11/20/2005, Saudi Arabia
RED SEA ( Bahr al-Amar ) KAYAK EXPEDITION : 1800 Km Kayak expedition from the Jordanian border on the Northern Gulf of Aqaba to the Yemeni border in the south ..becoming the first person to kayak the coastline of Saudi Arabia ( DECEMBER 2006 - JANUARY 2007 )
The aim of The Red sea expedition is not only to raise people's awareness of what the charity projects involving , but more also to raise attention to work towards the wider use of solar energy to enhance the economic and social development . "Through solar energy we can reach out to the unreached," referring to 2.4 billion people, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, who now live without electricity.For example, many Third World villages are simply too remote to be linked into any national electricity grids that are based on fossil fuels such as oil."
According to UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), about 18 percent of the world's primary energy now comes from renewable sources, most of it firewood. Hydroelectricity follows, and only a tiny fraction comes from solar, wind, geothermal, or wave power.
It says wider use of solar energy would help cut pollution from fossil fuels, avoid the potential dangers of nuclear power plants, and reduce the threat of spreading deserts caused by the stripping of Third World forests for firewood.Reducing foraging for wood also would free people, especially women, for other tasks, giving time for education that is crucial to restraining explosive birth rates in the Third World.
"Solar technology is feasible, it's already there," "We don't use it because it's expensive. And it's expensive because no one's interested in mass production."
His special designed kayak equiped with solar panels , will provide him energy to power his GPS , satelite phone , notebook and other electrical needed equipment - " I will be having a satellite telephone and TV and radio stations will be doing interviews with me, whilst I'm paddling ".
Luc will be supported by his team by a Jeep . They will be meeting Luc some evenings carrying essential supplies. Every day one member of the team will go online to receive and answer emails; upload the latest position on the website www.lucvandenavyle.com ; tell what is happening; upload recent photographs, etc.
With 1,800km of often untouched coastline, and a long history of trade and seafaring, the Red Sea has played a major role in the development of Jeddah , and still does so today.
Luc will paddle his kayak across the entire coastline, covering, if weather and tides allow, between 40 and 60 km's each day before coming ashore to sleep on beaches each night.
The kayak is a totally silent and non-polluting method of sea travel, and can carry tents, gas, water and three weeks worth of provisions in watertight hatches.
Each day will begin at 4am with breakfast and the kayak will be on the water an hour before sunrise, when the sea is often calm, and the light at its most beautiful. Phosphorescent water, turtles, numerous seabirds in addition to dolphins .
The journey wil be undertaken , depending on his job in Saudia , in one or two stages i.e. the expedition will be split in two legs : the first leg of the journey - which will be from Jordania to Jeddah - will be done in December next year and the second leg next December.
Meanwhile, Luc's kayaks will be prepared with solar panels in Belgium , presented to the press and later flown to Jeddah from Europe . The kayaks will be stored in Jeddah and wil be branded by the expedition sponsors. After the expedition the kayak(s) will be displayed in fairs in agreement with the sponsor(s) .
we offer business and industry the possibility to participate in our project. Not only sponsoring in equity but also by contribution of further technical development . This is an unique opportunity to social and environmental issues and the fact that innovations in technology are making a valuable contribution to the environment.
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In an area where famous battles were fought and Alexander the Great once journeyed, the Sahara Race, will take place October 29th in the great Sahara Desert of Egypt. The Sahara Race will feature 100 competitors from more than 20 nations around the world with equal numbers coming from Asia, North America and Europe. Luc started his preparations with nutricions and training for the start of the grueling challenge: 250 kilometers by foot, self-supported, across the hottest and one of the most inhospitable places on Earth- the Sahara Desert.
The Sahara Race is a six-stage, 250-kilometer footrace across the Sahara Desert of Egypt. All competitors must carry all their own food, gear and clothing which they will need to complete the 250 kilometer course . The race consists of six stages, lasting 7 days, with distances ranging from 40 to 80 kilometers per stage. The 80 kilometer stage held over two days during which competitors race through the night guided by bright green glow sticks.
The Sahara Desert is one of the world's most dangerous deserts.The Sahara Race will be located between the Farafra and Bahariya Oases in the Sahara Desert of Egypt, considered to be the most spectacular part of the Sahara - start at October 29th 2006 and the finish line will be in front of the Sphinx just next to the Pyramids of Giza ,the ancient Pyramids right outside Cairo.
An international team of volunteers and medical doctors will be on hand to provide support throughout the race. Brian J. Krabak, M.D. of the Johns Hopkins Institute in the United States will again lead the eight-person medical team. Johns Hopkins will use the opportunity to conduct medical research.
The international media will also be following the event with television shows planned for leading channels in the United States and Korea. Live website coverage will also be provided throughout the event.
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