Martin Hutchinson’s goal is to raise awareness about and help fight local causes affecting the places through which his travels take him, as well as raising awareness about environmental issues affecting the world at large.
During his travels he gives speeches at schools, universities and companies, to address local and global causes. He has been actively involved with organising and taking part in many clean ups around the world as well as participating in protests.
“The human race is deteriorating”, he says, adding; “there is so much going on that is destroying the planet.”
The 55-year-old campaigner who was born in Llandovery, Wales, previously spent nine years walking 34,000 kilometres through 21 Latin American countries, where he visited some 600 schools and universities to give talks.
“I purposely decided to walk to get the message across to people to try and slow down and take in the things that are happening around them”, he tells The Portugal News.
Following a brief stop in the UK upon his return, the former carpenter took up his cause again last May and set off from Manchester on what he terms ‘Part 2’ of his World Environment Tour, this time on a recumbent bicycle.
He arrived in Portugal three weeks ago and has already been received by a number of schools and councils in the region. He plans to cycle up to Lisbon and northern Portugal, before crossing on into Spain and beyond.
While in Portugal, the activist will be taking part in upcoming demonstrations such as an anti-fracking protest to be staged in Lisbon, on 27 February, and a protest against the levelling of wetlands in Lagoa (Algarve) this coming Sunday.
Martin Hutchinson, who has been globetrotting since his late teens, says he is “impressed” with how clean Portugal is, but was dismayed to see how dense concrete construction is “destroying local culture.”
Part 2 of the conservationist’s World Tour will take him through 44 European countries before crossing into Asia, and ending in Australia; a tour he expects could take another nine years.
“I’ve been attacked a few times but I’m still here so I’m not too worried”, he says about crossing through potentially problematic areas on his journey; “I think when people see the bicycle they are so curious that it breaks down any hostility.”
Follow Martin Hutchinson on his Facebook page, facebook/martin.hutchinson