Ecotourism

I have an addiction, I love to travel. It's an expensive addiction and one that can't be fulfilled every time I crave it, in the mean time I research and plan my future trips that I will one day like to go on. Being concerned with our environmental impact and also wanting to travel to mostly every part of the world, I fell in love with what is called ecotourism.

Ecotourism combines my two passions, travelling and my love for nature. Ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people"



As the concept of ecotourism becomes more popular the number of ecoDestinations increase, you are now able to travel to every continent and take part in ecotourism!

Whitewater rafting in Ottawa River

So why not go to Costa Rica and experience horse back riding while enjoying the wonderful beaches or go to India and travel from Delhi to Mumbai and ride on a few camels, the possibilities are endless!

Next time you're planning your vacation, think of the impact you have on the places you will be visiting and consider ecotourism.

24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb in support of WWF-Canada

Help me climb the CN tower, help the WWF raise funds and get some much needed exercise!

For the first time, I will be attempting to "climb" aka walk 1,776 steps, and yes, I know what your thinking, medical staff will be nearby incase I collapse.

By sponsoring me you will support the WWF to continue to;

• Protect fragile ecosystems
• Educate for real change
• Ensure industry plays its part
• Influence government on behalf of all Canadians
• Protect the species and spaces that make Canada the envy of the world
• Stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment
• Help to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature

Please go to 24th Annual Canada Life CN Tower Climb in support of WWF-Canada to sponsor me.

Any amount of money helps and is very appreciated!

Thank you and enjoy an adorable video
of cute  animals!        

Drive less, smile more!

Time to "pool it!"

I often struggle trying to pick topics that others will care about related to the environment because even though I think there are lots of pressing issues not everyone will agree with me. This post was inspired during a conversation with a classmate of mine.

Carpooling, WHY NOT?

Personally, I carpool from Tues-Thurs with some friends of mine, we save money on gas, reduce our impact on the environment and let's face it, you're going to be judged less by others if you're singing/dancing in the the car with friends vs. alone. (although I totally sing and dance alone, regardless of others watching me)

According to Environment Canada, overall transportation represents the largest single source of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 27% of the total.

Let's talk $$$

• Carpooling allows you to share the cost of gas and parking, cutting your expenses by nearly 50% or more; the more occupants in your carpool the more you save.
• The Canadian Automobile Association reports the average yearly cost to operate a car can be as much as $9,000 year, or nearly $25 per day!
• The average carpooler can cut out as much as $600 each month on the cost of their commuting drive
• About 18% of a person’s monthly budget it taken up in car maintenance, repairs, and gas.
• The total amount of money saved by carpooling every year is $1.1 billion.

Environmental Impact

• Having fewer cars on the road means reduced Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and improved air quality.
• By carpooling just twice a week, 1,600 pounds of greenhouse gases can be kept out of the air each year.
• If 100 people were to take advantage of the carpool option every day, more than of 1,320 pounds of carbon monoxide and 2,376,000 pounds of carbon dioxide could be removed from the air.
• Carpooling means fewer cars on the road each day which means less oil usage, and this can help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil.

Other advantages

• You get to use the Carpool Lane!
• Carpooling is a great way to make new friends!
• If everyone opted to carpool just one day a week, the traffic on the nation’s major highways and roads would be reduced by as much as 20%.
• Carpooling means fewer cars on the road each day which means less oil usage, and this can help reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign oil.
• Your health also benefits from carpooling; The congestion and volume of traffic on the roads are a major source of stress for many drivers. Studies show that those who commute by means other than a single-occupancy vehicle demonstrate lower levels of stress, higher morale, and lower blood pressure.            

If you would like to carpool but don't know anyone you can carpool with, visit carpool.ca. This new program can assist in the formation and management of carpools.

Bottoms up!

With so many issues affecting our environment, I was unsure of what to write this week, as I was sitting in class wondering of how to motivate others to care for their environment, I noticed that a lot of my class mates had plastic bottled waters.  

I think sometimes people like to believe that buying plastic water bottles and then recycling them makes it all better. Truth is that only 1 out 5 can be recycled. That means 80% are thrown out and end up...

Think you should buy bottled water because it's "healthier"? Well then the marketing gurus are doing their job, by adding "spring water" or "majestic alpine peaks" to the labels, we believe we're drinking cleaner water. Bottled water is just water. Water privatization is not only hurting animals but restricting a basic human right to those oceans away.

What can you do?

There's a simple alternative to bottled water: buy a reusable water bottle, and use it. Don't like the way your local tap water tastes? Inexpensive carbon filters will turn most tap water sparkling fresh and save you money.

So think, every time you spend more than $2/bottle, remember where it will end up. More than a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die every year from plastic.



Unless you're planning on doing this,



just buy a reusable water bottle, save money and keep the plastic to yourself.




To learn more about how harmful plastic water bottles are to our environment, check out The Water Project.