THE JOURNEY SO FAR

ROBERT SWAN O R D E R O F T H E B R I T I S H E M P I R E

Robert SwanOBE

1979 BA Hons Ancient History, Durham University UK

1980 - 81 British Antarctic Survey

1979 -1987 ‘In the Footsteps of Scott’, South Pole Expedition. South Pole reached, 11th January 1986

1987-89 ‘Icewalk’, North Pole Expedition, North Pole reached, May 14th 1989 Robert becomes the first person in history to walk to both Poles

1992 Invited by the United Nations as keynote speaker at the first Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro

1992 - 2002 The world leaders challenge of ‘Think Global, Act Local’ The ‘Global Mission’ - Removal of 1,500 tons of waste from Antarctica The ‘Local Mission’ - Partnered with African charity ‘loveLife’ and reached 750,000 young people on the issue of AIDS

2002 Presents the success of the global and local missions to the world leaders at the Johannesburg World Summit for Sustainable Development

2003 Cape to Rio Yacht Race with sailboat ‘2041’

2003 - 04 Circumnavigation of Africa with sailboat ‘2041’

2004 - 05 Sailboat ‘2041’ enters the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with the world’s first sails made from recycled plastic bottles

2003 - 2007 Inspire Antarctic Expeditions - Involving industry & young people on the preservation of Antarctica and the need for renewable energy

2008 ‘The E-Base Goes Live’ - The world’s first education station in Antarctica will run solely of renewable energy 2008 - 2009 ‘The Voyage for Cleaner Energy’ - Educational mission throughout the USA on the promotion of renewable energy

2010 ‘The Last 300’ - planned Antarctic expedition

2012 The third World Summit for Sustainable Development

2041 - 48 The ‘Madrid Protocol’ and moratorium on mining and drilling in Antarctica will be reviewed

A Lifetime of Achievement

Expeditions

The DreamRobert Charles Swan was born on the 28th July 1956. His interest in polar exploration began at school in England where, at the age of eleven, he became inspired by the ‘Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration’ (1895 - 1917) and the race to the South Pole between Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen.

It was Scott’s tragic final journey to the South Pole that inspired his commitment to follow ‘In the Footsteps of Scott’ to the South Pole.

1967

Sir Ernest Shackleton Roald AmundsenRobert Charles Swan, Aged 11

Captain Robert Falcon Scott & Team, South Pole, January 17th 1912

The dream became a reality when in 1979 Robert began to raise the necessary funds to reach the Pole. It took Swan five years of planning and fundraising to reach the $5 million he needed for the expedition. He procured a ship, the ‘Southern Quest’, and convinced 25 people to give up three years of their lives to implement the project.

During that time Robert lived in a warehouse in London whilst signing up some 2,000 sponsors and assembled a team that included Roger Mear and Gareth Wood as his fellow walkers to the Pole.

The ‘Southern Quest’ set sail on the 3rd November 1984 to travel the 14,842 nautical miles to Antarctica, stopping in Lyttleton, New Zealand to meet Bill Burton who at 96 was the last surviving member of Scott’s expedition of 1912.

1979 to 1984The Vision

Roger Mear, Bill Burton & Robert Swan

The South PoleIn the Footsteps of ScottThe Antarctic winter was spent at their ‘Jack Hayward’ base with colleagues John Tolson and Dr Michael Stroud. When winter passed Robert Swan, Roger Mear and Gareth Wood set out to walk the 900 miles to the South Pole.

On the 11th January 1986, after 70 days without the aid of any radio communications or back-up support and having each hauled 350lb sledges, they stood at the South Geographical pole. They had achieved the longest unassisted march ever made in history.

1984 to 1987

1987 to 1989IcewalkThree years after reaching the South Pole, Swan assembled a team of eight people from seven nations for an attempt on the North Pole. The team was Dr Misha Malakhov; Russia, Rupert Summerson; UK, Graeme Joy; Australia, Arved Fuchs; Germany, Hiroshi Onishi; Japan, Angus Cockney; Inuit and Daryl E Roberts; USA.

To engage and inspire young people the expedition had 22 representatives, from 15 nations, stationed at the base camp. They produced a series of educational films and facilitated the removal of rubbish from the surrounding Arctic wilderness.

Swan and his team reached the pole on the 14th May 1989. At the age of 33 he became the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles.

The North Pole

The RequestOn both polar expeditions Swan witnessed firsthand the effects of environmental damage. In Antarctica, his eyes changed colour and his skin burnt away after walking under the hole in the ozone layer. Twenty years ago the severity of the ozone hole was, by and large, unknown. In the Arctic, the team almost drowned due to unseasonable melting ice, caused by global warming.

