People gather on the beach in Miami Beach, Florida on June 16. EVA MARIE UZCATEGUI / AFP / Getty Images
By Heather Grey
Earlier this month the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidance to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 at community events and gatherings.
The agency has also issued recommendations to help people manage the risk during other personal and social activities.
<p>In these guidelines, the CDC emphasizes the importance of staying home when sick, maintaining physical distancing, wearing face masks, and practicing good hand hygiene.</p>
<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from </em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank"><em>Healthline</em></a><em>. For detailed source information, please view the original article on </em><em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/cdc-gives-guidelines-for-travel-cookouts" target="_blank">Healthline</a></em><em>.</em></p>
<p>The agency also advises event organizers to take local circumstances into account when deciding whether or not to host, cancel, postpone, or otherwise adjust an event or gathering.</p><p>"[The CDC guidance] is very much based on the desire to give everybody an idea of what the risks are and help people make informed decisions on how to reduce the risks as low as possible," <a href="https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/emergency-medicine/dr-eric-christopher-cioe-pena-md-11363430" target="_blank">Dr. Eric Cioe-Pena</a>, an emergency physician and director of global health at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park, New York, told Healthline.</p><p>"It's based on the best available evidence on what we know about how this virus is spread, with the understanding that people are going to have different risk tolerances," he added.</p>
Some Activities Pose Higher Risk
<p>Some types of community events, gatherings, and activities pose greater risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission than others, warns the CDC.</p><p>Virtual events and gatherings held online or over the phone provide the safest option for connecting with other people, the agency advises.</p><p>When it comes to in-person activities, smaller outdoor gatherings tend to pose lower risk than larger gatherings and those held indoors.</p><p>The less time that people spend in close contact with each other, the less likely they are to contract the virus or pass it to others — especially if everyone wears a face mask.</p><p>"The most effective way to reduce risk is to avoid large indoor gatherings altogether. This setting poses the highest risk of exposure and potential transmission of the virus," <a href="https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/emergency-medicine/dr-robert-glatter-md-11353725" target="_blank">Dr. Robert Glatter</a>, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told Healthline.</p><p>"Outdoor events while wearing a mask represent a safer option," he continued.</p><p>"Virtual meetings are the best way to have a meeting in this context," he said.</p>Risk Varies From Place to Place
<p>When someone is assessing the risk that an event, gathering, or other activity may pose, the CDC encourages them to take their local circumstances into account.</p><p>Some municipalities and states have issued stricter guidelines and rules around events, gatherings, and other activities, compared with others.</p><p>The rate of transmission and how likely you are to get the virus also vary from place to place, both within and between states.</p><p>If an event or gathering is held in an area where virus transmission rates are high, that raises the risk that someone with SARS-CoV-2 will attend and pass it on to others.</p><p>If someone travels to an event or gathering from outside the local area, they may carry the virus with them or pick it up in transit and pass it to other attendees after they arrive.</p><p>"Having a family reunion where people are flying in from 30 different states is much riskier than having a cookout with your neighbors," Cioe-Pena said.</p>Some People More Vulnerable
<p>Some community members face heightened risk of developing severe illness if they do contract SARS-CoV-2.</p><p>For example, older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be more likely to develop a severe infection or complications.</p><p>The CDC advises people to take those personal risk factors into account when planning an activity or deciding whether to participate in one.</p><p>"If it's a family gathering where there are a fair number of older persons who are over age 60, many of whom likely have underlying illnesses, that's a group I'd be much more cautious about," <a href="https://www.vumc.org/health-policy/person/william-schaffner-md" target="_blank">Dr. William Schaffner</a>, an infectious disease specialist at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told Healthline.</p><p>"If the COVID virus got to that gathering and spread among them, it could make a lot of them very seriously ill," he said.</p>Protect Yourself and Others
<p>To lower your risk for contracting or transmitting SARS-CoV-2, the CDC recommends keeping at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and members of other households.</p><p>When you can't maintain 6 feet of distance from members of other households or you're spending time around those people indoors, the CDC recommends wearing a face mask.</p><p>If you're helping to host an event, gathering, or other activity, you may need to limit attendance, make changes to the layout of your venue, or use other strategies to enable attendees to keep their distance from each other.</p><p>If your guests or event attendees will be eating with each other, consider asking them to bring their own food and drinks or take steps to limit the number of people who touch food containers, condiments, and serving ware.</p><p>For example, designate one person to serve all of the food.</p><p>Frequent handwashing is also important for reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, the CDC advises. So is regularly cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs and light switches.</p>When in Doubt, Stay Home
<p>If you've tested positive for the virus or have symptoms of COVID-19, or you've had close contact with someone who has symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days, the CDC advises you to stay home.</p><p>If you're hosting an event or gatherings, ask attendees to stay home if they've tested positive for the virus, have any symptoms, or been in close contact with someone with symptoms in the past 2 weeks.</p><p>"I think we have to be very mindful that social distancing has flattened the curve in many parts of this country, and if we want to keep it flat, we have to keep doing that," Schaffner said.</p><p>"I know it's tedious, I know it's disruptive, I know it's uncomfortable. I know it makes many people unhappy — but it's necessary," he added.</p>From Your Site Articles
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A photo taken on on Feb. 29 shows a train at Dudelange's train station as the country inaugurates its free public transports policy. JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN / AFP / Getty Images
Luxembourg Transport Minister Francois Bausch hailed a "great day" for the Grand Duchy, as it became the first country on Earth to make public transport ticket free.
