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Last Updated: Friday, 20 July 2007, 19:44 GMT 20:44 UK
These boots 'not made for walking'
Scot Angela Rowe, 25, is one of 18 protesters who are walking 1,000 miles in 80 days with Christian Aid's Cut the Carbon march.

A recent Glasgow University graduate, she is married to a trainee minister at Renfield St Stephen's church in Glasgow.


I decided to do this march because I care a lot about climate change and basic environmental degradation.

Cut the Carbon marchers in Troon. Pic courtesy of Christian Aid/Sue Osmond

Although I try to do a lot in my own life, like cycle everywhere and refuse to have a car, that is minimal compared to what the government can do.

Christian Aid is asking the government to reduce the UK's carbon emissions by 5% each year and I really want this to happen.

Climate change is already affecting the poorest people now.

The walk is hard work!

I've walked the West Highland Way but I think the 27 miles from Glasgow to Falkirk on Wednesday beats any walking I had done before.

I actually didn't feel so bad, because we got up that morning knowing how much we had to walk, so we were psychologically prepared.

Sore feet

But the scenery doesn't change much along a canal, so you keep thinking you're further along than you are.

My feet were quite sore. They started swelling up when I used my walking boots so I have switched to my trainers.

Thursday morning was very tough, but we had quite a rest and lunch in Culross Abbey so after that the signs started going past more quickly.

Melting iceberg in eastern Greenland
Christian Aid wants emissions to be reduced by 5% each year

What's great is that you see all these places you would never get around to seeing otherwise.

We're bonding as a group as we walk along - we're from different parts of the UK and overseas.

You meet up with some people as you walk fast, and catch up with other people as you go slower, getting a chance to chat to everyone.

On Wednesday night we slept on a barge and sat on top of it looking at the sunset whilst Demos from the Philippines sang his protest songs and Fraser from Buckingham played his guitar.

We felt like we deserved that because it was a nice end to a long day.

I am really hopefully that we get the momentum going and people will sign up to the campaign along the way.

We had a chat with people in a café and they were so impressed. They said: "Are you really walking all the way to London?"

It's great seeing people think: "Wow, this is something that really matters."





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