Traveling Green

Did Earth Day Make Us More Green?

2008-04-27T17:21:00.000-07:00

Since last week was Earth Day, it is natural to wonder how much progress our world has made to be a more eco-friendly planet.

According to the official Earth Day website, this past year was the most successful yet. There were several events world wide that gathered millions of people.

One of the biggest events which took place all over the United States, the Green Apple Festival, had free performances by famous musicians in eight cities across the country. Some of the prominent artists that performed were The Roots & Friends, Los Lonely Boys, OAR,and several others.

For those who could not attend any of the festivals nation-wide because of college classes, there may have been events on your campus. Locally, University of Arizona held a Sustainability fair with exhibits and vendors.

The best way to make the public more aware of how they can impact our environment is by promiting awareness and fundraising. These are two things that my eco-friendly newspaper, The CatScan tries to do every semester.

The important thing about being eco-friendly is making an effort to reduce the consumption of disposable products.For us, the biggest contribution we make is by having The CatScan online to eradicate the use of paper all together. This way we can promote awareness and sustain the environment at the same time.

The EarthDay Network offers a list of tips for fundraising more eco-friendly and fundraisers that help the environment:

*Use recycled paper when creating handbills or posters.
*If you are going to sell products to raise money, make sure you know where the product is made and that they are created by people in human conditions.
*Reduce the consumption of junk food so that we can reduce the number of diseases,bacteria, and health problems.

Alternative Fundraisers that Help The Environment:
*Book fairs
*Coffee, chocolate, and fair trade product sales
*Printer cartridge/ Cell phone recycling

Implementing these tips into your life can help the earth and at the least, make you more conscious of how you are contributing or hurting our environment. I know that writing for CatScan this past semester has definitely made me more aware. I have a new sense of guilt when I am wasteful that I never had before.

Although, this is my last blog and I will not be able to remind all of you to be conscious, I hope that I have inspired you to think about the Earth on your own. Don't wait for EarthDay every year to become active. Act now and go green.

L'Occitane Has A Little Bit Of Earthly Magic

2008-04-13T15:41:00.000-07:00

Men and women alike who enjoy luxurious skin products agree that L'occitane is more of an experience than just a brand. From the moment you enter the store, your nose is delighted with the French scents that make the expensive products justifiable. Most would agree that the luxurious wrapping on every item product whether it is $8or $80 is the icing on the cake, but those people only think that is the best part because they are unaware that it is naturally safe for the environment.

L'occitane products are made from plant products with the exception of the beehive line. L'occitane uses plant oils instead of mineral oils, which are not nearly as natural. All of their products are tested under medical supervision and have not been tested on animal products in the past 30 years.

L'occitane shopper, Nicole Kavanuagh agrees that L'occitane is worth the money and happy that it is good for the environment.

"I care about the quality of the product I am putting on my face. I love L'occitaine products and feel a little prestige to owning it", said Kavanaugh.

I agree with Kavanaugh that there is something prestigous about L'occitane. Two years ago, when I visited the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale, I was delighted to find the L'occitane lotions and soaps as amenities in the room. Now that I am writing for the CatScan and just found out about their natural and organic nature, I not only appreciate those amenities as a luxury item, but a contribution on a grand scale to purchase organically.

Throughout my blog this semester, I have been encouraging people to stay at hotels that use eco friendly methods. However, even I never thought about how beneficial earth friendly amenities were. Think about it with me. If there are 300 rooms,occupied every night and have the amenities replaced every day, that is 108,000pairs of the lotion and soap that are being purchased instead of products that are harmful.

L'occitane is an example of a company that has mainstreamed their product without changing their main values:
authenticity
simplicity
sensory pleasure
respect for people and the planet

I am changed after learning about this company and will continue to make eco- friendly purchases directly at stores, and indirectly, by staying at hotels that are trying to make a difference.

