Archive for the ‘Service’ Category
26/02/2011
When the Earth Shakes, and We Humans on it.
Make a *donation directly to NZ Red Cross Christchurch Fund
Epicenter: Lyttelton from above our house, a day before the quake
Amanda and I escaped. We were in Christchurch about 19 hours before the earthquake hit, just in front of the main church , which is now collapsed, in the square dropping off my passport and work visa application at New Zealand immigration, We also ran some errands, and split up in the afternoon, Amanda stopping by a store, and I picking up our van at the bus depot.
When the earthquake did hit we were both at home. I was in the hallway, and all of sudden, I was being thrown about. I was disoriented for a few seconds, then ran down the hallway to grab my pregnant wife’s hand. She looked as confused as I, as we ran for the door. We had just experienced the earthquake 1km from the epicenter. Our rental home is just across the Lyttelton Inlet in Diamond Harbor’s Charteris Bay. As I grabbed Amanda’s hand and we ran out of the back door of the steel-framed house, I thought, “This isn’t good for Christchurch.”
Little did I know how bad it was. Just over the crest of Port Hills, 20 min away, it was Hell. (more…)
Tags:Amanda Richards, Charteris Bay, Christchurch Earthquake, Dexter Randy Richards, Diamond Harbor, epicenter, John Haynes, Lowering trapped victims, Lyttelton, Mountain Spirit, Mountaineer, New Zealand, Rappeling in emergency, SAR, Self rescure skills, surviving earthquake
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Focus on MSI People, Inspirational People, Leadership, Mountain People, MSI News, New Zealand, Power of Place, Service | 2 Comments »
17/11/2010
Mountain Spirit is advertising in Wisdom Magazine, and Spirit of Change aiming at people who might be at a crossroads in their life, or simply wanting to try a new challenge, or learn something new.
A non-profit educational organization
Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle program will be held in Northern Vermont next spring at a peaceful retreat center, focusing on the personal – sustainability and health. Learn how to plant a garden, the basics of yoga and meditation and of course time for relaxation in a beautiful place.
Drumming Jamaica program taught by well-known instructor Bob Bloom will be held in Treasure Beach Jamaica from Feb. 7-11. There will be about 20 hrs of instruction with plenty of time to explore the beaches and local culture. Lodging will be at the Calabash House.
New Zealand: Our other base. We will be based on the South Island near the Southern Alps. Aimed at active travelers but with flexible offerings, depending upon your interest and focus. Options are trekking, glacier travel, rock climbing, or simply walks and getting into the lessor known areas of the Wanaka and Queenstown area, with options of other parts of South Island depending upon your availability, interest and energy. Be ready to step out and see something new.
For more info, see our website: www.mtnspirit.org
Tags:Bob Bloom, Gardening, Glacier Travel, Meditation, Mew Zealand, Mountain Spirit, Sky Meadow Retreat, Spirit of Change, Sustainability, Sustainable Agriculture, Trekking, Wisdom Magazine
Posted in Climb/Ski/Mntneering, Conservation, Environment, Health, Holistic Living, Inner Work, MSI News, Music, New Zealand, Service, Spiritual, Sustainable Living/Communities, Sustainable Travel, Traveling, Your Food Supply | Leave a Comment »
18/07/2010
Coming soon: New series of blog posts will open your eyes.
Keep an eye out for a new series of video and text posts starting here in a few days. We think you’ll like it.
We’ve just traveled across the U.S.A, listening to an Omnivore’s Dilemma by Micheal Pollan. It was experiential education at its best, and a sobering experience.
What’s more it led to some great footage and interviews here in Durango, CO with local farmers and restaurateurs.
Stay tuned for this informative series of blog posts on your food supply.
Tags:Beyond Organic, Colorado, Durango, experiential edcuation, local farmers, localvore, Micheal Pollan, Mountain Spirit, Omnivore's Dilema
Posted in 1- Video Posts, Animals, Books, Conservation, Environment, Experiential Education, Fair Trade, Focus on MSI People, Health, Holistic Living, Inspirational People, Leadership, Service, Sustainable Living/Communities | 2 Comments »
27/06/2010
I have read this to many a program participant around camp in the mountains, and thought I’d share it here.
