From Germany
Monika Schiefer produced the IPPG letterhead and the logo that will soon be recognized as
a sign of endorsement for ethical trekking companies.
A mail-out was made to trekking agencies, ambassador to Nepal, EP, Foreign Minister.
IPPG had airtime in a radio interview, which was well received.
From France
Dr Nicolas Peschanski says: "I have organized a meeting on the December 22nd about
our ideas and guidelines with the Honorary consulate of Nepal in France. They agree to
give the IPPG newsletter and guidelines to any trekker asking about trekking in Nepal with
the visa paper. This is a great step for French people going to the Himalayas. IPPG is
very difficult to register in France so I began a new project to register as a
humanitarian non-profit organization... " A mail-out to trekking agents was made.
From Australia
Dr Jim Duff and Rejane Belanger did a mail-out to trekking/travel agencies.
Many IPPG newsletters and information were distributed at the Nomad Adventure Travel Expo
in Sydney.
Jim and Rejane have been quite busy networking and preparing the September conference in
Kathmandu.
Jim is preparing articles for the media here in Australia.
Donations in Australia are now tax deductible.
Jim is actively looking for someone in Australia who has the time, energy and the computer
skills to take on the task of mail-outs, publicity and general communication. He is
finding that the international and Nepali aspect of IPPG leaves little time for media work
in Australia. Help!
From Switzerland
Dr Urs Hefti was very active in running the conference in Kathmandu.
He secured a US$200 donation from the Swiss Society of Mountaineering to produce the
pamphlet Sharing the Load in Kathmandu.
An article on IPPG will appear in the next newsletter of the Swiss Society of
Mountaineering.
Urs also did an Interview for the WDR, a German radio station and is translating Sharing
the Load into European languages.
From USA
Dr Torrey Goodman did a mail-out to trekking companies.
Dr Jim Litch is still working in Khunde hospital in the Everest area and publicizing IPPG
as well as saving lives
… Ben Ayers is back in Nepal and is helping with various IPPG activities including
leaflet distribution.
There is no doubt that the USA could do with more regional representatives and support for
the current ones.
From Nepal
Before the conference, Prakash Adhikari and his helpers Gobi and Nimesh did a big mail-out
to trekking companies, embassies, government bodies, and media to invite them to the
conference.
During the conference, they were all very busy.
After the conference, the pamphlet Sharing The Load was printed (with the help of
Deepak Thapa and Karen Pritchard). The leaflet is now being distributed in Kathmandu and
Pokhara.
Prakash talked directly to the Secretary general of TAAN (Trekking Agents Association of
Nepal) about how can IPPG carry on this porter safety issue in a sustainable way
collaborating with TAAN.
Manang Rescue Fund
Gobi Bashyal reports: "This local organization which was started and is supported by
IPPG have done a very good job up in Manang, publicizing and carrying out their rescues. I
had a discussion about it with Jimmy (Chairman of MRF) and the HRA (Himalayan Rescue
Association) doctors this morning. The doctors appreciated the job MRF is doing and made a
donation. I have two reports of rescues by MRF: one was the porter whose life was saved by
HRA doctors after he was brought down by the MRF crew based at Manang."
From UK
Edward Cartwright did a mail-out to over 100 individuals and companies. This was well
received and generated number of replies including a few donations.
Paul Deegan's and Jim Duff's lectures in London were well attended and have led to
subsequent inquiries. The article on Shyam Bahadur Nepali's death and IPPG details were
published in The Great Outdoors Magazine and Doug Scott's STC brochure.
An article should be soon published in the Sunday Times weekend magazine.
From New Zealand
Jamie MacGuiness is very keen but is out of touch most of the year while trekking. So he
has stepped down for the time being. Meantime he has put a page for IPPG on his new
website.
Dr Trish Batchelor is the new New Zealand coordinator. Trish currently runs a Travel
Medicine clinic in Auckland. She and her partner have trekked a lot in the Himalayas and
have worked in Dharamsala as volunteers (at Delek Hospital). Trish has been giving anyone
who comes through the clinic on their way to Nepal a copy of IPPG's last newsletter and
information sheet. Welcome on board Trish!
From Canada
Elsie James has been extremely active with a large mail-out to most trekking and travel
companies.
Elsie also mentions IPPG extensively during her promotional talks on trekking in Nepal,
throughout Canada.
