Norfolk climate pair pedal for the Midlands 

Norfolk climate campaigners Jim Green and Chris Hull are preparing for the next stage of their diocesan cycling odyssey, carrying a message of disinvestment from fuel.

Jim Green is representing Tearfund and Christian Climate Action, and Chris Hull is cycling on behalf of Christian Aid. They resume their Diocesan Divestment Ride next week, in partnership with Operation Noah.
 
In April they had cycled from Norwich to St Edmundsbury and Chelmsford, where they were warmly received. They carried a letter from the Anglican Bishops of Southern Africa, calling on governments to cease the support of devastating fossil fuel projects. They passed the letter over to encourage the dioceses to divest from fossil fuels in the hope of celebration with their African friends. 
 
The next leg begins on Monday June 6. They ride first from Grantham to Lincoln, then on the Tuesday to Nottingham (Diocese of Southwell), on the Wednesday to Leicester, and finally, to Lichfield on Thursday 9. In the event that anyone was free to join them, they would be very welcome, especially on the Leicester to Lichfield leg, as Jim will then be on his own.
 
The ride has already produced some welcome discoveries, including the Gold Eco Cathedral plaque at Chelmsford, and research suggesting that, contrary to previous information, Chelmsford and Lincoln hold no fossil fuel investments. They also discovered that Robert Cleave, the Diocese of Southwell Environment Officer, completed a solo round the world cycle ride before the pandemic.
 
Jim said, “We started the first leg in some trepidation, but we received a very definite encouragement from our hosts to continue, so these two oldish blokes on bikes will carry on. Discovering Robert's amazing solo adventure encouraged me that it was okay to do the last leg to Lichfield, even if it is on my own.”
 
You can read more about the campaign on www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/divestyourdiocese

Pictured above are Jim Green and Chris Hurst being received at St Edmundsbury by the Dean, Very Rev Joe Hawes, and members of the Cathedral Eco team.