Gadling

Austin-Lehman Adventures launches "preserve a park" program

Kraig Becker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Hiking, North America, United States, Camping, Ecotourism

Upscale adventure travel company Austin-Lehman Adventures has launched a new conservation and education program that will, on a yearly basis, highlight a designated national park and provide financial contributions to an organization that is associated with that park. This new initiative is dubbed the "Preserve A Park" program, with Glacier National Park being the first beneficiary.

2010 marks the 100th anniversary of Glacier being designated as a national park. Located in the state of Montana, along the border with British Columbia, Canada, the park is over 1 million acres of pristine backcountry wilderness. Home to hundreds of species of animals, Glacier is popular with those hoping to catch a glimpse of the amazing wildlife, which includes grizzly bears, mountain goats, elk, moose and much more. Other visitors come to take in some of the 700 miles of hiking trails or paddle the more than 300 mountain lakes, while some are happy to just drive the famous Going to the Sun Road.

Of course, Austin-Lehman is offering their own Glacier Park Vacations giving travelers a chance to explore the park in all of its splendor. And for every person who signs up for one of these trips, the company is donating $100 to the Glacier National Park Fund as part of the Preserve A Park program. There will be three Glacier Park trips for this year, each lasting 6 days and 5 nights, running from August 1-6, August 8-13, and August 15-20, with a cost of $2498 per person.

Austin-Lehman is one of the top adventure travel companies in the world, offering small group travel in North, South, and Central America, as well as Europe and Africa. For more than 35-years, the company has been organizing active excursions around the globe, while still offering an emphasis on culture and history as well.

Austin-Lehman Adventures launches "preserve a park" program originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scottish island reaps financial reward protecting birds

Sean McLachlan — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Europe, United Kingdom, Ecotourism

The Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides is making millions by protecting the white-tailed eagle and other birds.

This small island, home to about 2,700 people and 250 bird species, gets 6,000 visitors a year who spend £2 million ($3.3 million). That's 2.2 tourists and £741 ($1,211) per person.

Well, the people of Mull only get half that; the other half goes to the Mull Eagle Watch, the organization that monitors and helps the birds. I doubt the locals begrudge this ecological sugar daddy a bit of support.

The local community uses the money for education, youth groups, and other initiatives. The folks at Treehugger say this environmental/tourist model works so well in Mull because the community is small and relatively autonomous, so the money doesn't get lost in some vast, corrupt bureaucracy.

While most visitors come to Mull for its rugged scenery and abundant wildlife, there are also castles, prehistoric ruins, a stone circle, and a local whiskey distillery. As residents celebrate ten years of the eagle project, they can look forward to a strong tourist industry to showcase all of their island's natural and historic heritage.

Scottish island reaps financial reward protecting birds originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stonehenge, Machu Picchu top 'most threatened' wonders list

Kraig Becker — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Mali, China, India, United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Peru, Ecotourism

U.K. travel magazine Wanderlust has released their second annual list of the world's most threatened wonders, with eight very popular attractions earning this dubious distinction for 2010.

Perhaps the two most eye catching destinations on the list are Stone Henge in the U.K. and Machu Picchu in Peru. The magazine actually describes Stonehenge as a "national disgrace" and rips the stone monument for being so detached from the rest of the ancient ruins in the area that loses some of the historical context. In the case of Machu Picchu, it seems the lost city of the Inca is a victim of its own popularity, with large crowds and over zealous tourists blamed for the sad state of affairs there.

The other destinations to make this year's list include Wadi Rum, Jordan; Yangshuo, China; Tulum, Mexico; Jaisalmer, India; Timbuktu, Mali and the Bay of Fires, Tasmania. Each has their own unique issues to deal with ranging from too much tourist traffic, a lack of security and governmental struggles over access to the places.

Fortunately, Wanderlust doesn't just point fingers, but also suggests some ways to solve the issues facing these popular attractions. For example, in the case of Stone Henge, they endorse a plan that has been put fourth to build an underground tunnel that wold link the stone monoliths to other nearby sites that are part of the same ancient compound. And as for Machu Picchu, they put the onus on the tour operators to ensure that their groups tread lightly and leave little trace of their passing on the fragile mountain environment and the centuries old citadel itself.

This list does a good job of drawing attention to the fact that many of these locations are suffering from being too popular. Perhaps good discussions about these issues will help make us all more aware of the problems and help preserve these sites for future travelers to enjoy as well.

