[R2U.announce] FW: Ride Planet Earth

Fri Jul 11 12:15:52 EST 2008

Hi again,

Thought this might be of interest to some of you. A friend is off soon
on a transcontinental cycling adventure (details in email below). I
promised I would forward it on in case any of you are mad enough to want
to join him. Otherwise it may be just an interesting adventure to follow
(see link to online blog).

Cheers,

Adam

Environment Officer - Transport

ANUgreen

John Yencken Building (45)

Australian National University

Acton ACT 0200

ph: 02 6125 2110

fax: 02 6125 0001

adam.taylor at anu.edu.au

-----Original Message-----
From: Adam Taylor [mailto:a_taylo at hotmail.com] 
Sent: 11 July 2008 12:05
To: Adam Taylor
Subject: FW:

  _____  

From: kimbobaggins at hotmail.co.uk

Hi everyone,

This is an open invitation, and announcement. I am starting what I'm
calling "Ride Planet Earth" (after a few name changes), in about 5
weeks. To give you the low down it is my attempt to cycle from Brisbane
Australia to Copenhagen Denmark in time for the UN Convention on Climate
Change in December 2009.

I'm doing this trip for a number of reasons; to raise awareness of the
impact of environmental destruction and climate change (to this end I am
making a documentary of my journey), to raise money for environmental
sustainability projects, to promote environmentally friendly and
sustainable travel and transport, and to have a great adventure.

I am currently madly planning, trying to make sure I have the right
equipment, that I know enough about fixing bikes, that I'm fit and
healthy, that I have enough money, that I have the equipment and
know-how to make a documentary and secure some sponsorship, so that I
can complete the journey safely and on time. I am hoping the
documentary, a sort of "Long Way Round" meets "An Inconvenient Truth"
meets "Starship Troopers" (that last movie, it's not really going to be
like that at all), will be distributed as an educational tool, that will
promote sustainability and action. To this end I will be recording how
the environment being changed all along the route and how that is
impacting on the local communities, their livelihoods and life styles,
and recording first-hand evidence of issues such as the movement of
environmental refugees, and how communities are trying to cope. I will
be discussing with individuals and organisations all along the way the
things that are being done to try to ameliorate the environmental
destruction. The documentary will be a way to try and address people's
lack of understanding about the experiences of people in countries
outside of Australia and the West, in dealing with the environmental
problems that are largely caused by the first world industries.    

I am also hoping to create a sort of impetus to get more people out on
their bikes, or walking, basically making decisions about how they
travel that will be more sustainable, healthy and help protect the
environment. The easiest way is just for people to do it, but it would
be nice to construct a way that people can become a bona-fide part of
"Ride Planet Earth". That part I'll have to develop a bit later.

So the announcement is that this is happening, and soon. I'll be having
a launch party in Sydney in early August, just before I leave, it'll
either be on 2nd or 9th of August 08, probably at my place, XXXXXX Surry
Hills. I'll let you know so anyone who can make it to Sydney can come.
I'll also been having a smaller celebration in Brisbane a day or so
later, just before I start cycling.

The invitation part is to anyone who can spare the time and energy, to
come along with me, to make a statement, a difference, and have the
adventure of a life-time (until the Tokyo-Capetown thing..., joking. For
now.). It would be great to have people along for different legs of the
journey, even if you can't do the whole thing. 

The invitation also extends to people who want to help out, as I am
still trying to establish a website if anyone knows about that stuff,
and put in place everything for a successful documentary to be made,
which requires a producer if anyone is interested. Please if you do want
to get actively involved, email me or call me on 0420 887 618, and we
can work out something for you to do. I am still trying to identify an
appropriate organisation to raise money for and I am trying to get media
coverage of the event to help raise money and get more people out
riding. 

Or if you are going to be somewhere along the way let me know and I'll
drop by for a visit.

I look forward to keeping everyone updated and catching up with all of
you soon. I have a blog which can be found at
http://planetride.blogspot.com <http://planetride.blogspot.com/>  and a
facebook group "PLANETRIDE" at present, look it up if you get a chance. 

As I said, I will be trying to set up a proper website soon, and will
let you all know what that is when it exists.

So, get in touch, or keep in touch and hopefully I'll see al of you
somewhere in the world, sometime soon, 

Lots of love, 

Kim 

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