It starts as just a road…then a store, restaurant, hotel and you see where this goes… it’s the next Las Vegas of the Serengeti.This could very well be the fate of the Serengeti. There are plans to construct a 31 mile road through the area. The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region located in north-western Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya. It spans some 12,000 square miles.
The Serengeti hosts the largest and longest migrations in the world, which is one of the natural travel wonders of the world. A group of scientist are saying building the road which would improve trade would be an environmental tragedy that can be avoided.
SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
As in the past outside forces and western civilization are trying to influence African countries who have been victimized by colonization and trade practices imposed upon them. The Tanzanian government and cradle of civilization countries want in on world trade and commerce thank you very much. Eco tourism has provided a toe hold. In 2005 tourism contributed over $800 million the the region. Progress yes but at what expense? Read Matthew Knight’s report here.
The travel industry, as with most functioning industries, is ever changing and evolving as consumers find new interests. One of the newest aspects of tourism and travel is Eco-Tourism.
The sole purpose of Eco-Tourism is to maintain and improve the environment for future travelers and generations to enjoy and venture to areas that are protected, tranquil regions, or unpolluted natural areas. Conservation, recycling, and energy efficiency are among the many environmental aspects targeted through Eco-Tourism. Minimal travel to natural destinations are often transported in clean burning vehicles and usually feature a walk or hike that explores local culture that supports the area.
One of the newest and most exciting series of tours that Discover Hawaii Toursoffers is our line of Eco-Tours.
These tours showcase a different side of the islands, while educating on the natural history and exploring beautiful sites of cultural significance. With these tours, we take you to the Big Island’s Kilauea Volcano, Maui’s Hana Highway, and many locations around Oahu, including Sacred Sites, hidden waterfalls and even a swim with Wild Dolphins off of Oahu’s West Coast.
Go on a fabulous tour and discover native plants and flowers, hidden beaches and waterfalls, and an abundance of spectacular sites that are only found in Hawaii. Ecotourism is an excellent and necessary manner in which to preserve the environment that is so important to Hawaii and the rest of the world.
In northern Botswana we found areas like the Okavango Delta and the Chobe teeming with wildlife, and ecotourism making a major contribution to the economy. Yet just to the north, across the rivers in Namibia’s Caprivi region we hardly saw a single animal or bird… not even the ubiquitous monkeys. We began to ask why the contrast should be so stark.
As we have travelled through Africa, we have seen the potential of ecotourism to preserve wildlife and tackle poverty. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in northern Botswana. The north of the country is almost entirely reserved for wildlife, and is famous for its predators and home to over 120,000 elephants. In particular, the Okavango River fans into the Kalahari desert, creating a vast region of rivers, islands and waterways. This delta was referred to dismissively as ‘the swamps’ at the time of independence, of no economic value. Today it has become the premier wildlife area in southern Africa, with lodges charging as much as $1,000 per person/ night. Tourism recently became the No.2 earner for Botswana (after diamonds) overtaking its strong cattle industry. But over the border, in the Caprivi region of Namibia, the contrast is striking.
Namibia’s Caprivi, a corridor of land that separates Botswana from Angola and Zambia is, if anything, even better suited to wildlife than northern Botswana. It too has a delta system, Mamili. It shares the Chobe and Kwando rivers with Botswana. On the south bank, in Botswana, there are huge herds of elephant and large numbers of other species, but in the two weeks we spent in the Caprivi we saw hardly any wildlife. The Caprivi, in fact has advantages over the land to the south. It has large grasslands andthe Zambezi River on its northern border. The Caprivi should be even more abundant in wildlife than Botswana, and huge herds should be migrating across the rivers. Yet Caprivi statistics from 2008 shows that wildlife numbers are tiny – most species in the Kwando region, home to most of the nature reserves, have less than 100 members. Only 0.1% of the population were employed in ecotourism full time, and the total income from all safari concessions was little more than $500,000 p.a., and almost all of this was from hunting. The contrast with Botswana could not be sharper. Read on
TEDis a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds:Technology, Entertainment, Design.
