Ice Care - Climbing for climate

Livro já está à venda!

2010-11-09T04:29:00.000-08:00

Já está à venda o livro 'Horizontes em Branco' que relata as primeiras expedições do projecto Ice Care!

O livro inclui as viagens entre Paris e a Suiça de bicicleta; a travessia do glaciar Aletsch; os dias passados entre as tribos Maasai no Quénia e a subida ao Kilimanjaro!

Um livro a não perder para todos os amantes de viagens, de aventura e para os que andam simplesmente preocupados com a forma como tratamos o nosso planeta e a nós próprios.

Espero que gostem e quero receber os vossos comentários!

Já agora o book trailer para aguçar o apetite!

Marcos e José - Message

2010-07-28T04:05:00.001-07:00

10 years

2010-07-26T06:57:00.001-07:00

Marcos Palmeira - solutions to mitigate the problem

2010-07-20T02:51:00.000-07:00

Pablo talks about scarcity of water in Peru

2010-07-20T02:48:00.000-07:00

Toughest rafting training ever at Rio Santa in Peru

2010-07-19T03:20:00.000-07:00

Marcos Palmeira becomes officially a part of the Ice Care Project

2010-07-15T03:36:00.000-07:00

Highest point

2010-07-13T04:52:00.000-07:00

...just resting...

2010-07-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

Straight to the point

2010-07-08T08:22:00.001-07:00

Loosing 3 m per year

2010-07-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

10 years ago, it was all covered in snow

2010-07-06T02:38:00.001-07:00

Cordillera Blanca has lost 1/2

2010-07-05T04:01:00.001-07:00

Alpamayo base camp

2010-07-02T02:22:00.001-07:00

Daily broadcast

2010-07-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

Our guide talks about climate changes in the mountain

2010-06-30T05:03:00.000-07:00

Leche Revuelta...the sequel...

2010-06-29T04:45:00.000-07:00

Starting of another day in the mountain

2010-06-25T04:44:00.000-07:00

Working with the communities

2010-06-24T08:11:00.000-07:00

Marcos and Zé chatting about the work with communities affected by climate change

Marcos Palmeira - about the destiny of the glaciers

2010-06-23T05:34:00.000-07:00

Leche Revuelta

2010-06-22T01:27:00.000-07:00

Fernando at camp 1

2010-06-22T01:04:00.000-07:00

On the way to Pastoruri

2010-06-21T02:39:00.000-07:00

Pastoruri glacier

2010-06-21T01:53:00.000-07:00

Tourists lost interest since the glacier split in half. Access to the glacier is almost impossible these days. Tours have nearly ceased, and the glacier is visited only for studying purposes.

Pastoruri glacier melting – at Huascarán park in Peru

2010-06-21T01:47:00.000-07:00

For those who still have some doubts about climate change really happening…

We were there. We’ve seen it.

School above the 4.000 m

2010-06-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

On our way to the Pastoruri glacier (or ex-glacier, since it’s not even called a glacier anymore), we stopped at the great school at more than 4.000 m high. The children seemed undisturbed by the altitude sickness.

Peru expedition Day 1

2010-06-16T09:32:00.001-07:00

On the first day we drove from Lima to Huaraz, on this insane road, carved in the sand.

Celebrities join the ICE CARE Project

2010-04-29T04:24:00.000-07:00

Marcos Palmeira, the Brazilian soap opera actor, has accepted the challenge to join the next ICE CARE expedition to Peru, in June.

Actively involved in creating awareness about sustainability in Brazil (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHdB_fva4Kk) Marcos Palmeira also a spokesman for biological agriculture, that he practices at his own farm - (http://www.fazendavaledaspalmeiras.com.br/).
You too can join us in this dream expedition and witness the redraw of the glaciers at Cordilheira Branca in Peru.
Join the expedition at:
http://www.papa-leguas.com/index.cfm?sec=0101000000&ViagemID=145

Glacier retreat testimony

2009-12-28T03:14:00.000-08:00

at Uhuru - top of Kilimanjaro - 5.895 m

2009-12-23T03:35:00.000-08:00

Reaching Kibo hut - 4.700m

2009-12-22T01:04:00.000-08:00

3rd day at Kilimanjaro

2009-12-21T05:11:00.000-08:00

Name: Paula Pereira

Position: Official Health Service by HPP Saúde

Location: at Horombo Hut

Altitude: 3.800 m

2nd day at Kilimanjaro

2009-12-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

Name: José Abecasis Soares
Position: Founder of the ICE CARE Project

Track: from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Altitude: 3.800 m

Silva Watch Info:
Steps: 19.000
Distance: 11,5 km
Time: 5:20h
Heart rate: 123 bpm

1st day on Kilimanjaro

2009-12-17T03:10:00.000-08:00

Name: José Abecasis Soares
Position: Founder of the ICE CARE Project

Track: from the Park's gate to the Mandara Hut
Altitude: 2.772 m

Silva Watch Info:
Steps: 12.000
Distance: 7,3km
Time: 4h
Heart rate: 112 bpm

Kilimanjaro here we go!

2009-12-15T10:20:00.000-08:00

Today we woke up to a clear sky and a perfect view of the mountain! Kilimanjaro invites us to visit him! We are on our way...

Working with the Maasai people

2009-12-14T02:18:00.000-08:00

A school becomes a church and a kitchen becomes a meeting room. They received us as if we were family, because they knew we were going to talk about very important issues for the livelihoods of the Maasai people and cultures. More than 300 people attended the meeting. First the prayers, then the elders and after this, my turn came. I explained the causes of global warming and how it’s affecting the Kilimanjaro’s glaciers and consequently the climate of their region. Then it was time for the photographers to present their work, showing the human consequences of the drought. In the end we talked about ways of working together and solutions to mitigate the problem.

PÁPA-LÉGUAS!

2009-12-13T03:53:00.000-08:00

This ICE CARE expedition was for first time, open the 'social-tourists' - for those who want to travel and at the same time provide some support to local communities. The program of social-tourism was created in partnership with PÁPA-LÉGUAS, and should be repeated at least once a year. The needs of the Maasai people to tackle climate change are so many, that we should establish a permanent volunteer program on the field...but...for now... annual visits are the best we can do.

Maasai and their new Asus Eee PC!

2009-12-12T10:20:00.000-08:00

Three of the MPC Photographers spent the night with us in our camp and the next morning was another opportunity to explore some more of the possibilities of the new Asus computer.

When the night came...

2009-12-11T01:58:00.001-08:00

Richard and some of the MPC Photographers joined us at sundowner, where we drank, sang and danced in the Maasai traditional choreography, jumping and screaming. When the night came, no one wanted to risk an encounter with leopards and lions so we had to stick 15 people in a land rover and drive into the woods....result...a flat tire....