Green Power All The Time, All The Way

2008-04-05T18:51:00.000-07:00

If you have been searching for that perfectly eco friendly vacation, look no further. The Isle of Eigg, located in Scotland has been a fully sustainable island since 1997.

In the dark ages, this island was part of the Pictish Kingdom. After various kingdoms and reigns, it eventually became a recreational and sporting estate in the early 1900s’. After WWII, the Isle of Eigg was not really profitable anymore and it went through various owners until the islanders and partners of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust bought it over 10 years ago.

According to the Christian Science Monitor, all the electricity on the island is made locally. The electricity is made up of a combination of:

Solar panels
Wind turbines
Hydroelectric generator

The islanders are allowed a certain ration of electricity. If they exceed the amount, then they are required to pay $40 to get it turned back on.

To get to the Isle of Eigg, visitors must take a ferry boat. In fact, no vehicles are allowed on the island except for visitors or tradesman that have a disability permit. All of the accommodations are either in farmhouses, cottages, or camping grounds.

Once you are here, there are plenty things to do although bird watching is the premiere activity. With over 196 species, it is enough to keep any visitor occupied for their entire stay. May and Early June are considered the best times to bird watch. The official Isle of Eigg website shows which birds can be seen in various months throughout the entire year.

This island has also been called the “Island of Flowers”. There are over 500 higher plantlife species and a byophite list of over 300 species.

After 10 years of trying to get the entire island on green power, the dream had come to life. The island with 45 houses, 20 businesses, and six community buildings on entirely green power is quite the site to see. So, pack your bags for an exciting green vacation.

2008-03-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

It is quite common to rent a car when traveling on vacation. Especially, when visiting their relatives, people worry about inconveniencing them by making them drive them anywhere.

Instead, people should consider walking, carpooling, or using public transportation to make the earth greener. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, cars and trucks emit more than 300 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year in the United States.

Many cities, especially throughout Europe and designed for walking almost anywhere. Transportation, alone is responsible for about one-third of our nation's total production of carbon dioxide. So, the least we can do is walk from place to place on vacation and enjoy the sights around us.

When visiting relatives, carpooling is always a great option. Carpooling consists of two or more people sharing a ride to their destination. Relatives usually visit the same places anyways. So, if many people are coming in for one family function, maybe only two or three people could get cars out of a huge group. This would drastically reduce the effect on the environment.

Carpooling is always an option, thanks to Commuter Solutions, who match up people for carpools in cities all across the United States.

Hot travel spots such as San Fransisco utilize public transportation as much as possible, like the cable car, the subway in New York City, or the ferry in Catalina Island.
So next time you travel anywhere, whether in your own city or across the world, look at the city’s website to see what the most eco-friendly transportation options are.

The Not So Green View From Cantelleto Dining Room

2008-03-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

After going on Princess Cruises for a week through the Mexican Riviera, I had hoped to interview people and find out more facts about how wasteful or efficient cruises really are.

They may be concerned with fuel and sewage discarding methods, but as a guest, they still have a long way to go when it comes to food and drink wasted and they know it.

At a formal, sit-down dinner every night, I got to choose from as many appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts as I wanted. After you are done with each course, the server dumps your plate of leftovers (if you have any) into a bucket. I was observing this "waste" bucket and saw how quickly it filled up by the second course. I thought this was outrageous, showing that either the food was not that good or that people were already full with another three courses to go!

I wanted to capture photos of this bucket that was continually filled and discarded, but the first time I tried, the servers told me I was not allowed to. I asked why and they said it was just a rule.

Then, I tried to speak with the other servers and people higher on the cruise ship in the food department and they would not speak with me about the wasted food. I was not considered any form of press and they just wanted me to enjoy my stay as a guest and not worry. I guess I did sound a little hypocritical questioning the amount of food wasted when I in fact paid to go on one of these vacations.

Throughout the week I not only snuck more pictures like these, but began to notice other little ways that they wasted food and drinks to better accomodate us.