Continue reading Stonehenge, Machu Picchu top 'most threatened' wonders list

Stonehenge, Machu Picchu top 'most threatened' wonders list originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Film illustrates how climate change affects ski resorts

Mike Barish — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Skiing

We all hear plenty of talk about climate change on a daily basis. But we often don't see it in terms that relate to us. Teton Gravity Research sought to remedy that by producing the short film Generations. The film focuses on how climate change has affected the ski industry. Rather than discussing the topic in overly generalized terms, it looks at the issue from a perspective that anyone who has ever thrown a snowball can understand.

In the Northeast, shortened ski seasons have devastated ski resorts. Many have shut down or are clinging to life. Glaciers throughout the world are receding at alarming rates. The beautiful landscapes and breathtaking vistas that are enjoyed by winter sports enthusiasts every year are rapidly changing and disappearing. Generations tells the story of climate change through the eyes of skiers, action sports athletes and lovers of winter.

Do yourself a favor and set aside 15 minutes to watch Generations. Hell, watch it now. If you're reading this, you're obviously not doing any work. It's well done and will really help you understand how climate change is affecting the way we enjoy our surroundings.

Film illustrates how climate change affects ski resorts originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebs complete Kilimanjaro climb

Kraig Becker — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Climbing, Hiking, Africa, Tanzania

Last week we reported that a group of celebrity mountaineers, led by singer Kenna, were setting off on a climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. The group, which included actors Jessica Biel and Emile Hirsch, rapper Lupe Fiasco, and adventure photographer Jimmy Chin, amongst others, was climbing to raise awareness of a growing global crisis over the lack of clean drinking water in many parts of the world, and they hoped to inspire the rest of us to sponsor a foot of their climb to help combat the problem.

Yesterday, the Summit on the Summit website was updated with the news that the team had achieved their goal by reaching Uhuru Peak, the very top of the mountain, which is often referred to as the Roof of Africa. The climb was not an easy one however, as over the course of the past week, the celebs struggled with inclement weather, challenging trails, and the effects of altitude on their bodies.

Today the team will spend most of the day getting down the mountain. Although it has takes the better part of a week for them to reach the top of Kilimanjaro, they'll return to the base of the mountain in just one day. Although Kili is a non-technical peak, it can still be physically demanding, and the entire group will be happy to be breathing the richer air found at the lower altitudes. Once they're off the mountain, they'll no doubt spend spend some time resting and reflecting on what they've accomplished, and enjoying the fact that their expedition was successful in more ways than one.

Congratulations to the entire summit team!

Celebs complete Kilimanjaro climb originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Summit on the Summit: celebrity Kilimanjaro climb begins today!

Kraig Becker — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Climbing, Hiking, Africa, Tanzania

Standing 19,340 feet in height, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa, and a popular trekking destination for adventure travelers. The mountain requires no technical skills to reach the summit, but remains a significant challenge none-the-less, which is why it often serves as the location for high profile, fund raising climbs.

One such climb, dubbed the Summit on the Summit, begins today with a number of celebrities joining the expedition, which hopes to raise awareness about the need for clean drinking water around the globe. The SOTS website says that more than 1 billion people do not have access to potable water and that every 15 seconds, somewhere on the planet, a child dies due to a water-related disease, such as malaria or typhoid. The expedition has partnered with the Children's Safe Drinking Water Program, the UN Refugee Agency, and Playpumps International in order to deliver clean drinking water to remote places around the globe while educating the developed world about this growing problem.

The Summit on the Summit expedition is the brainchild of musician Kenna, who invited a few of his friends along for the climb. He is joined by rapper Lupe Fiasco, actor Jessica Biel, and adventure photographer Jimmy Chin, amongst many others, on the eight day climb that will take them to the Roof of Africa, passing through five unique climate zones along the way. If everything goes according to schedule, the team will stand at Uhuru Peak, the summit of Kilimanjaro, next Wednesday.

The expedition has multiple ways for us to get involved and follow along with the team as they make their way towards the summit. The official website offers a slick interface with all kinds of information on the mountain, the climbers, and their cause. You can also follow their progress and get updates through the team's Twitter feed, which is found at @SOTSK. They have been tweeting about their experience since their arrival in Tanzania yesterday evening.

But more importantly, you can contribute directly to the cause by sponsoring a foot of the climb. The team hopes to get all 19,340 feet sponsored before they are done, with all funds raised going directly to providing clean water for people in need all over the planet. It's a great cause with a dedicated crew, and it should be fun to follow along.

