Greetings Travel agents, writers and those joining us in South Africa on June the 6th, My Name is AKIM Riemer, General of the Green Guerrillas, I feel it is imperative that I introduce our collective movement and highlight a few points, we are 15 souls, from different back grounds, cultures and race - we are not political, religious or racially motivated.

The Green Guerrillas don't not fall into any category other than revolutionary, a progressive movement, using waste for energy, the mechanics of tourism for momentum, and the ethos of sustainability, to adapt to a rapid changing environment, the Green Guerrillas don't play by the rules, are guided by nature, believe in a collective approach to sustainability

The Green Guerrillas - Capitalism with a Karl Marx blind spot - the ethos of any business is sustainability

The Green Guerrillas lead by taking action.

"It is just not right that efforts by some business to take responsibility and to work in a sustainable framework are sabotaged and undermined by business and organizations that prefer to exploit rape and abuse our environment and public realm. It is time to rise and take action, time to stop having meetings and writing agendas, it's time to take responsibility, act and make a difference"

Our revolution is against our own complacency - Green Guerrillas

South Africa, Travel, People, Organics.

It seems in the South Africa tourism industry there is no accountability to waste, not form inbound operators, not from ground agents, or for tourism based organizations-South Africa is a fledgling democracy, struggling with poverty and un-employment, the tragedy is waste can be a grinding cog in uplifting and empowering people. Project Thina Sisonke is one of a few living examples of how the Green Guerrillas have used waste, and the tourism industry to empower a community. This is merely the tip of the iceberg, this project is an incubator for something far greater-and this is what we would like you all to see, not to come down to south Africa and take a photo and blog about it, write about it or fake book about it and forget about it, we invite you all to come down to South Africa to be part of the picture-not just to take it!

I would also like to point out that we are working beyond the cyber world, we are working with real people, we are about to do something that has never been done before in South Africa, we are show casing how slack the tourism industry has been be ignoring the tons of waste produced by tourist each year that we sneaky and simply bury in the ground to leave for the next generation to worry about, to illustrate we can no longer keep our disadvantaged communities in the dark irrespective of their color, race or creed-by not allowing people the right to access information we keep them stupid and dependent on the state. 15 laptops in a shipping container in a township- free of charge to all those using it-managed by the community leaders, and traditional leaders, a start to empower young and old, to bring them closer to the cyber world that has side stepped them, a spring board for skills development, for change - this would be a first.

It is the ethos of the Green Guerrillas to share out capital intellect, not to trade mark it, copy write it or lock it away-the invitation by the Green Guerrillas to all you interested is to show case to you how we can use the tourism industry for win win possibilities, there is much to see, do and experience, sleep will be limited, comfort will be limited, and days will be long, we will be in the middle of winter so add the element of rain, cold and wind (we will simply drink more red wine)-we will share all our knowledge with you and show you how we are working with nature to stabilize waste-how we are using tourism to empower - how we are educating the youth about sustainability.

• We need to ensure we have sourced a minim of 15 secondhand laptops
• We need to ensure we have secured a sponsor for a year's supply of Internet (SEK 12,000)
• We are needing pens, pencils, old puzzles, educational toys, all this is for the children of Bloekombos, as much as you can possibly bring down, just pack one set of clothes, we will not judge you if you begin to smell-leave your vanity, and jewelry at home.

Those coming down are doing so out of interest and solidarity with the Green Guerrillas, it is also important that those travelling to South Africa take care of their own insurances, all logistics has been arranged by Green Guerrillas.

I look forward to meeting you all, should any of you still have any further questions please contact me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

AKIM

The General

Green Guerrillas

We welcome you to be part of a full day seminar on tourism, travel and sustainable development in Stockholm on the 25th October 2012. The event will be held at the magnificent and inspiring Polstjärnan centrally located in Stockholm. We will guarantee an exciting and inspiring program on sustainable development in the national and international tourism industry, which we’ll discuss and debate on.

