Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP,
The Prime Minister,
10 Downing Street,
London SW1A 2AA

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.

Copies to:

President Barroso. President of the European Commission.
HE Mme Fu Ying, Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China.
US Senator Amy Klobuchar. Eric Sorensen. City Manager Winona. Minnesota
HRH The Prince of Wales.
Rt Hon David Cameron MP Leader of Opposition
Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP Leader of Lib Dems.
Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP. Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change.
Liz Lynne MEP West Midlands.
Peter Luff MP. Mid Worcestershire, Sir Michael Spicer MP. West Worcestershire,
Julie Kirkbride MP. Bromsgrove, Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP. Redditch and Inkberrow,
Mike Foster MP. Worcester City
Clive Corbett. Head Teacher Pershore High School.
Michael O’Brien Principal Evesham and Malvern Hills College.
Andrew Train.
Leaders and people who have signed the Paddles for Life