ECOCLUB: Conversation with Antonis B. Petropoulos

[Antonis]

Thank you very much for honouring me with this invitation to the holy e-grounds of Ecotourism that is Planeta!

The opportunities that the Internet has opened up are endless. In the case of Tourism it has levelled the playing-field, allowing eco practitioners and enthusiasts to compete with giants, and occasionally beat them!

In this case, it will enable us (and the readers) to compare notes, while sitting around 11,300 km apart (says google earth), and without emitting - or having to offset a single ton of CO2 in the process.

[Antonis]

I am a great fan of etymology, the meaning and uses of words. Some people roll their eyes when they hear about the need for clear definitions, still I believe this is very important as laws and civilisation itself are based on words. In earlier times people used to communicate by cries, moans and the like. We need clear words, clear expressions, clear thinking.

Therefore, let me distance myself from the expression

[Antonis]

And just let me add, that it is not just ecologists, "loonies" and fringe elements that are uneasy about carbon offsets and voluntary emission targets... Check out this blog post, by none other than the E.U. Environment Commissioner, Stavros Dimas: "Voluntary Emission Targets Do Not Work"
>> http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/dimas/volunta ... -not-work/

[Antonis]

I have offered some views on the topic of the

[planeta]

My questions for you -- how do you see the development of Web 2.0? Is ECOCLUB using Google Earth and other new web tools? Do you have any new features which will be launched in the coming year?

[Antonis]

Web 2.0 ? I maintain an eclectic / critical attitude. Web 1.0 still has a lot to offer, for example there are wonderful forums like the planeta one, much more useful and unifying than some of the confusing, opaque, fractionating and over-individualistic tools peddled in the context of Web 2.0.

When it comes to things such as maps, yes, I very much welcome the various competing services - there are over a dozen besides the one you mentioned.

But I caution everyone not to be overjealous with placing all their life, friends, business associates and secrets online, big brother 2.0 (not to mention marketeers) is watching you!

We always examine new features and possibilities but in this competitive era we prefer to announce them after they have been successfully tested and applied

But our focus these days is on Ecotourism 2.0, rather than Web 2.0. The Web is just a tool. I want to point towards Ecological Tourism, and I do not want people to look at my finger.

[planeta]

Thanks, Antonis. Can you expound on where you believe ecotourism 2.0 is heading?

Also, what recommendations would you offer eco travelers visiting Greece?

[planeta]

Many thanks! I am editing the conversation and posting it online
http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/weavin ... oulos.html