Finally, the report is out, that climate change is caused by the human activities especially after industrialisation (1750’s onwards) which burned fossil fuel. It was confirmed by the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in February 2007. There are several aspects that are interesting in the last 250 odd years of human history which also includes development of tourism as the largest industry of the world. History is also marked with the effects of Colonialisation and the emergence of multi nationals corporations (MNCs) in various countries and regions around the world.
Let’s see the changes in human attitudes, lifestyles and culture that are inter-connected with the causes of climate change. The ancient civilisations like the Indus valley, Chinese, Egyptian, Mayan, Aborigines, American Indians etc. had a common characteristic in religion and lifestyle that were strongly connected with nature. However, there is a distinct character for the other two – Roman and Arabian cultures – that is being an aggressive and dominating nature. The clash of civilisations as predicted by some is a major threat for the whole world, if happens.
Nature oriented lifestyles of such ancient civilizations were ridiculed by the modern invading communities as baseless, illogical and unscientific. Invaders believed that nature is something to be exploited and encashed upon within the quickest possible time. The profiteering of industrialisation is based on this very fundamental human attitude.
Lately, this attitude has been challenged by the people supporting green movements or environmentalists who have coined a term Sustainable Development. Here, both human development considerations and environmental aspects are considered well before deciding on the policies of any industrial activities of Governments or societies. When such green concerns are raised, it is labeled as anti-developmentary in many parts of the world. If we look deeper into such allegations, we can see another clash of ideologies – one based on traditional profiteering / nature dominating and the other being a win-win situation / living with nature. Governments, societies, political parties, NGOs and MNCs are taking their positions on either side of these ideological paradigms.
Environmental Economics is another fad developed during the last couple of decades for putting a cost factor on the environmental aspects and making it a base for justifying the investments made on certain (potentially harmful) projects. It is important to see that international aid agencies are funding projects based on such calculations which are completely baseless. And moreover, the expert who developed the concept (Prof. Collin Price) negated it by saying that it is virtually impossible to put a price tag on various environmental aspects and the related dynamic effects of them – such as: a price of, say US$ 1,000 for an acre of tropical rain forest or a mangrove or a natural pond etc. Still many societies and Governments are relying on such calculations for strategic development policies. As far as Indians are concerned, we respect our mother land, rivers, hills, forests and the entire animal kingdom (prakruti) as our mother / divine, and how is it possible to put a price for prakruti?
Now-a-days more and more concerned people have started travelling with the prime objective of learning from other cultures, contributing positively for the (economic) development and trying to eliminate poverty from such host societies. There is also a movement to offset the ill-effects of flying (in air planes because it causes further damage to the ozone layer) by contributing for the planting of trees and related works.
In some countries and cities, the lifestyle is far-away from nature and they have started living in very sterile environments for quite large amounts of time. Such people find it hard to live without synthetic vaccinations for every possible epidemic or communicable diseases. It costs more than 10% of their total travel cost (US$ 300+) for covering such health hazards.
At the same time, it is also a positive sign to see the increasing significance of organic farming products in Europe and elsewhere. Organisations such as Fair-trade are creating a pull for such green practices which are in effect creating a feel good factor throughout the world. Though they are paying too much for air-lifting these products across to geographic regions and also the associated Green House Gases (GHG), the demand for such products are resulting in better agricultural practices in countries like India. Unfortunately such importing countries hardly look into the self sufficiency factor – at least in the food production segment.
There are also groups which are opposing Globalisation and claim that the flow of capital is not followed by employment flow. The employment situation of rich nations is affected by the cheap labour of poor countries by way of BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing), as it is popularly known. May be there will be a time when the economic disparities are going to diminish to such a level that people from the present rich countries are going to become poorer and find it hard to go on leisure travels!!
