A project by YEper Kerstin Dörner

Heating costs a lot of money and releases great amounts of carbondioxide. Especially schools need big amounts of heat to maintain the temperature in cold months. The recommended class room temperature is 20°C. Often it is warmer.

The idea behind the project „Cuddling for Polar Bears“ is to turn down the heating to 19-20°C in the week from the 8th till the 12th of February: on the one hand in order to save energy on the other hand to create awareness.

19-20°C isn’t cold, no one should be cold. Wearing warm cloths, when it is cold outside, shouldn’t be a problem. We act for the protection of the environment, less CO2, means less global warming. The money we save hereby should flow back into environmental projects.

However the project shouldn’t only be realized at one school, but at as many schools as possible. We need to create awareness among people, whether tall or small. Not only tropical deforestation or China’s industrialisation, but our own heating behaviour causes global warming.

Just by right ventilation and closing doors of heated rooms or turning down the heating in unused rooms a lot of money, oil and gas as well as CO2 can be saved and conserved.

Our world is in danger; this becomes obvious looking at polar bears. Global warming causes the melting of the polar ice caps. Their habitat is shrinking.

We all hear, learn and know a lot about it, but do we act? Exactly that would be important. We can move thing, if we move ourselves!

Here a short instruction of what you should do and what you could do optionally.
If you have a problem, feel free to contact me, I’ll help you for sure.

You should do the following:
Simply make sure that the heating will be turned down.
1. Inform your headmaster; find friends and teachers who support you
2. Figure out, who is responsible for your school heating and regulates it. See that the
heating will be turned down from 8.2. to 12.2.2010. The room temperature should be 19-20°C.
3. Inform students, encourage parents to join, inform the local press.
4. Inform me, that you join, so I can keep you updated. Just send an email to [email protected]

What you could do (optional, but then it’ll get really interesting

1. Gather information about your heating. Keep records about the regular usage, CO2 emissions, year of construction, the regulation… Some school heatings aren’t turned down during the holidays. That has to change. For assistance I attached a questionnaire.
2. Ask the classes before the project week to measure the temperature in the classrooms. Document as well how and how often the windows are opened. You can use a normal thermometer. With these data you can draw a map which displays the warmth in your school. Then you know exactly on which level you are. Moreover you can share this with others. Additionally the measuring shows quite plainly how warm it often is in classrooms. T-Shirts are barely appropriate winter clothing. I also attached a questionnaire for that.
3. Maybe you have an infrared camera at your school or you can organise one. With these cameras you can actually uncover where energy and worth gets lost. On this basis possibilities of improvement and solutions can be found.
4. Speak to the classes ask for support, draw posters, shoot videos, write an article for the pupil’s magazine. Be creative! How do you inform as many students as possible
5. Involve as many as possible. Speak to teachers; ask them to teach about topics of the environment. Whether geography, biology, chemistry or physics, in many subjects environment and climate are in the curriculum in any way. Talk to your teachers, write an info letter to the other teachers. Maybe some of the
teachers make posters with their classes. You can hang them up in your school. Although it sometimes doesn’t seem like it: posters attract attention, especially when many appear at the same time.
6. You should moreover inform art teachers. Climate change and environment can be used as topics in classes of all ages. These works can be shown during the project week.
7. Organize a campaign evening. Invite parents, students, but also the general public, press and politicians. The forms of these evenings can vary. Mini-Presentation by different classes or by the organizers themselves about different environmental topics. Report why you do this project, how much you cut down and how. If you shot a video, you can show it. Same for photos. Try to motivate people to believe that they themselves can change and achieve something. Make them act for our planet. Maybe a little roleplay?
Maybe you know an expert who can say some words or you accompany the evening with music played by your school band or the choir,….
8. By reducing the amount of thermal heat you can save money besides CO2 and oil. This money should flow back into environmental projects, perhaps planting trees or protecting the rainforest. The carbondioxide, which we emit, is fixed again. Schools most of the time are managed by the community or the city. But your secretary or headmaster can for sure tell you who to contact.

Sounds too complicated? If only the heating gets turned down you reached a lot already. Of course it would be awesome if you could realize some other points of the list.
Do you have other ideas, critics or suggestions? You come across problems?  Let me know.

We can move a lot! So let’s start! The more that join in the better! Tell it to everyone you know, so as many as possible participate in this project!
Our environment is our future!

Heating Infomation questionnaire

Classroom temperature chart

Calm has set in once again and an opportunity to wish all our readers BEST WISHES FOR 2010.

After a diving tour around the Northern coast of Phuket, Mike, the Pangaea crew and some members of his family headed back to Phuket for the New Year celebrations. Avoiding the crowds onshore, the team decided to celebrate in true Thai style while observing the spectacular array of fireworks from Pangaea, situated 100 meters off Patong Beach.