Sundowners....

2009-12-10T07:31:00.001-08:00

Sundowners were new to me. Joana had been telling me about this and I was eager to experience it! The concept is to cross the savannah, starting at our camp and up to this huge rock blocks about 2 hours away. From the top the view is breathtaking and the track there is biblical! We walked without any kind of protection, and always accompanied by zebras and antelopes. That night we had had the company of a lion in our camp, so none of us was completely relaxed and prepared for a 2h walk in hunting territory. But everything went very well, thanks to the Maasai who accompanied us, and to the relationship that their people have been establishing with the wildlife for generations.

Maasai tradicional gifts

2009-12-09T07:11:00.000-08:00

The Maasai community rewarded our visit with gifts for each of the participants in the debate of ideas between the Ice Care Association and the Maasai PHOTOGRAFERS FOR CONSERVATION NGO. With this gesture, we have formalized a relationship that I believe will continue for many years and could provide the platform for collaboration to help the Maasai people dealing with the problems of global warming, which are increasingly evident.

Our contribution to Maasai Photographers for Conservation

2009-12-08T04:08:00.000-08:00

With ASUS’s fantastic support, the ICE CARE Association delivered an Eee PC to the newly created NGOs MPC! Thus, each photographer can download his photos and manage everything with the laptop. ICE CARE’s official sponsor, Meo, also sent USB flash drives, so that each photographer can carry and keep his photos!

Meeting with the Maasai Photograhers

2009-12-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

Joana Roque de Pinho (aka NASHIPAI) created an extraordinary social sustainability project, giving cameras to some Maasai and specific training. This way the Maasai people could document the drought and raise political awareness for their problems. They formed the Maasai Photographers for Conservation - NGO that aims to train photographers as a way of tackling the problems of climate change and nature conservation. One of the goals of the expedition was the direct contact with the Maasai people to collect their testimonies about the consequences of climate change and understand how the ICE CARE Association can help lessen this problem or create sustainability projects in that region.

Wild Life!

2009-12-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

Gradually, life begins returning to the park. Animals that survived the worst drought in living memory, are now celebrating the coming of rain and life, walking in the vicinity of our camp. The cracked and dusty ground, in shades of red and brown, now gives place to the lush greens.

Animal cemetery...the result from drought!

2009-12-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

The drought caused by global warming, was the biggest in living memory, so we have been told by the Maasai people. The consequences on the Amboseli’s park wildlife were also devastating, killing rhinos, zebras, warthogs and gazelles.

… how does it affect Portugal?

2009-12-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

We were explaining the receding of the glaciers of Kilimanjaro ... The journalist asked: “and how does it affect Portugal?”. Well, the lack of water coming down the mountain may turn dry the Mara river and erase the big migration of the wild beast … and so much for the tourism … This would be just a minor collateral damage to the portuguese travel agencies. We talked about the Theory of Caos (a butterfly in Japan …): as an integrated system, a problem on one area of the planet can have consequencies on the rest of the world. At this moment, the effects of global warming are permanently visible in high latitudes (near the poles) and altitudes (say, above 2.500 meters). In lower latitudes (closer to the tropics) those effects are seen as casual and violent phenomena, but their frequency and intensity is increasing at a scary rate! I am talking about hurricanes, snow and sand storms, floods, droughts … In the past, China registered winds of 130km/h, once every 5 years. Nowadays, the same windstorms devastate Beijing 2 or 3 times a year. ‘Climate refugies’ is the new expression to designate people deslocated from their usual habitat due to its destruction by ‘natural’ causes. The number will reach 50 million refugies in 2011 (200M in 2080, according to the a Environment Defense Fund). The European Union already estimated the loss of millions of euros (65?) per year, due to direct effects of the global warming. Portugal could be one of the most affected countries (in domains such as water shortage, impact on coast lines, agriculture, forests …), as well as other coastal cities. A hurricane level 4 over New York could represent a 1 billion dolars loss to the city …

Ice Care 2, the start ...

2009-11-28T03:21:00.000-08:00

On the 7th Dec. starts the Copenhagen Summit and the Ice Care team will be on its way to the Mount Kilimanjaro. On the 11th Dec. the International Mountain Day will be highlighted (www.fao.org/mnts/intl_mountain_day_en.asp) and, with some luck, precisely on that day we will reach the top of Africa (5.896m) and its glaciers, adding even more symbolism to the second Ice Care expedition.
The departure of the team takes place on the 4th of Dec. We will be 7 members, including the anthropologist Joana RP, who will guide us through the visit to the Maasai people to understand their problems resulting from the climate changes, the HPP Health doctor Cristina Pereira, and 3 participants on our ‘social program’, that will help us to register the receding of the Kili glaciers.
Meanwhile, China was promising to lead the reduction on the greenhouse gases effects through the next decade. India wanted to play game, and the USA could not stay behind …
After the impact of the movie presented by Al Gore, now was the time for the photographer James Balog, whose video (19 min.) is worthwhile to watch. Balog shares new image sequences from the Extreme Ice Survey, a network of time-lapse cameras recording glaciers receding at an alarming rate, some of the most vivid evidence yet of climate change: http://www.ted.com/talks/james_balog_time_lapse_proof_of_extreme_ice_loss.html

human consequences of climate change

2009-11-04T07:56:00.000-08:00

At a recent conference, someone asked me about the goals of our work. ‘If we stop our disruptive behavior right now, could we still save the Kilimanjaro glaciers?’
I believe what we’ll do with the Maasai community goes beyond that kind of controversy now…regardless of who’s to blame, there is certainly lots of help we provide to the people suffering the consequences of climate change…
That’s what we aim to do with the Maasai, starting in December the 4th

Kilimanjaro news ...

2009-10-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

The program for the Ice Care Kilimanjaro 2009 Expedition is set: it will take place from the 4th to the 15th of December and it includes 3 days with a Maasai tribe in the Amboseli reserve (Kenia), to interact with those people, learn from them and explain them what is going on, plus a 6 days ascent to the mount Kilimanjaro summit (Tanzania), to measure the glacier.