From the top of Rio de Janeiro’s towering mountain of Corcovado, at the feet of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, the high rise urban centers neatly tucked along the shoreline are dwarfed by the rugged natural skyline. On these peaks, for as far as the eye can see, grows the dense jungle of the Tijuca forest — the largest urban forest in the world — which gives Rio the feel of city that has managed to coexist with nature like none other on the planet. But things weren’t always so harmonious. In fact, there was once a time where these hills were stripped bare, deforested to make room for plantations. The truth is, this sprawling forest was replanted by hand. For as much attention that’s given to deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in the last centuries, Brazil’s Atlantic forest ecosystem has fared much worse. Home to a multitude of unique species, the Atlantic forest once extended along nearly the entire Brazilian coastline, though today only small patches remain. To support Brazil’s population, the majority of which live in close proximity to the ocean, these forests were largely cut down to make room for development — and Rio’s Tijuca forest was no exception. Read on: Source:Treehuger
Vice President on Employment and Economic Impact of the Recovery Act
Vice President Joe Biden today issued the following statement on a new report from the Congressional Budget Office on the employment and economic impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: “This new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office is further confirmation of what we’ve been hearing from leading economists, the nation’s governors and families across the country: the Recovery Act is working to rescue the economy from eight years of failed economic policy and rebuild it even stronger than before. When the CBO, Congress’s top watchdog and an institution widely-respected on both sides of the aisle, says that because of the Recovery Act as many as 3.3 million Americans are on the job today and the unemployment rate is as much as 1.8 percent lower, it’s impossible for even the most cynical, bent-on-rooting-for-failure critics to deny. So while Republicans in Congress – the same party that got us into this mess in the first place – may want to turn back the clock and drive us back into the same ditch we’re making our way out of, it’s now clearer than ever before that we can’t afford to go backward; we have to keep moving forward and build on measures like the Recovery Act that are creating jobs and making us competitive in the 21st century economy.” According to the CBO report, “Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from April 2010 through June 2010,” in the second quarter of 2010, the Recovery Act: • Raised the level of real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product (GDP) by between 1.7 percent and 4.5 percent, • Lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.7 percentage points and 1.8 percentage points, • Increased the number of people employed by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million.
Jenna Dewan Tatum’s Interview for PETA
The 29-year-old actress dropped her clothing and slipped under some scaly body paint for PETA’s new ad campaign against the use of accessories made from snakes, lizards, alligators and crocodiles. “I couldn’t believe that that is what happens for a wallet or a purse,” Jenna said in her interview with the organization.See the video.
This fall, Crystal Cruises’ guests have the opportunity to give back and see Valetta, Malta from a different point of view on award-winning Crystal Serenity voyages this fall. A brand new Crystal Adventure invites travelers to “Go Green” in Malta, by planting trees in the island’s only national park, donating food at a local charity and learning eco-conscious planting and harvesting practices at a local organic farm. The optional Crystal Adventure is available on Crystal Serenity’s 12-day, October 19 Mediterranean/Holy Land voyage from Athens to Rome, and the 11-day, October 31 Mediterranean/Spain voyage from Rome to Barcelona, and is $95 per person.
“This excursion affords guests the opportunity to contribute to the local needs in Valetta, and also gain a better understanding of the environmental efforts of the destination,” says John Stoll, vice president, land and port operations. “Like so many Crystal Adventures, this experience offers a new point of view for guests who want to explore destinations from a deeper, more informed perspective.”
The nearly eight-hour excursion begins with a visit to Ta’ Qali National Park, where guests will plant trees and learn about the park’s conservation efforts. Following a guided tour and lunch at eco-conscious Ta’ Zeppi Organic Farm, guests will visit a local orphan refuge, where they will donate time and food for the young residents.
The Valetta excursion highlights Crystal’s efforts to bring global awareness to its six-star vacation experiences, and is a prelude to its global ‘You Care, We Care’ program debuting in 2011.
Solar energy to save lives
By Charissa Sparks
An estimated 1.5 million deaths in Africa have been caused by the use of kerosene lamps. In an effort to address this issue, the first solar-powered light bulb is now being distributed as an alternative for people in developing countries who live without electricity.
