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For many vegans, travel can be something of a challenge. If you’re worried about vegan travel in South America, you’ll be surprised at how easy it can be if you are prepared and go to the right spots. Visit the Latin Lounge if you want to learn more about how to be a vegan in South America, including finding vegan restaurants.
Volunteer Latin America is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
Do you promote car-sharing to your staff? Is it an option which is viewed as positively as commuting by bus or train? Because it may surprise you to know that, if a car is full, it is actually more sustainable than public transport!
So if you’ve not thought about it before – here’s a good reason to do so now. The world’s first ever liftshare Week takes place from 4-8 October. It’s a week when thousands more people will be encouraged and enabled to discover the benefits of car-sharing:
From an environmental point of view, just by sharing with one other person, a driver is cutting the CO2 emissions from that journey by 50% – since one of them is leaving their car at home. As a result, their employers see the company’s carbon footprint drop too.
On a human level, the typical commuter who car-shares every day saves around £800 a year (sometimes considerably over £2,000!) – and reduces their stress levels into the bargain. Not having to drive every day make a real difference: sometimes car-sharers even admit having a snooze while their liftshare buddy drives them home! Car-sharers often report making lasting friendships too. And a member of staff who has driven into work with a friend, saved money and feels less stressed is a happy member of staff: one likely to be productive and stay in their job.
To take part in liftshare Week as an individual, just sign up to the free www.liftshare.com website and search for someone else going your way so that you can share the journey. If one of you doesn’t have their own car, the passenger(s) can just contribute to the driver’s petrol costs. Everyone wins.
To take part as an organisation, why not spread the word by displaying some posters at your office, or giving staff leaflets with more information? You can download them both from www.liftshare.com/business/liftshareweek.asp.
liftshare is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAYS FROM 1 JUNE 2011. A 1969 traditional wooden horsebox, converted into a beautiful living space for two people. The horsebox is situated in a small wooded area on a fully organic working smallholding of eight acres. Within, it sleeps two comfortably and has a small fitted kitchen with good cooking facilities. There’s also a snug seating area in front of a wood burning stove [wood supplied]. A short distance away is your own solar/wood stove shower and a compost loo with a turf roof. We are situated two miles from the north coast. Perranporth and St Agnes offer good surfing and coastal walking. Kayaks, body boards and bicycles are available. The local pub serves fine food, and is only a short walk away. http://www.organicholidays.co.uk/at/2888.htm
Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
‘Organic Places to Stay, UK and Ireland’ is one of the twelve Non-Fiction books in the final of The People’s Book Prize. It would mean such a lot to me if you could find the time to vote for my book in this last round of voting [you can vote from now until 21 July 2010]. Before you can cast your vote you must ‘register’ your name and email address and follow the instructions on that page. After you have submitted your registration details you will receive an email from The People’s Book Prize with your confirmation along with your unique password. You will then be able to vote by clicking the link to the voting page and after typing in your email and password you can click the box to vote for my book [scroll down the NON FICTION titles to see it]. If ‘Organic Places to Stay, UK and Ireland’ is voted one of the top three in the competition there will be lots of publicity opportunities for both the book and the website, which will help to promote organic food and organic farming. Many thanks to all those who vote. I really do appreciate your support. Linda Moss http://www.peoplesbookprize.com/finalist.php#nonfictionFinalists
Organic Holidays is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
Whether you are planning the trip of a lifetime, a gap year abroad or just a holiday break, you can make a difference when you travel, not only for yourself but for the people and places you visit.
Being a responsible traveller means more than just offsetting your carbon emissions, it requires thought and preparation. Responsible travel is based on the principles of sustainability and it requires you to examine the environmental, social and economic dimensions of your trip. Thus, responsible travel is all about minimizing the impact of your travel and maximizing the benefits for local economies, environments and host communities.
Making informed choices before and during your trip is the single most important thing you can do to become a responsible traveller.
Give some serious thought to your packing list. Your hi-tech synthetic travel jacket might keep you snug, but is it also warming up the planet or exploiting the people you plan to visit? Your soap and shampoo may smell wonderful but are they biodegradable? Try and ensure your backpack contains as many ethical products as possible (i.e. environmentally-friendly, fair-trade, not tested on animals etc).
Travel lightly and leave any excess packaging at home (i.e. plastic wrapping) – your hosts shouldn’t have to deal with your rubbish.
