Antarctic tourism booms: environment to suffer?

by Catherine Bodry on

Lonely Planet has been publishing guides to Antarctica for a while now. It’s now a regular stop on the cruise ship circuit. And it’s a popular destination (at least among my peers in Alaska) for seasonal work. As the icy continent becomes more popular, it is also becoming more accessible, and vice versa.

But the AP reports that a spike in tourism hasn’t come with a corresponding peak in regulation. Thus, some worry that catastrophic accidents could result in environmental damage, and fears are especially high after a passenger ship sank near the coast of the South Shetland islands this week.

Antarctica’s biggest problem is that no one is in charge. Seven countries have made claims on the continent, but no one recognizes or enforces them. Therefore, tourism is largely self-regulated, and we all know what can happen when corporations are left unchecked. I envision raw sewage released (Princess Tours received a large fine and a slap on the wrist for dumping raw sewage into Alaska’s Inside Passage), garbage dumped, and, well, general disregard for anything but profits.

Maybe I’m just a naysayer. But I don’t seem to be alone. What do you think?

Seeking out vacation spots without cell-phone coverage

by Neil Woodburn on

For those who are able to do so, leaving your cell phone at home when you go on vacation enhances that vacation experience immeasurably. Those who find they can’t leave the cell phone at home, however, might want to opt for a destination where, despite how hard you try, you just can’t get a signal. Sorry, boss! I brought my cell with me but it’s not my fault there was no signal!

If this sounds like the perfect guilt free vacation, pop on over to the Telegraph and check out Mobile-free holidays. Journalist Rosemary Behan goes in search of those few places left on this planet where a signal simply can’t reach your cell phone, thereby cutting you off from the hectic world from which you sought escape–isn’t that why you took a vacation in the first place, dummy?

Behan’s list includes the obvious (Antarctica), the remote (Nepal), and the surprising (North Wales). But if you really, really want to ensure you can’t talk on your mobile, be sure to visit North Korea where the police actually confiscate cell phones at the airport. Oh, and just in case you’ve covered all angles in keeping open a line of communication to the outside world, the North Koreans will also confiscate your satellite phone. If your boss can reach you in Pyongyang, you should truly be frightened.

Who owns Antarctica?

by Catherine Bodry on

According to a report from Reuters, Britain plans to submit a claim to the United Nations to extend its Antarctic territory by a million square kilometers. However, the claim could cause tension between Britain and a few South American countries — Argentina is working on a proposal to the U.N. which covers the same territory. The British claim also conflicts with the spirit of 1959 Antarctic Treaty, which prevents all exploitation of oil, gas, and minerals, other than for scientific research.

May 13, 2009 is the deadline for claims that will divide up 7 million square kilometers (the size of Australia). Russia, Australia, France, and Brazil are among the few that have made claims thus far.

Thin Green Line

by Erik Olsen on

I go on and on here about how much I love our country’s national parks. I don’t have a particular fondness for the National Park Service’s parent agency, The Department of the Interior (where I worked for two years and which, under the Bush administration has become, according to some, a wretched hive of scum and villainy). But the real people who make the National Park Service run are the rangers, the guys who are on the ground, taking care of the parks and making sure that visitors are both safe and educated about the value of the parks.

Well this may come as a surprise, but lots of other countries have national parks as well. And they have rangers too! Fancy that. And as you might imagine, each of these rangers has a story to tell. And what better way to bring that story to you, dear consumer of visual media, than through a movie.

And so, starting its grand unveiling today a new movie called The Thin Green Line is Out to tell the stories of rangers around the globe. From parks in Africa and Australia to those right here at home, the film is an epic document about how those people on the ground, are taking care of these vital resources. It’s an appropriate day to do this, by the way, because today is World Ranger Day, easily Yogi Bear’s most favorite day of the year…after World Honey Day, of course. Oh, and National Picnic Basket Day.

So take the time to head to a park this summer, and shake hands with a ranger.

On the Road, Cold Coffee Is a Good Thing

by Iva Skoch on

Struggling to find a good cup of coffee while traveling to remote areas? There is hope for us!

I am a huge iced-coffee fan in the summer time. A friend recently introduced me to a great new thing: cold-pressed coffee. Instead of using hot water and adding ice cubes (often impossible when traveling), you simply mix ground coffee with cold water (and let sit overnight). Guess what – it tastes great and it is noticeably less bitter than regular brewed coffee. Next time I travel, I am packing ground coffee.

NY Times recipe: Cold-Brewed ICED COFFEE

Time: 5 minutes, plus 12 hours’ resting

1/3 cup ground coffee (medium-coarse grind is best) Milk (optional).

  1. In a jar, stir together coffee and 1 1/2 cups cold water. Cover and let rest at room temperature overnight or 12 hours.

  2. Strain twice through a coffee filter, a fine-mesh sieve or a sieve lined with cheesecloth. In a tall glass filled with ice (opt.), mix equal parts coffee concentrate and water, or to taste. If desired, add milk.

Yield: Two drinks.

(NOTE: To make hot coffee, dilute concentrate one-to-one with water and heat in the microwave.)