COP tastic hopes & Fears Nov 2021
Following the WANE Orrery & Climate Fringe Week trip Xavier returned to Glasgow to demonstrate his 'art actions' in demanding world leaders attending the COP 26 conference to address the climate crisis issues on our Earth
The Pilgrimage Continues: My Journey to save the World.
This piece follows on from a previous commentary recording a pilgrimage to Glasgow for Climate Fringe Week, preparing for COP26
This piece follows on from a previous commentary recording a pilgrimage to Glasgow for Climate Fringe Week, preparing for COP26
World Map & bags to Travel...
A Journey to COP 26.
I started on my journey to COP26 international conference to ‘Save The World’. Having done the pilgrims preparatory journey before, I felt more confident about my expedition for a ‘COP- tastic’ time in Glasgow, as my second home.
I started on my journey to COP26 international conference to ‘Save The World’. Having done the pilgrims preparatory journey before, I felt more confident about my expedition for a ‘COP- tastic’ time in Glasgow, as my second home.
Lens Over Glasgow (detail for World Map Banner).
When the taxi from London Bridge dropped me off at Euston I enthusiastically hurried into the station to find a station packed, like a Cup Final football stadium, with thousands of people. I slipped into Deptford market barrow boy mode shouting ‘Coming through! Mind your backs please!’ as I navigated my way with all my stuff. I just wanted a space to stand the banner & my bag so I could take a proper look at the gigantic train information board, leaning up against a large post directly underneath the info board. Once I knew which platform I needed, I then worked my way back into the crowd to look for the 13.30 to Glasgow.
As I went looking for my train, to my dismay the board evolved into a messenger of doom. Nothing, nish, zero trains. The tanoy message was telling us not to travel. I worked my way back to the post and asked a woman who was sitting there with her 2 kids how long she’d been waiting? Since 10 am was her reply, my heart went out & I tried to think of something to ease their plight. While queuing for a return cab there were groups from all over the world looking for alternative ways to get to Glasgow / COP26.
Euston Station says No time for delay! Same message as Extinction Rebellion.
XR sign & info table at Pollock Park XR Campsite.
Tuesday
Tuesday I set out on to cycle over to the Tony who was organising the Extinction Rebellion (XR) camp at Pollock Park. Andy had given me directions via Hampden Park football stadium car park and it was while trying to find that I bumped into Eve Livingston en route…
On finding the car park the police turned me round saying ‘The car park’s full of police who’ll stop you’. So it was the long way round for me, I never really seen much of the south side of Glasgow, very nice too.
Tuesday I set out on to cycle over to the Tony who was organising the Extinction Rebellion (XR) camp at Pollock Park. Andy had given me directions via Hampden Park football stadium car park and it was while trying to find that I bumped into Eve Livingston en route…
On finding the car park the police turned me round saying ‘The car park’s full of police who’ll stop you’. So it was the long way round for me, I never really seen much of the south side of Glasgow, very nice too.
Once I had found the huge Pollock Park, it was a question of where was the XR camp?
My phone battery had died again and there was no ringing Tony to guide me.
After entering the park and asking a few folk en route I managed to glean that they ‘were in a field next the highland cows’. This established I set about finding a field as I was currently in the midst of woodland.
Then from the road I saw glimpse’s of tents through the trees at the top side of a big field and then Tony’s large high visibility jacket clothed figure, ‘In all the fields, in all the parks…’ there was a friendly face, someone I’d met before at the Blackheath XR camp…I think he was as pleased to see me.
My phone battery had died again and there was no ringing Tony to guide me.
After entering the park and asking a few folk en route I managed to glean that they ‘were in a field next the highland cows’. This established I set about finding a field as I was currently in the midst of woodland.
Then from the road I saw glimpse’s of tents through the trees at the top side of a big field and then Tony’s large high visibility jacket clothed figure, ‘In all the fields, in all the parks…’ there was a friendly face, someone I’d met before at the Blackheath XR camp…I think he was as pleased to see me.
