{"id":15036,"date":"2017-12-16T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2017-12-16T20:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com\/?p=15036"},"modified":"2017-12-20T05:47:23","modified_gmt":"2017-12-20T13:47:23","slug":"gifting-with-guts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2017\/12\/16\/gifting-with-guts\/","title":{"rendered":"Gifting with Guts"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the holidays, there\u2019s an enormous emphasis on gifting and it\u2019s easy to get caught up in the price tags and wish lists, the wrapping paper and ribbon. At its root, the act of giving is a demonstration of love. This year, for the paddler on your list, why not give a gift that spreads the love? The love of wild rivers, the love of teaching paddling or the love of a rugged coastline. Think outside the boat and make a donation to a cause, a conservation effort or a local paddling club. There are loads of river-based, not-for-profit organizations, close to home or around the world and for all these grassroots organizations, a few dollars goes a long way. The following organizations are a \u2018one size fits all\u2019 gift where a donation in the name of a loved one supports a river, a region, a cause or a community and offers the opportunity to give a gift with purpose.<\/p>\n

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Photo: American Whitewater<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

SOUTH AMERICA
\n<\/strong>Give the gift of free-flowing whitewater<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Maranon Waterkeeper<\/strong><\/a>
\nBen Webb came to Peru to paddle for three months and found himself still there three years later. This Aussie turned Peru \u2018local\u2019 came to paddle the remote rivers of the Andes and in the process learned about a massive hydroelectric project for the deep canyon of the Maranon River. His connection with this region and both his and the locals\u2019 desires to fight the injustice led him to create a crowd-funded, Peru-based river conservation NGO called Paddle With Purpose. Today, the organization has morphed into the Maranon Waterkeeper, joining the umbrella of the worldwide river conservation.<\/p>\n

This is a story of one paddler who gave up the chance to travel and paddle to take on corruption and fight for the headwaters of the Amazon. From small, humble roots, Webb and friends celebrated a huge success this spring when a four-year moratorium on dam\u00a0building on the Maranon was announced. This is but one battle in the war to save this river and it\u2019s tributaries but it\u2019s bought the Maranon a few more years to build up its defenses.<\/p>\n