Educate yourself about the destination you are visiting by reading guidebooks and travel articles: culture, religion, geography, politics, ecosystems and local customs.
Consider your carbon footprint when using air travel as your flight will do more damage to the environment than any other aspect of your trip. You can offset your carbon dioxide emissions through any of the following organisations: Carbon Clear; C-Change Trust; Climate Care; Future Forests; Sustainable Travel International; Tree Flights or the World Land Trust.
Use public transport, hire a bike or walk when convenient – it’s a great way to meet local people and reduce pollution.
Try to support the local economy by buying regional products instead of imported goods. Use local services and businesses which employ members of the community, it is far more enriching and is mutually beneficial.
Help preserve local wildlife and habitats by respecting rules and regulations, such as sticking to footpaths or not standing on coral. Take care not to buy trinkets and souvenirs made from local flora or fauna. By buying products made from coral, starfish, shells, fur, ivory, hides, feathers, horns, teeth or eggs, amongst other things, you may be encouraging an illicit trade in endangered wildlife.
Animals are not here to amuse us, so do not support this trend by visiting circuses, festivals and carnivals where performing animals are used.
Respect local customs, traditions and culture – a responsible traveller doesn’t go abroad to force their world-view on developing communities. Always ask before photographing local people.
Think carefully about what’s appropriate in terms of your clothes and the way you behave. You’ll earn respect and be more readily welcomed by local people.
Respect local laws and attitudes towards drugs and alcohol that vary in different countries and communities.
Try to learn some words in the local language such as please and thank you, as this will be greatly appreciated and shows a respect for the culture.
Don’t be obsessed with getting the lowest price when haggling. What does a few pence mean to you compared to the seller?
When eating out, choose small local restaurants so you will benefit individuals instead of foreign companies. Drink local beer, wine and fruit juices rather than imported brands. Take a strong water bottle and boil or purify your drinking water, rather than buying bottled water.
Always try and use local energy and water as efficiently as possible and adopt a zero-litter policy.
When travelling or trekking in sensitive places use a solar powered battery charger for cameras, iPods or global positioning systems to avoid wasting batteries.
When travelling to impoverished countries do not give out medicine to alleviate suffering unless you are medically qualified. It is better to give your unused first-aid kits to local clinics or health charities rather than ‘experiment’ on local people.
If you intend you volunteer overseas try and choose a locally run organisation so all your money goes to the cause rather than paying for the marketing and administration of a volunteer-sending agency. Some foreign run agencies offer little more than glorified holidays and are often more interested in making money than helping the environment or local people. No one benefits from these placements apart from the companies that organise them.
The guidance above is for anyone looking to travel in a way that lessens their impact on the environment and provides genuine benefits for conservation and local people.
Changes in our attitudes to travel and tourism will help build the kind of world that can be enjoyed by our descendants in perpetuity.
Volunteer Latin America is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
It is also understandable why the green lobby and the tourism industry has brought into question the justification for volunteering abroad and why volunteers sometimes feel like they are caught in a conundrum.
Global warming is one of the most serious threats facing the world and some of the leading campaign groups have stated that the most ethical thing we can do for the environment is to stay at home. Whilst we can all agree that the best form of travel is to avoid flying, we should not stop flying altogether. That would send us back to the dark ages with massive unemployment (1 in 10 people work in the tourism sector), business recession, and increased poverty (deepening recession, increased unemployment and worsening poverty is not conducive to creating new lower carbon technologies and lifestyles).
There are many people who rely on tourism for their livelihoods and many natural habitats depend on visitors for their survival. If you want evidence of this you should look no further than Latin America. Tourism is a big contributor to the economy of many Latin American countries and the industry generated nearly US$2 billion in Costa Rica alone in 2007 (three-fifths of GNP). Tourism helps support some of Latin America’s most fragile natural habitats and if we stopped flying there many national parks and private reserves will lose their incomes, deforestation will increase and global warming will accelerate. Unless we support the people and communities now making money through ecotourism they have no other choice but to exploit natural resources.
Similarly, it is worth noting the importance of international volunteers to conservation efforts in the region. Without the commitment and financial support of international volunteers, many organizations would be unable to carry out their vital work. This is because there is generally very little governmental or outside support for these organisations and the projects which they manage. Your contribution as a volunteer could help ensure the long-term survival of a tropical forest or an endangered species. This is because you are actively participating in the conservation of that habitat or species. The participation of international volunteers also enables money to reach grassroots level of society and this can change a small communities perception of their environment or an endangered species.