Tony Facilitator of Pollock Park XR Camp.
After a cuppa, I showed him the ‘Nurse The Earth’ banner that I’d made for Blackheath camp in the summer and especially brought to Glasgow with me. We strapped it to the back of the porta-loo to enhance the view from the road & passing traffic, making the camp more identifiable. And Tony put a table up for all the leaflet’s. I found & up-cycled an old road sign that was knocking about to announce the camp presence.
Let's Nurse the earth on a Portaloo.
As it got on in the afternoon I began to build & nurture a little fire in the fire pit, thinking it’s gonna be getting cold, (it was really to justify my pyromania tendencies). While I was tending the fire, new arrivals would trickle in and begin setting up their tents. It was getting dark so I stoked up the fire to welcome them to camp. In exchange I got supper by someone cooking on the fire.
XR chess players Pollock Park.
Friday' Futures Climate Crisis march from Kelvingrove Park to George Square.
Future Friday
On Friday there was the Friday’s for Future youth march. After my previous Friday experience in September, this time I arrived at the right place at the Prince of Wale’s bridge in Kelvingrove Park. A big crowd was assembling for the march. I stood by some railings at the side and began to assemble the Nurse the World-map banner. Along the railings was a group of youth so I got talking to one as I assembled the piece. He offered me a hand when the march started. As I finished putting the banner together the friendly face of Lily, someone I’d met at Blackheath XR camp popped up next to me. I was so pleased to know that those guys were in the march and close by.
The march set off and me and my neighbour moved the banner into position in the midst of the march. The start was so slow that he got someone else involved after about half an hour, or 200 yards. He found an American mathematics student who was on the skive from research for her masters in the library but had elected to see what the march was about. As the march freed up people were very complimentary about the banner and taking pictures of it which seemed to make my beautiful assistant very happy. She was like “Oh! Oh! This is more fun than doing research!”.
A woman, a journalist from “Supreme Master’s television” asked me, while we were carrying the banner along, how art can influence the climate change discussion. I was too busy protesting with my art to be able to string a sentence together around the rather complex discussion of Art & Protest.
On Friday there was the Friday’s for Future youth march. After my previous Friday experience in September, this time I arrived at the right place at the Prince of Wale’s bridge in Kelvingrove Park. A big crowd was assembling for the march. I stood by some railings at the side and began to assemble the Nurse the World-map banner. Along the railings was a group of youth so I got talking to one as I assembled the piece. He offered me a hand when the march started. As I finished putting the banner together the friendly face of Lily, someone I’d met at Blackheath XR camp popped up next to me. I was so pleased to know that those guys were in the march and close by.
The march set off and me and my neighbour moved the banner into position in the midst of the march. The start was so slow that he got someone else involved after about half an hour, or 200 yards. He found an American mathematics student who was on the skive from research for her masters in the library but had elected to see what the march was about. As the march freed up people were very complimentary about the banner and taking pictures of it which seemed to make my beautiful assistant very happy. She was like “Oh! Oh! This is more fun than doing research!”.
A woman, a journalist from “Supreme Master’s television” asked me, while we were carrying the banner along, how art can influence the climate change discussion. I was too busy protesting with my art to be able to string a sentence together around the rather complex discussion of Art & Protest.
We marched along and behind us caught up a bunch of youth, dancing. At the front of them was a woman with a loud-hailer, chanting. About this time Simi got bored and wanted to go and visit her friends. We found two guys who were willing and able to take the banner completely off my hands. They seemed to be enjoying the march and carrying my banner although they were a little more discrete and in the centre of the body of people which meant less camera attention but I was just strolling along anyway. Enjoying not carrying it. Taking in the ambience.
One of the guys asked me where I’d got the map and said he wanted something similar for his friends birthday map birthday present?
One of the guys asked me where I’d got the map and said he wanted something similar for his friends birthday map birthday present?
World Map Banner on the march.
