Tonight I was deeply moved with Jeff's and some other US pilots
initiative to lend a helping hand to those in need down here.
In the early 90's when my brother and I return to our homeland after a few years
going to college in Brazil, we found a country deep into economic slump (once
again!) Which drove poverty further down than today!.
We also found a troubled hang gliding community (the same one we grew with
during the 70 and 80's) flying rag wings from 10 or 15 years back (imagine what
gliders in those years!). We decided that we needed to do something to
revitalize the sport that we love so much which was dying at a fast pace.
We flew to California and met the Wills Wing gang (thanks WW for your
support!!). We became dealers for them and since then we have been distributing
WW gliders and products at dealer's price. (please don't get mad Mike!).
At the same time with a small group of pilots we discovered the wonderful flying
that Canoa can offer. We establish the first races in the mid 90's among friends
and slowly brought in new and old pilots to participate.
Today the Ecuadorian hang gliding community is growing slowly but healthy thanks
to Canoa. During the past years we have seen the participation of many foreign
pilots who have come and help us make this fun race even bigger and funnier.
Most local pilots fly up to date wings while the rags have been left aside.
And now it is to my humble surprise that I read of Jeff's initiative. I am
thankful to god that the revival of the hang gliding activity in Ecuador today
can reach our needy children as well. So again many thanks Jeff et all. I am
proud to have the opportunity to fly with gentlemen of your caliber. Once again
welcome to Ecuador.
Trudie Styler is many things - a UNICEF ambassador, a human rights
activist, a co-founder of Rainforest Foundation and, of course, the wife of the
musician Sting. In September, she came to the big screen (or more likely to a
smaller independent theater screen) in the film documentary Crude. The film
chronicles the case of Aguinda vs Chevron-Texaco - a legal drama that is trying
to find justice for a group of indigenous people in Ecuador that has had their
homeland devastated in the name of drilling for oil. Infamously called the
Amazon Chernobyl, the movie examines the complexity of international
conglomerate corporations relationship and responsibilities for environmental
peril and human suffering. Treehugger had a change to speak with Styler about
her work within Ecuador and find out how she's helping make a bad situation
better.