Every night at dinner I had iced tea and my server began to expect that I would drink about five glasses per night so she would have them lined up by the time I got there, so that she could do her job more efficiently.

On this particular night pictured below, I did not want any iced tea so all of these glasses lined up went wasted and were thrown out.

Also, instead of having two bread baskets on the table for our table of six, they had four. Considering the five courses we selected nearly every night, much of this bread was thrown out as well.

Of course I knew that there is a huge amount of food wasted on cruises before I went on one. However, I did not know that the crew was so resistant to speak about it, as if this has been discussed amongst all of them and they have come up withthe same response "Enjoy your trip".

Now the real question is, do they know that the rest of the "green" world is catching on?

Fuel Efficieny Has Become Completely Green

2008-03-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

Since I am about to go on a cruise, I would like to bring up a number of topics that will turn into an article over the course of this week. There are alot of aspects of cruises that are trying to become more environmentally friendly. However, there is one thing that comes to mind when thinking about a cruise and it is food, food, and food.

As far as food goes, we have all seen those people that go back for thirds, fourths, and fifths on cruises. Since food is included, people tend to take an entire order of something and then throw it away. It did not take me until the CatScan to realize how wasteful this is.

According to the Telegraph, cruises are the least eco friendly method of tourism. The combination of food wasted, carbon emissions, and sewage discarding methods make it incredibly bad for the environment. Unfortuinately for the earth, people love these vacations!

The Heritage Foundation recorded that the government spent $693,000 a year on the cruise industry.

Everyone thinks they have an idea about what that money is spent on, but they do not really have detailed facts, nor do they have their real questions answered, which is where I come in this week.

How many pounds of food are wasted, how many people can the wasted food feed, and how much is actually eaten. What about how many pounds do people gain on average when they go on a cruise?

After this week, I expect to educate all of you with a realistic sense of what is actually occurring. Stay tuned for my article.

No Cheese Please

2008-03-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

I have learned from traveling in Europe that your chances of being able to substitute or request something specific at restaurants, is slim to none. I have a hard time asking for dressing on the side, so I can only imagine the difficulty of trying to eat organically.

When it is not possible to eat organically at restaurants, a doable substitute is to only order vegetarian or vegan dishes.

Pattrice Jones, Coordinator of the Global Hunger Alliance says that becoming vegan is the biggest change you can make to reduce consumption. “Every time you eat an animal, you eat all of the grain and soy that was fed to them and all the water they had”. Jones says that livestock’s operations contribute even more to global warming than transportation.

HappyCow’s Vegetarian Guide lists vegetarian and vegan restaurants all over the world. They are listed by continents. You can pick the city you are interested in and look at all of the vegetarian restaurants, comments, and prices.

I am often the tourist hoping that people speak English, but when it comes to food, you should try to learn some terms that will help you get what you want. Happy Cow lists how to say Vegetarian or Vegan in every language. It also tells you what the terms mean in different countries. “Organic” or “vegetarian” are subjective in different countries.

Travel Notes: (from HappyCow website for France)
vegan (feminine) végan, végétalien(ne)
I am vegetarian (feminine) Je suis végétarien(ne)
To the French people, "végétarien" does not necessarily exclude fish or chicken, so be clear about what you want or don't want.

People also usually fear gaining weight from all of the heavy food and eating whatever we want. Being a Vegan not only helps out the environment, but our waist. Vegans offer a variety of health benefits since you eliminate foods with cholesterol.

The Food Pyramid for a Vegan looks different and people wishing to adapt to this lifestyle should look at the Vegan version in order to eat healthily.

Here Fishy Fishy

2008-03-02T22:25:00.000-08:00

It is well known that women and men alike everywhere enjoy spa services. We all eagerly dip our feet, hands and hair in any chemicals we are told, despite the toxic ones that are in most products.

