Westminster: Laudato Si cyclists set off for Paris

Bonn Voyage!

A crowd gathered outside Westminster Cathedral on Saturday morning, to see off fourteen cyclists, on the first leg of their trip to Paris to lobby the UN Climate talks. There was a short prayer service with music followed by a blessing from Cathedral Precentor, Fr Alexander Master.

In a message Cardinal Vincent Nichols said: "I send my best wishes to participants in the first phase of the Diocese of Westminster Justice and Peace Cycle from London to Paris. The witness of this event, in both teaching and action, highlights the importance of the forthcoming climate conference in the care of our common home. Travel safely and may God bless you all."

Sporting Laudato Si tee shirts, the group are being led by Fr Joe Ryan and Barbara Kentish from Westminster Justice and Peace. After leaving Westminster Cathedral, the group planned to follow the Avenue Verte - the Green Way linking London and Paris, passing through built up South London, then following scenic cycle ways, up over the High Weald, then downhill to the South Coast to Newhaven, a total of 100 miles for Phase 1.

The second Phase will start at Dieppe in November and follow the Avenue Verte for 130 miles to Paris, to join in meetings, lobbies and rallies for a world decision to save our planet from further global warming. The team are taking part in the ride to draw attention to the fact that the climate is changing in Britain and around the world.

Barbara Kentish writes: "The UK government's latest climate change assessment identifies flood risk, as a result of warming, extremely wet winters could become up to five times more likely over the next 100 years. The government estimates that annual damages from flooding could increase to £12bn by the 2080s, an increase of about 10 times compared with current estimates. And that is before we start thinking of American hurricanes, Pacific typhoons, African drought and melting ice caps. Scientific consensus is that human agency helps cause this. So we can help to arrest these phenomena.

"The Justice and Peace commission is a non-profit organisation working to educate people on climate change and how we as citizens of the world can do our little bit to help, in local parishes and schools raising awareness on the environment, poverty, human rights and sustainable development."

To support the Pilgrimage to Paris contact: Tel: +44 (0) 208 888 4222, Email: Justice@rcdow.org.uk or mobile 07758630961 Westminster Justice and Peace Commission, 4 Vincent Road, London N15 3QH