On arriving at George Square, I asked the boys to settle the banner down by one of the larger lamp posts on the square and thanked them. Here I bumped into Boz from Blackheath Camp and he assisted me to tie the banner to the lamp post and gave me the approval to leave it there.
The Lets Nurse The Earth world map petition art action.
Write your demands to world leaders to address our climate crisis.
A guy had started filming me setting this up while I was tying it with Boz and being brave, and going with my idea of turning the banner into a sort of petition to world leaders, I asked him if he would start the process of inviting people to add their signature statements, as a signing off. I now realise this was a little unfair to ask a complete stranger to possibly ruin a lovely-looking banner. But he was brave and did, with the words “More love” then asking me if he could put the name of his organisation, Newark Water Network. The ice broken, this gave me the confidence to ask others in the crowd to write their comments to world leaders on the world map.
After a couple of hours I thought I should try and get the banner out of the way before the crowds started leaving, so I called Boz to see if he could give me a hand to carry it around to my friend’s hair salon (Billy Mac). He said “Okay I’ll see you in five minutes”. This we did and I think Boz was impressed by the Glaswegian patter ‘Nay bother!’ in the hair salon when we leaned it up against the wall inside the shop. We returned to George Square and Greta Thunberg was giving a speech so I dictaphoned a bit. Blah, blah blah...
After a couple of hours I thought I should try and get the banner out of the way before the crowds started leaving, so I called Boz to see if he could give me a hand to carry it around to my friend’s hair salon (Billy Mac). He said “Okay I’ll see you in five minutes”. This we did and I think Boz was impressed by the Glaswegian patter ‘Nay bother!’ in the hair salon when we leaned it up against the wall inside the shop. We returned to George Square and Greta Thunberg was giving a speech so I dictaphoned a bit. Blah, blah blah...
Saturday Global Action Day march from Kelvingrove Park to Glasgow Green.
Global Action Day.
Saturday was Global Action Day and the weather was bad and very windy, so I elected not to attend the banner for fear of mine and other’s safety! Billy Mac had informed me I had to pick up the banner between ten and eleven so this I did and just sloped off to a local café near Glasgow Green where the Global Action Day march ended. Mono Café was very affordable and comfortable. I had two coffees, a meal and a dessert for seventeen quid so I thought I’d give them a plug, definitely. Time to catch up with myself a bit. I met a woman from Plate up for Glasgow, a campaign to highlight food waste and its impact on climate change.
Saturday was Global Action Day and the weather was bad and very windy, so I elected not to attend the banner for fear of mine and other’s safety! Billy Mac had informed me I had to pick up the banner between ten and eleven so this I did and just sloped off to a local café near Glasgow Green where the Global Action Day march ended. Mono Café was very affordable and comfortable. I had two coffees, a meal and a dessert for seventeen quid so I thought I’d give them a plug, definitely. Time to catch up with myself a bit. I met a woman from Plate up for Glasgow, a campaign to highlight food waste and its impact on climate change.
Glasgow Green Pano's From Atop Fire Engine.
When I saw the march passing in the street nearby I thought maybe it’s time to think about going to Glasgow Green and made myself, my banner, etc ready. So I took these things to the Green. On approaching with the crowds the wind had picked up even more and I spotted a big fire engine parked up in the middle of the crowd and headed for the leeside as a wind-break. Here I stood for about an hour talking to people and listening to the speeches.
The fire crew on top of the engine were refusing to have anybody on top but I asked one of the firemen if he would do a couple of pano’s for me, and passed him my phone.
The fire crew on top of the engine were refusing to have anybody on top but I asked one of the firemen if he would do a couple of pano’s for me, and passed him my phone.
Glasgow Green Pano's From Atop Fire engine.
