Expedition to Peru Info

The 28 day expedition takes place in the summer of 2011 and until then I will be training, fundraising and generally preparing myself for the expedition. I will have to go to Wales a couple of months before the expedition to train for 3 days. This will involve learning to cope with altitude and the effects it can have, learning basic trekking and camping skills and importantly how to maintain health and hygiene.

Our main aim is to be able to help in a community project or help with an evironmental project (remember that a percentage of the fundraising will go to the project), but we also will gain a lot by learning their culture and being able to visit some of there historical sites on the way.

One of the things we try to do is to make sure we minimise, as much as we can, the impact on the environment. An example of this is the 4 R's: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, Remove.

Another example of minimising the impact on the environment is carbon offsetting. Basically how it works is that for every one tonne of CO2 we produce the equivalent of one tonne will be saved in other projects somewhere else in the world. For example swapping kerosene in a remote area of India for clean solar panels, planting trees and by supporting a wind powered project in India.

Some Interesting Facts about Peru

1. Peru has a population of over 30 million and is in the top 20 largest countries of the world.
2. The religious presence in Peru is made up of catholic, Greek Orthodox and Baptist.
3. The culture of Peru is traditional Spanish but the native Indians of Peru have managed to keep their historic traditions alive and well and is seen throughout Peru. The main language that is spoken in Peru is Spanish.
4. The potato, avocado and tomato is from peru.
5. Peru produces the finest cotton in the world.
6. Peru has 1701 species of birds, more then any other country.
7. The Llama originated in Peru and is used as beasts of burden. However, females give milk and flesh. This animal is truly utilized with wool, leather and rope being made from thier coats. Even the waste of the animal is used for fuel.
8. Franciso Pavarro conquered Peru and when he died his body was laid to rest in a glass casket in the main square in Lima
9. Peru celebrates about 3,000 festivities per year, most of which are related to the Christian religion.
10. The average life expectancry for men is 63 years of age and 67 for women.