Showing posts with label Envrironment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Envrironment. Show all posts
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Boeing 787 Dreamliner's First Flight -- At Last
Long-delayed maiden voyage of Boeing's newest plane aircraft
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a mid-size aircraft (290 to 330 passengers), is the first large commercial jet made of light-weight, high-strength composite materials for fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and reduced noise. It was rolled out in July 2007, with an original plan for the first flight to take place in September 2008 and for it to enter commercial service in May 2009. Fifty-six airlines had placed orders for more than 900 of these new-generation planes, which would make it the best-selling widebody, two-aisle plane in aircraft history. There were delays of various sorts (subassembly part shortages, subcontractor issues, fastener issues and other unglamorous manufacturing problems), and that, coupled with the global economic downturn, resulted the cancellation of 70 orders, but there are still Dreamliner 777 orders on the books at this writing. All the frustrations seem to have washed away two days ago when the Dreamliner took off from Boeing's airfield in Everett, Washington. Click here for the video of that first three-hour-plus flight, and then click on "webcast" on the upper right part of the screen.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Travel Industry to Tackle Climate Change
"Live the Deal" initiative emerges from Copenhagen conference
The United Nations Climate Change Conference that wraps up tomorrow in Copenhagen has been in the news mainly for the estimated number of demonstrators, the number of demonstrators arrested and the heads of government who would or wouldn't be attending, and if the were, when, and if they weren't, why not. A travel-industry initiative called Live the Deal has emerged from Copenhagen. Let's hope it helps people continue to travel while decreasing the environmental burden caused by those travels. We have already seen hotels go green, but lodgings are only a small part of the travel picture. International industry leaders are, of course, just beginning to talk, but as the old proverb says, "Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Below is the press release about those first steps:
The United Nations Climate Change Conference that wraps up tomorrow in Copenhagen has been in the news mainly for the estimated number of demonstrators, the number of demonstrators arrested and the heads of government who would or wouldn't be attending, and if the were, when, and if they weren't, why not. A travel-industry initiative called Live the Deal has emerged from Copenhagen. Let's hope it helps people continue to travel while decreasing the environmental burden caused by those travels. We have already seen hotels go green, but lodgings are only a small part of the travel picture. International industry leaders are, of course, just beginning to talk, but as the old proverb says, "Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Below is the press release about those first steps:
Copenhagen, Denmark/ Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates/Madrid, Spain 16 December - "Live the Deal", an innovative, global campaign to help travel companies and destinations respond to Climate Change, reduce their carbon footprint and move to the Green Economy, was launched this week during the Copenhagen Climate Summit.
Announcing the new initiative, long time tourism green campaigner Geoffrey Lipman UNWTO Assistant Secretary-General said: "What Copenhagen represents is a new commitment by the world community towards sustainable low carbon growth patterns. The targets and mitigation actions that countries develop and negotiate through this process will be a new base for travel industry action. What we are providing is a very simple way to get behind the evolving government initiatives, to keep pace with changing patterns and to demonstrate that our sector is acting, not simply talking." He added "We should not be ashamed to promote the growth of smart travel – clean green, ethical and quality - it’s the lifeblood of trade, commerce and human connection".
"Live the Deal" follows the pattern established in the UN led Copenhagen Seal the Deal campaign by its single minded focus, its simplicity and its broad based engagement goals. It will seek to encourage the sector directly and through representative organizations.
It has been developed with the support of UNWTO, whose Secretary-General Taleb Rifai calls it "The kind of link between global policymaking and responsible tourism action that we are looking to inspire and encourage. Our sector fuels the economy, creates jobs and is one of the biggest development opportunities for the world's poorest countries – and it can be a leader in the transformation to a green economy".
The campaign will be underpinned by a simple carbon calculation tool that allows easy correlation with government targets and implementation measures, as well as a Think Tank and Annual Innovations & Investment Summit. The inaugural Summit will be in Abu Dhabi in the last quarter of the year. Live the Deal will be promoted by a multimedia video "We can take this Climate Change" from platinum album writer and singer Alston Koch which will be profiled around the world in 2010
Friday, November 6, 2009
San Miguel de Allende'sBotanical Garden
Charco del Ingenio showcases Western Hemisphere cacti in a protected landscape
The roughly 154 acres occupied by the unique botanical garden called Charco del Ingenio outside of San Miguel de Allende is reportedly second most important collection of cacti in Mexico, after Mexico City. That would rank Cacti Mundi that my husband and I visited in San Jose del Cabo several years ago number three or less. The Chacro del Ignenio is a pirvately funded ecological preservation area that began 18 years ago with 60 species now dispays some 550 cacti varieties from native habitats that stretch from Patagonia to Canada, but mostly species that grow in Mexico.
Mario Hernandez is knowledgeable passionate about the plants under his care. He is still awed by cacti's ability to store water and yet transform CO2 into O2 He points out that cacti are edible, and have religious, medicinal and spiritual value as well. And did I mention that they are great to look at too? He didn't bother saying that. I think he realizes that is self-evident.
Below are just a few examples of the varied and wonderful cacti growing at the Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden.
Cactus "buds" and cactus flowers.
When the Dalai Lama visited Mexico in 2005, he came to Charco del Ingnio and blessed the Plaza of the Four Winds, a ceremonial and scenic gathering place designed by architect Enrique Pliego and honoring local indigenous groups.Built with inlaid colored stones,wasinspired by the 16th-century Chichimeca-Toltec codex, the plaza is designed with four outer circles that indicate the four cardinal directions and corresponding figures that evoke the four natural resources (earth, water, flora and fauna) in traditional pre-Columbian colors. Reached by a smooth, flat but unpaved trail, it is one of the few places in San Miguel Allende that is wheelchair-accessible.
The Charco del Ingenio is open for self-guided visits, with 2 1/2-hour guided tours presently given on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. The cost is 50 pesos.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Carbon Offset Kiosk Coming to an Airport Near You
San Francisco International to install nation's first dispenser of carbon offset credits
Come spring, eco-conscious travelers flyhing out of San Francisco International Airport will be able to buy certified carbon offsets at self-service kiosks in a one-year pilot program (yes, that's an intentional pun) set up by 3Degrees, a local company that deals in renewable-energy and carbon-reduction investments. The San Francisco Airport Commission has authorized a $163,000 startup costs to provide kiosks, initially at the customer service desk in Terminal 3 and two wings of the International Terminal.
The kiosk will probably look a lot like an ATM or airline check-kiosk. According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the flier will punch in the destination, and the kiosk's computer will calculate the carbon footprint and the cost of carbon credits to offset that particular flight. A credit card swipe then will buy the necessary credits.
Buying this credits will be an environmental good deed, but it's not a charity, so the cost is not tax-deductible. 3Degree's Krista Canellakis told the paper, "While the carbon offsets purchased at kiosks can't be seen or touched, they are an actual product with a specific environmental claim whose ownership is transferred at the time of purchase."
According city and airport officials, 3Degrees and city will choose projects to be funded from a list certified by the city's Environment Department such as "renewable energy ventures in developing countries, agriculture and organic waste capture, coal mine methane capture, and sustainable forestry." A portion of each offset purchase will also go to "the San Francisco Carbon Fund, which supports local projects such as energy-efficiency programs and solar panel installations for low-income housing, as well as efforts to convert waste oils into biodiesel fuels."
The cost of these offset purchases for travelers has not be finalized yet, but 3Degrees' web-based "carbon calculator" suggests that offsetting a two-hour trip using about 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide would cost about $4 per person. Offsetting a trip to Europe would is guesstimated at $36. Thirty percent of the revenues will go to 3Degrees and the rest to the city. If it works at SFO, it's sure to spread to other airports as well. Profits for the company, revenues to the airport without requiring any additional services other than electricity and a clear conscience for travelers. Seems like a good bet for success.
Ironically, just as SFO is ready to welcome the 21st century commodity of carbon offset credits, the city is set to bid farewell to Stacey's Bookstore, an 85-year-old institution at 581 Market Street, one of the diminishing independent book dealers that have sadly fallen victim to changing times.
Come spring, eco-conscious travelers flyhing out of San Francisco International Airport will be able to buy certified carbon offsets at self-service kiosks in a one-year pilot program (yes, that's an intentional pun) set up by 3Degrees, a local company that deals in renewable-energy and carbon-reduction investments. The San Francisco Airport Commission has authorized a $163,000 startup costs to provide kiosks, initially at the customer service desk in Terminal 3 and two wings of the International Terminal.
