1,000-mile march to save planet

CHRISTIAN Aid has launched the longest-ever UK protest march, backed by celebrities including
singers Lemar and Amy Macdonald and actors Leonardo Di Caprio and Katie Leung, as part of its Climate
Changed campaign.

The Cut the Carbon March is an 11-week 1,000-mile trek across the UK starting in Northern Ireland and
ending in London on October 2.  The 18 ‘core' walkers who will complete the entire distance, come
from the UK and developing countries. They come from countries in which Christian Aid works helping them to adapt to climate change.

Walkers representing Kenya, South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil, El Salvador, Bangladesh, Philippines and Tajikistan will carry messages about the impact of global warming
in their countries and encourage members of the public to join the national campaign and make
personal commitments to reducing their carbon footprint.

The walkers will also be asking people to sign a petition for the Prime Minister Gordon Brown
calling for:
● A law to make UK companies declare their CO2 emissions
● A new UN climate agreement to be negotiated at the Bali conference in December 2007
The petition can also be signed by texting ‘CUT' to 84880.

In keeping with the theme of walking, Christian Aid is encouraging members of the public to contribute to a ‘shoelace petition'. In return for old shoelaces they will be sent special issue ‘Cut the Carbon' shoelaces
featuring the March logo. The target is 1,000 miles of shoelaces and they will be presented to Number 10 with the written petition. Text ‘LACE' to 84880 to join the petition and get your special ‘Cut the Carbon' laces (texts cost £1.50). The march will go through 70 towns and cities and more than 50,000 people are
expected to join the walkers on parts of the route and attend major events. Rallies will be taking place
in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and London. Paul Brannen, head of campaigns at Christian Aid, said:

"Climate change is the most serious threat to humanity. Poor people in the least developed
countries are already dying as a result of floods, droughts and conflict over already scarce resources, such as water, that are becoming scarcer as the planet heats up.

"They need our help to tackle climate change by reducing emissions, through individual action and by putting pressure on the UK government to pursue climate friendly national and international policies."

Details: www.christianaid.org.uk

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