One alternative that is catching on and is about as natural as you can get is called “doctor fish”. Doctor fish are toothless fish, originally from Turkey that eat dead skin and flesh off of feet.

This treatment is supposed to be free of pain. People who have gotten this treatment done say that they feel an itching sensation.

They use Garra Rufa fish. These fish evolved in hot springs where there were few animals, so they ended up eating flesh and skin. When there are no human body parts for them too feed on, it is normal for them to begin to eat each other.

The Kangal Spa in Turkey has used the fish doctor treatment for 100 years.
According to the life and health guardian website, this treatment not only heals people with typical skin, but is known for treating people with Psoriasis. They have about 3,000 visitors every year to receive treatment for their psoriasis.

After researching the fish doctor spas and listening to people comment on their experiences, I would actually consider trying this method. Though, it would definitely be the most unorthidox pedicure I have ever received.

So whether you are traveling across the world or the state, there may be a spa close to you that offers the doctor fish treatment so you can heal your feet, naturally.

Wear Soy Instead of Drinking It

2008-02-25T15:52:00.000-08:00

We have all heard to dress comfortably when traveling. When we are thinking about backpacking through Europe or hiking the Grand Canyon, eco friendly attire may not be the first thing on your mind. However, It can be very easy to find, affordable, and allow you one more way to contribute to our earth.

The first component of “green” attire is buying organically. Organic clothes are not going to be made out of anything that can harm the environment. They are much more natural materials than what we are used to. Rooted To Nature, an online website that sells completely organic clothes offers products made with fibers from

Alpaca

Bamboo

Hemp

Cotton

Silk

Soy

Tencel

Wool

The other important part about eco friendly fashion that people are unaware of is the fair trade aspect. Fair trade clothing ensures that the articles were made under moral and fair conditions. This usually refers to ensuring that child labor is not happening and that the workers are making a fair wage and working in good conditions.

The Fair Trade Federation offers the following factors to consider when buying fair trade products:

Quality & Consistency: Products need to meet high quality standards

Presentation: Buyers love when products are packaged well, because it’s easier for them to merchandise and sell.

In style: Buyers pay heed to current trends, so you should too.

Sizing: Products like clothing and bedding should be sized according to industry standards of the consumer market you are targeting.

Whether a product is unique and/or fills a niche: The best way to identify product niches is to simply ask buyers if there are items that they would like to offer that they have been unable to find.

Price feasible: When determining price, first you need to factor in the cost of materials and labor, but then what? You still need to determine whether the price is feasible. Remember, every product has a maximum retail price it will fetch.

Dependability of Seller: Buyers and Sellers develop a relationship over time. If a seller is able to deliver on their promises, buyers are more likely to re-order. It’s that simple.

Wearing organic clothing not only feels good for the earth, but good on the body. Organic clothing may last longer because the fibers are longer and stronger because they are not broken down by chemicals.

It has also been known to last better and look new longer and feels soft.

So travel organically, comfortably, and most of all "green".

Organic Wine With Your Cheese?

2008-02-17T14:55:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves to fantasize about vacations gathering with loved ones over bottles of wine. But what if you are organic? Until recently, I never mixed the two concepts of organic and alcohol together. Fortunately, now I know that the two can mix so that you can take your healthy lifestyle with you no matter where you travel.

According to the Organic Food and Drink Website, the organic wine industry is growing by %20 a year. The term “organic” can be applied to wine just as easily as any other product. The land the wine is fertilized on has to be chemical free for three years. They use natural insect predators to keep insects away instead of spraying pesticides on the land.

There are a lot of factors that differentiate organic wine from non organic that I had never known about:

Organic Winemakers pay specific attention to the use of yeasts, the filtration/fining method, and the use of sulfur dioxide.

Organic vineyards have more natural resistance to poor weather or pestilence and perform better in poor vintages than non-organic ones.

