THE HUMAN EXPRESS
A Guiding Philosophy
At Walking The World, we have a philosophy that guides everything we do. It’s called… You Can – We Can
You Can refers to the fact that all of us can do so much more than we ever believed possible. Over the years, I’ve guided many groups and hundreds of people in many different areas of the world. I’ve noticed that people sometimes hesitate to try new things or to visit new places because they don’t fully understand what they can accomplish. On Walking The World trips we work with people in a gentle way to show them how they can do so much more than they ever thought possible so they can have the adventures they’ve always dreamed about.
We Can refers to the statistics that show there are now more than 100 million people over the age of 50 in the United States alone. We’re a big group. Together we spend over $2 trillion a year on goods and services. If we work together, we can make a major positive difference in this world.
Walking The World –Adding to the Future
After more than 24 years of exploring this magical planet, it’s become increasingly clear that the local people in many of the areas we visit are lacking in some of the basic amenities so important to daily life. Those of us who enjoy adventure travel and experiencing the vibrant cultures of this world can work together to help change this situation.
Three areas where we feel we can make the most difference is helping to build schools, planting trees and in providing more efficient cooking stoves to the more than 80% of the world’s population that rely on the traditional three-stone fire.
Stoves. More than 80% of the world’s population relies on the traditional three-stone fire for cooking. However, cooking over these fires has some serious repercussions, including serious burns to children who fall into the fires, the deaths of more than 2 million women and children each year from excessive smoke inhalation, massive deforestation from the use of firewood, hernias from carrying heavy loads of firewood and a serious drain on family income from firewood purchases.
Most of these problems can be reduced or eliminated by replacing the traditional 3-stone fire with one of the newer upright stove designs, in particular the Ecocina stove. This efficient, upright stove costs only $30.00, is produced where it is used, reduces wood use and deforestation by up to 60%, reduces deaths from exposure to smoke inhalation, reduces burns to children and frees up to two days a week of time for women to devote to their families or to starting their own small businesses.
This means that for only $30.00 and a few hours of time we can change the lives of one family for years to come.
Trees. Deforestation is a major problem in much of Central America. Much of the wood loss is directly attriubutable to so many people using the very inefficient 3-stone fires. Using the more efficient cooking stoves can reduce wood use by as much as 70% and help halt the loss of valuable forest habitat.
Planting trees for reforestation is one part of our tree planting effort. Planting trees that will provide a year-round source of food is the other. In our work building schools, providing stoves and planting trees, we will also work to provide each family with a minimum of five "food" trees.
Schools. Worldwide there are over 100 million children not enrolled in either primary or secondary school. It’s well documented that when children have access to educational opportunities, they have a greater chance of breaking the cycle of poverty and making a positive difference in their families, their communities and their society. The estimated cost to build a new school is approximately $8,000 to $9,000. U.S.
Okay. What does all of this mean to you and me?
If you knew that you could positively change the world by donating $10.00 a year and asking your friends to do the same, would you? With your donation of $10.00 a year, we can do the following:
- reduce deaths to women and children from horrible respiratory illnesses
- keep children from being horribly burned
- give women two days of free time each week to devote to their family or increasing their income
- reduce hernias in men, women and children from carrying heavy loads of firewood
- reduce back problems in women
- increase family income by up to one-third
- reduce wood use and deforestation by 70%,
- provide schools for children who often have no classroom at all
Adventure Travel – Returning Home and Returning the Benefit
When we return from our adventures, the local people who helped make our trips as rich and rewarding as they always seem to be, are still back in their countries, doing their best to make ends meet, to feed and protect their children and to live as full a life as possible.
On our visits to various countries around the world, the local people freely give to us in a myriad of ways. They enrich our adventures by sharing their own lives, their own experiences and the unique and amazing talents that so many of them have.
I invite you to join me, and the other 100 million people over the age of 50, on an adventure where we come together to make this world a better place and to give back to those who have given so much to us. Rather than being seen as “Boomers” or seniors or older adults or simply some group to market to, I would like to see us be known as the group that stood up, took action and made a positive difference for others.
What it Takes to Join THE HUMAN EXPRESS
It’s pretty easy. You don’t have to buy any raingear, hiking boots or get any of those wonderful shots. All you have to do is donate $10.00 once a year and ask your friends to join us as well. Ten dollars a year is about 84 cents a month. Eighty-four cents. Most of us can probably find that much change under the cushions of our couch.
 What’s in it for You?
Hopefully the knowledge that millions of people will live a better and longer life, have access to a better education in an actual classroom, enjoy a life free from respiratory illnesses, grow up without disfiguring burns and that our forests, rivers, wildlife and air quality will benefit from a significant reduction in deforestation.
Ten dollars and talking with a few friends is what it will take. And…a commitment from your heart.
Noted anthropologist Margaret Mead once commented on how things in the world start to change. Her words still ring true today; “Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. It’s the only thing that ever has.”
I invite you to join me in changing the world, one stove, one tree and one school at a time.
Click on this link to donate your $10.00.....or More!
In adventure,
Ward Luthi
President and Founder
Walking The World, Inc.
970-498-0500
info@walkingtheworld.com
www.walkingtheworld.com
JOIN TODAY! Click Here to Donate!
You can help us jump start THE HUMAN EXPRESS by committing today to your 2010 contribution.
Each donation can change a life, immediately. Once we’ve received enough to add to existing projects in Guatemala and Nicaragua, we’ll disburse the funds for stoves, trees and schools. We are working with current projects in Guatemala and Nicaragua that are proven and already in place so no time is wasted.
Please print the form you’ll find on our donation page and mail it to us with your check or credit card information. In doing so you will join us in becoming a part of THE HUMAN EXPRESS, a group of Walking The World travelers and supporters who have stepped forward to help give back to local people around the world.
Our long-term goal is to build a list of one million people who will each donate a minimum of $10.00 per year. Ten dollars per year comes out to about 84 cents a month. Of course, if you can give more, we hope you will.
I invite you to consider that a major league baseball team in 2008 agreed to contracts for three players (THAT’S 3 INDIVIDUALS) totaling $480 MILLION.
If you can donate $480 million we would be ecstatic. On the other hand, if you feel like a lesser amount would be more doable, we can appreciate that.
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Please join us.
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