About
Akashi is a Cambridge Carbon Footprint project. At Cambridge Carbon Footprint, we believe that our work, helping people to make real reductions in CO2 emissions, is enriched by embracing the distinctive views of our diverse communities (see the five core principles of Cambridge Carbon Footprint). The Akashi Project was set up to do just that.
Our work is helped by embracing the distinctive views of our diverse communities - this is the Akeelah girls' group at the Akashi Festival
History
In June 2006, Cambridge Carbon Footprint was awarded funding from Defra’s Climate Challenge initiative for creating a project that would focus on engaging people of different faiths and cultures in the debate about climate change. The project was called Akashi, which means sky in several Asian languages, and was the brainchild of Shilpa Shah, who was appointed co-ordinator. Over the next 18 months, Shilpa held meetings with dozens of cultural and faith community groups in Cambridge and the Eastern region, and in October 2007, she organised the Akashi Festival at the Junction to celebrate the work of the project.
We aim to involve people of all ages and cultures - these children are making a climate change mural
Shilpa also created an exhibition of posters, Climate Change: One World, Many Voices, presenting the views of people involved in the project. They are available for purchase from Cambridge Carbon Footprint in A3 format.
Shilpa is now based in London and delivers training for Akashi. The Cambridge-based project continues under the co-ordination of Siobhan Mellon and Tina Shah.
