Thanks to Tanja for this reminder of today’s (Saturday) event in Newport. Ed
Saturday 5th September sees Carbon Cycle Celebration at Seaclose Park, Newport, topped off with a Cycling Cinema in the evening.
It’s the launch event of the Cycling Festival and well worth visiting.
Highlighting the benefits of cycling
The whole idea started a number of years ago, when friends and I decided we needed a fun cycle event on the Island to highlight the benefits of cycling as well as the benefits of a car-free town centre.
It wouldn’t have come off, however, without the support of the Council as well as Eco-Island Man David Green, who coined the name of the event and who sponsored it until the year of his death.
Truly inspirational
David was an inspiration to this Island and I can only hope that his good work will continue. I know there are many good souls fighting the green cause and the Council is doing its best too, with limited resources.
However, it could help further the process by taking the following crucial steps:
- Declaring the Island a frack-free zone. If York can, so can we!
- Declaring the Island a TTIP-free zone. If Edinburgh can, so can we!
- Creating an Island-wide comprehensive cycle network by 2020
- Aiming to make the Island 100% energy self-sufficient by 2020
- Aiming to make the Island 70% self-sufficient in food production by 2030
- Preparing for a comprehensive train/tram/podcar network on the Island by 2030.
A sustainable transport system vital
These would indeed be bold steps, but any political action worth its name requires courage and vision. Granted, the last step might seem like a pipe-dream, bearing in mind that we are having to fight to retain the only remaining railway line left on the Island.
However, we will only become a true Eco-Island once there is a truly sustainable transport system. If we start laying the foundations now by launching the necessary research to make it happen, future generations will thank us.
What’s more, I think the Island owes it to David Green.
Image: © Isle of Wight Council
