tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48241109186908939412012-01-23T01:10:25.931ZFor new site visit: http://waterpilgrim.wordpress.com/Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-81473037815052972842009-07-05T13:16:00.005+01:002011-06-24T09:31:32.085+01:00

IMPORTANT NEWS...Please note that I have a new website for waterpilgrim which can be found at:http://waterpilgrim.wordpress.com/This is the one which I will be using from Sunday 5 July 2009.Sorry for any inconvenience...

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-42344170820017609512009-07-03T13:19:00.008+01:002009-07-03T13:48:00.001+01:00

Today I had a long talk with Paul from The Fisherman in Tavistock. A great shop for all your fishing and tackle needs. In his opinion, "there should be a minimum zone around the coastline of between half and one mile which trawlers are simply not allowed to go". Paul knows, from first hand experience, that sometimes the trawlers, "British and foreign", come right into the deep water off Slapton,

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-60853021511460356522009-06-19T12:04:00.010+01:002009-06-19T17:13:34.394+01:00

3 weeks to go... Boots being broken in. Cake eaten. Generally organising. Chen style Laojia form finished. Ready? Almost. BTCV and waterpilgrim are arranging a beach clean and bbq on Friday 21 Aug somewhere near Wembury, Devon. Should be an excellent opportunity to meet some great volunteers and get the place tidied up a bit. National Trust are getting back to me soon about some ideas they

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-37857383286611632082009-06-15T17:05:00.002+01:002009-06-15T17:14:19.394+01:00

The waters of the the Amazon rainforest are being destroyed by mining and logging companies. Thousands of miles away from us in the UK, people are doing things which will have a direct impact on our way of life, not to mention on the indigenous people living there."When Davi Kopenawa Yanomami leaves home you know something's wrong. He's a shaman, or traditional healer, from one of the world's

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-24037541955934659832009-06-10T21:27:00.004+01:002009-06-10T21:46:11.759+01:00

Preparation for the walk is a combination of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. The later of which is perfectly illustrated with this extract from Everyday Tao by Deng Ming-Dao:(p.9) WaterWhen the ancients and their students stopped to rest by a pure flowing stream, the teachers compared Tao to water.Water is flowing. Every drop is made of the same substance. Water never fears being

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-37955530839574475772009-06-10T20:17:00.006+01:002009-07-03T14:18:35.241+01:00

The following are the very kind individuals and organisations who have offered help to the waterpilgrim or are useful links:Offered food and/or accomodation:Fernside Hotel, Exmouth, Devon - Simon, Jane, Giles and Katie WoodPaul at The Fisherman, 2 King Street, Tavistock, Devon PL19 0DS, T:01822 611 148 http://www.thefishermanintavistock.co.uk/ - offered free fishing kitHelena Graham and Dion

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-85172821309519773062009-06-10T16:49:00.005+01:002009-06-10T21:17:33.489+01:00

I, Maxim Laithwaite, will walk 1014 kms (630 miles), including ascents of 35000m (4x height of Everest) along the South West Coast Path (UK) in order to raise awareness for local and global water issues.WHY?: Water permeates every facet of our lives. It is essential for life and we use it every day, at home and work, in cities and in the countryside. We use it for drinking, washing, cooking,

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-1236261848126142362009-06-06T21:24:00.008+01:002009-06-10T20:05:26.000+01:00

Today I sent out some more invitations for my idea of a 'Walk and Talk' during the journey:Sir Ranulph Fienneshttp://www.ranulph-fiennes.com/Ray Mearshttp://www.raymears.com/Rob Hopkinshttp://transitionculture.org/about/and I have sent all the info to Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2...As ever, watch this space...

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-15034376868353669922009-06-06T13:33:00.008+01:002009-06-10T20:06:02.762+01:00

We can make a difference Water is one of life’s essentials, yet in the UK every day millions of litres of water disappear down the drain unnecessarily.There is less water available per person in some parts of the country than in the Sudan(1) and new pressures caused by climate change and population growth are likely to stretch water resources even further.But cutting the amount of water we lose

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-7597383513863261942009-06-05T16:47:00.005+01:002009-06-10T20:07:16.586+01:00

In 5 weeks time I should have completed the first day of the walk and staying somewhere in Porlock or Porlock Weir. Or, I will be sleeping on the beach. Eitherway, I will have had breakfast at least!Everybody keeps telling me how steep the path is in some places. Someone even said the words "shin shattering". Pleasant. Very pleasant.With regard to the 'kindness of strangers', I spoke with my

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-64564128956206092092009-06-05T14:00:00.002+01:002009-06-10T20:13:03.875+01:00

Dear supporter,I am writing to ask you to complete WaterAid's online petition to the UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, as a matter of urgency.There is just one month to go until world leaders meet for the annual G8 summit, where many high level, global decisions are made.The summit provides a key opportunity for world leaders to address the ongoing global water and sanitation crisis. Therefore it

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-50276659358798989322009-06-05T11:45:00.003+01:002009-06-10T20:13:03.875+01:00

