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June 23rd, 2007

Brief report from the environment conference

world problemsToday I went unexpectedly to the Chelmsford Diocesan environment conference. I did not intend to go, but owing to various circumstances I ended up there. It is a not-that-long but not-that-interesting story, so I will not tell it. And very good the conference was too. For me the need to take action on environmental and justice issues rather put yesterday’s discussions into perspective. Hence my hastily scribbled list, which is not intended to be accurate, or correct, or good.

Of course it is easy to get overwhelmed by the pressing needs of our planet. One of the conference speakers, when faced with the question ‘But what can we actually do?’ replied by saying ‘Do what you do’. In other words, do the thing you normally do in life, but do it in such a way that will help the world to operate sustainably and will help to get the message about environmental issues out there and will generally do as much good as possible. For this reason I will continue to do a few drawings and rambly blog posts, but I am going to try to address environmental issues a bit more often.

I have decided to take a small bit of additional action in one particular area though. I think we should have some cycle racks at our church, so I am going to see whether I can, by asking the right people, make some cycle racks happen at our church. I think having cycle racks at church would mean that more people might cycle there, which would be a good thing. If anyone reading has experience of commissioning cycle racks for a church then I would like to hear from you. Alternatively you might know a church with really really good cycle racks and you might know how they got them. I talked to a man from Sustrans, and he said that Sheffield Cycle Racks are the best ones. I don’t know whether there are special people who install such things or whether you get a builder to do it or mix your own concrete using a home made recipe. I am so clueless on the subject you would hardly believe it. My ignorance is plain for all to see.

Greetings to Paul, who I met at the conference, though I knew him from the internet. Paul offered me his garden for my occasional cartooning purposes, which was a very kind gesture.

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3 Responses to “Brief report from the environment conference”


  1. Karin says:

    I like the list, Dave. As usual you have managed to raise a smile while dealing with a serious subject.

    I think cycling and taking public transport when you can, as I believe you do, is an important way to tackle global warming. I have thought about trying out daughter’s bike, which as she hasn’t used if for a year or so is about the right hight for me. |: I still have to get organised enough to find time to practice between the raindrops, though, and then I shall need to get fitter to make it a viable option. I hope that if I talk about it enough I will eventually get on with it.

    Heating seems to be the other big thing most of us do to create carbon emissions, so keeping the thermostat down as low as possible and wearing vests and jumpers and not using more hot water than necessary along with switching to an electricity company that invests as much as possible in sustainable power with low carbon emissions. Unfortunately there are days when a long soak is so much more appealing than a quick shower, and sometimes even a needed therapy.

    There was something on a simple living website that said living simply (and also sustainably?) is about a balance between our needs and the needs of others etc, not about just giving things up for the sake of it – or words to that effect – which seemed like a sensible idea.

    Sorry, I don’t know anything about bike wracks, but if it encourages people to cycle to church it must be a good idea.

    June 24th, 2007 at 11:52 am
  2. Miss Dagurreotype says:

    I think bicycle racks are a wonderful thing. I used to cycle occasionally to church when I lived in a slightly cooler climate than where I now live (Texas). Now not only do I live in Texas where we only get a few cyclable weeks a year, I live to far to cycle, but I do take public transit to church.

    I don’t know how you go about getting bicycle racks on your side of the pond, but on our side you’d talk to the Jr. Warden who’s in charge of “buildings and grounds” about it. Then depending on where the church was located, you’d either get the city to put one in on the public sidewalk or you’d order one from a company that makes them (contact your local bicycle shop – they should know who makes them). You could install one yourself, you’d just need some buckets with spouts, some water, a mixing paddle, some Quik-Crete, and some muscles for mixing.

    If you wanted to get really creative, you could get a local welder to make you one with pipes that resembled something like a fish |>, or the conjoined Greek letters Alpha and Omega, or some other suitable Christian symbol that would make a good bicycle design. (I wouldn’t use a Cross since there’d be nothing to lock the bicycle too, and even a celtic cross would offer limited parking options.) If y’all decided to have your own made, I’m sure you could draw something suitable. ;-)

    I’ve seen some interestingly designed bicycle racks and some of the most interesting looking ones can be found in Portland, Oregon. Some are so artsy, that if no one told you what they were, you’d think you’d have to park your bicycle somewhere else. Also, in looking around Google images, I found bicycle racks that look like bicycles, music, a car, and books. So if you get creative, put a “bicycle parking here” sign next to the racks, unless of course the racks look like bicycles.

    June 24th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
  3. jody says:

    the car one is soooo cool

    June 24th, 2007 at 9:38 pm