The Intangibles – Bedu Heritage of Wadi Rum

Here’s a taster of some of the work I’ve been doing with the Bedouin Heritage Project. A fantastic pilot scheme to benchmark what UNESCO classes as ‘intangible heritage’ and the cultures that are rapidly disappearing.

You can watch the videos below on NatGeoAdventure and read more about the project here. Enjoy.

The Intangibles

Part One: Survival
With the Bedouin Heritage Project we meet the Zilabia boys and the problems they face as the Bedu population leaves the desert. They take us deeper into the desert to meet tribesmen and find out how they collect water. 

The Intangibles: Bedu of Wadi Rum

Part Two: The Camel Races
A very different perspective riding alongside the controllers at break-neck speeds. Hold onto your seats!

The Intangibles: Wadi Rum Camel Races

For more info see The Bedouin Heritage Project.

Fancy a trip to Wadi Rum? Visit Jordan Tracks.

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Become an explorer at Explore 2010

RGS-IBG logoExplore 2010: the annual expedition and fieldwork planning weekend

12-14 November at RGS-IBG, London

With over one hundred leading field scientists and explorers taking part, this weekend is an unmissable event for amateurs and experts alike. Come and share ideas, experiences and your enthusiasm! Book your place and join us in London at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) headquarters for our annual event with a range of workshops, seminars and one-on-one advice sessions aimed at those undertaking responsible travel and research overseas.

Speakers at Explore 2009

Opening lecture

Friday 12 November, 6.30pm

Arctic science and polar exploration:are the two compatible?

Pen Hadow and Dr Helen Findlay give the opening lecture and share their experiences of conducting scientific research at the Ice Base and on route to the North Pole. The evening will provide a topical and exciting debate for all those interested in arctic landscapes. More…

Sunday 14 November 2010

Field Research & Sharing the experience sessions

Headlining on Sunday morning will be Ed Stafford, who walked the Amazon who won the battle with technology to communicate his journey to a global audience.

For those wishing to made a contribution to a better understanding of the world’s environments – projects likely to attract funding from the RGS-IBG grants programme and elsewhere, the Sunday morning workshops in the Biological, Earth and Human sciences will help identify research priorities and the skills needed to design an effective field research project.

The mapping workshop is ideal for those hoping to use remote sensing, GIS and GPS to collect geo-referenced spatial data.

There is also a session dedicated to those whose expeditions have education as a primary or component part. Sunday afternoon focuses on on photography, journalism, sound and video; all skills needed to attract support and to share your expedition findings.

Programme highlights

Saturday 13 November

Planning and logistics

Learn from those who have recently returned from expeditions including Felicity Aston and Helen Turton of the Commonwealth Women’s Antarctic Expedition. Find out how to get involved in expeditions, essential preparation and planning, and the all important issue of raising funds. Martin Holland will describe how a group of students have mounted able them to mount an ambitious tropical forest research programme in Indonesia.

Professor David Warrell will give advice on how to avoid the most common and sometimes exotic ailments in remote and wilderness locations.

The afternoon sessions are an opportunity to discuss the challenges of living and working in a range of environments with an experienced panel. Jo Royle, skipper of the Plastiki, leads a discussion on oceans with other panels covering mountain, tropical forest, river, polar, and desert environments.

Our cycling panel includes an impressive line up with Tom Allen and Andy Welch of Ride the Earth and the Hungry cyclist, Tom Kevill-Davies.

For those interested in vehicle-based expeditions – Saturday covers the nuts and bolts of vehicle preperation  and paperwork; Sunday is devoted to the art of route planning, with the sessions supported by Land Rover staff.

More…

What the delegates say:

“Explore is the real deal… An event where even the celebrities leave their egos at the door. The lectures and workshops are fascinating, but it’s the atmosphere that makes it unique. The energy and sense of support and encouragement is electrifying – you can’t help but come away with a sense of urgency and self-belief, as well as the contacts to make whatever you decide to do happen.

In 2008 as a wannabe explorer I came away with more contacts than I knew what to do with. One year and two expeditions later I was there with my own expedition team with plans to explore Borneo’s rainforest. This year, I’ll be returning as a speaker just days before we begin a 3 month expedition into unexplored rainforest.

Explore gave me the inspiration and the confidence to start that journey, and I would encourage everyone, from seasoned veterans to school leavers with itchy feet, to come and take part.”

Martin Holland, Heart of Borneo Project 2010.

Winner of the RGS-IBG Neville Shulman Challenge Award More…

Costs:

Full price £110 for the whole weekend. Student price £75 . Group discounts and day rates available. More…


Opening lecture

Friday 12 November, 6.30pm

Arctic science and polar exploration:are the two compatible?

