Inspiring people: The Deben Ark

Launching the Deben Ark...

Over 300 people joined Neil Winship, Ann Pettifor, Mark Dowd and John Gummer MP to launch the Ark in Deben and it was an impressive and heartening day.

Along with enthusiastic locals, church leaders and MPs were lots of press taking notice of the event.
Ann Pettifor and Mark Dowd made uplifting speeches – calling for action from policy makers at Copenhagen to secure a deal to cut power station emissions by one third by 2020. John Gummer congratulated Operation Noah Woodbridge on the very imaginative way they had brought the threat of climate change and the importance of the Copenhagen Conference in December to the attention of the public.
 

The homemade wooden and metal Ark was then rowed across the Deben by six hardworking rowers making for a wonderful spectacle. The event rounded off with a small dramatisation of King Canute’s futile attempt to hold back the waters. Finally, a group of furry animals poked their heads through the windows of the Ark, and dozens of children raced towards it and clambered on board.

As the day drew to a close the spectators wandered off thoughtfully into the very beautiful Suffolk sunset.