The kiosk will probably look a lot like an ATM or airline check-kiosk. According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, the flier will punch in the destination, and the kiosk's computer will calculate the carbon footprint and the cost of carbon credits to offset that particular flight. A credit card swipe then will buy the necessary credits.
Buying this credits will be an environmental good deed, but it's not a charity, so the cost is not tax-deductible. 3Degree's Krista Canellakis told the paper, "While the carbon offsets purchased at kiosks can't be seen or touched, they are an actual product with a specific environmental claim whose ownership is transferred at the time of purchase."
According city and airport officials, 3Degrees and city will choose projects to be funded from a list certified by the city's Environment Department such as "renewable energy ventures in developing countries, agriculture and organic waste capture, coal mine methane capture, and sustainable forestry." A portion of each offset purchase will also go to "the San Francisco Carbon Fund, which supports local projects such as energy-efficiency programs and solar panel installations for low-income housing, as well as efforts to convert waste oils into biodiesel fuels."
The cost of these offset purchases for travelers has not be finalized yet, but 3Degrees' web-based "carbon calculator" suggests that offsetting a two-hour trip using about 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide would cost about $4 per person. Offsetting a trip to Europe would is guesstimated at $36. Thirty percent of the revenues will go to 3Degrees and the rest to the city. If it works at SFO, it's sure to spread to other airports as well. Profits for the company, revenues to the airport without requiring any additional services other than electricity and a clear conscience for travelers. Seems like a good bet for success.
Ironically, just as SFO is ready to welcome the 21st century commodity of carbon offset credits, the city is set to bid farewell to Stacey's Bookstore, an 85-year-old institution at 581 Market Street, one of the diminishing independent book dealers that have sadly fallen victim to changing times.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
29 Lights is 28 Too Many
Hotels' excessive lighting isn't luxury -- it's wasteful
I am currently in a lovely small suite at the Inn at Lost Creek in Telluride's Mountain Village. Getting here (where it hasn't been snowing) from the Front Range (where it snowed a storm) was an odyssey that I might blog about some other time. Unfortunately, despite my constant asking about it after I had been reticketed to Cortez instead of Telluride, my checked bag is still in Denver and will (hopefully) join me tomorrow.
The folks at the inn could not have been nicer, more sympathetic and more dismayed at my luggagelessness, but when I opened the door to my room, I got annoyed. Really annoyed. The foyer, the living area, the kitchenette and bathroom have, among them, twenty-nine (29) light bulbs, and every single one of them was on -- and had been for who knows how long. Twenty-eight of these bulbs are incandescent, including five on a table lamp. Only one, above the kitchenette, is fluorescent. And the TV is turned on to an audio station.
The inn is a congenial boutique property with 29 suites. If every one is occupied, 29 x 29 = 841 light bulbs burning for countless hours when no one is in the rooms in this property alone -- and that doesn't count lights in the lobby, hallways, underground parking garage, restaurant, spa and elsewhere --to say nothing of Christmas lights that will doubtless appear soon . IMO, it is a misplaced notion of luxury. And the little refrigerator, which the inn had thoughtfully stocked to tide me over, was cranked down so far that the half-and-half and eggs were frozen, and the appl and pear had the consistency of popsicles.
This is not the first time I've been appalled at excessive use of electricity -- and it's not the first time I have complained about it. I have been told that hotel rating services require some of this nonsense in order for properties to earn that extra star or diamond. This is a wasteful and outdated practice. I have a sign on my mantlepiece asking me to opt in or out of fresh linens every day in the interest of environmentalism. There should be something comparable when it comes to lights. I'm calling housekeeping tomorrow to ask them to restrain themselves.
I am currently in a lovely small suite at the Inn at Lost Creek in Telluride's Mountain Village. Getting here (where it hasn't been snowing) from the Front Range (where it snowed a storm) was an odyssey that I might blog about some other time. Unfortunately, despite my constant asking about it after I had been reticketed to Cortez instead of Telluride, my checked bag is still in Denver and will (hopefully) join me tomorrow.
The folks at the inn could not have been nicer, more sympathetic and more dismayed at my luggagelessness, but when I opened the door to my room, I got annoyed. Really annoyed. The foyer, the living area, the kitchenette and bathroom have, among them, twenty-nine (29) light bulbs, and every single one of them was on -- and had been for who knows how long. Twenty-eight of these bulbs are incandescent, including five on a table lamp. Only one, above the kitchenette, is fluorescent. And the TV is turned on to an audio station.
The inn is a congenial boutique property with 29 suites. If every one is occupied, 29 x 29 = 841 light bulbs burning for countless hours when no one is in the rooms in this property alone -- and that doesn't count lights in the lobby, hallways, underground parking garage, restaurant, spa and elsewhere --to say nothing of Christmas lights that will doubtless appear soon . IMO, it is a misplaced notion of luxury. And the little refrigerator, which the inn had thoughtfully stocked to tide me over, was cranked down so far that the half-and-half and eggs were frozen, and the appl and pear had the consistency of popsicles.
This is not the first time I've been appalled at excessive use of electricity -- and it's not the first time I have complained about it. I have been told that hotel rating services require some of this nonsense in order for properties to earn that extra star or diamond. This is a wasteful and outdated practice. I have a sign on my mantlepiece asking me to opt in or out of fresh linens every day in the interest of environmentalism. There should be something comparable when it comes to lights. I'm calling housekeeping tomorrow to ask them to restrain themselves.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Machu Picchu Under Tourist Seige
UNESCO warns that too many tourists now threaten Peru's top tourist attraction
I have not yet been to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel high in the Peruvian Andes, but it is certainly on my go-to list. Maybe I had better move it up. According to an Associated Press report, "conservationists advising UNESCO's World Heritage Committee warn that landslides, fires and creeping development threaten the site," due to soaring visitation (800,000 annually) and excessive construction near the site.
The World Heritage Committee meeting in Quebec City, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, "was called to determine which of the world's cultural treasures should be added to its [endangered sites] list — and which of those already included there are now threatened. UNESCO committee spokesman Roni Amelan declined to confirm that Machu Picchu, which was named a World Heritage Site in 1983, would be classified as endangered, but said 'it's a possibility'."
The report continued that "unregulated growth, including a boom in hotel and restaurant construction in the nearby mountain town of Aguas Calientes, is putting pressure on erosion-prone riverbanks and could undermine the site." Agua Calientes is without "adequate sanitation" and "Peru's government has done little to address landslide concerns on the winding, mud thoroughfare that leads to the citadel, according to the report."
Residents of Cuzco, the an ancient Inca city and now a jumping-off point for excursions to Machu Picchu, have protested private development in Aguas Calientes, although Machu Picchu itself appears to be protected thus far. Continued uncontrolled visitation could change that as well. The article quote said Luis Lumbreras, identified as "an independent, Lima-based archaeologist who has studied Machu Picchu for more than 40 years," as warning, "Machu Picchu was never made for lots of people... "If we put tourists with boots [instead of people in sandals or bare feet] that are jumping, running, climbing the walls, etcetera, that's the danger."
Last February, locals protested plans to build more hotels and other tourist facilities, causing suspension of rail service, cancelation of tours and blocking of roads. At the time, the BBC reported, "Hundreds of local farm workers, students and teachers have blocked access roads and the only railway line, barring the way to tourists, who have been reduced to taking pictures of the demonstrators rather than the ruins themselves. The protesters want the government to invest more money in the area, and especially to improve the dirt roads."
A friend and her family recently returned from Machu Picchu filled with enthusiasm about the experience. She didn't mention protests or inadequate sanitation or overcowding, but other government have capitulated to development interests at the cost of local culture or respectful preservation of ancient treasures. The relevant UNESCO committee is concerned about this one -- and therefore so am I.
I have not yet been to Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel high in the Peruvian Andes, but it is certainly on my go-to list. Maybe I had better move it up. According to an Associated Press report, "conservationists advising UNESCO's World Heritage Committee warn that landslides, fires and creeping development threaten the site," due to soaring visitation (800,000 annually) and excessive construction near the site.
The World Heritage Committee meeting in Quebec City, itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site, "was called to determine which of the world's cultural treasures should be added to its [endangered sites] list — and which of those already included there are now threatened. UNESCO committee spokesman Roni Amelan declined to confirm that Machu Picchu, which was named a World Heritage Site in 1983, would be classified as endangered, but said 'it's a possibility'."
