East Sheen man to unite pupils in global climate change campaign (From This Is Local London)

East Sheen man to unite pupils in global climate change campaign

8:20am Sunday 19th April 2009

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An East Sheen man is preparing to travel around the edge of the Atlantic Ocean as he unites schoolchildren in a global campaign to tackle climate change.

Tim Bromfield, 28, will set off on the 35,000km 10 month journey with two friends from Cambridge University in aid of their Atlantic Rising project in late June, this year.

The trio have applied to Charity Commission to grant Atlantic Rising charitable status and hope to hear its verdict before they leave.

The project aims to put young people in touch across the ocean and help them understand how action by smaller communities can have global consequences and how working together could be key to finding a solution.

Mr Bromfield said: “Climate change is the biggest challenge facing the next generation.

“Today's teenagers will be tomorrow's community leaders. “These are the people who will have the challenge of adapting to the consequences of rising sea levels as well as mitigating the causes of climate change.”

The former Sheen Mount pupil will travel through 31 countries and visit 35 schools - leaving from Scotland and taking in the west coast of Europe, West Africa, the Americas and Canada - along the ocean’s 1.5m contour line, which is predicted to be the new coastline of the Atlantic in 100 years.

Mr Bromfield added: “The project is targeted at key stage 3 pupils and we are particularly keen to work with schools on the London floodplain.

“These schools will be incorporated into an Atlantic network of about 45 schools, connected through a Facebook-like online community [rafi.ki] that uses new media technology such as video-conferencing, online discussion forums and email.

“Our project draws on the existing and historic connections across the ocean and emphasised the idea of an Atlantic community.

“For example, the journey starts in Tiree, Scotland, and ends at a Tiree community in Canada that migrated there following the Highland Clearances.”

Atlantic Rising was recently awarded a £10,000 Go Beyond bursary from the Royal Geographical Society and is sponsored by Land Rover, which is supplying a specially adapted vehicle.

For more information visit atlanticrising.org or call Mr Bromfield on 020 8878 0983.

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