Our project is to make an on board video diary during our sailing adventure across the Pacific, mixing images of life on board and islanders testimonies about troubles caused by human activity.

The crew :

We are two French friends since college . We met through our common passion for outdoor sports .

After to our studies , Adrien became kitesurf pro, which puts him in constant contact with the sea. I ( Ariel ) redirected to the restoration of old buildings and bioclimatic construction.

As young Western citizens and users of the sea , we were formatted to use selected rubbish, switch of lights when leaving a room or taking showers instead of baths .

Ecology in Europe is institutionalized by governments , citizens do what the law tells them .

Sometimes they think about stories about melting ice and the disappearance of polar bears but few are those who realize the real impact they have on the ecosystem.

"Green"gestures are reflexes more than reflection.

Our experience

We have traveled extensively but simply without political idea or mystical research, just out of curiosity about the world in which we live.

Two years ago, we joined with two other friends to attempt an Atlantic crossing by sailboat, attracted by the challenge it represents and kitesurfing spots worldwide famous.

The trip lasted six months, during which we have deepened our respect for the ocean and the men who live with him.

Among them we had the chance to meet many islanders, to familiarize ourselves with their lifestyles and their habitats.

Daily life on the islands is directly related to the immediate environment . The territory is clearly limited by the coastline and the consequences of global warming are more visible than on a continent.

Islanders are those most affected by the changes. If we complain about a long winter or a short summer, they see their world crumbled under the repeated attacks of the ocean .

Though many of them are involved in protecting the environment through laudable and effective local initiatives , all are affected by the disaster to come.

Local officials are doing their best, they set up recycling waste plans , educate their populations about " ecology ", but are overwhelmed since the responsibility is global, worldwide .

After returning from the trip, we felt the need to share our experiences , to aware our fellow citizens on this subject, the importance and the urgency to act . We wanted people to act knowingly , to realize the practical side of the problem, that human lives are at stake.

Saddly we lacked a clear testimony , a means of communication. Our words had only limited scope , an even smaller impact.

Our goal is a Pacific crossing this time . During this adventure we would make a video diary and recover as much as possible the evidence stops : for men's voices that we will meet directly reaches to European , whether their own spokespersons .

We start from Panama during the second half of February and will stop in many Pacific archipelagos : the Galapagos , the vast Polynesia , Vanuatu , Fiji, New Caledonia .

So we can gather a wide range of local stories on their daily lives and problems , highlighting local opportunities and limitations of the protagonists initiatives.

Our methods

The boat :

There is multiple interests in the use of sailingboat as vehicle and home.

On one hand it is a way to be close to the elements : only a thin hull separates us from the ocean and the sounds of the sea are constantly present . We have no shower, no toilet , no fridge , the sea provides us fresh food, and we use it daily to wash ourselves .

On the other hand sailors are always more welcome than travelers more "conventional" . It is as if a link existed between all the peoples of the sea, as if our nomadic side made us special guests . People appreciate the time we take to discover their land and it is quite logical : when we sail two weeks to reach an island , we stop a while to enjoy it!

Finally the boat is eco-friendly , we have very little impact on the environment . The only power tools we have are a GPS and a laptop. This allows us to have some legitimacy to talk about respect for nature . Electricity is generated on board by solar panels, but we make a point of honor not to spoil it with unnecessary equipment.

Sport :

This is an ideal way to get in contact with the local population , it allows us to share moments of friendship, dialogue with local sports or move from one island to another thanks to the kitesurf.

We are all equal in the effort, and this equality can override a priori or cultural barriers, it creates a link .

Video:

This is the main reason for our project, our way of creating something.

The logbook video appears as the most effective to reach a maximum population means . Images alone can convey a message , sounds too, but the alliance between the two is much more relevant.

Dissemination of video is now simplified by internet, classical broadcast television and DVD.

We want to use this medium in a subjective manner, so that the viewer feels at our side . We would like to raise awareness of another reality of paradise islands where they dream to spend their holidays , so the images are of great importance to contrast .

This logbook documentary has a purpose : to sensitize viewers to the importance of environmental protection .

To do this we want to aware the relation between local problems and universal origin.

Islands allows us to make a comparison with the entire planet. Islands have a complete ecosystem : in few square kilometers they have a whole water cycle and a unique and complex ecosystem. It is easier to see this little world as a whole , the " focus " is accessible. This gives us an overview of local and make a shortcut with the global world.

In France it would travel hundreds of kilometers from the source of a river to the coast , which devolves the user : people do not make the connection between the charming mountain stream they saw in holidays and Rhône flowing into the Mediterranean sea. There are too distant, responsibility is returned to loads of people .

We can show the interaction between people thousands of miles away , encourage "continental" to have a responsible and respectful attitude to its neighbors around the world.

Never forget that if humanity is the product of a heterogeneous set of communities, each with their understanding of its habitat , the planet that welcomes us, is unique.

The KissBankers can submit questions or ideas they would like to share with people that we meet on the theme of the environment.

During the trip, you can follow us on our Facebook page to share our adventure and wait until the entire log .

Transpacifique à la voile