What ho fellows!
Do you fancy helping out a gentleman with only the click of your mouse?
Of course you do!
So if you could join the facebook page bellow that would help me immensely
I've made a short film for the BCS Digital Revolutions competition at Sheffield Doc/Fest all about the fundraising campaign. The theme was "how digital technology has changed your life".
The cometition also involves a social media campaign so simply by joining the page you are helping out!
The link for the film is on the page below. thanks for your continued support
Yours truly,
Alistair Linsell - Gentleman Adventurer!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gentleman-Adventurer-BCS-Digital-Revolutions/118053361589767
Thursday, 21 October 2010
Monday, 13 September 2010
I'm back!
Hello again Ladies and Gentlemen!I had a fantastic time out on the lost world project and learnt a few things about the conservation issues surrounding the mountain.
First thing- The Lost World isn't lost anymore!
Tourism is a big part of the local economy and over three thousand people climb Roraima every year. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. With the Venezuelan economy struggling at the moment tourism brings much needed commerce to the area. However at present the
infrastructure needed to manage this tourism is incomplete.
Second thing- Saving the Lost World is not rocket science.
There are several things which are relatively easy and will help conserve the area.
1) Build latrines at the campsites on the trekking route.
I mean seriously! How has this not been done yet?!?! Will 3000 people climbing Roraima every year latrines are a fairly obvious and essential piece of infrastructure that as yet has not been put in place. It's relatively cheap and simple and would make a world of difference. We climbed Roraima at the low season and let's just say things were unpleasant...
2) Tourists bring litter. If you go and visit (and I think it's a great place to go and see) then please, bring your litter back down with you.
This has been a huge problem, but recent litter drives have helped to improve the situation. These have tended to be organised by individuals on an ad-hock basis. With a little funding this could be made a regular thing, but better still people could simply just not litter! Like I said. id you go, take your litter with you! (Or feel the wrath of a vexed gentleman...)
3) Tourists bring other things too...
There are a number of non-native plants that have been introduced near the "hotels" on Roraima. The typical ecosystem of the mountain is one of thirty million years ago and is very
delicate. If allowed to take hold the introduced new species could displace the unique wildlife on the plateau... and this would be pretty rubbish.
A simple expedition with some trained botanists could help remove these non native species whilst leaving the endemic wildlife. However Venezuelans do not like outsiders telling them what to do and the local Pemon Indians do not like people destroying the plant life, and as yet most of them can't tell the difference between native and introduced plant life.
Third Thing- The mountain spans three countries and as such things are politically... interesting.
The route up is in Venezuela, but the mountain is the triple border point with Brazil and Guyana. Venezuela currently disputes the Schomburg line which marks the border with Guyana and believes that it should own half of Guyana. Not only this, but the Venezuelan government gave the land in the area to the local Pemon people sometime ago so the area is now officially their land. This means the Venezuelan government tends not to get involved with the area as it sees it at the local peoples responsibility. Couple this with the Venezuelans dislike of foreigners telling them what to do and you have a situation that is pretty difficult.
In all honesty I'm not sure how best to move things forwards, but it probably involves some kind of education and outreach plan with the local people and tribal elders. UNESCO also has plans for a tri-national park covering the area and this could be a good way of getting all three governments to work together to protect the area.
So,
Whilst the political situation is a little tricky there are some very simple things that would make a huge difference. So if you thought of donating to the project but didn't quite find the time then you can still donate at
Finally I'd just like to say a huge thankyou to you all!
The support I've received from you guys has been phenomenal! There have been loads of donations, and no small amount from people I have never met. If you are one of those people and you're ever in Gloucestershire (or even the UK!) then do let me know as I'd love to buy you a drink.
A few quick shout outs- First http://conserveme.org/ is a conservation and science engagement business set up by the lovely Shelley Rowley, a fellow LWP participant. Secondly Ibex Earth do check out their facebook page as they will have more photos and information about the project.
There will still be updates about the documentary (look out for a slot on the BBC in december called "A Decade of Discovery"), more photos, footage I shot, and other things. But the main mission is done and I thankyou all for the parts you played in getting me there.
Alistair
Thursday, 15 July 2010
SNOWDON
So, after the incredibly wet and cold first attempt to climb Snowdon I was back.
It was time to get clever about this. Having checked the Met Office forecast, Thursday seemed the best day to
We ascended into the clouds. though they weren't the dark clouds of our previous attempt but the kind of cloud that still gives the impression of there being a sun in the sky.
And I was considerably more waterproof!
It was time to get clever about this. Having checked the Met Office forecast, Thursday seemed the best day to climb Snowdon. Rain in the morning but clearing up later. Having waxed my boots, I kitted myself out in my finest waterproof trousers and coat, and many layers of fleece I was ready for this.
