Conscious travel ideas

With the summer sun and rolling green hills, the urge to explore and break away from the mundane redundancy of life settles in our hearts, and we long for that single word, “vacation.” Sadly, many of us are really hurting through the economic times, forcing us to look closer to home for our time away from work. Those of us who can travel are much more demanding than we used to be. Where our money is spent is really a vote as to the direction we want our world to go. Here are some easy, eco-friendly, and frugal options that anyone can consider while engaging in plenty of guilt-free activities.

As you make plans for yourself or your loved ones, consider choosing activities that support green and environmentally responsible development in that area. Places you may want to explore are orangutan rescue organizations, preserved parks, and ecological tours. Also, consider what rehabilitation projects are underway in your area, or start your own. There really is nothing like the rewarding feeling you get from taking a few bags to a contaminated area, sorting garbage properly for recyclables, etc. and knowing that when you leave that day you will have made a huge difference for the planet. Consider things like planting projects or volunteer projects that you can participate in closer to home. These should not be seen as “work”, but rather as an opportunity to meet new like-minded people, have fun and participate in your community. At the same time, you’ll be left with the knowledge that you’re leaving a lasting legacy.

Be careful when throwing food away when traveling! You may be aware of throwing non-organic trash out the window when you travel, however few people realize the possible consequences of throwing an apple core or banana peel out of a car window. Guilty of this ourselves…until about 8 years ago, when we went hiking, we left apple cores, watermelon skins, and banana peels in the area by tossing them into the woods or placing them under a rock, without realizing it that we can be attractive. bear and other animals to the trail where other people frequent.

According to the Go & Do visitor magazine for the West Kootenay region (2008 edition), food thrown out of windows by travelers can attract animals onto the road, where they could be hit by cars, potentially causing accidents. or vehicle damage. Their bodies can attract larger predators and scavengers and the problem just keeps getting bigger, all because of a little apple core.

To put this in perspective, in the southern section of BC, Canada’s westernmost province, the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center 80% of animals treated have injuries sustained from human activity. I learned that information during an interview with a representative of the Wild ARC organization, Sara Debois, on the March 27, 2008 radio show Conscious Discussions. (blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions)

Another way we can reduce this tragedy is to slow down in areas where wildlife warning signs are posted or near water sources. Create a game with the family and ask them to watch the sides of the road to increase safety. At night, the animals’ eyes are likely to reflect light from the road and glow red. If you see two, or even one bright spot, you’ll want to immediately slow down and be ready for anything. When you spot one, keep in mind that the animals often travel in groups of two or more, so there may be a few more critters lurking somewhere. Sunrise and sunset are particularly dangerous due to the lack of visibility.

Finally, if you come across a dead animal along a road, be sure to call your local conservation officer or go to your nearest chamber of commerce and let them know so they can clean it up and prevent a chain of deaths.