Save Eco Destinations

Miami leveled: post-category 5 Hurricane Andrew

I went to college in Florida and my mother still lives there. I hated it. Every summer we were on high alert, and I was always paranoid about those damn hurricanes. And the more I learned about global warming, the more I realized Florida’s on its way out, especially if you live right on the coast as she does (that’s where my college is located too, which is depressing as well).

But when my mother wanted to buy new property and I suggested she consider moving somewhere like Chicago, she took me seriously-for about a minute. Her bad. I’m already out.

In college, I met a girl whose house got demolished in Miami by the category 5 Hurricane Andrew back in ’92. And what did her family do afterward? They rebuilt the house. I was baffled. It was so obvious to me that their move was simply stupid. The fact that you’ve always lived someplace doesn’t mean you have to spend the rest of your life there, especially when it’s so risky.

There will be more hurricanes, you can be sure. And they are supposed to keep getting worse. What’s to think about? If you’re interested, here is a documentary about a family rebuilding its life in New Orleans post-Katrina.

As travel destinations, enjoy them while you can (Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Mexico, Cuba, and so on). If you live there, I’d start making plans to move on inland. But hey, maybe that’s just me-I like to live calmly year-round, no yearly, imminent death threats lurking in the shadows ready to attack. Power going out for weeks with 95F weather, general fear, no available flights out or gas to head the hell out of the danger zone. I don’t care how fun hurricane parties can be.

We had a category 2 or 3 in Miami some years back. Afterward, downtown looked like a war zone, shattered glass everywhere. Some buildings still haven’t replaced those windows.

And, oh, the beaches on the Gulf of Mexico are some of the most beautiful and placid I have ever seen. They are breathtaking. Sand like flour and water like a warm bubble bath (okay, without the bubbles).

And don’t even get me started about earthquakes (I’ve lived in California, too). I just don’t get why people make themselves suffer through natural disasters when they could avoid them altogether. Isn’t it worth the hassle? I think it is. (New Orleans is a port city, okay, but why do people in other lines of work choose to rebuild? It won’t be much of a tourist spot as natural disasters keep ravaging it.)

Links:

Anyway, read this article in the New Scientist–finally somebody is backing me up! Go Jeff Hecht, go!

Read a contentious debate here and a post-Katrina article in the Washington Post arguing against rebuilding here.

A castle in Kalmar

Not sure where to go for your next overseas vacation? Let me help you: consider the beautiful and eco-friendly city of Kalmar in south-east Sweden on the coast of the Baltic Sea.

Kalmar and Kalmar County (total: 236,501 people) are currently working on eradicating their use of fossil fuels and permanently replacing them with biofuels–and all this with the Swedes’ support. Residents’ standard of living remain, as they aren’t having to endure cold inside their houses in the winter or give up their cars. Essentially, the only change Kalmar will be making is its choice of fuels.

Specifically, Kalmar is switching from oil, gas, and electric furnaces to recycled energy. They call it district heat and it’s made from timber companies’ by-products, sawdust and wood waste. Ninety percent of the electricity at Kalmar comes from hydro, nuclear, and eolic (wind) power.

The busses and cars are publicly owned and most of them-you better sit down for this one-run on biogas (produced from waste wood, chicken manure, or 85% ethanol from Brazil). Read about their alternative fuels. There are more bicycle lanes, trucking firms are teaching eco-driving, building codes must now meet insulation standards, street lights use low-energy bulbs, and fuel-efficient and hybrid cars are all the rage.

Naturally, the switch to biofuels is not only making local Swedes happy because they’re increasingly eco-friendly, but also because of how much money they get to save in fuel and their opportunity to preserve jobs in these rough times worldwide. Kalmar has managed to make a drastic and fantastic change toward environmentalism without slowing down its economic growth. Visit Kalmar in 2030, and you will find no trace of fossil fuel use.

We can do it, too! Push for change in your cities!

