Save Eco Destinations

While air, water, and soil pollution poison the ecosystem and the region’s inhabitants, thousands of square miles of (previously) pristine Northern Canadian forests in Alberta are being killed for oil. Watch a video here.

Gigantic digging machines are tearing into the soil and harming the forests’ topsoil to the extent that the land becomes sterile. This is going on daily, hourly, constantly, like it previously did in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. And it’s been going on for years. (I’m surprised, Canada!)

What’s great is that the Canadian Government is using several billions of its people’s tax money to go about this destruction of “Canada’s Amazon of the North.” Even in Brazil–in South America, where corruption tops North America’s by a landslide-the government is doing something proactive, taking a responsible ecological stance to help protect its natural habitats (whether the Brazilian Government is achieving its goals is certainly another matter). Evidently, this isn’t even your everyday forest, it’s a vast stretch of dense, rich land-which, as it rots courtesy of the aforementioned digging machines, produces obscene amounts of CO2. And don’t forget the water pollution (and marine wildlife pollution, and the pollution ingested by humans when they consume said wildlife). AND THE OIL.

Well, I guess this are will no longer be an eco destination!

Maybe I don’t know anything and I’m talking out of my —, but I thought Canada was more progressive than the States about things like this. Well, obviously I was wrong: the CO2 emissions originating from the Tar Sands, which Canada is ruining on purpose, puts the country way up there with the U.S. in terms of pollution.

Know this, Canada: all the polar bears drowning in the Arctic because of accelerated glacial melting are cursing you with their last breaths.

So now what? Just like we ought to call Argentina’s president and demand she stop Tartagal’s deforestation, we ought to give Canada’s politicians a beating. Wait. I mean, we should demand a law against ecocide. All of us, around the world. The more the merrier.

Check out comments on this issue here.

Whale watching in Sydney

Whenever I think of whale watching, I think of Margaret Cho: “Lesbians love whale watching!”  But hey, that doesn’t mean non-lesbians can’t enjoy the splendor of said activity! I’ve never done it (or maybe when I was a kid, but I was too young to be profoundly impacted by it) but it sounds grand.

On a more serious note, as you probably already know, whales are having a hard time these days. I wish humans weren’t so cruel about whales, throwing harpoons at them, selling their meat in the black market, and so on. I guess a lot of us do (that’s why you’re reading this!). You can do something to help stop whaling here as well as make a donation here .

Here are 3 responsible whale watching resources:

Anyway, you can do some gay-and-whale-friendly whale watching at Puerto Vallarta (maybe you’ll find Margaret Cho there!) . Whale watching season in the area started in December and runs through March 23 (hurry!). What you want to do is book a tour-here are some recommended (although not by us) whale watching tour companies. These companies abide by the Mexican government’s official whale watching regulations.

Another good spot for responsible whale watching is Sydney (hey, why not?)

Finally, in Hawaii you’ll find the Pacific Whale Foundation dedicated to the protection of whales, dolphins, coral reefs, and general ocean health. They provide eco tours, education, and research opportunities.

You can become a member to aid in their efforts, even adopt a whale or dolphin! I remember when I was a kid, for Christmas I’d give people adoption certificates for endangered animals and a stuffed wolf or whatever animal it was they had adopted. I guess they were expecting something more material, but I didn’t care-I was happy to be helping! Why do you need another iPod or new pair of shoes when you’ve got several already, and you could donate a little money for a good cause? We’re drowning in consumerism, anyway. When you want to gift, think of these laudable causes!!

There are certainly eco ways to whale watch if that’s what you’re into. The three resources above are just the beginning!

If you have any recommendations or words of wisdom, please share them!