The Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP

House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA

Constituency Office tel/fax: 01527 523355

Westminster Office tel: 020 7219 5845

Fax: 020 7219 4815

e-mail: smithjj@parliament.uk

Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

Prime Minister

10 Downing Street

London

SW1A 2AA

Our Ref: 090013

13 March 2009

Dear Gordon

Mr David Train

Paddle for Life

Main Acadamy Global, Glen Villa, Fladbury, Pershore, Worcs, WR10 2QH

Mr David Train contacted me recently about his efforts to get Presidents Obama and Hu to take up his Paddle for Life campaign at the G20 summit.

I realise that this is very late in the day but I have promised to forward his request on to you. His idea is that two boats are named by the Presidents in a Downing Street ceremony with children from Worcestershire.

The Paddle for Life Campaign was started by David in Worcestershire, to get young people involved in water sport by making their own wooden paddles and replanting double the trees used to help the environment.

The campaign has since travelled across Europe and to the USA, with campaigners and politicians signing presentation paddles to say that we all need the tools to fight climate change and must act. I know that you have already signed a Paddle for Life. The idea of naming these boats is an extension of this simple idea and is an enduring way to raise awareness of climate change.

The text of a letter that Mr Train has sent to your office is set out below.

23rd February 2009

Dear Prime Minister,

The G20, Energy-Climate Change and A Paddle for Life

“Our task is tough, and our time is limited. Party organisations and
government at all levels must give priority to emission reduction...and
bring the idea deep into people’s hearts.”
President Hu Jintao 28th June 2008

“Together WE CAN!”
President Elect Barack Obama 2008

“Give us the tools and we will finish the job.”
Winston Churchill to Roosevelt 1941

I am writing to ask if you will invite President Hu and President Obama to name the bellboats, “Spirit of China and Energy-Climate Era” and “Spirit of the United States and Energy-Climate Era”, and invite President Barroso to present each with a Paddle for Life, in London at the G20 in April. It need only take a few minutes, can be done at no
cost to the taxpayer, and can be done without any problems of security.

When HE Mme Fu Ying, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, signed the Paddles for Life, she told me that President Hu loved taking part with anything to do with inspiring children. The Paddle for Life is in the form of a Chinese Dragon Boat paddle, and a story from Chinese culture inspired the whole idea, so I am sure that President Hu would be very happy to take part. I am also sure that, because of the work we have already done in the United States, and the fact that the bellboats are based on the Hawaiian outrigger canoes, President Obama would also be delighted to take part. Senator Klobuchar, a member of the Senate Environmental Committee has already signed the Paddle for Life for Winona in Minnesota.

Two weeks ago, I was invited to the European Parliament in Strasbourg where President Barroso signed two Paddles for Life, which you, the Chinese Ambassador, and many other leaders in Britain, have signed.

When I was with President Barroso he made the comment, “We need a symbol to bring all on board working together” and seemed delighted with the idea of the Paddle for Life as the “tool to do the job”. I asked him if he would, at some future occasion, present them to President Obama and President Hu. He said it might take a little time to do so, but was positive about the idea, so I am sure that he would be delighted to present the Paddles for Life to President Hu and President Obama at the G20 Summit in London.

My suggestion is that the event takes place in Downing Street, so that there is no problem with security and that we bring a couple of crews of children and young people from the Vale of Evesham, Wychavon and Worcestershire to sit in the boats. The boats, recently purchased by Pershore High School, through the Awards For All Scheme, are all ready and I am sure that the children and young people will be able to make their Paddles for Life in time for the event. After the naming in Downing Street they can be launched on the rivers and canals of Worcestershire at a later date by our MP’s and MEP’s.

At this time of scarcity the world needs a story for its children and young people of how, using what we already have, and connecting them in some new form, we can create great things at little cost and little use of energy.

As you know, the Paddle for Life was inspired by the two red lines on the carpet of the House of Commons being two sword lengths apart. By connecting the story from Parliament, Downing Street, Presidents Hu, Obama and Barroso, two small boats, children and young people with their Paddles for Life, made from a wooden sword and
shield, we will have created a world photographic event that could be the catalyst to save humanity.

As President Hu said last year to the leaders at all levels in China, we need to get the idea of emissions deep into people’s hearts. Every leader of the G20 has the same problem. In Downing Street, in April, the children and young people of the United Kingdom, backed by their parents and leaders can show the world leaders, in Churchill’s words,
the “tools to do the job”. It was the small boats at Dunkirk that saved us to fight another day, when we last faced destruction. Now we only need two small boats, in Downing Street, with the mighty names of China and the United States on their bows, to do the same. I am sure that Churchill would be delighted that the people of the United
Kingdom, by working together can, once more, play their part in saving civilisation.

I hope that on behalf of all our children and young people, you will invite President Hu to name the “Spirit of China and Energy-Climate Era”, President Obama to name the “Spirit of the United States and Energy-Climate Era” and President Barroso to present them with Paddles for Life, in Downing Street. The world will win and we will have a
story which will last for generations. The children and young people are ready. The boats are ready. The Paddles for Life, signed by people at every level of society in Europe, are ready. All it needs is for you, in the spirit, creativity and courage of Churchill, to say, “YES, WE WILL”.

My very best wishes,
Good paddling,
David W. Train
Former Olympic Coach. LA. Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta.”

Thank you for your consideration of this matter. If the G20 event is not possible perhaps you could consider another way of celebrating this campaign in the future. If you require further clarification about the contents of this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely