A great example of an organization that is making a difference is San Francisco-based Global Exchange. I had the privilege of working with the Reality Tour Director, Malia Everette, on their Africa programs (read the Tanzania blog entry to learn more about my experience). However, this video sums up the groundbreaking work and contributions of the organization to the global community. While most organizations focus on one or a two issues, GX addresses numerous issues afflicting societies worldwide. Peace building. Sustainable tourism. Sweat shops. Human rights. Women empowerment. Clean energy economy. And more. So watch the video, be informed and inspired to get involved with GX!
In July 2007, I had the honor to conduct research for my graduate dissertation on ecotourism development in the proposed UNESCO site of the Kikori River Basin, Papua New Guinea (PNG). The sponsor for my research was the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), one of the most influential conservation organizations spanning the globe.
“What ‘country’ are we visiting today?” was my daily question for the WWF staff. A large part of conducting the ecotourism assessment involved conducting interviews and informative sessions for the villagers residing in the Kikori River Basin. Papua New Guinea (PNG) is considered the most culturally diverse country in the world, and after my time there, I clearly understand the validity of this statement.
Over 800 languages are spoken in PNG, with Pidgin/Tok Pisin as the national language that unites the tribes by providing a way to communicate with each other. It is very common for a New Guinean to speak several languages, those of their parents’ tribes and Tok Pisin. However, it is not uncommon when traveling to the most remote areas, to encounter people who don’t even speak the national Tok Pisin language. WWF took that into consideration so I was often accompanied by more than two staff, depending on the languages they were able to translate. Therefore, everyday that we prepared to visit a new village, I prepared myself as one would in visiting a new country. From the Foi and Fasu around Lake Kutubu, Huli in the Southern Highlands Province, to the groups in the Kikori and Mt. Bosavi regions, all tribes speak their own language and have their own customs. So, each day we truly did visit a ‘new country’.
The land of PNG is just as remarkable as the inhabitants of the country. In addition to the cultural significance, the high level of endemic species and biological diversity are reasons why the Kikori River Basin is currently under consideration for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To provide a picture on the extreme diversity, let me recount one incident during my visit.
Wassi Falls is considered a famous attraction within PNG, and rightly so it is a phenomenal site to behold. The waterfall is located near Kantobo Village, the community of the Muti (lower Foi) tribe. Residing in one of the 11 areas of high biodiversity of the WWF’s Kikori River Programme (KRP), the potential in discovering new species is a prevalent aspect. Surprisingly, not many locals have visited Wassi Falls, much less a foreign woman. That day, I was accompanied by the WWF staff, landowner of the Wassi Falls area and about 4 men from nearby Kantobo. The landowner bushwhacked a trail for us through the forest with his machete. After an adventurous and fast-paced trek through the forest, balancing on logs, jumping limestone crevasses and scaling muddy vertical slopes - we arrived to the point overlooking Wassi Falls. We marveled in the wondrous sight as we sat on the vegetation-covered overhang, providing barely enough space for all of us to fit. During our rest, a small yellow frog appeared and began hopping around. The WWF staff excitedly told us to catch the frog, as his instinctual first-impression indicated that this frog could be a new species. The delicate frog was finally caught, and taken by the staff to assess its classification upon returning to the office.
This small occurrence resonated with me, exemplifying that a vast amount of the natural world is still ‘unknown’ to us despite all our technological advances. Just another of the endless messages to the human race, about the fragility of the Earth’s ecosystems and that we have to take immediate action to protect our home and all life.
**All photos in slideshow by Rosalyn Salters and Tanya Lake.
“In this era of stiff international competition we have to become productive and competitive if we are to prosper as a nation. An expanding pool of skilled labour in our country will also attract both domestic and foreign investment.
Being with you tonight is a way of reaffirming government’s commitment to education. That commitment is based on the knowledge that without human resource development, there can be no serious reconstruction and development of South Africa.
Our youth is our future. Whether our country will rise from the ashes of apartheid to become one of the world’s success stories will to a large extent depend on what we invest in educating and training our youth.” - excerpts from a speech President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela made in February 1997 at Damelin Business College, Johannesburg, South Africa (Taken from Terrawatu’s 27th issue newsletter).
No matter what country you are from, the wise words of President Mandela reverberate with truth for the entire human race. So often, we get caught up in focusing on the ‘issues’ that we fail to acknowledge all the amazing work that is being done around the world. Two organizations that provide the inspiration for this entry are Global Exchange in San Francisco, CA and Terrawatu in Arusha, Tanzania.
In July 2006, I was sent as a Global Exchange (GX) delegate on their Tanzania Reality Tour. Global Exchange is an awe-inspiring, ‘international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world’. GX Reality Tours provide visitors a way to travel the world but gain a more personal, authentic and interactive experience with the host communities they visit.
Global Exchange’s partner organization, Terrawatu, was founded on the premise of uniting indigenous knowledge with the modern technological world. Through this methodology, they have empowered Tanzanians with education and resources to maintain their culture while utilizing technological advances. Some of their numerous projects include; medicinal plants, tree planting network, sustainable tourism, and projects for children and education.
Numerous companies exist that provide cultural-based, luxury, safari, a plethora of trips to Tanzania. However, what sets GX and Terrawatu’s trip apart from the rest is HOW you get to experience the culture and wildlife. You stay at a diverse range of locally-owned establishments from large lodges to traditional-style guest houses. As a tourist, you aren’t confined to just interact with the tour group or only with locals as you barter for souvenirs. The group is taken to numerous schools, traditional healing clinics, conservation sites, safaris, and various Maasai villages. With the help of translators, cultural gaps are bridged by socializing, dancing, eating and conversing about cultural differences during village visits. You really leave the country feeling a sense of connectedness and a greater understanding about life for our Tanzanian rafiki (friends). GX and Terrawatu truly provide responsible, authentic and sustainable tours.
In May 2008, I conducted a preliminary ecotourism site evaluation of Chingaza National Park, Colombia for The Nature Conservancy. This park spans over 120,000 acres and comprises the rarepáramo, a high altitude mixture of ecosystems ranging from valleys, lakes, cloud forests, peat bogs, plains and wet grasslands. The park is home to numerous endemic and endangered species, as well as provides a major water source for the capital, Bogotá. The Parks in Peril Program (PIP) began working in Chingaza in 1992, due to illegal trapping of endangered species, deforestation and other threats. Although the conditions have improved significantly, TNC is looking at additional options to incorporate socio-economic and conservation strategies in the long-term plans for Chingaza. After conducting the preliminary site evaluation of the Monte Redondo region, ecotourism appears to be an option that will compliment current conservation efforts of Chingaza National Park.
KnowHowCity provides information about sustainable tourism and other related topics. The inspiration for this blog originates from San Francisco, California - a city recognized as an international leader in innovative conservation and known as 'The City That Knows How'.
