Ambassadors
The 999 team have identified 9 Action Areas in which we all have the power to effect change: Activism, Awareness, Community,Conservation, Consumerism, Culture, Economics, Environment and People
Power. We have invited 9 Ambassadors to champion each of these areas. Throughout the campaign, these 9 Ambassadors will propose specific actions, campaigns and projects which they believe need our support to create the maximum impact.
"I really do believe we can save the planet, and so it is that we will do so. For me, it is my beliefs that shape my behaviour that in turn shapes my actions. Once the correct beliefs are in place, behaviour flows from that into action. All we need do is shape and align people's beliefs, and bring them along on the wonderful ride!" - Polly Higgins
Your future – all our futures – needs you NOW.
Bruce Parry
A former Royal Marine Commando, Bruce has become a household name through his three BBC series about indigenous peoples, called Tribe, which has been shown in over thirty countries. More recently, his 8-month journey and hard-hitting six part series about the Amazon was an instant success with over 3 million viewers. Bruce's career with the BBC started when he took a friend and a camera off to New Guinea Island to climb a little known mountain in order to escape the expected anti-climax of the millennium celebrations. The subsequent documentary won awards around the world and was bought by the BBC One series 'Extreme Lives'. In October 2008, Bruce promoted both the Amazon series and the Amazon book to phenomenal acclaim alongside a fundraising album that he put together for Survival International (Bruce Parry presents Amazon Tribe: Songs for Survival).
Charlotte di Vita
Charlotte's vision is to help alleviate poverty in developing countries and contribute to the protection of the environment. She created 21st Century Leaders to harness popular culture in order to make a change in the world. Charlotte has inspired leaders in their fields to make a difference by persuading them to provide original artworks, which will be used to create merchandise and sold to raise funds. She also aims to inspire debate on global issues such as poverty alleviation, fair trade, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and protection of the environment. Charlotte di Vita has been called the 'compassionate capitalist' and is an inspiration to many.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
A talented writer, broadcaster and campaigner, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is widely known for his uncompromising commitment to seasonal, ethically produced food. His books, journalism and series for Channel 4 have earned him a huge popular following. "I'm supporting the 999 project because I heartily agree with it's central premise: we are in a state of emergency, we must do something about it. Whether in the way we source our food, power our homes or get to work, we can all contribute. But let's scrub the 'can'. It has to be 'must'. And it has to be now."
Misty Oldland
Misty Oldland is an acclaimed singer-songwriter and entrepreneur, recently named a 'Woman of Achievement' by the Woman of The Year Charity for self-releasing the album 'Forest Soul' which was the first CD sleeve to use a waterless printing method and featured the sounds of endangered animals. Misty credits recent success to Gordon Roddick and the late Dame Anita Roddick MBE of The Body Shop Foundation, who mentored her in ethical business and became supporters of 'Forest Soul' and her debut children's book and animated film series, 'The Golden Seed', due to be released in November 2009. Misty is also an activist and a passionate volunteer for rainforest conservation charity The Inga Foundation.
http://www.mistyoldland.com/
http://www.mistyoldland.com/Soul/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT3FHzS96XA
http://www.ingafoundation.org/
Pete Myers
Pete spent 12 years in corporate finance, before waking up in the engine room of unsustainability. He left banking to work on Special Projects for Greenpeace, across a broad range of environmental issues. Realising climate change was a pivotal issue, Pete then worked on Special Projects for The Climate Group, co-founded enoughsenough, GlobalCool, OneHundredMonths and most recently, 38Degrees.
"The UK is ready for people-powered-change. 999 It's Time is a key part of this new movement. Politics is bent and broken. People feel angry and betrayed by politicians. But they work for us. Together we can reshape and fix politics, by making our voices heard and our presence felt. You'll be surprised at how high your MP might jump for you and a few friends. It can be a lot of fun too." - Pete Myers
This quote by Paul Valery sums it up: "Politics is the art of preventing people from taking part in the affairs which properly concern them". But it's the politicians who should be 'properly concerned', as together, it's the people who have the power to make change happen.
"Government has failed. Let's take power into our own hands." - Brian Eno
Real People Power - watch Brian Eno, then get some for yourself.