Summit on the Summit: celebrity Kilimanjaro climb begins today! originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do full-body scanners at UK airports break child porn laws?

Aaron Hotfelder — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, United Kingdom, Airports

There's been plenty of resistance to the new full-body scanners that have been installed in airports all over the world in the wake of The Great Underwear-Bomb Scare of 2009. Our own Scott Carmichael worried just last week that images of nude children could surface and find their way into the hands of pedophiles.

After Alan Johnson, the UK Home Secretary, announced yesterday that full-body scanners would be introduced at Heathrow Airport in about three weeks, many in the UK have grown concerned that a full-body scan of a child would break laws against child pornography. The law in question is the Protection of Children Act from 1978, which prohibits creating an indecent image or "psuedo-image" of a child.

"They do not have the legal power to use full body scanners in this way," said Terri Dowty of the group Action for Rights of Children. Although she admitted the child porn laws do make an exception for preventing and investigating criminal activity, it's unclear whether broad screening by airport security personnel falls under this exception.

A spokesperson for the UK Department of Transport said he "understand[s] the concerns expressed about privacy in relation to the deployment of body scanners."

"It is vital staff are properly trained and we are developing a code of practice to ensure these concerns are properly taken into account," he said.

We'll keep you posted on the legal challenges that are sure to arise in the coming weeks and months.

More here.

Do full-body scanners at UK airports break child porn laws? originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"How to write about Africa" and "How to write about poor people"

Aaron Hotfelder — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Africa, Kenya

In "How to write about Africa," a classic satirical essay from Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, the author pokes fun at those who recycle the same well-worn clichés about Africa, especially the portrayal of Africans as uncomplicated stock characters.

The following satirical "advice" for writing about Africa represents the tone of the essay pretty well:

Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life-but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause...

Read the rest of the piece, originally published in the literary mag Granta, here.

Over at Aid Watch, a blog which I recommended to you, humble reader, just yesterday, Bill Easterly has some satirical "advice" for anyone looking to write about the impoverished, particularly those in the developing world. A couple of suggestions from Bill and his readers are below:

Continue reading "How to write about Africa" and "How to write about poor people"

"How to write about Africa" and "How to write about poor people" originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rowing across the Atlantic to end slavery

Sean McLachlan — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Paddling, Consumer Activism

Slavery is not dead.

There are millions of men, women, and children forced into physical and sexual labor around the world, but the problem is often drowned out by other headlines.

In order to bring attention to the modern slave trade, a team of ten athletes is Rowing Against Slavery across the Atlantic Ocean. They'll be stuck in a small boat for weeks, each one rowing two hours and taking two hours off as other team members take the oars, nonstop until they make the entire 3,000 mile journey.

The team hopes to beat the previous world record for rowing across the Atlantic, which is 33 days, but more importantly they will be raising awareness for an often hidden crime.

There are some grim facts and figures on their website, and more on the website of Anti-Slavery International, which was founded back in 1839 but still finds itself fighting a global problem.

It's noticeable that both sites use the term "slavery" instead of "human trafficking", which technically only refers to slaves who are moved from one place to another through force or deception. Instead they call slavery what it is. There appears to be a trend in the media of using the nastier-sounding term "slavery" when referring to slaves in Africa or Asia, and "human trafficking" when referring to slaves in the U.S. or Europe.

Slaves in U.S. and Europe? Yes. Many women and children are forced into prostitution in the developed world and there's no shortage of child workers, like the blueberry farm in Michigan that ABC News found was using children as young as five. Kids as young as twelve are allowed to work legally on U.S. farms. Child labor is often considered slavery because the children have no choice about working, and are often denied access to education and are subject to sexual exploitation.

To follow the team's adventure across the Atlantic, check out their blog. There's a donate button if you want to help the effort to free the slaves. In the land of the free, what could be a better cause?

Rowing across the Atlantic to end slavery originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 8

Jon Bowermaster — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Antarctica, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Dallum Bay, New Year's Day - Stopped off in this beautiful, ice-choked bay to say goodbye to Antarctica for this season. From here the route runs due north, across the Drake Passage, towards Cape Horn and the tip of Argentina. One of the beauties of traveling down south this time of year is that the sun barely sets. At midnight, like now, it is dusky ... the official time of the sun's rising is 2:20 a.m. This time of year it never truly gets dark.