<p>The small but wealthy nation has introduced free public transport in an effort to "motivate" residents — and 214,000 daily foreign commuters — to change their behavior in the hilly region wedged between Germany, Belgium and France.</p><p>Rides on buses, trains, and trams were already free on Saturdays but all charges have now been scrapped as the week closes.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/luxembourg-makes-public-transport-free/a-52582998" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em><br/></p>
<p>Preexisting sales of €2 tickets had amounted to €41 million ($45 million) or just 8 percent of Luxembourg's annual transport budget of €500 million.</p><p>Public transport will now be funded largely via taxes paid into the national budget, meaning travel savings for private households, especially "low earners," said Bausch's ministry, adding: "The scheme applies to residents, cross-border commuters and tourists alike."</p>
Commuters, Visitors Will Benefit Too
<p>"You will no longer need a ticket to board any national bus, train or the tram," proclaimed Luxembourg's public transport consortium Saturday, adding: "Commuters from neighboring countries will benefit from reduced fares!"</p><p>It warned Luxembourgers however: "Free public transport ends at the border, so you must get a cross-border pass or ticket if you plan to travel outside of the territory of the Grand Duchy."</p><p>Tickets would also be needed for first-class travel on trains.</p><p>To end traffic jams, Luxembourg in 2017 opened the <a href="http://www.luxtram.lu/de/dokumentation/bildergalerie/" target="_blank">first section of its planned tram service</a> from the capital's southern outskirts to its airport to the north.</p><p>And it's now focused on <a href="https://mobilitegratuite.lu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Modu2.0-%E2%80%93-A-multimodal-strategy-BAT-Web.pdf" target="_blank">anticipating travel demand</a>, doubling "Park+Ride" car parking spaces "especially at borders" and establishing "cohesive" cycle routes across its 2,586-square-kilometer (998-square-mile-) landscape.</p><p>Alone for its nascent track network, 4 billion euros are being invested over the period 2018 to 2027, to cater for an anticipated 20 percent rise in public mobility needs by 2025.</p><p><span></span>That amounts to €600 per Luxemburg resident per year on rail transport, says the ministry.</p>Stuck in Traffic
<p>A survey done in 2018 by TNS Ilres found that cars in Luxembourg accounted for 47 percent of business travel and 71 percent of leisure transport.</p><p>By 2030, its public transport fleet is expected to have "alternative drive technology," a reference to electric motorization. </p><p>Luxembourg, by area one of Europe's smallest sovereign states but one of four EU seats, including the European Court of Justice, is staffed by commuters who travel daily from neighboring France, Belgium and Germany.</p>Population Growth
<p> The 614,000-person dukedom, with comparatively high wages, is facing strong growth in population. Almost half are foreigners, including resident Portuguese citizens making up 18 percent, and French at 13 percent. </p><p> Bausch, a former Luxembourg rail civil servant and member of the Greens, is also Luxembourg's deputy prime minister in a three-party liberal-social democrat-greens coalition government renewed in 2018 and headed by premier Xavier Bettel.<br> </p><p> In neighboring Germany, Alexander Handschuh, spokesman for the country's DStGB local bodies association, said Luxembourg's move signaled a paradigm shift because it was trying "very resolutely with an all-round concept" to boost public transport. </p>From Your Site Articles
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By Petros Kusmu, George Patrick Richard Benson
- We can all take steps to reduce the environmental impact of our work-related travels.
- Individual actions — like the six described here — can cumulatively help prompt more collective changes, but it helps to prioritize by impact.
- As the saying goes: be the change you want to see in the world.