The report continued that "unregulated growth, including a boom in hotel and restaurant construction in the nearby mountain town of Aguas Calientes, is putting pressure on erosion-prone riverbanks and could undermine the site." Agua Calientes is without "adequate sanitation" and "Peru's government has done little to address landslide concerns on the winding, mud thoroughfare that leads to the citadel, according to the report."
Residents of Cuzco, the an ancient Inca city and now a jumping-off point for excursions to Machu Picchu, have protested private development in Aguas Calientes, although Machu Picchu itself appears to be protected thus far. Continued uncontrolled visitation could change that as well. The article quote said Luis Lumbreras, identified as "an independent, Lima-based archaeologist who has studied Machu Picchu for more than 40 years," as warning, "Machu Picchu was never made for lots of people... "If we put tourists with boots [instead of people in sandals or bare feet] that are jumping, running, climbing the walls, etcetera, that's the danger."
Last February, locals protested plans to build more hotels and other tourist facilities, causing suspension of rail service, cancelation of tours and blocking of roads. At the time, the BBC reported, "Hundreds of local farm workers, students and teachers have blocked access roads and the only railway line, barring the way to tourists, who have been reduced to taking pictures of the demonstrators rather than the ruins themselves. The protesters want the government to invest more money in the area, and especially to improve the dirt roads."
A friend and her family recently returned from Machu Picchu filled with enthusiasm about the experience. She didn't mention protests or inadequate sanitation or overcowding, but other government have capitulated to development interests at the cost of local culture or respectful preservation of ancient treasures. The relevant UNESCO committee is concerned about this one -- and therefore so am I.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Airline Woes Could Cripple US Economy, Study Shows
Bad news and dire predictions continue for air travel
"Oil-fueled catastrophe in the airline industry would cripple US economy and eliminate US jobs, study reveals" is a ponderous title for an Internet post, but it is the gist of a feature on a travel site called eTurbo News. It cited a Business Travel Coalition study equally ominously and equally ponderously called "“Beyond the Airlines’ $2 Can of Coke: Catastrophic Impact on the US Economy from Oil-price Trauma in the Airline Industry" that predicted the domino effect of rapidly rising oil prices on jobs, the supply chain for the manufacturing that still exists in this country, lower tax revenues, American competitiveness, communities, and tourism. These, according to the article, "are just some of the predictable results from airline liquidations that could happen as early as the second half of 2008 as a direct result of unsustainable fuel prices."
As a global community and as a nation, we continue to use oil at an undiminished rate. Public transportation ridership is up in this country, but for many people, it is not an option because it simply does not exist. So people still drive around -- often one per vehicle -- in cars that are considered to get "good" gas mileage if they approach 30 MPG.
"The study expands on the analysis released on June 13, 2008 by AirlineForecasts, LLC and BTC and points to the real news about the airlines’ fuel problems: how multiple liquidations at legacy US airlines – now a serious possibility – would have a wide-ranging impact on many facets of the US economy," wrote eTurbo News.
But what we can do as individuals -- whether we drive less, carpool more, ride our bikes, cancel our vacations or simply fork over 15 bucks to check a bag or $2 for an inflight soda -- pales compared to the government's fuel consumption. Oil Change International, which is promoting the "separation of oil and state," reports that the Department of Defense (or shall we return to its old name, the Department of War?) is the country's single largest user of oil -- 1.6 million gallons a day. And every gallon that is pumped into a heavily armored HumVee (4 MPG), a mine-resistant tank (6 MPG), a helicopter (a 1,500-pound Bell Ranger reportedly burns 65 gallons in four hours; a big troop carrier way more than that) or a military jet is unavailable for civilian aviation, automobiles, buses, taxis or to heat homes in Maine and New Hampshire next winter.
The monetary cost is staggering -- $153 million for the 1.2 million barrels of fuel the armed forces use each month at $127.68 a barrel, which only seems trivial in comparison to the $10.3 billion a month America's Iraqi adventure is costing. The total so far is something on the order of half a trillion deflated US dollars, according to the Congressional Research Service. Politics, morality and even economics aside, the environmental cost is staggering. The US military burns more fuel and leaves a greater carbon footprint than the greening of the travel industry and the home-building industry combined.
"Oil-fueled catastrophe in the airline industry would cripple US economy and eliminate US jobs, study reveals" is a ponderous title for an Internet post, but it is the gist of a feature on a travel site called eTurbo News. It cited a Business Travel Coalition study equally ominously and equally ponderously called "“Beyond the Airlines’ $2 Can of Coke: Catastrophic Impact on the US Economy from Oil-price Trauma in the Airline Industry" that predicted the domino effect of rapidly rising oil prices on jobs, the supply chain for the manufacturing that still exists in this country, lower tax revenues, American competitiveness, communities, and tourism. These, according to the article, "are just some of the predictable results from airline liquidations that could happen as early as the second half of 2008 as a direct result of unsustainable fuel prices."
As a global community and as a nation, we continue to use oil at an undiminished rate. Public transportation ridership is up in this country, but for many people, it is not an option because it simply does not exist. So people still drive around -- often one per vehicle -- in cars that are considered to get "good" gas mileage if they approach 30 MPG.
"The study expands on the analysis released on June 13, 2008 by AirlineForecasts, LLC and BTC and points to the real news about the airlines’ fuel problems: how multiple liquidations at legacy US airlines – now a serious possibility – would have a wide-ranging impact on many facets of the US economy," wrote eTurbo News.
But what we can do as individuals -- whether we drive less, carpool more, ride our bikes, cancel our vacations or simply fork over 15 bucks to check a bag or $2 for an inflight soda -- pales compared to the government's fuel consumption. Oil Change International, which is promoting the "separation of oil and state," reports that the Department of Defense (or shall we return to its old name, the Department of War?) is the country's single largest user of oil -- 1.6 million gallons a day. And every gallon that is pumped into a heavily armored HumVee (4 MPG), a mine-resistant tank (6 MPG), a helicopter (a 1,500-pound Bell Ranger reportedly burns 65 gallons in four hours; a big troop carrier way more than that) or a military jet is unavailable for civilian aviation, automobiles, buses, taxis or to heat homes in Maine and New Hampshire next winter.
The monetary cost is staggering -- $153 million for the 1.2 million barrels of fuel the armed forces use each month at $127.68 a barrel, which only seems trivial in comparison to the $10.3 billion a month America's Iraqi adventure is costing. The total so far is something on the order of half a trillion deflated US dollars, according to the Congressional Research Service. Politics, morality and even economics aside, the environmental cost is staggering. The US military burns more fuel and leaves a greater carbon footprint than the greening of the travel industry and the home-building industry combined.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
United and Continental Expect to Be Bedfellows
Rivals are vowing cooperation -- and Southwest is implementing next-generation air-traffic efficiencies
The on-again, off-again romances, courtships, engagements and miscellaneous liaisons in the American air transportation industry are positively dizzying. The latest announcement involves a planned linkage of former rivals United and Continental in a bilateral agreement for domestic and international cooperation, in reality a cost-cutting measure by two struggling legacy carriers that have invidually trimmed costs and tapped new revnue sources, largely by charging passengers for services that were until recently free.
The new relationship, which is yet to be approved by regulators, is described as a "partnership" and not a merger. It is supposed to include code-shared domestic flights and also reciprocity between United's MileagePlus program and Continental's OnePass program, enabling to earn miles when flying on either airline and redeem awards on both carriers, including accruing miles toward elite status -- though whether they will be any easier to redeem is yet to be seen. Similarly, members of Continental's Presidents Club and United's Red Carpet Club will have access to both.
Continental has also been invited to join the Star Alliance, which has announced an "enhanced transatlantic partnership of the two U.S. airlines and Star Alliance member carriers Air Canada and Lufthansa" -- whatever that will turn out to be. This latest venture into airline togetherness is supposed to be implemented sometime in 2009. Forgive me for being a tad skeptical, but when it comes to airline coopration, several similarly optimistic plans have unraveled.
Meanwhile, go-it-alone Southwest seems to be stepping in to the tune of $175 million to help implement Required Navigation Performance technology that "allows the aircraft to fly more precise, direct, and accurate paths, allowing more 'lanes' to be built into the same limited airspace," an airline press release quoted executive vice president and chief of operations Mike Vande Ven as explaining. Within six years, Southwest expects to have RNP at the 64 airports it serves. Southwest calculated that every single minute of time saved on each flight, would reduce carbon emissions by up to 156,000 metric tons annually by 2015 and result in $25 million in fuel savings per year.
