Our Philosophy | ECOCLUB

It is impossible to live pleasantly without living prudently and honourably and justly, and it is impossible to live prudently and honourably and justly without living pleasantly

Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

Ancient Greek Writing Tablet, Red figure Kylix by Eucharides, 480 BCE (U. of Pennsylvania Museum) ecosun ECOCLUB - International Ecotourism Club is a professional social network which aims to advance the philosophy & practice of genuine Ecotourism. Since 1999, we have been supporting, informing, uniting and promoting those practitioners and academics who make or aspire to make Tourism Ecological!

ecosun The ECOCLUB Ecotourism Criteria / Ecotourism Definition:

ECOCLUB defines Ecotourism as Ecological Tourism and therefore as an environmentally, socially and economically Sustainable Tourism.

Genuine Ecotourism providers, services, products and processes are those who meet the following criteria:

1. Minimise their Environmental Impact.

2. Respect Human Rights, Labour Rights and Animal Rights.

3. Meet Real Local Needs and Reduce Poverty & Inequality.

4. Increase Knowledge & Intercultural Understanding.

ecosun The current global environmental and socioeconomic crisis (aka Global Warming/Climate Change), according to overwhelming scientific consensus, is unprecedented in terms of endangering our presence, let alone our wellbeing, on this planet. This is not a natural phenomenon but a human-made one, a direct result of the prevailing, global, socio-economic model. The problem goes all the way back to the first agricultural societies where accumulation, surplus, debt, money and markets, and money first emerged and have since been inextricably linked to the basis of human civilization, so there are no easy or quick fixes. Could the whole world return to a nomadic style system through intentional communities and extreme degrowth? Highly improbable, unless a disaster of cosmic proportions takes place.

While technological and medical progress has allowed the human population to grow, despite hundreds of treaties and fanfare, progress is agonisingly slow in terms of reducing poverty and inequality and increasing environmental conservation, social justice and human rights. For Humanity to survive, let alone to progress further, we need, on the one hand, to constantly identify and oppose ecocidal aspects and actors of the global system, and on the other hand, to recognise and encourage ecological trends, currents and movements. We believe these include Genuine Ecotourism/Ecological Tourism, which, although not a cure-all, has a pivotal and multifaceted role to play in creating quality, meaningful jobs where no other options exist and, as importantly, in opening hearts and minds, in greater mobility between nations and within societies, in re-distributing wealth peacefully, effectively and more equitably between and within countries without further harming the planet.

We have no time to waste, yet this will probably be an Ultramarathon. The transition to a fully-civilised, peaceful, global socioeconomic system and the full humanization of humanity (if it is ever to arrive - it could be that some cosmic accident or human-induced blunder puts an abrupt end) could take another 10,000 years (since the first agrarian societies emerged) or even another 4 million years (since Australopithecus afarensis walked upright!). However, we should remember (Lao-Tzu) that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and (Cavafis) that "when you set out for Ithaca ask that your way be long...". The simple truth is that, apart from inertia, nothing really prevents us from helping each other today and every day, from "living prudently and honourably and justly" and thus "living pleasantly", today and every day. Imagine if one morning we all started doing things differently: instant, peaceful, radical change would have just been realised. ECOCLUB, as a latter-day, virtual Epicurean garden aims to unite and support open-minded, green and progressive citizens of the world who share the above ideas, are inspired by the civilised combination of Ecology-Liberty-Socialism, and are active or would like to become active in Ecotourism - join us today!

Our Logo: The colour (teal) combines green and blue, key colours of the earth and is one of a few colours named after an animal (a duck, the common teal, whose eyes are surrounded by this colour). The smiling sun symbolizes a pragmatic, positive, non-violent, non-sectarian, non-dogmatic, philosophical attitude to life which combines the Epicurean "LATHE VIOSAS" ("ΛΑΘΕ ΒΙΩΣΑΣ" = get through life without drawing unwarranted attention) and "ATARAXIA" (ΑΤΑΡΑΞΙΑ = tranquility) with the will to assist others, solve real problems, rise up every day, in a peaceful, daily revolution in all our individual and collective dealings; it also symbolizes solar power - renewable energy in literal and figurative terms and light - the light of science, enlightenment.

Our Philosophy: Ecology through Tourism!

Join us today!