Uteservering in charming Kalmar. (Click for more pictures of the city of Kalmar and its nightlife.)

The Svenssons, a couple of municipal workers in Kalmar, have taken to bicycling to work, buying locally produced food, don’t use a clothes dryer, and have other tricks up their sleeve. “We wanted to do something so we could look [our daughter] in the eye in 20 years’ time and say, ‘We tried,’ ” Sara Svensson told the Chicago Tribune.

What will you tell your kids and grandkids 20 years from now? They probably won’t buy it if you tell them you were too busy to make small changes.

Greenspace, New Zealand

Note: I’d like to say that I think it’s awful to have to say anything is “LGBT” friendly or “eco” friendly, etc.-everything, by default, should be these things. Everywhere and everything should be open-minded and progressive enough so that we stop viewing the standard as heterosexual white males. (What’s the deal with “chick” flicks vs. flicks? Why not “guy” flicks? Because all films are for men unless otherwise noted, right? It drives me up the freakin’ wall!!)

Anyway, until our world gets its shit together, here is some data I’ve rounded up where you won’t find conservative heterosexuals hogging all the eco fun:

1. Canada-based OUT Adventures will organize your vacation itinerary at affordable prices. This company claims to use 100% green power in its head office and that all its trips will be carbon neutral by 2011.  You can choose from Active, Comfort, In Style, Independent, and Family trips.

I think they have a long way to go in terms of greening their trips in addition to their approach (which I of course applaud). When they say travel green they mean not littering and not wasting water-but what about staying at lodges with a sustainable wastewater management system? Let’s hope that’s next for OUT!

2. Visit Christchurch, New Zealand and stay at GreenSpace. It touts itself as the only genuine urban eco lodge in NZ. In any case, check it out: it’s got solar water heating, non-toxic interior and exterior painted surfaces, recycled carpet insulation, on-site organic veggie and herb garden, planting of native trees, chemical-free and cruelty-free cleaning and other products (yay for animal rights!), they buy food from local Co-ops, compost, recycle, serve organic coffee, are vegetarian/vegan (very cool!), and even the toilet paper is unbleached and eco-friendly!

It makes me want to go if only to use their bathroom, in which, by the way, I could use my laptop (that’s right: wi-fi!). Prices go from $85-140. Then you can hit the beach, they’ll help you plan your trips, and they even offer babysitting services.

Also, they give you a head’s up so you can offset your carbon footprint through Kiwi Green Regeneration.

It sounds pretty sweet. What would make it more awesome is a sustainable wastewater management system (I am way fixated on these lately, huh?).

Do you have any resources to share? We’d love to hear about them!

More in our next post!

GVI volunteers carrying out the weekly plankton sampling at L’ilot for Marine Conservation Society Seychelles (MCSS). Photo by Jon Bilbrough

Have you heard of Global Vision International? GVI’s been around since 1998 and works to develop sustainable development through research, conservation, and education. It provides services to charities, NGOs, and governmental agencies around the globe through promotion, donations, and volunteering.

GVI is neither a political nor a religious organization. It sends 2,000 volunteers out per year to aid-reliant projects in over 30 countries.

If you’re not looking to go tan on yet another beach and take more of the same pictures, check out the conservation and humanitarian projects at GVI. You can browse through GVI’s volunteer options, destinations, and more to find something that suits you.

I know that even when I am exhausted and think “I need a vacation!!” more than two days doing nothing will jar me. If I can go somewhere beautiful, enjoy a radical change of scenery, meet new people, and do something that will help others, I feel more rewarded than if I had just spent a week getting sunburned on some beach.

Don’t get me wrong-I love the beach. But after a few hours kayaking and swimming and reading, don’t you get bored? It’d be cool to go somewhere on vacation and know that whenever you got bored or tired of it, you could go on to volunteer somewhere in the area.