Southwest has partnered with Naverus, a leader in RNP development, and the Federal Aviation Administration since May 2007 to train the airline's pilots on RNP, equip the airline's fleet to be RNP capable to and to produce RNP-charted procedures. In other times, the FAA might have taken this responsibility upon itself, but Southwest appears to have provided the impetus to get fuel-saving and green procedures underway. Southwest's goal is to begin flying with RNP procedures in place by fall 2009 and have the entire fleet under such operations by 2013.
The on-again, off-again romances, courtships, engagements and miscellaneous liaisons in the American air transportation industry are positively dizzying. The latest announcement involves a planned linkage of former rivals United and Continental in a bilateral agreement for domestic and international cooperation, in reality a cost-cutting measure by two struggling legacy carriers that have invidually trimmed costs and tapped new revnue sources, largely by charging passengers for services that were until recently free.
The new relationship, which is yet to be approved by regulators, is described as a "partnership" and not a merger. It is supposed to include code-shared domestic flights and also reciprocity between United's MileagePlus program and Continental's OnePass program, enabling to earn miles when flying on either airline and redeem awards on both carriers, including accruing miles toward elite status -- though whether they will be any easier to redeem is yet to be seen. Similarly, members of Continental's Presidents Club and United's Red Carpet Club will have access to both.
Continental has also been invited to join the Star Alliance, which has announced an "enhanced transatlantic partnership of the two U.S. airlines and Star Alliance member carriers Air Canada and Lufthansa" -- whatever that will turn out to be. This latest venture into airline togetherness is supposed to be implemented sometime in 2009. Forgive me for being a tad skeptical, but when it comes to airline coopration, several similarly optimistic plans have unraveled.
Meanwhile, go-it-alone Southwest seems to be stepping in to the tune of $175 million to help implement Required Navigation Performance technology that "allows the aircraft to fly more precise, direct, and accurate paths, allowing more 'lanes' to be built into the same limited airspace," an airline press release quoted executive vice president and chief of operations Mike Vande Ven as explaining. Within six years, Southwest expects to have RNP at the 64 airports it serves. Southwest calculated that every single minute of time saved on each flight, would reduce carbon emissions by up to 156,000 metric tons annually by 2015 and result in $25 million in fuel savings per year.
Southwest has partnered with Naverus, a leader in RNP development, and the Federal Aviation Administration since May 2007 to train the airline's pilots on RNP, equip the airline's fleet to be RNP capable to and to produce RNP-charted procedures. In other times, the FAA might have taken this responsibility upon itself, but Southwest appears to have provided the impetus to get fuel-saving and green procedures underway. Southwest's goal is to begin flying with RNP procedures in place by fall 2009 and have the entire fleet under such operations by 2013.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Overpackaged Travel Accessory -- on Earth Day
Bad enough to be in the air, leaving a carbon control, but extra waste galls
We're leaving soon for England and Scotland, feeling a twinge of guilt for flying and probably a pinch in the purse because of the dollar-to-pound exchange rate. To make the long Denver-London nonstop a tad more bearable, I just got new Sony MDR-NC40 noise-cancelling headphones that plug into a plane's sound system.
I can't swim or row to England, but because it's Earth Day, I'm particularly aware of the un-green packaging for these lightweight, made-in-China headphones. The cardboard box encasing the product and its protective plastic cocoon is about 10 by 6 1/2 by 4 inches. The black background means that in many places, the box cannot be recycled, and it appears not to have been made from recycled material either.
Inside, the headphones are encased in a plastic clamshell box secured with with one transparent plastic tape, with another compartmented plastic tray inside. Four strips of adhesive foam are on these plastic parts. I do not see a recycling code on anything. The bilingual instructions were printed and warranty -- seemingly not on recycled paper -- in Malaysia. I realize that an electronic gadget needs to be protected.
It might seem hypocritical or hair-splitting, given that they are designed for use on airplanes, but I do wish that my new headphones had left a smaller carbon footprint. Now, I'm going to have to toss all that packing material that could have been made from recycled materials and itself be recyclable.
We're leaving soon for England and Scotland, feeling a twinge of guilt for flying and probably a pinch in the purse because of the dollar-to-pound exchange rate. To make the long Denver-London nonstop a tad more bearable, I just got new Sony MDR-NC40 noise-cancelling headphones that plug into a plane's sound system.
I can't swim or row to England, but because it's Earth Day, I'm particularly aware of the un-green packaging for these lightweight, made-in-China headphones. The cardboard box encasing the product and its protective plastic cocoon is about 10 by 6 1/2 by 4 inches. The black background means that in many places, the box cannot be recycled, and it appears not to have been made from recycled material either.
Inside, the headphones are encased in a plastic clamshell box secured with with one transparent plastic tape, with another compartmented plastic tray inside. Four strips of adhesive foam are on these plastic parts. I do not see a recycling code on anything. The bilingual instructions were printed and warranty -- seemingly not on recycled paper -- in Malaysia. I realize that an electronic gadget needs to be protected.
It might seem hypocritical or hair-splitting, given that they are designed for use on airplanes, but I do wish that my new headphones had left a smaller carbon footprint. Now, I'm going to have to toss all that packing material that could have been made from recycled materials and itself be recyclable.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Paying Homage to Ancient Trees
World's oldest tree on record -- or oldest trees, "on record" or not?
Is it hair splitting or wood splintering to discuss relative ages of trees on t
he greater tourism trail? The Sri Lanka Tourist Board has just sent out an announcement that the country's Ministry of Tourism has purchased a non-polluting, four-passenger electric vehicle to carry old (or otherwise mobility-challenged) visitors to a very old tree. They believe the Sri Mahabodhi tree in sacred Anuradhapura to be the world's oldest recorded tree. The revered Bo tree (top right) is more than 2,500 years old.
he greater tourism trail? The Sri Lanka Tourist Board has just sent out an announcement that the country's Ministry of Tourism has purchased a non-polluting, four-passenger electric vehicle to carry old (or otherwise mobility-challenged) visitors to a very old tree. They believe the Sri Mahabodhi tree in sacred Anuradhapura to be the world's oldest recorded tree. The revered Bo tree (top right) is more than 2,500 years old. That may be, but it's only because no one was around at high elevations to record the time when today's bristlecone pines were seedlings. Even today, they are remote and often difficult to reach. Small colonies of this rugged, thick-trunked pine species that sometimes resembles banzai on steroids grow between about 10,000 and 11,000 feet in six Western states: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada (a Great Basin bristlecone is shown, lower right).
Donald R. Currey, then a doctoral student of the University of North Carolina, merits a footnote to the history of seriously misguided endeavors. In 1964, he was taking core samples of bristlecones, including a huge, gnarled specimen named Prometheus. It was so solid a tree that he kept breaking his coring tool broke. He asked for and shockingly, received pe
rmission from the U.S. Forest Service to cut the tree down to determine its age. In a spectacularly example of bone-headed bureaucracy, the Forest Service granted permission to cut it down, earning Currey the distinction of having killed the oldest known living thing on the planet. Forty-four years ago, 4,844 rings were counted. A website devoted to bristlecones refers to Prometheus as "The Martyred One."
rmission from the U.S. Forest Service to cut the tree down to determine its age. In a spectacularly example of bone-headed bureaucracy, the Forest Service granted permission to cut it down, earning Currey the distinction of having killed the oldest known living thing on the planet. Forty-four years ago, 4,844 rings were counted. A website devoted to bristlecones refers to Prometheus as "The Martyred One."Currently, the oldest acknowledged bristlecone pine, nicknamed Methuselah, is still growing in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in eastern California's White Mountains. Either it's not as tough a tree as Prometheus was or core sampling tools have improved, but it has been dated by dendochronology, the science of counting tree rings, to be 4,789 years old. The Forest Service has learned something in more than 40 decades and will not reveal Methuselah's exact position in the bristlecone grove in order to protect it from a latter-day Currey who wants to break the record.
The road to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is about an hour from Bishop, CA, and is generally open from May through October. These ancient trees are concentrated in two groves, the Schulman Grove and the Patriarch Grove.
In addition to groves that require something of a hike, I know of three fairly easily reachable bristlecone groves in Colorado:
- The most straightforward is the Mt. Evans Scenic Highway, not far from Idaho Springs, which provides access to a bristlecone grove between Mt. Evans and Mt. Goliath. The road is generally plowed out by Memorial Day and remains open until October.
