled the system around the camp with a band of musicians and had soon gathered a pied-piperesque stream of kids and parents to the tune of teddy bears picnic and winnie the pooh. We partied all afternoon, with pass the parcel, musical statues and face painting and in the circumstances it was about the best thing we could have done.
In the evening we held a midnight candlelit vigil, silently seated at the feet of the police as we mourned for those lost in London, and all the others around the world who lost their lives that day as a result of terrorism, be it autonomous, state sponsored, environmental or economic. It was one of the most powerful moments of my journey so far, punctured only slightly by a really bad rendition of 'Imagine'!
So now I'm in Glasgow, having come here yesterday for a fun but vaguely ineffectual protest against the M74 extension, but followed by a good party in the park and an amazing ride back to our crash space, half cut, tunes blaring and accompanied by fireworks!
I'm about to start on the next stage of my journey, leaving my new friends and heading off to cross the Cairngorm mountains up to Forres near Inverness to visit the Findhorn Foundation and Eco-Village community. It'll be sad leaving such an amazing bunch of people who've been my family for the last couple of weeks, but I'm ready to strike off on my own now, and have just about got the bugs out of my system in preparation... Next news from the other side of some big ole mountains!
And to all in London or with friends or family there, my thoughts are with you and I hope you are holding up. God bless.

Embra

2005-07-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

Things have moved so fast I haven't even kept up with events in my diary, let alone online... I'll catch up soon and post some more photos but in the mean time here's a quick installment as I grab half an hour in an internet cafe in the beautiful city of Edinburgh... However, if you want to know some more about the last two weeks of my journey from some of the other cyclists I've been with go to g8bikeride.blogspot.com for accounts and lots of photos...
We arrived in Embra last night after officially ending the g8 bike ride in Lanark the day before. From here some of us are staying in town, some have gone to Glasgow and will be blockading the Faslane military base on monday, and some have headed up to the convergence space in Stirling which is the closest to the summit that large groups of protesters can get to, although there will be a protest meeting in gleneagles station on tuesday, not sure how that will go but could be interesting...
I missed the big Make Poverty History march today due to an agressive stomach bug that at least half the group contracted in Lanark, although I did venture out in the afternoon and caught some of the bands playing in the park, and then managed to find a street party where people were playing capoeira and couldn't resist getting involved... then I came to get some food in a cafe and ended up sitting next to some people who live at Findhorn which is my next stop after the summit... And THEN a guy came up to me who'd seen me playing capoeira in the street and we got chatting about my project, and he was telling me how he'd cycled around Argentina to prepare for a film he acted in. I enquired which film, he replied 'The Motorcycle Diaries', I asked who he played - 'Che Guevera'! Shit, I can't believe I didn't recognise one of my favourite actors! He was cool though, really sound guy and we had a nice chat. It's amazing the little bits of synchronicity I keep chancing upon...
Anway, I don't really have time to describe all of the last two weeks, except a few highlights such as stopping for lunch by a lake on the way from Nottingham to Nine Ladies and chasing off the guy in the speedboat who tried to make us get out of the water. We called it Critical Splash!
Nine Ladies was a highlight in itself actually, a protest camp in the Peak District where about 30 people have lived in tree houses for the last 5 years to stop the Government building a big fat road through a site of special scientific interest and an ancient stone circle...
Then there was Critical Mass in Manchester which was the most fun yet, a massive turnout and great to be back in my home city for the night. After a restful stop in Lancaster we cycled straight to Penrith, bypassing Carlisle, where we slept in a beautiful bookshop.
The next day we crossed the border en masse singing 'Flower of Scotland' at the top of our lungs, substituting 'proud Edward's army' for Tony's of course! There was a picture of us in the Telegraph too if anyone wants to look it up - weds 29th. We camped rough in a forest in Lockerbie that night and got eaten alive by midges, though we were able to keep them at bay a bit more once we got to Lanark as we could make a fire there; you're not allowed in Forestry Comission areas and the police have been paying us special attention - purely because they're concerned for our safety of course! Some have actually been quite friendly, even helping us out when we've been lost, but it's kind of anathema to a fossil fuel protest ride to have a police escort!
Although it's been frustrating at times being with a large group of people and all the inconveniences that entails, they're a fantastic bunch and I'm going to miss my new friends when I leave them next week. It'll be an adjustment to being on my own again; you take so much encouragement and energy from cycling in a group, and especially when the sound system is pumping even the toughest hill can feel like a doddle.
I have some great times ahead though, more beautiful scenery, more fascinating people and communities to visit and be a temporary part of, and more daily challenges in the form of hills, hunger, headwinds and heaving too much bloody kit around!
I'm looking forward to getting home but I'm going to miss being on the road and all the freedom it brings. But we have some people from New York in the group who have mooted the idea of riding from there to Montreal, and then of course there's the next G8 meeting... in Russia! Bring it on...