It is estimated that 70 percent of sub-Saharan Africa lives in rural areas. Of these people, 90 percent have no access to electricity. In such instances, many people are forced to light and heat their homes with kerosene lamps.
The World Bank has found burning kerosene indoors to be equivalent to smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. It is estimated that almost one billion women and children are breathing in kerosene on a daily basis. Continued use of these lamps can cause infection of the lungs or eyes, and respiratory problems.
In addition to the significant health risk of the fumes, fires can also erupt when a lamp is knocked over, or when household items or clothes are exposed to the flame.
A company called Nokero has begun producing the first solar light bulb. Tom Boyd, representative for Nokero, told MediaGlobal, “The target market is the extremely poor, the so-called ‘bottom of the pyramid.’ With 1.6 billion people worldwide living without electricity, and another 1.8 billion living with intermittent electricity, the demand for clean safe, solar light is nearly inexhaustible.”
While distribution began on 10 June of this year, the new solar light bulb has already been purchased in 30 countries, and shipments for testing have arrived in Liberia, Pakistan, Haiti, and Nicaragua. “These bulbs are being used and tested by families who live with minimum or no electricity at all,” Boyd said. “We hope for sustainable growth that will give the bulbs the longest possible lifespan on the market with the best possible outcome for those on the ground who are using it.”
Nokera’s solar light bulb is rain-proof, made of shatter-resistant plastic, with four solar panels on the sides to collect the sun’s energy. When placed in full sunlight for eight hours, the light bulb will produce between two and four hours of light. Each of these green light bulbs has a battery that is designed to last two to three years and is both replaceable and recyclable. The solar panels on the side are expected to last five years or more.
“There is a great need for these light bulbs, and many people will be able to use them,” Boyd stated. At present, the cost of these solar bulbs is a main concern for Nokero. A single unit is sold for $15, but when sold in bulk, the price will be significantly lowered, with some as low as $6.
Finding ways to make these solar lights available will reduce the number of kerosene lamps needed, providing safer and healthier living situations for the vast amount of people living without electricity today.
Alternative Energy: Will U.S. Lead or Follow?
Oil Spill Turns American Minds to Renewable Power Sources As
Inventors, Investors Wait for Gov’t to Get Serious
The World Wildlife Federation (WWF), in an effort to promote both greater use of renewable energy and conservation of marine ecosystems, has a 46-foot solar boat (WWF Solar) sailing around the Mediterranean.
The solar catamaran is part of WWF Spain’s new ‘Embárcate’ (Get on Board) campaign that is planned along the Mediterranean coastline for the next three summers.
“The WWF Solar is powered completely by the sun. It does not use sails, and it does not use any fossil fuels. It is a boat that causes no polltion – it does not emit any Co2 whatsoever. The Solar shows that we can easily substitute fossil fuels with renewable energy,” said José Luis García Varas, Head of the Marine Program at WWF Spain.
“The WWF Solar and its crew have already docked in the cities of Águilas, Mazarrón, and Cartagena along Spain’s southeastern coast, bringing with them an arsenal of infomation on endangered Mediterranean habitats and species, as well as tips on the sustainable use of resources in some of the last wildlife bastions along the Spanish shoreline,” WWF wrote on Friday.
The WWF Solar will visit Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) such as the Cap de Creus Canyon, home to the greatest density of submarine canyons in the Mediterranian Sea, as well as other important coastal areas in the Mediterranean in the next few years.
The WWF Solar has photovoltaic panels covering its 65m2 roof, allowing the boat to travel at an average speed of 5 knots. It can run for 90 nautical miles straight, essentially two full nights of sailing or around 18 hours, when its batteries are fully charged.
“Renewable energy is an important part of this as is raising awareness that there are many other sustainable practices, such as operating small scale fisheries, that make it possible for people and the environment to thrive,” García Varas said.
The WWF is not new to the seas. In 2007, 5 people traveled from Basel, Switzerland to New York City on this boat to set a Guinness World Record for completing the first motorized crossing of the Atlantic Ocean using only renewable energy. After completing this trip and setting the record, Swiss association Transatlantic 21 (original developers of the boat), donated it to WWF.
