THE Bloomin’ Greenwash Traveling Circus, a group of climate activists cycling from West Sussex to the G7 summit, stopped off in Launceston recently.

They cycled from Brighton and Shoreham-by-sea to St Ives, a journey of roughly 320 miles, calling in at various towns, meeting Extinction Rebellion supporters from Launceston, Bude, Camelford, Delabole and camping on the way.

The group included a recumbent bike with a ‘Pedal Power Revolution’ banner, one towing flags of the world, representing countries they supported with online training, whilst another cyclist towed a ‘G7 Bathe in Greenwash’ HMS big business bath, with a toxic fossil fuels tub filling the bathtub.

Bloomin’ Greenwash also performed a mummers play in the town square before sharing a picnic in Launceston Castle park.

Familiar characters like St George, joined Goldilocks and a masked version of Boris Johnson in some sword fighting and shoppers were also entertained by drumming. They were met by Extinction Rebellion supporters from Launceston, Bude, Camelford, Delabole and other surrounding settlements, waving XR flags and Act Now banners, with the Camelford crew carrying a pink ark along with toy animals.

Jocelyn Murgatroyd, of Delabole, a member of the North Cornwall Extinction Rebellion group, said: “The idea was to astonish, entertain and engage with local communities and world leaders about the climate emergency. The emphasis was to take the climate change message to the communities they were travelling through.

“On arrival at their final destination they planned to ask the leaders of the most powerful countries on the planet to take action required to avoid a climate catastrophe. Their aims were for the G7 to commit to clean air, emissions reductions and protecting our fragile ecosystems. What they didn’t want was more greenwash, for us to be drowning in promises and lies designed to disguise serious issues like extreme weather events, global warming, food shortages and extinction of species. Their message was no one is powerless and we can all make a difference.

“While world leaders debate the global situation, we can take simple actions in our homes, schools, villages and towns. They handed out leaflets with ideas for action we can take.”

Find out more about their 10 day journey at www.greenwash.earth/bloomin-greenwash