We want stakeholders to unite, to network and to share ideas and thoughts for a sustainable future in tourism. We want to expand the backing and support by getting more stakeholders to join us. We want you to join us! The stakeholders give financial backing of 10 000 SEK and support and in return receive well-deserved attention and goodwill. 

Sustainable Tourism is an investment in our future. It involves us all and we need more support and participation to evolve the future of tourism.

Allow yourself to be inspired for a sustainable development. This seminar is just a first step on our journey. The seminar provides us with the opportunity to start a network – a network of continuous workshops and gatherings to exchange ideas, to inspire, to educate and to influence.

The mission and vision:
"Our mission is to raise the level of knowledge and awareness about responsible tourism, while stimulating and inspire towards a sustainable development of the tourism and travel industry, through good examples, inspiration, sharing experience, discussions and networking."

Vision:
"Our vision is to create a network that will work as a meeting place for the international and domestic tourism in Sweden. The network will function as a driving force for change and development towards a long term sustainable future."

Proposed areas of discussion:

Why do we travel?
- A discussion about travel. Globalization and travel. What sort of influence does the consumer have? What/who drives a change towards sustainable tourism?
Inspire to drive change!

International Travel
- The significance of international travel from different perspectives. What sort of travel do we choose? Trends and global reconnaissance.

Sweden, a “hot” and well-visited tourist destination in 2020
- The end of “lagom”. Domestic and inbound tourism patterns and how it will change with the national strategy “Strategi2020”. How do we double tourism by 2020 in a sustainable way?

We reserve the right for last minute changes of program.

Get in touch with me here if you're interested in sponsoring this event.

Was it worth it? This question ran through my mind many times after the shot that killed the kudu. It isn't as frequent any more, but still it pops up now and then.

I've now been back in Sweden for a couple of days and things have settled a bit. I've been able to take it all in and distance myself from the whole event.

The final two days I had on the farm didn't include any more hunting. I didn't want more of it. I felt that I'd had enough of it and instead spent the days visiting a local Himba village, exploring this intriguing culture and also doing walks in nature with the camera as my rifle.
It wasn't that I didn't want more hunting due to disgust, it was due to me having had the experience and I felt that I'd gotten what I came for. I didn't go there to collect a bunch of trophies. I came to learn about hunting.

We took an early morning drive back to Windhoek, where the African roads almost kept my body and soul 10 km north of Windhoek, as aquaplaning lead a petrol truck to lose traction and suddenly it came sliding towards us at a police checkpoint. That was one of the scariest moments of my life, as I saw this huge truck come closer and closer only to get control 10 meters away from us and steer the vehicle in another direction, only to crash through the checkpoint with people dodging the rampaging beast. It felt like a Hollywood moment...

Back to the hunting and my experience from the event. As mentioned earlier, I have no regrets to what I've done. I've learned much from this experience and it made me grow as an individual. I now see a bigger picture of hunting, and most of my notions proved me right.

One needs to understand that hunting can't be perceived as one general thing. There's a difference between types of hunting, between the methods, between the people running it and their ethos and regards to what you hunt. The people I've met, who work with the farm that I've visited, are probably some of the most genuine people I've ever met, with a very strong bond to Nature and all her children. They live of what Nature has to offer, and as they say themselves, "We don't want any high volume hunting tourism. We just want enough to be able to sustain ourselves and that would mean 10 - 15 hunters per year."

They're passionate about their land and want to keep it alive and healthy. That's why they've transformed it back to what it once was – a wild place where Nature can roam free in harmony with mankind.

Killing an animal is not an easy thing and it is a moving event, and I guess that's what makes us human – our emotions. We're more or less (depending on the individual) emotionally connected to all living things in Nature. This is also why I see and understand a lot of adversaries towards the concept of hunting. We mustn't let our emotions cloud our judgment, which is a hard thing to accomplish. I know this, as I've done the transition myself. We must face facts - the facts of life and Nature.