Bastille’s Rooftop Garden Raises Urban Farming to New Heights - By Michael van Baker
Colin McCrate, urban farmer
If there’s a vanguard for the back-to-the-future, “Victory Garden” era in horticulture and landscaping, Colin McCrate is leading it. As the recession stretches out, garden-happy Seattleites are switching flowerbeds and shrubs into edible greens, fruits, and vegetables. At McCrate’s Seattle Urban Farm Company, the requests for residential farm landscaping (and chicken coops) keep increasing.
“It’s definitely true,” said McCrate, atop Ballard’s Bastille restaurant (5307 Ballard Ave. N.W.), where he’s installed a prototype rooftop garden. “More and more people are taking advantage of yard space to supplement their food needs. The sale of vegetable seeds has gone through the roof.”
Seattle’s climate, even in a cloud-shrouded summer like the one we are currently experiencing, is perfect for cultivation of greens, herbs, vegetables and fruit, particularly native apples, cherries and plums. Rain and peek-a-boo sun makes for perfect growing conditions. Some local gardeners have always made a sport of growing food products, and Seattle’s P-Patch network has been flourishing since the hippie-intensive 1970s. But now, people are farming for keeps, both residentially and commercially.
“Our customers are constantly surprised at the yield from even a small plot,” McCrate commented.
A few years ago, Bastille’s James Weimann and Demming Maclise purchased a building on the resurgent Ballard Avenue. (If you haven’t been over there recently, make plans. It’s as nice a mix of retail and restaurants in the city). Their goal was to create a restaurant that adhered to the strict demands of French cuisine, namely the use of fresh ingredients. They succeeded in spades, but not before an intensive remodel and some bold thinking. Weimann and Maclise hit on the idea of a rooftop garden. What could be fresher than the harvest from a two-flight walk-up garden?
McCrate, who designed the innovative rooftop beds for Bastille’s produce, estimates that with 800 square feet of garden, the restaurant is currently meeting about 30 to 40 percent of its needs for fresh greens and herbs, including red leaf lettuce, Miner’s lettuce, arugula and peppercress. “They are, however, getting 100 percent of their basil and rosemary needs, which both do very well in Seattle.”
Weimann and Maclise may not see a positive return on their investment for a number of years, but patrons get an immediate, positive return in every bite. And as innovators in the rooftop garden field, they’ve been raking in the media coverage. The garden is “poised to become a Seattle landmark,” said Eat, Drink and Be. Bastille is not the only restaurant or urban enterprise doing a bit of intensive farming. Venerable Canlis has a terraced garden in its North Queen Anne Hill location, and, two years ago, Maggie McKelvy, a manager of HomeStreet Bank’s Ballard branch, led an effort to turn a bed in the bank’s parking lot into a vegetable-producing space.
McCrate believes efforts like these are just the first steps of a widespread movement to reclaim food. It’s hard to argue with him. Just two years ago, separate incidents with contaminated lettuce and cilantro generated a great amount of fear about the safety of our industrial-strength food chain, and the quality of produce like greens, fruits and vegetables that should be served as fresh as possible.
“Producing your own food allows for a measure of security,” said McCrate. “Anyone can plant a vegetable bed or a fruit tree. It takes no more water or soil than a flower bed, looks almost as beautiful in the yard, and produces a tangible and edible benefits.
SANYO SOLAR MUSEUM
Sanyo’s 1,033-foot- wide solar-powered museum in central Japan is composed of thousands of factory-recalled solar cells recycled from the company’s junk piles – a rare fusion of budgetary restraint, ecological awareness, and aesthetic design.
It starts as just a road…then a store, restaurant, hotel and you see where this goes… it’s the next Las Vegas of the Serengeti.This could very well be the fate of the Serengeti. There are plans to construct a 31 mile road through the area. The Serengeti ecosystem is a geographical region located in north-western Tanzania and extends to south-western Kenya. It spans some 12,000 square miles.
