Green Holidays

You know how to pack a rucksack properly – but what about save a life?

We all learn to pack our racksacks top heavy, learn which wildfood we can eat, how to get our tents back in their tiny bags, how to purify water and how to run away from a bear.

But what about help another human being?

When was the last time you took a first aid lesson? At school, in your teens or because your workplace told you to go?

Why do we wait – when our friends or family could get injured at any time!

Things that we learn on these courses could save other peoples lives – as well as our own, so why don’t we sign up in droves?
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What are you going to do?
Things change all the time in medicine and first aid – so some things your parents told you or that you learnt over 5 years ago might not still be current – like laying a person who fainted on their back with their legs raised. Wrong.

How about pinching the top of the nose and tipping the head back to stop a nose bleed! Wrong. Putting soothing creams or lotions on a burn – WRONG!

You don’t even check for a pulse anymore – there are better, more effective ways to save a life.

Obviously we all hope that we never have to deal with an emergency – but if you like to travel a lot – especially out in the countryside, emergency first aid could be your only chance of survival.

Call The Emergency Services!
It is all well and good to assume that the emergency services will come and save the day – but if the casualty isn’t breathing or is bleeding heavily – then 10 minutes is too long to wait. And you will probably be out in the countryside or up a mountain!

photo credit: Adam Tinworth

So, you could save someone by starting first aid straight away.

Immediate Action:
I can’t teach you first aid in this article – but I know that making sure that someone is breathing is more important that calling 999 in the first instance. The time it takes you to make the call is more time that they aren’t breathing.

By first checking the airways are clear and listening for breathing you could have done all that was needed to save a life. People who are unconscious and on their backs can suffocate on their own tongue – so by you moving their head to free the tongue – you can help them breathe again. Then, by putting them in the recovery position – and knowing that they can still breathe – you could have just saved their life.

However, if you make the call first; all the while you are trying to describe where you are for the emergency services to find you – they will be getting worse.

First Aid is about dealing with the most critical thing first – like not breathing. There is no point stopping them bleeding if they aren’t breathing, and no point moving them into a more comfortable place if they aren’t breathing either.

And an Emergency First Aid course can help you understand why things are important and when they are not. The course will help you gain confidence in your actions even if they seem rather odd and ‘different’ to what other people are saying.

You would have taken the most up-to-date course (to protect your friends and family) so it will be the best you can do for a stranger too!

And thank you for caring.

Green Travel keeps working even when you have stopped!

Now we all know that parking in town can be a complete nightmare at the best of times – and I suppose that is why we favour purpose-built car parks as a result.  They usually have clearly marked out car-size spaces for everyone to park in and arrows telling you which way to drive so you don’t bump into other drivers!

That way – we all know that they have worked out the greatest number of spaces that that particular car park can hold and everyone can fit in with no wasted space – or accidents!

However, not so for the country car park or the long parking bays with only the end zones marked out.

How is it best to park in these spaces when you first arrive?

Eco Friendly Parking:
Now you might not think that where you park could have eco friendly – or not so eco friendly – consequences, but it does.

Take for example the person parking infront of an entrance or right infront of a sign that says ‘Do Not Park Here’  You can tell immediately that this car could cause other people some trouble – wasting their time, their money and possibly causing an argument.

But can you see how they are also reducing the revenue of local services, decreasing visitor numbers for local attractions and businesses as well as possibly affecting the number of people that visit that location over the next 50 years!

Obviously these are scaled up problems – but if you arrived in a town or remote beauty spot only to find that you can’t park anywhere or others have been irresponsible – you might never return.

If you had to drive 40 minutes to visit an old church and you could never find a space there – would you keep going back year after year?

Or you just wanted to grab a quick snack and there was never a space outside the shop when you drove by – wouldn’t you just find somewhere else?

But what happens to those places when you decide to go elsewhere?  Who buys their products, uses their services or donates to their cause?

Think About It:
So, what can you do to make sure that you don’t affect your local services when you pop into town or drive into the countryside to walk the dog?

