Target: Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Honorable Minister of the Nepal Ministry of Forests and the Environment
Goal: Thank the Nepal government and their issued team of volunteers for working to restore Mount Everest.
Last year, we asked Nepalese officials to take the lead in solving what seemed to be an uncontrollable littering epidemic. Now only two weeks into a month and a half-long project, a crew of 14 government-sponsored volunteers removed 3 tons of trash from the world’s highest mountain. Since the first summit 66 years ago, Mount Everest has been trekked and littered on by thousands. As global temperatures rise, melting snow reveals leftover tents, oxygen tanks, and even human remains scattered along its slopes.
Efforts were made in the past to incentivize clean hiking, but to no avail. Nepal implemented a $4,000 waste deposit for hiking teams, a fee they could reclaim in exchange for 18 pounds of waste brought down from the mountain. Only half of the teams followed through, signaling to the Nepal Ministry of Forests and Environment that cleaning up Everest would have to involve direct action on their part.
As the team prepares for higher altitudes of litter-scavenging, they will break into groups of three, taking turns ascending and returning to checkpoints with their findings. The heaps of trash will then be airlifted by helicopter to nearby recycling and waste-disposal facilities. With a goal of 10 tons removed by June and 3 tons already gone, they will likely far surpass their projections.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister Basnet,
The direct, hands-on approach your Ministry is taking towards restoring Mount Everest is truly commendable. In an era of pressing environmental concern and seemingly-stagnant political interference, it is refreshing that the Nepal government takes responsibility for its lands so seriously.
Please extend our gratitude to the team of dedicated volunteers bringing this project to fruition. Their progress within the timeframe reflects a sincere sense of urgency to preserve our environment. We recognize the intensity of this labor, particularly at harsh altitudes and with the emotional burdens of uncovering potential human remains. Please let them know that their efforts are not only appreciated by the public, but invaluable to the planet.
We respect and laud all ends of this project.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: ilker ender
Thank you!
mammoth effort – great result. Thankyou.
I am shocked about the rubbish on Mount Everest..I never thought hikers they would leave rubbish behind..
Thank you to the people that cleaned up!
You deserve a medal!
Climbers should pay a type of “entrance fee”. It would be unfair to others that clean up but in the end it is the environment that need to be looked after.
Those that leave their mess behind – low-lives! Stinkers! Morons!