Tonight could be the most beautiful I've ever seen the nearby Melchior Islands, bathed in the pink light of an Antarctic sunset. The blue-black sea is coated with grease ice, sea on the verge of freezing, giving it a coating like cellophane paper which undulates with the currents, and laden with small icebergs. The narrow, u-shaped bay off the Palmer Archipelago is lined with glaciers; the glaciers are thousands of years old and hundreds of feet tall. There's no possible way any man has ever walked along this shoreline, which is what I love most about Antarctica. Still today, with 14 billion feet trodding the planet on a daily basis - headed fast towards 18 billion - much of this continent remains untrammeled, untouched.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 8

Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 8 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bookmark-worthy blog about foreign aid and devopment: Bill Easterly's Aid Watch

Aaron Hotfelder — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Blogs, Africa

If you're interest in foreign aid and economic development in the world's poorest areas, do yourself a favor and bookmark the excellent blog Aid Watch, written by NYU economist Bill Easterly.

Aid Watch, which Easterly began last year with the sensible tag line "Just asking that aid benefit the poor," is Easterly's attempt at introducing some accountability to the well-intentioned but often shadowy and wasteful world of foreign aid.

"The objective [of the blog]," Easterly says, "is to be brutally honest when aid is not helping the poor, but also praising it when it is."

In an EconTalk podcast from last year, Easterly called it "one of the great tragedies of our generation" that most of the financial resources that have been summoned over the last 50 years in trying to help the world's poorest and most desperate people have essentially been squandered.

"Nearly 600 billion dollars of that went into Africa," said Easterly. "Economic growth per-person in Africa has been zero over that whole period. That is, the standard of living of the average African is no higher today than it was 50 years ago despite this massive aid effort. That clearly is a sign that all that aid money was not reaching the poor."

Some of the most interesting, provocative, and even humorous posts from Aid Watch:

Also, check out Easterly on Bloggingheads.tv chatting with philosopher Peter Singer about foreign aid, microcredit, and bad charities with good intentions.

Bookmark-worthy blog about foreign aid and devopment: Bill Easterly's Aid Watch originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ethiopian tribe hopes museum and tourism will save its culture

Sean McLachlan — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Africa, Ethiopia

The Konso people of southern Ethiopia live in a remote region, but that hasn't saved them from grave robbers.

These little-known farmers, who number only about a quarter of a million, have gotten the attention of international art dealers because the Konso honor their dead warriors and hunters with waka, elaborately decorated wooden funeral stele that can be several feet tall. They are a striking example of African art and First World collectors will pay thousands of dollars for them.

But the Konso aren't selling their ancestors' monuments, and that's where the grave robbers come in. Thousands of irreplaceable monuments have been stolen. Ethiopian customs officials have managed to stop about two hundred from leaving the country, but most have disappeared into the collections of wealthy foreigners.

Now with the help of the French government the Konso have opened a museum in their homeland in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region in Ethiopia. This is an area little frequented by tourists, who tend to visit the historic sites of the more developed northern highlands, but the Konso expect that newly paved roads and Ethiopia's steady rise in foreign visitors will bring more tourists to their area.

The museum will house the waka that have been retrieved from thieves, as well as other tribal arts and crafts. The Konso hope that increased tourism will help keep traditions alive and keep young people from leaving their homeland in search of work in the big cities.

Will opening up the tribe to more tourism help preserve their traditional culture or only end up diluting it? Tell us what you think in the comments section.

Ethiopian tribe hopes museum and tourism will save its culture originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 7

Jon Bowermaster — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Photos, Stories, Antarctica, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

Spied our first penguin chicks of the season today, on Petermann Island ... fitting since it had been the home of both early explorers (Frenchman Charcot and his boat the Porquoi Pas camped here for two seasons one hundred years ago) and more recently researchers (the penguin counters from the Washington, D.C.-based Oceanites lived here in tents for five seasons, until 2008). The island is unique for the combination of breeding Gentoos and Adelies and blue-eyed shags, all living together, nest-to-nest, in a bird-world equivalent of very non-segregated housing.

The Adelies have been fleeing Petermann by more than ten percent a year and their numbers are down this year too, to just a few more than three hundred pairs ... from five hundred a few seasons back. The Oceanites researchers predict they'll all be gone from the island in another ten years. Why? Adelies love cold weather, and it simply isn't staying cold enough, especially during the summer months. They love pack ice, and the sea isn't staying frozen as long anymore. Meanwhile, the place is amuck with a booming population of Gentoos, a more temperate-loving bird, who are taking over the abandoned Adelies' rock nests and booming in numbers.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 7

Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 7 originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auctioning a family heirloom for a cause: With this Ring Project

Alison Brick — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Blogs

It's true that it takes very little to make a difference in people's lives. A few thousand dollars could either cover a fraction of an American wedding, or stretch pretty far in philanthropic work in places like Nepal, Mexico, or Ecuador.