<p>For those who, like us, operate in work environments that demand significant amounts of travel, the toll it can take on both their health and the planet is significant — but eco-conscious professionals concerned about their environmental footprint can take tangible and impactful steps to reduce it while they are on the road.</p>
<p>The important overarching principle for reducing one's environmental footprint is "don't sweat the small stuff." <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916517710685" target="_blank">Study after study shows</a> that people tend to focus their attention on small, tangible things to help the environment; our intention here is for you to get the most bang for your buck with the actions that are still within your power as an individual. <a href="https://businessblog.trivago.com/sustainable-hospitality-trends-eco-friendly-hotel-tips/" target="_blank">The cumulative impact of these can be absolutely transformative thanks to the buying power of consultants and active professionals</a>, and can help shift entire industries. Furthermore, modeling eco-conscious behaviors at work can encourage colleagues to reflect on their own footprints, particularly for those in senior leadership positions, ultimately creating a "ripple effect" of green behaviors.</p><p>Here are six ways we recommend you get started, in order from the easiest to implement to the most environmentally impactful:</p>
1. Travel With Trust
<p>When looking for a place to stay, look for accommodations that utilize various sustainability standards. This may include facilities that use renewable energies or are a part of coalitions such as <a href="https://www.wemeanbusinesscoalition.org/" target="_blank">We Mean Business</a> that are striving to reduce waste in all aspects of their operations. Use the Global Sustainable Tourism Council's <a href="https://www.gstcouncil.org/gstc-criteria/gstc-recognized-standards-for-hotels/" target="_blank">list</a> of trusted standards used in different countries as a guide.</p>2. Travel Light
<p>Just like at home, traveling is an opportunity to think carefully about what you consume and how. Minimize your use of the mini toiletries at your hotel (most of which are being <a href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/9/19/20863270/tiny-plastic-toiletries-ban" target="_blank">phased out</a> since they are single-use, non-recyclable plastics). Reduce your overall water footprint by opting for "green choice" programs to reuse your towels and sheets during your stay. Better yet, leave a note saying you would like to see more package-free, sustainable purchasing in all of the hotel's operations! Take a step further by reducing or eliminating your own waste by bringing your own items, like a reusable coffee cup, water bottle and other utensils. (Foldable cups, bottles and utensils are ideal for most business baggage and are a great way to impress clients and colleagues.) More impactfully, change your dietary choices by opting for red meat-free or plant based meals.</p>3. Travel Small
<p>Whether flying, on the ground, or in your room, small is generally better. If you must fly, get better carbon savings by staying in economy. If you can't take a train or bus and need to take a car (taxi, ride-hailing, or otherwise) opt to pool, and look for a small hybrid, or ideally an electric vehicle (EV).</p>4. Travel Slowly
<p>Avoiding air travel all together is an impactful way to reduce your carbon emissions. Compared to most of our European counterparts, those of us in North America have a hard time getting a good train or bus; but Amtrak, VIA Rail, regional transit and bus services are improving and, throughout the world, many of these options are readily available. "<a href="https://www.impacttravelalliance.org/" target="_blank">Slow travel</a>" is gaining traction around the world and offers opportunities to travel not only with lower emissions, but more comfortably, too.</p>5. Travel Regeneratively
<p>Concepts like <a href="https://offset.climateneutralnow.org/" target="_blank">carbon offsetting</a> can be complex, but the principle behind them is simple: if we cannot avoid certain negative impacts in what we do, we must always search for ways to mitigate those impacts. To be fair, there are many valid and varied critiques of carbon offsets and other mechanisms like them. However, so long as air travel and other environmentally significant travel are options that cannot be avoided, negotiate with your employer to purchase carbon offsets as a meaningful way to help repair some of the damage we inflict while doing sometimes unavoidable work.</p>6. Travel Carefully
<p>The most important decision that someone who travels for work can make is whether or not they need to travel at all. Telecommuting isn't always ideal, but the energy associated with travel — particularly for high-income or high-ranking professionals — is immense and one has to really be able to make a clear rationale for why a particular trip matters. Use carbon calculators and have a clear sense of the metrics you're measured on, as to how this trip can contribute (or not) to your work.</p>From Behavioral Change to Systems Change
<p>As Millennials and Generation Z move into positions of greater authority in the workplace, it is incumbent on us to leave a better path for those who come next.</p><p>Many Global Shapers are starting to explore ways to embed sustainable travel in both our individual and organizational practices and we invite you — the reader — to <a href="mailto:%20vancouvershapers@gmail.com?subject=6%20ways%20travelling%20professionals%20can%20cut%20their%20carbon%20footprint%20-%20Feedback" target="_blank">reach out to us</a> with any ideas and suggestions on our list. This could look like building a contractor or employment agreement for your job that explicitly mandates or supports sustainable travel. Better yet, use your conscientious travel as an opportunity to spark an organization-wide conversation about developing a sustainable travel policy.</p><p>In the end, the climate crisis and environmental challenges around the world require both individual and collective action. Global Shapers, and members of the World Economic Forum, are privileged, connected and prominent leaders. We cannot wait for policies or procedures to be in place before we start mobilizing for change, but rather we can and must leverage our positions in society to create the baseline of expectations for living in balance with the planet. As the old saying goes, we must be the change we wish to see in the world.</p>From Your Site Articles
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picture alliance / dpa / F. Rumpenhorst
By Arthur Sullivan
When was the last time you traveled by plane? Various researchers say as little as between 5 and 10 percent of the global population fly in a given year.
