If you haven’t popped over to Green Guys Global lately you will have missed the news that our very own Green Guy Gareth is about to set off to the Arctic.
That’s right, whilst the rest of us (well me) are moaning and complaining about a bit of frost and ice here in the UK this February Gareth will be surviving in temperatures which could dip as low as -50c.
“Why on earth would someone do this by choice?” You may ask. Well Gareth truly believes in the mantra ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’ and that everyone should have safe water. That’s why he’s taking on this challenge to raise money for Water Aid, a charity which works in many countries to provide water, sanitation and hygiene education to some of the world’s poorest people.
Gareth has been undertaking survival training to make sure he knows how to cope in the extreme weather but it’s going to be no mean feat. I think the training alone would have been bad enough for me. Check it out on Gareth’s Travel Blog
So, whilst you’re sat in the warm glow of your computer screen how about showing your support for Gareth? By making a donation on his fundraising page you can help him change the lives of a couple of hundred people and you won’t even have to step outside!
Donate to the Arctic Survival Challenge at www.justgiving.com/ChangeTheWorldNow
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January 19th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
That’s nice. But presumably he’s going to FLY to the Arctic? In a plane which will generate emissions which are damaging to the environment? Specifically the polar ice caps?
January 19th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
I can’t speak for Gareth and I don’t know how he is getting there but I do think it’s incredible that he could potentially change the lives of many people by undertaking this task. Not many of us can say we’ve done that – me included.
January 20th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
That’s a very good point Alice, I’ll pleased you brought it up. I’m travelling by airplane, which isn’t ideal, but given the distance – most realistic methods of getting there would create pollution. So I’ll be offsetting my flights using ClimateCare. Their projects follow the same robust process of design, monitoring and independent verification as set down by the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism. They also meet a recognised international standard for emission reductions.
I appreciate there is a lot of arguments about offsetting, but to me it’s better than doing nothing at all. To make me and my sponsors feel more at ease I’ll be offsetting the travel for 2 passengers. Though I will only be one.
The company I’m travelling with also has a Responsible Tourism Award, you can read more about that here.
http://www.discoveradventure.com/responsible_tourism.aspx
Over arching all of this is the lives we will change. People without access to safe water in all corners of the globe. Those that don’t have the opportunity of success, those that are sick, those that are dying. Through this I hope to change some of that, albeit, a small step. But a small step in the right direction nonetheless.
All the best
G
January 21st, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Wow, what a challenge. Good luck Gareth!