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Into the
blue...
 Blue Ventures, an award winning UK-based not-for-profit
organization, is dedicated to projects that enhance global coral reef conservation and research. The successes of Blue Ventures research
programs have always depended on the dedication and enthusiasm of their volunteers. Volunteers from all over the world and from all walks of life work with
them both above and below the water, and are responsible for a range of tasks, from carrying out field research to managing the day-to-day running of field camps.
Interested? Dive
into the blue... Hakuna
Matata!
 What
a wonderful phrase...and what a wonderful way to travel. You truly will have no
worries when you book your eco vacation through Manaca. They've done all the
research for you and only place you with operators, guides, and ecolodges that
show the greatest commitment to the environment and indigenous peoples. To learn
more about Manaca and the travel opportunities they provide, visit them online.
ADVENTURE
OF A LIFETIME!
With the days getting shorter and the weather turning colder, your thoughts
may be turning to a warm winter escape. Based out of northwestern Montana, the
folks at Adventure Life Journeys understand your desire to migrate south with
the birds – even if only for a week or two!
Adventure Life offers trips to South and Central America, all centered on a
philosophy of cultural and ecological conservation. Join one of their journeys
and you’ll stay in smaller family-run accommodations and use the local
transportation infrastructure – all under the enthusiastic tutelage of your
native guide. The result is a rich, interactive experience with the warm and
charismatic people that inhabit the land, and the knowledge that your money is
benefiting the communities you’re sure to fall in love with.
With trip offerings in Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Bolivia, Belize and
Costa Rica, Adventure Life has an itinerary to suit most tastes. As part of a
New Year’s Resolution (admittedly a bit early!) to get more active, they offer
such new gems as the nine-day Ecuador Adventurer. Think gourmet five-course meal
for action aficionados: whet your appetite with downhill volcano mountain
biking, then feast on cloudforest hiking, Amazon whitewater rafting, alpine
trekking, and for dessert, a well-deserved soak in natural hot springs.
You may prefer to explore the mysteries of Machu Picchu or traverse the great
salt desert of Bolivia. Whatever your interest, you’ll be assured the intimate
experience of small group travel. By keeping group size to a maximum of 12
people, Adventure Life minimizes both the social and ecological impact of its
travelers. Journey with them to remote lands to experience the relaxed beat of
Latin America, or choose a whirlwind adventure; either way, let Adventure life
show you the hospitality of this charming region!
For more information, check out www.adventure-life.com.
How does a few days
vacation on an organic flower farm in Hawaii sound? Bob's Tropicals
has a gorgeous bed and breakfast with an amazing view! Check
it out! Another great treat in Hawaii is the Magic Sunrise Hawaiian's B&B on Kaua'i. Definitely our kind of places!
EVEREST
TRASH CLEANUP
By Andy Summa
Is Mount Everest the world’s highest garbage site? Some environmentalists think so.
Nepali sherpas recently collected almost five tons of garbage from Mount Everest dumped by climbers over the years, according to the Nepal Mountaineering Association.
Ang Phurba Sherpa told Reuters that more than two tons of paper bags, old tents, plastic and clothes had been burned or buried below the mountain’s base camp. Another couple of tons of tent poles, aluminum ladders, empty oxygen bottles and plastic cans were also cleared, Reuters said.
The Nepal Mountaineering Association recently launched a drive to clean up the 29,035-foot mountain, which some climbers call the “world’s highest garbage site.”
Foreign expeditions are required to pay the government an advance garbage deposit of $4,000, which is returned if they haul back their trash.
“We have paid up to seven dollars to the sherpas for bringing down each kilo of garbage from the mountain,” Ang Phurba Sherpa told Reuters.
The NMA collected more than two tons of garbage off Everest in 1996. More than 1,000 people have reached the top of Mt. Everest since it was first scaled in 1953. More than 165 people have died trying to climb the world’s tallest mountain.
Andy Summa is a freelance writer in Sugar Land, Texas.
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Costa Rica
Temptations!
If you've been thinking about going to Costa Rica, you need to check
out this site!
GreatGreenTravel is devoted to the green, environmentally conscious
traveler. They comb the web looking for the finest eco-friendly destinations!
LIGHTNING
CRASHESAll campers have been there. You’ve just set up your tent when -- BOOM! --
the rains come. And we’re not talking about God’s sprinklers here. We’re
talking rain that would make Noah nervous. How do you make sure you keep
everything (including yourself) dry and clean? Check out thebackpacker.com
for great advice from experienced campers for this not-so-obvious answer.
And while you’re there, check out trail reviews, tips on local hikes and
campgrounds, and what gear is thebackpacker.com-approved.
Peruse their extensive (and growing) Trails Database for information on trails
off the beaten path. Eco-travel has never been more camper-friendly.
GREEN
MAP PROJECT
The Green Map System is an open
source system for people all over the world to make maps of their
community that show places of environmental significance and resources.
The Green Map System provides online tools for anyone to
use, including shared icons that chart watersheds, bioregions, national parks, rural areas, small towns and vacation spots.
The Green Map System provides these icons as the "heart" at
the center of all the maps so that viewers of the
maps—visitors, tourists and natives alike— can have
awareness of their natural environment. Citizens of all
ages, backgrounds and cultures are invited to join the Green
Map System in the ancient art of map-making.
There are now 136
Green Map projects in 35 countries around the world. The first green
map was the New York City Green Apple Map in 1991. Participate
here!
ECO-FRIENDLIER
TRAVEL
IN EUROPE
By Andy Summa
The Netherlands, long a popular tourist destination, has recently come under the microscope for not having a single section of high speed rail track.
Home to the world’s largest port and Europe’s fourth busiest airport, the Netherlands has one of the densest highway systems on the continent. But work is underway to build more than 60 miles of new track, including a four-mile tunnel (the longest in the Netherlands).
By 2005, contractors hope to have about 62 miles of new track, which would allow trains to race along at 185 miles per hour and connecting the Dutch and French capitals in three hours, according to Reuters.
The Netherlands' two largest cities, Amsterdam and Rotterdam, would be only half
an hour apart, less than half the current time. Over the next 20 years, about
16,470 miles of new and upgraded track will connect Europe's major cities, making
affordable eco travel in Europe much easier.
Andy Summa is a freelance writer in Sugar Land, Texas.
A
Novice Hiking in Yosemite
I had no idea what I had agreed to, when a friend asked me to join her and some friends for a three day hike in the High Sierra in Yosemite National Park. A novice to hiking, I am equipped with a borrowed backpack and miscellaneous layered clothing. I'm excited to get going, yet wondering if I will be fit enough to do this. I have taken a veteran hiker's advice and purchased a pair of very comfortable hiking boots, enthusiastically taking them for test tours around the local trails at home to check their blister quotient. So far so good. I have also been advised to carry lots of water, and am prepared with several plastic bottles, sunscreen, trail-mix and camera. I am ready to go!
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