The question of whether it is possible to be an ethical volunteer seems to largely rest on the ability to make informed choices before and during your trip. If you choose the right project, minimise the impact of your travel, maximise the benefits for local economies, and stay for a considerable period of time, then you can most definitely volunteer abroad with a clean conscience.
It is worth mentioning the importance of choosing the right project before setting off and the key message is – do your research if you want to so some really valuable work. Prospective volunteers must examine the work they will be doing and how it affects local people and the natural environment. Although there are some good placement companies out there, a do-it-yourself placement is the most ethical form of volunteering as you work directly with the host organization. You also have the assurance that all your money goes to the cause rather than paying for the marketing and administration expenses of a volunteer placement (sending) agency. If you opt to work through an agency please be aware that some of these agencies offer little more than glorified holidays and others are more interested in making money than helping the environment or providing sustainable and well-targeted help for local communities. No one benefits from these placements apart from the companies that organise them. An ethical volunteer ensures that as much of their money as possible reaches the grassroots level of society. Eco-conscious travellers should consider contributing to a project that helps reduce the impact of climate change and/or provides a hands-on approach to offsetting their own carbon emissions.
It is also worth mentioning the length of time volunteers spend overseas. You are clearly going to do more harm than good if you travel all the way to Costa Rica from the UK (a carbon-heavy 8,700km flight) to rescue sea turtles and stay for only a few weeks. To maximise the benefits for local communities and negate the environmental impact of your flight you need to contribute to a project for a much longer period of time. A long stay is more sustainable if travelling long distances as this will enable you to minimise the impact of your flight. The time spent as a volunteer is time not spent contributing to carbon emissions in your home country (i.e. non use of home appliances, zero emissions form you car, etc). A long stay also eliminates the need to take several shorter holidays throughout the year.
In reality, the dramatic growth in short breaks and cheap flights is a more pressing issue than questioning the justification for volunteering abroad, particularly if volunteers wish to devote their time and energy to do something positive for the environment. Those who want to stop us flying should focus more on the business and the leisure side of flying rather people wanting to make a difference (e.g. those that fly with a purpose). The destruction of the Amazon and other tropical forests around the world should also be a priority for campaign groups (e.g. air travel accounts for less than 5% of carbon dioxide emissions, clearing tropical forests for agriculture is estimated to produce 18% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions – more than the entire global transport system).
Volunteer Latin America is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
A common question seen on many travel forums is “how safe is it to travel to X (one on the Latin American countries) as a solo female traveller?” It is fully understandable why travelling alone to Latin America can seem an intimidating prospect, particularly if you are a woman. However, women who have already been to this region of the world know there is no need to post this type of question. All of the countries in Central and South America are generally safe to visit as a solo female traveller. There are, however, some areas that pose a risk and these should be avoided.
Many of the large cities in Latin America have areas that aren’t particularly desirable and you should stick to the main tourist or modern parts of these cities if you visit them. This includes all of the major cities in Central America (i.e. Belize City, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, Panama City, San Jose, San Salvador and Tegucigalpa). There are also certain parts of South American cities that should be avoided such as Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Caracas in Venezuela. As with the large cities in Central America, stick to the touristy areas and you’ll be fine. You should also take care when visiting particular areas of certain countries such as in Colombia and Venezuela. For example, it isn’t a good idea to hang around the border regions of Colombia or travel to obscure, off the beaten track destinations. Although Colombia and Venezuela get some bad press they are both relatively safe to visit if you stick to the top tourist destinations mentioned in reputable travel guides. If somewhere is mentioned in a reputable guidebook, it is almost certainly safe to visit.
This leads to an important point in the discussion. It is very easy to get paranoid about visiting certain countries and cities but this is totally unwarranted. Remember, it’s only certain parts of these countries and cities that are best avoided, just as certain parts of cities in Europe or North America are best avoided. In fact, travelling around most of Latin America is far safer, and more pleasant, than travelling around many parts of Europe or North America. Additionally, as Susan Griffith rightly points out in ‘Travelling Solo as a Woman in Asia’ “there is a pernicious mythology surrounding the lone female traveller, whether it be as a hitchhiker around Britain or a traveller in Southeast Asia. Many people instantly exaggerate the perils and dwell on a single woman’s vulnerability. Often this doom-ridden response is just an excuse for their own timidity of spirit.” Don’t get paranoid: the countries of Latin America are no more dangerous than many other countries in this world, and in reality you are more likely to encounter problems in some European countries or North American states.
