ecologic travel consultancy & community - since 1999

Although the world, and most Greens around the world, do not feel very "happy" right now, congratulations are in order for a global political family marking its 25th anniversary and showing promising unity and endurance. It is of course indispensable as a vanguard of the global effort to avert the Climate Catastrophe. globalgreens.org/25-years/

25 years - Global Greens

Green walls are great to look at, and provide many benefits including combating urban heating, improving air quality, supporting urban biodiversity and can even absorb rainwater reducing flooding. But we tend to think of exterior green walls, rather than interior ones. This article reveals green walls can work wonders inside removing indoor air pollutants! Spathiphyllum wallisii aka the peace...Green walls are great to look at, and provide many benefits including combating urban heating, improving air quality, supporting urban biodiversity and can even absorb rainwater reducing flooding. But we tend to think of exterior green walls, rather than interior ones. This article reveals green walls can work wonders inside removing indoor air pollutants! Spathiphyllum wallisii aka the peace lily seems particularly promising. Even if you cannot afford a full wall installation, consider a few pots. www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx Show more

Active Green Walls Remove Up to 98 % of Indoor Air Pollutants

Active green walls can remove up to 98 % of indoor air pollutants, offering a natural complement to traditional air filtration systems for improved air…

Passenger cars and vans consume around 25 million barrels of oil daily, which is a quarter of global oil consumption, and generate a large share of the profits and the political influence of our beloved Oil Multinationals. Although EVs are not a panacea in terms of reducing the impact of daily commuting - we also need hybrid and remote work and free or subsidized public transport - they are...Passenger cars and vans consume around 25 million barrels of oil daily, which is a quarter of global oil consumption, and generate a large share of the profits and the political influence of our beloved Oil Multinationals. Although EVs are not a panacea in terms of reducing the impact of daily commuting - we also need hybrid and remote work and free or subsidized public transport - they are paramount in combating climate change. ecoclub.com/blogs/evs-not-panacea-but-key-solution Show more

Electric Vehicles: not a panacea, but a key part of the solution - Blog

Tired of getting into circular arguments with die-hard fossil fuel supporters about the 'unsustainability' and fake greenness of electric vehicles (EVs) I decided to do…

Yet another use for these old family holiday photos. A new study published in Scientific American indicates that looking at your younger self helps unlock, hopefully pleasant, childhood memories! www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-face-swapping…

A face-swapping illusion can unlock childhood memories | Scientific American

By making people feel as if they inhabit a younger version of their own face, researchers can bring childhood memories into sharper focus

In the era of the smartphone, instagram and mass travel, where millions of photos are taken by travellers every second, it is hard to comprehend the importance the art of travel photography once held. A visit to the website of celebrated travel photographer and best-selling author, Robert McCabe, will help. McGabe first travelled to Greece from Chicago as an undergraduate back in 1954, a...In the era of the smartphone, instagram and mass travel, where millions of photos are taken by travellers every second, it is hard to comprehend the importance the art of travel photography once held. A visit to the website of celebrated travel photographer and best-selling author, Robert McCabe, will help. McGabe first travelled to Greece from Chicago as an undergraduate back in 1954, a difficult time when the country was still reeling from a decade of wars. It must have been love at first sight, as he visited Greece every other year during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, memorializing authentic lifestyles on the islands and the mainland's countryside, capturing some of Greece's most beautiful spots before mass tourism discovered, developed, altered and consumed them. One wonders, what the photographer was thinking when shooting these, did he realize he was helping preserve history? Who knows, but these photos - important documents - could one day inspire and assist efforts to restore simplicity and authenticity via degrowth. Until then, if you happen to visit Paros this year, a photo exhibition with photos personally chosen by McCabe has just opened in Naoussa (Porto Aoussa Gallery, running until 30 September 2026). www.mccabephotos.com/greece Show more

Greece Galleries | McCabe Photos

An opportunity for Sustainable Aviation Fuel? The attack on Iran and currently the Hormuz blockade are driving jet fuel prices through the roof, as around 40% of the jet fuel used in Europe is produced in the Gulf. Is this an opportunity for locally produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel, which is otherwise far more expensive? This is produced from used cooking oil, agricultural waste, and synthetic...An opportunity for Sustainable Aviation Fuel? The attack on Iran and currently the Hormuz blockade are driving jet fuel prices through the roof, as around 40% of the jet fuel used in Europe is produced in the Gulf. Is this an opportunity for locally produced Sustainable Aviation Fuel, which is otherwise far more expensive? This is produced from used cooking oil, agricultural waste, and synthetic e-fuels (from captured carbon and renewable hydrogen) and currently represents just 0.6% of the total jet fuel consumed in the EU, far below the 2% Minimum Total SAF Mandate imposed in 2025. The minimum is supposed to reach 6% in 2030 and rise gradually to 70% by 2050, if the world is still around. Once more another problem is verification. Used cooking oil and fat - from restaurants and hotels - hopefully finds its way through intermediaries to SAF producers, the problem is that the end product is identical to normal jet fuel, while fraud is also perpetrated with the use of - not at all sustainable - palm oil.... So verification/certification schemes like this new one in the UK are important: www.greenairnews.com/ Show more

Scheme launched to provide independent verification of SAF traceability in the UK – GreenAir News

A new era starts—hopefully not a dystopian one, although there are worrying signs—as the EU applies a digital, biometric entry/exit system for travellers complete with facial images and fingerprints. travel-europe.europa.eu/ees

