ABOUT THE COLIBRI AWARD
Announcing this year's winner, Planeta.com founder Ron Mader
said, "Ecotourism depends on the leadership of individuals
exemplified by Steve Bridger who are resourceful and innovative
and who are bold enough to bridge the traditional divisions
between tourism and the environment."
Colibri means 'Hummingbird' in Spanish and in 2006 the
Colibri Award celebrates its sixth anniversary, making this
one of the longest-running ecotourism awards. The winner of
the annual award receives a trophy, diploma and a $1,000 cash
award from Emilio Kifuri, president of Canyon
Travel.
"Mexico is one of the world's mega diverse countries with
one of the most successful tourism industries," said Emilio
Kifuri.
"If ecotourism is ever to overtake the senseless destruction
of the world's natural areas, it certainly has to develop at
a much faster pace. We feel fortunate to be in a position to
demonstrate to the tourism industry that ecotourism can be more
profitable than mainstream tourism. It is this potential for
profit that has the greatest ability to cause the most profound
changes."
WINNER
Steve was selected for his work developing the timely afterwilma.info
website which provided unprecedented coverage of recovery efforts
in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma and the development of sustainable
tourism in the region.
Steve Bridger is the first non-Mexican winner of the Colibri
Award. Based in Bristol,
England, Steve and wife Gicela Morales (born in Tolimán,
Querétaro)
created nfp 2.0
as well as the popular Mexicanwave
website, winner of the 2003 Pluma de Plata given by the Mexican
government.
Steve Bridger is passionate about Mexico and his goal is to
inspire and educate so that more people become aware of the
'real' Mexico.
In 2005 Steve launched afterwilma.info
to document "the Story of Cancún and the Riviera
Maya getting back on its feet." This is a great example
of citizen
journalism and commons-based
peer production.
Steve explains in his blog's about
section: We all saw the scenes of devastation on the
TV news bulletins. We rarely get to see - or read - of the recovery
... It is now a conversation. Word-of-mouth is more powerful
than an expensive TV ad.
Steve coined the concept of a buzz
director for people inside organisations who champion the
use of social media to effect positive change. Steve has earned
a bit of a reputation for not shying away from asking challenging
questions of charities around issues of transparency and sustainability
in the 21st century.
CRITERIA
Planeta.com presents the Colibri
Ecotourism Award to those whose work in Mexico
is exemplary and who share what they learn. Good ideas require
good work to come to completion and good work needs to be documented
so that lessons can be shared.
Nominees participate by helpful edits, connecting using Web
2.0, Planeta Wiki
or contribute editorial suggestions for at least a year. Bonus
points are given to those who participate on other websites
and forums. This is part of Planeta.com's desire to create incentives
for communication,
collaboration
and continuity,
all vital elements in the development of responsible
travel and ecotourism.
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