My transition means that I still consider myself to have a sound approach to hunting, whereby I understand that not all hunting enterprises are run in the same way, where the bad ones give the whole industry a lousy reputation. I also understand that the reason to hunting also differs individually, where some do it to shoot exotic animals to collect their trophies, while others do it for food and survival. My understanding also tells me that we as human beings are more emotionally attached to certain animals, where the killing of some living creatures are more acceptable.
No matter what, all kinds of hunting comes down to one thing - the killing of a living thing and that's what we must face, whether it is a moose, a leopard, an oryx, a trout, a guinea-fowl, a wolf, a manta-ray or a kudu bull.
As long as the methods and ethos of the hunt are correct and it is being controlled and sustained, the reason for killing is secondary, where the reasons, in my mind are more acceptable than others. Poaching is not one of them!

Individuals who engage in hunting and fishing are paramount to the health of the wilderness. Hunting generate funds for maintenance of the wild areas. Fishermen and hunters are often the first to alarm changes that indicate a tilted environmental balance that must be addressed. I know that my visit to the hunting farm means that the area can be maintained for some time. I also know that the beautiful kudu bull lived his life, roaming free in Nature and he gave his life, which provided the family and people of the local church with 208 kg of fresh organic wild game meat.

I'm not proud of having killed an animal, but I'm content with it. I don't see why people congratulate me for it? In my mind they should thank Nature and the bull for what it has given. I guess that I'm still a fanatic bunny-hugger with a bleeding-heart, with the exception that I now have blood on my hands. I still prefer to see animals alive and my preference remains, to shoot animals with my camera, but this doesn't mean that I'm against hunting tourism. As long as it is done in the way that I've experienced it, I give it my full support and I will promote this hunting product through the Green Guerrillas.

The true and genuine hunter help ensure that wildlife has places to live and breed. We mustn't forget this, and nor must we forget our presence and responsibility in the food chain.

How can we as omnivores say that hunting is wrong while we sink our teeth into a juicy steak?

How can we as omnivores say that hunting is wrong while we dip our tuna-sashimi into the wasabi?

How can tourism enterprises say that hunting is wrong while they proudly present fly-fishing trips?

This morning we set out once again under the rising African sun. Yesterday Mother Nature showed us how easily she can outmaneuver humans and question was if she was to do the same today or if she would be more generous?

There was a slight overcast on the horizon, which soon came upon us, and provided a soothing cover from the scorching heat. It was a good walk, where we climbed a huge koppie in order to get a view of the area, but got nothing in sight and therefore continued along the dry riverbed. All was calm with the baboons giving us the occasional shout and the birds warning their surroundings of our presence.

We walked for about two hours as we approached an area where the remains of a once majestic Elephant lay spread out with bones and dried skin. Apparently this Elephant died on this spot, after it had been shot by a farmer or a cattle keeper in the area. Only wounded, it continued but eventually fell to the ground and died a slow and agonizing death.

The issue and clash between humans and Elephants once again get evident when you see the effects of this, once huge living thing. The problem with predators and elephants on cattle keeping and farming is prominent in Africa, but little is done to find a sustainable solution. Yes, the predator numbers can be kept at bay through hunting, but Elephants that cause a lot of trouble is still illegal to shoot. Farmers do apparently often shoot at the elephants to keep them away from their grounds, only hurting them, which can lead to a slow and painful death, while also making them angry and hostile towards humans. Many say that permitting hunting of the elephants should be applied as part of a solution, as the numbers are far too great and the problem grows. Sooner or latter culling is necessary to be done, to sustain the population and to save natural areas destroyed by them. So why don't apply a continuous cropping of the numbers?

 As we walked onwards from the fallen Ellie, our tracker suddenly spotted a Kudu about 200 m away from us, behind some trees. All of a sudden I froze inside and started shaking. I could feel adrenaline starting to pump through the system. Was this to be my opportunity? The nerves started to play tricks on me and I started to reflect whether or not I should go through with this or not? These thoughts were brief and an instinct kicked in and slowly and quietly we moved closer to the target. The one kudu was actually part of a group of four, one female and three males.