Firstly – think about how you can maximise the number of spaces in the place you are visiting.  Put simply – always park up to the edges or the spaces and close to any other vehicles on site.

photo credit: Blyzz

If there is a car in the middle of nowhere and you park away from it in the middle of nowhere too – how can you be sure that an exact number of cars can fit into the gap you have left? Surely you have been looking for a space before and thought ‘if only that car was a foot to the left it would create enought space for a whole car’.

Obviously nothing you can do about it while you wait – but very often when that person does move – someone else parks right in the same place themselves – just the 1 car instead of 2.

And those thoughtless people who park half a car away from the end of a bay!  I mean there was no reason not to park up the edge of the bay – leaving all the rest of the bay free for other vehicles – but they chose to just park wherever they wanted making sure that other people couldn’t park close to the shops/doctors/hotel/castle/seafront/etc.

Your Choice:
Now I know there are lots of different size cars on the road, and it seems a bit weird to park next to another car when the rest of the car park is empty – but it won’t always be empty.

People need to visit places to keep them there – and so surely, the more people that can park close to where they want to go, the more money they will spend there.

And it’s not all about using public transport either – I mean if I am on my way home from somewhere in my car and need to grab some bread or milk – I don’t want to have to walk miles to get them – I want to be able to pull up and park real close to the store and pop in and out in a second.  So, if I can’t get close in the car – I will go to another shop where I know I can.

Not everyone can walk a long way either and buses don’t go absolutely everywhere – so people do need to use their cars to get to places – and so rather than just pulling up somewhere are parking without a care for anyone else – think eco.

If you want that store to be there for your convenience – then you need to help it get as many customers as it can to turn a profit.  If you want to keep using that car park near the National Trust woodland – then make sure as many people as possible can park there are pay their money to keep it open!

If you park for too long in a space, take up more than 1 space or block other road users – you are harming the very services and locations that you are using yourself.

You might have driven there in as ‘green’ a way as you could – so don’t spoil it when you get there!

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Welcome to the final Green Holidays Blog Carnival of 2009.

It has been snowing where I am for days now and the ground is thick with snow! Great stuff – but not so good for all the people who are trying to get home before the new year!

And, not so many to choose from this month – maybe as everyone has been out visiting families or trying to escape to the countryside rather than be stuck in town on the holidays!

Anyway, we are here to talk about some green holidays – and lets start with a short one about voluntourism from Mircea: Tips for Volunteering and Traveling Abroad

Next, another short post about feelings running deep in some countries about cultural sites and landmarks where Dan gives us his opinions on The Ethical & Responsible Travel Minefield. Linking to this is a similar post by another writer: Take Care Not To Climb Uluru.

Ther is also another article about the ethics of travel these days, and poses some interesting questions and ideas.  Compare it to what you think when reading Should We Be More Travel Eco Friendly?

Lastly, Theo presents Green Christmas Ideas Revisited where he covers a few ideas for having greener holidays at home and with family at this time of year.

So, it’s ho ho ho and see you in 2010!

I’m afraid there is an green holidays shortage occuring!

I only have 2 that are true to the title of this Blog Carnival and are actually talking about something original!

So, lets start with Guffly’s article on how to Have an Ecofriendly Holiday on a Budget | Guffly. This fantastic eco-article-a-day website is worth going back to time and time again…… Can’t get enough of it myself!

And then Autumn Beck covers an interesting topic: Want the best wet bag for your cloth diapers?

So, that’s it. Sorry!!

Hello, and welcome to another great blog carnival this month!

I have just moved into a new house at the moment, so any free time is limited for the next few weeks, so listening to stories about other peoples green holidays is really making me want all these boxes to just disappear!

Anyway, lets get started with a short story about one mans adventure in the rainforest with Henry’s tale of Finding Freedom: Night Hike Through Jungle which sounds amazing – but also Tyler’s closer to home tale about his Frugally Green Weekend.

Although not strictly about green holidays, the following 2 articles touch on areas that can be applied readily to a green traveler, and so have been included today. So, first up is a few tips on green shopping with Matthew Paulson’s story on How to Become a Green Shopper.

Then there is the eco argument of whether e-books are better for the environment than paper books. It’s an interesting one and Marco Gustafsson puts his thoughts forward with: New Generation of e-Book Readers Contributes to Environmental Protection.

