Archive for March, 2010
Born Free Foundation debate: my thoughts on animals in captivity
I went to a thought-provoking Born Free Foundation panel session at the Royal Geographical Society last week, on the difficult subject of animals in tourism.
Virginia McKenna said she doesn’t believe any animals should ever be kept in captivity – including zoos, dolphinaria, circuses and animals forced to pose for tourists’ photos.
I firmly agree with her. Seeing animals in cages or being made to perform tricks breaks my heart (see my blog on the monkeys I saw in Marrakech). And I know from my own experience that seeing a lion in a cage in the zoo… Continue reading
Posted: March 23rd, 2010 under General.
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A fresh start: newly-planted lettuces on the balcony
I went for my first jog around the park in month on Sunday: the sun was shining, there were heaps of crocuses coming up, and a general feeling that winter might NOT be everlasting was in the air.
Inspired by this, I decided it was time to revisit my balcony vegetable garden which, despite an enthusiastic launch last May, withered and died shortly after.
I had been trying to cultivate basil, coriander, mint and red peppers but on reflection this was perhaps… Continue reading
Posted: March 16th, 2010 under General.
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Eco-volunteering in Australia and New Zealand
My feature for Australia and New Zealand magazine on eco-volunteering in the Antipodes is in stores now….
Thanks to Biosphere Expeditions, Conservation Volunteers, Reef Check Australia and everyone else who helped out!
Click here to read it as a PDF
Posted: March 6th, 2010 under General, Wildlife, ecotourism, sustainable travel.
Tags: animals, ecotourism, marine, oceans, responsible tourism, Wildlife
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