Of Walking on Thin Ice

About

Preceded by a Camino Encounters guided walk and followed by a climate conversation, presented by Lewes artist Barbara Keal (see below for details).

The Camino to COP26 was a people's walk carrying a message of love, hope, grief, fear, and connection with the natural world to leaders deciding on the future of our climate. Ben walked with the group, who became known as 'Caministas', filming their experiences and capturing the sense of pilgrimage on this emotional and purposeful journey. More than a thousand walkers, aged from eight to 80 plus, joined the Camino for a few hours, a day or more, with a core group of about 30 completing the entire route to Glasgow.

It was a journey across the varied landscape of England and Scotland in this time of climate crisis: through major cities, small towns and villages, over motorways, alongside waterways, across housing estates, into fields, woodlands and up steep hills. Completing the 500-mile journey involved intense physical and mental effort, emotional and spiritual upheaval, but it brought transformation and a sense of hope to the Caministas, despite the looming threat of climate breakdown.

"I could have stayed at home tonight but instead I have seen the best of humankind" - Belle, previous screening event participant.

Information on the walk before the screening:

The leader of the Camino walk Helen and filmmaker Ben invite you to join them on a walk to the film screening. Meet at the NEW Lewes Climate Hub, Lewes House, High Street, Lewes at 3pm, for a walk through town and countryside lasting 2 hours. The walk will end at Depot in time for the screening. If you would like to join the walk please contact the organisers at yes@coatofhopes.uk with the subject "Depot Walk". While the walk will not include anything unusually challenging, they advise that you are responsible for yourself and undertake the walk at your own risk.  An opportunity to briefly become a pilgrim activist through town and open country, to yourself, become a later part of the story you are about to watch.  If you do not wish to attend the walk you are of course very welcome to come for the film screening only.

"Can one footprint imprint on our collective consciousness and create change? A walk, a pilgrimage, an odyssey … for the planet. Five hundred miles from London to Glasgow for Cop26. Eight weeks, 56 days and more than 56 halls and churches. More than a thousand walkers and 30 rolls of 16mm celluloid film."

On this walk you will have the chance to wear and walk in the Coat of Hopes, if you would like to, made by hundreds of people and now worn by over 1500 people before you.

Please let us know if you plan to join us. Also if you have any mobility issues please let us know in advance so we can consider how to make this work for you. You can email yes@coatofhopes.uk with the subject "Depot Walk". If you have what's app you can join this group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JiQFjCPRVyiDL29kM8XAwo useful for last minute updates or to find us if you are running late. We won't be doing anything unusually challenging, but you remain responsible for yourself and undertake this walk at your own risk. If the walk is not for you or you haven't time to join us, we look forward to seeing you on our arrival at Depot!

Depot film link: Lewes Depot screening on 18th March is live: https://lewesdepot.org/film/of-walking-on-thin-ice - Bexhill screening on 5th March is live: https://www.dlwp.com/event/of-walking-on-thin-ice/