Kate presents Green Lodging Part I. Green hotels & Soap-on-a-Rope for the next article about some new legislation in Florida regarding green hotels and energy consumption.

And finally, there is a great story about a green adventurer who has unbelievable plans for a trip around Australia – totally different from what I would class as a trip around Down Under. Join Marjorie Morgan with a story about Freya Hoffmeister | A resource for women in Outdoor Education and Recreation.

See you next time….

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What great weather we have been having – and the kids are raring to get outside for some adventures….

…..and so are the grown-ups!

Here we have some more offerings for your green adventures this month:

Amy @ The Q Family start us of again with a story of some great locations they have found closer to home with: 5 Family Favorite Outdoor Adventures Around Atlanta.

Ed Biado comes up next with some great tips for anyone planning their next trip with his notes on The green traveler

Saving money on your next road trip – or just around town is covered by Tyler, who explains his new concept of using the car! Take a peak at Save $550 a Year by Hypermiling and see what you think yourself!

Next we have the thoughtful Marjorie Morgan who takes time to explain about wildlife skills and how to manage without all the mod cons we get so used to at home. Even in your local woods – you should really know the basics, so read Wilderness and Urban Survival Skills for a taster.

Gregory E. Rouse has written a short article on a particular location, but his blog is certainly one to read more about as it covers all sorts of outdoor adventures including this one about Beehive Lake.

Along a similar note, Henry Carlson takes us into one part of his personal journey in Finding Freedom: Monteverde Waterfall along his way.

Almost last, we have Pete giving us some tips for a great local day out in the warmer weather with Cool Things To Do On Hot Days, and then we have Matt Shaulis giving us some further ‘tent’ tips for all those who love the outdoors! Take a peak at his rather thorough Lightweight Northwest Territory Tents or 4 Season Kelty Tents? article if that is what you fancy!

Take care out there!

Did you know you could invest in a castle, a meadow or a farm?

It may not be common knowledge, but locations both home and abroad are actually run like companies.

One example is with a recent case of ‘disgruntled’ Bournemouth in the UK. The UK Weather Agency decided that the delightful seaside town on the English Channel was going to have terrible weather over the Bank Holiday weekend – however it didn’t!

Now, Bournemouth Council are trying to sue the weather agency for losing them £1 million in ‘tourist bucks’! Tourism bosses said that over 25,000 visitors stayed away for fear of rain!

I know you might not think it, but if you don’t visit or support stores and companies from the regions you love – then who is to say that they will remain? I don’t mean that the towns or countryside will become people-free – I mean that locations will change to more profitable options.

Open fields filled with wildlife may be churned up for crops or sold for housing. Cute cobbled streets filled with cafes and gift shops won’t stay open if they don’t make money – fast food outlets may well replace them!

Supporting Shopping!
You need to actually visit these locations and spend your money locally. Stay in locally-run hotels and bed-and-breakfasts, eating in local cafes and buying locally made souvenirs.

If you travel to your favourite hide-away but stay in a hotel chain, eat McDonalds and buy souvenirs ‘made in China’ – how can you expect the local population to make a living and keep their businesses up and running?

Support Your Heritage!
If there is a castle that you like the look of or a large stately home – make sure you pay to go inside.

Just looking at it from the outside is all fair and good and it may be amazing! But unless you actually spend money at the site – you are not helping it to stay alive!

Yeah, you might mention it to a friend and they go there for a look too, but unless there is money going into that area – it might not be worth keeping the castle open for tourists. It’s a business, it has to employ staff, clean and maintain the building, trim and plant the gardens and advertise it’s good bits.

How can it do that if you just peek at it across a wall or over a hedge? Without customers like any good store of restaurant – it will have to close.

Joining a Heritage charity or society can help to fund renovations of such buildings allowing them to remain for future generations to enjoy and you can be a part of that.

Supporting Habitats:
But how can you support a field or river? They are free to visit and they are just there.

Well, by becoming a member of a nature or wildlife related charity or business that has projects in that area will make sure that they have the funds where necessary to purchase or develop open spaces for the benefit of the existing wildlife. It may also allow funds to re-introduce native species that have been lost.