<p>But things are changing. According to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimates, there were 3.7 billion global air passengers in 2016 — and every year since 2009 has been a new record-breaker.</p><p>By 2035, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts a rise to 7.2 billion. Like the planes themselves, the numbers just keep going up. And given the damage flying does to the planet, that is food for thought.</p>
Not Just the CO2
<p>Many estimates put aviation's share of global CO2 emissions at just above 2 percent. That's the figure the industry itself generally accepts.</p><p>But according to Stefan Gössling, a professor at Sweden's Lund and Linnaeus universities and co-editor of the book <em>Climate Change and Aviation: Issues, Challenges and Solutions</em>, "That's only half the truth."</p><p>Other aviation emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), water vapor, particulates, contrails and cirrus changes have additional warming effects.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjYxNTI1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNjg1NjU1Mn0.0NisTKvEq1E8-YBYepSwJN_fCx4hqpICceTbH77qX5U/img.jpg?width=980" id="e5c75" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="5d1ab2581e4813806bb45a96f7993610" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>"The sector makes a contribution to global warming that is at least twice the effect of CO2 alone," Gössling told DW, settling on an overall contribution of 5 percent "at minimum."</p><p>But IATA spokesperson Chris Goater told DW the science behind this so-called 'radiative forcing' is "unproven."</p><p>Even if we accept the 2 percent emissions figure as final, if only 3 percent of the world's population flew last year, that relatively small group still accounted for a disproportionate chunk of global emissions.</p><p>A few years ago, environmental group Germanwatch estimated that a single person taking one roundtrip flight from Germany to the Caribbean produces the same amount of damaging emissions as 80 average residents of Tanzania do in an entire year: around four metric tons of CO2.</p><p>"On an individual level, there is no other human activity that emits as much over such a short period of time as aviation, because it is so energy-intensive," Gössling explained.</p><p>The <a href="http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/" target="_blank">WWF carbon footprint calculator</a> is instructive in this regard. Even a serious environmentalist who eats vegan, heats using solar power and rides a bike to work, but who still take the occasional flight, wouldn't look very green at all.</p><p>Just two hypothetical short-haul return flights and one long-haul round-trip in a given year would outweigh otherwise exemplary behavior.</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjYxNTI1Ny9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNzU3MTgzOH0.jKIgPd-bNzTKOSZuHK8QU8VjWvwTwUcZKUnwnSvxjJM/img.png?width=980" id="b0bef" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6de6afb8c0deca9c1f9756e4b66fe038" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
New Tech Can't Solve Everything
<p>As awareness of the need to reduce our individual and collective carbon footprints in order to prevent <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/2017-the-year-climate-change-hit/a-41944142" target="_blank">climate catastrophe</a> grows, several industries have come under sustained pressure to find clean solutions.</p><p>The aviation sector made its own promises — in October 2016, 191 nations agreed a UN accord which aims to cut global aviation carbon emissions to 2020 levels by 2035. Another ambitious target of that agreement is for the aviation industry to achieve a 50 percent carbon emission reduction by 2050, compared to 2005 levels.</p><p>Goater says there are four ways in which the aviation industry intends to achieve these things: through carbon offsetting in the short-term, the continued development of more efficient planes, deeper investment in <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/climate-friendly-air-travel-say-what/a-39549089" target="_blank">sustainable fuels</a> — such as biofuels — and through better route efficiency. </p><p>"Basically air traffic control is very inefficient," he explained. "It creates unnecessary fuel burns and more efficient use would create a 10 percent reduction in emissions."</p><p>He also highlights the fact that a number — albeit very few — of commercial flights are now powered with sustainable fuels every day, despite the fact that the first such flight took off less than a decade ago.</p><p>"That was something that happened much faster than anyone was expecting," he says. The key now, in his view, is for the industry to prioritize investment in the area and for governments to commit in the same way they have to<a href="https://www.dw.com/en/the-race-to-e-mobility/a-39954624" target="_blank"> e-mobility</a> in the automobile sector.</p><p>But Gössling and many of his peers remain unconvinced.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjYxNTI1OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMjg2NzgzMH0.DpRMpn5IQXPADnj9cz2-R7ULpQTbh_4ZNUBByPjRn3g/img.jpg?width=980" id="5c030" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="06b67c41817a7293d95290a0ccba1e62" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>"I think that essentially we need price hikes," he said. "We did interviews with industry leaders a few months ago and many of them agreed, secretly — they were anonymous interviews — that if we don't have a major price hike for fossil fuels, then there is no way alternative fuels could ever make it."</p><p>Daniel Mittler, political director of environmental NGO Greenpeace, agrees that fossil fuels need to be more expensive. "The first step is to end all fossil fuel subsidies, including those going to aviation and to properly tax the aviation industry," he told DW.</p><p>For Goater, that is not realistic. "Fuel is already a significant proportion of an airline's costs," he said. "Believe me, if we could fly without oil we would."</p>
The hard truth?