Or in this case, both at once.

Starting January 1st, a serious blind-the-wedding-party diamond ring is going up for bid on With This Ring's website for five weeks. The project's founder, Chris Ammon, inherited it - but as beautiful as it is, it's not her style.

What's a philanthropic gal of the world to do? Chris is auctioning it off and donating the money to eight international grassroots projects that she's personally been touched by -- including quilt making in Nepal that helps send kids to school, veterinary assistance in Mexico, and schooling for low-income children in Ecuador.

If you're in the market for a ring, this is one for the record books - a platinum setting, with an emerald-cut 2.75 ct. main diamond and smaller diamonds on the side. Its estimated value is $22,000.

You can place your own bid for the ring on the website's blog until February 7th.

Auctioning a family heirloom for a cause: With this Ring Project originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 6

Jon Bowermaster — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Photos, Stories, Antarctica, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

FIRST CHICKS OF THE SEASON, PETERMANN ISLAND, ANTARCTICA, DAY 5

Spied our first penguin chicks of the season today, on Petermann Island ... fitting since it had been the home of both early explorers (Frenchman Charcot and his boat the Porquoi Pas camped here for two seasons one hundred years ago) and more recently researchers (the penguin counters from the Washington, D.C.-based Oceanites lived here in tents for five seasons, until 2008). The island is unique for the combination of breeding Gentoos and Adelies and blue-eyed shags, all living together, nest-to-nest, in a bird-world equivalent of very non-segregated housing.

The Adelies have been fleeing Petermann by more than ten percent a year and their numbers are down this year too, to just a few more than three hundred pairs ... from five hundred a few seasons back. The Oceanites researchers predict they'll all be gone from the island in another ten years. Why? Adelies love cold weather, and it simply isn't staying cold enough, especially during the summer months. They love pack ice, and the sea isn't staying frozen as long anymore. Meanwhile, the place is amuck with a booming population of Gentoos, a more temperate-loving bird, who are taking over the abandoned Adelies' rock nests and booming in numbers.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 6

Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 6 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Which way is up? The travails of travel writing on North Korea

Tom Johansmeyer — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Asia, North Korea, Video, News

It's easy to be attracted to news about North Korea- for travel writers and every other type of journalist. So little comes out that even the appearance of information makes it noteworthy. This is why those of us interested in covering the most unusual place on Earth will run with press releases or other announcements that would make us groan if they came from anywhere else (I hope this answers an earlier commenter's question). But, we have to be careful. So much of what is reported on North Korea comes with a clear bias that it's impossible to get at the truth - even if you go there.

The issue of blogger and journalistic ethics regarding North Korea has been on my mind for a while, but a recent story I wrote for Gadling - which included a U.S State Department-supplied laundry list of human rights abuses - made me stop and think: can any of this be verified? I then thought back to a remark made in Bradley K. Martin's Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader - the author explained that he was unable to publish some of the fruits of his labor because he couldn't get corroboration.

Continue reading Which way is up? The travails of travel writing on North Korea

Which way is up? The travails of travel writing on North Korea originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not your normal Asian adventure vacation

Tom Johansmeyer — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Asia, China, North Korea, South Korea

We travel for many reasons. Maybe it's to relax, learn something new or see friends and family. And then there are the so-called "adventure travelers" - sorry guys, you just don't know the meaning of the expression. Keep your kayaks and your climbing gear in the garage, and trade them for a pencil so you can take some notes. Robert Park is redefining "adventure."

Park, 28 years old, announced that he was leaving South Korea with other human rights activists (who asked Reuters not to reveal their names) to bring "God's love" to the citizens on the northern side of the border. North Korea has the unfortunate habit of arresting foreigners who do not enter the country legally, which can be difficult to do because of visa constraints and limitations on how travelers from some countries are permitted to cross into the most reclusive nation in the world.

Park, who is an American citizen, and his crew were reported to have crossed from China into North Korea on Saturday. The entry point was Hoeryong, in the northeast part of the country. The border up there isn't heavily patrolled.