- Bristlecones also inhabit the picturesque lake-filled cirque at the foot of St. Mary's Glacier, north of Interstate 70's Fall River Road exit (Exit 238). Local residents of surrounding subdivisions are fiercely protective of their private property, and permitted parking is extremely limited.
- The Windy Ridge Bristlecone Scenic Area is about four miles from Alma, which in turn is along Colorado 9 south of Breckenridge. Reaching the parking area for the bristlecone grove requires driving an unpaved road and fording a small steam. It is usually drivable by May, but with this winter's heavy snows, who knows?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Upbeat Report from Grand Canyon Flood
Flooding beneficial but probably won't be repeated until 2012.
The recent artifical flood unleashed earlier this month via a three-day water release from the Glen Canyon Dam that I blogged about earlier this month appears to have been successful -- better that the two previous floods that, at the time, were also reported to have been successful in rebuilding sandbars for wildlife habitat and also as beaches were rafters could camp.
According to a widely published Associated Press report, Grand Canyon National Park superintendent, upon returning from a five-day trip down the recontoured Colorado River flowing through canyon floor, told reporters, ""On a couple of big sandbars there were already beaver tracks, bighorn sheep tracks. You could see the animals already exploring new aspects of the old canyon....It changes the feeling of the canyon as you see the sediment along the shoreline from a feeling of increased sterility to one of a greater amount of vibrance. The benefits are substantial."
This is a contrast to similar manmade floods in 1996 and in 2004, which, according to the AP report, "actually resulted in a net reduction in overall sandbar size because they were conducted when the Colorado River was relatively sand-depleted, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Officials believe this year's flood will be beneficial because sand levels in the river are at a 10-year high and are three times greater than 2004 levels. Whatever benefits come from this year's flood, however, will be eroded within 18 months without additional floods every year to 18 months depending on the amount of sediment available, Martin said. In its environmental assessment on Glen Canyon Dam releases, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation calls for no other high-flow releases until after 2012."
So now that the authorities have figured out when and how to do it, there's another example of a foot-dragging federal government that now predicts that this year's benefits could well be gone within 18 months but is planning to wait another four years before unleashing another flood.
The recent artifical flood unleashed earlier this month via a three-day water release from the Glen Canyon Dam that I blogged about earlier this month appears to have been successful -- better that the two previous floods that, at the time, were also reported to have been successful in rebuilding sandbars for wildlife habitat and also as beaches were rafters could camp.
According to a widely published Associated Press report, Grand Canyon National Park superintendent, upon returning from a five-day trip down the recontoured Colorado River flowing through canyon floor, told reporters, ""On a couple of big sandbars there were already beaver tracks, bighorn sheep tracks. You could see the animals already exploring new aspects of the old canyon....It changes the feeling of the canyon as you see the sediment along the shoreline from a feeling of increased sterility to one of a greater amount of vibrance. The benefits are substantial."
This is a contrast to similar manmade floods in 1996 and in 2004, which, according to the AP report, "actually resulted in a net reduction in overall sandbar size because they were conducted when the Colorado River was relatively sand-depleted, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Officials believe this year's flood will be beneficial because sand levels in the river are at a 10-year high and are three times greater than 2004 levels. Whatever benefits come from this year's flood, however, will be eroded within 18 months without additional floods every year to 18 months depending on the amount of sediment available, Martin said. In its environmental assessment on Glen Canyon Dam releases, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation calls for no other high-flow releases until after 2012."
So now that the authorities have figured out when and how to do it, there's another example of a foot-dragging federal government that now predicts that this year's benefits could well be gone within 18 months but is planning to wait another four years before unleashing another flood.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Feds Unleash Artificial Flood in Grand Canyon
Huge release from Glen Canyon Dam to refresh downstream ecosystem.
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and up to one mile deep, yet most of the million annual visitors to Grand Canyon National Park do not stray below the rim and never even see the Colorado River that, for 6 million years, has carved it. Right now, a dramatic artificial flood is occurring in the canyon that in addition to helping restore the ecosystem, will change the beaches where rafters camp on their multi-day river trips.
Today, federal agencies literally opened the the dam's gigantic bypass tubes on the Glen Canyon Dam of the Colorado River (for photos, click here and here). The release helps restore the ecosystem of Grand Canyon, just downstream, as 300,000 gallons of water per second pour out of Lake Powell. This periodic flood (previously unleashed in 1996 and 2004) is intended to reproduce the results natural spring floods that occurred before the dam was built in 1963.
The Colorado used to be a warm, muddy river whose natural annual floods built up sandbars that are essential to native plant and fish species. Since the construction of the dam, the river has become cooler and clearer, which is more aesthetically pleasing but not natural to the river. Since the dam was built, fish species have become extinct and and two others, including the endangered humpback chub, are nearing extinction.
During this week's three-day flood, water flows in the Grand Canyon are expected to increase to 41,000 cubic feet per second, which is four to five times the regular release from the dam. Scientists are monitoring the results of the induced flood, including habitat changes that will hopefully protect rare native species. The release from the dam is intended to mimic the natural floods that once flushed and rebuilt the narrow sand beaches along the river on the canyon floor.
The two earlier floods demonstrated the importance of sand and sediment in maintaining a semblance of the Grand Canyon's ecosysten. With the dam now trapping most of the sediment that once coursed down the river, beaches and habitats eroded, even as the Paria and Little Colorado Rivers, which join the Colorado below the dam, continue to carry sediment into the Colorado. The current flood is scouring and reshaping miles of sandy banks and beaches, and scientists and environmentalists will monitor what happens when floodgates are closed dam and flood waters recede. They have already found that the endangered chub has recovered some of its lost numbers since the last flood, and they hope that they are learning when to trigger future floods.
The feds say that they are improving the health of the Grand Canyon and are formulating long-term plans to offset the effects of the dam on the river and the Grand Canyon. "Our ultimate purpose is to learn whether or not this is a viable strategy for creating sandbars and habitats for native fish," John Hamill, chief of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, part of the U.S. Geological Survey, was quoted as saying.
Environmental activists believe that the feds' on-and-off flooding operations delay those long- term policy changes and thereby jeopardizing the canyon's health. Environmentalist want the dam's operation to be altered permanently to better mimic nature's cycle rather than instead of repeating the same artificial flooding every few years.
I have been down to the river twice, once step-by-step on a four-day backpacking trip and once one paddle stroke at a time on river trip. Both were in late September. We backpacked from the South Rim descending on the South Kaibab Trail, crossed the river at Phantom Ranch, climbed up the North Rim, came back down, crossed the river gain and hiked up to the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail. Some years later, we did a river trip on the Lower Canyon that began with a 7 1/2-mile hike down Bright Angel Trail to meet our raft outfitter at Pipe Creek (river mile 89) and rafted to (mile 225). I'm grateful to have not just looked down into the canyon from the rim or flown over it in a helicopter but experienced it up close and personal, to me always the best way to travel.
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and up to one mile deep, yet most of the million annual visitors to Grand Canyon National Park do not stray below the rim and never even see the Colorado River that, for 6 million years, has carved it. Right now, a dramatic artificial flood is occurring in the canyon that in addition to helping restore the ecosystem, will change the beaches where rafters camp on their multi-day river trips.
Today, federal agencies literally opened the the dam's gigantic bypass tubes on the Glen Canyon Dam of the Colorado River (for photos, click here and here). The release helps restore the ecosystem of Grand Canyon, just downstream, as 300,000 gallons of water per second pour out of Lake Powell. This periodic flood (previously unleashed in 1996 and 2004) is intended to reproduce the results natural spring floods that occurred before the dam was built in 1963.
The Colorado used to be a warm, muddy river whose natural annual floods built up sandbars that are essential to native plant and fish species. Since the construction of the dam, the river has become cooler and clearer, which is more aesthetically pleasing but not natural to the river. Since the dam was built, fish species have become extinct and and two others, including the endangered humpback chub, are nearing extinction.
During this week's three-day flood, water flows in the Grand Canyon are expected to increase to 41,000 cubic feet per second, which is four to five times the regular release from the dam. Scientists are monitoring the results of the induced flood, including habitat changes that will hopefully protect rare native species. The release from the dam is intended to mimic the natural floods that once flushed and rebuilt the narrow sand beaches along the river on the canyon floor.