<p>So what's to be done? Gössling, who has devoted more than 20 years of research to the subject, sees only one solution.</p><p>"Do we really need to fly as much as we do, or is the amount we fly induced by the industry?" he asked. In addition to artificially <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/unfair-competition-the-battle-between-high-speed-rail-and-low-cost-airlines/a-41716660" target="_blank">low airplane ticket prices,</a> the industry also promotes a lifestyle, he argued.</p><p>"Airline campaigns project an image where you can become part of a group of people who are young, urban frequent flyers, visiting another city every few weeks for very low costs," he said.</p><p>Yet for Goater, the idea of dictating who can fly and when is as unrealistic as it is outdated.</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjYxNTI1OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTEyNjU1M30.mtQBduN5zaq0pvvbNIbgUO2QuAPUoVTjYtIB7wlc64s/img.jpg?width=980" id="7bd98" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="96e4b911d50099f52acd66c3ae827317" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>"Reducing emissions needs to be balanced with allowing people the opportunity to fly — I believe that's a settled consensus amongst the mainstream for many years," he said. "It's not up to people in one part of the world to take it on themselves to deny people in other parts of the world those opportunities."</p><p>For Mittler, it comes down to individual choice as much as anything else and he believes that while efficiency gains are vital, the first step is to reduce the amount we fly.</p><p>"We need to move towards a more sharing and caring way of living on this planet," he said, adding that doing without the weekend shop in New York might be one of the least painful ways of contributing to that.</p><p>"We need a prosperity that is based on community and based on real wealth of collective vision, rather than one that is based on relentless consumption. Aviation is a symbol of the kind of consumption that we need to leave behind."</p>
<p> <em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/to-fly-or-not-to-fly-the-environmental-cost-of-air-travel/a-42090155" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/r/entryeditor/2644915801#/" target="_self"></a></em><em></em></p>From Your Site Articles
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The human coronavirus causes respiratory infections (colds), and gastroenteritis. Cavallini James / BSIP / Universal Images Group / Getty Images
On Dec. 31, 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) country office in China was informed of 27 patients with pneumonia of unclear cause in Wuhan — a metropolis with 19 million inhabitants in Hubei province.