By telling your hosts that the reason you came here was for the river/beach/woods/wildlife/etc will make sure that they know what is making them successful. If they know they get most of their guests to see the rare so-and-so – they will all make sure that it stays right where it is! And your money can really become a powerful tool.

Supporting local organic farms can also keep nature in your neighborhood by leaving fields fallow or leave woodlands and hedgerows standing rather than having to sow crops instead.

Paying more for your food also makes a difference. If you are always buying the cheapest products – especially animal products – the farmers are having to make money from elsewhere – and that could include destroying that patch of riverside meadow or expanding smaller fields into super fields to make ends meet.

The Circle Of Life.
Just like a business – a farmer, landowner, town, or country all need to get support or financial rewards for their actions to keep doing them.

If growing apples makes double the amount that growing cucumbers does – then they grow apples. If selling burgers makes more money than locally made ice cream – then burgers it is! If more people want huge hotels rather than cosy holiday cottages then guess what?

Your everyday choices can make or break a holiday destination, can affect the shape of the high street and can destroy or encourage wildlife and open spaces.

So next time you think of your favourite place – make sure you make the most of your time there – supporting the destination and making sure it’s stays just how you like it!

Taking your pets to the UK has never been easier!

If you live in the UK or wish to travel to the UK when choosing to holiday close to home this year – then why not take your pets with you?

Imagine how much fun your pooch would have paddling in the Bay of Biscay or climbing in the Alps!  Would you cat love sunbathing by your pool in Spain or Italy?  Even the ferret can come too!

Why Is The UK Different?
Well, all countries have regulations about the movement of animals from one country to another and you should check these out whenever traveling with your pets. 

Some are very strict and some are more flexible. 

However, the UK has always protected itself from the threat of rabies with a 6-month quarantine period.

These days, you don’t need to leave your pet in quarantine – you just need to get it a passport and it can visit or return to the UK whenever you want it to.

What’s A Pets Passport?
Basically, the scheme has been running for several years, but not everyone knows about it. 

Taking your pet with you can really improve you holiday fun and it is so easy when you follow some simple steps.

A valid PETS passport allows you to avoid quarantine kennels by vaccinating your pet against rabies in advance.  You still need to wait the full 6 months before travelling to or returning to the UK, but you can do this in the comfort of your own home rather than in a secure kennel.

There is only one way to get your dog, cat or ferret a passport and it takes at least 7 months from start to finish – it could be longer.  But it will never be shorter!

Many people think that they can ‘buy’ a PETS passport when they find a stray dog in Spain or wherever and bring it straight into the UK.  But a passport doesn’t avoid the 6-months quarantine, it just changes where the pet has to be during that 6 months.

The Process:
There are 4 main steps in the process by which you can obtain a PETS passport which you can do at any time, and one further step just before entering the UK.

However, in a few cases several of these steps need to be repeated – and at the expense of the owner!

If any of the first 4 steps are not completed – the passport will not be issued in the first place.  And if you miss step 5 or let the passport expire – your pet will not be allowed to enter the UK other than straight into quarantine!  So please make sure you understand the process!

Step 1 – Day 1:
Your dog, cat or ferret must be micro-chipped. 

These tiny ‘chips are uniquely identified by a series of numbers.  When a microchip scanner is passed over the embedded chip the individual code will appear on the screen.  This unique code will be linked through the existing database to the owners details, thus identifying this individual animal.

This makes sure that the animal that is being imported/exported is the animal that has been issued the PETS passport in the first place.

Step 2 – Day 1 onwards:
Your dog, cat or ferret must be vaccinated against rabies.

Your local vet will be able to inject your pet with the rabies vaccination at a routine appointment.  This will send anti-bodies against rabies around your pets body, which in turn should help your pet kill off the rabies virus if it becomes infected.

You can have the vaccine at the same time as the animal was micro-chipped.

Step 3 – 2-3 weeks after Step 2:
A blood sample taken and tested for rabies anti-bodies.

You need to return to your vets around 14-21 days after the vaccination (or as advised by your vets) to have a blood sample taken to make sure that there are sufficient anti-bodies in your pets blood to protect it from the rabies virus.

