The Flying Effect: paragliding for women and freedom
Anita Bjornsdottir and Aslaug Einarsdottir
Female Icelandic paraglider pilots, Anita Bjornsdottir and Aslaug Einarsdottir, are about to embark upon a two-year paragliding adventure with an added twist: to raise global awareness of issues such as women’s rights and gender equality, and to learn about the lives of women in different cultures. “We intend to approach this matter in a positive way, as well as taking certain risks ourselves to make our dreams come true”, says Anita.
Anita learned to fly in June 2007 and now has 100 hours airtime, but Aslaug has only three, having learned this summer. “That is why we are starting our project in Nepal in December”, Anita explains, “to gain more experience in stable air and friendly surroundings, before taking on the rest of the world”.
The YouTube clip above shows their planned journey and timescales, and the pair plan to begin just before Christmas, having given away or sold all of their posessions.
The project is in collaboration with UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) in Iceland. The women, both qualified graphic designers, plan to use their skills to m aintain a website for all to present their own definitions of freedom; to give women the opportunity to communicate to the world through words, photographs, videos and drawings, their views on freedom, ideas and dreams, which will then be presented as an exhibition.
Check out their website or facebook page for more information.
www.theflyingeffect.wordpress.com
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November 29th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Paragliding is a foot-launched, ram-air, airfoil canopy which flies with the energy of wind, gravity and pilot’s power to steer.