Happy with this as my bit, I thought I should leave before it gets dark and really cold so I wheeled off my bag and banner working my way through the crowd. On passing Glasgow Courts I suddenly remembered I had my “Red Alert” piece in the bag and it would be a fantastic opportunity to get a picture of it with the fire brigade. Fortunately, there was an old, derelict building site with some large laburnums growing. So I camouflaged the banner with the laburnums and returned to the fire engine with “Red Alert”. Approaching a fireman with the request of a shot with someone in uniform (he was in civvies). He called a woman down and she posed for a couple of pictures with “Red Alert”. One at the back, on the stairs and one at the front of the engine with a large “Rescue me” written across and the Fire woman turning the fire bell.
Exhausted, but happy with this extra, late-realised opportunity taken I exited Glasgow Green again.
Exhausted, but happy with this extra, late-realised opportunity taken I exited Glasgow Green again.
Fire person with Red Alert (Fire Bell + Board 50cm X 65cm).
https://www.fbu.org.uk/regions-nations/scotland
Art Actions at Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
Tuesday
On Tuesday I’d arranged to meet an XR activist who had supported me previously with things to go to Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens and take some pictures of my world map banner there. We walked down to the Botanic’s together and initially visited the Moths to a Flame crew who were looking after my banner. Asking them whether they thought I could assemble the map and do some photos inside they thought not. They thought the parks people wouldn’t be happy with it.
On Tuesday I’d arranged to meet an XR activist who had supported me previously with things to go to Glasgow’s Botanic Gardens and take some pictures of my world map banner there. We walked down to the Botanic’s together and initially visited the Moths to a Flame crew who were looking after my banner. Asking them whether they thought I could assemble the map and do some photos inside they thought not. They thought the parks people wouldn’t be happy with it.
Note to self: Better to say sorry than ask permission. “Take it outside”. So we did. We assembled the banner and the activist took photos and we utilised the Botanic’s Halloween display and other suitable areas.
What a stretch to nurse The earth, outside Kebble Palace, Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
Halloween pumpkins display supporting.
People Make glasgow make me )
1-2-3 degrees Emergency in Kebble Palace Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
The activist asked about the 1-2-3 Emergency Thermometer and I informed them I’d left it in the Palm building hothouse overnight. So they brought it back. There we were, bike, banner, massively oversized thermometer and trolley bag with Red Alert inside. So I made the executive decision to put the bike into storage outside the Botanic Garden’s main entrance, where I had started my “Recuperation across the Nation” cycle back in 1988, to be reclaimed on a later visit?
From here we went for dinner, Japanese, with green tea, chestnut and sesame seed ice cream for dessert :D😀
1-2-3 Degrees Emergency ( do not enter this area )
Kebble Palace Glasgow Botanic Gardens.
Returns
Wednesday morning I arrived at Glasgow Central Station with my shouldered bazooka (the rolled world map banner) and was very relieved to be returning home but pleased with what I’d managed to achieve. On the train, as we passed through Lancashire, a masked woman passed who looked very like my Auntie Jane. I exclaimed this to her. She said her middle name was Jane.
The train stopped and the guard came over the Tanoy to inform us the train in front had hit a tree! And that we would have to go back and take the slower line down, he eventually informed us. Tree tree tree! This we did but I think it got resolved and we sped along to be only one hour forty minutes late. In the days of steam trains this delay wouldn’t have happened, either because no tree’s were allowed near railway lines, or perhaps this is a symbol of mans influence on it’s environment…or was it a sign of how the environment attempts to slow us down.....
Wednesday morning I arrived at Glasgow Central Station with my shouldered bazooka (the rolled world map banner) and was very relieved to be returning home but pleased with what I’d managed to achieve. On the train, as we passed through Lancashire, a masked woman passed who looked very like my Auntie Jane. I exclaimed this to her. She said her middle name was Jane.
The train stopped and the guard came over the Tanoy to inform us the train in front had hit a tree! And that we would have to go back and take the slower line down, he eventually informed us. Tree tree tree! This we did but I think it got resolved and we sped along to be only one hour forty minutes late. In the days of steam trains this delay wouldn’t have happened, either because no tree’s were allowed near railway lines, or perhaps this is a symbol of mans influence on it’s environment…or was it a sign of how the environment attempts to slow us down.....