GVI even offers responsible holidays of one week or more. For example, the Mexican Marine Expedition in the Caribbean Sea, where they teach you diving to contribute toward coral reef research in the area. (Remember that green sunscreen!) Or you can teach English to Buddhist monks in Laos! There are some awesome options in there, stuff I wouldn’t have thought of.

With GVI, you get training and career development opportunities through the trips and volunteering, so you could even view your time with them as an investment, depending on your future goals.

I think within the next several years, I will go volunteer somewhere for several weeks. Build homes for the homeless, teach English to people in secluded areas, help research for nature conservation. It’s scary–what will happen to your job when you get back, right? True. But when there’s a will, there’s a way.

LIVING MACHINES: Clean, Green Waste-Water Recycling

Here’s a topic I haven’t read much about at all: how to gauge your own eco comfort level.

It’s true: you may be okay walking around naked, consuming a vegan diet, and living electricity-free, while I might be cool with that as long as I can also have wi-fi access and an outlet for my laptop. Or maybe you feel strongly about showering with hot water when vacationing in Alaska. Hey-to each her or his own.

Here’s an article I came across in which the author brings one’s own personal comfort level into play. Turns out he needs iPhone access everywhere he goes, which he didn’t realize until the first day of two-week-long trip! Oops.

Say you’re going on a trip.

The most overwhelming part of taking an eco vacation may just be the planning! It can be tough just gauging your personal eco comfort level. Sure, it’s easy to say certain things, like that you’d only stay at a 100% sustainable hotel, or that you want your vacation to be completely relaxing and you promise to leave your laptop behind.

But will these statements hold up as truths once it’s time to take action?

Or will you refuse purchasing biodegradable sunscreen to take on your snorkeling trip on the grounds that, well, you know, you’re too busy? If you plan ahead, you can take care of all those little things. Buying biodegradable sunblock is a piece of cake compared to staying somewhere with no electricity!

Ecotourism is a burgeoning field, and most people are still only learning about it, they’re still new at the whole “ecotourism thing.”

In a few months, I will be taking a vacation with a couple of people who have never gone on an eco vacation. Now, while one of them, my mother, is enthusiastic about renewable energy sources, turning off the lights when leaving a room, and not littering, she is fanatical about drying her hair post-shower and taking her Blackberry everywhere.

Let the negotiations begin!

She will probably be surprised, if not shocked, when I suggest a lodge with a sustainable wastewater management system and no air conditioning. A lot of people just don’t know how deep green living can take you!

I wonder how far I’ll be able to take her. I’ll keep you updated.

photo courtesy of Sheknows.com

Last year, Responsible Travel published a study indicating that more women than men are making ecologically responsible changes in their lives, including where and how they choose to travel for their holidays, EcoTravelLogue reported.

Out of the people who booked eco-friendly holidays online via Responsible Travel, 67% were women! That is a lot of women vs. men. It makes me wonder—why?

I can think of one essentialist and totally debatable argument: women, perhaps because of their bodily cycles, are more in tune with nature and thus empathize more with the Earth’s environmental woes than men do. I would say this is probably true of some women, but absolutely not true of all. After all, it’s full of women (and men) out there who have no idea what’s going on outside with the environment their apartments and offices; they only know when they start menstruating.

Menstruation is in no way a cause of environmental awareness, let alone a cause of green activism.

But whatever the reason, it’s a fascinating and intriguing subject.

Of these 67% of women, 37% opted to travel by themselves. This underscores the increase in independent travel—as well as women earning more money than they used to in relation to men, which allows them to afford traveling alone. While the gender pay gap is still running rampant—no question about that—it is slowly narrowing in some areas, such as academia.

Also, more women are taking charge of their careers and financial security by becoming independent workers: running their own companies, becoming freelancers, and so on. As well, it has become more socially acceptable to travel alone, no longer being indicative of the person being a loser. Women are becoming more active, independent, and brave. But we already knew that.

The world is changing and the waves of progress are rippling across the continents to myriad corners of the (okay, mostly Western) world and our culture.