We changed tactics from last time opting for the miners track, over the Pig track which had been so chillingly windy the last time, this followed the valley floor and we planned to creep in under the wind and weather
then take the steep climb to the top.
With all of the fellows that previously accompanied me in Sweden, dissertation hell and suffering from asthma I had the pleasure of being accompanied by Joseph Munns Esq!
Having driven through a very rainy England and a very cloudy Wales our hopes of a dry and easy climb were not high. However when we pulled into the Pen-y-Pass car park it wasn't raining, though Snowdon's peak was hidden in the clouds.
We set of at a brisk pace and the visibility was good enough to actually see the view! Wales has a very pretty landscape when you can actually see it! The only part of the weather that was particularly worrisome was the wind. Gusts would come down when the wind was quite tranquil and this would catch you unawares and threaten to blow you off your feet. With most of the track being broken rock there were some interesting moments of leaping from one foot hold to another to avoid a broken ankle.
Progress was good and It wasn't long before we found ourselves at the point where we had been forced to turn back last time. The going was good! It hadn't rained! Though the peak was still shrouded in cloud.
We ascended into the clouds. though they weren't the dark clouds of our previous attempt but the kind of cloud that still gives the impression of there being a sun in the sky.Up on the ridge to the peak the wind whipped up, and though it wasn't raining, the clouds we were walking through were condensing on us.
Finally out of the mists loomed a stone staircase and at the top a huge cairn, taller than two men.
The summit of Snowdon!
So we had a spot of tea in the clouds and wind.
And so, like Sir Everard im Thurn had been forced to turn back but succeeded on the later attempt. So had I with Snowdon!
So this means all gentlemanly tasks are now complete!
Tea on Snowdon
If you'd like to donate, then here's the link!
Which just leaves my final thoughts on this subject
Friday, 9 July 2010
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Current highlights!
Hello there!
New to the blog? Here is a list of current highlights!
Interested in donating to help protect the lost world? Click here!
Do have a look around!
Alistair Linsell - Gentleman Adventurer!
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Third and final Rate My Hat!
With less than a month left of fundraising things are hotting up!
Firstly!
You voted for a duel on Tower Bridge!
And you shall have one! (I shall do my best not to get arrested...)
Secondly!
Snowdon will be conquered! Come hell or high water!
Thirdly get on and Rate My Hat!
The Panama
The Fedora
Many thanks to Heselden Hats of Faversham
Finally I a request from someone trying to become Dr X and study anger! Remember the more villains there are the more interesting life gets for adventurers.
----------
Miss Kate Cross
Durham University
Dear Mr. Linsell, Esq.
Firstly, I wish you well with your endeavours as a gentleman adventurer! Your blog is indeed marvellous and I look forward to the next post with great enthusiasm. Being a researcher called Cross who is studying anger, I appreciate a good bit of science-comedy juxtaposition. I'm also really looking forward to being able to write my name as Dr X...
Which brings me to the purpose of this little missive! I am nearing the end of my PhD and making one final push for data collection. I've been asking, begging, cajoling, grovelling, entreating, beseeching, and imploring (I've even been known to supplicate a little) as many people as possible to take a few moments to fill out my questionnaire about angry behaviour
...which is here: http://face.dur.ac.uk/expt/lgb/09/kate/
Each participant brings me closer to finishing my thesis! I'm hoping that some of the marvellous folk who follow your blog might be willing to fill out said questionnaire, thus earning:
b) The knowledge that they have helped to create... Dr X!
Gratefully,
Kate Cross
Thursday, 17 June 2010
FOR SCIENCE!
Well it's been a dashed busy week!
I have been volunteering at the Cheltenham Science Festival. Will 22,000 people coming to the festival it was a busy and sometimes hectic event, but ultimately a huge amount of fun! In and amongst the directing crowds of school children, manning the audio visual desks in events, I got to meet the Physicist Jim Al-Khalili , Robert Llewellyn (Yep, from Red Dwarf), the science editor for The Times, and The Minister for Science and Universities, David Willets.
The Science Minister was very enthusiastic and a big fan of getting children into Science and engineering. Just how raising tuition fees will achieve this he didn't quite specify...
He's also not a fan of the metric system.
The festival had me at my most gentlemanly, be it directing elderly ladies to venues, helping small children, or schmoozing at the Hotel du Vin. It was also a great opportunity to meet up with people from FameLab, a science communication competition I did last year. For those of you who I said I would tell when I put the three minute wonder on youtube - here it is.
It's been all emails ago this afternoon and hopefully Tower Bridge will say yes to the duel.
Fingers crossed!
Afraid I have to go now, I'm off to investigate a necropolis this weekend.
Your's sincerely,
Alistair Linsell - Gentleman Adventurer!
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