THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
The popular expression "Think Globally, Act Locally"
inspired a few generations. Like many bumper-sticker slogans,
its meaning is different, depending on your point
of view
That said, it frequently falls short of its lofty vision.
Says author Wes Jackson in his book Becoming
Native to This Place: "Although we have told one another
on bumper stickers and at environmental conferences that we
must 'think globally and act locally,' we tend to drift toward
mega-solutions. Rather than get busy, we introduce new terms
such as 'sustainable' to apply to any perceived solution that
catches our fancy. Instead of looking to community, we look
to public policy. We hold a global conference in Rio."
BEATLESAMANIA
"The Beatles taught the world English," a school
principle told me in the mountains of Oaxaca.
Late at night after a lengthy review of rural tourism, the principle
felt comfortable enough to practice some of his English.
"The 60s were an amazing time around the world," he
reminds me. "We didn't want to learn English before the
Beatles. Their songs changed that, made English appealing."
There's no question that the Fab Four have been exemplary role
models for more than a generation. Latin American radio stations
features La Hora de los Beatles. Pan flute renditions
of classics such as "Yesterday" are incorporated in
the local muzak.
CONSCIENTIOUS TOURISM
To learn about the world through first-hand, one-on-one
meetings with people from around the world is a valuable human
experience. If travelers' experiences were consistently negative,
they would not pursue their journeys enthusiastically and share
their experiences with others. We discover universal themes
of human culture. We become more aware that no matter where
we live we are all confronting similar situations as we ultimately
become a global community.
- Deborah McLaren, Rethinking
Tourism and Ecotravel
Successful responsible tourism/ecotourism operations depend
on an increasingly educated group of travelers interested in
the world around them. The good news is that these trips are
no longer prohibitively expensive.
Question -- how many "ecotourism" ventures are created
by foreigners or by the children of immigrants? As an alternative
to "traditional tourism," ecotourism pioneers found
a way to manifest a curiosity about the world that could be
imparted in an educational and entertaining way.
E-COMMERCE
The Internet remains more friendly to transactions based in
the United States, rather than other countries. Try booking
an airline ticket from abroad and some websites, such as Cheap
Flights won't work. That said, Skype
is introducing clients around the world of paying in Euros.
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