The two earlier floods demonstrated the importance of sand and sediment in maintaining a semblance of the Grand Canyon's ecosysten. With the dam now trapping most of the sediment that once coursed down the river, beaches and habitats eroded, even as the Paria and Little Colorado Rivers, which join the Colorado below the dam, continue to carry sediment into the Colorado. The current flood is scouring and reshaping miles of sandy banks and beaches, and scientists and environmentalists will monitor what happens when floodgates are closed dam and flood waters recede. They have already found that the endangered chub has recovered some of its lost numbers since the last flood, and they hope that they are learning when to trigger future floods.
The feds say that they are improving the health of the Grand Canyon and are formulating long-term plans to offset the effects of the dam on the river and the Grand Canyon. "Our ultimate purpose is to learn whether or not this is a viable strategy for creating sandbars and habitats for native fish," John Hamill, chief of the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, part of the U.S. Geological Survey, was quoted as saying.
Environmental activists believe that the feds' on-and-off flooding operations delay those long- term policy changes and thereby jeopardizing the canyon's health. Environmentalist want the dam's operation to be altered permanently to better mimic nature's cycle rather than instead of repeating the same artificial flooding every few years.
I have been down to the river twice, once step-by-step on a four-day backpacking trip and once one paddle stroke at a time on river trip. Both were in late September. We backpacked from the South Rim descending on the South Kaibab Trail, crossed the river at Phantom Ranch, climbed up the North Rim, came back down, crossed the river gain and hiked up to the South Rim on the Bright Angel Trail. Some years later, we did a river trip on the Lower Canyon that began with a 7 1/2-mile hike down Bright Angel Trail to meet our raft outfitter at Pipe Creek (river mile 89) and rafted to (mile 225). I'm grateful to have not just looked down into the canyon from the rim or flown over it in a helicopter but experienced it up close and personal, to me always the best way to travel.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
BC Ferries Gets New Vessels; SuperFerry Now Running
From the historic Staten Island ferry to the fabulous Puget Sound ferries, and all others in North America and elsewhere, I like ferry transportation. Fast, fun and efficient, ferries move people with or without vehicles across rivers, harbors and larger bodies of water. Ferries, in short, are a sensible and pleasurable transportation option in watery places.A couple of years ago, my husband and I spent a week in British Columbia, traveling to and from Vancouver Island via BC Ferries. Every boat loaded and unloaded punctually, and the crossings were really pleasant. There was even live entertainment on longer crossings.
B.C. Ferries has welcomed the "Coastal Renaissance" (above left, near Vancouver's Lions' Gate Bridge) after a 48-day, 9,990-nautical-mile journey from a German shipyard. Wrapped with a massive photographic "invitation" to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the "Coastal Renaissance" sailed into Victoria, Vancouver and finally Nanaimo, where she is now docked for her final inspections.
The 160-meter vessel accommodates 370 vehicles and 1,600 passengers. Beginning in March 2008, she will operate between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, reportedly one of the most popular ferry routes in the world. Later in 2008, she will be joined by the "Coastal Inspiration" linking Tsawwassen on the Lower Mainland and Duke Point in Nanaimo, and "Coastal Celebration" betweenTsawwassen and Swartz Bay, the main terminal for Victoria.
All three Super C-class vessels, the world's largest double-ended ferries, will provide what are described as "enhanced food and retail services," work stations and play areas, and also greater accessibility for travelers with disabilities. The Super Cs are powered by a fuel-efficient diesel-electric propulsion system. First launched in 1960 with two vessels and two terminals, BC Ferries is now a large and sophisticated ferry transportation systems with 37 vessels that serve up to 47 diverse ports of call along the coast of British Columbia. You cam find schedules and rates online. Information and reservations are also available at 888-BCFERRY (888-223-3779) (or *BCF on a cell phone).
Hawaii SuperFerry Update
Meanwhile, partway across the Pacific, Hawaii SuperFerry finally began operating interisland service on December 13 after several delays, including environmental issues. Still pending are forthcoming results from an Environment Impact Statement. Because I love ferries, I was pretty excited about this one when it was announced, but issues involving whales and other marine wildlife have curbed my enthusiasm for this high-speed catamaran. I'll reserve ny personal, non-expert judgment for the EIS. The phone number is 1-877-HI-FERRY (877-443-3779).
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Hotels and the Environment, II
A year ago, after a stay in a luxurious but stunningly wasteful hotel, I wrote about two-faced hotel energy-saving practices. I noted that many hotels offer guests the option of reusing towels and sheets, which I always opt for. However, I have never been confident that my request was honored. And the waste of electricity in the hotel industry is enormous. My dismay resulted from my stay at Utah's Hotel Park City astonishing waste of electricity. During evening housekeeping, turndown service was turn-on service, as housekeepers switched on most of the lights in my room -- and they weren't the new energy-efficient bulbs either. Since then, I've paid special attention to what hotels that claim environmental consciousness are doing.
I am currently at the hip Adara Hotel in Whistler, BC. The decor is mod, gorgeous but not as weird as some I've seen. The mattress, comforter, pillows and bed linens are first-rate (upper right). The folks who work here are attentive as can be. The Adara also has some fabulous amenities. A Sharper Image Sound Soother on a bedside table can produce 20 white-noise options from heartbeat to rainforest to dockside to help overcome sleep problems or cancel out a partner's snoring. There'
s a French press on the counter for making in-room coffee (right) -- along with directions on how to do it. On the shelf above it is a cool retro martini shaker. In the bathroom, in addition to the SugarBath line by Fresh, is a personal oxyen cannister by Oxia. Breaking the seal to take whiffs of O2 to help combat jet lag or altitude problems or help cure a hangover costs $14.95, a small price to save a vacation day.
However, once again, I strongly suspect that the towels that I hang on the rack to indicate that I am willing to reuse them are sent to the laundry anyway. And if my suspicion is wrong, I can't tell which towels had been used and which are clean, because the housekeeper meticulously refolds used and unused in exactly the same way and hangs them on the same bar.
Also, partially used SugarBath toiletries are replaced with unopened ones. Are the half or two-thirds full plastic bottles discarded? I hope not. On the plus side, the housekeepers only turn on a couple of lights in the evening. On the minus side, they also turn on a bedside audio thing that I can't figure out how to turn off (I unplug it) and they also turn on the faux fireplace, whose holographic flame is more energy-efficient than gas and certainly nonpolluting but neverthless uses some electricity. So while I have been out at dinner, several lights, music and an electricially dancing flame have entertained and illumininated the emptiness. The Adara is at 4122 Village Green, Whistler, BC; 604-905-4009.
I recently stayed at (and posted an item on this blog) that really gets it, environmentally, is the Óscar in Madrid, one of two design hotels I stayed at in Europe. The dark-walled hallways are equipped with sensors, so that the lights come on only when someone comes out of a guest room or steps off the elevator, and they turn themselves off after a reasonable interval. And Europeans are famously parsimonious with shampoos, soaps and lotions.
I am currently at the hip Adara Hotel in Whistler, BC. The decor is mod, gorgeous but not as weird as some I've seen. The mattress, comforter, pillows and bed linens are first-rate (upper right). The folks who work here are attentive as can be. The Adara also has some fabulous amenities. A Sharper Image Sound Soother on a bedside table can produce 20 white-noise options from heartbeat to rainforest to dockside to help overcome sleep problems or cancel out a partner's snoring. There'
s a French press on the counter for making in-room coffee (right) -- along with directions on how to do it. On the shelf above it is a cool retro martini shaker. In the bathroom, in addition to the SugarBath line by Fresh, is a personal oxyen cannister by Oxia. Breaking the seal to take whiffs of O2 to help combat jet lag or altitude problems or help cure a hangover costs $14.95, a small price to save a vacation day.However, once again, I strongly suspect that the towels that I hang on the rack to indicate that I am willing to reuse them are sent to the laundry anyway. And if my suspicion is wrong, I can't tell which towels had been used and which are clean, because the housekeeper meticulously refolds used and unused in exactly the same way and hangs them on the same bar.
Also, partially used SugarBath toiletries are replaced with unopened ones. Are the half or two-thirds full plastic bottles discarded? I hope not. On the plus side, the housekeepers only turn on a couple of lights in the evening. On the minus side, they also turn on a bedside audio thing that I can't figure out how to turn off (I unplug it) and they also turn on the faux fireplace, whose holographic flame is more energy-efficient than gas and certainly nonpolluting but neverthless uses some electricity. So while I have been out at dinner, several lights, music and an electricially dancing flame have entertained and illumininated the emptiness. The Adara is at 4122 Village Green, Whistler, BC; 604-905-4009.