Continue reading Not your normal Asian adventure vacation

Not your normal Asian adventure vacation originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Breastfeeding is best when you travel

Jamie Rhein — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Stories, Gambia, India, Women's Travel

There have been discussions about breastfeeding and travel on Gadling before. Breastfeeding on an airplane, in particular, has come up as a subject with many opinions. Here's my take. I was reminded of my breast feeding days when I saw a woman with a two-month old at the movie Sherlock Holmes. When it comes to travel, breastfeeding is the way to go. And don't worry about what anyone thinks about it.

If you've ever been to West Africa where a breast is for nursing children and not used as an object desire, you'll see where I'm coming from. My Peace Corps male friends who were in The Gambia when I was would moan every time they saw a woman pounding grain without a shirt on or whipping a breast out in the middle of a conversation to nurse an infant, "This is ruining it for me," they would say. What would they have to fixate on-to fantasize over?

When my son was born in India on New Year's Day, I was fortunate to be living in India, a country where breast feeding is seen as natural as breathing. It gave me the notion that babies and travel do indeed go together.

Because I breast fed only, for six months my husband and I traveled bottle free. There was no worry about our son getting sick. No paraphernalia to pack. I'd pack onesies, a few cute outfits, and a pair of baby shoes, one of those plastic diaper changer travel kits, disposable diapers, burp cloths and a cloth baby blanket. (The portable changer rolls up to slip into a daypack and has a pocket for carrying two or three diapers and baby wipes.)

Breastfeeding made our lives easier. What I also discovered is that if one is quiet and discrete, you can breast-feed about anywhere as long as you look comfortable. I breast fed in movie theaters, museums, and restaurants. If you're not worried about what people think about you nursing, you'll feel comfortable. If you're comfortable, chances are they won't notice, and if they do, it won't seem like a big deal. Think of it this way. Your breastfeeding is helping add to the peace and quiet of everyone else. Your baby who is breast-feeding is not crying. On an airplane, that's a real gift to give to passengers-particularly during take offs and landing.

To help make breastfeeding easier, take a light weight shawl with you and wear shirts that provide room for your baby to nurse comfortably, but also will cover your breast.

Even when I traveled in the summer in the U.S. and breast fed there, I never had any problems.

For more tips on traveling with a nursing infant, whether breast or bottle fed, check out "Travel Recommendations for The Nursing Mother" at the Center of Disease Control and Prevention's website.

Breastfeeding is best when you travel originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 5

Jon Bowermaster — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Stories, Antarctica, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism

I spent part of this early Antarctic morning on the back deck of the ship reading a summary of the past eleven day's events in Copenhagen, a long story downloaded at very slow rate from the New York Times. Between readings I looked up, to remind myself where I was, surrounded in a narrow bay by miles of glaciers running down to the ocean's edge; icebergs calved off the glaciers littered the blue-black sea. It is this very calving and melting of the glaciers which should have been on the mind of everyone who participated in the climate talks in Denmark, because if they continue to dissipate at the current rate, they will help raise sea levels around the world by ten feet or so.

Rather than being filled with optimism after this long-trumpeted confab, without much reading between the lines it's clear that not a lot was accomplished in Copenhagen other than the expulsion of a lot more hot air.

Continue reading Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 5

Bowermaster's Adventures -- Live from Antarctica: part 5 originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chihuahuas by the dozens on planes

Jamie Rhein — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, United States, Airlines, News

Virgin America and American Airlines are rescuing Chihuahuas from California by the dozens. As it turns out, California is not a place to be a Chihuahua. There are just too many of them. When Chihuahuas became the dog flavor of the day, thanks to the movies "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and "Legally Blond," and the Chihuahua carrying habits of celebrities like Paris Hilton, dog breeders overshot the numbers of Chihuahuas. Supply, in essence, overshot the demand.

The numbers are astounding. 4,700 Chihuahuas have been taken in by animal shelters in California this year, some from owners who couldn't afford their dog any more due to the recession.

Thankfully, people on the east coast don't have enough small dogs so Virgin America and Project Flying Chihuahua, and American Airlines and Kinder4Rescue, a non-profit started by actress Katherine Heigl, are taking the Chihuahuas there. The Chihuahuas have a discounted fee and money is being raised to help with the Chihuahua rescue efforts. So far Chihuahuas are going by air to New Hampshire and New York City.

Dogs have also been sent to Arizona, Washington and Oregon, but by S.U.V.

There is a chance that Virgin America may offer a week of half price trips to people who are willing to take a Chihuahua to New York from California. This doesn't mean you'd be the one adopting the dog, just the one helping it make it to its new home.

Chihuahuas by the dozens on planes originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 20 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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