Oct 30th, 2009 at 12:00PM: National Geographic Traveler has released the results of its 6th annual survey of authenticity and "destination stewardship". The survey, ranks 133 places on earth according to how well (or how poorly) the local governments, businesses and residents are protecting the area from degradation, along with other factors like risk of natural disasters.
437 panelists scored each destination according ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
environment posts
National Geographic ranks 133 destinations
Oct 30th, 2009 at 12:00PM: National Geographic Traveler has released the results of its 6th annual survey of authenticity and "destination stewardship". The survey, ranks 133 places on earth according to how well (or how poorly) the local governments, businesses and residents are protecting the area from degradation, along with other factors like risk of natural disasters.
437 panelists scored each destination according ...Ship graveyards from around the world
Oct 28th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Eco-friendly website Environmental Graffiti has an interesting story on their site today that details some of the top cargo ship graveyards from around the world. The article also includes some amazing photos of the rusted out shells of former cargo and cruise ships that have been left to rot in a variety of sun baked locations. All told, there are five graveyards on the list, including the ...Gadlinks for Saturday 10.24.09
Oct 24th, 2009 at 2:00PM:
Did you know today is the International Day of Climate Action? According to 350.org, "People in 181 countries are coming together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5200 events around the world, people are gathering to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis." In keeping with this special day, I've saved our usual Friday ...Underwater cabinet meeting highlights need to save Maldives
Oct 17th, 2009 at 2:30PM: The president of the Maldives and his cabinet met underwater today to urge global cuts in carbon emissions. The Maldives are a beautiful archipelago of more than 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean, famous for their clear waters, clean beaches, and coral reefs. But with the majority of the islands standing less than five feet (1.5 meters) above the water line, the whole country could disappear if ...Berlin brothel to bikers: ride up and save!
Oct 16th, 2009 at 4:00PM: digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Brothel_In_Berlin_Gives_Rebate_On_Sex_If_You_Come_On_Bike'; The travel and hospitality industry has tried so many ways to go green – from trying to wash fewer sheets and towels to using organic products in spas – that you might start to wonder if it's running out of options. Well, if that is a concern, it's probably time to look to the world's ...Tourists in Venice urged to drink the water
Sep 29th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Collecting the trash in Venice is no easy feat. After all, it's not like a garbage truck can just drive down the street - there aren't any. Garbage is collected by workers with wheelbarrows and then loaded onto barges and costs about $335 million per ton to remove (compared to $84 million per ton on the mainland of Italy).
In an effort to reduce these costs, the Venetian government is asking ...Safaris in Kenya hurt by drought
Sep 23rd, 2009 at 4:00PM: Safaris in Kenya are being impacted by a three year drought that has dessicated the landscape and killed many animals. In Samburu National Reserve, elephants are dying for lack of food and other species such a zebra and crocodiles are also suffering. Some are moving out of the area and away from visitor's eyes in search of water. Local herders are hurting too as they have to search harder to find ...Maldives President proposes green tax for tourists
Sep 12th, 2009 at 11:00AM: The Maldives, an archipelago of over 1000 islands in the Indian Ocean known for their stunning beauty and expensive, luxurious resorts, aren't exactly cheap to visit. And they aren't about to get any cheaper. The President of the Maldives has proposed a $3 per day "green tax" on tourists.
