Hopenhagen

Here's a piece for you written by Carolyn from Lush Lincoln...

Hearing of the blue wave happening in London and knowing that I would be in Copenhagen it-self, I was very excited. I had marched in Brussels, the heart of the European Community, before but I had never seen so many people from so many different countries as I did around the Bella Centre!

I was, no animal cruelty intended, killing two birds with one stone; I was visiting some good friends and participating in one of the most talked bout and important demonstrations regarding modern day people’s demand for change to a more respectful and harmonious future! – Climate Change Talks 2009

Everybody I met; young eco-nerds like my-self, was so pumped with energy and excitement, knowing, hoping that the right decisions would be made and that they would have been there to support them. I was just as inspired, being French; I was also enchanted by Nicolas Sarkozy him-self. No French President has inspired me so much, and Rasmus Faa Rasmusen is his Danish stunt double. Around a good old tuborg we all mused at how those two would put a spell on all other nations; Vive la Révolution! However, there was always an underlying tension and frustration in our talks as we all, deep down, believed that no matter how well and hard certain countries pushed, others would still not sway and realise that change is necessary. This feeling was also felt when in the streets. Demonstrators were sometimes loosing patience and the police often looked overwhelmed. Though we never lost face, I felt tensions were running high, but the cold definitely kept them under wraps.

Even though, my moments of walking and chanting with my friends felt glorious and I hope you all get to feel that same rush someday. It must be said, being in Hopenhagen, that demonstrating is not for the faint hearted. Arrests are made, people shout, barriers are trampled, you loose a couple of toes to the frost and yet there is still a huge sense of solidarity and that rollercoaster of emotions makes it all worth while! We knew, after talking to people in the streets that we all cared and that even if talks fell through we’d all shout together that much louder until our nation leaders did the right thing!

So I came back to Britain on a cloud of certainty, certainty that I would witness change. I sat and pondered over it, and pondered, and pondered, and pondered as my connecting train in Peterborough arrived with a five-hour delay! Note to self: next time, bring two books; one for the way there and one for the way back. Welcome home!

Happy Hippies!!

After 6 1/2 hours on quite literally the worst megabus ride I have EVER taken, I arrived in to London Victoria excited for the wave event yesterday morning.

Michael had travelled all the way from Glasgow and our first thought at 07:30am was BREAKFAST!

After a plate of fried joy served by the nicest cockney I ever did meet, we rambled around London killing time until the 12 'o'clock kick off.

With hindsight, walking around half of London before the march began (having had only 30minutes sleep on a cramped night bus) was not a good plan.

But we saw Buckingham Palace and meandered around Mayfair ogling the architecture and chattering excitedly about how the day was going to go.

Nothing like a walk to feed your excitement and by the time we got to Grosvenor Square, we were suitably buzzing!

We were two of the first to arrive and watching the thousands flood into the square as noon approached was quite something. Groups such as RSPB, Christian Aid, Transition and Friends of the Earth all gathered and painted each other blue. It was so cold, I think we probably could have managed the blue hands without the paint but they slapped it on us and the rest of the day was spent not trying to cover everything we touched in blue (failed).

It took some time for the march to get going - Esther was impatient and we snuck our way over and under barriers until we reached the front of the pack...and we were off!

Dancing through Berkley Square to a Bollywood brass band was pretty damn surreal but they were so funky it was hard to do anything else. The vibe was happy, excited and very very friendly - old people, young people, parents with pushchairs and toddlers all came along to show that climate change is a real worry to the ordinary soul. This was not just about a few environmentalists getting on their high horse, this was a true representation of the people that care what happens in Copenhagen because they understand the importance of protecting our planet for the (very near) future.

The Preston Lushies arrived after the march had set off and finding them really did take all day - but our reunion on the Embankment was emotional ;-) Claire from Kingston Lush had also managed to miss us but we caught up with her snapping away with her camera near parliament.

It was lovely to be together in time for the 3pm wave - 50,000 blue palms waving at Big Ben as the chimes rang out...bet it looked amazing from above!

You can read all about the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition right here and make sure you look through the pictures of the day to see just how incredible it all was.

Look out for more pictures of our day out soon....

Before The Wave....

I am sat eating a potato today, filing myself with slow release energy for the coming bus journey to London. I get on my coach at 1:15am - very bad time really as the last metro shoots into town for around 11:30pm so I'm gonna have waaaaaay too much time to kill in a relatively frozen Newcastle. Ho hum!

But I'm looking forward to arriving tomorrow morning and finding a band of Lushies waiting to go a-troopin' with me! It's going to be wonderful fun...

But let's not forget that there is a serious side to all of this flashmobbing, splashdancing, blue handed marching and megabus travelling - the march is aiming to show support for all those who seek change at this months climate change talks in Copenhagen.

You can read about why this is important here -> What's happening man?

This guy spelt it our far more eloquently than I ever could, but the main point to take away is that Climate Change is REAL, it WILL be devastating and it is affecting people NOW!

We need meaningful debate, commitment to action and measurable results!

If you'll be there tomorrow - HURRAH! If you won't - do your bit in store and support the march by holding a mini wave Splashdance! check the link here -> BOOGIE BABY YEAH!

Welcome to the Lush Naked News!

Happy Blogday everybody :-)

This is a space for me to post longer bits of information for all the Lush Green Helpers to nosey about in and share with staff and customers alike!

We will shortly be releasing an email newsletter of the same name that will go directly to the shops inbox (or to your personal address if you let me know).

If you have pictures or stories of things you have done in your shop then please, please send them to me and I will try and get as many featured as possible. If you have any ideas for things you would like to see or articles you have written yourself then send these too - let's make this a real collaborative effort!!

So make a note of this link - don't forget it - and keep an eye out for the first email edition at the end of January.

WOOH!

wooh@lush.co.uk