ECOCLUB Blogs™

A very interesting video on the 99% movement presenting the underlying income inequality statistics can be found at http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/video/2011/nov/16/99-v-1-occupy-data-animation.       The Vision of Humanity website also has very interesting statistical data nicely presented, the following is on income inequality worldwide: http://www.visionofhumanity.org/gpi-data/#/2011/gini/ Income inequality is increasing worldwide with more people falling below the poverty line. The statistics may be fixed by lowering the line however in terms of solving real problems patience is running out. Time may actually have already run out for the current global economic system, although it may be proven as just one more periodic crisis of capitalism (it is quite protracted though).   Whatever the case, it is important is that it does not collapse on peoples heads, but they start exiting the crumbling structure now, and joining or forming alternatives - local exchange systems, collectives, urban farms, soup kitchens and so on, millions of tiny holes in the current system, until it peacefully vanishes as no longer relevant.   There is nothing really stopping us but inertia and perhaps fear that cunning people will exploit the situation for their own sake. This is a chance we have to take. In Greece, where we are becoming bankrupt in slow...

  In the last 6 months, Planeterra Foundation has been very busy developing new projects in Cusco and Macchu Picchu, and other valleys near the Inca Trail,  the Galapagos Islands,  Thailand, Kenya, Guatemala and soon Chiapas, Mexico! Our website is presently being revised, but our blog is now becoming more active on projects with voices of all of our project managers represented!  Check out the first in the series, which I wrote on Chiapas.  Learn how orchids of Chiapas may become a valuable new value added product for Planettera to support conservation of the rain forest and to assist local people. http://www.community.planeterra.org/profiles/blogs/the-magical-orchids-of-chiapas

  The Perhentian Islands are renowned for being the most beautiful Islands in Malaysia and this title is warranted.  The coral sand beaches are lined by palm trees on one side and fringing coral reefs on the other.  If Robinson Crusoe was to be filmed they could easily use the Perhentian Islands as the set.  However below the turquoise blue waters, not all is good.  The coral reefs are dying fast, mainly due to the hordes of tourists which search out this tropical paradise on a daily basis.  Corals grow at fastest just 15cm per year and with hundreds of tourists snorkelling and diving the coral reefs daily the breakage of coral is a big issue.  The same goes for the sea turtles of Perhentian.  The beaches of the Perhentian’s are nesting grounds for two species of turtle, green and hawksbill.  The number have been slowly declining since 2000.  Tourists often seek out nesting turtles and if they get too close they will scare the shy creatures who will then go back into the sea without laying any eggs.  If a mother gets to lay her eggs, they then have to evade being collected by poachers who consume or sell the...

    THE forest reserves around Tasik Kenyir in Terengganu teem with wildlife. Aside from the 230 bird species which the area is known to harbour, research group My Rimba in recent surveys has recorded at least 19 mammal species in the area. Their camera traps have captured stunning images of various rare and endangered species. In one picture, a female Asian elephant and her calf, their eyes shining in the flash of the camera, are seen making their way through leaf litter. In other images, tigers, sun bears, clouded leopards, tapirs and serows make up more of the jungle milieu. For most of these animals, a large expanse of habitat is crucial for populations to remain viable in the long term. But their habitats are being cut up by advancing development. In addition to being a barrier for animals to reach resources such as food, shelter and mates, isolated and fragmented habitats pose a threat to the healthy mixing of populations. A genetically diverse pool of individuals is needed to avoid the negative effects of inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity. Camera trapping is vital for estimating wild popualtions of elusive mammals.  Without evidence of the existance of these animals protection...

Deceitful King Sisyphus was condemned by Zeus to eternally carry a boulder to a top of the hill with the boulder rolling down again. Sisyphus has been interpreted as representing vain politicians, aspiring for eternal glory and eternally failing. Epicurus on the other hand praised the virtues of a pleasant, just and detached - including from politics - life. On the second day of a general strike in Greece, it seems we have to choose whether to follow Sisyphus and the illusion of capitalist abundance, or Epicurus and his doctrine that "natural wealth is both limited and easily obtained, but vanity is insatiable". Compared to what lies ahead, life in Greece until 5 years ago seemed quite good for the vast majority of the population (with the exception of immigrants), reflected in us reaching the top 20 of the Human Development Index at the time. However not all was well however, as a result of history, geopolitics and other factors, the two major parties (New Democracy & Pasok) had created a bloated bureaucracy and a clientelistic state, with a large unofficial (untaxed) economy, funded with EU grants and international loans, with draconian and complex, unenforceable laws, tax evasion and money laundering. The...

  What’s Cooking? Nikki Rose Professional Chef & Culinary Writer Talks About Life on Crete and New Book Greek Reporter, 15 October 2011 by Lorraine Eyre Nikki Rose is a Greek American editor, culinary writer and professional chef.  She is also the founder of Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries which works to protect Crete’s cultural and culinary heritage, the root of the Mediterranean diet.  She has received numerous awards for her innovative projects that bring attention to cultural arts plus agricultural and environmental issues.

  Greetings -  Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries is featured in the October issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller. Many people in our network are interviewed in this piece. A marked improvement in travel writing about community-based tourism. The full story: http://gourmettraveller.com.au/travel_features.htm

If you are in Washington DC on October 20, we'd be delighted if you would join us! Nikki Rose, a Greek American Professional Chef and Writer, and founder of the award-winning Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Eco-Agritourism Network will be speaking about her work and book at the Embassy of Greece. Details. http://www.cookingincrete.com/Nikki-Rose-Book-Presentation-Crete-The-Roots-of-the-Mediterranean-Diet.html

  I just finished a week at filmmakers school and made a short film on nature deficit disorder – its basically a PSA exhorting young people to connect with nature and find inspiration outdoors in unconventional ways (dance, art, etc). It is just under 3 minutes and you can see it at http://www.14dd5266c70789bdc806364df4586335-gdprlock/reinventure#p/a/u/0/4M95ni7SVdo

Want to find out why Maho Bay Camps, one of the world's best ecoresorts is closing? Or why Mongolian culture is a great fit for ecotourism? Head over to our website to read the autumn newsletter http://bit.ly/ri8iZ3  for these answers and more in the world of tourism for emerging destinations