You are welcome to join our team on this trip, by choosing one of two options: Maasai + jeep safari trip; or Maasai + Kilimanjaro trip (if you have some mountain experience and are medium/well fit). If you are interested, please contact our partner agency, Papa-Léguas – see more at: http://www.papa-leguas.com/index.cfm?sec=0101000000&ViagemID=136 (for details see: http://www.papa-leguas.com/print.cfm?ViagemID=136)

Meanwhile, as for the physical training, the participation on a 900 km adventure race – 7 days non stop (including 50 km kayak or a mountain bike stage of 160 km with 8.000 meters accumulated ascent !!!) – should be more than enough (if it doesn’t kill me) ! It’s the Portugal XPD 2009, the toughest and final race of the 'Adventure Race World Championship', and it will take place between Cascais and Serra da Estrela, from the 8th to the 14th of November (more at http://www.arwc2009.com/). The best teams of the World will be present. My team is ADADesnivel, and we just want to to arrive at the finish line and be able to feel it …

Climate changes and energy efficiency

2009-09-10T00:37:00.000-07:00

The UN brought together in Geneva 2500 experts from all over the world for the World Meteo Organization conference to discuss the future of the Quioto agreement. Meanwhile, in Tripoli (Líbia), the countries of the African Union took a comum position to the Copenhagen summit, in December: “the poor countries need to get financial aid, to get ajusted” (DN, 02.09.09). A UN report estimates on 600 billion dolars (1% of the world’s GDP and 30 times more than what has been spended with the problem), the ammount needed annualy, for poor countries to adopt the technologies that allow to reduce the gases that provoce the greenhouse effect, “responsible for the climate disturbance on the planet”. The authors defend a “massiv support”, with world wide investments, to achieve a sustainable and cleaner growth.
At the same time, in Nepal, the countries of the himalayan range were discussing the riscs of climate changes to the mountain glaciers. This is also the alert that the Ice Care project aims to achieve. Our next expedition, to the Kilimanjaro glaciers in África, is planned to start precisely at the same time as the Copenhagen summit.
The Dirigir magazine (2nd trimester 09) puts the focus on several ‘green ideas’ and ‘tendencies’ that will contribute to soften the paradigma of century – “improve the quality of life without destroying the environment in the attempt” (NG 2008, ‘El pulso de la Tierra’): an airport in Liverpool wants to try a revolutionary technology, by recycling the air exaled by passengers and convert it in biofuel to use on diesel vehicles; a company developed the concept of ‘solar road panels’, to pave roads in a way to store solar energy to supply commercial and residential units (www.greencarcongress.com/2009/02/solarroadways.html); investigators found a way to produce hidrogen with normal temperatures using aluminium aglomerate (http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SiteinovacaoTecnologica/~3/AVwrWUDdlGo/noticia.php). The USA developed energy efficient programs that, if applied, would lead to reductions of 22% on the use of energy growth rate, in 2030; in 2005 the swedish government ordered a study aiming its independence from the use of oil (http://www.leonardo-energy.org/). Recently, also “Eslovenia announced that 2/3 of its territory are protected areas, and the Maldive islands decided to totally abandon the use of fossil energies” (from my new book ‘The new explorers and the adventures of senses’ - http://aventuraaomáximo.blogspot.com/).

HPP medical technology supports Ice Care’s project.

2009-07-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

After the first Ice Care expedition – Paris-Switzerland and Aletsch glacier – we are still recovering our physical shape, but already looking forward to the next trip scheduled: climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, in Africa. Slowly, under the ‘chirurgical’ eye of HPP doctors, we are getting back to the trainings, to prepare for a very special expedition. The Kilimanjaro glacier with its ‘eternal snow’ was the reason that launched this project, in an attempt to make a wake up call of consciences for a phenomenon that won’t leave this planet as we know it. This next trip (planned for December) will also be special for the fact that we will open the possibility to a limited number of people, which are not part of the team, to join us on our training sessions, on the climbing itself or on the fieldwork with the local populations. More information soon available.

On the Aletsch glacier, we were supported by www.grindelwaldsports.ch

Special thanks

2009-07-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank some entities, who are not partners of the ICE CARE project, but contributed to the success of this expedition:
. ASUS – gave us one Eee PC, that allow us to work at high altitude and extreme conditions, and weighted a little more than 1kg – this was a great advantage, as you can imagine. Plus, its huge autonomy (9h), helped a lot! Kept trying to find plugs beneath the snow and ice…in vain! ;-)
. GARMIN – gave us 2 GPS to measure the whole trip, measure the glacier’s height and to guide us during the bike trip – since highways were not very recommended for a couple of maniacs with backpacks, in bicycles. ;-)
. GRINDELWALD SPORTS – who offered us the trip, even after we had bagged to take another person with us!
. HERB – our Crocodile Dundee of the ice! For all his help and vital information and his charisma that set a wild tone to the expedition!

WWF's work in Switzerland

2009-07-08T17:35:00.000-07:00

Meeting with WWF

2009-07-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Gone!

2009-07-07T14:27:00.000-07:00

What’s really frightening in the issue of climate change is the irreversibility of some of its effects….

Maerjelen Lake

2009-07-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Needless to say more….

Annual photografs

2009-07-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

Climbing up, we came across the perfect spot, which offered a good perspective over the glacier.
After taking several picture, we marked it with a ‘green dot’ (biological ink! Don’t worry).
Thus, in the coming years, other climbers can photograph the glacier from the exact same spot, in order to make the comparison of glacier’s retreat year upon year.
In this way, we hope to involve the mountaineering community, asking the Aletsch crossers for their own contribution.

See more pictures at:
http://fotos.sapo.pt/search.html?word=jungfrau
http://www.icecare.org/Fotos.ice

Exiting the glacier

2009-07-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

Our expedition ends at this arrow painted on the rock.
According to Herb (our guide from Grindelwald Sports), most expedition use the same track as we did. This seemed like a good opportunity to use this spot for measuring purposes, and future comparison.
We used our GPS (GARMIN) and meteorological station (SILVA), to measure the height of the glacier – 2280m in June 2009.

Second day

2009-07-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

On the second day, we walked 7km – making it a total of 15km on both days.
As we reach the lower limit of the glacier, we can see that the ice is more fragmented and the crevasses more frequent and larger.

See more pictures at:
http://fotos.sapo.pt/search.html?word=jungfrau
http://www.icecare.org/Fotos.ice

Herb’s experience

2009-07-05T11:13:00.000-07:00

At the hut, our guide from Grindelwald Sports, told us about his experiences - the living witness of the glacier’s retreat

Placing the plate

2009-07-04T17:10:00.000-07:00

It's in Portuguese....sorry

At the hut

2009-07-04T11:00:00.000-07:00

Konkordia Hut ended up being, one of the most effective ways to measure the glacier.
The hut is currently 150m above the glacier – in 1965 was ‘only’ 79m above it.
Due to glacier retreat, every year new steps are added to the huge staircase (433 steps) that accesses the hut.The ICE CARE team placed a plate, which will allow for future comparison of the glacier’s height, year upon year, thus make the retreat visible to everyone.

