HEALTHY TRANSPORT HOBART

24 September is Moving Planet Day, an international day of action, highlighting the need for the world to move beyond fossil fuels and look to renewable energy sources. It is an event organized by members of .350.org, Oxfam, the World Council of Churches, Greenpeace and Global Exchange.

The goals of this day of action, and the member organisations are

-       Science-based policies to get us back to 350ppm

-       A rapid, just transition to zero carbon emissions

-       Mobilizing funding for a fair transition to a 350ppm world

-       Lifting the rights of people over the rights of polluters

Whether or not one agrees entirely with these goals, this year, the theme for the day was an admirable one – ‘Get Moving’. Events were held in places as diverse as Sulalmani Iraq, Ho Chi Minh City and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania; many people on bikes demonstrating better ways to ‘get moving’ than relying on oil-fueled vehicles. From the images I’ve looked at, there was a huge amount of positivity and hope shared across the world.

Yesterday, two friends and I, ‘got moving’ – riding our bikes from outside Smithton to Burnie along the Bass Highway. The day sparkled (the weather perhaps affirming our decision to ride a hefty 90kms on a Saturday afternoon across Tasmania), and I wish I could show you, kind reader, the images of the sapphire-coloured water, shimmering green grass and fields of tulips like rainbows caught on the earth. Alas, I was too taken feasting my eyes on such images to get my camera out of my backpack and attempt to capture them.

After arriving home, elated and pooped, we went into entertaining mode and hosted a very relaxing Moving Planet day celebratory low-carbon emission dinner (bio-dynamic Tassie grape juice, Kindred-grown quinoa, local dirt-covered carrots).

http://moving-planet.org – some fantastic photos to be seen from Moving Planet Day 2011

Love Anna.

Too right Liam – all the related worthy ’causes’ in which we are involved (action on climate change, Malaysia Solution pondering and responding, preventative public health learning, ironic cake stalls held to raise funds for ‘African’ famines), letter writing, article reading … our (or, at least, my!) mind gets sidetracked.

Which is wonderful, in some respects – that cycling-when-smiling is so much a wholly positive part of the day it is not even acknowledged as something to write or think about. Except of course, when I look beyond the road in front and see shafts of blinding sun coming through the clouds (phrase to be taken literally as well as figuratively!) lighting the path, a kind soul to ride beside and the daffodils (oh, the daffodils!) smiling up from the verge, am I reminded of how good we’ve got it.

I engaged in a conversation with an inspiring cyclist recently, which reminded me of my interest and passion for this form and way of moving across the world. So I hopped onto WordPress to have a bit of a type to express that and ponder it more in my head, as well as riding in the afternoon sun to the Swansea top-shop fetch some $2.99kg bananas (bruised and squishy ones) to make a bike riding fueling banana cake.

If you find your day feeling slow, check out this article for some inspiration for honouring that feeling and walking:

http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/the-simplest-health-fix-20110910-1k2mm.html

3 upcoming events I’m a bit excited about:

24 Hours of Reality 14-15 September

RU OK Day 15 September (intrigued? Google it)

Ride to Work Day 12 October

Love Anna.