"The international health agenda is failing to save the lives of millions of children by not responding appropriately to causes of child deaths, according to a new WaterAid report released today.Hard-hitting figures published in the report reveal that the aid system is not responding rationally to disease burden. Despite diarrhoea being the second biggest killer of children, critical

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-62443726727198509482009-06-04T15:27:00.008+01:002009-06-19T17:26:52.793+01:00

Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes was born in 1944 and educated at Eton. He served with the Royal Scots Greys for a time before joining the SAS. In 1968 he joined the Army of the Sultan of Oman and in 1970 was awarded the Sultan's Bravery Medal. In the same year he married his wife, Virginia. (In 1987, Virginia was the first woman to be awarded the Polar Medal).Since 1969 when he led the

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-29199079971130476852009-06-04T15:17:00.004+01:002009-06-10T20:07:16.586+01:00

YHA (Youth Hostel Association)I approached the YHA last week to seek some support in the way of somewhere to sleep during the walk. They have around 13 hostels along the South West Coast Path which would be perfect for staying in. Unfortunately, they are a charity and therefore cannot be financially supporting another charity. They did give me a free membership though so if anybody is staying in

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-45679585266923991512009-06-04T15:11:00.004+01:002009-06-10T20:10:15.931+01:00

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall from River Cottage launched the Landshare website last night and visited the first match.What a fantastic idea. People with land, but don't use it, offer it to people who want to grow veg, but don't have land....simple....perfect.For more info see http://landshare.channel4.com/

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-51092301905329099192009-06-03T12:45:00.005+01:002009-06-10T20:08:55.905+01:00

This is my first A6 leaflet which I produced. By clicking on it you can get the document from Google Docs.Feel free to print a few and hand them out....!

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-5220282957224056432009-06-03T12:26:00.005+01:002009-07-03T10:00:26.247+01:00

Sir David AttenboroughQuite a shock today. I received a handwritten response from Sir David Attenborough himself. How kind of him to take the time. A true gentleman. Unfortunately, he informed that he is having problems with his knees and will be unable to walk with me. He even said he would slow me down and be a burden. A burden!! He is so humble. It is I who am a burden on him by asking him

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-75855419686645638952009-05-29T15:56:00.006+01:002009-06-10T20:07:16.587+01:00

6 weeks to go and counting...Donations have already reached nearly £400 (including GiftAid) which secures clean drinking water and sanitation and providing water hygiene education for 27 people.Which is a simple way of saying you saved the lives of 27 people. Good workThank you to everyone who has already donated.To those who would like to, remember you can do it so easily at: www.justgiving.com/

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-86976694584502421242009-05-28T11:46:00.003+01:002009-06-10T20:11:51.317+01:00

Sir David Attenborough has inspired me for many years now. His honest approach to his work and his ability to inspire have moved me to action more than most."Sir David Attenborough is Britain's best-known natural history film-maker. His career as a naturalist and broadcaster has spanned nearly five decades and there are very few places on the globe that he has not visited.Sir David's first job -

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-30582894751059888682009-05-28T11:34:00.004+01:002009-06-10T20:10:41.995+01:00

We hear more and more about something approaching a state of emergency on planet Earth.Our message is very simple: There is a way. Things are possible. Solutions do exist. And they are exciting, inspiring, innovative and imaginative.We applaud new ideas. We discuss, argue, comment and analyse. We are a meeting point of people whose job it is to know and people who want to listen. We facilitate

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-5028971762243496232009-05-27T14:43:00.011+01:002009-06-10T20:13:27.041+01:00

waterpilgrim:waterpilgrim: http://www.waterpilgrim.com/waterpilgrim DONATE: www.justgiving.com/waterpilgrimWaterAid (UK): http://www.wateraid.org/uk/CoastAlong 2009: http://www.coastalongforwateraid.org/Other Useful LinksEden Project: http://www.edenproject.com/Landshare: www.channel4.com/landshareRanulph Fiennes: http://www.ranulphfiennes.co.uk/Resurgence Magazine: http://www.resurgence.co.uk/

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-27694832005095023202009-05-27T14:22:00.009+01:002009-06-10T20:10:41.995+01:00

(www.transitionculture.org)What is a Transition Town (or village / city / forest / island)?Here's how it all appears to be evolving...It all starts off when a small collection of motivated individuals within a community come together with a shared concern: how can our community respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of Peak Oil and Climate Change?They begin by forming an initiating group

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-66038741810708844022009-05-26T11:30:00.009+01:002009-06-10T20:07:16.587+01:00

Last week, I wrote to Sir David Attenborough to invite him to what I am calling a "Walk and Talk".waterpilgrim would be an excellent opportunity for people to come together to walk and discuss the issues of today and the solutions of tomorrow.I started to write to a list of who I could invite: Satish Kumar (Schumacher College, Resurgence Magazing, Devon); Tim Smit (Eden Project, Cornwall),

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-77067243554169042172009-05-19T14:05:00.007+01:002009-06-10T20:10:41.996+01:00

An Emerge & See Movement999 It’s Time is a new movement that will help transform the dates 09.09.09, 10.10.10 and 11.11.11 into pivotal dates in modern history.In the 9 weeks leading up to 999 Day itself, a series of high-profile multi-media events and widespread media coverage will seek to mobilise a critical mass of the population to take a number of individual and collective actions on 9th