See more pictures at:
http://fotos.sapo.pt/search.html?word=jungfrau
http://www.icecare.org/Fotos.ice

Brief explanation

2009-07-03T17:00:00.000-07:00

The ICE CARE Aletsch team is composed of 4 people.
(from left to right)
. José Diogo Tavares (mentor of the project) – traveled from Paris to Switzerland on mountain bike, crossed the glacier and was present at the meetings with UNESCO and WWF
. José Maria Abecasis Soares (mentor of the project) – did exactly the same
. Nuno Frazão (environmental engineer) – more technical role, preparing recommendations, research and meetings with WWF. Sandra Sousa (doctor) – supports the team during the Aletsch crossing, as part of the agreement with HPP Saúde – Official Medical Service

Crossing the glacier

2009-07-03T04:47:00.000-07:00

Starting on Jungfraujoch (Swiss Alps), at 4,158m, we walk on groups of 8, roped up to each others.
Herb, our guide from GrindelWaldSports, is the ice version of Crocodile Dundee! During our trip, he told us many stories of a live spent on the mountains, witnessing glaciers retreat year upon year.
On the first day, we walked more than 8km over the glacier, during almost 6 hours.
The slow pace is due, mainly to 3 reasons:
. the effects of altitude
. the very group’s heterogeneity (people of different ages and physical conditions)
. the danger of the crevasses that tear the ice several meters deep and, most of the times, are dissimulated under the snow

See more pictures at:
http://fotos.sapo.pt/search.html?word=jungfrau
http://www.icecare.org/Fotos.ice

Meeting with UNESCO

2009-07-01T04:21:00.000-07:00

José Maria Abecasis Soares & José Tavares begin their journey to five World Heritage glaciers

The founders of the ICE CARE project, left UNESCO Headquaters in Paris this morning following a meeting with Mr Kishore Rao, Deputy Director of the World Heritage Centre, to begin their 4 year project at five of the World Heritage Glaciers. The purpose of the expeditions will be to raise awareness about the threats to these melting ice caps. It is upon reading the recent Case Studies of sites affected by Climate Change published by the World Heritage Centre (http://whc.unesco.org/en/activities/473/) that these experienced climbers decided to develop the initiative and travel to Jungfrau Aletsch (Switzerland), Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Huascaran (Peru), Ilulissat (Denmark) and Sagarmatha (Nepal).
They will be reporting on the expeditions' findings through their website and will also be keeping the World Heritage Centre regularly updated.
For more information please visit: http://www.icecare.org/en/

news at: whc.unesco.org/en/news/518

Ice Care News at Berner Zeitung

2009-06-30T02:42:00.000-07:00

Von Paris nach Lauterbrunnen mit dem Velo
Von Martina Maurer. Aktualisiert am 19.06.2009

Am Freitag starten zwei Portugiesen eine Radtour von Paris nach Lauterbrunnen via Jungfraujoch und Aletschgleschter. bernerzeitung.ch hat José Tavares vor der Abreise getroffen.

José Maria Soares und José Tavares werden insgesamt fünf Tage im Rahmen des Projekts «Ice Care» unterwegs sein. Die 600 Kilometer vom Hauptsitz der Unesco in Paris bis nach Lauterbrunnen auf dem Rad und der Weg über das Jungfraujoch und den Aletschgletscher zu Fus stehen im Zeichen der globalen Erwärmung. Die beiden wollen mit der Tour aufzeigen, dass die Erderwärmung forgeschritten und die Konsequenzen bereits sichtbar seien.
Mithilfe eines GPS-Gerätes wollen Soares und Tavares über längere Zeit den Rückgang des Gletschers beobachten und daraus Schlüsse über die Klimaerwärmung ziehen. Das Projekt wird von Unesco, WWF Portugal und Guides von GrindelwaldSports unterstützt und begleitet.
Die Fortsetzung des Icecare-Projekts erfolgt im Dezember dieses Jahres mit der Besteigung des Kilimanjaro Gletschers (Tanzania) und in den nächsten Jahren mit dem Besuch der Gletscher des Ilulissat Icefjord (Grönland-Dänemark), Sagarmatha-Everest (Nepal) und Huascarán National Park (Peru).
Unter http://icecare.blogspot.com kann die Tour live mitverfolgt werden.

http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/thun/Von-Paris-nach-Lauterbrunnen-mit-dem-Velo/story/15267721

Q&A

2009-06-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

When are you leaving?
Zé Diogo is there already. I’ll join him on the 19th. Nuno Frazão (environmental engineer) and Sandra Sousa (doctor from HPP Saúde) will meet us in Switzerland and we’ll cross the glacier together.

What’s the roadmap?
19th morning: Meeting at UNESCO’s HQ with the Deputy Director of the World Heritage Centre.
19th afternoon: start cycling the 650 km between Paris and Switzerland
20th until whenever: we will be crossing France on our bicycles, sleeping on the floor, doing an average of 130km per day (hopefully)
Around the 24th, 25th or 26th: we will start crossing the Aletsch on foot…it should take us 2 days to do so
We should be back to Portugal on the 30th

How can one follow the expedition?
Having the back-office support of SAPO and TORKE in Portugal, we’ll try to keep the flow of information as updated as possible.
We’ll be uploading fotos, videos, texts and GPS coordinates. This content will be available at several on-line platforms:
. www.icecare.org – official website, with fotos, videos, maps, text, etc.
. http://icecare.blogspot.com – English version of the blog with fotos and videos
. http://icecare.blogs.sapo.pt – Portuguese version of the blog
. http://fotos.sapo.pt/ - fotos
. http://videos.sapo.pt/ - videos

How can the melting be tracked?
Mainly using technology known to everyone…GPS
Glacier upper and lower limits and altitude will the registered using GPS (by GARMIN). Altitude will also be cross-referenced using met stations (by SILVA).
In the following years the same limits will be measured for comparison.The information will then be shown over satellite images, to make the retreat visible.

Getting ready....

