The first ever Liberty Bell Boat on her maiden voyage at Fladbury.
Wales gets on board with A Paddle for Life. First Published in 'Ceufad' the Journal of the Welsh Canoeing Association
About 15 years ago, David Train invited me to Fladbury to hear about an idea he had been working on. Over a leisurely paddle on Shakespeare's Avon in his recently invented Bell-boat, David told me about the Paddle for Life and the MAIN Race ... ... In April this year, Sandy Buttle and Phil Blain, along with directors and officers of the WCA, signed the Paddle for Life in Llandrindod Wells. Shortly before this took place, the paddle had been signed in Sedgefield by Prime Minister Tony Blair and in Westminster by Michael Martin, Speaker of the House of Commons. The paddle has since been signed on behalf of the BCU by David Gent, by Mike Haslam on behalf of Dragon Boating; and will soon be signed by the American Embassy before being flown to the United States for signings, inlcuding the Governor of Minnesota, the Senator and the Chief of the Dakota.
Phil Blain, Chairman and Pam Bell, Director (Access) WCA signing the paddle.
So what has been going on between times, and what does it all mean? As former Olympic Canoe Coach, David Train knows a thing or two about winning races; but in the MAIN race, ALL win. 'Paddle for Life' is a way of bringing together people of all ages creeds and cultures to address the issue of climate change. Paddling Bell-boats is part of an extended programme in which willows are grown and cropped to make personalised paddles. Those taking part pledge to keep their paddle for life, thus sinking carbon: a practical introduction to the carbon cycle. The programme is designed to promote sustainability and long-term thinking, but for those who cannot wait to grow the willows before taking part, it is possible to obtain plain wooden paddles on the basis of 2 trees planted for every paddle sold. Starting with a series of children's stories featuring Walter the Tortoise and Winnie the Hare, the programme involves active learning about systems, history, environment and working together to solve problems. Paddle for Life has its roots in primary schools, but is now being used within the University system in the USA. Purdue University in Indiana, among other 'Paddle for Life' initiatives, has used the programme with trainee teachers, and David spent some time in 2006 as a visiting Professor at Purdue using the ideas with students in the engineering department. Recently, David and I visited the University of Wales to discuss how the project can be moved forward here. While the platform for 'Paddle for Life' is the Bell-boat, the flagship is the Liberty Bell Boat. Designed to be built in sections that can be cut from standard ply sheets, Liberty Bell Boats can be economically built in the community using environmentally benign methods and sustainably sourced materials; bringing the programme within reach of all. The prototype Liberty Bell Boat was built in a domestic garage in Fladbury, and further boats were built in the same way in the USA, where Liberty Bell Boats are now being built within the prison system, giving the most disengaged members of society an opportunity to play a pivotal part in a project of global significance. The Indiana Chapter of the United States Canoeing Association are now looking at the project, and youth programmes in Wales are looking to build the Boats for their own and wider community use. In June 2006, as part of the Cardiff Paddlefest, the first ever Liberty Bell Boat was brought to Cardiff Bay, where she was put through her paces by WCA, paddled by the President, directors and officers, with Chairman Phil Blain at the helm. Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales, viewed the Liberty Bell Boat and later wrote:
Rhodri Morgan AM signs the Paddle for Life on the Steps of the Senedd "I welcome the aims of the Paddle for Life campaign, to promote the message of issues such as climate change, whilst also encouraging and aiding the development of young people. The Liberty Bell Boat is a strong way to convey the message of climate change and sustainability whilst developing participants' education and teamwork through active recreation". It has not been 'plain sailing' introducing A Paddle for Life in Wales. In 1998 the Cardiff Bay Development Corporation were invited to host the project, but considered any form of paddlesport to be inappropriate in the bay! Now, Cardiff Bay has hosted the Welsh Paddlefest, a sprint regatta and is becoming a focal site for paddlesport development. There are a number of Bellboats in the bay and the visit to Cardiff by the first ever Liberty Bell Boat demonstrates how far the perception of paddlesport has moved on. As Rhodri Morgan pointed out, paddlesport is a strong way to convey a message! As the programme nears the ultimate aim of the 'Main Race for the Blue Planet' taking place on a worldwide basis, many links are being completed. The connection with Wales goes back to the earliest beginnings. 15 years before Sandy Buttle signed the paddle, 'A Paddle for Life' was pioneered in a Fladbury school by Richard Buttle, his nephew. The paddle-making phase starts with a children's story of turning a sword and shield into a paddle as a way of replacing conflict with team-work and co-operation. This was inspired when David heard the (then) speaker of the House of Commons talking about the origins of the British Parliamentary system; so the signing of the paddle by the present speaker is particularly significant.
Michael Martin, Speaker signs the Paddle for Life at Westminster The next stage? The signed paddle will be used as the perpetual trophy for the Main University Boat Race. The race will be over 2012 yards, symbolising all the world coming on board for a post 2012 Kyoto agreement on global warming, and of course London 2012. The first University races will take place in the United States at Winona and Purdue. Liberty Bell Boats, built locally, will be used with student crews representing the civilisations and cultures of the world. All will have made their Paddle for Life, and pledged to keep it for life. A Main University Boat Race will take place in Wales later in the year and other British Universities are expected to introduce races in the near future. This is far from being something for universities only. MAIN voyages, regattas and races take place at all levels, in a number of countries, and all can take part. Tony Blair and the Speaker of the House have already signed. US Senator Lugar is forwarding a letter to President Bush asking him to sign at the G8. David's aim, the MAIN Aim, is to bring the World on board, country by country, village by village, club by club... Step by step it is happening. Pam Bell.
Photos.
Sandy Buttle MBE, President of the WCA, signs the Paddle for Life.
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP signs in his Sedgefield constiuency.
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