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-19629449339491373662009-05-19T13:18:00.009+01:002009-06-10T20:13:55.085+01:00

To contact Maxim Laithwaite for all questions and to OFFER HELP:UK Telephone:078 99 96 02 21Internationl Telephone:+44 78 99 96 02 21Email:maximlaithwaite@waterpilgrim.comTo Donate:www.justgiving.com/waterpilgrimWebsite:http://www.waterpilgrim.com/http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78798964559#/group.php?gid=78798964559&ref=nfTo write:Maxim Laithwaitewaterpilgrimc/o West Devon Environmental

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-70586010561101400802009-05-14T15:17:00.007+01:002009-06-10T21:05:23.692+01:00

This is the event which will mark my final day of walking. I will be joining the team that is walking from Swanage into Poole, finishing at South Haven Point, Sandbanks on 12 September 2009.I encourage anybody reading this to get out there, raise some cash and stretch your legs. You can walk anywhere along the Pembrokeshire or South West Coastal Paths for as long or as short as you want.What

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-61168538905297985012009-05-10T13:21:00.014+01:002009-06-10T17:37:39.179+01:00

This is latest 'waterpilgrim PLAN' (8 June 2009).Please note where there is still HELP REQUIRED and if you have friends or family in these places, find out if they would like to help out a wandering pilgrim.You can download and print the 'waterpilgrim PLAN' clicking here.You can also view the plan within the Google Calendar and the Google Maps in the right-hand column.waterpilgrim PLAN:DAY/DATE/

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-19561159101903859702009-05-10T13:01:00.005+01:002009-06-10T20:14:57.329+01:00

Facts and advice obtained from www.waterwise.org.uk:The FactsWhy is water an issue?You may wonder why saving water is important seems as it rains all the time in the UK. Wet summers and even wetter winters seem to keep the garden nice and green and our rivers flowing. Despite having a seemingly wet climate some parts of the UK are experiencing water shortages. The South East of England has less

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-41735286800587932112009-05-07T12:36:00.005+01:002009-06-10T20:11:51.317+01:00

"From 1953 to 1981 a silver haired woman calling herself only 'Peace Pilgrim' walked more than 25,000 miles on a personal pilgrimage for peace. She vowed to 'remain a wanderer until mankind has learned the way of peace, walking until given shelter and fasting until given food.'In the course of her 28 year pilgrimage she touched the hearts, minds, and lives of thousands of individuals all across

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-89638279914747922172009-05-07T12:19:00.006+01:002009-06-10T20:07:16.588+01:00

I have now created a Facebook group and event both called:waterpilgrim - 1000kms with no money for WaterAidWithin 3 minutes I had a wonderful offer of somewhere to stay in Exmouth from a very old friend of mine called Giles.And so it begins....

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-28409552736871177902009-05-06T13:17:00.006+01:002009-06-10T20:11:51.318+01:00

I was excited to meet Satish at the E4E (Event for the Environment - organised by WestDen, Tavistock, Devon) after having read his book No Destination many years back. In the book he narrates his story of walking 8000 miles in 2.5 years from India to Moscow, Paris, London and Washington (boats included!). I suppose this was the seed that has become waterpilgrim so I owe alot of it to him: “We

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-56523661932513499782009-05-06T12:17:00.008+01:002009-06-10T20:07:38.989+01:00

We only have a bath at home so for the past couple of months I have been taking 'bucket baths' to try and save the amount of water I personally consume. Half a bucket for a scrub and half a bucket for a rinse. Works perfectly and uses a tenth of the normal amount of water for a bath. It has been a little chilly at times but it makes a normal bath an absolute luxury as and when I treat myself. If

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-9184818886251807462009-04-07T15:21:00.024+01:002009-06-10T20:09:33.202+01:00

Q.1 Why water?For me, there are 5 keys to life:1. Air/Oxygen – without it we would last a few minutes2. Water - without it we would last a few days3. Food – without it we would last a few months4. Shelter – without it we would not last long in extreme climates5. Peace – without it we are destructive, negative and unbalancedAll 5 keys work best when they are simple, healthy and natural. Using

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-2286254004191006552009-03-31T16:44:00.020+01:002009-06-10T20:14:16.762+01:00

If you have clicked on this page, then you are one of the special people who would like to offer help in some form.The poorest people in the world do not have money to simply buy food when they are hungry. They often do not know when their next meal is coming from. I will probably never understand what that is actually like, but by way of glimpsing and perhaps feeling it, I will be walking the

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-82651510831751949632009-03-27T15:23:00.016Z2009-06-10T20:13:03.876+01:00

"WaterAid and its partners use practical solutions to provide safe water, effective sanitation and hygiene education to the world’s poorest people. We also seek to influence policy at national and international levels."It is my privilege to walk and raise money for this charity who are really getting to the heart of some of the problems that the poorest people in the world face everyday.You can

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4824110918690893941.post-76237905504576607082009-03-25T21:13:00.007Z2009-06-10T20:14:57.329+01:00

Maxim Laithwaitenoreply@blogger.com0