<p>The municipal health commission reported that many of the infections could be attributed to visits to the fish market, which also sells live animals other than fish. The market hall was then closed until further notice and has been disinfected.</p>
<p class=""><em>Reposted with permission from <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/new-strain-of-coronavirus-behind-lung-infections-in-china/a-51942489" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Deutsche Welle</a>.</em></p>
<p>By Jan. 5, 59 patients had been identified. Seven of them are in a critical condition, according to <a href="https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/Infekt/Ausbrueche/respiratorisch/Pneumonien-China.html" target="_blank">a report by the Robert Koch Institute</a>; no deaths were reported.</p><p>In addition, South Korea reported that its first suspected case involved a 36-year-old Chinese woman who visited Wuhan last month, according to authorities. She is being treated in a hospital in Bundang, south of Seoul. </p>
The Good News
<p>Eight patients are currently considered cured and have reportedly left the hospital.</p><p>Having identified the virus, experts are one step further in their search for what is triggering the mysterious <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/unknown-lung-disease-in-china/a-51902586" target="_blank">lung disease</a>.</p><p>The pathogen's gene sequence has been deciphered, according to the head of the team of Chinese experts, Xu Jianguo.</p><p>He said the cause is a new type of coronavirus found in the blood and saliva of 15 patients. An investigation into what brought about the outbreak will continue. </p><p>Gauden Galea, a WHO representative in China, also confirmed the discovery of the new strain of the coronavirus <a href="https://www.who.int/china/news/detail/09-01-2020-who-statement-regarding-cluster-of-pneumonia-cases-in-wuhan-china" target="_blank">in a statement</a>.</p><p>According to the WHO, the quick preliminary identification of the novel virus is a notable achievement and demonstrates China's increased capacity to manage new outbreaks.</p><div id="4b770" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1DB0N91578602470"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1215167436804128776" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Chinese authorities have made a preliminary determination of the cause of #pneumonia in Wuhan as a novel (new)… https://t.co/zG6QTeZSpI</div> — World Health Organization Western Pacific (@World Health Organization Western Pacific)<a href="https://twitter.com/WHOWPRO/statuses/1215167436804128776">1578553468.0</a></blockquote></div>
What are coronaviruses?
<p>Coronaviruses were first found in humans in the 1960s. The name is derived from their appearance under the microscope: The peplomers, the outwardly protruding protein structures of the virus envelope, are arranged in the form of a crown (from Latin: <em>corona</em>).</p><p>Coronaviruses are common and infections are often harmless with patients developing only flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath. Gastrointestinal complaints, especially diarrhea, can also occur. The incubation time for a coronavirus can vary from a few days to two weeks. </p><p>However, coronaviruses are also dangerous and can mutate. They are RNA viruses and have high genetic variability, meaning they can easily overcome barriers between different species. Often, an outbreak among humans originates with other mammals, rodents or birds.</p><p>As a consequence, the infections also can take more severe paths, causing respiratory distress and pneumonia, which can even lead to death.</p><p>In 2002 and 2003, for example, the aggressive coronavirus SARS-CoV triggered an epidemic. At that time, more than 8,000 people in 29 countries became ill and 774 people died of SARS-CoV. In 2012, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was discovered and spread across the Arabian Peninsula.</p><p>In both cases, experts suspect animals were the source. The first infections were typical zoonoses — cases where pathogens manage to jump from an animal host to a human host.</p>
How is the virus transmitted?
<p>Zoonoses can be transmitted through direct contact between animals and humans as well as — like with many germs — simply through the air, such as by coughing or sneezing.</p><p>But there are many other ways of infection, for example through food or vectors. A mosquito, tick or other insect can transport a pathogen from the host to another organism without becoming ill itself. </p><p>In addition, zoonoses can also be transmitted via food, for example when eating meat or animal products. If these are not sufficiently heated or if they were prepared under unhygienic conditions, they also represent a source of infection.</p>Lunar New Year: Be safe
<p>Compared to the major instances of SARS and MERS, the current coronavirus outbreak is small, but experts said it should not be underestimated.</p><p>China is, therefore, exercising caution regarding the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in late January. Millions of people travel in buses, trains and airplanes to celebrate the holiday.</p><p>Wang Yang, the Chinese Transport Ministry's chief engineer, said authorities will step up efforts to prevent the pneumonia outbreak from spreading further during the holiday period, including ensuring proper disinfection in major public transportation hubs like airport and train stations.</p><p>Other Asian countries also stepped up precautions on entry, especially for travelers from Wuhan, and introduced fever controls to prevent the feared spread of the virus. To date, there are 16 suspected cases in Hong Kong, and a possible patient has been reported in Singapore. Not in all of the cases have a direct connection to Wuhan.</p>How to protect yourself?
<p>The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) <a href="https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/pneumonia-china" target="_blank">released a statement warning</a> travelers to Wuhan to avoid animal markets and contact with animals or uncooked meat. People in the area should also avoid the sick and wash their hands frequently with soap and water.</p><p>Those who have been to Wuhan and feel ill should seek medical help immediately and avoid contact with others, the report said.</p><p>Before the doctor is consulted, the practice or clinic should be informed about the travel history and symptoms.</p><p>The WHO did not issue a specific travel warning.</p>From Your Site Articles
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5 Best Ways to Get in Your Exercise While You Travel for the Holidays
24 December 2019
Health + Wellness
During the next two weeks, it's estimated that a record 116 million people in the U.S. will travel for the holidays.