Sent to Coventry

2005-06-20T15:00:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the G8 Bike ride and we've covered about 130 miles (taking my personal tally so far to over 600!) taken part in two protests (an anti-road protest in Linslade and an anti-airport expansion action here in Coventry) and held up lots of cars in good humoured fashion with flags, banners and a hefty sound system on wheels... And we've only got lost once! And that was in Watford where getting lost is almost a local custom. Although getting lost on the hottest day of the year so far wasn't the most fun I've ever had. Many faces, backs, arms and thighs are looking increasingly lobstery... fortunately not mine, (though I will have some interesting tan marks when I get back, most of which I hope you'll be spared).
My fellow cyclists are an eclectic and cosmopolitan bunch of activists, students, anarchists, vegans, cycling enthusiasts and people generally interested in adding their dissenting voices to a community on wheels as it makes its way up the country taking in as many protests as possible on the way... It's been great fun so far and I've met some quality characters, though it must be said that whilst we look like a bunch of grimy crusty new age travellers, the people we've met at the protests have been ordinary local people - mums and dads and kids and pensioners - concerned about corporate and government interests taking precedence over their own... which on a global and a local scale is kind of what this ride is all about.
Anyway, it's getting late and much as I'd like to post some more photos I'm tired and I don't want to impose upon my host's internet hospitality too much. The kind folks at the peace house (a vegetarian housing co-op/social centre/bike workshop) in Coventry provided us with an amazing feast when we arrived this evening and are accomodating us in their houses - real beds and showers and everything! (It's amazing how you begin to appreciate the simple things...) So until Nottingham you'll just have to imagine me sweating and panting in the burning sun up a big hill, and then shooting down it super-cooled by the rushing wind - with a massive smile on my face!

PS

2005-06-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

I realised that only people with registered blogs on blogger can leave comments... I've tried to change the settings so that anyone can but if you still have problems just email me, I'm still checking them reasonably frequently...

Ups and Downs

2005-06-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

I had my wallet stolen today (hence the title of this post) which was only a major inconvenience until I realised that the silver st. christopher my mum had given me was in there - ironically the safest place I could think to put it - and then it became a bit devastating. It happened in the photo shop as I was picking up my snaps, which have at least provided some consolation. Most of them aren't actually from this trip, they're from some of the preparation visits I did last month in London and Nottingham... Anyway, the captions should be explanatory.

So I'm in London now (dirty, stinking, scabby, thieving London to give it its full title today...) and until today all had been going great, apart from a bolt snapping on my front pannier rack on my way to Hitchin on friday which meant I had to get it fixed on saturday morning and subsequently had to hop a train to London (damn it!) in order to get there in time for the world naked bike ride...

The ride itself was funny, pictures to follow (though not of me, I was firmly behind the camera!)... I began by keeping my cycling shorts on but half way round felt I wasn't really entering into the spirit of it all properly so off they came. I never realised so many people in London had cameras! Most people seemed to find it all quite amusing, though there was some hostility... one person threw a bottle of yakult at me, fortunately unopened. (not very friendly bacteria).

