With airlines collapsing faster than a Ponzi Scheme, a lot of travelers are wondering how they might be affected by
the tumult in the airline industry. One guy who keeps a rock solid eye on the subject and will give you the skinny
without the PR spin is the Practical Nomad or Edward Hasbrouck. Hasbrouck has
written this very handy FAQ to answer all your questions
about what will happen to your miles (uh, you’re probably screwed, sorry), and what will happen to YOU should your
airline declare Chapter 11 while you’re climbing that volcano in Chile (in this case, you’re probably OK…but no
guarantees). Anyway, Hasbrouck is almost creeepily dialed into this stuff, including issues of privacy and the Jet blue
scandal, all of which you can also read about on the
Practical Nomad site.
Motionsickness Magazine
Many travelers might know Jeff Greenwald for his book Shopping for Buddhas, and yet others may know him as the
founder of the Web site and NGO the Ethical Traveler. Either way,
Jeff is a bit of a mini-celebrity in the travel world for both his quirky writing-style and his passionate
activism. In this interesting, but obscure, little travel mag called
Motionsickness Magazine, there is an interview with Greenwald
where he talks about Ethical Traveler and some of the group’s campaigns, including efforts to boycott China
and Nepal for their environmental and human rights policies. Jeff’s infectious intensity is enough to make you want to
give it all up and get on the ethical traveler bandwagon.
Arctic Dreams
It has never been done before. And what better challenge is there than that?
Lonnie Dupre and Eric Larsen, two
kayakers and explorers from Grand Marais, MN., are training to make a summer crossing of the Arctic Ocean starting
in May. The four-month paddle will begin at Cape Artichesky, Siberia, will take them over the geographic North Pole
and, assuming all is well, they will finish at Ellesmere Island, Canada. Whew.
The two, whose groups is called One World Expedition, say they
are undertaking the journey to bring attention to climate change. Global warming has been particularly noticable at the
poles, where some studies have shown up to 40 percent decrease in ice cover over the last four centuries. A
recent study showed that
global warming is heating the Arctic almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet and that the thaw threatens
millions of livelihoods and could wipe out polar bears by 2100.
So we say good for them! Of course, we also say the gesture will have little or no effect on our attitudes towards
climate change, and the only thing that will eventually wake us up is when the people of Las Vegas end up with
beach-front property. But you have to admit the trip sounds fun.
Photo Essay: Mumbai, India
In January of this year, more than 100,000 people from around the globe converged for the annual five-day World Social Forum, held this year in Mumbai (Bombay), India. Activists for peace, equality, justice, womens’ issue, globalization, water and famine issues – all met for conferences and workshops in the midst of a vast sea of art, protests, parades and theatre.
Photographer Michael York was there, and returned with this brief but amazing photo essay of the days the world converged on Mumbai. Well worth a look.
Planeta for the People
The guide planeta.com bills itself as a “global journal of practical ecotourism”, With guides to biking to bird watching in Mexico and Brazil, as well as a fine list of other activities that are definitely out of the mainstream, this site is a solid resource for people who want to be engaged with the local people and the environment when they travel. You can also get info on language schools and find ways to work abroad. The site is run by Ron Mader, who’s eclectic background as an activist journalist and eco-tourist gives the site strong cred for what it’s trying to achieve. Check it out. At the very least it might offer you a different way of thinking about how to take your next vacation.