News
Support It
By
Australian Cyclist : 01-Mar-2009
Pedalling a green message to the UN
He has cycled 4000 kilometres through Australian deserts, ridden through monsoonal rains and negotiated his way through the Indonesian rainforests. Kim Nguyen still has 24,000km to travel but he believes his epic solo bike ride will raise awareness of the impact of climate change on the developing world.
The 27-year-old social worker and documentary filmmaker set off on his ride, called "Ride Planet Earth", from Brisbane in August last year. He hopes to reach Copenhagen, the Danish capital, in time for the UN Climate Change conference in December this year.
It is a harrowing trip that will take him through dangerous and tough terrain including the Himalayan mountain ranges in Tibet and the tribal foothills in Pakistan. The trip has already taken its toll. He has suffered heat exhaustion, collapse, fever and required five stitches to his face after a fall.
As well as raising awareness about the impact of climate change on the developing world, Kim also hopes to promote sustainable solutions to the environmental crisis. The conference in Copenhagen, his destination, is regarded as one of the most important of the past decade as it will consider what, if anything, comes after the Kyoto Protocol.
"If an agreement is not reached that secures the necessary reductions in carbon emissions and the means to do so, the consequences for the planet will be devastating," Kim says.
As he cycles throughout Asia and the Middle East, he will visit environmentally vulnerable communities recording messages about how climate change is and will be affecting them. These messages will be presented to delegates at the UN meeting.
Kim is also looking for some environmental support from Australians as he pedals his way to Europe. For every 1000km he cycles, he would like people to make at least 100km of their travel environmentally friendly. People can register for this challenge at the project website: http://www.rideplanetearth.org/
Australian Cyclist will keep you up to date with the progress of Kim's journey over the coming months.