Helping Nepal: Himalayan Stove Project

Himalayan Stove Project

Like so many of my readers, George Basch made a trip to Nepal that changed his life forever. Today he is the “Chief Cook” of the non-profit Himalayan Stove Project. They provide clean cook stoves to thousands throughout Nepal and are truly changing lives.

You can help by funding a stove for only $150 that will reduce pollution and improve lives for generations to come.

If you make a donation before November 28, 2017, it will be doubled.

Through the Fall of 2017 they have delivered almost 4,000 stoves have impacted the lives of more than 40,000 people.

George Basch

George Basch skiing on 80th birthday
George Basch skiing on 80th birthday

I’ve gotten to know George over the past few years – a true Saint of a man if there ever was. His motives are pure, energy tireless and results unquestionable. At a young 81, George, lives in Taos but travels the world following his passion.

He recently brought on an Executive Director, Pam Johnston to help build the HSP into the future. George will still be involved as ever but I know will appreciate her help.

In addition, George has had long time help in Nepal to deliver the stoves.  Jai Rajbhandari and his family live in Swayambhunath and make the final mile possible.

Global Support

George’s first exposure to Nepal came in 2001 as he accompanied and supported from Base Camp blind climber Erik Weihenmayer on his historic summit of Mt. Everest. He went back in 2009 and began the HSP in 2011. George said he was shocked at the amount of smoke within the Sherpas’ homes that came from the open cooking fires. This became deeply personal to George as he had been looking for a way to honor his son, Paul, whom committed suicide in 1998.

envirofit-m-5000The clean cook stoves are made by Fort Collins, Colorado based non-profit company Envirofit. They have delivered over 1 million stoves worldwide since their founding in 2003. The Himalayan Stove Project is one of their distributors and solely focuses on putting the clean cook stoves in Nepal at no costs to the families.

George’s tireless efforts have resulted in support from the biggest names in the climbing industry including adidas Outdoor, The North Face, Eddie Bauer, Kahtoola, MSR and individuals like Yvon Chouinard founder of Patagonia, Conrad Anker, Sir Chris Bonington, Jimmy Chin, Dave Hahn, Tom Hornbein, Reinhold Messner, Doug Scott. All contribute to helping HSP with publicity and funding.

Last year, Kit DesLauriers and Tenzing Gyalzen Sherpa helped truck and trek several dozens Envirofit clean burning cookstoves into family homes in the Makalu Valley.   In April 2018,  Pam is going back, along with Carina Ahlqvist, the highly accomplished Swedish mountaineer, to check on those stoves that were placed last year and also to bring more to the area.

But the need is huge.

You may wonder just how big of a problem is ‘Household Air Pollution’. Well it kills more people than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis combined – 4.3 million annual deaths worldwide.

Himalayan Stove Project results
click to see before and after

For those of you who have visited Nepal, you probably saw the problem up close, most likely in a crowded teahouse at sunset when the stove was fired up for heat. Your eyes watered, your lungs burned a bit and soon you went to your sleeping room to escape. The families throughout Nepal don’t have an escape and this has become a way of life for too many.

The problems are not only inside but outside as well. Anyone who has been to Kathmandu understands the severe problem with air pollution. It is estimated 3 million people die each year from outside air pollution.

Clean Cook Stoves address this problem by reducing household air pollution by 90% and reducing 75% of the wood collected for cooking – all by burning wood more efficiently. This not only improves air quality but also results in less erosion and flooding by keeping the forests in tact.

Donate Today

George has set an ambitious goal that matches the scale of this problem. He wants to raise $1,168,800 and deliver 11,000 stoves changing the lives of 40,000 more people. Your donation will be doubled if you act before November 28, 2017.

Please join the team. I have.

Climb On!
Alan
Memories are Everything

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