The Thai food went down a treat with a bottle of Mumm Champagne and as tradition has it, we lit the lantern (the 'Happy' or 'Good Luck' lantern) to make all our wishes come true in 2010.

Our wishes are many and do not differ much to our dreams and aspirations of 2009. We wish to have a great continuation of the Pangaea Project. In 2009 we saw the Pangaea Project develop from a dream into a recognised global action project with youths and followers supporting us from all around the world. We thank our friends, partners and supporters for their continued support and enthusiasm and together we will continue to reach out to more and more people, enlightening youths from around the world about the beauty of Nature and acting towards bettering the future of our planet.

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After a few days in Phuket, Mike the Pangaea crew, and some members of his family sail to the popular diving destination of Similan Island, situated 60 km NE of Phuket.

"It's great to be away of the hussle and bussle of Phuket" says Mike. " it goes without saying that I prefer to be out on the sea amongst beautiful scenery as there is here. We went diving today, not on a coral reef, but a reef of rock. The visibility was extremely good and the marine life amazing. We will continue to dive as we head north over the next few days to Richelieu Rock near the Burmese border."

"Tommorrow is Christmas day and I will spend it with my family in this amazing part of the world. It's a shame my entire family cannot join me on Pangaea but I will be thinking of them all as they celebrate Christmas in all corners of the world."

"I take this opportunity to wish everybody out there, my friends, family, partners and supporters a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.  I wil be thinking of you all."

Best wishes,

Mike Horn

After 14 hours of sailing along the coast of Thailand Mike and the Pangaea crew arrive safely in Phuket. "We have spent the morning in customs and have now officially entered into Thailand. It's a beautiful spot. I'm looking forward to spending Christmas here and doing some maintenance on the boat before we head to India." says Mike.

Mike calls the morning of the 16th to say that Pangaea and her crew have arrived safely in Langkawi Island, a small Malaysian island situated on the border of Thailand and Malaysia on the Malacca Strait.

Mike says, "It was a great sail up the coast but we encountered a rather impressive thunder storm along the way. The weather is hot and clear and we are amidst beautiful white sand beaches and clear blue waters. We enjoyed an amazing sunset this evening. One night to relax and back to the grind tomorrow. We have some engine parts arriving so will have some work to do before we tackle the 14hrs trip to Phuket. We hope to get there on the 18th."
 

After 10 busy days involved with the Selection camp in Switzerland Mike Horn has returned to Pangaea which is moored in Port Klang not far from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

"It was fantastic to assist in the selection camp in Switzerland and to be back with the team again but I'm always eager to get back to the boat. She's left in good hands but I don't like her to stand still for too long. Pangaea must pull up anchor and start sailing again. I'm looking forward to the next exciting leg of the expedition and to meeting the new group of Young Explorers in India soon." Mike Horn

"Our mobility concept is based on an integrated solution combining electric cars suitable for everyday use and the appropriate charging infrastructure. In this way we are decisively improving customer friendliness and the suitability of electric vehicles."Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

Daimler is contributing more than 100 electric automobiles from Mercedes-Benz and smart to the project and also services the vehicles. RWE, on the other hand, is responsible for the development, creation, and operation of a network of approximately 500 charging stations as well as for handling the power supply and centrally controlling the overall system. “The charging stations will be set up at the customers’ homes and business locations and in public parking lots. What’s more, the network will incorporate various business-to-business partners, such as shopping centers, parking garages, and fleet customers,” says RWE Chairman Jürgen Großmann.

The joint initative is benefiting from the extensive experience that Daimler has gained from its current electro-mobility project in London. The company launched a pilot test there last year, in which customers such as the police force are testing the first-generation smart fortwo electric drive under day-to-day conditions.

A Shared Commitment to a Sustainable Future

PARIS, FRANCE, 4 December 2009 – Nestlé Nespresso SA, the worldwide pioneer and reference for highest quality premium portioned coffee, today announced a new partnership in the area of sustainability with Mike Horn. The South African born explorer-adventurer – who is leading the Pangaea Expedition around the world in an eco-friendly aluminium boat – will serve as an ambassador for Ecolaboration™, the Nespresso sustainability platform.

“Mike Horn is one of the top explorers of our time. We share common values. His humanist vision of the Pangaea expedition and his commitment to a sustainable future make him a natural partner for Ecolaboration™. Nespresso is proud to greet Mike Horn as an Ambassador for Ecolaboration™,” said Richard Girardot, CEO of Nestlé Nespresso, at Nautic – the Paris Boat Show, where he and Mike Horn unveiled an exhibition on the Pangaea Expedition and Ecolaboration™.

