proposition letter - version 1

To whom it may concern:

We are two Canadian women with a global vision: a world with more bikes, less cars, local and accessible food, filled with happy, healthy beings. In the spirit of this vision we are embarking on a 30,000 km bicycle quest from Victoria, BC to Buenos Aires, Argentina and back. We will be following a 100-mile diet for the duration of our trip, meaning we aim to consume only foods sourced from within 100 miles of where we purchase it. We will be reducing our ecological footprints by avoiding food that has been transported thousands of miles and by eliminating CO2 emissions generated by conventional modes of travel. A flight covering the same distance would produce about 2.8 tons of CO2 and driving would cause about 3.95 tons. Thus, while en route we intend to support local economies and communities while keeping our ecological footprints (and tread marks) as minimal as possible. Our goal is to raise awareness and promote action, particularly for consumers in industrialized countries, in the face of climate change

Politicians and media are becoming increasingly aware of the threat posed by climate change. While this crisis can seem overwhelming to individuals, our mission is to demonstrate the potential for regular folks to make significant reductions of carbon emissions through simple lifestyle changes. New legislation and policies are steps in the right direction but it is up to individuals to reconsider the economical, environmental and ethical impacts of their consumption patterns. Our goal is not to stop people driving, flying or consuming imported products, but to suggest effective and appealing alternatives for the current unsustainable lifestyles of industrialized nations. We want to encourage mindful consumption, travel, commuting and community membership. We hope to inspire individuals to change their habits and take responsibility for the impacts caused by their daily routines.

We are looking for like-minded organizations to help us in a variety of ways. We are looking for financial support, exposure, equipment and supplies, ideas and input. Through fundraising events we intend to raise money for various not-for-profit organizations while helping to fund our trip. We intend to design and create T-shirts, buttons and posters to spread our message (and raise money) using re-used or recycled materials whenever we can.

Our purpose is to show people that although fighting climate change is a daunting task it is possible to make personal choices that generate significant changes. Our mission is to provide practical avenues through which people can re-imagine their relationships with each other, their communities, the environment and the planet. Simple but effective ways to reduce carbon output and minimize ecological footprints. We are opting to travel, eat, and exist in a sustainable fashion. We urge others to make the choice to slow down, eat locally and travel lightly. Individuals must empower themselves in order to change our cultural direction and the resulting destruction imbued upon the planet. Travel by bike combined with a 100 mile diet is how we are choosing to do our part and any support you can offer will be gratefully accepted.

Thank you,

Chelsea & Marla