Hey, you like my new profile picture. I've changed since you guys saw me in Brussels. What can I say, heres to lots of proper exercise and lots of Ben and Jerrys.

 So many changes have happened since my last entry. I have been one busy Irish women. EcoBiz has gone from strength to strength. It is now a functioning business and I am the company director. Ha, I never in my wildest dream ever thought I would hear myself say that. The men are flocking in. I even pay corporate Tax now (very complicated. B&J should have a corporate tax college to help me out). The biggest thing to happen to me was giving a speech to the EU commisson in Ireland about Climate change. I was part of a panel with 4 of the leading expects in climate change in Ireland. One of which was the Environmental minister of Ireland. I was so nervous and so worried about my 10 minute speech. In the end when I had to speck I just went for it and it went great. I have to admit I wont be the next president of Ireland but my argument was good and I got a few laughs so I happy. I then had to be part of debate with the audience of about 70 suits and faced questions on planning, housing regulations and biodiversity but I was fine. I spoke about what I knew about and even though I was as acknowledgable as the rest of the panel, I believe I did give a different prospective. Ecobiz received a lot of attention after and I am now working on a number of different projects. 

Another highlight of my year since was going to Brussels. Meeting up with my fellow CCC Crew was great. Anna and I are like sisters and need to chat non-stop to each other for at least 1 hour before anyone else can come into the conversation. Lars looking as deadly as ever and helping me through tough climate change decisions. Rob, my bikini boy, always up for the craic. Move to Ireland Rob, you belong there. It was really good seeing Julian as we didnt get the chance to see him in Rotterdam, so we needed to make up for old time. Can this boy dance!!! I missed Niall as he was alway skiing. The moment I step on English shores I coming to find you Niall!!!.

Brussels also gave me the chance to meet the new Climate change ambassadors and I can i first say that Climate change they are going to kick your ass! These guys mean business. They have such deadly ideas. I spent time talking to each of them because I was made to, (only messin) and I was kicking myself after going 'why didnt i think of that'. Year Three's crew do not only have great idea but the motivation and the craic to go with it. I expecting to see a lot from this gang. 

The College to me has giving me the chance to help combat one of the greatest threats facing mankind today. I have seen how climate change is effecting the world especially in the Arctic. I have seen what can be done to resolve it and I have seen people doing it. To be giving the chance to even make one piece of difference has been great.

When I left college, I looked into my fake cyrstal ball and envisioned myself working for environmental agency writing reports on the effect of climate change on frog spawn in Irish woodlands. Not saying that that would not be interesting but I could never predict how my life has changed since taking part in the climate change college. I have been around the world learning and discussing climate change (ofsetted of course). I have met some amazing people including polar explorers and government ministers. I got the chance to appear in Times Square in my Bikini. Finally I got the chance to develop my all time dream of opening my own environmental consultancy and if it wasnt for the CCC and everyone involved it would never have happened.

To Year 3 - if I had to give you a message of good luck. I would just have to say if you want someone to take over for you for even just a few days just give me a call, I wouldnt mind at all. You guys are in for a year of hard work but it so worth and enjoy every minute of it. Best of Luck guys and enjoy yourself I know you can ( photo evidence attached) xxx

 Talk soon guys. You wont believe it but I off to Melbourne to help with a transport managment scheme to reduce traffic in the city. Will keep you updated. xxxxxx

    

I came across a brilliant website today www.localcooling.com. By downloading local cooling you will be saving energy by simply doing nothing. After downloading the program, it gets rid of energy wasting items on your computer that you are not even using. Don’t worry about it shutting down during bebo, half way through a comment to the guy you have fancied for ages. It simply monitors the energy wastage of your computer. It will show you how many trees you have saved after a while and it is 100% FREE. This thing is genius and some of my EcoBiz are using it now to help save money and help protect the environment.

