COP26 takes place in Scotland in November. How can ordinary people persuade our elected Overlords that they need to change the system?  Across the UK, Climate Actions are being prepared. We speak to two people involved in Pilgrimages to Glasgow about what drives them and what they hope will change. 

COP26 takes place in Glasgow, Scotland in November of this year.  This is our best  - possibly our last - chance to persuade those who govern the world that the climate and ecological emergency needs swift and radical action.  So how can we get the message through to those who are driving our collective bus that they need to turn the wheel before we all hurtle over a cliff?  How can we persuade them that 'business as usual' is no longer an option, or that alternatives do exist if we only had the creativity, imagination, courage and empathy to make them work?

This week, we speak to two people involved in two separate Pilgrimages to Glasgow to find out what they're planning and why.

Benjamin Christie is driven by the deeply held belief in the possibility of a more equitable, sustainable and harmonious world. He works to support NGOs and ethical businesses develop and achieve their goals. With a career spanning events, media and business development, Benjamin has been fortunate enough to gain experience of many different countries, environments and partnerships at first hand.  He's speaking on behalf of the SPINE OF ALBION Pilgrimage which is walking from the southernmost tip of England to the northernmost tip of Scotland - through Glasgow at the time of COP26.

Links to his work and activities include:
http://www.listeningtotheland.com/
https://medicinefestival.com/
https://www.wisdomkeepers.earth/

Bamber Hawes says of himself that he is 'a Thing Maker'. He trained as an Industrial Designer in Sussex, then moved to London and had various companies making furniture, building sets and film props, art directing and modelmaking.
In 2005, after 22 years living in Hackney just off the Murder Mile he 'ran away from his annoying media clients' to Bishop's Castle in South Shropshire, where he now is a picture framer, furniture maker, artist and Art Co ordinator for an Art Trail and is a Town Councillor.
Now, he has created CLARION, a 10 foot Polar Bear made to be portable. He and Clarion will be walking from his home in Bishop's Castle to Glasgow in time for COP. 

Instagram:   @clarion_the_bear
Facebook:   Clarion_the_Bear
Twitter:       @BearClarion     

His call to those who might want to join him is this:
Calling anyone who would like to be part of a commitment to our living, breathing Earth and the future of all life.

I am organising a Climate Crisis Pilgrimage from South Shropshire to the COP26 climate talks that starts on 1st November in Glasgow.

Would you be interested in joining me for a day of walking as I progress northward?I will be doing the whole 306 mile walk which will take 22 days.  

Each day I will be joined by local people from the area that I have reached.

The unusual thing is that I will be accompanied by a ten foot high sculpture of a polar bear, that I have made.  The bear, called Clarion, is made from thin bamboo poles, willow withies and many layers of heavy duty tissue paper bonded together with waterproof PVA.  He is carried on a palanquin.              He ain't heavy!

I am looking for people to join me for a day walking along footpaths, bridle paths, canal towpaths and B roads.  

The intention for this pilgrimage is to come together to walk, to talk, to connect with each other, to connect with the landscape by moving through it slowly, admiring its beauty and grandeur.  

To be positive and kind, and to build active hope. To smile and laugh while being serious.

Walking to the climate talks will not change the world ~ but I can think of nothing better to do to show the earnestness of my belief that we must learn to talk together and build community, only in Oneness will we make a better more just world.  

Clarion and I will be coming through your area on these dates:

DAY ONE 10th October    Bishop's Castle to Longden

DAY TWO 11th October    Longden to Platt Lane

DAY THREE 12th October    Platt Lane to Bulkeley

DAY FOUR 13th October    Bulkeley to Kingsley

DAY FIVE 14th October    Kingsley to Rainhill

DAY SIX 15th October    Rainhill to Appleby Bridge

DAY SEVEN 16th October    Appleby Bridge to Middleforth

DAY EIGHT 17th October    Middleforth to Garstang

DAY NINE  18th October    Garstang to Lancaster

DAY TEN  19th October    Lancaster to Hincaster

DAY ELEVEN 20th October    Hincaster to Sadgill

DAY TWELVE 21st October    Sadgill to Askham

DAY THIRTEEN 22nd October    Askham to Calthwaite

DAY FOURTEEN 23rd October    Calthwaite to Cargo

DAY FIFTEEN  24th October    Carge to Stapleton Grange

DAY SIXTEEN  25th October    Stapleton Grange to Lockerbie

DAY SEVENTEEN  26th October    Lockerbie to Mosslands

DAY EIGHTEEN  27th October    Mosslands to Elvanfoot

DAY NINETEEN  28th October    Elvanfoot to Douglas

DAY TWENTY  29th October    Douglas to Strathaven

DAY TWENTY ONE 30th  October    Strathaven to Busby

DAY TWENTY TWO  31st October    Day off

DAY TWENTY THREE  1st November    Busby to COP26

The complete itinerary will be on Facebook soon : Clarion the Bear

So, please consider coming along as a treasured, intrepid pilgrim.

I assure you this will not be a shouty, banner waving demonstrating rabble.

This pilgrimage will be in the media, and I am sure it will be praised and vilified.

If you are not a walker perhaps you would like to still be part of this by being a driver, delivering walkers at the start of the day and/or collecting them at the end.

Contact me on Social media or on 07957 667 847

No small children, no dogs, no alcohol.

Thank you Bamber the Human and Clarion the Bear