Polly Higgins
Polly Higgins, a barrister and environmentalist, has devoted her life to fighting for the planet. On the 6th November 2008 she presented her call for a Universal Declaration of Planetary Rights at the United Nations UK & Northern Ireland conference on Climate Change. For the past two and a half years she has worked closely with TREC-UK, a network of scientists and engineers, to help advance the concept of building concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in the desert to provide the world with clean electricity. Her research and activities have now brought her to EnAct International, where she is a UK Associate. EnAct International is a consultancy that specialises in developing and strengthening governance systems that promote ecologically sustainable societies.
Rory Spowers
999 It's Time was conceived by the writer Rory Spowers, co-Founder of The Web of Hope, a UK registered charity specialising in environmental education. Rory is the author of the critically acclaimed Rising Tides, a history of ecological thought, and A Year in Green Tea and Tuk Tuks, his story of the creation of Samakanda, an ecological learning centre in south Sri Lanka and the world's first 'Bio-versity', a working blueprint for sustainable living.
http://thewebofhope.com/
http://www.samakanda.org/
Rory's 3-week 400-mile walk across Britain to promote 999 It's Time
At 9am on Monday 20 July 2009, Awareness Ambassador and 999 It's Time founder Rory Spowers embarked on a three week, 400-mile walk across Britain.
Rory’s route through the UK will be determined by the St Michael Line, one of the UK’s most famous ‘ley lines’ which connect sites associated with our sacred, historical and geo-physical past. Rory’s journey will take him from Hopton-on-Sea on the east Anglian coast, through Bury St Edmunds, the Uffington White Horse and ‘heart of Albion, Avebury, Glastonbury Tor and on to St Michael’s Mount and Land’s End.
Rory will try not to deviate from the route, except where he passes close to sites of particular relevance, such as the Eden Centre in Cornwall, or when there is an obvious opportunity to promote 999 It's Time, such as at a local festival.
The walk will finish in early August, when Rory will return to London to further build momentum for 999 It's Time events on the day itself.
Travelling with a one-man tent and small back-pack, Rory will be equipped with all that he needs to record his journey for radio broadcast, ‘video diaries’ and ‘vlogging’. The journey will also provide the narrative thread for his fourth book, Thinking Like a Mountain.
Follow Rory's adventures on his blog.
Sam Roddick
Daughter of Body Shop legend and world-known activist Anita Roddick, Sam Roddick is one of the brightest, most colourful, articulate and outspoken figures in British industry today. Along with spearheading the transformation of the sexual retail environment, Sam has a background in radical activism. She provides unique and refreshing perspective on current issues such as sex, politics, and economics. Eloquent, passionate, and well informed, she is able to thoughtfully tackle thorny and charged subjects.
Through Coco de Mer, Sam is committed to enabling individuals to use sex as an instrument to transform their own pleasurable existence. The groundbreaking and rule-bending shop has fast come to embody the height of ethical and sensual chic for the globally conscious and the sex loving. Coco de Mer's policy is to invest in the work of local talent, small fair trade projects, and cottage industries to develop its generously eclectic, edgy and spectacular assortment.
Bondage for Freedom, the activism branch of Coco de Mer, is Sam's true passion. This collective of cutting-edge thinkers focuses on providing a free creative service for organisations that are fighting for human or environmental rights. Bondage for Freedom provides resources for causes through eclectic forms of media, and collaborates with the most innovative minds and co-conspirators from various industries. This has captured vast media attention throughout its striking campaigns and events, imaginative show-stopping art, protests held in the busiest streets of central London, attracting attention and support for the most worthy controversial causes in the world today.
http://www.coco-de-mer.com/
http://www.bondageforfreedom.com/
Tamsin Omond
18 months ago Tamsin left Cambridge University, borrowed her friend's edition of Heat (Monbiot), and so changed her life. She has since pirated barges, shut down airports, danced on the roof at the Palaces of Westminster and closed BAA offices, government offices, Heathrow Terminal 1 and Parliament. After working with Plane Stupid she created a group: 'The Climate Rush' which has combined radical direct action with mass creative fun.
Involving more women in the environmental debate 'The Climate Rush' has invoked the spirit of the Suffragettes and inspired civil disobedience. Treading a delicate and beautiful path, thousands of women have used their power and voice in songs of open defiance. We are a diverse group of women and men who are determined to raise awareness of the biggest threat facing humanity today - that of Climate Change. We demand DEEDS NOT WORDS because individual choice alone cannot curb CO2 emissions if we are to stop runaway global warming.