Ecolaboration™ and Pangaea
Ecolaboration™, launched in June 2009, consolidates and extends into a single concerted program all Nespresso sustainability efforts in coffee, capsules, machines, together with its overall operations. Within the framework of Ecolaboration™, Nespresso has set itself the following targets to reach by 2013:
• to source 80% of its coffee through its unique AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program and Rainforest Alliance Certified™ farms
• to put systems in place to triple its capacity to recycle used capsules to 75%
• to reduce the overall carbon footprint required to produce every cup of Nespresso by 20%
“Ecolaboration™ and Pangaea have a lot in common, especially the choice to use endlessly reusable aluminium. Both projects also promote an optimistic and participative idea of sustainable development. I am truly very happy to share my experience within a project of such great scope,” said Mike Horn.

The Pangaea Expedition – from 2008 to 2012 – aims to create awareness and educate today’s youth about a sustainable future for the planet. Through this expedition, young adults can experience and explore the natural world, learn about environmental challenges our planet is facing today, find possible solutions, and most importantly start acting to change things for the better.

Pangaea, a 35-metre sailing vessel made from 50 tonnes of aluminium, serves as the platform for the expedition. In the spirit of the expedition, the boat was specifically designed to enhance respect for the environment. Pangaea integrates tools to produce energy with the lowest possible level of emissions and pollution.

Exhibition: “Nespresso Ecolaboration™ Presents Mike Horn”
At Nautic – the Paris Boat Show, Richard Girardot and Mike Horn unveiled an exhibition entitled “Nespresso Ecolaboration™ presents Mike Horn”. With the aim of bringing the Pangaea Expedition to life, the exhibition uses a video and photo installation to create a captivating and unique visual experience.
Visitors attending the Salon Nautique de Paris, held from 5-13 December, will have a chance to view the exhibition as they enter the boat show.

Nestlé Nespresso SA 2 of 2
The exhibition at the Salon Nautique de Paris is the first public event in the Nespresso partnership with Mike Horn. Nespresso and Mike Horn will explore together new and innovative ways to ensure a more sustainable future throughout the Pangaea Expedition.

NOTE TO EDITORS
An electronic media kit is available featuring media documents, pictures and a video at http://www.nespresso.com/ecolaboration/mediacenter
 

CONTACT
H.-Joachim Richter
Director, Corporate Communications
Nestlé Nespresso SA
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +41 21 796 9620

ABOUT NESPRESSO
Nestlé Nespresso SA, the worldwide pioneer and market leader in highest-quality premium portioned coffee, introduces consumers to the world’s finest Grand Cru coffees to be enjoyed in the comfort of their own homes and savoured outside the home, in locations such as gourmet restaurants, upscale hotels, luxury outlets and offices. Nespresso offer focuses on its unique Nespresso Trilogy, the unmatched combination of exceptional coffee, smart and stylish coffee machines and personalized customer service. Together, these three elements deliver moments of pure indulgence – the Nespresso Ultimate Coffee Experience.

Headquartered in Paudex, Switzerland with more than 3,900 employees, Nestlé Nespresso SA sells products in more than 50 countries directly to its customers and at the end of 2008 operated a global retail network of more than 157 exclusive boutiques in key cities around the world. For a third year, it was named the fastest growing brand within the Nestlé Group and one of its "billionaire brands", achieving in 2008 revenue surpassing CHF 2 billion for the first time and maintaining average annual growth of an average of 30 percent since 2000. For more information, visit www.nespresso.com

ABOUT MIKE HORN
South African Mike Horn is one of the world’s greatest modern adventurer-explorers. He has undertaken exceptional feats of endurance until now and has shown determination and courage which have extended beyond the boundaries of human achievement. His exploits include: Latitude Zero, an 18-month circumnavigation of the Earth around the Equator; the Arktos Expedition, a solo circumnavigation of the Arctic Circle lasting 27 months; the North Pole Winter Expedition, the first ever night expedition to the North Pole, starting from the northernmost point of Russia and ending two months later at the North Pole; and the Himalaya Expedition, summiting two mountains higher that 8000 meters without the use of additional oxygen.

With this experience Mike Horn has now started a new chapter in his life – the Pangaea Expedition – to share his experiences and pass on his knowledge to the younger generation, and to educate the youth about the beauty of our planet and how we can preserve it.

For more information, visit www.mikehorn.com

Mike rings from the Port of Klang situated a little north of Kuala Lumpur. He has been very busy doing renovations on Pangaea. "We are removing a structure from the front deck of the boat. It will give us a lot of extra space", he says."People here are very interested about Pangaea and I have been asked to talk to two local schools here. " As Mike raises interest about the Pangaea Expedition in Malaysia, the team in Switzerland are getting ready for the next group of Young Explorers to meet with them in Switzerland.