This blood test must take place at an EU approved laboratory.

If there are not enough anti-bodies in the sample then the blood test will need to be done again later, or Step 2 and 3 repeated.

Step 4 – After Step 3 blood test has been passed.
Only when anti-body levels are deemed high enough, will the animal be checked over one final time, the chip checked and the passport issued.

The passport will become valid for travel to the UK 6 months AFTER the blood test with acceptable anti-body level was taken.  Not a day sooner!

The passport however, will be valid for travel TO any other EU country 21 days after the rabies vaccine was given (if coming from the UK).  Check with the EU country you get your PETS passport from if outside of the UK as several countries have slightly different requirements.

Your PETS passport is only valid while you have rabies cover, so you must get your pets re-vaccinated against rabies before the current one expires.  If you are even 1 day late for the vaccination, the passport becomes invalid and you have to start all over again from Step 2, and wait a further 6-7 months before you can return to the UK  (without quarantine).

Therefore, if you maintain the rabies vaccines after your original passport is issued, you will have continued cover for as long as your pet is alive.

Step 5 – Tick & Tapeworm Treatment:
Must be applied by a vet 24-48 hours before entering the UK.

There are several things that the UK wants to avoid apart from rabies, and they are a certain tick and a potentially fatal (to humans)tapeworm.

The required treatment is quite specific and needs to be applied by, or the application of the treatment witnessed by, a qualified veterinary surgeon.  This vet then needs to complete a section on your PETS passport to confirm the times, as if your flight or ferry is delayed – it will ‘expire’ and have to be re-applied.

Needless to say, this treatment will need to be applied by a vet that may not be your own – so you will need to make sure you find a suitable vets and get an appointment with them within a day of your intended travel to the UK.

The Cost?
Well, it is difficult to quote an exact price as all vets will charge different fees for different procedures, but you should be looking at the following price range:

Step 1: Microchipping – £10-£25
Step 2: Vaccination     – £45-£55
Step 3: Blood Test       – £50-£60
Step 4: Final Issue       - £20-£30

Step 5: Treatment       - £20-£40

Total: Between £145 and £210

AND: You also have to pay for your pet to travel with you in the first place.  There are only certain routes that will accept pets through the PETS scheme, and this cost will need to be factored in to this just as with your own travel costs.

Visit DEFRA’s factsheet for more indepth details!

The scheme has allowed thousands of pets to travel abroad with their owners every year virtually hassle free – or at least no more trouble that traveling with kids!  Why don’t you become one of them?

Planning Your Volunteering Green Holidays needs to start somewhere – and these 5 tips should help:

Many people these days are planning to take a longer-then-usual break from work.  There are so many opportunities out there for all sorts of people and all sorts of activities!  There is surely something for everyone and some are just a few weeks long to fit into even the tightest schedule!

Before jumping in to a great adventure however, make sure that you have got yourself covered for some simple things, and make sure that you are going with the best possible company.

It’s easy to just want to get up and go when the travel bug hits you – but you want to make sure that everything is as green as you would like it before you pay a dime!

1) Length of time:
It is better for the environment and the communities you are going to support if you take a longer than average time out there. 

Flying to Asia for 2 weeks – which includes a few days to yourself – means that there is hardly any time for you to make a difference.  It also shoots up your carbon emissions.

However, 2 months in your chosen location can give you time to experience their culture and actually get to know all the people involved while you are there.  It also shows that you and you chosen company mean business – rather than in and out with no real lasting effects in their lives.

2) Company Experience:
Make sure the company you are travelling with has years and years of experience in their locations and in the travel industry. There are many new companies popping up – but can they deliver the goods or are they jumping (late) onto the ethical bandwagon??

Not only will experienced companies be able to prove that their packages are excellent and their community work long lasting – but it also shows you that they mean business and know how to do these things. 

For an example of how not to book your gap vacation, read on…. I recently went to an organised talk where a ‘travel guru’ was talking about her company – and she said that last year she couldn’t find anyone offering advice about gap travellers – so she set one up herself! 

