For the next five weeks, I will be in Peru with my colleague Gregor getting Digital Democracy’s new Remote Access program off the ground.

My mom called me a few days ago to ask how to contact me on the trip. I joked – smoke signals! No, really. Although some of the time we’ll have internet or a mobile connection, the whole point of our program is to support the efforts of indigenous groups who are monitoring the environmental impacts of oil drilling in areas that are completely off-the grid. In other words, there will be no access to phone, internet or even electricity in much of the areas where we’ll be traveling.

We planned our trip around some important assemblies that are taking place with some of our indigenous partners, as well as a research delegation from the EU. However, given how things work in the Amazon, our schedule will surely change in multiple ways. I thought I’d post our original plan, and update it with how many times the plans change.

Original plan:
Thu Apr 25: Travel to Peru
Fri Apr 26: Travel to Iquitos
Sat Apr 27 – Mon Apr 29: Meetings in Iquitos with monitoring programs
Tue Apr 30: Travel to the Temple (1.5 hours from Iquitos).
Tue Apr 30 – Thu May 2: Meetings at the Temple
Thu May 2 (early morning): Return to Iquitos
Thu May 2-3: Travel upriver via Corrientes river to Andoas (2 days)
Sat May 4: Meetings
Sun May 5: Gregor travel downriver to San Lorenzo
Mon May 6: Gregor flight San Lorenzo – Wisum (Achuar territory)
Mon May 6-13: Emily & Martí monitoring visits in Corrientes
Sun May 12: Gregor travels downriver from Wisum to mouth of Huitoyacu
Mon May 13: Gregor travels up Pastaza to Andoas, meets with Emily & Martí
Tue May 14-19: Monitoring visits around Andoas
Mon May 20: Travel downriver to San Lorenzo
Tue May 21 – 26: Working with monitors and monitoring team including workshop in San Lorenzo
Mon May 27: Travel San Lorenzo – Lima (Leave 6am, arrive in Lima 11pm if all goes well)
Tue May 38: Evening flight Lima – US

Revised Apr 26 – Extra day in Lima & Gregor’s departure from Iquitos
Fri Apr 26: Meetings in Lima
Sat Apr 27 – Mon Apr 29: Travel to Iquitos, meetings in Iquitos with monitoring programs
Thu May 2- Sat May 4: Gregor Meetings in Iquitos
Sun May 5: Gregor travel downriver to Apulco
Mon May 6: Gregor flight Apulco – Wisum (Achuar territory)

Revised April 29 – Emily going to Lima with delegation
Thu May 2- Sat May 4: Emily & Gregor Meetings in Iquitos
Sun May 5: Emily flight to Lima
Mon May 6 – Wed May 8: Emily accompanying monitors to meetings with Congress
Wed May 8: Emily flight to Andoas
Thu May 9-13: Emily & Martí monitoring visits in Corrientes

Revised May 2 – Emily & Gregor travel together to Andoas
Wed May 8 – Thu May 9: Emily travel Lima to San Lorenzo
Mon May 13: Emily & Gregor travel from San Lorenzo to Andoas

Revised May 9
Sat May 11: Emily fly Lima – Tarapoto
Mon May 13: Emily & Gregor travel to San Lorenzo, meet in San Lorenzo & travel to Andoas

While I’m traveling, I may not be able to respond very quickly to messages, but I will update my twitter feed as possible. Even if I’m slow to respond, I’d love to hear from you during my journeys!