I just watched THE ONE DEGREE FACTOR, a new film
by the Sea Studios Foundation in Monterey, CA. They are the folks behind the
epic and wonderful Shape of Life series. The film is part of a four-part series called National Geographic’s Strange
Days on Planet Earth that will air on public television in April. The film takes the issue of how we are changing the
earth (obviously for the worse) and breaks the matter down into four key issues, each of which gets a film unto itself.
The film I just watched was about global warming and how the increase in temperatures caused by man’s industry is
wreaking havoc around the globe. Ed Norton, the actor, but whose father Jim is deeply involved in environmental issues,
hosts and narrates the film. And he does a pretty good job. He’s got some green heft given his father’s role with the
Nature Conservancy and Ed’s role as an environmental advocate. Sadly, Norton wasn’t at
the screening. Anyway, the film is beautifully shot. The Sea Studios folks make these movies as if they are going to be
shown in the theater. Scorcesean camera moves and editing techniques are used to great effect. The images are
amazingly vivid and the stories that are told about (for example, a group of children coming down with asthma due to
dust from Africa) are convincing. If you are a fan of environmental issues, this is a film you’ll want to watch.
Working on an Organic Farm
New Zealand has got lots of great things to do: bungee jumping,
rafting, hiking, mountain biking. But maybe you want your visit to have more meaning than what can get from these fun,
but perhaps somewhat selfish, adventures.
WWOOF New Zealand offers travelers the opportunity to stay and work on
organic farms in Kiwiland. You have to contact the WWOOF folks and
join up with them, but then you can get assigned to work on a farm in the country, eating the fruits of your labor and
enjoying an experience that very few folks ever get. You stay between five days and a few weeks or more. And if you
really like it, maybe you can stay and grow turnips there for the rest of your life. Or tend sheep. There are probably
worse ways to finish out your years than hanging out with a bunch of sheep. Or maybe that’s what your life is like now
anyway?
Jeff Greenwald in Sri Lanka
Jeff Greenwald is in Sri Lanka as the communications director for Mercy
Corps. Not sure how he wrangled that job, but good for him. Greenwald, you may know, is a well-known travel writer
(Shopping for Buddhas, et al) and he’s filing stories for both
Salon and his own organization
Ethical Traveler.
Greenwald is a keen observer, so for a real slice of life view about what’s happening there, read his stuff. The
Salon piece is particularly interesting in that he mentions how a Dateline crew got aboard a Black Hawk delivering
relief supplies and forced them to leave behind half the relief material. If true, that’s pretty dodgy. That’s one of
those untold stories, you know, how journalists interfere with the very stories they cover. Something I’d like to hear
more about.
Reconnecting After the Tsunami
The folks behind our sister blog the Wi-fi blog are helping to organize a relief effort to help folks after the
tsunami. Go take a look, and help out if you can.
Touring for a Cause
Sure, you can travel to exotic locations, stay in expensive hotels and rent flashy cars, but who’s that
helping? I mean, is the average Jose on the street, the average small businessman benefiting from your tourist
dollars?
Well, here’s a way to make sure they do. “Touring for a Cause” is a relatively new concept being practiced by tour
groups around the country that seek to get you, the tourist, invovled in helping the locals. That is, making sure the
local small business people reap the fruits you offer as a tourist. Whether eating, shopping or paying for services,
groups like Global Exchange, a San
Francisco-based human-rights organization, help you help people in Third World Countries by leading “reality” tours
that foster “people to people” ties. In other words, using tours to help you understand where your dollars are spent,
and making sure they are going to people who might benefit the most.
It’s really not a bad idea, although I’d hate someone to make me feel guilty
during my whole trip.