EcoBiz is going well. The website is looking lovely and will soon be available to everyone, packed full of interesting tips on how to help save the environment in your own business. It will also contain profiles of interesting Ecobiz, who are leading the example in how protecting the environment can have so many other benefits too for example, saving money in terms of reducing energy and waste and generate a positive image to their shareholders.

I’ve set a date. The EcoBiz launch concert is planned for Friday the 13th of June. Unlucky for some, but I promise everyone else a brilliant time. ‘Waiting to Explode’ a deadly Mullingar band will be setting the mood for an alternative lunch time experience. Accompanied by a load full of Ben and Jerry’s, fire eaters, jugglers’ and dancers, you should have no trouble leaving your desk to get into the beautiful green and having the craic. This event will see the launch of the website and as a focus of how businesses can be more environmentally friendly. There will be a number of individuals there ready to help you on your way to a greener business.

If any one would like to email me about EcoBiz or the my time as the Irish climate change Ambassador, ( I full of chat) , you can contact me lesley@climatechangecollege.org.

Talk soon,

Lesley xxx

Well it’s all over. I am now on my way back to Dublin on flight EI 169 and even now I can’t sleep. My head is full of ideas and thoughts about the last two weeks and to be honest I really don’t mind.

Yes, there were tears shed, a lot actually especially by the females of the group, it was an emotional morning, one that won’t be forgotten. After a night of coughing and a morning of reflecting, the bus to bring Neil, Rob and I to the airport arrived. It is a real shame that the majority of us, moi included, got the mother of all coughs (from Lars) the day before, because I think we would of enjoy each other a bit better had we not wanted to cough up a lung every two minutes.

Saying Goodbye was the hardest especially to Marc, Neil and Gillian as we had only said ‘hello” again the other day when they arrived back from Barneo. We didn’t get to bond or get to know each other better then I did the others.

As for Anne, Lars and Rob I could not have survived with out them. If I was not for their continuous encouragement, friendship, kindness and sense of the craic, I do not think I would have been able to do a number of things I ended up doing let alone enjoy myself. This blog entry I suppose is a tribute to all the ambassadors, who are not only amazing individuals but their concern for climate change, is also very apparent. Their campaigns are set to make a real difference in their home countries and combined with their passion for communicating climate change mixed with experiences of the Arctic coming out of their ears, they are set to bring climate change to the forefront of issue effecting modern society.
I am so proud of each and every one of them and leave the trip feeling honored to have spent time with them.

If I’m not careful I will start crying again. Being the organized individual that I am, I have created a little questionnaire for myself:

Best Moment of Arctic Trip: I’d say that the 4 day trek was my best experience because I think I got the most out of it. It was a big challenge, traveling through knee high snow pulling a 30kg sleigh, cooking food and making water for 9 starving people about 4 times a day and climbing to 600 meters on the steepest of mountains, but I managed to have a whale of a time. There really was no time to complain, to worry or back out. You were part of a team and things had to be done.

Worst Experience: Polar bear watch number two.
As you know every night two of us had to perform an hour polar bear watch twice during the night. I actually look back at this now and laugh but at the time after getting up the second time after 3 hours sleep in a snow cave, I felt like tearing my hair out. I always kept busy during these times and was forever watching the mountains but alas no polar bears. Like I said before, you were part of a team and things had to be done. Thank you polar bear for not turning up, I don’t know what I would have done.

Funniest moment: I think it was when I was in the Ig-loo, our snow cave toilet and the poo bag feel over onto my snow boots. MTV Europe were arriving that evening and I did not want to meet them smelling of poo, serious operation were made to clear it all off.

Saddest Moment: Leaving the group. I don’t know when I will see them again. As I have told you they were my best friends and my biggest help to me during the trip. Say goodbye was especially hard this time.

I think that is it for me, if you have any more categories you would like me to fill out, leave it on the comments section or email me at Lesley@climatechangecollege.org.

