Alpine Initiatives and Evolve Chile Partner

Alpine Initiatives is stoked to announce that we have found a new and energetic ally in Evolve Chile.

Evolve Chile in a Chairlift Ride...

Evolve Chile is the premier South American camp destination for skiers and snowboarders that want to improve their skills, while at the same time seeing a bit of the world. They cater to teens and adults by offering training camps and Signature Sessions instructed by pros like AI’s very own JP Auclair.

Speaking of which… JP will be down in Valle Nevado, Chile practicing his Spanish and offering skiing wisdom to anyone interested, between the 13th and the 23rd of August 2010.

So basically, with Evolve Chile you get to trade in your North American summer slush for fresh powder turns, winter terrain parks, incredible food, surfing and international travel with super-fun people. That’s what South American ski and snowboard camps are all about, right? Evolve also gives campers the opportunity to flex their volunteer muscles with their “Give Back” community service program. The program fuses the alpine community with communities in the areas that Evolve travels to and empowers all parties involved to take initiative in making the world a smaller and better place.

What We Hope to Achieve Together…

AI and Evolve are going to tackle the inequalities of our world. By partnering up, we plan to offer community service trips to Alpine Initiatives project in different locations such as the Amani Community Home in Kenya. We will also be collaborating to improve social responsibility and environmental awareness amongst those in the mountain community.

Lots to come about this partnership in the near future. We’ll keep you posted!

AI Board Meeting.

Ahhh.. it was great to be all sitting at the same table. It had been too long!

We had so much to share and catch up on.

Cell phones, emails, texting, social networks, skype, video comferences... means of communication are good enough that you'd think a small group of people could run a non-profit without having to see each other in person.. But every time we all meet, I realize how important it is to take the time to be together. When we are all sitting in the same room, that's when the best ideas are born and when the inspiration levels start going up..!

Emmanuelle, Lisa, Mikey, Seth, myself and new AI members Erik Wardell and Gretchen Schramm all got together in Steamboat to discuss Organizational structure, current and future projects, new partnerships, community involvement, fundraising... good energy, good motivation!

Ski lift powered entirely by solar panels.

I came across this short article on ecofriend.org and thought it was worth sharing:

Eco Factor: Ski lift powered entirely by photovoltaic panels

Tenna, a small town in Switzerland with a population of just 110 inhabitants, is about to get the world’s second ski lift that will be powered entirely by photovoltaic panels. The ski lift’s solar panels will have an energy generation capacity of 90,000KWh, which gives three lifts to move on renewable energy, each consuming about 22,000KWh.

All excess electricity will be sold to the grid. The lift features solar panels that are incorporated on the same lift, without having to build additional buildings. The panels are adjustable and can be removed to clear accumulated snow. The panels are anchored to the lift’s cables and bear the entire weight of the panels.

The panels are attached in a fashion that allows maximum sun exposure for maximum electricity generation. The opening of the solar lift is planned for December 2010.

Karambu on TEDx Du.

On may 13th, University of Denver hosted an independently organized TED event where Karambu was invited to speak about getting marginalized people out of the dependency vicious cycle. Check out the video to hear Dr.K's views on changing the way we see others, about how and why she started IPI and more..

"The right kind of action can change the course of history, creating opportunity for generations to come."

-Dr. Karambu Ringera

Click here for more information about TED, TEDx, TEDx on Youtube and TEDxDU.

HOME

It's been a year since Yan Arthus Bertrand released his documentary film HOME. With it's breathtaking cinematography (almost entirely aerial shots), Home shows us the current state of our planet. It showcases different life forms that inhabit it and how every single one of them are linked and interdependent. Not one organism can be self sufficient. Inevitably, HOME also goes into how the human species is threatening the delicate ecological balance of the planet.

We are living in exceptional times.

Scientists tell us that we have 10 years

to change the way we live, avert the depletion

of natural resources and the catastrophic evolution

of the Earth's climate.

The stakes are high for us and our children.

Everyone should take part in the effort,

and HOME has been conceived to take a message

of mobilization out to every human being.

If a year ago you missed the largest film release in history, no problem, the film was made under a creative commons license, It has no official copyright and it is still available for free on Youtube.

Here is a lecture Yan Arthus Bertrand gave at TED in February 09.