Jacques Cousteau and Sir Peter Scott (Founder of the World Wildlife Fund) were Swan’s patrons for the polar walks. On his return they asked Robert to use his story for the preservation of the Antarctic. Thus began his 50 year mission...

1991 to 2041

‘We should have the Wisdom to know when to

leave Antarctica alone’

Sir Peter Scott, 1988

Antarctica is not owned by any nation, we all own it. In 1959, 12 nations signed ‘The Antarctic Treaty’ for the protection and preservation of the continent. To date over 44 Nations have signed the treaty, representing two-thirds of the world’s population.

Inspired by Sir Peter Scott and initiated by Jacques Cousteau, 1991 saw the start of the Antarctic ‘Madrid Protocol’. The ‘Madrid Protocol’ provides additional protection for the Antarctic treaty and designates the continent as ‘A Natural Reserve Land for Science and Peace’; it also places a ban on mining and mineral exploration for 50 years. It took until 1998 until all treaty nations had ratified the protocol. Therefore the preservation of the Antarctic debate will rage from 2041- 2048. The recent claims of the North Pole region by various nations for mineral exploitation MUST inspire us to hold fast and leave one place on Earth as a natural reserve – Antarctica. Delivering on his 1991 promise, to the late Jacques Cousteau and Sir Peter Scott, Robert committed to a 50-year mission; that by 2041 we ensure the preservation of this last great continent for generations to come.

The 50 Year Mission

From Earth Summit to World SummitEarth Summit Rio de Janeiro, 1992Robert was invited by the United Nations as a keynote speaker to the first Earth Summit for Sustainable Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. In response to the world leaders challenge to “think global act local” Swan made a commitment to deliver a global and local environmental mission involving industry, business and young people to the next world summit, ten years later, in 2002.

The Global MissionSwan took 35 young people, from 25 nations, to Antarctica to define the global mission. With the cooperation of the Russian Government the team would safely remove and recycle 1,500 tons of waste from Antarctica, left over after years of scientific research.

The team battled for eight years to raise the money, plan and execute the mission. The rubbish at the Russian base of Bellingshausen, King George Island, was finally cleared and the penguins reclaimed their beach for the first time in 47 years. It was at that moment that Swan looked up and saw a small, disused scientists’ station on the horizon. It sparked an idea that generated the concept of the ‘E-Base’ - the world’s first education station in Antarctica.

1992 to 2002World Summit for Sustainable DevelopmentJohannesburg, 2002The Local MissionFollowing the success of the global mission, Swan and the ‘2041’ sailboat embarked on the longest overland ‘voyage’ in history. The voyage’s destination, as promised, was the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. Swan partnered with ‘loveLife’ - a charity battling AIDS in South Africa.

The ‘voyage’ reached out to over 750,000 young people across South Africa. During the summit the ‘Ice Station’ exhibit was visited by 128 world leaders and 35,000 visitors, including 12,000 young people. It was awarded first prize for outstanding contribution to the world summit.

Robert was once again charged by the world leaders to continue his mission and report back at the next World Summit for Sustainable Development, ten years later, in 2012.

A Call to ActionThe Cape to Rio Yacht Race January - April 2003As the first step to the 2012 world summit, Swan leads a team of young African leaders on sailboat ‘2041’ on the ‘Cape to Rio Yacht Race’. The Circumnavigation of Africa May 2003 - May 2004Returning from Rio the yacht embarked on ‘The Circumnavigation of Africa’. The voyage promoted AIDS awareness, water saving and recycling whilst visiting over 30 ports.

Along the route communities came out in force to participate in clean-up projects with the aim of improving their immediate environment.

Dreams also came true for three young men from ‘loveLife’ as they became the first African crew in history to circumnavigate their own continent. They now use that story to engage and inpire young people throughout South Africa and continue to educate on the issue of AIDS.

2002 to 2012

2003 to 2005The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race December 2004 - January 2005Continuing on her journey toward the 2012 world summit, sailboat ‘2041’ entered the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with the world’s first sails made from recycled plastic bottles.

‘2041’ was crewed by industry leaders and teachers selected for their outstanding inspiration to young people.

Through a terrific storm the sailboat finished 24th...

...and the sails did not break!