White wines ferment apart from grape skins. Red wines ferment with juice and skins together, providing them not only with their color but with various tannins, a natural preservative.

Tucson based wine resturant, Elle features a handful of organic wines. Employee, Jeff Fuld compares the concept of coffee and wine to describe the trend.

"When decaffinated coffee first came out, people used to say that it was not bad for decaf". Fuld says this is somewhat different from organic wine because it tastes so similar. "It is considered an aided bonus to the wine rather than a qualifier that is just not as good", he said.

Organic wine is becoming more common at Elle the more people see how comparable the taste is. "I think that skepticism is decreasing over time", he said.

If you do not live in Tucson and want to buy organic wine, you can purchase it online at The Organic Wine Company . This brother-sister company was the first to import French organic wine into the United States.

When I looked at the selection, I was amazed at how much they had to offer. They sell red, roses, white, sparkling and dessert wine from $10 to $70.

I had always thought that organic wine would be so much more expensive than regular wine. Since there seems to be no difference in price, I would definitely inquire about it next time I make a wine purchase.

If You Love The Earth, Re-Hang Your Towel

2008-02-11T09:19:00.000-08:00

Laying in a comfortable, bed practically re-made with you in it, the constant refill of amenities, and a never ending supply of white, fluffy towels sounds great for you, but what about the earth?

The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa based out of Tucson participates in numerous eco-friendly efforts. After speaking with Rob Elias at La Paloma, he told me about some of the efforts they make. La Paloma has concerns some hotels may not have because it is in the desert. “The majority of our desert bio-life has remained intact”, said Elias. “All of our passage ways are natural desert. We try not to concrete everything in”.

Though the issue with bio life may not apply to every hotel, one practice he told me about does. Upon arrival at La Paloma, guests receive an information sheet describing how if they want a new towel, they should put it on the floor. However, if they would like to reuse them, they can hang it up to dry. I have to admit that I had never heard of this until speaking with Rob. For bed making protocol, there is a sign required to be put on the guest’s bed if they want their sheets to be changed. Otherwise, their beds will be made with the same sheets. This one was new to me as well. I assumed your sheets were changed every day. After knowing this, I would definitely contribute a little bit by keeping my same sheets for my usual two to three night stay. After all, we do this at home. Efforts like this can save a lot of energy.

Kimpton Hotels has been recognized specifically for it’s earth friendly facilities. They take 12 measures to accommodate their guests and the earth as much as possible:

Cleaning Supplies: All rooms cleaned with environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Soy Inks: All corporate collateral is printed on recycled paper using soy based ink.
Recycled Paper: Property wide printing on recycled paper.
Organic Beverages: All complimentary lobby coffee is organic, shade grown and/or fair trade.
Towel/Linen Reuse: Guests have the opportunity to do their part to reduce energy and detergents required for daily washings.
Recycling: Back of house recycling programs addressing glass, bottles, paper, cardboard, etc.
Energy Conservation: Back of house lighting retrofitted and audited to ensure energy efficient bulbs are in place.
Water Conservation: Implementation and auditing of low flow systems for faucets, toilets, and showers.
Best Practices: At any hotel you may find environmental activities such as recycling of coat hangers, elimination of Styrofoam cups, paperless check-ins/outs, organic flowers, and more...
In-room designer recycling bins: Guests are encouraged to participate in reducing our environmental impact.
Honor bar with organic food and beverage options: Honor bars include organic snacks and beverages.
Donation programs: Instead of being thrown away, unused amenity bottles are donated and used by local charities.

If you are planning on staying at Kimpton Hotels between the months of June and July, $10 from each room reserved will be donated Trust For public Land; a non profit organization that helps the conservation of land and water.

Whether you want to stay with Kimpton or stay at any other eco-friendly hotel, you can find them anywhere at the “It’s A Green Green World” website. They list hotels all throughout all of the United States and the world. I found this site really easy to navigate and would definitely consider using it next time I book a hotel.

