Dear Friends in the Media,

Thank you for your interest and attendance at the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 press conference held on 11 February at the Hotel Radisson, Kathmandu. We also thank all those who have written to us seeking more information on this unique event which combines climbing and climate change. Please refer to our website http://www.ecoeverest.net.np for more details.

As the event draws closer, we are happy to share with you some more recent news. Mr. Dawa Steven Sherpa, the leader of the Eco Everest Expedition, visited North America and Europe to promote the objectives and efforts of the Expedition and was able to garner support for the initiative from various personalities and organisations. The climb has been endorsed by the renowned Japanese alpinist and conservationist Mr. Ken Noguchi, who also joins the expedition as Senior Advisor, and the world famous mountaineers Reinhold Messner, Peter Habeler, and Conrad Anker.

The Eco Everest Expedition 2008 has also been endorsed by the Nepal Tourism Board. We are expecting similar endorsements from the Ministry of Tourism and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Many organisations, including local community organisations, have come forward to support the initiative and the cause. We have been encouraged by the number of requests from both national and international media to be a part in this unique endeavour to raise awareness for climate change. We have received confirmation of coverage from Swedish Television and a number of Japanese media including Nihon Television, NHK and Kyodo News, as well as enquiries from TV 5 (French), BBC World, Swiss National Television, and the Belgian News Agency.

The Eco Everest Expedition 2008 will be launched at Everest Base Camp (EBC) on 18 April 2008 along with some special events as outlined below. This is a one of the flagship events in ICIMOD’s celebration of its Silver Jubilee.

6 - 15 April : Dig Tsho Field and Research Expedition

18 April : Inaugural Ceremony

- Puja ceremony according to Buddhist rites

- Handover of ICIMOD flag to the Eco Everest Expedition group

- Inauguration of Photo Exhibition: ‘50 Years of Change: Glaciers, Landscapes, People and Resilience in the Mt. Everest Region, Nepal’

- Inauguration of ICIMOD Information Centre

- Press Conference

22 April - 30 May : Imja Field and Research Expedition

25 April : Climate Change Awareness workshop at Namche for local organisations and communities.

As it is the mountaineering season in Nepal, we are expecting many other expedition teams and trekkers at the Everest Base Camp including some key personalities. Scientists, researchers, media representatives, and local community representatives will be there as well as the organising team members from Asian Trekking, ICIMOD, and UNEP.

Eco Everest will be sending a number of news dispatches during the expedition period. We will appreciate it if you could carry the news in your media to help raise awareness for one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the 21st century. Please send us your email address for the news dispatches.

You are most welcome to visit the Eco Everest Expedition Base Camp Information Centre should you be in the Khumbu during the course of the expedition.

Please feel free to contact us should you need other details or information.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Nira Gurung

Communications Officer

ICIMOD

Tel: + (977 1) 5003222

E-mail:ngurung@icimod.org

Bobby Chettri

Director, Product Development & Marketing

Asian Trekking,

Tel: + (977+1) 4424249, 4426947,

Email: bobby.chettri@gmail.com

Eco Everest Expedition

http://www.ecoeverest.net.np

Press Release (11 February 2008)

http://www.icimod.org/home/news/news.content.php?nid=76

General information on ICIMOD

http://www.icimod.org

General information on Asian Trekking

http://www.astrek.com/asiantrekking/

Ms. Nira Gurung

Communications Officer

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Khumaltar, Lalitpur

GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal

Tel: 977-1-5003222, Ext. 115

Fax: 977-1-5003277

Email: ngurung@icimod.org, info@icimod.org

www.icimod.org

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