I recently stayed at (and posted an item on this blog) that really gets it, environmentally, is the Óscar in Madrid, one of two design hotels I stayed at in Europe. The dark-walled hallways are equipped with sensors, so that the lights come on only when someone comes out of a guest room or steps off the elevator, and they turn themselves off after a reasonable interval. And Europeans are famously parsimonious with shampoos, soaps and lotions.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Dinosaurs, Dodo Birds and Paper Air Tickets
Starting June 1, 2008, you probably won't be able to obtain paper airline tickets, even if you want one. The 240 airlines belonging to the International Air Transport Association will all have switched totally to electronic ticketing. Considering that IATA members account for 94 percent of all international air travel, you can consider the vote for E-ticketing to be a landslide. Three years ago, IATA began encouraging all of its member carriers to switch to E-ticketing. At that time, 16 percent of tickets were issued electronically. Today, it's 84 percent.Although the initial intention of the changeover was modernization and simplification of processing systems, the paperless ticketing initiative is also environmentally friendly, which is not trivial in the age of increasing environmental consciousness. Before the switch to paperless ticketing, IATA carriers were issuing 400 million tickets a year. Between now and the end of paper tickets, another 16.5 million paper tickets are expected to be used. IATA believes that the changeover will save 50,000 mature trees a year, and it will save a lot of paper from the world's landfills. US domestic carriers have largely switched to E-ticketing over the last few years, and many have eliminated wasteful ticket jackets as well.
What's good for the environment is also good for airlines' bottom lines. IATA believes that each paper ticket costs the airlines $9 per passenger; total anticipated savings for the airlines from E-ticketing will be about $3 billion annually.
The most likely glitch, of course, comes whenever an airport loses electric power or something else causes computer systems to crash. Last month, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times, a computer outage at Los Angeles International Airport shut down the Customs and Border Protection computers for nine hours, stranding 17,000 people on airplanes. That time a government agency was affected. Another time, it could be airlines. Gate agents can pull paper tickets by auxiliary power or flashlight if necessary. With E-tickets, when the system is down, there's nothing to do but wait.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Volunteers Sought for Upcoming National Public Lands Day
September 29 has been designated as the 14th annual National Public Lands Day, when more than 100,000 volunteers are sought to help organize cleanups, fix-ups and recreational events in country's parks, forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands, cultural and historic sites and neighborhood areas.
This year's theme is removing invasive species. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the U.S. spends $120 billion annually on the control and impact of more than 800 out-of-control invaders that pose a threat to the environment, human health, and/or the economy. Invasive species also crowd out native species, sometimes to the point of extinction, impacting precious biodiversity and aesthetics. Volunteer assistance can make a significant impact.
The goal is to increase from last year’s 100,000 volunteers by at least an additional 10,000 participants this year. Every 100,000 volunteers represent an additional $1.8 million worth of labor for American lands, if the value of volunteer time is calculated at $18.77 per hour.
Organizers remind us that one-third of America's land belongs to the public, and may be used for everything from recreation and to logging and mining for natural resources. The organizers note that "National Public Lands Day is a yearly chance for Americans to take ownership of these lands, which are constantly threatened by human causes such as deforestation and pollutants and natural causes like disasters and erosion." Those "human causes" include extractive uses that take their toll on public lands, especially in the West. It's not just the wide open spaces that can benefit from the work of National Public Lands Day volunteers, but also urban and suburban clean-up efforts make communities healthier, safer and more attractive.
The website includes a pull-down list of states and projects in each, as well as contacts for each and other resources.
This year's theme is removing invasive species. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the U.S. spends $120 billion annually on the control and impact of more than 800 out-of-control invaders that pose a threat to the environment, human health, and/or the economy. Invasive species also crowd out native species, sometimes to the point of extinction, impacting precious biodiversity and aesthetics. Volunteer assistance can make a significant impact.
The goal is to increase from last year’s 100,000 volunteers by at least an additional 10,000 participants this year. Every 100,000 volunteers represent an additional $1.8 million worth of labor for American lands, if the value of volunteer time is calculated at $18.77 per hour.
Organizers remind us that one-third of America's land belongs to the public, and may be used for everything from recreation and to logging and mining for natural resources. The organizers note that "National Public Lands Day is a yearly chance for Americans to take ownership of these lands, which are constantly threatened by human causes such as deforestation and pollutants and natural causes like disasters and erosion." Those "human causes" include extractive uses that take their toll on public lands, especially in the West. It's not just the wide open spaces that can benefit from the work of National Public Lands Day volunteers, but also urban and suburban clean-up efforts make communities healthier, safer and more attractive.
The website includes a pull-down list of states and projects in each, as well as contacts for each and other resources.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
WILDCHILD is a Good Kid
In our culture, describing a youngster as a "wild child" has some negative connotations, but in Africa, every WILDCHILD is better positioned to contribute to the salvation of that troubled continent. Conservation Corporation Africa (aka CCAfrica), a safari company that operates 40 lodges in six countries, spearheads and participates in numerous conservation initiatives. One that really intrigues me is WILDCHILD, which has thus far provided conservation lessons to more than 11,000 youngsters from communities near parks, wildlife reserves and other lands where CCAfrica has lodges. I'm not clear on whether each child gets one lesson or whether a series of lessons is involved.
The program is funded by the sale of wristbands to lodge guests. The wristbands cost about $10, which is small change in the context of a safari, that run to thousands of dollars. Instilling the value of preserving the land and animals that surround these children will help sustain their culture and the natural environment at their doorsteps, perhaps keeping them in their communities rather than succumbing to the temptation of Africa's troubled cities. In addition to being available at CC Africa Safari Lodges, wristbands can be purchased by writing to guestshopping@ccafrica.com.
A safari in Tanzania exactly 11 years ago remains one of the most memorable trips, and I long to return. A link from the main CCAfrica site to the SafariASAP site might provide
an affordable way to do so. It features special offers ed Hot Packaged Deals, Safari Auctions, Safaris To Go, the ASAP Hot List and exclusive Offers of the Month. One of the parks we visited was Serengenti National Park, which -- coupled with Kenya's Masai Mara -- is one of the world's great wildlife preserves. A six-night itinerary (three nights each in two luxury tent camps - Klein Under Canvas, right) includes transfers to and from Arusha International Airport, to and from the park, accommodations, three meals a day, and game drives and bush walks in the park for $2,173 -- according to the website, $3,618 off the regular price. The tricky part is the August 16 start of the trip, which doesn't allow much time for advance planning, but for anyone who is flexible and can get a good last-minute air fare, that's a terrific value.
Another link from CCAfrica's site took me to WILDWATCH, great for vicarious travel to Africa. It includes postings by the firm's guides describing wildlife sightings, updates on the great migration and more. A definite plus for anyone passionate about Africa and travel to Africa.
The program is funded by the sale of wristbands to lodge guests. The wristbands cost about $10, which is small change in the context of a safari, that run to thousands of dollars. Instilling the value of preserving the land and animals that surround these children will help sustain their culture and the natural environment at their doorsteps, perhaps keeping them in their communities rather than succumbing to the temptation of Africa's troubled cities. In addition to being available at CC Africa Safari Lodges, wristbands can be purchased by writing to guestshopping@ccafrica.com.
A safari in Tanzania exactly 11 years ago remains one of the most memorable trips, and I long to return. A link from the main CCAfrica site to the SafariASAP site might provide
an affordable way to do so. It features special offers ed Hot Packaged Deals, Safari Auctions, Safaris To Go, the ASAP Hot List and exclusive Offers of the Month. One of the parks we visited was Serengenti National Park, which -- coupled with Kenya's Masai Mara -- is one of the world's great wildlife preserves. A six-night itinerary (three nights each in two luxury tent camps - Klein Under Canvas, right) includes transfers to and from Arusha International Airport, to and from the park, accommodations, three meals a day, and game drives and bush walks in the park for $2,173 -- according to the website, $3,618 off the regular price. The tricky part is the August 16 start of the trip, which doesn't allow much time for advance planning, but for anyone who is flexible and can get a good last-minute air fare, that's a terrific value.Another link from CCAfrica's site took me to WILDWATCH, great for vicarious travel to Africa. It includes postings by the firm's guides describing wildlife sightings, updates on the great migration and more. A definite plus for anyone passionate about Africa and travel to Africa.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Sustainable Travel Organization
I love to travel to the far corners of the world and gain some insight into the cultures of distant peoples with whom we share the planet. However, my conscience sometimes bothers me. Like an increasing number of Americans, I am increasingly concerned about what we're doing when we travel, particularly when our travels impose First World standards of luxury and comfort on the landscapes of developing countries. Five-star resorts in remote places are beautiful and seductive, but the price other people pay for our taste for indulgence can be stiff.