The Ostrich's way of (not) dealing with the Climate Crisis. It would be amusing if it weren't reckless. as the World Bank is a major source of Climate funding. Do we perhaps need new funding mechanisms immune to pressures from the fossil fuel lobby, climate denialists and assorted dinosaurs? www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/apr/13/dont-m…

Don’t mention the climate: Trump creates ‘beyond absurd’ situation at global finance talks | Global climate talks | The Guardian

Developing countries face possible shelving of crucial green action plan at IMF and World Bank spring meetings

As you may be returning from your Easter break, this is a great poem on travel delays (train delays specifically) by the 'Banksy of Poetry', the great Brian Bilston. brianbilston.com/2026/03/31/a-poem-about-my-experi…

A poem about my experience of ‘travelling’ on Britain’s railways – Brian Bilston

The Poet Now Standing at Platform 3A The poet now standing at platform 3Ais the delayed 14.30 speaker for the Wits' End Poetry Festival, calling…

What could render Oil irrelevant? Solar power. Similarly with Oil blockades, if Cuba's China-backed massive solar electricity expansion - 20% in the past year - continues. Every cloud has a silver lining. socialistchina.org/2026/02/25/with-chinese-support…

With Chinese support, Cuba triples solar power in one year - Friends of Socialist China

In the Green sphere, economy, society, politics, there is always a debate raging about what constitutes the right (or left) shade of green, with accusations of greenwashing on the one side and loonie-tree-hugging-primitivism on the other. We have always been of the opinion that we need ALL shades of green, if we are ever to create a strong green pole (economy, society, politics). We need to...In the Green sphere, economy, society, politics, there is always a debate raging about what constitutes the right (or left) shade of green, with accusations of greenwashing on the one side and loonie-tree-hugging-primitivism on the other. We have always been of the opinion that we need ALL shades of green, if we are ever to create a strong green pole (economy, society, politics). We need to avoid the self-defeating narcissism of small green differences, especially between people who - supposedly - dislike leaders and have an open mind, support free thinking and free speech, enthusiastically endorse variety, stand for sharing resources, direct democratic deliberations and so on. Show more

Thank you so much for the input. Factors such as affordability and availability of sustainable options must be established and I’m glad to be a part of a community of green professionals

Very interesting point. It reminds me of the once-fashionable flight-offset / modern absolution paper industry. I suppose it depends on the specific traveller, if they are truly or superficially green, if they are morally consistent rather than moral

There always were "Bad Tourists", from the times only Nobles traveled independently and internationally on the Grand Tour, to the age of mass tourism. What seems to have changed, in many destinations, is that this is no longer tolerated, with punishment ranging from small fines, to hefty fines, to deportation, to incarceration. Blatant Racism is certainly punishable, and rightly so, but the...There always were "Bad Tourists", from the times only Nobles traveled independently and internationally on the Grand Tour, to the age of mass tourism. What seems to have changed, in many destinations, is that this is no longer tolerated, with punishment ranging from small fines, to hefty fines, to deportation, to incarceration. Blatant Racism is certainly punishable, and rightly so, but the debate, in Argentina and Brazil, is what constitutes a fair punishment. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/01/world/americas/brazil-a… Show more

Progress in EU Cycling Tourism: Twelve Inspectors have surveyed the EuroVelo 10 – Baltic Sea Cycle Route, part of a European network of long-distance cycle routes spanning across 90,000+ km. Their findings are largely positive, with a majority of the largely flat, coastal route being traffic-free, on perfect or good quality surfaces and with adequate accommodation and food services. Suggestions...Progress in EU Cycling Tourism: Twelve Inspectors have surveyed the EuroVelo 10 – Baltic Sea Cycle Route, part of a European network of long-distance cycle routes spanning across 90,000+ km. Their findings are largely positive, with a majority of the largely flat, coastal route being traffic-free, on perfect or good quality surfaces and with adequate accommodation and food services. Suggestions for improvement include creating separate infrastructure for pedestrians, better signposting and branding, additional toilets and fountains, and better maintenance of some coastal paths in the face of climate change and cliff erosion. pro.eurovelo.com/news/2026-02-23_evaluation-of-eur… Show more

Evaluation of EuroVelo 10 – Baltic Sea Cycle Route: more than 2,600 km surveyed with ECS in less than a year! - EuroVelo for Professionals

In less than a year, twelve EuroVelo Route Inspectors surveyed more than 2,600 km along the southern part of EuroVelo 10 – Baltic Sea Cycle…

Reading this news item, I noted a paradox: by accurately describing, documenting, and protecting Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) we are creating a tangible commodity, ready for tourism use. At the same time we may be fossilizing and decontextualizing these valuable but dynamic and local cultural traditions. I suppose it can be a positive development depending on who holds the rights of the...Reading this news item, I noted a paradox: by accurately describing, documenting, and protecting Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) we are creating a tangible commodity, ready for tourism use. At the same time we may be fossilizing and decontextualizing these valuable but dynamic and local cultural traditions. I suppose it can be a positive development depending on who holds the rights of the 'official' version of the intangible heritage, who decides how these (intellectual property) rights can be used in an industrial, for-profit context by the Tourism and other sectors (e.g. Fashion industry), who makes the profits and how they are distributed. But describing, categorizing, and officially recognizing tradition is neither a neutral nor an innocuous process. It rather resembles the way a multinational film studio turns traditional children's stories and dreams into blockbuster animation features. www.unesco.org/en/articles/thame-community-needs-i… Show more

Thame Community needs its Living Heritage to Strengthen Climate

The primary objective of this final gathering was to ensure that the intangible cultural heritage elements identified by the community and documented by experts reflect…