Pen Hadow and Dr Helen Findlay give the opening lecture and share their experiences of conducting scientific research at the Ice Base and on route to the North Pole. The evening will provide a topical and exciting debate for all those interested in arctic landscapes. More…

Speakers at Explore 2009

Sunday 14 November 2010

Field Research & Sharing the experience sessions

Headlining on Sunday morning will be Ed Stafford, who walked the Amazon who won the battle with technology to communicate his journey to a global audience.

For those wishing to made a contribution to a better understanding of the world’s environments – projects likely to attract funding from the RGS-IBG grants programme and elsewhere, the Sunday morning workshops in the Biological, Earth and Human sciences will help identify research priorities and the skills needed to design an effective field research project.

The mapping workshop is ideal for those hoping to use remote sensing, GIS and GPS to collect geo-referenced spatial data.

There is also a session dedicated to those whose expeditions have education as a primary or component part. Sunday afternoon focuses on on photography, journalism, sound and video; all skills needed to attract support and to share your expedition findings.

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The end of the whale?

Many whales are among the 1/3rd of all life on the planet that is being driven to extinction. World governments are meeting this week to consider a bold plan to protect 20% of the world’s oceans and lands by 2020.We have 4 days left, and a global public outcry could tip the balance. Click to sign the petition for the 20/20 plan and forward this post:


Sign the petition!

Dear friends, do something important today, sign the AVAAZ petition:

Many whales are among the 1/3rd of all life on the planet that is being driven to extinction. World governments are meeting this week to consider a bold plan to protect 20% of the world’s oceans and lands by 2020.

We have 4 days left, and a global public outcry could tip the balance. Click to sign the petition for the 20/20 plan and forward this post:

There are only 300 northern right whales left, and 99% of blue whales have been wiped out. These majestic giants are endangered species, and their case is being played out across the world, time and again. In fact, one third of all life forms on the planet are on the brink of extinction.

The natural world is being crushed by human activity, waste and exploitation. But there is a plan to save it — a global agreement to create, fund and enforce protected areas covering 20% of our lands and seas by 2020. And right now, 193 governments are meeting in Japan to address this crisis.

We have just 4 days left in this crucial meeting. Experts say that politicians are hesitant to adopt such an ambitious goal, but that a global public outcry could tip the balance, making leaders feel the eyes of the world upon them. Click to sign the urgent 20/20 petition, and forward this post widely — the message will be delivered directly to the meeting in Japan: (more…)

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Paths to Adventure, Part 1: Arctic Gap Year

Over the last few weeks readers of both my book and blog have been asking me how they can get involved in some of the adventurous activities that I like to get up to in my own life. So over the next few weeks I’ll be writing a series of short articles that give you ideas on how you can join expeditions to the ends of the earth or learn how to jump out of planes, drive cars sideways or shoot guns.

 

To start let’s have a quick update from this year’s Explore at the Royal Geographical Society. Did you know there are more than 90 organisations on the RGS’s books looking for volunteers or staff to join their expeditions?

 

To give you a prime example, the gates have just closed for gap-year students with a lust for adventure and a passion for environmental science on The British Schools Exploring Society’s Extreme Arctic expedition to Svalbard this spring.

To find out more and search the database of organisations looking for people just like you, go here.

In the next two articles I’ll be profiling some of the opportunities available and giving you ideas for two years of space exploration, driving skills and tactical firearms on British soil.

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Being Bedouin – A free talk on Tuesday 24th November at the Nat Geo Regent Street store. One not to Miss!

Being Bedouin - A Talk

Being Bedouin - A Talk

The evenings are drawing in, but it’s time once again to girdle your loins and brave the weather for an evening at the National Geographic on Regent Street.

This months speaker, Mark Abouzeid, is flying in directly from expedition in Jordan to join us on the 24th. His talk “Being Bedouin” will be about the disappearing desert culture of Wadi Rum, accompanied by video and images.

“How do you capture the entire character of a culture that has no written record, has lived for centuries in relative isolation and exists in complete harmony with one of the world’s most extreme environments?”

I’ve worked closely with Mark over the last couple of years, from the North Pole to the desert, and I can guarantee that he is a totally engaging speaker and this is an opportunity not to miss.

He is one of the founders of the Bedouin Heritage Project and I’ll be featuring some more videos from them over the coming weeks.

As ever the talks are free and last an hour and you will retire to a local hostelry after.

WHERE: 1st Floor, The National Geographic Store, 83-97 Regents Street, London W1B 4EW (see map)

WHEN: 6.30pm, Tuesday, 24th November, 2009.

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