Planeta Forum

[planeta]

ABOUT THIS TOPIC -- All registered members have access and can post to News around the world
>> http://forum.planeta.com/viewtopic.php?t=249

This topic features current headlines that feature environmental or travel themes. Articles must be timely and sourced in this format:

Title - Author/Publication
>> URL
excerpt or summary
brief comments

Selected features will be added to our collection of headlines
>> http://www.planeta.com/headlines.html

TIP - If the URL is long, please adapt it with Tiny URL
>> http://tinyurl.com

NOTE - We do not wish entire text.

NOTE - This topic is NOT the best place for continued discussion.

READER SURVEY -- Planeta.com is launching a new 10-question survey which asks readers to rate how well local, national and international media cover travel journalism and environmental news.
>> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=383721318076

REFERENCE

Forum Guidelines
>> http://www.planeta.com/worldforum.html

Headlines
>> http://www.planeta.com/headlines.html

[planeta]

Interview with Robert Hinkley on Taming Corporate Power
Arnie Cooper/The Sun (PDF)
>> http://www.thesunmagazine.org/345_Hinkley.pdf

We can't solve the problem of corporate irresponsibility by imposing volumes of laws and regulations that try to restrain the system, because the system is designed not to be restrained. I believe the solution lies in redesigning the corporation itself to build in some self-restraint.

So I am suggesting that the corporate law be changed to say: "the duty of directors hence-forth shall be to make money for shareholders but not at the expense of the environment, human rights, public health and safety, dignity of employees, and the welfare of the communities in which the company operates."

The Sun
>> http://www.thesunmagazine.org

[planeta]

Do what you love: Conversation with Ron and Caryl Krannich - Sherry
Schwarz/Transitions Abroad
>> http://tinyurl.com/43o6v

- Following their career secret, "Do what you love," the Krannichs have
pursued and best represented their passion for travel with the
development of their innovative travel-shopping guidebook series and
related web sites. ìTreasures and Pleasures of ... Best of the Bestî
consists of 19 guidebooks on destinations around the world.

[planeta]

Mexico beach towns say NO to cruise ships - Mark Stevenson/Associated Press
http://www.cdnn.info/industry/i040904/i040904.html

"MEXICO CITY, Mexico (4 Sep 2004) -- A revolt is growing in the Caribbean over increasingly massive cruise ships disgorging thousands of passengers who swamp beach towns, buy perhaps a soda and a few trinkets, and re-embark a few hours later. Mexico's government is considering charging the country's first per-passenger cruise tax, while beach towns that no longer want to serve as a mere backdrop for the $15 billion cruise industry are beginning to say no to the big ships."

[Fernando]

Hace un mes, el 26 de agosto de 2004, el gobierno federal dio a conocer la polÌtica p?blica de cruceros.

M·s informaciÛn se encuentra en esta sintesis de noticias de la Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes y en la nota de La Jornada (ver m·s abajo) donde se leen datos interesantes:

En marcha, PolÌtica de Cruceros
http://e-mar.sct.gob.mx/noticias/2004/agosto/nota22.htm

Donde se lee:

[dominich]

Seeking Heaven in the Stubborn Earth - Boston Globe
http://tinyurl.com/4h6q7

"This ancient ground has long nurtured natives, enchanted explorers, taunted colonizers, and defined the boundaries of Venezuela, Guyana, and Brazil. Still an intersection of remote terrain and the will to live within it, the savanna is the first of four geographic and cultural divides the Globe will journey across this fall, in a series that will circle the planet, to Africa, Asia, and the Arctic."

[planeta]

Tourism in Bolivia - The Economist
http://www.economist.com/World/la/displayStory.cfm?story_id=3222609

"Local authorities are also taking steps to ensure that tourists won't be trapped by protests, as happened last year. "Road blockades got us nowhere," says Bernardo Quispe, a leader of five provinces surrounding Lake Titicaca who have formed a 'pro-tourism alliance.' In fact, they got them a deal with the government: in return for not blocking roads, they are getting aid money for small-scale tourism projects."