Soaking Up Real Sun

2008-02-03T21:45:00.000-08:00

Despite all of the information we hear about how bad the sun can be for your body, few people ever think about how bad a common alternative, tanning beds, can be for the environment.

Aside from being more dangerous for your skin, tanning beds are definitely more dangerous for the earth. Tanning beds use electricity and encourage purchasing new bulbs consistently before they even burn out.

According to the U.S. Food And Drug Administration, experts believe that tanning beds are more dangerous than the natural sun, because the beds are always at the same intensity. You also do not apply sun screen before entering a tanning bed and may not realize that you are developing a sun burn as quickly as you would outside. So, instead of traveling to a tanning salon, travel to a warm beach to catch some rays like I did two years ago with one of my best friends, Chelsea.

The island of Mykonos is known for it’s exotic and beautiful beaches. According to the Mykonos website, this island with 18 beaches attracts sun bathers who want to do anything from partying during the day at Paradise Beach, to relaxing with family in a quieter atmosphere at Glifadi Beach.

Chelsea and I went to Mykonos, excited to see all the beaches after the locals described to us how each one was unique. We loved feeling the warm sun beaming down on us instead of being enclosed in a coffin like a tanning bed. I remember enjoying the feeling of being in control of how much sun I took in and how well I protected my skin. Even in Mykonos, where everyone rushes to the beach, there are ways to limit your exposure to sun that do not harm the environment such as:

Renting a bungalow or umbrella to cover you.

Going to the beach later in the afternoon when the sun is not as strong.

Reapplying sun protection throughout the day.

The best part about visiting the beaches in Mykonos was feeling like I was exposed to the sun without having to lie directly under it all day. Chelsea and I often went to covered restaurants at the beach or listened to live music on white, linen couches under the shade. So, next time you want to tan, consider tanning AT your destination, instead of FOR your destination.

Cruising Your Way To A Greener Earth

2008-01-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

My family absolutely loves going on cruises! We usually go once a year and although I have always loved the abundant supply of food, fireworks, and fun, I had never considered how many resources they waste until now. According to Environmentalleader.com, cruise ships use three times more CO2 than airplanes!

Now, I understand that when you want to go on a cruise, there is just no other satisfying vacation option. So, after researching cruises, I found a couple of cruise lines that try to reduce damage done to the environment. This way you can feel a little less guilty while cruising.

Over the past four years, Royal Caribbean has won a variety of awards including “Best Eco Friendly Cruise Line” by Porthole Cruise Magazine. They use a program called “Save the Waves”, which focuses on waste reduction, special wastes, the disposal of remaining wastes, and environmental training. They have eliminated all disposable plastic items such as shampoo bottles, plastic plates, and flat ware. I was very impressed with this just thinking about how many plastic amenities are usually in the bathroom when I arrive at a hotel or cruise. Disposal of liquid and food wastes are discharged in waters more than 12 nautical miles from land.

According to Royal Caribbean’s website, Royal Caribbean uses a treatment called Advanced Wastewater Purification (AWP) systems, to reduce the impact on the environment. Royal Caribbean employs environmental officers for various positions:

Oversight of the company's onboard environmental program
Environmental training for every crew member
Solid and hazardous waste management
Chemical management and workplace safety

Carnival Cruise Line also makes an effort to be environmentally friendly. They store substances such as cooking oil and grease in special holding tanks to recycle at port. These holding tanks must make a huge impact as we can all imagine how much cooking oil they use based off of the mass amounts of food on cruises. Carnival also donates items such as mattresses, televisions, blankets and computers that are in usable condition to local organizations in various ports. I love that they donate these goods to other ports besides the departing one, because we are contributing to other countries as well who need these items more.

Now that you know about a few options to travel a little bit more earth friendly on cruises, you can ask if the cruise you are considering makes eco- friendly efforts to protect the environment. Until next time, have fun and travel green!