IN NEPAL
Prakash Adhikari is the chief Executive of HRA (Himalayan Rescue Association). Prakash and other HRA staff Gobinda and Nimesh, were the organizers of the International Conference last September in Kathmandu. Prakash also wrote an article on IPPG in the HRA Souvenir book and prepared the Model for Sustainable Mountain Tourism as presented in this newsletter. Prakash is very active at promoting porters' safety when talking to the numerous trekkers he meets. The Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) has allocated Rs25000 to help porters in emergency situation (eg. evacuation)
IN UK
Ed Cartwright is a mountaineer and is currently studying at Oxford University. Death of a Porter has been published in two British magazines (High and Summit). This provoked discussion in the mail columns and travel sections of a newspaper.
IN FRANCE
Dr Nicolas Peschanski was a member of the panel of the international conference, last September in Kathmandu (see report). Back in France, he has translated into French Shyam's story, the IPPG guidelines and mailout material, and the application and donation form. Nicolas is looking upon an official registration to be able to receive donations. Stop press: as this goes to the printer, Nicholas reports that there is a lot in the French media about exploitation of porters. IPPG urges people not to boycott trekking, but to go, see and complain if necessary.
IN GERMANY
Monika Schiefer is a painter and has studied art at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf/Hochschule für Bildende Künste. She lives and works in Köln. Monika is a regular visitor to Nepal since 1985. Monika has just recently joined the ranks of IPPG and is preparing a mail-out to trekking agencies in her country.
IN USA
Dr Torrey Goodman was at the HRA post when Shyam Bahadur Nepali died. She helped the foundation of IPPG and MRF. Torrey has also been employing a few porters herself when climbing Meera and Island peaks in '98. Dr Jim Litch was a member of the panel of the international conference, last September in Kathmandu. Jim is presently working in the Everest area as a doctor at the Ed Hillary's hospital in Kunde.
IN SWITZERLAND
Urs Hefti has just recently joined IPPG as a representative. Urs is a member of the Swiss Society of Mountain Medicine.
IN NEW ZEALAND
Jamie Mc Guiness is an active climber and trekker spending most of his year in Nepal. He wrote the guidebook Trekking in the Everest Area. Jamie is keen to provide time and energy to IPPG projects in Nepal, and has offered to set up a web page on his website (http://www.webfoot.co.nz/trek-nepal).
IN AUSTRALIA:
Dr Jim Duff, and his partner Rejane, has been coordinating IPPG since its foundation. Part of their activities this year was to organize, in collaboration with Prakash Adhikari, the international conference. This newsletter is another of their projects.