If she was looking for help last year – what on earth would make you trust here for advice just 12 months later?  What type of advice could she really offer you about travelling, volunteering, teaching and living abroad if she has barely done it herself???

If this is your ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and you are taking time of work or leaving your job – please don’t risk it.  Make sure you put yourself in the hands or a real and proven expert – even if you have to pay that bit extra!

3) Company Ethics:
There are many companies out there offering these fantastic vacations – but where does all the money go and who are they helping?

Check with your short-list of companies what projects they support and where your ‘fee’ is going.  Some companies charge a lot of money for your trip and pocket a large proportion of the money in admin.  Others will clearly advertise that a contribution goes to a charity working locally or to community projects for the long term.

Some trip organisers send huge numbers of volunteers to the same places – not so fair on the other communities and a bit to overwhelming on that one.  Better companies will share out the visitors and limit the impact of it’s travellers.  You are there to help the local people, not socialise with dozens of other travellers from your home country!

Also, make sure that they have a clear responsible travel policy and are a member or at least 1 ethical travel association – the more the better, really.  If you want to be sure you are travelling responsibly with them and that they have considered all their green alternatives for their trips – then don’t book if they can’t answer your questions politely and with answers you are happy with.

4) A Job Well Done:
Ideally, the travel company will make sure that you are suited to the trip you are booking!

By this I mean that they will check your experiences and your aims and will try to send you to the right location in terms of your skills and their needs.  It’s ok to choose your destination – but if your skills are better suited to another project on a different continent than a good volunteer firm will let you know.

You might have your heart set on the Andes – but if they are in desperate need of your skills in the Himalayas they may well see if they can twist your arm a bit.  They would never force you to go somewhere you don’t want to go – but if you are in this for the experience and to help others, then it is certainly worth considering your options.

5) What’s Left Behind:
If you are taking a longer break for your volunteering (a month or more) – make sure that what you leave behind is still in order while you are away.

Cancel or put a hold on magazines and subscriptions so endless amounts of mail don’t sit in your mailbox.  Not only will this show that you are away – it also means that you will have too much to read on your return and possibly waste these resources.  Check dates on all foodstuffs so that nothing is wasted and nothing goes out of date while you are away.

Set up online accounts for everything you can (so you can check it all wherever on the globe you are) and this also allows you to cancel paper billing for most accounts – you can check it all on the Internet – saving endless amounts of paper and postage!  You can even pay bills online though your bank account without having to go home or send the neighbor around!

Make sure that your appliances and electrical goods are unplugged – not on standby!  Buy a timer for your lights if you are leaving the house empty – or consider renting it out to friends for the duration to fund your trip and protect your home – and pets if you have any.  Check your fire alarm batteries and any alarm systems to make sure they are in perfect working order before you leave.

Check your mortgage and insurance papers to make sure you are covered if you are not living there – and make sure that you travel insurance covers the full time you are away – some annual policies only cover 3 months in total over any 1 year!

And Finally:
Enjoy yourself and have the time of your life – coming back a more experienced and more relaxed person!

If you want a change in your life – why not go out and look for it?

If you are in the UK this weekend and fancy seeing what the rest of your life could be like, then head over to Olympia in London for the One Life Live Show this weekend.

What’s There?
Well, there are over 200 seminars and workshops going on over the 3 days, and there are 8 zones to explore all included in the ticket price.  Added to this, there is the opportunity to take part in a paid professional workshops for a small extra cost.

Some of the seminars include topics like ‘The Impact of Volunteering’ and ’Making Travel Pay’ as well as some more individual themes including ‘How to Create Your Ideal Life’ and ‘How to Turn Your Vision into Action’

The 8 zones include ‘Travel & Career break’ and ‘Volunteering & Fundraising’ both great topics to help you make the most of your time whenplanning a travel break.  Many of the companies with stands are known through the industry for their responsible ethics and their community support policies as part of their products.

There are also stands that incorporate ‘Health and Wellbeing’ and some great ideas for your ‘Free Time’ including new hobbies and national groups to join to keep those green holidays in th UK interesting!

Go to their great, easy to use website for more details - as there is plenty to see – and get changing your life!

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