Cape Farewell Youth Expedition 2007

Today I was able to do my science project! We were able to meet up with an American Glaicologist (Jack) and he took us up to see the stakes that he had put in last spring. The stakes are used to measure glacier mass balance (a measurment of how much has accumulated and melted on the glacier over a year). Since the summer has just ended we were looking at how much had melted since he was last on the glacier. The experience was incredible. The sun was shinning and the air was so fresh. Jack is a very kind man and he let us measure for ourselves the stakes and help him take the GPS readings. I learned a huge amout about glaciers and was over whelmed by the size of the glacier and the amount that had melted. It wasnt was dramatic as seeing the ice fall into the water (on the last glacier) but when I stood there and realised how much the glacier had moved over the past century and how fast it was receding made the think hard about what we have done to this planet and what we have to do. It was also very enpowering to know that the measurments that i was taking were going to be documented in real scientific journals and that it would be consulted by scientist all over the world and I did it with my own hands and eyes (at only 16!). T

Tonight is my live blog, so I hope all goes well and that i can speak to yall back home.

Love and miss you all (not too much though) ,

Shona x

[photopress:kieth_sky.jpg,full,pp_image]

[photopress:keith_in_london.jpg,full,pp_image]

Keith in London, Svalbard.

Time: 13:24
Date: 19th September 2007
Location: Ny Alesund

Hey guys,

I feel a bit exhausted today even though we haven’t exactly been trekking over mountains. I feel as if I have learnt so much from a media, art and science perspective. Speaking in front of camera has just turned into a routine; in fact it will seem strange back home with no one behind you with a microphone. I have learnt that no matter what is around you it can be made into art. Scientists have then taught me, about the balance between the environment and humans and how it needs to be stable.
I’m having an amazing time and I don’t want to come back!

Hope you all well
Liam

[photopress:jethro_noorderlicht.jpg,full,pp_image]

Jethro on the Noorderlicht
Read the full entry >

[photopress:ina_makes_a_friend.jpg,full,pp_image]

[photopress:rebbeca_portrait.jpg,full,pp_image]
Read the full entry >

Wed 19th Sept, 4pm GMT (12noon Montreal)
Watch Shona’s video diary, direct from Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (duration: 1:12 mins). Thank you for all your initial questions! If you are a pupil at Heritage Regional High join Shona online for a live QA at 4.30pm GMT (12.30pm Montreal).
Read the full entry >

Join Amy’s Live Arctic QA

Wed 19th Sept, 10.40am GMT (11.40am UK)
Following Amy’s video diary broadcast she will be online live from the Arctic for 30 minutes to hear your responses and to answer any more questions. The live QA will take place on the link below from 10.40am GMT onwards on Wed 19th Sept.
Read the full entry >

Tuesday,Sept.18,2007

Its been great here.  We’ve been working really hard.  Today as you probably already know I saw a reindeer from only approx.5 meters away. Too cool, and we did a dance.  If you look on the photos posted up on the web you notice that we’re all wearing blue hats, these hats represent creative partnership, back in London we had an interview with them it was really cool. They’re friendly ppl.  Also, we got interviewed several times by T4.  For those who have no ideal what T4 is, it’s a T.V. channel that is exactly like the cw11 or KTLA.  The shows supernatural, smallville, gilmoregirls, and one tree hill is on it.  It is my absolute favourite channel.  Anyhow back to the expedition, we’re getting along really well and I couldn’t hope for more .Last day we were asked to think up of a word that represents what we’ve been feeling through this exhibition and my word was FREEDOM.  The power to feel free is a gift.  There is no pressure, and best of all no expectations.  Ppl don’t judge you and you are not expected to be anything other than yourself.  Therefore, I’ve finally let my personality shine and I’m really happy.

I am enjoying every moment and I am not looking forward to the end of this expedition.  I would love for it to continue, because it has placed me in a realistic environment, in which I can learn and improve.

If anyone is wondering why my title is “Password, “Darling”” it is because everyone on board calls each other darling.  This is how close we’ve all become.

Who are all these darlings, there they are
The cape Farewell students, Liam, Ina, Franzi, Joe, Amy (love), Hayley, Shona, Akash, Jethro, Doriana, Nonie, and myself.
The Adults Cape Farewell, Colin, Suba, Jess, Keith, Mark, Joe, Duncan, Dan, Rebecca,
The Adults Boat Crew who have become part of the team, Anna, Christian, Barbarra, Renzkee, Gert

[photopress:mark_maslin_1.jpg,full,pp_image]

Mark Masin in front of the Noorderlicht.