This was the moment of truth and we moved into position. I put a round in the chamber and removed the safety. I was shaking...Adrenaline was pumping in my body and thankfully I could rest the rifle on a steady branch of a tree to gain extra stability. The oldest bull was right in front of me with his back towards us. The wind was in our favor and I was told to hold the shot until the bull moved a bit, to uncover his side. I looked in the scope and I could see the bull starting to move with the rest of the group. With the rifle held firmly in my hands with the sight set on the triangle above the front leg of the bull, I was told that now was my chance, he was showing his side...

When I first was approached to try hunting, I was a bit skeptical to it, as I had no previous experience of hunting and nor did I have much experience of shooting a rifle. How can the ethical killing of an animal be upheld based on these criteria? Can I be taught enough in one day of practice and teaching, to make sure I can take out an animal without unnecessary suffering? These thoughts have been following me the whole time and even though the introduction was thorough and the books telling me exactly where to aim to provide an immediate killing shot, I had my doubts.

I couldn't really remember the whole event right afterwards, but I'd pulled the trigger and the bang had sent my hearing into a dull ringing tone. I could see the group dispersing in every direction and the bull too, only to hit the ground after five-six meters.
I'll be honest to admit that I wasn't sure if I'd hit it at all or if I'd injured it. I knew that I had the sight set in the right area, but given the fact that this was my first time and that the bull was actually moving, I couldn't be sure. All I knew at that time and place was that I was shaking like a leaf, the bull was down on the ground with his back legs kicking and I was filled with regret and guilt. What had I done!?

We approached the bull and the tracker concluded that the bull was dead. It was apparently a perfect shot to the heart that had sent him to an immediate death without much suffering. Though this was a relief to hear, I still felt remorse for my action. This noble 300 kg kudu bull, the older of the group, was lying dead on the ground thanks to my actions. I had done this, no one else. The blood was and still is on my hands.

I refused to take any trophy photo of the bull. That just isn't what I want and I see no glory in it. In fact I see it as a great disrespect towards the animal. But I guess it is all up to the hunter to decide on this. The killing has been done and that's the end of what really matters. I sat down next to the bull and thanked him and Pacha Mama for what they had given to us. This bull will feed many people in this area. Today Pacha Mama decided that this was my turn. I'm not a religious person in any way, but at that moment I thanked for what was given.

After a few silent moments with the bull I came more and more at ease with the situation and the remorse was turned into gratefulness for having been given this opportunity. The regret and guilt was still present, but I would say that this shows that you're emotional and in tune with reality and nature.

I realized later on that the moment before the shot was fired, that I relied on my instincts. You get one opportunity to take that shot and this I'd been told, but I still can't remember thinking about taking a shot or not. An instinct acted and pulled the trigger.

I'm not trying to glorify this whole episode in any way. I did do it. I fired the shot that killed this magnificent living creature and I'm to be held responsible for it. I admit feeling disgusted about it, when I saw him lying there in a puddle of blood and mud. It wasn't pretty and there's no glory in it. At least not from my point of view. But I don't regret doing this and nor do I feel any shame in it.

Hunting is a fact and mustn't be perceived that all types are the same. There are different types of hunting, where some are better and some are worse.

I did my hunt by foot under the same sun as the animals. We tracked them and tried to outwit them, but as the majority of times, we were in fact outwitted by Nature. There were no cars only feet walking and the fact that we got lucky today was the fact that the wind was on our side. The animal was killed in an ethical way, from an ethical hunt.
With the outmost respect for Nature I know that what she gave us today was a gift that will benefit many. I know that every part of the animal will come to good use and I also know that it will feed those in need, both the family and staff of the farm, but also others, as it will be donated to the church in Kamanjab this coming Sunday.

No regrets, but sadness for this fallen majestic creature. I write this post in honor of the male kudu, whose life I took today. Rest in peace...