2009-06-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

Portugal Bike Tour 09

2009-06-06T02:53:00.000-07:00

The day of our departure for the 600 km between Paris and Interlaken (Switzerland) is almost there. After that we’ll be crossing the Aletsch glacier (the longest in Europe, where the retreat of the ice is flagrant). We need to be in good shape and know all the equipment given by the supporting brands. As a preparation this tour through the interior of Portugal revealed itself useful, although this wasn’t the only motive to ride almost 1.000km. The promotion of the Ice Care project and crossing the country to meet a dear friend in Chaves, and hand to her my recent book ‘Aventura ao Máximo’, were also among those. Yes, revisit a person whom I had not seen for many years, seemed to me the best reason to justify the destination …
On the 14th of May I’ve left from Setúbal on a morning ferry. In Tróia I’ve started to ride, and ride, and ride, … for 8 days without stopping! From 6 to 8 hours per day. Until I’ve arrived … !!! Not without changing some of the initial plans: I wanted to reach the Algarve, but bad roads demanded more time. So, instead of reaching the Santa Clara dam (Algarve’s border) I’ve started to turn southeast in Ourique. Passed Almodôvar and only had a glimpse of the ribeira de Vascão, before turning north and continued through Mértola. Then, I followed always along the border, next to some of the Oldest Villages and, after Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, I rode strait to Chaves – my final goal (more photos at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/album.php?aid=117593&id=613684777&ref=mf ).
If I managed to conquer the attention of 4 or 5 persons to follow our site and blogs, I’ll be happy. The equipment from brands such as Berg, Silva and TrangoWorld, had to be tested in real conditions, adjusted and optimized. The physical condition and the logistics – a sort of autonomy with stages longer than a 100 km – had to be proven. And they were! At last, a special word of thanks to the Firemen of Portalegre and Vila Flôr (respectively Mr. Alberto and the Chief Commandant), and to Quim (Firemen of Idanha-a-Nova), big fan of mountain biking, for their time and support given.
por José Tavares

Equipment
TrangoWorld: mountain clothing (polar and waterproof garment) and camping gear (‘Mountain TR 30’ sleeping bag and ‘skin micro-lite’ self-inflated mattress); Berg (bicycle ‘Torah 9.5’, helmet ‘Raden’ and other gear); Dual Brand (‘Ranger 3’ compass and head lamp Silva, Gerber multi-function knife).

Playlist

2009-05-21T08:56:00.000-07:00

In less than 30 days, we'll start the 1st of the 5 expedition to glaciers in the world.
We will be cycling all the way from UNESCO's HQ in Paris, to Switzerland and then across the longest glacier in Europe, on foot.
It's time to start organizing the last arrangements for the trip…including, obviously, the expedition's sound track! ah ah
Care to give us a hand with it?
We'll basically need 2 kinds of playlist:
1. Power songs – energizing music, for cycling and walking over glaciers
2. Introspective music – for the mere contemplation of landscape and the human condition
I'm sure you all have at least one favorite song for both cases – share it with us!
We welcome any kind of suggestions, regardless of music gender!
Thanks for your support!!

second part of the interview

2009-05-15T07:40:00.001-07:00

interview May the 12th

2009-05-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

Live interview with Jose Abecasis Soares, about the ICE CARE project, for the Portuguese news channel TVI24 (part I)

....it's in Portuguese....sorry

HPP Saude training video

2009-05-06T03:17:00.000-07:00

As promised, here’s the video of HPP Saude training.
We have organized a short trekking event to evaluate the skills of the candidate doctors.Based on this tour and on a personality questionnaire, 2 doctors were selected to join the 2009 expeditions to Switzerland and Tanzania.

Press Conference

2009-04-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

We've been working for ICE CARE for sooooooo long….it’s about time we start talking about it!
Official press conference at CulturGest, next Monday! (May the 4th)
‘Pequeno Auditório’ at 18:00h
Followed by a brief acoustic concert by Tiago Bettencourt (who will join us for the Tanzania expedition).
Enjoy!

HPP Saúde Training

2009-04-28T05:31:00.000-07:00

HPP Saúde – Official Health Service of the Ice Care project, will send a doctor along with the expedition’s team. Last April the 18th we all went for a 4km uphill training to select the person who will join us in Switzerland and Tanzania. Tough call! All the doctors showed good climbing capabilities and great interpersonal skills.

Dream team picture!
Training video will be posted soon.

If we could see….

2009-04-20T03:42:00.000-07:00

This UK TV advertisement, suggest: ‘…if you could see the effect we are having on our planet, you’d do something about it!’
But…we CAN see it!!
That’s exactly the purpose of the ICE CARE project!
We will travel the world, climbing the glaciers that are affected NOW by climate change - You will be able to see it happening TODAY!

Miguel Arrobas becomes the 1st Ice Care ambassador

2009-04-06T03:54:00.000-07:00

Sportsman: Open water and marathon swimmer.
Has completed several unique crossings in Portuguese waters and aims to swim the great crossings around the world.
Holder of the fastest time overall of 2008 for the English Channel Swim, completing the distance between England and France in 9h30m.

“In the crossings I have done and those which I plan to do in the future, I have always added an ecological dimension to my sporting achievement. Seas, rivers, dams and lakes are the stages for my challenges. As such I use the media coverage I attract to raise awareness about issues such as water pollution and the need to preserve marine ecosystems and endangered species. This is why I was nominated in 2008 as the UN Ambassador for the Year of the Dolphin. I therefore see in the Ice Care Project a perfect alliance between a sporting event and a clear environmental intervention, a shout for help to halt climate change and global warming. This is why I am happy to be associated with this project.”

http://miguelarrobas.blogspot.com/

What shall I eat for lunch on 2100?

2009-03-16T05:12:00.000-07:00

Widely broadcasted recent reports from IPCC, state that the sea level will rise by almost 60 cm by 2100.
Dramatic as it may seem (and it is, unquestionably), this information does not impose itself on people’s daily behaviors. Quite the opposite actually – it may in fact help people feel less guilty about doing nothing! People are more worried about facing the crises today, keeping their jobs tomorrow, than….let’s face it…anything that will eventually happen by 2100.
In the following video, Al Gore says: ‘What is needed is a sense of urgency!’
That’s exactly what the ICE CARE project tries to accomplish.
To show climate change happening NOW!
The effects TODAY and the IMEDIATE consequences!
It is possible to SEE climate change happening in REAL-TIME! That’s what we want to show. That’s what we expect everyone to understand – it is not a problem for our kids to solve and that will affect only them – the problem is real and it’s happening now!
At a recent presentation for doctors at one of HPP Saúde hospitals, when I showed the images of Kilimanjaro in 1993 compared with 2000, someone from the assistance said: ‘You should go in May!’ That’s exactly the ‘sense of urgency’ we are trying to accomplish.

Thank you Francisco Monjardino for the video!

BERG and SPORT ZONE suppor ICE CARE

2009-03-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

It still feels awkward to collect the equipment from my sponsors. I still feel that, apart from a good idea, I haven’t done much yet. I’m quite sure, by the time I’m out there, freezing my ass out at one of the 5 glaciers, the tradeoff will feel fair.

ICE CARE aims to bring the live testimony of the glaciers retreat, to make climate change visible to all, ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.
In order to do that we have obtained precious support from several outdoor and mountaineering equipment manufacturers, to whom we pledge our eternal loyalty and gratitude!
This time it was BERG (bicycles and outdoor equipment brand) who gave its support to the ICE CARE project, by offering bicycles and helmets!

