Story
<div class="msg-body inner undoreset">
<div>
<div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; color: #000; font-family: times new roman, new york, times, serif; background-color: #fff;">
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span><span style="color: #c00000;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black;"> </span><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">I have decided to participate in the Friends of the Earth Big Green Bike Ride,</span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black;"> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black;"><a href="http://www.foe.co.uk/big_green_bike_ride_about_30647.html"><span style="color: #007f40;"><span style="color: #c00000;">www.foe.co.uk/big_green_bike_ride_about_30647.html</span></span></a></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"><span style="color: #c00000;"> </span></span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">This lasts for 6 days, from 6.5.2012-11.5.2102, from London to Edinburgh.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">I have decided to opt for taking part in the 1st 3 days of the ride: from London to Beverly, just North of Hull, a total of 240 miles.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">Although I suffer from osteo-arthiritis in my right ankle, I do cycle on a daily basis without difficulty, probably cycling an average of 10-12 miles a day without thinking anything of it.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> With adequate training, I feel I can achieve this distance.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">Obviously, as the object of this is to raise funds for Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, I would like to be sponsored as much as possible!</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></strong></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">How to donate.</span></strong><strong> </strong></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">I have opened an account with </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black;"><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/"><span style="color: #007f40;">www.justgiving.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> , where you can donate to my challenge. The name of my account is www.justgiving.com/Phil-Fletcher. </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">To take part in the Ride I have to raise a total of £ 387 in order to cover administration and organisation. Everything over this goes to the Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></strong><strong></strong></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">If I do not raise the £ 387 or am unable to take part for any reason, then<span> </span>this money on this account will go to Friends of the Earth England W<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ales and Northern Ireland</span></span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">,</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; background: yellow; color: #007f40;">My involvement with Friends of the Earth.</span></strong><strong></strong></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">I helped to restart Barnet Friends of the Earth in 2006, this time as Barnet and Enfield Friends of the Earth. For over 2 years I was the co-ordinator. I continue to be an active member.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">Why <span> </span>I think the Friends of the Earth are worth supporting.</span></strong><strong></strong></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></strong><strong></strong></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">First of all, if we do not have an intact environment, we might as well just about forget everything else. </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">Friends of the Earth are a grass routes environmental campaigning organisation where there is room for suggestions and criticism., and works closely with other environmental campaigning organisatioins. The local groups are autonomous, </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">linked to Friends of the Earth EWNI by partnership agreements, relying on the Head Organisation for support.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">Among Friends of the Earth’s greatest achievements, since it was founded over 30 years ago, have been </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">*<span> </span>kerbside recycling, </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"><span> </span>*<span> </span>the Climate change Law <span> </span>2008 to cut greenhouse gas emissions, <span> </span>*<span> </span>the introduction of the Feed-in Tariff </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">*<span> </span>Introducing measures to compel landlords to adequately improve the energy efficiency of their property, thus freeing many tenants from fuel poverty.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">Unfortunately, due to the current economic climate, the FOE has had to make drastic cuts, gravely affecting its effectiveness. </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">There are many issues that the Friends of the Earth would like to campaign on, but are unable to as they simply do not have the money.</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #007f40;">This is why I wish to participate in the Big Green Bike Ride</span></div>
<div class="yiv230594946MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>