Hitchhiking in Labrador
The Invitation, By Oriah
It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.
It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive. (more…)
Tags:Labrador, Mountain Spirit, Newfoundland, Oriah, The Invitation
Posted in Blogs, Books, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Inspirational People, Leadership, Mountain People, Quotes, Service, Sustainable Living/Communities | 1 Comment »
23/06/2010
It's About Time
Dutton has published Americans Who Tell The Truth, the book of the first fifty portraits in this series printed in beautiful color with short biographies and an essay by Robert Shetterly about the intent of the project. The book is suitable for all ages, but its target audience is middle and high school. We have published a free curriculum here on this website for teachers to be able to teach American history through the lives of these people.
This book has won the 2006 award of the International Reading Association for intermediate non-fiction. The Children’s Book Council has named Americans Who Tell the Truth a 2006 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. Read more here
David Korten hit a chord with Agenda for a New Economy and its call for abolishing Wall Street. In his new revised and greatly expanded edition, David fleshes out his vision for a replacement—a decentralized economy based on resilient communities, local businesses, and ecological systems.
Greed is Out - Localism, In
Global greed is out. Local sharing is in. The Wall Street system failed us; this book is a great guide as we build the alternatives.
“… our economic crisis is, at its core, a moral crisis. Our economic institutions and rules, even the indicators by which we measure economic performance, consistently place financial values ahead of life values. They are brilliantly effective at making money for rich people. Our children, families, and communities, and natural systems of Earth have paid an intolerable price.”
Read more on Korten at Yes Magazine
Tags:Agenda for a New Economy, Americans Who Tell The Truth, Children's Book Council, David Korten, Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, Robert Shetterly
Posted in Books, Inspirational People, Leadership, Quotes, Service, Sustainable Living/Communities | Leave a Comment »
18/06/2010
Ragged Mountain Equipment Leads the Way in Giving for the Environment
Donating for the Environment
Ragged Mountain Equipment in Intervale, NH is doing good work. When I was climbing in the North Conway area, Rob Nadler and Cort Hansen were just starting the store in a small space behind the Intervale post office. They made their own chalk bags, ice axe leashes and a few polypro pullovers. Since then, they’ve grown the business to one of the best outdoor and retail outlets in the nation. They might not be the biggest, but in my opinion, one of the best. There’s always a good feeling when you go into their store.
In line with their values, there now contributing .50 cents from every sale of a Ragged Mountain made product over $25.00 retail cost to the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust (USVLT).
USVLT’s mission is to protect the cultural and scenic values of the Upper Saco River Valley by preserving land for farming, forestry, recreation and education. Founded in 2000, USVLT has helped preserve nearly 4,000 acres of open space here in the area. The same program is being used by some of the restaurants and B&B’s in the valley.
Says Cort, “I think we are the only retail/manufacturer doing this at this time. I think it is a great program to raise the awareness of local land conservation issues. ” He adds, “The customer has the choice at the register to opt out and save $.50. Very few have done so.”
Every garment has a hang tag explaining their mission. Says Cort, “We are in the process of expanding hang tags to all our existing inventory which is a major task I can inform you. New styles come through with the tags already on them.”
They’re up to more good. Adds Cort, “We also enrolled the Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring Foundation in the program as well. All ski trail passes sold here at the Touring Center include a $.50 contribution the USVLT. We are the only XC ski touring center participating in this program currently. I think this is vital to making all nordic skiers aware that almost 100% of the valley XC trails use private land which is not protected from development or alternative uses.”
Climber Henry Barber approached Ragged Mountain late last fall about their participating in this this program.
If you’d like to donate and help owners Rob and Cort with this worthwhile project, contact Cort at cort(at)raggedmountain.com
Tags:Conservation, Dexter Randall Richards, Henry Barber, Intervale, Mount Washington, Mount Washington Valley Ski Touring Foundation, Mountain Spirit, New Hampshire, NH, Ragged Mountain Equipment, Service, Upper Saco Valley Land Trust
Posted in Conservation, Environment, Inspirational People, Leadership, Service, Sustainable Living/Communities | Leave a Comment »
07/05/2010
If Group Meditation reduced violent crime in Washington DC, what could a massive healing meditation do for the world’s waters?
