Bristol's Green Launch on the High-wire

Bristol officially launched its year as the 2015 European Green Capital on Saturday 24th January. It was a cold but clear, starlit night. Two large, green buildings caught my eye from afar. The high-wire act was spectacular. It seemed an apt choice for the supreme balancing act required by climate change. The launch event was entitled "Bridging the Gap". 

It's complicated

I made my way on foot to the Cumberland Basin Bridge, overlooking the event. The song "It's complicated" played loudly on the tannoy system. Multi-coloured luminous umbrellas moved in the crowd below. Ecological messages played between songs. The logo "In it for good" was projected onto the green-lit building.

Decisions and actions

An EU Commission representative officially handed the title to Bristol's two youth mayors. They spoke of their hopes for the year and future. Bristol is to set an example to the rest of Britain in a momentous year. It will be a critical year for the world too.  Difficult decisions and vital actions lie ahead on climate change and urban renewal.

High-wire act

Suddenly, a luminous figure could be seen on high. Next, the main figure appeared, balancing on his bike with a pole. A "UFO" hovered above with green and red lights. (A camera drone?) Halfway across progress slowed. The pole wobbled deeply from side to side. The bike even went backwards for a time. The tightrope act continued forward in an uphill struggle to the other building. Success. The crowd applauded. The umbrellas turned to green below. All too soon the launch event was over.

Green childhood memories

I continued back towards Bristol's famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. They had doubted that the great engineer and innovator Brunel could bridge the gap over the Avon Gorge. The iconic bridge brings back childhood memories for me.  It is close to The Downs, one of Bristol's great green spaces. There I ran and laughed. I played hide and seek and ball games. I climbed trees. I practised my cartwheels and did wheelbarrows with my family.

Incremental changes

When I visit Bristol today, I notice the changes. The locals complain about the traffic, poor air quality and transport problems. In London, I complain about those same inconveniences. As a local resident, you notice the daily problems more than the incremental changes. I remember the seemingly never-ending tube engineering works in preparation for the 2012 Olympics in London. They did London proud in the end.

Brunel's bridge has stood the test of time. 

May Bristol's green legacy stand the test of time. 

Karen Andrews runs
Anglicity Ltd. She is a

marketing consultant 

and content writer. She

also offers French to

English translation and

transcreation services.

Contact karen@anglicity.com 
for further information 
on Anglicity's services.

Climate change: seeking an impossible solution?

As the old year draws to a close and a new one fast approaches, it is a good time for reflection on the past and hopes for the future. Elections and climate change discussions will feature strongly in 2015.

In November 2013, I attended an event at the British Library aimed at inspiring new entrepreneurs. My lasting takeaway was that even the most tumultuous start can lead to spectacular success. Lord Young emphasised the attraction of being in charge of your own destiny. Today, he appears in the New Year's Honours' list for his 50 year contribution to British public life. Margaret Thatcher famously said of him that "other people bring me problems; David brings me solutions". Solutions are just what every client wants to their business problems. Translators and interpreters are often key players in working towards such solutions.

There is a tendency in the world to think that we cannot change things. The advantage of getting older is that you can remember any number of times in the past when people said something couldn’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t ever be changed… when the world seemed on the brink of disaster … and then something or someone budged.  The collapse of the Berlin Wall was just such an example... and yet we celebrated its 25th anniversary this year.

Let me share my somewhat ambitious wishes for change in 2015:

1. Greater world peace has to be high on the 2015 agenda. (I am no Miss World). I would like greater harmony to be won with recognition for the value and role of professional translators and interpreters.

2. As a mother with an interest in the world after I am long gone, I would like to see a little less focus from our politicians on short-term economic gains and the next elections. We need some true statesmen and stateswomen with more selfless ambitions and greater solutions in the run-up to the UN's climate talks in Paris at COP21

To quote Nelson Mandela: It always seems impossible until it is done.

Let's believe we can change our planet's destiny and come up with the long-term solutions.

Karen Andrews runs
Anglicity Ltd. She is an
entrepreneurial French
to English translator,
content writer,
marketer and Mum.
Her home city of
Bristol will be
inspiring change
as 2015's
European Green Capital.
Contact: karen@anglicity.com


What are your wishes and resolutions for the world 2015?

Bristol: 2015 European Green Capital

Historically, Bristol has had a flair for innovation. My home city in the West of England has its own unique character and sense of fun. On 4^th May 2014, a hilly, city-centre street was closed to traffic and turned into a giant waterslide. The event was part of the local council’s Make Sundays Special programme. The pictures of Bristolians sliding went viral on social media.  A positive image of the 2015 European Green Capital was broadcast not just locally, or even nationally, but globally.

The potential of a green, traffic-less city received active promotion. This communications success clearly shows that green policies can spread from small, local initiatives. The memory of a great day without traffic will live on in the collective, local memory. Hopefully, other European cities will be inspired to carry out similar ventures.

Global warming concerns

Not all great initiatives have to be disseminated from a nation’s capital city. There is often a greater sense of belonging outside the capital. I have spent my entire working career in London, but my sense of “home” is still firmly rooted in the West Country. The potential consequences of global warming hit me this summer when I saw the flooded Somerset levels. Global warming maps seem to predict that my beloved Somerset may be permanently under water in the future.

Brunel: a great innovator

Bristol has strong historical connections with innovation. The city is closely associated with the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the second most famous Briton. His Clifton Suspension Bridge still stands as the city’s most famous landmark (see above). Brunel is also renowned for the Great Western Railway linking Bristol and London and the steamship SS Great Britain.

Bristol and the New World

Bristol even lays claim to the discovery of America. Christopher Columbus did not land in South America until 1498. Italian-born John Cabot sailed from Bristol to discover Newfoundland and thus North America in 1497. Bristol’s merchants financed his voyage. It has even been claimed that America was named after Richard Amerike.

Nantes sets an example

Bristol has played a great role in British maritime history. The city’s past is not all glorious. It cannot be denied that Bristol grew wealthy as a result of the slave trade. There remains some unease in Bristol as to how to handle this past. The French city of Nantes perhaps showed the way by confronting its role in the slave trade with its Memorial to the Abolition of Slavery. Nantes took the lead as the European Green Capital in 2013. The city won recognition for its leadership in water management and waste recycling.

Bristol setting an example

We Bristolians are immensely proud of our city. Like many of us and many other cities, Bristol has both great and unsavoury elements in its past. Environmental concerns mean that we all need to reform our habits. We can all do our bit. Going green may mean choosing the long-term over short-term option. We may have to select a more expensive energy efficient, environmentally friendly product. We need to make conscious efforts to recycle and walk or cycle instead of taking the car.

Bristol is looking forward to leading the way as Europe’s Green Capital in 2015. Take a look at Bristol's modern digital website revealing plans already under way.

What green initiatives should Bristol take in 2015?