01.02.2004
Das "Eis bricht" in Chile
Tonight, Saturday, 31 January 2003, 10:40 pm, you would have wanted
to be at the Santiago, Chile Airport.
The historic, returning "Breaking the Ice" expedition team of Israeli
and Palestinian women and men, having navigated Drake Passage back from 30
days in Antarctica, flew from Punto Arenas to Santiago's Aeropuerto Arturo
Merina Benítez. . .into the open arms of Palestinian and Jewish residents
of that city who are rallying themselves as never before around the
travelers and their high purpose.
27.01.2004
Drake and more
Torsten - torsten@breaking-the-ice.de @ 08:46:25
The expedition has left the antarctic peninsula in stormy weather, navigating safely through icebergs. On Monday evening, they had crossed 60° S and officially left the Antarctic waters. In a phone conversation, Heskel gave us a brief on their mood, saying just how tired and exhausted they all are.
16.01.2004
The summit statement
We, the members of Breaking the Ice, the Israeli-Palestinian expedition to Antarctica, having reached the conclusion of a long journey by land and sea from our homes in the Middle East to the southernmost reaches of the earth, now stand atop this unnamed mountain.
By reaching its summit we have proven that Palestinians and Israelis can cooperate with one another with mutual respect and trust. Despite the deep differences that exist between us, we have shown that we can carry on a sincere and meaningful dialogue.
We join together in rejecting the use of violence in the solution of our problems and hereby declare that our peoples can and deserve to live together in peace and friendship. In expression of these beliefs and desires we hereby name this mountain "The Mountain of Israeli-Palestinian Friendship".
Jan 15., 4pm local time (GMT -3h)
16.01.04
The Summit
Torsten - torsten@breaking-the-ice.de @ 04:34:15
The Mountain of Israeli-Palestinian Friendship, Antarctica (66° S -- 65° W)
Fifteen days after departing from Puerto Williams, Chile on the ocean-going yacht Pelagic Australis and after a one-day delay due to bad weather, the members of the Israeli-Palestinian Antarctic peace expedition known as “Breaking the Ice” achieved their objective, scaling the summit of an unclimbed mountain near Prospect Point on the Antarctic Peninsula and dedicating their efforts to peace.
High winds and driving snow welcomed the expedition team members Thursday morning as they awakened at their high camp on the morning of the intended summit assault. The Israeli expedition leader, Doron Erel, and lead mountain guide Denis Ducroz from Chamonix, France, debated the wisdom of setting out on the projected route, which would take the inexperienced Israeli and Palestinian mountaineers within feet of yawning crevasses. After almost an hour, the green light was finally given. The expedition would go for the summit.
With crampons attached to their boots and ice axes in hand, the team members ascended slowly along the icy slopes of a glacier that leads up to the sheer rock faces of the mountain, itself. In a gesture that was only coincidentally symbolic, they were roped together in mixed groups of four: these Israelis and Palestinians would literally be taking responsibility for one another’s lives.
Navigating in and above the clouds in near-zero visibility made finding the summit difficult and led to several impromptu changes in the route. But, finally, at 4pm, after four and half hours of climbing, on the fourth day of their ascent and more than 13,000 kilometers from their homes in the Middle East, they stood on a spot approximately 1000 meters above sea level, treading on pristine snow where no one has ever stood before.
At the summit, Heskel Nathaniel, the expatriate Israeli businessman who conceived the idea for “Breaking the Ice”, read a proclamation drafted by the entire expedition team. It expressed their belief that Israelis and Palestinians must resolve their deep differences without resorting to violence and went on to cite the personal experience of coexistence and cooperation they had gained during their journey together. Heskel then announced team’s decision – reached after days of heated debate – to call the peak, “The Mountain of Israeli-Palestinian Friendship”.
Tagesberichte
01.02.2004 - Spreading the spirit to Chile
27.01.2004 - The expedition has left the antarctic peninsula
23.01.2004 - Stuck in a Bay
18.01.2004 - A Special Tribute to the Expedition Support Team
16.01.2004 - The summit statement..
14.01.2004 - Irregular postings...
12.01.2004 - ready to take the first steps in the multi-day trek
11.01.2004 - Nach hitziger Politdebatte - Trekkers on Ice
09.01.2004 - The scenery is so beautiful
05.01.2004 - Scaling a volcano
02.01.2004 - Psychological challenges will play a major role
31.12.2003 - Best wishes for the New Year!
15.12.2003 - Der Expeditionsplan
01.12.2003 - Breaking the Ice - Eine Zusammenfassung
01.10.2003 - Projekt-Vorstellung
|
Der Gipfel ist greifbar nahe
Weit weg vom Segeln
Alpine Leistung gefordert
Ankunft am Prospect Point
Friedenspfeife schlichtet einen Streit
Lagebesprechung an Bord
Haushohe Eisberge bedrohen Schiff und Crew
Die Drakepassage zeigt ihr Gesicht
PR - an allen Orten
Unterstützung von prominenter Seite
Die "gemischte" Crew vor dem Brandenburger Tor
Fotos: www.breaking-the-ice.de
|