Of the 67% of women, 45% booked a holiday for two (whether it’s the woman booking the trip or her partner, who could be female or male, who is the green traveling nut, remains unknown).

Do these figures ring true for you? Do you think there’s a gender aspect to green travel?

image by yoshiffles

Maybe you’re running short on cash. Maybe you want to get to know the state, or the country, see the gradual transformation of the lush green mountains of Kentucky into the flat, swampy Everglades in Florida, or drive from one side of the Andes to the other (on the Chile side, you can see both the Andes and the beach from any spot!).

Whatever the reason, sometimes the idea of taking a road trip is very appealing. With this decision, though, come others: how to deal with your car’s carbon emissions, how to pay for gas, how to minimize how much gas you need, how to stabilize the temperature in the car, how to minimize waste, and plenty more.

Here are some things you can do to green up your trip:

• Trade your car (or plane!) trip for a train or bus trip. Public transportation always beats driving your own car. You will be producing smaller amounts of greenhouse gasses per passenger mile/kilometer and spending less money overall. Traveling by bus means reducing the pollution of cars, motorcycles, and trucks by two-thirds! A giant difference. Also keep in mind that rails pollute more than buses, and planes, well, they double the pollution of buses (intercity travel).

• If you’re set on traveling by car, try to travel in a fuel-efficient car. See some here and read up on fuel economy here.

• If your car is not fuel-efficient, just prepare it properly: tune your engine and check the tires to get better gas mileage (which will benefit your car’s “health” and save you money!).

• Renting a car? Choose fuel-efficient! Obviously. Many rental companies will offer you this eco friendly option. Hybrids are preferable; otherwise, choose a subcompact, compact, or economy car. Larger vehicles always use up more gas.

• Carpool! Another no-brainer. Seriously. I don’t care that your cousin listens to death metal. Wear ear plugs.

• Plan ahead! Bring reusable containers, not Ziplocs (unless you plan on washing and reusing them). Tupperware to take leftovers from restaurants, travel mugs for your coffee, and so on. Also, get your directions straight to avoid wasting excess gas. And don’t forget your biodegradable sunscreen!

• When you stop for gas or to rest, turn off the engine. Just like when you leave a room and you switch off the light. Same thing. It’s a good habit.

• Drive under the speed limit to save on gas, and at a mellow pace if possible. Consider taking back roads and other less-traveled paths instead of the highway.

• See if you can find any green hotels to stay at, go camping, or maybe try Couch Surfing and teach your gracious host(ess) how to green up her/his living quarters! Choose what you want to do and research how to make it green. It’s your responsibility.

Any experiences taking a green road trip?

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Fly to Cancún and drive 90 minutes SW and you will find the Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxkin Spa. It almost sounds like Hacienda Kitchen, but it’s not (although the stay does sound delicious).

Let me preface the post by telling you that they have a huge pool, wi-fi access, and AC-they have a ways to go still. But the resort has a lot of things going for it, regardless. Read on.

At the Hacienda Chichen Resort you can go on a jungle tour in their Maya Jungle Conservation Reserve with a Mayan guide (makes sense, right?), check out their protected Bird Refuge, archaeological sites, various eco-cultural activities, and get a massage with coconut oil, cacao (pronounced ca-cow) butter, and raw sugar (is this making you hungry, too?) at their spa when you return. Then, feast on organic fruits and vegetables grown in the resort’s own garden; they offer a gourmet fusion menu.

They use a state-of-the-art eco-friendly septic system to manage their waste, which purifies and recycles water through bio-digestible tanks and artificial wetlands. The resort uses biodegradable amenities and cleaning products. They have AC and power-saving lights and encourage guests to turn them off when leaving the room. They employ low construction density, reduce and recycle plastic and other materials, and encourage each other to choose bikes over cars.