Startling & Postive Results
Below is a writeup on the now-oft quoted meditation event in Washington DC. Then read further, about a worldwide meditation event scheduled for May 18th at 15:38 EST to send healing prayers to the world’s waters.
From alltm.org
A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Social Indicators Research reports on one of the most dramatic sociological experiments ever undertaken. Researchers predicted in advance that the calming influence of group meditation practice could reduce violent crime by over 20 percent in Washington, D.C., during an 8-week period in the summer of 1993.
In fact, the findings later showed that the rate of violent crime–which included assaults, murders, and rapes–decreased by 23 percent during the June 7 to July 30 experimental period. The odds of this result occurring by chance are less than 2 in 1 billion. Rigorous statistical analyses ruled out an extensive list of alternative explanations, according to John Hagelin, (more…)
Tags:Arizona, Council Meeting of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, Crime, Fairfield, Group Meditation, Healing Waters Meditation, Institute of Science, Iowa, John Hagelin, Social Indicators Research, Technology and Public Policy, Transcendental Meditation, Washington DC
Posted in Climate Change, Environment, Holistic Living, Inner Work, Service, Spiritual, Sustainable Living/Communities | 2 Comments »
12/04/2010
Tai Chi, Huaraz, Peru
We’ve decided to add a second program headed to Peru for August. If you’d like to learn more about the program, dates and cost, visit our webpage. The program will focus Cusco, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Lake Titicaca. This is our twelfth year leading educational programs to Peru. Before that, R. Richards was guiding high altitude summits.
“It’s not about tourism and snapping images” says founder Richards. “Like all our programs, it’s about learning from the culture, giving back with service, a smile and learning the language, and of course stepping out of your comfort zone.”
We will also be working more with Jorge Martel in the Cordillera Blanca on the range’s east side. Stay tuned to see images of this region. If you’d like information please contact us.
Tags:Experiential Education, Huaraz, Mountain Spirit, Peru, Programs
Posted in Experiential Education, MSI News, Peru, Service, South America, Spiritual, Sustainable Travel, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
23/03/2010
Sustainable Travel, Off the Beaten Track, Lake Titicaca, Peru
Dear Randall,
I hope you don’t mind my contacting you. I saw your blog post about staying on Amantani Island and I wanted to ask your advice. I had been planning to go to the island and stay with Richard Cari at Kantuta Lodge. However, having read your post I am wondering if I should be staying elsewhere in order to be a bit fairer and in the interest of sustainable tourism – such as going to stay with the islanders who don’t usually see a lot of tourists.
I felt a bit nervous not booking something in advance and am also not sure how easy it would be to organise something like this (I will only have one night and we arrive in Puno the evening before we hope to go to the island). Do you know any responsible tour agencies who give back to the islanders and could help me find somewhere to stay? Or would you recommend just turning up and hoping to find a boat / somewhere to stay on the island?
Many thanks for any help you can give.
Kind regards,
Lucy H.
Hi Lucy,
Family Mamani, Occopampa, Amantani
Thanks for your email, and for your concern about sustainable tourism on Amantani on Lake Titicaca. Here are a few suggestions.
Richard Cari and family are good friends of mine, and we do hire his launch/boat to get our clients to the island, and although we might stay one night at his lodge, the lodge has evolved into something bigger than I want my participants to experience, (semester students excluded, plus Richard will help facilitate these longer programs). So we may bypass the lodge in favor of the other families who are wanting to have guests visit them. However, depending upon your comfort zone, and interest, you would enjoy Richard’s family and small lodge in any event. But more about staying with other families:
There’s no real problem with taking one of the boats run by the community of Amantani which you can pick up (more…)
Tags:Amantani Island, Dexter R. Richards, Lake Titicaca, Mountain Spirit, Peru
Posted in Archeology, Experiential Education, Inbox, Peru, Service, South America, Sustainable Travel, Traveling | Leave a Comment »
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