[planeta]

Travel can help mend a fractured world
By Rick Steves/USA Today

For many Americans, the critical question in this election season is, "How can we make America safer in the world?" Call me a girly man, but I think ó given the fact that Americans are outnumbered 20 to 1 on this planet ó we'd be safer by better understanding our world. A great first step is to travel ó thoughtfully.

>> http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/2004-10-17-steves_x.htm

[planeta]

Headlines
>> http://www.planeta.com/headlines.html

State of the Birds

"This Audubon report sums up the status of 654 bird species native to the continental United States according to the country's four major types of natural habitatógrass, shrubs, trees, and water. Urban habitat, which is increasing more rapidly than any other type, is also included; the ability of birds to adapt to it has become a major factor for their survival. An additional 46 species native to the continental United States use a variety of habitats and were not part of the analysis."
>> http://www.audubon.org/bird/stateofthebirds

[planeta]

Kudos to World Hum <http://www.worldhum.com> for bringing attention to a must-read article about travel writing

Adventures in Journalism: World Traveler - William Georgiades/Media Bistro
>> http://mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a3169.asp

World Hum:

"What's noteworthy about the piece isn't that Georgiades' editor had him jump through hoops. Every writer has horror stories about editors, just as every editor has horror stories about writers. It's the fact that he went public with his travails that makes it juicy."

[planeta]

Xochimilco Gardens - Ron Mader/Transitions Abroad
>> http://tinyurl.com/5r4bn

TRANSITIONS ABROAD -- The November/December 2004 issue of Transitions Abroad features an updated directory of international ecotourism and responsible travel resources. For a limited time, Planeta readers can take advantage of a special offer -- pay for a 1-year subscription (6 issues) and you get 2 additional free issues. Enter the Promotion Code "PLANETA"
>> https://secure.highspeedweb.net/~transa/forms/ordernew.html

[Fernando]

2004 to close with 70 million more international arrivals
http://www.world-tourism.org/newsroom/Releases/2004/november/arrivals.htm

Data given by World Tourism Organization:

The number of international tourist arrivals is heading for a new all-time record, as growth for the entire year is estimated to reach around 10%.
...
Results are positive for all regions. Asia and the Pacific, hardest hit by the SARS outbreak last year, led growth with an exceptional increase of 37% in the first eight months of the year, while North America (+12%) returned to positive figures after more than three years of losses. The three other subregions of the Americas maintained the positive performance of the past year, and the growth of the region as a whole is also estimated at 12%. The Middle East (+24%) has convincingly overcome the disruption caused by the Iraq conflict and is reckoned to have recorded almost a quarter more international arrivals up to August. The North African destinations of Morocco and Tunisia have driven growth in Africa and lifted the growth rate of the region to an estimated 9%. Tourism growth in Europe was comparatively more modest, but at a rate of 6%, still quite above the usual rate for the region.

More information:
http://www.world-tourism.org/newsroom/Releases/2004/november/arrivals.htm

[Fernando]

[InformaciÛn traducida al espaÒol en
http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/esp/top/boletine.html]

Sustainable Development of Tourism News from World Tourism Organization WTO):
http://www.world-tourism.org/frameset/frame_sustainable.html

-Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations: new WTO guidebook published.

-New WTO definition on Sustainable Tourism

[planeta]

Merriam-Webster's Words of the Year 2004
http://www.Merriam-Webster.com/info/04words.htm

Based on your online lookups, the #1 Word of the Year for 2004 was

Blog noun [short for Weblog] (1999) : a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer

†2. incumbent
†3. electoral
†4. insurgent
†5. hurricane
†6. cicada
†7. peloton : noun (1951) : the main body of riders in a bicycle race
†8. partisan
†9. sovereignty
10. defenestration

[planeta]

ECOCLUB Interview with Vassilis†Kouroutos
http://www.ecoclub.com/news/065/interview.html

"Since May 2004 Vassilis Kouroutos BSc is the Executive Director of MEDASSET, the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles. He is a Greek marine biologist specialised in the Monk Seal with 20 year experience and involvement in environment related issues."