There and Back Again

We headed from Milan, to one of London’s best kept secrets, Victoria Park on 24^th June. There was a buzz in the air with loads of us back on home ground, amongst friends and family.  Apparently, when Victoria Park first opened it's gates in 1845, people were advised to visit the park for a stroll to increase their life expectancy. Throw in a Radiohead gig and there was a definite boost to the constitution of the 40,000 people who descended on the park for a great night out.  And with a capacity of 40,000 on the second night too, this was without a doubt,  the Big London Gig....

Friends of the Earth campaigners came along from head office to sign fans up to The Big Ask and the London crowd were as cool as ever and happy to support the campaign for a strong climate bill that includes the UK’s international aviation and shipping emissions. Waiting for final confirmation of postcard numbers from their events officer Nick Beuret, so watch this space!

 Take a look at a snapshot of us hard at work;

 

And read Katie’s environmental report on the venue here.

 

So, after a fun but tiring couple of days in the Big Smoke we jumped on the buses to Scotland, Glasgow Green, for another blinding gig on 27th June. The volunteers from Friends of the Earth Scotland were kept busy with The Big Ask sign ups and we were kept particularly busy with press and TV thanks to Owen Davis,  their Communications Officer. Owen really pulled out the stops to get media coverage for FoE Scotland, who, like England, Wales and Northern Ireland,  have a climate bill going through. FoE Scotland are pushing to make sure the bill is one that works. They really made the most of this gig to get their message out there, particularly as the gig day coincided with the launch day of their campaign.

 

Owen, FoE Scotland said (over a well earned beer);

 

 

The volunteers did a great job (despite the rain rain rain) with just over 1000 cards  signed to send onto their First Minister, Alex Salmond. If you weren't lucky enough to get to the Scottish gig, sign up to support their Big Ask online

 

Errr. And have a look at  FoE Scotland pulling shapes on Glasgow Green;

 

Heading back down from Glasgow, we joined the local Friends of the Earth group in Manchester at the Old Trafford Cricket Ground on the 28th June.  Ali Abbas arranged for  BBC TV to work with us for the best part of a day, to get a Friends of the Earth and Radiohead feature out on that evening's news. And thanks to Ali for getting a really nice bunch of volunteers together, they were so enthusiastic and didn’t stop till every one of their cards were signed. This added to the numbers signed in London lobbying Hilary Benn. Wore me out just watching them.... Put your feet up and have a look at them in action here. The first picture is my favourite so far; http://www.flickr.com/photos/11563222@N02/sets/72157605957377544/

 

 

Hannah Wylie. Friends of the Earth Europe Tour Coordinator