The tax would help fund the President's plans for fighting climate change and for making the Maldives a ...Why even the environment hates cruises
Sep 3rd, 2009 at 10:30AM: As if the cramped cabins, lame entertainment, and superficial shore excursions aren't enough for you to hate cruises, here's another reason: they're pretty bad for the environment too. A new article on Slate, "A Supposedly Green Thing I Might Do Again," (get it?) details the disturbing amount of damage that cruise ships do to our air and water. From the smokestacks spewing pollutants on top, to ...Nominees for Planeta.com's Ecotourism Spotlight Award announced
Aug 23rd, 2009 at 1:00PM:
Planeta.com, a website dedicated to ecotourism and encouraging environmental conservation through tourism, has announced the nominees for its Ecotourism Spotlight Award. The Award honors the tourism boards that promote ecotourism through their websites, both by highlighting their own efforts and by helping travelers connect to independent tour providers who operate using sustainable practices. ...Airports go green with new eco-friendly initiatives
Aug 20th, 2009 at 10:30AM:
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Airports are little cities unto themselves. Many are even large enough to have their own zip codes. With so many people coming in and out, cars dropping off and picking up, and planes departing and landing, airports produce a whole lot of air pollution and physical ...Heathrow unveils driverless personal transport pods
Aug 19th, 2009 at 3:30PM:
Buses and shuttles make up a large portion of an airport's traffic. People need to be shuttled back and forth from parking lots, garages, terminals and rental car lots, and all those vehicles mean congestion and pollution. Heathrow Airport is working on a system that will address both of those issues. The new Personal Transport Pods, or PRTs will run on dedicated tracks and use 50% less energy ...Stay at The Blackstone and explore Chicago by bike
Aug 19th, 2009 at 2:30PM: We've been talking a lot about green travel this month. Well, here's one more way you can do your part to reduce the impact your travels have on the environment. Book a room at The Blackstone in Chicago through October 31, and you'll be given two Strida bikes to use for the duration of your stay.
"Bike Chicago" package prices range from $199 to $269 per night and include overnight accommodations ...Seven trends that will change business travel
Aug 10th, 2009 at 8:00AM:
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Obviously, the recession is changing the travel business. You've heard it all before – and if you've flow or stayed in a hotel lately, you've undoubtedly seen it. Sometimes, the big issue of the day can mask others that will be important down the road. Travel ...Report lists America's most polluted beaches
Aug 6th, 2009 at 4:00PM: On Tuesday, the Natural Resources Defense Council released its annual Testing the Waters report, which lists the most polluted beaches at the country's oceans, lakes and bays.
The worst offenders have been on the list for several years, with contamination levels exceeding national standards anywhere from 60 of the time. The top beaches for contamination include Shired Island, Florida; Kings at ...The Brando eco-friendly beach resort to open in 2011
Jul 25th, 2009 at 10:00AM: Did you know that Marlon Brando owned (and now his estate owns) an entire French Polynesian atoll 35 miles from Tahiti? Did you also know that Brando dreamed of creating an eco-friendly resort on the atoll? Well both are true, and by 2011 Brando's dream will be a reality, thanks to Richard Bailey, CEO of Tahiti Beachcomber.
Bailey was a longtime friend of Brando's and had been working with him ...Finnish trash cans talk back
Jul 10th, 2009 at 3:00PM: digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Finnish_Trash_Cans_Thank_You_in_6_Languages_For_Using_Them'; This summer, the garbage cans of Helsinki will have something to say ... to you ... in six languages. The strange people who brought you wife-carrying contests and team berry-picking (you just can't make this stuff up) are happy to present the talking trash receptacle – which comes with a ...Undiscovered New York: Green NYC
Jul 8th, 2009 at 2:00PM: You can't go more than 10 feet lately without hearing about the burgeoning green movement. Whether its organic food, carbon footprints or green travel, it's a word on the tip of everyone's tongue. For travelers on the hunt for all things green, New York City is not exactly the first eco-destination you might conjure. Yet remarkably, the past 15 years have seen New York City dramatically cleaning ...Ecoventura vows to eliminate fossil fuels
Jun 8th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Environmental tour company Ecoventura has promised to stop using fossil fuels on its vessels by 2015. Ecoventura runs environmentally conscious boat tours to the Galapagos Islands, a unique ecosystem that is under threat by climate change and tourism. "The Galapagos Islands rank right up there with the Amazon and the Serengeti as one of the richest and best known, yet fragile and threatened, ...The hard truth of green luxury travel
Jun 3rd, 2009 at 3:00PM: "Green" has become yet another upscale offer for hotels and resorts around the world. The concept allows a premium to be charged – and justifiably so, given the increased expenses that come with minimizing environmental impact. Guests get to feel good when they indulge, and the hotel makes a few extra bucks. Everyone wins, right?
Well, it isn't that simple. Any environmentally friendly ...
