Week one in Copenhagen comes to a close

The Expedition Copenhagen team has been making tracks this week, organizing amazing actions and meeting people who can influence our climate future. Earlier this week, I met Rajenda Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, and sat in on sessions with Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, joined by fellow youth asking challenging questions.

The youth are making sure that our voices are heard, echoing throughout Copenhagen and around the world. This past week, I have met informally with country representatives from Swaziland and Niger, I have taken part in creative events, and have helped spread the youth call for a strong, equitable, and legally binding treaty across the world.

Yesterday, five of the Expedition members travelled to the USA Center inside the conference, where we united with NOAA, the EPA, and the US Forest Service to do an interactive video q & a with middle school and elementary school students back in Washington D.C. Their knowledge of climate change was impressive, and they were concerned about how it would effect wildlife such as happy the diamondback turtle. The kids were cute, making sure that the negotiators knew that they were counting on them to keep animals like happy from being wiped out by climate change.

Last Minute Preparations

The saddlebags are full and the winter gear is ready to take on any weather that good old mother nature (or should I say mother Minnesota?) can send us. This evening, I had a wonderful meeting with State Auditor Rebecca Otto, who is going to host the Bike MN 350! team at her home along our route. Rebecca and her husband Sean have made their home 80% carbon neutral, with a wind turbine, solar, and geothermal energy. It always feels good when you find out that there are actually representatives who practice what they preach.

This August, when the idea for this epic bike trek first came to me, I thought that it would be a piece of cake. Little did I know what I was getting myself into. Now, after two months of planning, and phone tag, of gearing up and saddling down, this adventure is about to become reality.

Until next time,
Reed

Getting Ready To Hit The Trail

10/08/09: This past week, I have had a series of amazing experiences speaking with classrooms and groups engaged in climate solutions work in the Twin Cities. It is hard to believe that after months of planning, an idea is about to become reality as the Bike MN 350! team hits the trail this Saturday. I've never undertaken anything this enormous before, but I'm ready, and I know we can overcome any challenge we may face on the trail ahead of us.

This Saturday, we will be hosting a Base Camp kickoff event open to the public as our team of cyclists departs. Come join us, along with polar explorers, youth delegates to the UN Conference On Climate Change, the Will Steger Foundation, 1Sky, OXFAM, and Carrot Mob at the Harriet Alexander Nature Center in Roseville, MN (10:10am til' noon).

-Reed