<p>For some, it's a festive homecoming. For others, it's a source of familial tension.</p>
<p><em>Reposted with permission from </em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/" target="_blank"><em>Healthline</em></a><em>. For detailed source information, please view the original article on </em><em><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health-news/5-best-ways-to-get-in-your-exercise-while-you-travel-for-the-holidays#Dont-sweat-it" target="_blank">Healthline</a></em><em>.</em></p>
<p>But one nearly universal part of the experience is not enough exercise and too many calories.</p><p>"All year round, we have pressure from media and society to 'look good' and everybody wants to lose those last five to 10 pounds," <a href="http://www.sharonzarabi.com/" target="_blank">Sharon Zarabi</a>, RD, CDN, CPT, bariatric program director at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, told Healthline. "And what typically happens during the Thanksgiving-to-New Year's time frame is that we actually, on average, gain five pounds."</p><p>It can be a challenge to keep up your usual exercise routine when you don't have access to your local gym or personal exercise equipment.</p><p>But with a little bit of ingenuity, it is possible to fit an exercise routine into the busy holiday season.</p>
Walk or Run
<p>For those who don't have access to a cardio machine over the holidays, the solution is straightforward.</p><p>Do your cardio routine the old-fashioned way and go outside for a walk or run.</p><p>"If you're traveling somewhere where it's warm and you can go outside to walk or jog or anything like that, it's a nice option," <a href="https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/sports-medicine/team/physical-therapists/dr-ebner" target="_blank">D.R. Ebner</a>, PT, SCS, a physical therapist at The Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, told Healthline.</p><p>Even if it's chilly outside, bundling up and going for a brisk stroll is a good way to walk off that rich <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/christmas" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christmas</a> dinner and take in the lights while shedding some calories in the process.</p><p>A 20-minute walk can cover about a mile, which can burn off about <a href="https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/walking-for-weight-loss#section3" target="_blank">100 calories</a>, depending on a person's sex and weight.</p>Resistance Bands
<p>It's tough to take a weight training routine on the road.</p><p>It just isn't practical to pack bulky, heavy dumbbells into your luggage and there's no guarantee that your holiday destination will have alternatives.</p><p><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercises/easy-resistance-band-exercises" target="_blank">Resistance bands</a> may not be able to provide the same heavy lifting workout as dumbbells, but they do offer something similar in a lightweight form that can fit into the palm of your hand.</p><p>"The easiest thing that anyone can do, as most research has shown, is resistance training, which helps increase metabolic rate," said Zarabi. "It doesn't mean you need to go to a gym and use a machine or lift dumbbells. Resistance bands, which are easily portable, are something you can throw in your luggage. They come in different colors for different intensity levels."</p>Create a Stop-Gap Program
<p>Anyone who has a daily fitness routine knows that traveling can throw things into chaos.</p><p>Rather than struggling to replicate your current program, or haphazardly fit workouts into your day, Ebner says it's helpful to establish a new routine for the days you're away from home.</p><p>This might entail doing exercises you don't usually do or adapting to your surroundings.</p><p>"You may not have a ton of space," he said. "But you can do workouts like pushups, jumping jacks, and situps."</p><p>"You can do, for instance, 10 pushups, and then some bodyweight squats and some lunges," Ebner noted. "You can repeat that two or three times and commit 10 or 15 minutes to it. Work hard, but keep it sustainable."</p>Look Online
<p>To add to his point of adapting to different surroundings, Ebner suggests going online to look for inspiration.</p><p>"On YouTube, there are all kinds of workout videos — anything from yoga to calisthenics," he said.</p><p>"If you're trying to fit an exercise in and you're not sure what to do, you can find guided routines where it's all spelled out for you and you can follow along," he added. "You don't have to overthink it."</p>Don’t Sweat It
<p>Even if there's enough space and equipment to work out, sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day when you factor in the social commitments of the holiday season.</p><p>Zarabi says it's good to approach the season with a goal not of losing weight, but maintaining your current weight.</p><p>This strategy even allows for some indulgences, provided they're reasonable.</p><p>"I always like to enforce the 80/20 rule: be good 80 percent of the time and enjoy the desserts and holiday treats 20 percent of the time," she explained. "Indulging on Christmas Day or at holiday parties is not enough to derail you from your lifestyle. It's the accumulation of what you do over the long term that really impacts your weight loss efforts."</p><p>Following the indulgent, or over-indulgent festive season, many of us make New Year's resolutions in an effort to improve things moving forward.</p><p>Instead of setting lofty goals for the new year, Zarabi suggests a more measured approach.</p><p>"If your resolution is better health, don't make it about the number on the scale," she said. "A lot of us judge ourselves by a size or weight, disregarding the fact that we can fluctuate 5 to 7 pounds after a dinner party. It's best to weigh yourself first thing in the morning at a dry weight and try not to obsess over the marker."</p><p>"I think that people need to be a little more forgiving of themselves and just get back to the basics the next day, instead of waiting for the magic to happen on New Year's Day," she added.</p>From Your Site Articles
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valeriysurujiu / iStock / Getty Images Plus
California became the first state in the nation to ban hotels from offering mini toiletries in plastic bottles Wednesday when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill to that effect into law.
