Posts

THE ELEPHANT IN OUR ATMPOSPHERE / Like the Wind

How do you engage people with a slow moving problem like air pollution?

In July 2015 I went into the Chilean Andes and climbed 31,000m. This is my story from my daily journey to get some perspective on the smog in the city below.

ltw-p1 ltw-elephant-in-the-atmosphere-art ltw-p2

The Elephant in the Atmosphere / Like the Wind magazine

[:en]In July 2015 I ran a project to draw attention to the seasonal air pollution that haunts Santiago, Chile. I climbed 1,000m every day of the month into the Andes mountains above the city and used this point of vantage to raise awareness about the dangers of the pollution below and what we can do to combat it.

I am very proud to be published as the lead article in issue 7 of Like the Wind – a boutique print running magazine, published in the UK. You can read an extract from the article below, or read my original posts about the article here and here.

Like the Wind Page 13 version 2

 [:]

Challenge Complete – 31,000m Above The Smog in July / DESFAFIO COMPLETADO – 31,000m Subidos Arriba del Smog

[:en]

Me on Mortal CombatI went into the mountains this month and climbed a vertical KM above the city everyday because I hoped to…

  •  Photograph the winter pollution epidemic in Santiago from above, that sends children and the elderly to hospital with chronic lung complications.
  • Show an enduring commitment to a difficult challenge; similar to the greater one of reducing our own carbon footprint and living more
    sustainable lifestyles.
  • Enjoy the mountains – The sunrises and sunsets, like this one on the last morning with my friend René Castel.

DSCF5011

 

Today I am very tired.

I ran 432km (268miles) and climbed 31,471m (103,251.’) I have finished the month with two
very bruised feet, a recurring popping sensation in my ear from all that pressure change, a punctured bum from falling on a cactus but, more importantly, a wealth of experiences from running with over 15 different Chilean friends and supporters who have been interested in the project and who wanted to share some of the journey in the Andes.

There has been a lot of interest in the issue
the challenge has raised as well. Via Green Bean Trails social media I developed ideas about the problem:

  • The constituents of air pollution
  • Where it comes from
  • Live data to assess how we are affected (amazing resource)
  • Long term health effects

but also tried to suggest how we as individuals are empowered to make changes and model a powerful commitment to the climate and our environment we inhabit by:photo (3) (1)

  • Highlighting local initiatives in Chile to reduce contamination of air and water
  • Reducing dietary carbon emissions by 50% when choosing a plant based diet
  • Promoting recycling and and green transport

There is certainly a detailed GreenBeanTrails investigative article on the way. For now though, whilst I catch my breath, I’ll just sign off with this quote borrowed from AliceWalker by the conservationist and North Face Founder Doug Tompkins to describe his work:

“Each of us (should) aim to pay our rent for living on the planet, and somehow leave the planet better for our efforts.”

(If you have enjoyed following the challenge, or feel encouraged by its intentions, or just want more adventurous stuff similar to this please Like the page on Facebook and share a link to the 31,000m challenge.)

[:es]

Fui a las montañas este mes y subí un KM Vertical cada díaMe on Mortal Combat.
Hice eso para…

1) Documentar la contaminación de arriba con fotos y videos.

2) Mostrar el tipo de compromiso necesario para enfrentar el desafío mas importante: Bajar nuestra propia contaminación y vivir una vida mas sustentable.

3) Disfrutar las montañas,  los amaneceres y atardeceres y presentar que podríamos perder si no nos cuidamos nuestro proprio etorno….

Hoy día estoy muy cansado. 

Corrí 432km y subí 31,471m en total. Cerré el mes con dos pies moretoneados, un sensación rara en mis oídos destapandose por los cambios de presión, y un poto perforado por un cactus…pero lo mas importante es que terminé con un cofre lleno de experiencias compartidas con lo 15 o mas Chilenos que vinieron a compartir este desafío en la cordillera. Gracias por toda su ayuda y motivación.    Ha habido bastante gente interesada en los temas planteados en el desafio. A través de GreenBeanTrails en Facebook desarrollé temas de:

  • Las partículas de la contaminación
  • De dónde viene
  • Información en tiempo real para estar informado cada día del riesgo que se presenta
  • Los efectos para la salud a largo plazo

Sin embargo, también sugerí como nosotros tenemos el poder hacer cambios, y mostrar un compromiso poderoso con nuestro medioambiente a través de:

  • Las iniciativas Chilenas para reducir contaminación del aire y agua
  • La reducción del 50% de nuestra huella carbono nutricional, cuando elegimos una dieta vegetariana
  • Reciclar lo que compramos, usar transporte publico y crear un sociedad que valora un estilo de vida sustentable.

Pronto viene un artículo de Green Bean Trails en la prensa internacional sobre el desfio, pero, por ahora – mientras recupero mi aliento – firmo con esta cita de Alice Walker y desarrollada por el medioambientalista Doug Tompkins para describir su trabajo en Patagonia:

“Cada uno de nosotros deberíamos pagar nuestro arriendo por vivir en este planeta, y, de alguna forma, dejar el planeta en un estado mejor por el esfuerzo.” (Si has disfrutado este desafio, o te sientes motivado por las intenciones, o simplemente quieres mas “Adventure Media” – por favor haz click en Like en Facebook y comparte un link al desafio 31,000m.)

Gracias a Sofia por todo su paciencia este mes con mis problemas comunicando en español!

 [:]