Since putting my clothes back on I've been to a mini-seminar on sustainability and this morning I visited the Islington Ecology Centre - a green project in Gillespie park, currently overshadowed by the massive new Arsenal stadium they're building there. It was interesting to see at first hand some of the stuff we'd talked about at the seminar to do with borough councils, planners & developers and local communities trying to hang on to their green spaces... Quite how I'm going to turn all the jargon and bureaucracy into an entertaining piece of drama that engages young people I don't really know... but I'll burn that bridge once I jump off it, or however the saying goes! For now, I have a cycle ride to plan and a zillion people to phone/email. And a lost wallet to mourn for. With possibly the help of a pint or five. Enjoy the photos...

2005-06-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

This photo and the ones below were taken at the Critical Mass 11th birthday in London about a month ago... If you don't know about CM it's basically an international movement of cyclists who get together in cities around the world to reclaim the roads and celebrate clean, healthy, human powered transport... Power to the Pedals!

2005-06-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

This guy was cool, he just stopped on the pavement, put down his briefcases and applauded each and every one of us as we went past... I wanted to hug him.

2005-06-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

The infamous trike sound-system which I believe will be accompanying us up to Scotland from sunday...

2005-06-15T09:40:00.000-07:00

The red t-shirt twins are actually obscuring someone having a row with a cabbie which I was trying to snap... makes a good photo though!

2005-06-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

Brian Haw, who has been camped outside the houses of parliament for nearly 4 years in protest against the war in Iraq and who recently stood for parliament himself... One of my heroes.

2005-06-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

The other big ben...

2005-06-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

A more resourceful way of using a knackered old van I'd say it's hard to find...

2005-06-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

This photo and the ones above and below were taken at the Hockerton Housing project near Nottingham. This is a settlement of five earth sheltered (ie the back of these houses is a big grassy slope which I walked up to take the photo below) houses which are some of the most ecologically sound homes in the country. And very nice they are too... have a look on their website if you want to know more or arrange a visit.

2005-06-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hockerton's photo-voltaic panels from above...

2005-06-15T09:28:00.000-07:00

This is me on the morning I left in my bedroom next to the big map I have been gormlessly staring at for the last 6 months... Do you detect a faint glimmer of fear behind that smile?!

Happy World Environment Day!

2005-06-05T03:57:00.000-07:00

Did anyone know it was World Environment Day? Prizes if you did... I'd be interested if anyone knows of any events in their area to mark this special occasion, though my suspicions are that there's not much going on...
The campsite I'm staying at here in Rotherham is hosting an Environment Fair, complete with Mystical Earth Walk, Bird Box Building and a Mini Beast Hunt... Think it's all geared towards kids but I might go along and unleash my inner child for a bit (even though my outer child is sprouting quite a hefty beard growth!)
This afternoon I'm planning to cycle to the Earth Centre which is just up the road. This was the Government's flagship millenium environmental project, kind of an ecological theme park designed to encourage us all to make our lifestyles more sustainable... Unfortunately it closed a few years after it opened due to a lack of visitors.
I think it will be a pertinent day to go and visit the defunct site, and maybe speak to some local people about why they think it was so unsuccessful; Was it a marketing failure? Were the prices too high? Do people just not care enough? Is sustainable development about as fun as cutting your toenails? Or did they take offence at more public money being poured into another millenial white elephant that preached a hypocritical message of sustainability from a Government that won't even impose tax on air fuel? Just some thoughts... I'd love to hear yours (hint: if you are reading this, please let me know by leaving a comment or three...)
Meanwhile, I thought I'd let you see my itinerary as it stands at the moment, so you can see just what I'm letting myself in for over the next couple of months! God Speed.