I will be updating soon with all the carry on from Ireland, but that I’m afraid is the end of how my Arctic experience came to life. How I met some of the most amazing people, how I saw the devastating effect of climate change and how I fell in love with one of the most amazing eco-systems in the world.

Lesley xxx

Hey Everyone, 02.05.07
I have made it! I have done it! I can’t believe it.

I am specking to you now as a refreshed women. You should have seen me yesterday. I was in some state, my hair had it own eco-system, I smelt like a polar bear and I was so tired, I probably could of fallen asleep on a roller coaster. I have just returned from a four days in the Arctic Wilderness. I had an amazing time but I’m glad to be back in civilization.

I headed out Friday on skis across the Longyearbyen fjord and headed north. We all swooped how we traveled, at one stage I was traveling by snow boot and pulling 60k sleighs. I had this harness on which made me look like a sumo wrestler. I ended up pulling the muscles at the top of my leg but had to keep trekking.

The trek in total lasted about 4 hours. We headed into a glacial valley and it was beautiful. The fact that the Arctic is heating up faster than the rest of the world really made you appreciate your surroundings. It seems such a shame that due to the unsustainable manner that the world is developing, you can say good bye to this natural environment.

Now I saw “Survivor” and went camping on holiday in France when I was 9 but this was a whole new kettle on endangered fish. When we arrived, I spent I’d say 2 hours boiling snow in order to fill our thermos full of hot water. This was to be used for tea etc and basic drinking water because any cold liquids freeze immediately so good bye cold water. You don’t release how much cold drinking water is such a luxury. I then had to make dinner. We had spaghetti with tomato sauce and meat balls. During making this I managed to blow up one of the stoves. I call to Michel and he legged it down the mountain like something in Mcgyver and picked up the stove a throw it into the snow before it blew up the other one. I basically just sat there and cried so much for the independent women. Dinner was nice. I was and I’d say the majority of my friends will be aswell surprised that it tasted good, but they was this undertone taste of burning. This undertone taste managed to continue into every meal I made there after and yes I did wash the pots. I don’t know how it happened.

While I was been the diva in the kitchen, the snow caves were been built. It consisted of digging into the snow and removing it in large blocks. These were used for building the wind walls outside the caves and also the toilet. The tent was also erected this was to be our home for the first night.

I managed to get to sleep so easily when I got into my huge sleeping bag. The temperature was I’d say about -13. Now due to the fact we were in the middle of nowhere, we had to do nightly hour watches, so at 3 and again at 8, Michel and I had to guard the area, but gun in tow. We were watching for polar bears, avalanches and Arctic pirates (only messing)

We went on a four day trek the next day, up a mountain approx 600 metres high. This was big for me, a real personal challenge. It huge and the slope was so steep. I fell and slipped so often but seeing Mihel and Edmundo (everest climber) do it so easily gave me the confidence to keep going and I finally made it. It was worth it for the view alone. Amazing! But wait a minute how were we going to get back down………..

On with the snow boots and after a quick training session on how to walk on snow and pretty much straight downwards, we were off. We had to turn back at one stage because it was just to slippy and I thought at one stage that the helicopters would be called in but after going a different direction and some getting use to, we ended up having the time of our lives. It was so scary at the start but you basically just had to get on with it. I think that’s one of the issues concerning combating climate change at the moment, it may seem like a big change to our lives, to organize out waste so we can recycle it to leaving the car at home and waking to work. Changing to a new sustainable manner of living may be scary at the start but if we want to preserve unique environments like the Arctic, we just have to get on with it.

That night was our first night in the snow cave, or I like to call it snow shelf. Surrounded my four walls of snow and the boys in the snow shelf opposite, I slept like a log. It was warmer then the tent from the first night. I would recommend it to anyone.

MTV Europe arrived Sunday but before that Neil, Juilan and Marc arrived back from the North Pole. I missed them so much. We must have talked non-stop for hours, filling each others in on what has been going on.