It is to be understood that there is an environmental impact for every human activity. Tourism industry is all about the travellers’ attitudes and how the host community is moulding their mindset towards such environmental impacts or vise versa. Irrespective of the category of travellers, from backpackers to five-star clientele, a positive influence can be made by the travel agent, accommodation provider, transporters, tourist guides and all others related directly or indirectly with the tourists. There are areas where the tourism industry can play positively for reducing the consumption of fossil fuel, reduction in the use of water, managing (recycle, reduce or reuse = 3 R’s) the waste generated, employment of local people, consumption of local products, conservation of electricity and moreover respect local culture. If this is achieved through tourism, it will not only benefit the host communities but also will have an impact on the traveller’s attitude.••
Let’s see the changes in human attitudes, lifestyles and culture that are inter-connected with the causes of climate change. The ancient civilisations like the Indus valley, Chinese, Egyptian, Mayan, Aborigines, American Indians etc. had a common characteristic in religion and lifestyle that were strongly connected with nature. However, there is a distinct character for the other two – Roman and Arabian cultures – that is being an aggressive and dominating nature. The clash of civilisations as predicted by some is a major threat for the whole world, if happens.
Nature oriented lifestyles of such ancient civilizations were ridiculed by the modern invading communities as baseless, illogical and unscientific. Invaders believed that nature is something to be exploited and encashed upon within the quickest possible time. The profiteering of industrialisation is based on this very fundamental human attitude.
Lately, this attitude has been challenged by the people supporting green movements or environmentalists who have coined a term Sustainable Development. Here, both human development considerations and environmental aspects are considered well before deciding on the policies of any industrial activities of Governments or societies. When such green concerns are raised, it is labeled as anti-developmentary in many parts of the world. If we look deeper into such allegations, we can see another clash of ideologies – one based on traditional profiteering / nature dominating and the other being a win-win situation / living with nature. Governments, societies, political parties, NGOs and MNCs are taking their positions on either side of these ideological paradigms.
Environmental Economics is another fad developed during the last couple of decades for putting a cost factor on the environmental aspects and making it a base for justifying the investments made on certain (potentially harmful) projects. It is important to see that international aid agencies are funding projects based on such calculations which are completely baseless. And moreover, the expert who developed the concept (Prof. Collin Price) negated it by saying that it is virtually impossible to put a price tag on various environmental aspects and the related dynamic effects of them – such as: a price of, say US$ 1,000 for an acre of tropical rain forest or a mangrove or a natural pond etc. Still many societies and Governments are relying on such calculations for strategic development policies. As far as Indians are concerned, we respect our mother land, rivers, hills, forests and the entire animal kingdom (prakruti) as our mother / divine, and how is it possible to put a price for prakruti?
Now-a-days more and more concerned people have started travelling with the prime objective of learning from other cultures, contributing positively for the (economic) development and trying to eliminate poverty from such host societies. There is also a movement to offset the ill-effects of flying (in air planes because it causes further damage to the ozone layer) by contributing for the planting of trees and related works.
In some countries and cities, the lifestyle is far-away from nature and they have started living in very sterile environments for quite large amounts of time. Such people find it hard to live without synthetic vaccinations for every possible epidemic or communicable diseases. It costs more than 10% of their total travel cost (US$ 300+) for covering such health hazards.
At the same time, it is also a positive sign to see the increasing significance of organic farming products in Europe and elsewhere. Organisations such as Fair-trade are creating a pull for such green practices which are in effect creating a feel good factor throughout the world. Though they are paying too much for air-lifting these products across to geographic regions and also the associated Green House Gases (GHG), the demand for such products are resulting in better agricultural practices in countries like India. Unfortunately such importing countries hardly look into the self sufficiency factor – at least in the food production segment.
There are also groups which are opposing Globalisation and claim that the flow of capital is not followed by employment flow. The employment situation of rich nations is affected by the cheap labour of poor countries by way of BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing), as it is popularly known. May be there will be a time when the economic disparities are going to diminish to such a level that people from the present rich countries are going to become poorer and find it hard to go on leisure travels!!
It is to be understood that there is an environmental impact for every human activity. Tourism industry is all about the travellers’ attitudes and how the host community is moulding their mindset towards such environmental impacts or vise versa. Irrespective of the category of travellers, from backpackers to five-star clientele, a positive influence can be made by the travel agent, accommodation provider, transporters, tourist guides and all others related directly or indirectly with the tourists. There are areas where the tourism industry can play positively for reducing the consumption of fossil fuel, reduction in the use of water, managing (recycle, reduce or reuse = 3 R’s) the waste generated, employment of local people, consumption of local products, conservation of electricity and moreover respect local culture. If this is achieved through tourism, it will not only benefit the host communities but also will have an impact on the traveller’s attitude.••
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