Monday 30th May: Salford – Hebden Bridge ATC [29 miles]
Tuesday 31st May: Hebden Bridge – Horsforth [28 miles]
Wednesday 1st June: Meanwood Valley Urban Farm
Thursday 2nd June: Horsforth – Breighton [45 miles]
Friday 3rd June: Breighton – Thrybergh [36 miles]
Saturday 4th June: Rest day in Rotherham!
Sunday 5th June (World Environment Day): Environment fair @ Thrybergh Country Park/Earth Centre (closed)
Monday 6th June: Thrybergh - Heeley City Farm, Sheffield (12 miles)/Heeley – Sherwood Forest Caravan Park, Old Clipstone. [27 miles]
Tuesday 7th June: Old Clipstone – Leicester [45 miles]
Wednesday 8th June: Environ’s Eco-house
Thursday 9th June: Leicester – Thrapstone [38 miles]
Friday 10th June: Thrapstone – Hitchin [45 miles]
Saturday 11th June (National Bike Week starts): Hitchin - London. [40 miles] World Naked Bike Ride!
Sunday 12th June: London Wetlands Centre
Monday 13th June: Rest day/Route Planning
Tuesday 14th June: London Sustainability talk, Museum of London
Wednesday 15th June: Islington Ecology Centre, Arsenal.
Thursday 16th June: BedZed Zero Impact Housing Project, Surrey.
Friday 17th June: Rest day/Route Planning
Saturday 18th June: Preparation for G8 Bike ride
Sunday 19th June: G8 Bike ride: London - Redfield (Redfield Sustainable Housing Co-Op) [57 miles]
Monday 20th June: Redfield - Coventry [54 miles]
Tuesday 21st June: Coventry - Nottingham [59 miles]
Wednesday 22nd June: Rest day
Thursday 23rd June: Nottingham - Nine Ladies [31 miles]
Friday 24th June: Nine Ladies - Manchester [41 miles]
Saturday 25th June: Manchester - Lancaster [55 miles]
Sunday 26th June: Rest day
Monday 27th June: Lancaster - Penrith [50 miles]
Tuesday 28th June: Penrith - Carlisle: [18 miles]
Wednesday 29th June: Carlisle - Lockerbie [31 miles]
Thursday 30th June: Lockerbie - Lanark [46 miles]
Friday 1st July: Lanark - Edinburgh[?]
Saturday 2nd July: Make Poverty History March - Edinburgh
Sunday 3rd July- Friday 8th July: Not really sure but generally hanging around the G8 summit trying (not) to get into trouble!
Saturday 9th July: Gleneagles – Pitlochry [41 miles]
Sunday 10th July: Pitlochry – Braemar [40 miles]
Monday 11th July: Braemar – Tomintoul [32 miles]
Tuesday 12th July: Tomintoul – Forres [36 miles]
Wednesday 13th July - Friday 15th July: Findhorn Eco-Village
Saturday 16th July: Forres – Tomintoul [36 miles]
Sunday 17th July: Tomintoul – Braemar [32 miles]
Monday 18th July: Braemar – Pitlochry [40 miles]
Tuesday 19th July: Pitlochry – Auchterarder [40 miles]
Wednesday 20th July: Auchterarder – Thornhill [21 miles]
Thursday 21st July: Thornhill – Lanark [50 miles]
Friday 22nd July: Lanark – Lockerbie [63 miles]
Saturday 23rd July: Lockerbie – Carlisle [32 miles]
Sunday 24th July: Rest Day
Monday 25th July: Carlisle – Cockermouth [30 miles]
Tuesday 26th July: Cockermouth – Seascale [28 miles]
Wednesday 27th July: Sellafield Nuclear Power Station
Thursday 28th July: Seascale – Ulverston [42 miles]
Friday 29th July: Baywind Energy (Harlock Hill Wind Farm)
Saturday 30th July: Ulverston – Lancaster [37 miles]
Sunday 31st July: Lancaster – Salford [50 miles]

To save you adding up, that's about 1500 miles so far! As I said, after this I'm planning to head south through Wales and down into Devon and Cornwall but that will rely on everything that proceeds, so I'll update as and when... Sheesh kebab, what the hell am I doing?!!

