Time-travellers warn Lovebox visitors about global warming

Christian Aid

London's Lovebox festival (21-22 July) with headlining acts Sly & The Family Stone, Groove Armada and Blondie will get surprise visitors from outer space who are coming back from the future to warn people about global warming. As part of its Climate Changed campaign, Christian Aid is working with a theatre group at UK summer festivals to make the subject more engaging.

The theatre group Faith, Hope & Gaffertape consisting of four time travellers will be performing pieces of spontaneous theatre at the festival. They live in space because earth has become uninhabitable due to the effects of climate change but are hoping they will be able to convince people in 2007 to change their lifestyles to prevent the destruction of earth. They will try to persuade the festival-going public to save the planet before it is too late.

The actors will roam the festival site performing site-specific sketches about the impact climate change is having on developing countries. The pieces will have a B-movie science fiction theme to engage and entertain a festival audience, but the facts and figures used will be real and relevant. For example, 182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa could die of diseases alone related to climate change by the end of this century, according to Christian Aid research.

There will be a number of sketches of slapstick comedy including landing of a spaceship, taking grass samples, scanning, recreating flash floods and sand storms and showing a timeline of the effects climate change will have in next 150 years.

Festival goers will also be able to find out how to join in Christian Aid¡'s 1,000-mile Cut the Carbon march from 14 July-2 October. it is the biggest protest march in UK history taking in 70 towns and supported by top UK bands, comedy acts and performers in Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Birmingham, Cardiff and London. For more information about the march visit www.christianaid.org.uk and www.pressureworks.org

You can also join the Facebook group Cut the Carbon March¡ at www.facebook.com to take part in the march online.

For more information about Lovebox Weekender visit www.loveboxweekender.com

Notes:

1. Christian Aid is calling on the UK Government to ensure the new Climate Bill includes:

* a target for UK CO2 emission cuts of at least 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050, so we play our fair part in keeping global warming below 2C

* the introduction of mandatory reporting of CO2 emissions by companies trading in the UK.

Christian Aid also wants the UK to take the lead in calling for a UN agreement on climate change that works for the world's poor and will cut rich countries' CO2 emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050.

2. Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in more than 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, helping people build the life they deserve.

Cut the carbon
From Belfast to the London Stock Exchange, marchers from poor and rich countries will spend 80 days walking 1,000 miles taking our cut the carbon message to companies and MPs. Find out how you can get involved!
http://www.christianaid.org.uk/climatechange/index.htm