Goal Zero

Shannon Galpin

Mountain2Mountain founder and humanitarian, was featured in Outside Magazine in February of 2011. Shannon uses Goal Zero gear to help with her many efforts in Afghanistan.

Renewable Energy Provides Solutions in Afganistan
(Written by: Shannon Galpin, Mountain2Mountain)

Green technology, renewable energy, sustainable and energy-efficient construction. These words are still cutting-edge in the West, but they are also integral to the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

Most have gotten used to the idea that development work and reconstruction means ugly concrete blocks, built for function, not design. Many more take limited view that technology such as solar and wind power are novelties in a war zone, not necessity.

Yet function, design, and sustainability should be commonplace in development and reconstruction work. Perhaps it's the fact that I'm a daughter of an architect that makes the above statement resonate so deeply. Perhaps its the love of the outdoors and tragedy of waste, and short-term, disposable solutions that pollute our environment. Regardless, its the approach I'd like to see in all development work. Work that most often takes places in countries that have the worst pollution, worst access to electricity, and ugliest construction.

Our goal with all of our projects within Mountain2Mountain is to run a green thread throughout with the intention of partnering with sustainable partners that can help us achieve our goals with sustainable, minimalist impact, especially in a country as 'impacted' as Afghanistan.

One of our first partners, GOAL ZERO, has launched an incredible product that addresses renewable energy in a portable package. Field tested in the Congo on humanitarian projects, they have found ways to provide reliable and portable renewable power sources that eliminate the barriers to progress. I now use their portable, Sherpa 120, a portable solar panel and power pack when I travel to remote areas, and its small enough to carry in my messenger bag or backpack along with my other necessities.

In supporting our projects, we discovered that we could use one of their other projects, the Scout Explorer Kit, to provide light for our midwives that live in rural village without electricity for nighttime deliveries. The kit looks like a thin briefcase with a thermos and two lights. The briefcase is the solar panel and the thermos is the power supply. The two lights provide adequate light for the midwives to work safely and save lives. The majority of rural deliveries in Afghanistan are done at home with no birth attendants, medicine, supplies, or light, and consequently Afghanistan suffers from the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world. Mountain2Mountain takes a decentralized approach to the problem with a village-based training program for local women to become skilled birth attendants. Upon completion, we provide them with a basic birthing kit which includes the Scout to provide a reliable light source for their work.

Our other partner lies in the realm of construction. Innovida and IHFD partnered to help support the construction of our school for the deaf in Kabul. Using Innovida's innovative green technology in the construction process ensures a quickly built, energy-efficient, and a green alternative to tradition building methods. They also create a designbuild based on our floorplan so that there is minimal waste of the building materials, but without creating a 'big box'.

Creating an eyesore that is functional doesn't inspire. It doesn't add value. It doesn't show a country its worth as it rebuilds.

IHFD's use of GeoBricks for our security wall uses a new technology to address the traditional brick and mortar structural needs. The bricks are energy-efficient, fireproof, non combustible, fireproof, and bulletproof (a useful consideration for a security wall in Afghanistan) They are also providing solar, wind, and hydro solutions to the electricity issue prevalent in Afghanistan where electricity is still unstable at best, and non-existant in many communities. Diesel generators run constantly adding to the soot and petrol that permeates every breath you take.

Utilizing the solar, wind, and hydro solutions can provide our projects, and the Afghans sustainable energy for generations to come. In addition, they are working with Kabul University to set up a renewable energy degree so that future generations of electricians can have the skill set to not only install, but maintain country-wide solar grids.

Function, sustainable power, and design all covered in our approach. As we continue to find partners that can help us solve problems and build schools, it is imperative that we look forward to the future generations that will be affected by what we do now. Just because Afghanistan has been destroyed over decades of conflict, and needs country-wide rebuilding, doesn't mean that we shouldn't be looking at all the tools in our arsenal to build energy-efficient and sustainable projects that can endure for generations.

eric larsen

Eric Larsen, one of our GOAL ZERO ambassadors, has been graciously feeding us his expedition journal. Below please find his most recent entry:

"I have been in Nepal for over one month and at base camp for nearly three weeks. Each morning I wake up and look down the Khumbu valley. To my left the lower ice fall; my right Pumori. It is a stunning view and one that I have yet to tire of.

We are starting to make summit plans although much depends on the weather. The 'boys' left for Camp 2 today and hopefully the South Col tomorrow to fix ropes from Camp 3. The goal is to finish this work in a few days. My hope is to climb up to Camp 2 tomorrow, Camp 3 the next day and then back down the day after. From what I understand most western climbers use this time to rest, but I was hoping to do my 'little extra' and get better acclimatized and hopefully improve my chances of success.

Our very tentative goal is to make a summit attempt within the next two weeks. Of course, there are many things that need to fall into place between now and then; fixed ropes placed to Camp 4 (South Col), supplies brought to Camp 4, and of course the ever worrisome, good weather — not only the gear relays but for several days prior to the summit. It is both exciting and daunting to be having this conversation.

Since the Japanese compound has been disassembled, our small camp is the most noticeable in the area. And as the Nepal trekking season reaching a peak, we are now the biggest show in town (so to speak). We now get several visitors a day making the hike up from Gorakshep. Yesterday, a couple from New Zealand walked up and asked, 'Are you Eric?'

Turns out that they had heard of me from another couple from the states who I had met briefly at a cook out in June were in Gorakshep.

Bret and Jenny, both from Boulder, are taking a year off from their jobs and traveling. It worked out that our time in Nepal — Everest Base Camp — aligned. I was both excited and disappointed as I was going to be climbing up to Camp 2 and would miss their visit. I decided to take matters into my own hands and hike to Gorakshep and say hi.

It was a really nice visit and I enjoyed hearing about their adventures: teaching English in China in exchange for room and board, living off the land in remote Borneo, and much more. With very little interaction with others, it was a rewarding experience to share stories with like-minded individuals and I left with my spirit filled. I knew would think about the small details of our conversation for the days to come.

I walked back to Base Camp alone. Most of the other tourists had already made the trek up and down. It was so quiet. As I walked, I thought about the gear I needed to pack and prepare for tomorrow. Looking around I tried to notice new details about the surrounding peaks. Behind me the soft orange glow of sunset was beginning to fill the lower valley and only Everest was tall enough to catch the last yellowing light of the evening."

about expedition2endure

We're riding our bicycles from Deadhorse, Alaska to Ushuaia ,Argentina, around 16,000 miles. We're riding self-supported, carrying all of our equipment. We will be stopping to fly fish several watersheds as we go, on a route that will be ever changing. We'll be fishing watersheds that have environmental and political challenges facing them, and filming the entire process to make a short episode about each, bringing both sides of the issue at hand to the table in order to offer up a meaningful solution

james pribram

James Pribram is a Laguna Beach native, professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His written work has appeared in the LA Times, Surfer's Path, Surfing, Surfer, Water and numerous additional publications worldwide. He is an active environmental leader in his community where he has served on the Laguna Beach Water Quality and Environmental Committees and is a board member for the Clean Water Now! Coalition. He co-founded Eco Warrior, a grass roots organization which is dedicated to protecting oceans, beaches and sea life worldwide, and They Will Surf Again, which raises money for people who have suffered from ocean-related spinal injuries. He is the owner and operator of Aloha School of Surfing, which teaches aspiring surfers of all ages the power of surf stoke. Pribram's Surfing Soapbox column appears weekly in Laguna Beach's Coastline Pilot Newspaper. James' sponsors include O'Neil, XS Energy, Boost, Lost and GOAL��.