Our very own Punjabi Kuddi and Big Fan of this Blog makes it to IAE!

I have to share some good news! One of my readers and friend Sarita Singh Antarctica made it to IAE – 2014 and will be headed to Antarctica in less than 40 days from now.

International Antarctic Expedition is led by Polar explorer and environmentalist Robert Swan, OBE and his Organisation 2041, which draws its name from the Antarctic Treaty that prohibits drilling and mining in the continent till 2041.

For readers who have been following my blog would know about IAE. You can also scroll down and click on “Antarctica with 2041” on the right hand corner to get more details of this unique expedition!

Swan – the only polar explorer in the world to have walked both the north and South Pole has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica by the promotion of recycling, renewable energy and sustainability to combat the effects of climate change. His mission:

As the last unspoilt wilderness on earth, Antarctica is currently protected by a treaty prohibiting drilling and mining until 2041. Decision made by today’s youth will impact our entire planet’s ecosystem and future of the life on earth. It is our mission to build on this by informing, engaging and inspiring the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, be sustainable, and know that now is the time for action in policy development, sustainable business generation and future technologies.

Every year Swan takes a team of international corporate leaders, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, teachers and young people on a journey through the Antarctic Peninsula.  Selected from across the globe, youth Ambassadors participate in various skills and capacity programmes.

Sarita is an IT specialist and also a PADI certified National Geographic deep sea diver and simply loves the ocean and travelling and doesn’t mind travelling solo to remote beaches/ islands to pursue her passion. She is also a national level elocutionist and in her college days led a team of 200+ volunteers as the chief coordinator of National Service Scheme (NSS). During her leadership in NSS – she developed a sensitive corner for Social issues and led various drives to help Orphanages, blind schools and conduct eye check-up and blood donation camps in rural areas.

I spoke to her and she said –

“It’s impossible for me to explain how ecstatic I am at the moment. I have watched the expedition documentaries and Rob’s lectures on environment sustainability numerous times and Antarctica is the only thing I am talking about with everyone I meet.  I have lived and breathed Antarctica in the last few months and the feeling that am actually going and will be on board the sea spirit and cross the legendary Drake Passage in about 40 days from now has still not sunk in”.

The Antarctic continent is one of the most remote, inhospitable environments on earth. Harsh and inaccessible, covered by over 5 million square miles of solid ice, it is the world’s highest, driest coldest and windswept continent. The lowest recorded temperature in Antarctica was -89 Celsius. No place on earth provides a more demanding environment to face the ultimate leadership challenge. Here the Inspire Antarctic Expedition (IAE) program would focus on leadership, teamwork and personal development.

The team would cruise through the historic Drake Passage which has stimulated the imagination of mankind since Sir Francis Drake inadvertently circumnavigated it in 1580. Sometimes misty and grey, other times calm and clear, crossing the legendary Drake .Passage is unforgettable – a milestone in any adventurer’s personal travel history.

Sarita is a true earth Volunteer and we at Travel Tales from India wish her all the best!  To follow Team 2041 and Sarita during her journey in Antarctica with live updates, please go to http://expedition.2041.com/2014/  from 8^th of March through the 21^st.

You might wonder why I have put a question mark after Ahoy? I will tell you the tale if you bear with me. It started at Baiguney with Club Mahindra’s conClay. I heard Dr. Priya Venkatesh talk about her expedotion to Antarctica with 2041. I was hooked.

So I decided to apply for the 2013 expedition with Sir Robert Swan and guess what? I got accepted. That is part A. And if you are wondering why is Sir Swan’s expedition called 2041 it is because in that year the no drilling, no mining Antarctica treaty is coming up for review. Watch this video and lets move to part B.

httpv://youtu.be/gaQ1r-FQyp8

This is the Inspire Antarctica Expedition video for 2013.

The part B is the tough one, I need to raise 22,000 dollars as the expedition fee, the air fare to Argentina (the start point of the expedition) and the gear required for the expedition. So my head is reeling. If I clear part B I get to visit Antarctica! That is part C.

But see what a way I found to get my head out of Everest Base Camp!

I am heading off for a small trek this Saturday and I would be back later in the week. After that I have to get my reeling head around fund raising. And I am going to ask each and every one of you to help me.

Stay tuned for more.

Update 1: Thank you Meena for liking the new theme but it has messed up my customization 🙁 Thank you all for the support and ideas that you gave me in the comments. Keep the coming. I am off to Uttarakhand and will be back later in the week. After that I am going to work on making this trip happen. I obviously can’t do this alone. So will need your continued support.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGQkEmTeR_g&feature=colike

Did you know why 2041 is significant for Antarctica? Because that is the year when the ban on mining and drilling at Antarctica comes up for a review.

Sir Robert Swan, OBE runs 2041, an organization that raises awareness about Antarctica and sustainability. Each year they organize an expedition. You can apply to be part of the expedition.

PS. Stay Tuned for More.