India Also Celebrates Nobel Peace Prize Victory

by Abha Malpani on

India doesn’t have it’s international public relations committee on fire like Al Gore’s, but as the world focuses on congratulating Gore for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, India is celebrating with environmentalist Dr. Rajendra K Pachauri who chairs the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and shares the award with the former US Vice President.

Diverging a little: for all those wondering what climate change has to do with world peace, the official Nobel Peace Prize website explains: “Extensive climate changes may alter and threaten the living conditions of much of mankind. They may induce large-scale migration and lead to greater competition for the earth’s resources. Such changes will place particularly heavy burdens on the world’s most vulnerable countries. There may be increased danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states.”

Right, a bit twisted, but it all makes sense now.

Anyway, other than Mother Teresa, Dr. Pachauri is the only other Indian to be associated with receiving the peace laureate, (even Mahatma Gandhi didn’t get it!) I therefore feel that it’s my moral duty to shed a bit of light on my fellow countryman.

NDTV reports the teleconversation between Pachauri and Gore: “This is Pachy. I am so delighted and so privileged to have the IPCC share with you. I will be your follower and you will be my leader.”

All this is great, but leaves me with the pondering thought: now India has strong ties with the US and is following its lead for both climate change as well as nuclear power. What should be made of that!?

Stuff Your Rucksack With Things to Help Local Charities

by Martha Edwards on

Hands down, the most moving of all my travel experiences was a visit to an orphanage in Western Thailand, near the Burmese border. To see children so poor and yet so happy was all at once heart-breaking and life-affirming. I don’t cry often — even The Notebook brought nary a tear to my eye — but that was a day where I tried to hide the tears streaming down my cheeks. I gave them a small donation and they gave me a handmade Christmas ornament. But I wish I could’ve given them something more than money to show how much they had given to me — alas, all I had with me was some stale gum and my passport, which I surely wasn’t giving up.

Stuff Your Rucksack is a website where travellers give tips to other travellers on what to bring to give to local charities. Past travellers can submit information for upcoming travellers to bring with them — things like English books, toys and sporting equipment can all be found around your house, and they’ll make a world of difference to the recipients. So do your part — the look on a child’s face will more than make up for the extra weight you carried in your pack.

One for the Road: Planetwalker

by Kelly Amabile on

Here’s an inspirational story that’s more about transportation than it is about travel. Actually, it’s a tale of determination and inner strength. Planetwalker is the memoir of John Francis, an environmental activist who embarked on a remarkable journey of courage and conviction. After witnessing an oil spill in San Francisco Bay in 1971, he stopped using motor transportation, and began to walk everywhere he went, for a total of 22 consecutive years. Early into his walking pact, he also took a vow of silence, which lasted 17 years.

During his silent walking journey, Francis took a pilgrimage across the U.S. on behalf of the environment and world peace. He managed to earn a PhD in land management as well. On Earth Day in 1990 he broke his vow of silence. Francis now runs a non-profit environmental education program called Planetwalk. He travels the world speaking about pilgrimage and change, and about an environmental studies curriculum he has developed for high schools and universities. He’ll be speaking at the National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium this coming Wed., Oct. 17 at 7:30 pm. Sure sounds like someone I’d like to hear speak, although his actions and activism have spoken volumes already.

Finland Ranks #1 in Vacation Days, USA #45

by Neil Woodburn on

Well, summer is over. Have you taken your vacation days yet, or will you once again roll them over to next year?

If you are from Finland, there is a very good chance that you will indeed roll over your vacation days. This is because those crazy Finns receive 30 days of vacation on average in addition to 14 paid holidays every year.

According to a survey by Mercer, a human resources consulting firm, Finland ranks as the most gracious country in terms of vacation days amongst 49 researched in the survey. The study measured average vacation days received by employees who have worked at least ten years with the same company.

The United States, a notorious hotbed of deprived vacationers, ranked 45th with a paltry 25 days (15 vacation days and 10 paid holidays). Only the Philippines (19), Thailand (19), Canada (20), and Vietnam (22), fared worse.

Man! Even a third world country like Pakistan gets 28.

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Counterfeit Goods: How to Spot ’em and Why You Should Avoid ’em

by Neil Woodburn on

Anyone who has ever been to Asia knows the joy of shopping for fake Nikes, Rolexes, Hermes, Levis, and tons of other brand name products. And, for $10 or so, how can you go wrong? That’s why more than $500 billion is spent on counterfeit goods every year.

Unfortunately, buying counterfeit goods is technically illegal. While this is hardly enough motivation to stop tourists in Bangkok, there are some other issues to take into consideration before hoisting that $8 Prada bag over you shoulder.

Few shoppers really know the true damage that counterfeit goods can cause. That is why The Harper’s Bazaar Anticounterfeiting Alliance has emerged to educate bargain seekers “on the egregious criminal activities funded by these sales, including child labor, terrorism and drug cartels.”

In addition, their rather informative website, Fakes are Never in Fashion, offers tips on how to spot a fake and how to report a suspected counterfeiter. Perhaps the coolest thing, however, is that they are currently running a contest in which readers can turn in any luxury counterfeit item they’ve purchased and “be entered to win a $1,000 luxury shopping spree.”

Thanks, but no thanks! I’m keeping my Bangkok Rolex that tells the correct time twice a day!

(Via National Geographic Traveler)