Cape Farewell Youth Expedition 2007

Amy gets up at 5am in Stockholm to catch the flight to Longyearbyen!

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Amelie writing in her diary the day before departure.

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The youth team are on their way! We’ve just said a big goodbye to a very excited crew. The next time we’ll hear from them they’ll be in the Arctic! Let’s hope they’ve remembered their thermals…

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Before leaving London Doriana and Amelie perfect their media skills in the fountain at Southbank with Franzi, Jessica and Amy. 

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Jessica Knight helps the team get their luggage ready at Southbank.

I’m trying to keep up with all the fascinating, challenging and often at-odds things I’ve heard about climate change over the last few days since joining the Cape Farewell Youth Expedition. Not that I’ve heard anyone deny the reality of climate change or man’s responsibility; just that the numbers, facts, predictions and consequences rarely seem to agree. One thing all have agreed on, whether it be Prof Mark Maslin from UCL and Director of The Institute of the Environment, Charlie Kronick the long-time activist and senior policy advisor on climate-change for Greenpeace, comedian Marcus Brigstocke, Dr Simon Boxall the eminent oceanographer from Institute of Oceanography in Southampton or the author Vikram Seth is that to tackle climate change mankind will need to use all it’s creativity, not just in science, but also in art, in it’s governance, through comedy, through commerce and through our individual stories.

Mark Maslin, who authored the acclaimed ‘Global Warming – A Brief Introduction.’ put the challenge into perspective by starting his talk on the science of climate change with ‘We cannot address the issue of future world climate change without also addressing the issue of current world poverty.’ Though rich in science content, Mark repeatedly challenged the notation of simply looking at climate change as solely a scientific issue, by pointing out the often devastating socio-economic or political impact of purely scientific responses to climate change…
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On the launch day the Youth Team pose for a group photo.

Hello all,

 We’re nearly on our way, it’s been an intense four days so far, we’v had lots of workshops about working as a scientist, thinking like an artist, using media and interview techniques and team building exercises. We’ve taken part in the launch event on Sunday, and there are many photos on the site of that, a great event where all the stduents did a performance and then went down to the pier and got into inflatable ribs (big dinghies) and rode up and down the river, including going under Tower Bridge – awesome!! I have met some really inspirational people, most of whom are the students going on the voyage, they are a really intelligent, creative and lively bunch of students who are already working really well together as a team, I am proud to be working with them.

We leave for the Arctic tomorrow and I am sooooo excited!! Probably won’t get much sleep tonight. Will miss everyone I know in the UK, thanks to everyone who has suppoerted me on this wonderful adventure and I will see you all soon!!

 Love,

Jessica x

Please send all your messages of support and questions to me on the boat and will answer them on Thursday 20th 11.00 UK time but please send them in before Wednesday evening for me to be able to answer them.

Hope you are all well and waiting for your comments

Liam

Watch the first clip from Katharina at Southbank Centre, London (from Tuesday 11 September), find out how you can follow her during the expedition and read the initial questions posted on the website. (Duration: 45 secs)
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Watch the first clip from Franzi at Southbank Centre, London (from Tuesday 11 September), find out how you can follow her during the expedition and read the initial questions posted on the website. (Duration: 45 secs)
Click to read the full post >