This past Friday (May 17) was Endangered Species Day, a day to remind us
of all the different species around the world that need our help to slow their
disappearance from the face of our earth. It made me think about our
responsibilities as world travelers to not exploit the very species we are
venturing so far to experience.
Often fragile ecosystems are subjected to an abundance of tourism for the
sake of a destination’s economic bottom line without consideration to the impact this
may have the very resource that attracted the tourism. We, as concerned
citizens of the world, need to become educated travelers who are aware that our
actions have an impact on the very places and things we wish not to affect. If we wish for that particular piece of nature
or animal to be there for the next generation to experience, then we need to
remember not to exploit the very thing we treasure.
I myself am not an extremist, but I do think we need to be considerate of
the world we share with others. Should we pay attention to those signs left on
our hotel beds that ask us to conserve water by hanging our towels up after
using them to indicate we don’t need fresh towels every day? Should we join an
eco-friendly tour whose price tag may not be the most inexpensive, but may leave
the least consequential footprint on Mother Earth? Should we encourage more
resorts to go green by patronizing those that forego air conditioning for sea
breezes and solar-powered fans? I hate to use the term “self-regulative” to
guide our choices, but maybe it’s more like “environmentally-aware” of our
actions that will make us more “eco-friendly”, “green”, responsible travelers
and world citizens.
It is one of my objectives when writing my blog to educate my fellow
travelers of different aspects of a destination like history, culture and
customs, natural wonders, flora and fauna, as well as travel tips. When doing
some research for this blog, I became aware that I have failed to mention in
previous blogs items we should be conscious not to purchase when wanting to bring
a trinket home as a remembrance. For instance, is that “tortoise shell” hair
comb real or simulated? How about that “ivory” charm? Is it made from bone or
an actual elephant tusk? If we do not buy the items made from endangered
species, then there is no market. And if there is no market, then there is no
need for poachers and traffickers.
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| http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/10/world/africa/rhino-extinct-species-report |
This blog is in honor of the Western Black rhino which was declared
extinct in 2011; driven to extinction by poaching for its horn. I do not think
that humans can stop Mother Earth from going through her cycles. I do not think
that humans can stop species from becoming extinct. That is nature. But what I
do believe is that we can make a conscious effort to be aware of the impact of our
actions and how they may hasten the inevitable. We, as responsible citizens of
the world, need to be kind and courteous to the rest who occupy Earth with us.
I know I will date myself with this slogan, but let’s remember things like “Give
a Hoot, Don’t Pollute”. It is small steps like this that begin the education of
others in this world toward the realization of how their actions have an effect
on everything. We as world travelers have a responsibility to conduct ourselves
with a respect for our environment and a desire to lead by example.
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