AsiaOne Rolls Out EarthOne: A Planet‑Posing Journey
AsiaOne just launched its new EarthOne section, a hub that’s all about our beloved planet and the science that backs it. Think of it as a fresh magazine aisle where the environmental headlines keep coming, and the articles feel like a chat with your best friend – not a dry textbook.
Bhutan’s Big-Run‑It‑Back Challenge
On Thursday, Oct. 13, 29 runners took off on a legendary high‑altitude foot‑race across Bhutan. The goal? To shout a warning from the snowy endpoints of the Himalayas that climate change isn’t a distant threat – it’s a real‑time danger for the kingdom that sits snugly between China and India, the world’s biggest polluters.
- Bhutan’s Forest Superpower – 70% of the land is covered by lush woods that suck up about three times the carbon that the country emits yearly.
- The “Snowman Race” – 203 km (126 miles) from Gasa to Chamkhar, a route trekkers usually navigate in 20 days. Our runners cut it down to a hard‑core five‑day adventure.
- Altitude‑Life – Runners sprint at an average of 4,500 m (14,800 ft) and hit a peak of 5,470 m (17,946 ft), meaning every step was a test of lung capacity.
“The race is designed to raise awareness about climate change and its risks to our economy and the livelihood of the people,” explained Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji over the phone after the flag‑off in Gasa.
Who’s Running?
Participants hail from 11 countries – the U.S., Germany, Japan, Tanzania, Bhutan, and more. They tackle a tableau of landscapes, from sub‑tropical jungles to fragile alpine ecosystems, all while chuckling at the journey, breathing in some wonder, and shouting, “Hey, climate, beat this!”
Sarah Keyes, the American Trailblazer
“I’ve probably completed maybe around 30 ultra marathons, but never like this,” Sarah Keyes confided to Bhutan Broadcasting Service.
“It’ll be somewhat unknown going to that high of an altitude, but I do feel good overall, physically,” she added with a grin.
Why Bhutan Matters
Buddhism goes green, but it’s also an only carbon‑negative country out of South Asia. With fewer than 800,000 souls, the tiny nation is especially sensitive to climate shifts that melt glaciers faster, trigger floods, and throw weather patterns into chaos. Pakistan’s recent record‑breaking floods make it a grim reminder that climate change is already a global drama.
In essence: we’re talking about a sweeping, mountain‑high, dash‑for‑the‑grade race that’s as much a celebration of Bhutan’s natural beauty as it is a stat‑track for climate awareness.
Stay tuned to EarthOne for more stories that pack a punch, keep it lively, and let’s keep the conversation warm… in a good way!
