Inspirational Adventurers to speak at The Marine Institute Blue Lectures

Inspirational speakers from the world of sport, adventure, film and science will be presenting at The Marine Institute Blue Lectures over the weekend of The Blue Mile event in Plymouth on 3rd July 2010. The lectures will feature seven remarkable people who have witnessed firsthand some of the challenges faced by the earth from climate change. Between them they have scaled Everest, stood at both Poles, dived in the world’s oceans, and sailed non-stop around the world. Each speaker will motivate you to change matters you really care about.

The Marine Institute Blue Lectures will take place at the Barbican Theatre, which is centred in the heart of the Barbican Event Village and will run throughout the day on Saturday 03 July 2010. Places are limited, so people are advised to book early at the Barbican Theatre Box Office.

Tickets are priced at £15.00 for a Double Bill (chose any two lectures) and a special discounted price of £10.00 for those who have already signed up for main Blue Mile event (www.thebluemile.org). Details of all the speakers can be found on www.theblueproject.org/1430.

For bookings please contact the Barbican Theatre Box Office;
Tel No: 01752 267131
Email:   bookings@barbicantheatre.co.uk

For further information please contact the Barbican Theatre Box Office or visit their website; www.barbicantheatre.co.uk/booking.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7s_2BBSnj4

Momentum is really gathering in this space and I’m very pleased that it is. A year ago sport and social responsibility conferences were still dominated by other more established social agendas such as health or social inclusion. At the recent Beyond Sport awards, only seven projects filled the Sport/Environment category out of over 200 applications, and this was only two months ago.

With the count-down to the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen and the urgency to identify other mechanisms with which to engage the public to change their over consuming behaviour, Sport is increasingly the vehicle of choice.  There are still questions to be evaluated over whether sport can really inspire long term change. Eon’s partnership for example with the FA Cup claimed a saving of 22,000 tonnes of CO2, through pledges made by fan’s, but did their “Carbon Footyprint” campaign make any lasting behavioural change?

Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote an article for Sport Business magazine about the opportunity for global brands developing links with environmentally clean sports and suggested that this could provide a welcome financial boost for some of our minority sports.  This week, sailing has been given a shot in the arm as the Government funded Carbon Trust has joined forces with Sir Keith Mills, multi-million pound America’s Cup campaign, the “Race for Change” to inspire action against climate change and encourage global partners to join the programme and fund the British Teams chances of winning one of sport’s oldest trophies.

Will it work? The key here lies in the mission and values of the Project and its leaders. Certainly the image of the sport is very strong, but not strong enough if the programme and the partners don’t walk the talk. And what about the Fan’s – do they switch off when their sporting elite suddenly start talking like politicians, or are they inspired to follow their lead?

Over the last few years we have spent some time in this space, particularly with our own project, BLUE.  Much of that time has been spent researching the touch points for behaviour change and wrestling with the un-inspiring language of climate change, which still does little to motivate people to care for the environment. There is a lot that can be learnt from working with behaviour change psychologists and also young people, who seem to be far more in touch with the planet limited resources.

I’m certainly convinced that sport can play a major part in inspiring positive change for our environment, but it is essential that Sir Keith Mills and his team stays close to their core values and often in sport, a winning mentality can start to blur the edges.

Conrad Humphreys, Managing Director, Sport Environment,

Vendée Globe yachtswoman Sam Davies and Windsurfing Olympic Medallist Bryony Shaw joined triple round the world yachtsman Conrad Humphreys at Plymouth’s (UK) historical Mayflower Steps as Paul Deighton, Chief Executive of The London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee fired the starting canon for the launch of the BLUE MILE – Race for the Environment.

Speaking from the launch Paul Deighton said: “This is absolutely brilliant what you are doing – there is no better example of a project than the Blue Mile, what the athletes are doing and how this filters through to how people can get involved”. “Sometimes I think of the Olympic games is happening in the SW with a peripheral activity in London!”

Commenting on the launch event, Sam Davies said: “I was here in Plymouth last year for the Artemis Transat – it’s an ideal location to host an event like this and I’m pleased to be involved with the BLUE Mile.”