Referring back to the classic question seen on travel forums (i.e. how safe is it to travel to X as a solo female traveller) it is worth mentioning the responsibilities and abilities of the individual. Safety is inherently linked to knowledge and experience. Whenever planning a trip to Latin America or anywhere else in the world, it is absolutely essential you do your research. Try and find out as much information as you can about the country or countries you wish to visit. Travel guides such as those produced by Lonely Planet and Footprint will help you decide which places you want to visit and those you might want or should avoid. The internet is also an invaluable source of information and there are many websites dedicated to the concerns of solo female travellers. We often hear people described as being ’streetwise;’ if the definition was applied to travel rather than the urban environment, some travellers could be easily be labelled as ‘travelwise’ (i.e. having the shrewd awareness, experience, and resourcefulness needed for survival in a difficult, often dangerous overseas environment). Travel experience (particularly in the third world) goes a long way in ensuring safety. This is because people with extensive travel experience evaluate risk more effectively and size up situations more successfully. Thus, it’s fair to say that overall safety is partly dependent on the qualifications (age, knowledge and experience) of the person posing the question.
To a large degree safety is simply a case of being sensible and staying alert. For example, flaunting items such as expensive cameras, jewellery, or mobile phones is likely to attract opportunist thieves. Similarly, putting your day pack on the luggage rack of a public bus rather than keeping it on your lap or by your feet is asking for trouble. The key message here is don’t take any unnecessary risks. You might fancy a late paddle on Copacabana beach (Rio de Janeiro) but any guidebook will tell you not to visit this area after dark. You might want to hit the bars and clubs in Quito but leave your valuables in your hotel. You might want to get drunk in the nearest disco but don’t try walking back to your hotel late at night. It’s all a matter of common sense really.
The main issue for solo female travellers is the threat of sexual harassment from local men and even male travellers. While male travellers might be a problem on occasions, you need to be aware of the culture differences between Latin American men and those from your own country. Machismo attitudes are fairly widespread among Latin American men and it is advisable to follow local practice and take your cues (i.e. how do local women deal with prolonged eye contact, etc) from local woman if you don’t want to be the object of curiosity. Appropriate dress and conduct will attract less unwanted attention from the local men. It is a sad fact that many local men view Western women as promiscuous. This impression is largely due to how some women dress. Acting drunk and a bit wild is also bound to create the sort of interest you are trying to avoid. You need to balance your sense of adventure with an awareness of cultural differences. It is also important that you listen to and trust your instincts. If you are in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable as a woman, you need to follow your instincts and leave.
Most countries in Latin America are well established on the ‘gringo trail,’ hence, there will always be opportunities to hook up with other travellers. This will greatly reduce any hassle you might get. This should not deter any woman from travelling alone as this can be a rewarding and empowering experience. There is probably nothing more satisfying to a solo female traveller than knowing she forged her own path.
While it’s true that there are specific concerns for female travellers, the risks that are out there shouldn’t stop you from hitting the road. There are thousands of solo female travellers currently exploring Latin America and you could be one of them.
Volunteer Latin America is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
Why should I believe you? Where’s the proof?
Award winning volunteer recruitment organisation, people and places, wants all potential volunteers to ask these questions.
The people and places team are an odd lot. They actively encourage their volunteers to comment, question and criticise – and then share that criticism with future volunteers!
They keep as little of the volunteers’ money as possible, also telling volunteers upfront how much that will be!
And now they’ve done something else that’s pretty radical – they’ve invited an independent auditor to come and check out their claims.
“The main reason we started people and places was that we knew volunteering should be a win-win situation, for communities and volunteers alike – and we wanted to prove that it could be. We’ve been surprised, and were somewhat naive perhaps, to see how some organisations have adopted the current buzz words of ‘responsible’ ‘sustainable’ and ‘community-driven’ to create a smoke and mirrors effect, confusing potential volunteers.
“And the sleight of hand used by many organisations when explaining where funds are used often takes our breath away.
