We swam the Grand Canyon : the true story of a cheap vacation that got a little out of hand

The true story of a cheap vacation that got a little out of hand. In 1955 Bill Beer and John Daggett, at the time both recently out of the military, and in their mid 20s, footloose, and more or less unemployed conceived the idea of swimming the Colorado River through the 279 miles of the Grand Canyon-principally because they couldn't afford a boat. This simple idea escalated into a national news story and has been one of the legends of the Grand Canyon ever since. Never equalled nor duplicated, their illegal venture and many of its dangers, comic episodes, innovations, side effects and long term ramifications are the story of this book. Contents -1 Chapter 13 FUTURE CHALLENGES: HUMAN RIGHTS AND RECONCILIATION 1 Glossary 2 13.1 WHAT ARE HUMAN RIGHTS? 3 THE UNITED NATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS 3 HUMAN RIGHTS TREATIES 3 THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT 4 HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES 4 GEOskills TOOLBOX 4 Activities 4 13.2 ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS: GLOBAL CONTEXT 5 REPORT CARDS ON HUMAN RIGHTS 5 Activities 6 13.3 AUSTRALIA, HUMAN RIGHTS AND REFUGEES 7 WHAT IS A REFUGEE? 7 AUSTRALIA'S STRATEGIES 7 THE HUMANITARIAN PROGRAM 7 ASYLUM SEEKERS 7 ASYLUM SEEKERS IN SWEDEN 8 Activities 8 GEOskills TOOLBOX 8 13.4 BORDER CONTROL AND THE `PACIFIC SOLUTION' 9 THE TAMPA INCIDENT 9 THE 'PACIFIC SOLUTION' 9 BORDER CONTROL 10 Activities 10 13.5 DEVELOP AN OPINION 11 GEOskills TOOLBOX 11 13.6 INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND THE LUCKY COUNTRY 13 NOT SO LUCKY 13 HUMAN RIGHTS 13 INDIGENOUS HEALTH 14 GEOfacts 14 Activities 14 13.7 MEETING THE CHALLENGES 15 THE FUTURE CHALLENGE 15 GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES 15 SAMPLE STUDY 15 INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT 16 Activities 16 13.8 WALKING TOGETHER: THE GOAL OF RECONCILIATION 17 COUNCIL FOR ABORIGINAL RECONCILIATION 17 Activities 18 13.9 THE ROADMAP FOR RECONCILIATION 19 RESPONSES TO RECONCILIATION 19 THE ROADMAP 20 THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT 20 MEETING THE CHALLENGES 21 Activities 21 GEOskills TOOLBOX 22 Broadsheet: Indigenous challenges facing Australia 23 Answers -1 Index -1 Blackline Masters -1 Back to Start -1 Publication of this 'legend' reminds us that doing things the hard way may be best, simply because it IS the hard way. It was high time for this astounding saga to see the light of day, to grip us with its inspirations, agony, despair, hope, determination and fun. Without it, the Grand Canyon story would be missing an indispensable chapter--one that will gladden and enrich us all.
Martin Litton

Every complete history of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River gives at least a generous paragraph to the water-soaked saga of Beer and Daggett. What once was considered a foolish risk is now a legend.
Arizona Highways