I went for a ride last Sunday on the new Torah 9.5! It is remarkably better than my last bicycle!
That makes me very happy, since it’s always so hard to get help from the bicycle repair man!

Thanks BERG and SPORT ZONE for believing!

Hospitals are not for me

2009-02-23T05:24:00.001-08:00

I ripped off the acromio-clavicular ligament on a snowboard fall in the winter of 97 – never fixed it!
On my twenties I was made of rubber, just like any other kid that age. No damage was too serious let alone perpetual.

10 years have passed and my shoulder is still out of place. Today I pay the heavy bill of my laissez passer, especially when the weather changes.

By then, hospitals were just like playing golf - the end of the line for me – you wouldn’t find me there before my 50th birthday!

Chatting with Ze Diogo, he mentioned some short of sports support clinics, which he thought could mean good business! A kind of preventive or even pedagogic health care, for the healthy people! Health services for active life and for heath and not only for the lack of it.

For that reason I was so surprise when, at our first meeting, HPP SAUDE mentioned their concept of ‘health of the new generation’ – it was a completely innovative perspective! Health care as a way to prevent problems instead of trying to fix them.

From that point on, we have established one of the most important partnerships of the Ice Care project. HPP SAUDE has become the OFFICIAL HEALTH CARE SERVICE of our expeditions, providing checkups for all the team and specialized doctors (my shoulder badly needs one!). We’re being looked after as top performing football stars! How great is that!
We’ve also talked about sending one of their doctors with us on the expeditions!

Thanks HPP SAUDE for your support and for the way you address the health care services!

Very interesting worldwide initiative

2009-02-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

As I put it on one of my articles in this blog: Climate change is, as far as I know, the first chance mankind gets to work together for the common good.
http://icecare.blogspot.com/2008/07/equilbrio-de-nash.html

Boys and their toys

2009-02-09T05:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I surprised my 4 years old son, with a tent on the living room!

The excitement was proper of a 4 years old…

And on his side also! Ah ah

We spent the night inside a TRANGO WORLD tent, with inflatable mattresses and sleeping bags.

I went fetching all the TRANGO WORLD equipment and set up a ‘trial’!
Gore-tex jackets, 1st and 2nd layers, trousers, gloves, boots, back-packs, tents, etc. in quantity for the all team! This was the fantastic contribution of TRANGO WORLD for the Ice Care project!

Can’t wait to try the equipment in extreme conditions! I’ll have the opportunity to do that in some of the mountain training we’ll do before the expedition – stay tuned for the pictures!

Thanks Julio!

Joao Garcia testimony

2009-01-28T05:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of watching the documentary “Joao Garcia sur la route des 14”, at Bivaque store. It’s a little movie about Joao’s project to climb the 14 peaks above 8.000m.
Staring: Joao Garcia
Presented by: Joao Garcia
Produced by: Johan Perrier

In a nutshell: INSPIRING!

I strongly recommend you to watch the trailer!

Afterwards we chatted for a while. I asked him if, coming back to mountains he visited before, he could find traces of climate change.
Absolutely! – he replied.
When he started, 15 years ago, there was little awareness of climate change, but now, as he himself gets more attuned to the problem, the impact is very visible reaching more than 300 meters retreat in some cases, he says.

Visit Joao’s website at: www.joaogarcia.com

Great downhill video!

2009-01-15T05:12:00.000-08:00

SILVA, one of the brands sponsoring the ICE CARE project, has just launched its new on-line campaign in: http://www.silvaintelligentlight.com/

The website is great and the video promo is really cool!

I’ve got SILVA headlamp already - lucky me!
Can’t wait to try it out on some insane downhills in Sintra or night running.

ICE CARE official website

2009-01-12T07:38:00.000-08:00

A long time ago, a friend (AACP) said (and I quote) – “a company is a gathering of wills”

Ice Care is also a gathering of different wills.

It’s very rewarding to see that a simple idea, that started out as a few neurons chatting in my head, is now moving wills of different people on the other side of the town, on the other side of the Atlantic, on the other side of the world.

I just received, from the other side of town, the first templates of Ice Care’s official website.

Thank you Isa!

For the skeptical in you…

2009-01-07T04:09:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are still not completely convinced.

Would you trust Sir David Attenborough?

UNESCO’s 5

2008-12-29T04:15:00.000-08:00

The choice of ICE CARE’s 5 glaciers, was based on a document by UNESCO, entitled: “Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage”
The report highlights 5 glaciers that are dramatically affected by climate change. These are the glaciers we will climb from 2009 until 2012.
UNESCO’s report was coordinated by Augustin Colette, at the time UNESCO’s consultant for climate change. In a recent conversation (by e-mail), he sent me an enthusiastic: “…congratulations for this exciting project!”

Because it’s absolutely pro bono, ICE CARE puts me at a state that borders the statute of divinity and of furious madman! That’s probably why people indulge to pay some attention to my requests.

Driven by Colette’s reassuring statement, about ICE CARE’s public interest, I’ll probably get in touch with UNESCO to set up some kind of collaboration protocol.

UNESCO’s stamp provides enough confidence, that we’ve chosen the right glaciers…unfortunately, these glaciers were selected primarily because of the amount of data available to document the impacts of climate change….there are of course other glaciers currently at risk…

Q&A

2008-12-15T09:01:00.001-08:00

Ice Care started as a ‘civil movement’ (as someone put it in a meeting), by a couple of friends who like to climb, but know little about climate change.

Soon enough this naïf attitude was cornered and proved unsustainable in the long term.

Tiago Bettencourt suggested I would prepare a tutorial about global warming – with all due right.

Recently I came across Zé Diogo Quintela (rather famous Portuguese humorist) on the street. We’ve known each other for ages, so I invited him to become the first official Ice Care ambassador. He throws a couple of intelligent questions at me – which is quite normal for someone publicly endorsing a cause.

- ‘Is it really happening? Isn’t our climate naturally variable? Why is it different now? Is it really serious?’

- ‘can we really do something? Switching off mobile chargers has any effect whatsoever?’

Natural and healthy skepticism, I would say – very common to the majority of people, like me and him, who need a veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery good reason to decline the comforts of ignorance.

By then I’d realize the urge to explain the dimensions of the problem to everyone (like me and him….).

In London I found an excellent book by Bill McGuire - '7 years to change the planet’. Based on that book, I’m preparing a sequence of ppts with Q&A according to the following issues:

1. What is happening already?
2. Is it already too late?
3. What is Ice Care doing?
4. What can I do?

In the meanwhile, here are some ideas that can be applied immediately:

. Eat less meat! – we’ve exhorted the guilt upon cars and planes, but ‘…the meat industry conspires to generate an astonishing 12% of global emissions […]almost as much as all cars, trains, boats and planes put together.’