My conscience and my concerns involve the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impacts of the travel and tourism that I fulfill me personally and are also key of my livelihood. I was therefore encouraged to learn about Sustainable Tourism International, whose slogan is "Leave the World a Better Place" and whose mission is to help protect and preserve the ecological and cultural environment. This not-for-profit organization is "dedicated to providing education and outreach services that will lessen the toll that travel and tourism takes on the environment and local cultures." And it does not concern itself only with developing countries but also with traveling, sometimes very luxuriously, in first-world countries but in a carbon-neutral way.
The website includes a directory that links to environmentally friendly travel providers, information and resources for purchasing carbon offsets, and an eco-certification program that is "designed to help travelers easily identify responsible tourism businesses and to help tourism businesses manage their impacts, and lower costs through resource productivity and waste reduction while contributing to environmental conservation and the well being of local people."
In the spirit of "think globally, act locally," STI's ReDirect Guides are comprehensive regional green business directories and resource guides that present consumers with a full spectrum of choices for more healthy and sustainable living. They are currently available online and in print versions in three regions: Portland, OR/Vancouver/WA metro area, Greater Salt Lake City and Park City region UT, and the Colorado's northern Front Range including Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and the surrounding communities.
STI's newest program is an affiliate credit card, called ReDirect Guide Visa issued by the FDIC-insured commeercial ShoreBank Pacific. The bank claims to be the first "eco-bank" and the card the planet’s first credit card that helps fight climate change by directing a percentage of every purchase to carbon offset programs and offers customers discounts from green businesses is now available.
None of this will solve all the world's economic and environmental lopsidedness, but it's a good start.
My conscience and my concerns involve the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impacts of the travel and tourism that I fulfill me personally and are also key of my livelihood. I was therefore encouraged to learn about Sustainable Tourism International, whose slogan is "Leave the World a Better Place" and whose mission is to help protect and preserve the ecological and cultural environment. This not-for-profit organization is "dedicated to providing education and outreach services that will lessen the toll that travel and tourism takes on the environment and local cultures." And it does not concern itself only with developing countries but also with traveling, sometimes very luxuriously, in first-world countries but in a carbon-neutral way.
The website includes a directory that links to environmentally friendly travel providers, information and resources for purchasing carbon offsets, and an eco-certification program that is "designed to help travelers easily identify responsible tourism businesses and to help tourism businesses manage their impacts, and lower costs through resource productivity and waste reduction while contributing to environmental conservation and the well being of local people."
In the spirit of "think globally, act locally," STI's ReDirect Guides are comprehensive regional green business directories and resource guides that present consumers with a full spectrum of choices for more healthy and sustainable living. They are currently available online and in print versions in three regions: Portland, OR/Vancouver/WA metro area, Greater Salt Lake City and Park City region UT, and the Colorado's northern Front Range including Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and the surrounding communities.
STI's newest program is an affiliate credit card, called ReDirect Guide Visa issued by the FDIC-insured commeercial ShoreBank Pacific. The bank claims to be the first "eco-bank" and the card the planet’s first credit card that helps fight climate change by directing a percentage of every purchase to carbon offset programs and offers customers discounts from green businesses is now available.
None of this will solve all the world's economic and environmental lopsidedness, but it's a good start.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Calculating Enviro Impact of Dive Travel
When you get your scuba certification -- or at least when I got mine -- you had to learn to calculate your dive profile (how long you could stay underwater, at what depth and how long you had to stay on the surface before your next dive). Now, with the broad recognition of global warming, the first small strokes have been made to mitigate the impact of travel itself to dive destinations.
Sustainable Travel International (STI), a US-based non-profit, has introduced what is thought to be the world’s first custom carbon dive calculator that determines the carbon emission costs incurred from air travel and diving activities on a diving vacation. Beautiful Oceans, which runs what it calls "eco-dive trips," compensates on behalf of each guest by funding carbon offset projects. Like melting glaciers and fracturing ice shelves, coral reefs are bellwethers of climate change. Recreational divers and dive operators have observed, and coral reef scientists have confirmed, reef damage from rising ocean temperatures.
Scientists predict that a 2-degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature will cause 8 percemt of the reefs globally to bleach. Ironically, divers who travel to see these reefs contribute significant carbon dioxide to the problem, due to air travel, dive boats, desalinated water and even air-conditioned hotels. In addition to being a progressive dive-tour operator, Beautiful Oceans is a coral reef education organization. Now, it is attempting to neutralize the impact of its eco-dive vacations through carbon offsetting. This is a first in the dive travel industry -- and Beautiful Oceans is using the carbon calculator developed by STI and adapted by Ocean Frontiers.
It's been several years since I have been underwater, but I am thrilled that someone is doing something to keep those reefs colorful for the next time I take the plunge.
Sustainable Travel International (STI), a US-based non-profit, has introduced what is thought to be the world’s first custom carbon dive calculator that determines the carbon emission costs incurred from air travel and diving activities on a diving vacation. Beautiful Oceans, which runs what it calls "eco-dive trips," compensates on behalf of each guest by funding carbon offset projects. Like melting glaciers and fracturing ice shelves, coral reefs are bellwethers of climate change. Recreational divers and dive operators have observed, and coral reef scientists have confirmed, reef damage from rising ocean temperatures.
Scientists predict that a 2-degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature will cause 8 percemt of the reefs globally to bleach. Ironically, divers who travel to see these reefs contribute significant carbon dioxide to the problem, due to air travel, dive boats, desalinated water and even air-conditioned hotels. In addition to being a progressive dive-tour operator, Beautiful Oceans is a coral reef education organization. Now, it is attempting to neutralize the impact of its eco-dive vacations through carbon offsetting. This is a first in the dive travel industry -- and Beautiful Oceans is using the carbon calculator developed by STI and adapted by Ocean Frontiers.
It's been several years since I have been underwater, but I am thrilled that someone is doing something to keep those reefs colorful for the next time I take the plunge.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
"Leave Only Footprints," Rangers Plead
"Take only pictures. Leave only footprints," has long been the slogan of the Leave No Trace movement, in an effort to persuade users of public lands not to abuse the nation's forests and parks. For years, Volcanoes National Park rangers have pleaded with visitors not to take away volcanic rocks as souvenirs. Now, they are begging people not to leave anything either. According to an Associated Press report, "rangers at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are launching a program to stop people from leaving religious offerings at the summit of Mount Kilauea -- including food they say attracts rats and cockroaches."
Park officials say that some 45 pounds of unwanted "offerings" must be removed from Halemaumau Crater each week. These include flowers, bottles, money, incense, candles and crystals, but the problem is food that well-meaning visitors leave for Pele, the goddess of fire. The report continued,"One ranger recently found a whole, cooked piglet replete with a papaya, orange and apple in a cardboard box...The rotting offerings pose a hazard to the endangered nene goose, the state bird endemic to the islands, the park service said."
Many years ago on the island of Bali, I saw offerings everywhere, including in front of shops every morning and on the hood of my rental car. A Chinese tradition is burning fake money to assist the deceased in the afterlife. Freelance fires are illegal in Volcanoes, as in virtually all national parks.
The national park has always been a leading attraction on the Big Island of Hawaii, increasingly so since Kilauea began erupting, continuously, on January 3, 1983.
Park officials say that some 45 pounds of unwanted "offerings" must be removed from Halemaumau Crater each week. These include flowers, bottles, money, incense, candles and crystals, but the problem is food that well-meaning visitors leave for Pele, the goddess of fire. The report continued,"One ranger recently found a whole, cooked piglet replete with a papaya, orange and apple in a cardboard box...The rotting offerings pose a hazard to the endangered nene goose, the state bird endemic to the islands, the park service said."
Many years ago on the island of Bali, I saw offerings everywhere, including in front of shops every morning and on the hood of my rental car. A Chinese tradition is burning fake money to assist the deceased in the afterlife. Freelance fires are illegal in Volcanoes, as in virtually all national parks.
The national park has always been a leading attraction on the Big Island of Hawaii, increasingly so since Kilauea began erupting, continuously, on January 3, 1983.
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