ECOCLUB Blogs™

Small is beautiful even in interpretation programs offered by tourism operators. The Alberta Birds of Prey Centre (www.albertabirds.com) in Coaldale, Alberta, Canada takes a different approach to interpretation and it pays big dividends. Rather than posting set times for interpretative talks or flying demonstrations, the staff watches the ebb and flow of visitors and offer activities accordingly. Someone have a few minutes between weighing birds? A staff member will offer to let someone hold an owl. If several families with children are gathered around the displays, a staff member will personally invite people to come to the flying field and see one of the birds exercised as part of their rehabilitation program.I have worked with facilities that offer more formalized programs and they work well, but the less structured approach offers more meaningful contact and the memories that lead to long term relationships. During my recent visit to the Birds of Prey Centre I saw several people asking question after question during interpretative programs, probably due to the intimate nature of the setting. People were wearing out their camera batteries taking pictures of themselves and the birds. Myself, I spent a lot more time than I planned at the facility because...

Greek fire usually refers to the inflammatory concoction with which our Byzantine forefathers used to set alight enemy ships. True to our byzantine tradition, here in Greece we are avid conspiracy theorists, especially at election time, with anyone from foreign spies, to anarchists, to opposition elements, to domestic motorway developers being blamed. The sad truth is that the disaster (64 dead & counting - 2% of total land area burnt this summer so far) mostly in the southern Peloponnese peninsula, is simply due to a complex combination of extreme weather, chronic fire brigade understaffing & underfunding, political appointments at key fire brigade posts, side lining & decay of the forest service which used to be quite effective in prevention measures, inappropriate waste management policies at village level, electric power line routes (through forest) and lack of adequate maintenance to avoid short circuits, and, to a smaller degree, arson for a multitude of reasons. The current center-right government has been largely passive about environmental causes, perhaps too busy privatising and selling, but the equally lethargic local government is as much to blame as the central government. Environmental awareness is also low, but this *may* change if the administration and media properly explains...

Orbitz recently announced the results of a study that showed that Americans are taking fewer long holidays and more shorter vacations. Ernst Flach of the Canadian Tourism Commission points to this as a possible opportunity for Canadian tourism operators due to their geographic proximity. Two years ago, I would have agreed, but increased awareness of the climate impacts of air travel have me reconsidering. It may be an opportunity for Canada, but is it an opportunity or a threat to the planet's health?Many countries are seeing an explosion in cheap airfares, a development ideally suited to people with only a few days off and a desire to get from it all. However some people are starting to question whether air travel is a responsible environmental choice at all - witness the highly visible protest over the expansion of Heathrow airport recently. Are travelers on a collision course with the planet's health? I've heard debate for decades over the pros and cons of tourism, but the recent debates calling for an end to all air travel rings alarm bells for me.Our travel patterns are leading to more environmental degradation yet asking people to stay closer to home can create a real hardship...

28 golf courses are currently being developed in Vietnam! Must be one for every year of their fierce independent campaign? If so, they could be named with the names of glorious generals. What was to become a 'socialist paradise' became a 'golf paradise'. Who will play at all these courses beats me, however I can not keep thinking what a great pity for all those who sacrificed their lives for an 'egalitarian' society. Their descendants are driving the funny little carts and carrying the clubs for fat cats, foreign or domestic - no difference. Of course *anything* is better than war and poverty, and there must be something good about the golf courses, if you look deep enough (are you still down there?) The next step is for Saigon to recapture its pole position in pole dancing, although the competition is stiff. The final step may be to apologise and return to colonialism 2.0, with less tears and a caring face. So much fighting for a big golf hole in the water...

"Officials" from a major oil producer and the U.S. National Petroleum Council, appeared before a senior oil industry audience in Calgary to deliver a long-awaited keynote speech with conclusions of a new study. The audience listened attentively, as they unveiled a revolutionary solution: a new renewable fuel called Vivoleum that would transform the billions of people who die into oil. The audience was somewhat surprised when the speakers began distributing memorial Vivoleum candles....Read, laugh, weep at:http://blogs.reuters.com/2007/06/19/its-ne...industry-group/Photos (!) at http://www.theyesmen.org/agribusiness/vivoleum/event/Background: http://theyesmen.org/Among their best pranks was getting VOA to review a "WTO" (hoax) proposal on reintroducing slavery ("full private stewardry of labor") to Africa.Related 'Corporate Ethics' site:http://www.dowethics.com

the impending decision of the greek minister of culture, to demolish two beautiful, officially preserved, art deco buildings on the pedestrian street below the Acropolis, so that the visitors to the new (expected to open in late 2007) Acropolis Museum, could have a slightly, better, unobstructed view to the Parthenon. The new Acropolis Museum was built to house the Elgin Marbles, when and if the British Museum decides to return these stolen items to Greece. Proponents of the demolition surrealistically argue that the yet unreturned marbles that will be housed at the top floor of the huge new Museum, should be visually linked to their former abode up in the Acropolis. The two adjacent buildings are on Areopagitou Street, Nos 17 and 19. #19 actually belongs to the world famous composer Vangelis Papathanassiou (Chariots of Fire, 1492). Areopagitou 21 has already been demolished in 2002.The vote on the demolition at the joint architectural and archaeological committee on July 3, 2007 was a tie (12-12) so it is up to minister Giorgos Voulgarakis to decide.You can visit the blog and read the petition by the owner of #17 at http://areopagitou17.blogspot.com/The blog features photos which demonstrate that the two buildings only marginally obstruct...

almost 800 years old, probably written in the time of the crusades, and still controversial, in this time of religious fanaticism: the 3 imposters.Full text:http://www.infidels.org/library/historical..._impostors.html

200 years after the abolition of slavery (on 25 March 1807, the "Abolition of the Slave Trade Act" was passed in Britain) and nearly 60 years after it was prohibited by the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there are still slaves (bonded labour due to debts), there are people who are treated like slaves (servants, child labour, forced labour & trafficking of prostitutes, ill-treated immigrants, sweatshop workers, prisoners working in farms) and there are also people who think like slaves - slaves to religion & slaves to money & fame.This must change. Not all "traditions" & "local customs" need to be preserved & respected.Related: http://www.antislavery.org

conformism in, freedom out.http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/363973.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freetown_Christianiahttp://www.christiania.org/main/lan.php?lan=gb

South American Explorers has introduced a new exclusive ($7,500) Membership category: Afterlife!!Blurb excerpt: "...when you pass into the realm beyond, you will face eternity with serenity, assured of your Club's perpetual gratitude. You will know the true meaning of immortality as you return each year to preside at the annual Club bacchanal held in your honor. Imagine the envy of your fellow spirits when they witness this outpouring of affection and devotion to your revered memory, a blessed dividend..."Interested, affluent souls can fly over to: http://www.saexplorers.org