A Call to ActionInspire Antarctica Expeditions (IAE) - Leadership on the Edge 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007After 23 years of sustainable leadership and teamwork experience, Robert Swan led the first corporate expedition to Antarctica in 2003. Each year up to 70 expedition members comprising of international men and women from industry and business alongside teachers and young people are inspired to create ‘Extraordinary Results’ through leadership, teamwork and personal development.

The expedition members witness first-hand the effects of climate change in Antarctica. They have the opportunity to share industry knowledge with each other and equip themselves to become sustainable leaders on their return.

2003 to 2008Inspire Antarctica Expeditions - The E-Base 2003 - OngoingThe dream of building the world’s first education station in Antarctica (E-Base) became a reality during the IAE 2002 - 2007 expeditions. Each year the IAE members helped plan, build and promote the E-Base - the world’s first education station in Antarctica as a resource for teachers and inspiration to young people around the world.

In March 2008 the ‘E-Base Goes Live’. Powered entirely on renewable energy Swan and a small team will live and broadcast from the base for 2 weeks. By way of demonstration they hope to encourage their audience that clean technology is a must.

Never before has a team attempted to survive in Antarctica relying solely on renewable energy.

The Voyage For Cleaner EnergyIn his continuing quest for the preservation of Antarctica, Swan’s next mission is to engage and inspire the American youth on the use of renewable energy. In April 2008 sailboat ‘2041’ will commence ‘The Voyage for Cleaner Energy’ around the USA.

With the aid of the sailboat Robert will motivate individuals, companies and communities to take decisive action and affect positive change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the USA.

At each port of call Robert will demonstrate the use and benefits of renewable energy as an affordable alternative to carbon-based fuels.

There will be a focus on engaging young people through presentations at schools, colleges and universities.

The sailboat serves as a goodwill ambassador in her continued voyage to the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2012. She is also a symbol for the preservation of Antarctica.

Her special features include:

- Revolutionary sails made from recycled plastic bottles (PETs)- Bio-fuel engine- Use of solar panels and wind technology - Eco-friendly paints and finishes

2008 to 2010

‘The Last 300’ and beyond...In 1996 Swan, with Crispin Day and Geoff Somers, attempted to become the first people to have crossed Antarctica on foot. They pioneered the use of kites to traverse from the South Pole to the edge of Antarctica, on their expedition ‘One Step Beyond’.

Swan managed to get within 300 miles of reaching his goal but due to bad weather and time lost he had to return to South America to lead the global student expedition as promised to the world leaders.

In 2010 Robert intends to complete ‘The Last 300’ nautical miles, a journey that begun in 1985.

He will not be alone, this time he will take his teenage son, Barney. This mission will symbolise handing over the ‘baton’ of the preservation of Antarctica and our environment to the next generation.

It will serve to inspire young people that action is what is required to preserve our planet for generations to come.

This journey will be the first polar journey to rely solely on renewable energy for all its power needs (heating, cooking and water melting).

2008 to 2041During the build up to the World Summit for Sustainable Development in 2012, Robert and his team will focus on creating sustainable leaders and inspiring the use of renewable energy in the top Co2 producing nations: USA, Europe, China, India and Russia.

When Robert reports back to the world leaders he will not only be participating in his third world Summit, but also marking twenty years into his 50-year mission to preserve Antarctica.

The survival of future generations on earth hinge on us all combating global warming and climate change. By embracing renewable energy we can safeguard Antarctica as ‘A Natural Reserve Land for Science and Peace’ and maintain its protected status for generations to come.

Awards & Accolades1987 Awarded the Polar Medal by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II (UK)

1989 Appointed United Nations Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador (UNEP)

1989 Official Flag Bearer for the Explorers Club of New York to the North Pole (USA)

1990 Winner of the United Nations Global 500 award

1992 Appointed United Nations Education / Science and Cultural Organisation Goodwill Ambassador with Special Responsibility for Youth (UNESCO)

1992 Visiting Professor of the School of Environment, Leeds Metropolitan University (UK)

1993 Founded the Robert Swan Foundation - a registered charity for the promotion of youth and scientific endeavor in the environment

1993 Doctorate of Letters, The Robert Gordon University (UK)

1994 Appointed The Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO

1995 Awarded Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by H.M Queen Elizabeth II

1998 Smithsonian Award for Information Technology in Education & Academia (USA)

2000 Honorary Member of the Amstel Club, The Netherlands

2002 Vice President of the Countryside Management Association (UK)

2005 Awarded ‘Freedom of the City of London’

2006 Honorary Fellow at St. Chads College, Durham University (UK)

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ROBERT SWAN O R D E R O F T H E B R I T I S H E M P I R E

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