'Camino to COP' sets off from London

Crossing Hyde Park Corner

Walkers set out from Parliament Square last Sunday, launching the 'Camino to COP'. Caministas from London, and another stream leaving Bristol on the 9 September, aim to arrive in Glasgow on 30 October on the eve of the United Nations Climate Summit. Banners and ribbons were waved as a lively 40-strong group, accompanied by a samba band, walked northwards through central London on the first day of the 500-mile pilgrimage.

The walk has been called 'Camino to COP', in reference to the famous pilgrimage way to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

The purpose of the 'Camino' is to lobby world leaders meeting in Glasgow about the need for serious action to address the global climate and ecological emergency. Also, to share personal stories, to talk about climate justice and inspire others to add their voices to the growing global chorus demanding that governments treat the climate crisis as the emergency that it is.

The pilgrimage is also fundraising to empower activist groups in areas most impacted by climate change to join the conversation themselves.

The walk will cover an eight-week period in stages averaging around 10 miles a day. Eleven people of various faiths and ages, mostly linked to Extinction Rebellion Faith Bridge, are walking the whole route, among them 60-year-old barrister and mother of four Catholic Melanie Nazareth of Christian Climate Action. She says: "Prayer is the foundation of everything we do in Christian Climate Action. It unites and sustains us and gives us the strength to act with loving purpose as we seek to be good stewards of God's creation." She has experience of living in Kenya and the Solomon Islands which are both facing environmental disaster because of the climate emergency. Another half dozen walkers are doing stretches of several weeks, with day walkers invited to join in. There has already been plenty of cheering and clapping by people met on the journey so far.

The second evening of the walk on Monday, walkers held an open meeting from their stopover at Kenton Methodist Church in Harrow, one of many churches offering accommodation and hospitality along the route. Members of local Methodist, Anglican and Catholic churches joined. A 'Coat of Hopes', carrying positive messages and images, was displayed. Small square patches of rainbows, trees, waves, flowers and messages such as 'Pray for our world' have already been sown into the coat and others will be added along the route.

A Jewish member led morning prayers before the group set off on Tuesday morning for St Albans. It was Jewish New Year so a Shofar animal horn was blown and the group ate apple dipped in honey to signify sweet times ahead. The long, hot day prompted walkers to take a dip in the River Ver en route to cool down. Among the walkers was Reverend Helen Burnett, who is the vicar of St Peter and St Paul's Church in Chaldon, part of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark. She will be doing three days a week of the whole Camino to Glasgow and then 12 days of prayer in Glasgow during the COP. "In times of crisis and injustice" she reflects, "people have chosen to set out on foot to demand change but walking does so much more; it slows you down, you notice more, you see the minutiae of the world, you see the detail, you become a tiny part of a much bigger picture, you show solidarity with your fellow walkers and with the communities and landscapes you walk through."

Meanwhile the Young Christian Climate Network 'Relay to COP' walked through the Peak District earlier this week, and in very hot temperatures. They have been travelling to Glasgow since the Cornwall G7 meeting in June - a distance of 750 miles - and have been very appreciative of the enthusiastic support received along the route, including hospitality from numerous churches and opportunities to speak to local communities about climate action. Last weekend the walkers spoke at a service in Manchester Cathedral and listened to the Climate Sunday service at Glasgow Cathedral. This weekend they are being hosted by the Anglican Diocese of Manchester which has organised a programme of events.

LINKS

Camino to COP - https://caminotocop.com plus videos on their facebook page and twitter

Young Christian Climate Network 'Relay to COP' - www.yccn.uk plus regular updates on twitter