Looking back on the trip, I learned a lot about confidence and taking risk and going for it. I believe I spent 80% of the trip scared of doing something but the 20% was spent so happy that I had done it, which in the end was a much much better feeling. Surrounded by my friends and the need to understand the Arctic environment gave me all the confidence I needed. At night when there was complete silence and you release how insignificant you actually are against Mother Nature. Surrounded by nature you can really appreciate its simplicity and how is growing and dying like us. But due to our need for big cars and comfy lifestyles, the earth is been exploited and manipulated by us.

Lesley x

Hey everyone, what’s the story?

Everything is going amazing here. Bit of a lie in this morning, Way-Hey. We got up at 7.00 instead of 6.00. We did something then, that I can not believe we did. Rob and I got into bikinis (well I go into a bikini not rob) and ran around the Longyearbyen Fjord for a video we making. It was crazy and really cold, but I’ve seen the initial shots and they look class. The full version will be in your video stores soon.

We had a lecture then with Monique, a glacial expect from UNIS, who was telling us about the glacier, which make up about 10% of the land here in Svalbard. The melting of the freshwater icecaps in the Arctic will have a devastating affect on the gulf stream which is responsible for the west of Ireland remaining ice free. The Gulf stream has already suffered a 30% decline due to rising temperatures. If this continues unnaturally then Ireland might be facing a very icy future.

We then went to the Longyear Glacier situated about 15 minutes drive from Longyearbyen. We traveled about several kilometers into the glacial cave basically sliding on our bums. The cave was formed from an internal river which runs within the cave during the summer. We were traveling along this frozen river which was so slippery that I spent most of my time falling all over the place. The walls were made out of smooth clear ice and you could see layers of sediment deposited there million of years ago. It was amazing. We were able to explore the cave and a few of us even wondered into our own private cave, it was so beautiful with ice crystals hanging from the ceiling.

I spent the evening with 5 sexy dutch men at Noordpool Fm. 3fm radio station from the Netherlands have set up the most northern radio station. I was hanging with them for about 4 hours and the craic was mighty. I loved it. Got to talk to loads of dutch listener and play games on air and basically act the eejit. It was so funny, Praise due to Michiel, Miakel, Theo, Jurre and Ceip, they definitively know how to show an Irish girl a good time.

At about 2 o clock in the morning after the radio station, we came upon these snow sleighs so Rob, Anna, Michelle (dutch TV producer) and I tackled the high mountains of Longyearbyen. Much better then black sacks. The benefits of 24 hour sunlight.

Ok Ok I gotta go because we have to get supplies for tomorrow, It is finally here, our trip to the snow cave. I am shaking in my snow boots.

Talk soon
Lesley xxx

Lars and Lesley

Ok Ok, he may be a bearded seal, but he was some kisser. Today we went to the Polaria, the museum of Tromso, they have 4 seals, three girls and one boy. Lucky guy!

This morning it was freezing, as we headed off to the Polaria museum, when we got there the building was locked up the max. So we did what any young exployers would do and headed to the pub. This place was actually a museum so was open from 9 till 5, which was fine with us but instead of going for a tour we headed straight to the bar.

In the museum, we had a leature from Miriam Geitz, a rep from the WWF, she updated on the devastating effect of climate change on the wildlife of the Arctic, the polar bear is expected to be extinct by the end of the century. It is such a beautiful animal.

After getting my kiss from my new boyfriend and feeding him sardines, his favourite food. (We have such a connection already)we had a really interesting leature from a representative from the Sami Council. This indigenous people are natives of Norway. There are currently 100,000 now residing across northern Scandiavia before the existence of the Finland, Sweden and Norway borders. Climate Change has had a huge affect on their lives as they live very much so with nature. For example their main industry is raindeer herding and these are dying due to new foreign disease from hotter regions.

The Arctic is tomorrow so early night. Cant wait.