So Far So Good...

2005-06-04T07:28:00.000-07:00

Gotta be quick as I'm about to be kicked out of Rotherham public library where I write this post...
Despite my increasing sense of foreboding in the run up to my departure, everything's going really well; my bike's still in one piece, my legs are doing me proud, my tent hasn't blown down yet and I've even managed to cook up a few culinary masterpieces on my camping stove. My first meeting went really well, I spoke to Gail at Hebden Bridge Alternative Technology Centre who was really keen to help with the project, even talking of possible future partnerships... From Hebden Bridge I cycled to Leeds where I visited Meanwood Valley Urban Farm. The guy I was meant to be meeting had inexplicably gone on holiday, but I got to speak to the manager who was very helpful and I had a nice time looking around the organic gardens, animal pens and sustainable 'EPICentre'. In the rain. After that I cycled to Selby, North Yorkshire, where I stayed the night (and made friends with an impetuous goat!) before heading to the borough of Rotherham, where I am camping at a beautiful site by a lake, getting a bit of r & r before my visit to Heeley City Farm in Sheffield on Monday. Let's hope no-one's decided to go on an impromptu holiday... Right, I really am being kicked off now... more soon...

Day 1

2005-05-30T14:08:00.000-07:00

Despite riding a bike that weighs, fully laden, somewhere approximating a small car, I have safely arrived at my first destination: Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. Bit of a cushy one this, as my friend Leah lives at her parents' house here so I have a bed for the night... but here on in it's canvas all the way!
Taking advantage of the computer facilities here too as I don't know when I'll next get near one, what with the wilderness that is the north of England being so rugged and inhospitable...
Tomorrow morning I'll be heading down to Hebden Bridge's very own Alternative Technology Centre, to find out more about how they're helping people in Yorkshire to live sustainably, or at least with as little environmental impact as possible...
For anyone who's just chanced upon this blog and/or doesn't know what the hell I'm doing I should explain that the end result of this cycling tour around the country's renewable energy centres, sustainable housing projects, farms, academic institutions etc. is an educational theatre project for young people focussing on climate change and sustainable development. Probably. Or it might be that I decide to go and chain myself to a tree on mushrooms while listening to bad trance music.... but don't tell my funders that.
I've not published my itinerary because it's still evolving but basically I'm heading south to London, then up to Scotland for the G8 Summit with a bunch of cycling protesters, down to the Lake District, Wales, and finally the West country. Well, Cornwall. That's as long as I don't run out of money, or my legs don't fall off, or my bike doesn't break or... well that's enough.
See you all in blighty. Or not if I don't know you.
Peace. x

...it hits the fan in 3 days

2005-05-27T03:16:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

So this is the downsized version of my blog ambitions, though to be honest it's probably quite good that my website couldn't haul its sorry self online in time, because it was looking a little shoddy... At least now I have time to make it beautiful before you all get to see it.

So... I leave in 3 days time on my epic and increasingly daft-seeming bicycle journey around the country, laughably under-prepared, hopelessly over-budget and severely lacking in fitness. But it's not all bad news, I have a bike, a tent, a stove and at least some of the people I'm visiting know I'm coming... the rest will just have to be pleasantly surprised!

For anyone who doesn't already know (I must have banged on about it enough by now but you never know...) I'm off to investigate attempts being made by people in this country to live sustainably (ie meeting their needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs) and mitigate the threats of climate change (which was my starting point)... and other impending disasters. Other impending disasters such as the predicted peak oil crisis and subsequent collapse of the global economy, neatly summed up here by Schnews. I know some of you will be thinking it's all lefty econspiracy theorising and warrants about as much attention as David Icke and his lizards... and I hope you're right. Unfortunately, I think the general scientific consensus is a bit too, well, general really.

So, what you gonna do when your well runs dry? As I said, I have a bike, a tent and a stove... that uses petroleum fuel. Shit. Oh well, let's just enjoy the summer while it's here...

Testing

2005-05-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Computers are very...