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2010 Mountainfilm poster artist, Alex Beard, will have his art and his studio featured on CBS Sunday Morning on August 29. Click Here for more details.
We’ve published a number of photos from MountainSummit in Aspen. Check them out here.
Here is a note we received from the director of the Acumen Fund in Pakistan:
We are deeply concerned about the devastation caused by the recent flooding in Pakistan and wanted to share ways in which you can help support response efforts in this grave and urgent situation.
Pakistan has been affected by the worst floods in living memory. 13.8 million people have been displaced by the floods in Pakistan and 6 million of these require immediate help according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The floods have severely affected all of the provinces of the country and the magnitude of the devastation dwarfs other recent natural disasters. The millions who have been displaced were living at or below the poverty line and whatever little possessions and assets they had have been washed away, and their crops destroyed by the flood. The public infrastructure in the region – including access roads and bridges – have been badly damaged or have collapsed. There is a desperate need for temporary shelter, clean drinking water and toilets to avert a public health catastrophe. People also need basic goods and essential medical care.
Acumen Fund is deeply committed to Pakistan, where we have worked since 2002, but we are not directly involved in relief work. While many organizations are doing extraordinary work in Pakistan right now, here are four organizations that we recommend you consider supporting in their Pakistan flood relief efforts:
Rural Support Program Network
The Rural Support Program Network (RSPN) is a national organization and the largest non-government network of rural development programs in Pakistan. RSPN’s partners have worked extensively in disaster relief efforts in Pakistan, including the 2005 Earthquake. RSPN is collecting donations for flood affected families. Donations will be provided to affected families through the on-ground network of RSPN’s partners, including SRSO that is headed by Dr. Sono Khangharani, a long time Acumen friend.
Kashf Foundation
Kashf Foundation is one of the largest microfinance organization in Pakistan and an Acumen investee. Kashf will be distributing relief packages to 10,000 households in the most affected areas. Given Kashf Foundation’s focus on provide sustainable livelihoods, the next phase of rehabilitation will involve support through access to financial services so that affected households can rebuild their income streams. To make a donation, contact CEO Roshaneh Zafar via her assistant at fatima.raja@kashf.org
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee is responding to the devastating floods in Pakistan. With a robust network of local staff and partners already on the ground, and 30 years of experience working in Pakistan, the IRC is well-positioned to provide shelter, clean water, sanitation, and essential supplies to those who have fled the rising waters.
The Citizens Foundation (TCF)
TCF is a non-profit organization set up in 1995 by a group of citizens concerned with the dismal state of education in Pakistan. Although its focus is on education, TCF was actively involved in relief efforts after the earthquake and is once again mobilizing resources to contribute towards the flood relief efforts. To give to TCF in the US, follow this link.
Sincerely,
Aun Rahman
Country Director – Pakistan | Acumen Fund
The influential climatologist Stephen H. Schneider–husband of Mountainfilm 2010 Symposium speaker Terry Root–passed away on Monday. The New York Times has written a touching obituary.
Sarah Holbrooke sits down with Tom Shadyac for a Minds of Mountainfilm Interview. You can find more videos, including the Moving Mountains Extinction Symposium by visiting http://www.mountainfilm.org/tv
Right before the festival this year, another first was notched into history: the youngest kid to summit the highest mountain in the world.
Jordan Romero, age 13, hit the summit of Everest on May 22 at 9:45am local time.
Jordan Romero on Everest, from his web site
Of course, there is a fair share of controversy about whether or not a 13-year old kid should even be attempting feats like this. Jordan is actually on a bid to be the youngest person not only to summit Everest, but to hit all of the 7 Summits–the 7 highest mountains on each of the 7 continents in the world (actually there are 8, if you include both Oceana & Australia). He’s already bagged them all except Vinson in Antarctica!
What do you think? Are we risking too much in search of superlatives?
Now that we’re in the countdown to this year’s festival, we’re sure you want to check out what films we’ll be featuring. Instead of just listing them, we’ll be posting trailers to selected films each Tuesday and Friday, so keep an eye out for what’s to come! Today we’re featuring Mount St. Elias.
The distance from Mount Saint Elias’ summit (18,009 feet) to sea is only 10 miles, a rare and steep vertical descent. In 2007, a group of men tackle this Alaskan peak, intending to climb and ski it, an attempt at what may be the longest vertical descent in ski history. Brilliantly filmed and dramatically told, Mount St. Elias is an epic film about the obsession with a superlative mountain, where weather can change in an instant, and success is far from guaranteed.
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