. Switch off unused equipments! – if everyone in the UK ‘…made sure that the appliances were properly switched off when not in use, we could do away with 2, or maybe 3, of the 10 new nuclear power plants currently in the planning stages.’

First Book

2008-11-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Ice Care! Congratulations Zé Diogo to be more precise!

He’s first book “Aventura ao Máximo – os novos exploradores lusos” will be launched in the end of December!
I expect this to be the first of a long series of traveling and adventure books.

Treino fim de semana 15 e 16

2008-11-10T09:48:00.000-08:00

Para além da preparação física semanal, alguns membros da expedição já começaram a fazer treino específico para o Kilimanjaro.
Já fizemos alguns treinos de pernas, bicicleta e resistência.

A partir de agora, vamos passar a divulgar no blog os treinos em equipa, que organizarmos ao fim de semana. A ideia é – quem quiser participar é bem vindo!

No próximo Sábado, estamos a combinar encontrarmo-nos às 9h na Guia (bomba da Repsol) e/ou às 9:20h na Panisol da Malveira – podem aparecer num ou noutro.
A ideia é fazer umas subidas à Peninha (cerca de 3horas), que podem incluir, no fim, um treino de escalada em rocha – mas ainda não decidimos, porque isso seriam outras tantas 3 horas pelo menos e eu preciso de dar assistência à família.
Não é preciso levarem equipamento técnico de escalada – nós levamos, até porque queremos levar algum lastro.
É preciso levar bom calçado, água e comida (barras energéticas ou sanduíches).

Quem quiser vir numa de passeio, também pode. Desde que depois se sinta à vontade para fazer o percurso ao seu ritmo, independente do resto do grupo.

See you there

Trash attitude

2008-11-06T04:31:00.000-08:00

The ultimate goal of the Ice Care project is to induce a few changes in daily behaviors. That’s all!

I recommend this enlightening 21 minute movie.

Back when I was living in the Netherlands, through several different conversations, I came to realize, different countries have different ways to apply their norms.
In Nordic countries everything is regulated by law – it’s either mandatory or forbidden.
In the US everyone can be sued – the courts settle everything.
In Portugal everything is socially regulated – either it’s socially accepted and everyone does it, or it’s rude.
As awkward as it may seam, we have observed this in very many different cases.

That configures my ambition. To create the social attitude in Portugal, that socially condemns non eco-friendly behaviors.

On the phone with my friend yesterday, I told him I was at the train station, on my way to Lisbon. (I live in Estoril - 20 min away)
His first reaction was: “What’s wrong with your car?!?!”
I’m hoping, in the future, this story will become like an anecdote of the way things used to be.
This represents the typical (very typical) Portuguese attitude, which is neither driven by intelligence nor logic.

In a nutshell, I’m aiming to change this kind of attitude of waste of precious resources, in our everyday life.

Organizing the expedition

2008-10-28T10:07:00.000-07:00

Ascending the Kilimanjaro is not the most endeavoring human challenge, but it’s far from being a walk in the park.

Organizing the expedition requires rigorous planning and expertise.

Have a look at the first video of the preparation:

Ice Care sponsored by MEO

2008-10-24T04:53:00.001-07:00

Whenever I mention the Ice Care project the idea is pretty well accepted!

People like the cause, like the adventure, like the Kilimanjaro and like Africa.
There’s something romantic about this project, that makes people breath differently for a while.
Ice Care brings out the dreamer in each one of us – which has been a little blurred by the crises.

Part of the credit, is due to the project itself – it’s pretty ‘round’, pretty well thought of.
The few pessimistic thoughts generally have to do with the economic situation:
- ‘You can’t expect to get sponsored by banks’
- ‘Everyone is afraid nowadays’

Fortunately, a few solid companies, understand the market volatility and adopted a ‘show must go on’ attitude!
That’s what I’ve found, with rejoice, last week on my meeting with MEO.
Following the agreement with Sapo, to become another Ice Care media partner, Portugal Telecom continues to support our initiative.
MEO set up a budget to support the Ice Care project, thus becoming our first official sponsor!

During the meeting, we have naturally discussed the issues concerning the visibility plans and return of investment, but also the pioneering and human value of the project.
It’s rare to have Portuguese people engaged in a global cause, and developing projects at a international level.

Congratulations MEO for your vision and thanks for your vital support!

Portuguese antropologist Joana Roque de Pinho is helping out with Ice Care

2008-10-22T02:31:00.000-07:00

Recently I came across na interview with Joana Roque de Pinho, in TSF (portuguese news radio broadcaster).
http://tsf.sapo.pt/podcast/files/pet_20080825.mp3

Joana is taking her Ph.D. in Human Ecology at Colorado University.
For her thesis, she lived for 2 years, among the Maasai tribe in Kenya.

I established contact with Joana immediately upon listening to the interview. Since then, we’ve been spending some time discussing ideas over phone and e-mail.

Joana has given a very significant contribution to our field research, providing contacts of local translators, bibliography and further recommendation on local protocol.
The most important contribute resides on the enthusiastic tone of her daily e-mails, from which and can just barely sense the interest of both her thesis and herself.

In a recent e-mail Joana wrote:
‘by the end of your field research, you can buy a goat and offer a ‘nyama choma’ to your hosts. (they’ll kill it and prepare it themselves). I’m so jealous of you! And I’m missing it so much!’
I can imagine! Myself, I’m almost considering staying with the research team and skip the summit.
You are obviously very welcome to join the expedition in May! Finish your thesis quickly and come along!

Thank you very much for everything Joana! Your genuine support has been quite reassuring!
(photo by Margarida Vilas-Boas)

(fotografia de Margarida Vilas-Boas)

Sapo becomes Ice Care media partner

2008-10-20T03:53:00.000-07:00

I’ve nurtured quite a chunk of projects in my life, and developed the gut feeling to spot the no-turning-back point.
There is an instant in time, when my projects spring life of their own, thus becoming independent from its creator.
I felt that thrill on my first meeting with Portugal Telecom group. That day the Ice Care became an entity…spread its wings and took off.

We’ve discussed several ideas to implement together.
After this one meeting, I remember talking to a friend saying: ‘Can’t go back now! I really must climb the Kilimanjaro now!’
Meant as a joke, obviously, there’s nothing I want more now than start the expedition.

A couple of weeks later, Sapo formalizes its relationship with Ice Care, as media partner.

