Loosening ties!

During the final arrangements for departure, we found a huge amount of links we create along of our life. We are sure that much more is coming, but let us present what we have done:

Accepted by Infinity Expedition. OK!
Amateur Skipper license. OK!
Quit our jobs in September/2010. OK!
Passports and US visas. OK!
Documentation for entry into the Samoan Islands. OK!
Tickets from Rio to San Francisco using miles. OK!
Tickets from San Francisco to Apia (Samoa).OK!
Land Rover sold. OK!

Still on going:
Ford Focus sale. Trying!
Apartment rental. Trying!
Cancellation of toll free contract. Trying!
Cancellation of credit cards. Challenge!
Updating addresses in Ministry of Labour, Social Security, etc.to new valid address. Challenge!
Purchase of International travel insurance for Brazilian residents. Challenge!
Open Water Diver Certification. In process!
Macbook purchase. In process!
Garage sale. To be ended. It indeed includes shoes!

But most important of all this is family and friend’s support and encouragement!

Our special thanks to Raquel`s godfather, Pedro, who has supported and blessed us since he heard about our plans to sail around the Globe. If we feel prepared to join Infinity Expedition today, it is all due to those we love. Lu Hitomi, we loved the surprise! Thank you very much!

Family and friends, thank you with all our hearts!

Infinity Expedition Partnership

We would like to share our next and very important step: we were accepted to join the Infinity Sea Tribe from November on!

The Infinity Expedition is a long term run of international volunteers through Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia on the 120ft sailing vessel “Infinity”.

Together with Infinity Sea tribe, we swear to incorporate a real sustainable lifestyle putting in practice the environmental conservation every day.

This is a chance for a great start-up. We thank Infinity Expedition for welcoming us aboard!

Pirate hugs!

More about "downshifting"

Downshiting might be an unusual word when talking about way of living. Even for us who are boarding on this downshifting life, there're lots of unanswered questions. One great information source to minimize our doubts and for our inspiration is the website of Sally Lever, who's working as writer, educator and coach for sustainability and life downshifting. It will worth to spend some time on her well organized page.

Simple living made easy

Welcome to DOWNSHIFTING FOR EARTH Project!

The Objective

The Downshifting for Earth Project is, essentially, a two persons life project that intent, in every means, to carry out a real lifestyle downshift from high to a very low carbon emissions, i.e., targeting discharges lower than two (2) metric tons of carbon per year, while traveling around the world seeking for joy, close to the Nature.

The Premises

We indeed believe that the "economical grow" itself is a paradigm. Thus, it’s not a must and, surely, subject to inquiry. Besides, we believe that such over accelerated economic boom, in latest centuries, has caused to Earth indubitable losses - such as global warming and its consequences -, planetary wide disequilibrium and Nature mass destruction.

Another capital premise of this Project is we love the Nature Beauty and the joy it affords. We will go for it before the Human race – possibly - devastates it all. This may sound an egoist perspective, and, we agree, it is. However, we would be acting as hypocrites if repeating our goal is only to “grant conditions for future generations”. Nevertheless, we are sure that the proposed search for Nature Beauty, driven over low emissions means, will bring positive side effects for existing and to be born Humans.

Progress Measuring

This blog’s intention is to share our experiences and progress on the efforts to downshift impacts on the Earth.

After evaluating some carbon footprint calculators in Internet, we have chosen the Britain’s Carbon Reduction Commitment method [©], available at carbonfootprint.com. Employing this tool, we aim to calculate our carbon emissions prior to the project kick off and, as the Project go forward, in regular elapsed times. This will allow us to figure out how successful we are moving on.

As an initial reference, the figure below shows Francis` first footprint calculation, back in 2007. A tangible shame if compared to the Brazil’s average and to the World's target:

At it most, this high carbon volume was related to overseas business flights, about 5 per year, very common to regular employees of global corporations.

Besides the footprint downshifting report, we will gladly update this blog sharing the stories, photos, videos and reports we will surely collect during this Life Journey that has now begun.

Interactivity and Learn

As this is an on going learning Project, every comment, suggestion, idea and criticism are significantly welcome!

Goal Celebration

In advance, we invite you all, our honorable friends, downshifters and blog visitors, to celebrate the Project Goal accomplishment, which we establish herein as:

ONE YEAR traveling around the Earth in joy AND consuming below two (2) metric tons of carbon per year, per person!


Good winds!