Talk to you tomo from the coldest place on earth.

Lesley x

You are probably thinking that I am curled up at a log fire, drinking hot whiskeys and discussing Stern�s �Economics of Climate change� well I�m not. Today started bright and early being woken up by the raver�s across the road, now I�m al up for dancing the night away with neon glo sticks but not when I had to travel to the Arctic the next day. So after roaring a few Irish swear words out the window and a few more hours of sleep it was up at 5.45 and time for NORWAY

Now I�m a typical girl and probably have the biggest bag on the trip but Mark Cornalissen takes the biscuit. We counted 43 bags in total and there was only 14 of us. That guy loves his shoes. As you can see our party was getting bigger, as well as the six ambassadors, Caroline, Mark and Michel we had:

Roy: from Radio 1 Netherland,
Co and Hans (sorry guys if I got your names wrong) : from Nova, Dutch TV
Michella : Dutch children�s TV
Edmund : Climate change college camera man and a legend, I had the pleasure of sitting beside him on the plane from Oslo to Tromso and he filled me in on his adventures climbing Everest, K2 and mountains that I have never heard off. I have to get a picture of him with my Ireland Scarf.

So our group was getting bigger but the adventure was just beginning, after traveling from Amsterdam to Oslo then Oslo to Tromso ( losing a snow sleigh in the mean time ) we arrive at the Clarion Hotel in one of the most picturesque towns I�d ever seen. There was snow everywhere, my pal Catherine would go mental. Every time it snows she literally goes crazy and rolls around in it. Hopefully the photos will come up on this Blog so you can see how amazing this place is.

Just about an hour ago we got our brief on what is to come now I wont tell you what is planned as I want you to stay tuned. All I�l say is that the next week or so consists of polar bears, climate change, dog sleighs, mighty craic and something I only learned about today a three day stay in a snow cave. So log in and read up, I will be updating my Blog everyday.

Lots of love Ireland and anyone else reading this, I love you. Lesley xxx

Day two:
I am currently on plane to Oslo, Norway and so recked. Yesterday was so crazy but brilliant craic. I nearly missed my train to Rotterdam because I was off recording my Diary for the BBC and the train driver decided to be really mean and stop the train way up the platform so I had to leg it up the platform and fortunately got on just as it was pulling away. Thank you Addias runners.

Once in Rotterdam (PS: very proud of self making way from Ireland to Rotterdam all by my self, very independent, man are no longer needed) I met with Niall, Rob and Caroline, the two English ambassador and the rep from B + J England. Now I taught I had brought to much stuff but these guys were mad, Rob likes his hair products supposedly. They also had two huge polar bear outfits, very fetching. After waiting for the rest of the crew for like an hour, we found them at the other exit (typical) and we all headed off then to our hotel.

Our afternoon agenda was already planned so it was straight off to the Unilever building because they own Ben and Jerry.s, this building was so cool and is an architectural wonder in Rotterdam. I would love my office to be in this place for one big reason only, the view, the view, the view.
After my daily intake of B+J�s ice cream (why do you think I took this role) we received a lecture on who Unilever are, which was interesting and then training on our blogs. I work in IT but I was so confused after so if half of this is missing, in purple or in Arabic, I�m sorry. There are a few things I did get, a new development which are really cool, you can now join the climate change college and leave comments and opinions on us, articles and other environmental issues which I would love to read, so sign up and get writing.

Then it was to the depot to get out Arctic gear and equipment. Now I taught this was going to be a few pair of granny pants, but this was crazy, we had ski googles to jackets, gloves to the biggest pair of boots I have ever seen. Big Foot didn�t exist, someone just was walking around in an American forest with these boots on. They are really big but actually really confortable. IT was great fun getting all the gear and it did get everyone really excited about what was to come. Tomorrow meant Norway but I was just excited about the Taxi ride to the Airport in the morning.

Right I off,

Lot of love

Les x