Polar Explorer Will Live on Renewable Energy at the 2041 E-Base in Antarctica, Using 21st Century Technology to Tackle Climate Change
by Petz Scholtus, Barcelona on 02.12.08
The first person in history to walk to both the North and South poles is Robert Swan, polar explorer, environmental leader and public speaker. Swan founded 2041 in order to preserve Antarctica by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change. Why did he call the project 2041? -Because that’s the year of the review of the Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty. By protecting this treaty, 2041 works towards nobody ever needing to exploit the last great continent on Earth for minerals and fossil fuel. Part of the project is the E-Base, a sustainable green building constructed from post-consumer recycled and renewable materials. “Here at our 2041 E-Base we are using green, innovative and sustainable materials and applying them to the cleanest coldest place on earth. The E-Base will serve as a model globally and locally,” says Robert Swan.
So in March this year, Robert Swan and his troop will go and live at the E-Base in Antarctica, solely on renewable wind and solar energy for two weeks. This will be Antarctica’s first dedicated educational base, highlighting the importance of sustainable energy sources and the preservation of the last great wilderness on the planet. The team will broadcast their daily experiences of what it is like to live on renewable energy in one of the harshest environments on the planet via a cutting-edge interactive website, featuring daily video dispatches, photographs and live text and video chats every day. The E-Base works closely with several schools and organisations around the world to inspire and educate the public on the issue of climate change and promote sustainability.
One of the teachers involved, Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop, Humanities Teacher at Crown Woods School in Eltham, London, will be coordinating a live video chat between Swan and pupils at Crown Woods:
It’s a hugely exciting project. I never thought it would be possible to have someone of Robert Swan’s stature and passion inspire the pupils at Crown Woods. To have him engage them on the issue of climate change live from Antarctica is truly remarkable.
Follow E-Base Goes Live between March 1st and 18th. Thanks Marjan S. for the tip! ::2041 ::2041 E-Base
Belgium already created a sustainable, eco-friendly polar base on Antartica past december. You can it out here: http://www.polarfoundation.org/index.php?s=4&rs=home&uid=435&lg=en
Also check out Dixie Dansercoer here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Dansercoer
He's the first to WALK from Greenland to Siberia and he crossed Antartica BY FOOT. So both times not only to the poles and being picked up but reach the destination and then continue on...
Sometimes it's good to be proud when living in a small country with the best beers in the world, the best waffles in the world, Tintin, fantastic fries and.... me ;).