Green battler has summit in sights (From The Oxford Times)

Green battler has summit in sights

5:35pm Wednesday 9th December 2009

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A CLIMATE change campaigner is due to arrive in Copenhagen tomorrow after walking hundreds of miles through England and Denmark.

Oxfam worker Pushpanath Krishnamurthy, known as Push, set off from the charity’s headquarters in Cowley on November 16 and has walked through rain, wind and sub-zero temperatures to reach the Copenhagen Summit.

The summit, being attended by thousands of delegates from 192 countries, aims to hammer out a global way forward to tackle climate change.

During his trip Mr Krishnamurthy, 57, of Wilkins Road, Cowley, has spoken to school and church groups, politicians and locals to share his experiences of the effects of global warming across the planet.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail from Ringsted, south-west of Copenhagen, Mr Krishnamurthy said he was “nervous and excited” about reaching his destination.

He said: “I had a bit of a problem a few days ago when my foot swelled up and I had to take a day off to rest, but I’m now fighting fit.

“It has been quite tiring, but I have found a rhythm for myself and I’m walking on average eight to 10 minutes per km.”

Mr Krishnamurthy was forced to briefly abandon the walk due to the problems with his foot, and took a train across part of Denmark called Middelfart to be able to continue.

He said: “It has been really inspiring because people have been listening to the message.

“Originally I was just thinking I would be walking and would hopefully meet a few people, but I could not believe how much of an impact it has had, with many others deciding to take action themselves.”

The walker has been relying on the kindness of strangers to put him up on his trip, and for four days he was joined on his trek by different people.

Members of his family plan to join him on the final stretch today.

Mr Krishnamurthy, who was born in Bangalore, India, has worked for Oxfam for 26 years and been involved in projects in India, Zimbabwe, Malawi, VIetnam and the Balkans.

His intention was to spread the word on the destruction of climate change by recounting examples ranging from unseasonal droughts and lost harvests in Kenya to severe flooding in Bangladesh.

Mr Krishnamurthy said: “The volunteers who have helped me get here are putting in place a plan for what happens when I get to Copenhagen.

“I will gatecrash the summit if needs be. I have done it before and I believe, like Gandhi, that I have a right to serve and I don’t think anyone can take that away from me.

“I hope the leaders will make the right decisions.”

By the end, he will have walked more than 350 miles.

While Mr Krishnamurthy’s main purpose for walking is to raise awareness of environmental issues, he has also collected more than £1,200 for Oxfam.

To find out more, visit gopushgo.com fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk

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