Bryony Shaw also commented: “The BLUE Mile is one of our most important races to date – the race to protect our oceans and natural environment and I urge as many people as possible to join in to the challenge of completing a mile – either on the water, in it or alongside it.”

Conrad Humphreys, Triple Round the World Sailor: “Today’s launch was stunning. It had all the ingredients with passionate athletes and VIP’s, children having fun on the water and a fantastic backdrop for host city Plymouth. I am very excited that the Blue Mile has been launched and am really looking forward to seeing as many people as possible taking part in the Blue Mile and enjoying our natural environment.”

To get involved with The Blue Mile visit the official website at: www.thebluemile.org

-Ends-

Notes to editor:

About The Blue Mile

The BLUE MILE – Race for the Environment is the UK’s newest mass-participation event designed to engage people actively with our BLUE Environment. It will be open to everyone to take part and complete a mile in, on or next to a water environment. The inaugural event will take place in Plymouth in the summer 2010 with additional waterfront cities being invited to take part in future events. The BLUE Mile – Race for the Environment aims to increase participation in our natural environment and provide a learning experience to help encourage more people to take steps to care for the health of our planet.

Plymouth has been selected as host city for next summer’s inaugural BLUE MILE –event where thousands of participants of all ages and abilities will complete one mile – in, on or next to – water, in an incredible ‘race for the environment’.

Children from the Mount Batten Centre joined on the water by Beijing windsurfing Olympic medallist Bryony Shaw, 2009 Vendée Globe yachtswoman Sam Davies and freediving world record holder Sara Campbell at the launch event.

The launch was also attended by Paul Deighton, chief executive of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Deighton also used his visit to the South West  to mark the start of the London 2012 Open Weekend (24 – 26 July 2009), a series of events across the country enabling access to excellence in the arts, culture and sport and celebrating three years to go until the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Deighton said: “The Open Weekend and BLUE Mile events are aimed at inspiring people to open up to try new things, and they will help to build the excitement towards the Games in 2012. The Games are expected to transform lives and communities in the South West and deliver a discernible and lasting legacy to thousands of people in the region.

“We hope that people and communities from Plymouth – and across the wider South West – seize the opportunity to challenge themselves to do something truly different and exciting during Open Weekend.”

The BLUE Mile is being run in partnership with Plymouth City Council and Team South West, the South West RDA-led partnership working across the region to maximise the opportunities presented by the London 2012 Games.

In summer 2010, the BLUE Mile will see swimmers, sailors, rowers and paddle-boarders take to the water in a bid to encourage young people to get actively involved with sport and the environment. Plymouth Hoe will be transformed into a BLUE village, with the creation of the city’s first natural sand beach to host a series of beach games to sit alongside a BLUE village which will include impressive experiential learning and activity zones.

Plymouth council leader Vivien Pengelly said: “I’m thrilled that Plymouth is hosting the first ever BLUE MILE. As a city boasting one of the world’s most spectacular natural harbours there could no better starting point for one of our most important races to date – the race to protect our oceans and natural environment. I fully intend to take the plunge myself and urge as many Plymothians as possible to join me in rising to the challenge of completing a mile – either on the water, in it or alongside it.”

With plans to grow the event each year, The BLUE MILE also aims to be replicated throughout cities nationally and internationally with Plymouth at the forefront of the initiative.  To find out more about the BLUE MILE and how you can get involved visit www.thebluemile.org

Conrad Humphreys, Managing Director of Sport Environment, shares his thoughts with Sport Business Magazine, on whether the sports world can unite to combat climate change.  

Click here to view the full article, courtesy of Sport Business Magazine (December 2008 issue).

Conrad Humphreys speaks to The Sunday Times about The Vendee Globe, Mike Golding’s chances of catching the leader and the sailing conditions that face the competitiors when they enter the Southern Ocean.

To read the full article, courtesy of the Sunday Times, please click here.

Conrad Humphreys, who finished 7th in the 2004/05 Vendee Globe talks to Andrew Longmore of The Times about this years race, the skill and sailing attributes involved and how times have changed.

To read the full article, please click here to view the article at The Times Online.

Conrad Humphreys talks to Sport Business Magazine about the growing links between Sport and the Environment and how the sporting industry is using this link to target a more compassionate audience.

Click here to view the full article, courtesy of Sport Business.