I have been accompanied by a panserbjorne on a number of occasions during the past two months.
Wait... What the hell is a panserbjorne?! Why would you start a blog post by making an obscure reference?!
Hmm, I guess I see your point, random italicised voice. Let me explain quickly: a panserbjorne is an 'ice bear' in the Phillip Pullman series, His Dark Materials. It translates as 'armoured bear' in Danish. I have attached a photo (below) for your perusal. Tres impressive.
Ahem... I have been accompanied by a panserbjorne on a number of occasions during the past two months. Armed with truth (finally, my really shaky analogy is complete) and a cuddly demeanour we have battled against the resources of big oil in order to #SavetheArctic.
My Panserbjorne, pictured above. No armour. Yet. Pretty tough however, no?
The public response to this campaign has been overwhelming. I was expecting to be whelmed, but it went over that. Greenpeace was looking to reach 1 million supporters in a year or three. We reached that figure within 1 month. A month! Holy campaigning, Batman! I imagine we're all feeling a little overwhelmed (...just checked with other GP members on the wire, yup, we are indeed feeling it). A week ago at Latitude Festival, I was grilled on the campaign specifics by a 12 year old girl and her friends. And I mean grilled. Question after question about what we are doing, why we are doing it and how successful we expect to be. If it were not for the scramble nets constructed by Greenpeace crew for kids to run and jump on she might have taken me to the edge of my knowledge (a fearful and dark place) on the subject... Luckily she was next in line for the nets and I was released from her quizzical grip. Phew, saved by scramble nets.
Much fun was had at Latitude avec Greenpeace.
A month ago, Camden Greenpeace went on a friendly campaign jaunt to London Zoo. The campaign itself had been freshly minted at the Greenpeace offices and the Arctic Scroll portion* of it had been unveiled at the Rio +20 Earth Summit earlier that week. Tali thought it would be a good idea to play rugby in the polar bear suit - it definitely was a good idea - in Regent's Park. Rose was a kid magnet, they flocked to her and her Arctic stickers. I managed to entice the mosquito crowd. Same thing happened at Latitude... Curse those little bloodsuckers. Anyways, we managed to sign up a crazy good amount of people to our Arctic Scroll initiative.
*To save me explaining the Arctic scroll thing, here is a link to what it is all about.
Kids around London Zoo and Islington love polar bears!
Last weekend we decided to stage a campaign day at the Shell gas station on Holloway Rd, Islington. Between 10 and 18 volunteers showed up to help, most were new to street protests and leafleting. To highlight the variety of new volunteers we had joining us: a former ballet dancer, a 14-year-old, a family with baby and an employee from Greenpeace head office. Roberto, who happened to walk past the protest decided there and then to give 3 hours of his time to help us out, certainly a first for me. This campaign has caught the public's imagination in a way the Golden Compass never did at the box office (OOH MOVIE SNAP! Aww, actually this makes me sad, I really wanted the film to be successful...)
Charlotte (the former ballet dancer) was ready to get in the suit. The idea of a (pro) dancing polar bear was too much for my imagination to resist. Luckily for me, she had been an absolute star campaigner all day and accepted the challenge head-on. She did not disappoint. I have attached a video for your perusal at the bottom of this page. (Note: 2012 Award for the weirdest laugh on camera? I nominate: Me)
Her passion was a microcosm of the energy of the day. Her popularity with passer-by's, kids and honking motorists was unsurprising. What a helpful pooka that bear is.
Wait... You've done it again, an obscure reference to end this blog?! Seriously, get your act together, pull your socks up. Be normal. What the hell is a pooka...
Oh shush, random italicised voice. I've got to be me (as I'm sure a famous musical number once mused...): a pooka is a benevolent (or malevolent) and advice-laden creature of Irish folklore and mythology. The big rabbit from the 1950 film Harvey starring James Stewart is an example of a pooka. Tres cool, huh.
"Elwood P. Dowd: You see, science has overcome time and space. Well, Harvey has overcome not only time and space, but any objections.
Dr. Chumley: Fly specks, fly specks! I've been spending my life among the fly specks while miracles have been leaning on lamp posts at 18th and Fairfax!"
Harvey (1950)
Fancy creating mini North London miracles? Join us for some lamppost leaning at a gas station or tourist joint near you. No objections. Don't spend your life among the fly specks, get active and save the Arctic.
What, me?! Yes, you James Stewart. You can help Save The Arctic.
- All Greenpeace pictures courtesy of Ric Lindley, Charlotte Miles and Myself.
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