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Clean Air Gathering (2015)

Clean Air Gathering, Saturday 24 October, London

Image: The Clean Air Gathering was held on Saturday 24 October 2015 at Student Central (formerly known at 'ULU - University of London Union'), Malet Street, London. (Photo: sean_hickin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/sean_hickin/) License: Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0).)


View a set of photographs of the Clean Air Gathering taken by Karl Wallendszus (on flickr).

Programme

Morning

A mind map showing clean air walks

Photo: White board showing mind map created at the Gathering. See enlargement of the white board (on flickr). (Photo: Karl Wallendszus.)


Andrew Wood from Network for Clean Air, lead a workshop about clean air walks. Could we create guided walks or family walks as a way of exploring air quality? Clean air walks are a way to make air pollution visible, and to engage people with their air. These walks may take various forms, from a printed or audio guide with a walking route to a guided tour. The places on the walk and the things which are found on route, form cues for the theme of clean air, air quality and air pollution. In this workshop we reviewed some ideas, had a thought cascade (created a mind map)and walked the talk! Guided walks aren't just for tourists!

View the slide presentation (PDF).

A short film of a clean air walk

Photo: A still taken from a short film showing a family walk in Brixton to make to air and air pollution visible!


Alternatively, clean air walks may be more of a demonstration of support and concern. For example in September 2015, parents from Lambeth for a Cool Planet held a clean air walk in Brixton with children and families carrying balloons, a cardboard bus and banners. They were particularly concerned at pollution from buses, and they wanted the proposed Ultra Low Emission Zone in central London to include their borough of Lambeth too.

Viewed the film of the clean air walk in Brixton on You Tube.

Campaign updates

Lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn addressing the gathering

Photo: Lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn addressing the gathering. (Photo: Karl Wallendszus.)


In the Campaign Updates section then we heard from local campaigns and community groups about their work, and also discuss the national consultation on the Government's proposals for its revised air quality strategy. Lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn addressed the Clean Air Gathering, and she gave a presentation about using human rights legislation to reduce air pollution.

Read her profile at solicitors Hodge Jones & Allen LLP.

Read an article in the Independent newspaper (October 2015) describing Lawyer Jocelyn Cockburn's approach.

Afternoon

Dee Searle giving a presenation at the Clean Air Gathering

Photo: Dee Searle from Camden gave a presentation at the Gathering. (Photo: Karl Wallendszus.)


Dee Searle from Camden gave a presentation giving the background to their citizen science project to measure air pollution.

You can view the presentation on You Tube.

starting a citizen science project to measure air quality

Photo: Camden residents started a citizen science project to measure air quality at the Clean Air Gathering. (Photo: Karl Wallendszus.)

We started a citizen science project with residents from the London borough of Camden to measure air pollution (Nitrogen Dioxide). Initially, we marked up a map with sites for pollution monitors and reviewed the choices.


Poster and programme

Poster for the Clean Air Gathering (PDF); the programme and schedule for the day.

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