Iceland

Earth Friendly Travel: Doing What We Can

by Sheri Kash

When we are children and our parents and teachers tell us "Don't waste, Don't be a litterbug" we think "Heyyyy that's a good idea!" We are inspired and excited. And we can't wait to catch an ourlaw("Mrs. Hochwald… James is being a litterbug!!!").

We grow up. Our lives move at a million miles an hour. Convenience becomes all important. Our Earth Friendly inner children sometimes take a back safety car seat. With limited vacation days, it's seductive to want to call a tour company or a hotel. But Earth Friendly Travel doesn't mean giving up comfort, time or money.

If you travel independently or actively engage in Earth Friendly Travel (aka Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism) here are more ideas on how to keep on keeping on. If you are new to hostelling or independent travel and are interested in shrinking that footprint, Congrats! …and read on:

Get Where You're Going

You're going away...ya gotta get there, right ? Airplanes release toxic emissions into the air. Offset the amount of emissions by making a donation to a Carbon Offset Organization. Organizations like Native Energy and Carbonfund.Org let you calculate your footprint, ie the total amount of emissions used on your trip, and let you turn that into a contribution to help build a new wind farm or a renewable farm methane project, that will reduce CO 2 on your behalf. Using the Native Energy online calculator, an air trip of 1,500 miles calculates into a contribution of $12.00.

More information: www.nativeenergy.com and www.carbonfund.org


Use public transportation once you get where you're going. In Europe, where there is wonderful system of trains, buses and trams, this is easy. In America, not so much. If you must drive, you may want to check out The Better World Club. The Better World Club is dedicated to balancing economic goals with social and environmental responsibility. It supports a cleaner environment and alternative modes of transportation while providing emergency roadside assistance, travel products and services. The Better World Club donates an amount equal to 1% of its annual revenues toward environmental clean-up and advocacy and by providing unique eco-friendly travel alternatives.

More information: www.Betterworldclub.com

Lighten Up

Travel light. This is the traveler's credo. We really don't need as much as we think we do. With some thoughtful planning and careful decision making, your adventure will be an authentic, pleasurable one.

Pack light weight clothing you can quickly wash in the sink and hang dry in your hostel. This saves water, electricity and your money since you won't have to buy a lot of clothing. Additionally it saves your strength since you wo'nt have to lug a ton of clothes around.

Buy minimally packaged goods and choose reusable products rather than disposable ones. Purchase a hand made item from a local artist collective or charity organization rather than a pricey chachka from a gift shop. This way your gift does double duty: You've purchased your loved one an authentic piece of the culture you're visiting and you are supporting the community. That's something to feel good about.

Purchase food from local markets to prepare in the hostel kitchen, buying only what you need. Or eat at local cafes and restaurants. This is a great way to support the local community and become immersed in the local culture. There's no better way to internalize a culture than to savor its food. When you avoid the chain take-out restaurants you avoid unnecessary packaging and the trash it produces. You also eat better!

More information: www.REI.com

See the Forest For the Trees

Leave natural areas as you found them, or better. Remove all your items and if you find litter, pick it up. When you leave, the area should look as if no one had ever been there. Do not take plants or flowers with you, as many are not allowed to be transported out of the area. As we tell our children, "Just look with your eyes, not your hands."

Traveling the Hostelling Way

Hostelling is a way to incorporate the items mentioned in this article. Please join us at one of our upcoming World Travel 101 Presentations or visit our national website to learn more about hostelling.

More information: www.hiusa.org


About the Author: Ms. Kash is now a volunteer with HI-USA, Michigan. We welcome articles for our website from members and travelers. Please send your article to: volunteer@hi-michigan.org. However, we can not guarantee your article will be printed.