You can even have a green and epic wedding just steps from the Chichen Itza ruins. Follow up with a visit to the Yaxkin Spa, a Top Wellness Holistic Mayan Spa, and become immortal! (Okay, that last part is a lie.) But the Hacienda Chichen seems like a supreme place to have a wedding, not to mention a phenomenal vacation. When everyone is headed to the beach, you can go check out waterfalls and 157 different types of birds.

The Hacienda has deals you can take advantage of, such as their discount mini-vacation packages. When you return, you can bring souvenirs such as jewelry and textiles, which you can find at the Toh Boutique-speaking of which, some of the Mayan jewelry’s sales benefit the Maya Foundation in Laakeech, dedicated to the welfare of Mayan communities with an eco-aware angle, which the resort and spa owners founded.

FYI: $120+/night.

And remember to add us on Twitter http://twitter.com/EcoDestinations!

Composting toilet at El Santuario by terriem

El Santuario Eco-Retreat – Loreto, Baja California ($120+/night)

This retreat is located on the coast, inside the Loreto National Marine Park (thoughts?? this seems awful to me), 25 mi. away from Loreto (so you can be sure the spot is tranquil!). Last September an Olive Ridley sea turtle laid her eggs in front of the Santuario, and locals saw 100 eggs hatch.  Doesn’t sound that ideal to me, but it’s better than opting for a nesting ground by a Hilton.

The retreat runs off solar power for hot water and electricity (no hair dryers here!) and has composting toilets located outside the rooms. They serve locally caught fish and vegetarian meals, including organic fruits and vegetables. You can go hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, mule riding (which is humiliating for the mules), and take boat trips. You may want to leave your laptop at home, as there is no indication of them providing internet access.

El Retoño

El Retoño Eco Lodge – Coatepec, Veracruz ($75-95)

This lodge was built in a colonial town within the mountains, amid the mist of the jungle. What’s cool is that this section of Mexico is trying to thrive off sustainability instead of raping nature through destructive practices and careless agriculture. El Retoño is part of this effort, and works with the community toward the end of preserving the original state of nature.

El Retoño has a library (wow!!), a movie-viewing room, a sauna, and guests can access the kitchen and make use of it. Each suite has a living room and bedroom with locally manufactured decorations. This is how they keep it eco: “all rain water and lodge water is collected and used, low voltage lights and dual flush toilets are standard, trash is separated and recycled, compost is generated from organic trash, and sheets and towels are changed between guests or every third day.”

You can go mountain climbing, hiking, bird-watching, and river rafting. I think I’m in love. I just wonder about the sewage treatment.

Balamku's cabanas on the beach

Balamku Inn on the Beach – Costa Maya, Quintana Roo ($70-85)

Talk of Tulum is everywhere. If you’d rather lay lower than that, you could try Costa Maya, just south of Mahahual, a tranquil fishing village. There you will find Balamku Inn on the Beach, where kayaks are included in the price of the room as well as wi-fi and breakfast. The inn runs on wind and solar power, rainwater, and recycled gray water, and the bathrooms have low-flush composting toilets.

There are horseback rides, jungle excursions, water sports (remember your biodegradable sunscreen or t-shirt!!), and even (unfortunately) deep-sea and fly fishing trips with local fishermen can be arranged.

A tourist ascending the Ek Balam Tower steps - photo by dustin_j_williams

Genesis Retreat Ek Balam – Central Yucatán ($44-54; $85 for family) Note: not on the coast.

This lodge lies on a private, grassy acre located 330 yards from the ruins of Ek Balam (which you can visit on one of the retreat’s tours). The retreat uses recycled water for their landscaping, the pool is bio-filtered, chemical-free, and built from natural stones, and hot water showers are pressurized. All cabanas have fans and one cabin has air conditioning. There are artists and writers working retreats, nature tours, a photo workshop, singles retreats, and more, and they rent out mountain bikes. The hotel’s owners, I am happy to report, not only serve vegetarian meals (in addition to traditional and regional foods), but are also animal activists!!

If you have any information or comments about these places, please do share it with us.