On the roadmap there are a few communication activities:
. creation of www.icecare.org;
. hosting of Ice Care blog on Sapo platform;
. on-line communication of several themes such as: environment / ecology / adventure / climate change;
. creation of a video blog with: training videos / expedition videos / pedagogic videos / etc.

This partnership with Sapo is very important for Ice Care, considering the momentum internet content has been gaining, surpassing occasionally the attractiveness of television.
According to my good friend Jorge Vassalo – developer of http://ateondevaiscom1000euros.blogspot.com/ which I strongly recommend to adventure enthusiast – his award winning blog had more than 120.000 unique visitors! And most visitors on Monday mornings, I wonder why?

Thank you Sapo, for your trust and support!

Silva and Gerber brands support the Ice Care Project

2008-10-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

Arriving home that day, I felt the urge to play with my new toys!

Men will always be boys, right?

I remember being 12 – spending my day on a bicycle in the narrow streets of Colares, in the middle of summer. There was a compulsory daily visit to the local gun center. We were 5 or 6 boys mesmerized by the shotguns and knifes…we never bought anything. Those were the days of harmless slingshots, useless compasses and pointless flashlights used during the day inside a darkened room. But also of bush knives, twigs sharpened with penknives and bird traps. Can this be the remains of hunter-collector instinct? Maybe...

Lying on my bad, like spoils of a police recovery… I’ve got:

. 2 magnificent SILVA compasses (one Ranger 3 and one Voyager 8040)

. 4 headlamps SILVA with high performance LEDs

. 3 tactic flashlights GERBER – that can use 3 different types of batteries

. 2 sets of GERBER multi-plier and knife GERBER

. 1 knife and axe GERBER Gator Combo Axe

. 1 GERBER Sport Axe

This first set of equipment represents part of SILVA and GERBER support to Ice Care project. Dual Brand, the company representing these and other outdoor brands in Portugal, has been extremely helpful in counseling and supplying equipment.

The know-how and expertise of Ricardo and Tiago (Dual Brand owners), was a priceless support to our project – we are even thinking about creating a series of videos on equipment technical features and usage training, which will be available at the web site http://www.icecare.org/, once it’s on-line.

Thanks Ricardo,

Thanks Tiago,

Thanks SILVA,

Thanks GERBER

...for the equipment and for the memories…

Tiago Bettencourt joins Ice Care expedition

2008-09-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

In the year 1985, Bob Geldof organized Live Aid.
Until today, Live Aid remains in our memories and in our hearts (it’s worth remembering ‘there comes a time...’
I dare even the most stoics among you, to view this video without getting at least a little emotional)

During the following years, other artists have followed.
We’ve been witnessing Bono’s initiatives for humanitarian causes.
And more recently the Foo Fighters, engaged the global warming challenge, with the first carbon free CD (meaning the carbon emissions necessary for the production of the CD were compensated by forestation projects sponsored by the band).

Now it’s time for Portugal, at our proper scale, to make the connection between music and global causes.

Today, I was very glad to get the official confirmation that Tiago Bettencourt will participate in the Ice Care expedition!
Tiago strikes me as idealist and irreverent thus, the perfect match for our expedition. Despite preferring ‘…downhill than climbing…’ on a bicycle, Tiago is not afraid of engage in the projects he believes.
Furthermore, climbing Kilimanjaro for a cause, and relating to local communities will certainly provide the artist with lots of inspiration for his future work.

Thank you Tiago, for your support!

More about the artist:
http://www.myspace.com/tiagobettencourt
http://tiagobettencourtemantha.blogs.sapo.pt/

National Geographic Channel suppports Ice Care

2008-09-04T04:12:00.000-07:00

I couldn’t be much older than 7 or 8, but I still remember the vast collection of National Geographic magazines at my grandmother’s.
I used to spend hours looking at pictures of remote places and familiar animals.
Little did I know that, the prestigious institution would be using my own material years later.

Recently, over lunch with Fox’s country manager, several collaboration possibilities popped up:
. youtube style videos for NGC’s website;
. storyboard production of a program for the international channel;
. some sort of joint exhibition, of the photos of the expedition or even create a DVD.

These and other formats are still in discussion – One thing is certain – The National Geographic Channel endorsement on Ice Care project is a very important reinforcement for us!

Dia de Treino

2008-08-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

O projecto Ice Care vive de um conjunto de vontades individuais.
A amiga que ajuda na parte científica. O amigo que faz os contactos com os media. A amiga que dá uma dica de um possível patrocinador.
Esta cadeia de vontades, foi gerada por uma ideia simples, clara e sobretudo inovadora – tornar o aquecimento global VISÍVEL!
Em todos os projectos há um momentum, uma bola de neve, que vai surgindo no passa-palavra. Sinto essa energia crescer diariamente no Ice Care.

Para que isso se mantenha, decidimos realizar um conjunto de eventos de divulgação do projecto.
O Ice Care, como sabem, é um evento ECO-DESPORTIVO, por isso, parece-me lógico que os eventos tenham um pouco das duas coisas.
Assim, planeámos uma série de ‘treinos contextualizados’ – treinos específicos em locais de destaque do ponto de vista ecológico.
Queremos dar a conhecer também o que se tem feito em Portugal, na área das energias renováveis – e acreditem, que já se fez muita coisa boa!

A seu tempo, divulgarei informação mais detalhada sobre as sessões de treino, locais, datas, propósito, etc.
Para já, posso adiantar que pretendemos fazer um treino de resistência na zona a Amareleja, onde está a ser instalado o maior parque de fotovoltáicos do mundo! E um outro treino de pernas na zona de Sagres / Vila do Bispo, onde existe um importante parque eólico.

Nash equilibrium

2008-07-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

Climate change is, as far as I know, the first chance mankind gets to work together for the common good.

It brings back images from George Wells’ ‘The War of the Worlds’ - humanity united for the first time, striking back at a common threat. This simple idea attracted me and seemed worth exploring.

The climate change problem is unprecedented. It affect us all in a way nothing did before. Besides the solutions to the problem, some kind of new platforms for international collaboration may be launched.

I was reading at Time magazine, about the Sino-Japan Friendship Center for Environmental Protection. The name says it all! What other reason could put China and Japan fraternally working together? If China and Japan can set aside their historical clash, for the common good…so it may other traditional archenemies. Global warming might be the very best thing that happened to mankind so far!

For the first time in history, mankind can leverage the beautiful metaphor of Nash equilibrium.

After the Kilimanjaro, I may challenge myself to find sponsors on both sides of a conflict area. Two countries might contribute equally to the same common cause.

I’m not trying to flash the pacifist flag in this post…just highlighting some facts…this is more of a vision…more like a dream, if you want.