“So now we want potential volunteers to say ‘PROVE IT’,” says Sallie Grayson, programme director.
people and places has undergone an independent audit of the claims they make in their responsible travel policy – here are just a few examples:
Undertaken by The Responsible Tourism Partnership – http://www.theresponsibletourismpartnership.org/ – this audit is a good workable alternative to a code of practise. The biggest problem with a code of practice is policing – who polices it and how? And where’s the encouragement for organisations to continue to improve?
Only claims the organisation makes for itself are audited – so:
You say you conserve thousands of litres of water a month – prove it.
You say you only employ local people – prove it.
You say 30% of monies are used on project development – prove it.
people and places , the first organisation to undergo this audit, hopes there will be many other organisations following this example.
“We will most assuredly be using the audit to strengthen our work in the next twelve months. We know that other organisations are already undergoing the same process. The audit isn’t about proving you’re perfect – it’s about proving that you’re doing what you say you’ll do. These are your promises – no-one else’s,” says Grayson.
The campaigning work of people and places was recently recognised by The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2009, when they won the award for Best Volunteering Organisation.
“people and places has exercised leadership in a sector bedevilled by poor practice and established a replicable business model. Committed to reporting transparently on the money that volunteers pay, they ensure that the volunteers meet their full costs and are not a burden on the community; and carefully match the skills of volunteers to the needs of that community without replacing local labour. They have taken the ground breaking step of having their work externally audited and publishing it online. These four principles set not only a practicable standard for operators to aspire to, but offer valuable guidelines for tourists seeking legitimate and socially beneficial volunteering experiences.”The Judges Citation
For a full copy of the audit go to http://www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk/PressView.aspx?id=29
To read the latest newsletter go to http://www.travel-peopleandplaces.co.uk/userfiles/NEWSLETTER%20MASTER%20WINTER%2009%20(2).pdf
people and places is an active member of Ethical Junction, learn more
Winter travellers face foreign insect danger
Now there’s frost on the ground and dark afternoons in the UK, there really is nothing better than packing a suitcase with summer clothes for a winter time holiday. But research from natural anti-insect range incognito has discovered that whilst people always remember to pack swimwear, sunglasses and sun cream, warding off biting and stinging insects is often low down or even non-existent on the list when heading off to sunnier climes –especially at this time of year.
Says incognito founder and recent Dragon’s Den contender Howard Carter; “mosquitoes and other small insects are unfortunately prevalent all year round in warmer countries including parts of Europe, and travellers need to remember to protect themselves against the possibilities of contracting potentially fatal insect-bourn diseases such as malaria and dengue fever or they could be bringing more back than a sun tan.”
Howard himself contracted malaria despite taking anti-malarial drugs and a Deet-based repellent in Dec 1998, which provided him with the inspiration to create the range.
The incognito range of products which includes a spray, moisturising after sun lotion, shampoo, incense sticks, lemongrass and citronella soap, along with an innovative loofah soap, all contain the same, deliciously fragrant organic Citronella found only on the island of Java, amongst other strong natural ingredients. This provides increased protection against bites over ordinary citronella as insects have yet to build up any tolerance to it.
The range contains no harmful ingredients such as DEET, parabens or synthetic additives. It is also suitable for use on all the family including babies and has a light, fresh fragrance well suited for both men and women. The entire range is kind to the environment and certified by the Vegan Society apart from the loofah soap, contains honey.
incognito products are available to buy all year round in the UK at Harrods (including Gatwick and Heathrow), John Bell & Croydon, Planet Organic, Whole Foods and in Ireland at all branches of Sam McCauley’s. Or direct through the website www.lessmosquito.com
Celebrities including X Factor judges Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell (who both use it in the Caribbean), as well as Davina McCall, Ewan McGregor, Elle McPherson, Derren Brown, Anneka Rice and Charley Boorman all love and use the incognito range regularly on their international travels.
You can join a 5 km 10 km, half or full marathon. But the trip is not simply about running. For a week you will be hosted by a Saharawi refugee family, where you will have the chance to learn their story and experience the legendary hospitality of a forgotten desert people in exile.
Where: The Saharawi refugee camps near Tindouf, in SW Algeria
Race Date: Feb 22 2010 (leave London 19th return 27th)
Registration Deadline: November 15th, 2009
Intrigued? For more info see below and email: runningthesahara@sandblast-arts.org or check http://www.sandblast-arts.org and go to events.