<p>Assemblyman Ash Kalra, D-San Jose, who sponsored the bill, applauded the governor's action.</p><p>"We have reached a tipping point for action and more needs to be done that transitions consumers and businesses towards more sustainable alternatives," Kalra said in a statement reported by <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article236014518.html" target="_blank">The Sacramento Bee</a>. "And given our state's large presence in tourism, this will be a model for the nation."</p>
<div id="84ee3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="XNPU2H1576661330"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1182344748377362432" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Thank you Governor @GavinNewsom for signing #ab1162 to ban single use toiletry bottles in the hotel industry! This… https://t.co/5Sv1R0G8O7</div> — Ash Kalra (@Ash Kalra)<a href="https://twitter.com/Ash_Kalra/statuses/1182344748377362432">1570727929.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The travel industry has already started to make this change on their own, <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2019/10/10/california-hotel-bottle-ban-law-prohibits-tiny-plastic-bottles/3928360002/" target="_blank">USA Today pointed out</a>. The Walt Disney Co. said last year it would stop using single-use shampoo bottles in resorts and on cruise ships. Then, this July, InterContinental Hotels Group became the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/ihg--bans-mini-travel-bottles-2639561793.html" target="_self">first hotel company</a> to promise to phase out the mini bottles across all of its brands and properties. Marriott, the world's largest hotel chian, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/marriott-hotels-plastic-toiletry-bottles-2640098867.html" target="_self">followed suit</a> with a similar pledge a month later. The bill was even supported by the California Hotel and Lodging Association (CHLA).</p><p>"As long-time advocates of environmental stewardship, CHLA applauds Gov. Newsom and Assemblymember Kalra for working with California hotels to make AB 1162 good for our environment and for our industry," CHLA President and CEO Lynn S. Mohrfeld said in a statement reported by <a href="https://sanjosespotlight.com/san-jose-legislators-bill-to-ban-tiny-toiletries-signed-into-law/#.XZ-6avsGLBo.twitter" target="_blank">The San Jose Spotlight</a>. "We especially appreciate Assemblymember Kalra's recognition of the many innovative steps hotels have taken to make a more sustainable future."<br></p><p>The bill gives large hotels until Jan. 2023 to phase out the tiny shampoos, conditioners and soaps. Hotels with fewer than 50 beds will have until Jan. 2024. After that date, hotels found in violation will face fines. The first violation would trigger a warning and a $500 fine for every day the law is violated. A second violation would cost the establishment $2,000, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/shampoo-plastic-bottles-ban-trnd/index.html" target="_blank">CNN explained</a>. The law will not apply to nursing homes, hospitals, prisons or homeless shelters.</p><p>The bill was opposed by the Personal Care Products Council, which claims it "will impact personal care product manufacturers significantly, including small and medium sized companies that may be re-packers or distributors," The Sacramento Bee reported.</p><p>Its passage comes as concerns mount about <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-pollution" target="_self">plastic pollution</a>, which enters the world's <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans" target="_self">oceans</a> at a rate of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-oceans-facts-images-2436857254.html" target="_self">at least eight million tons a year</a>. California has long been a national leader in tackling this problem, as CNN pointed out. In 2014, it became the first state to ban <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic-bags" target="_self">plastic bags</a>.</p><p>Other states may follow its lead on mini hotel bottles as well. New York Sen. Todd Kaminsky has sponsored a bill that would do the same in the Empire State.</p>
<div id="bb97d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="QWSNQS1576661330"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1182460895965995008" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Getting rid of disposable toiletries will take tens of millions of plastics out of our oceans and landfills and hel… https://t.co/HrmYubftqF</div> — Todd Kaminsky (@Todd Kaminsky)<a href="https://twitter.com/toddkaminsky/statuses/1182460895965995008">1570755621.0</a></blockquote></div><p><br>"Little everyday actions, like eliminating small plastic bottles, will have a positive impact on our environment," Kaminsky said in a press release reported by CNN. "By barring hotels from giving single-use plastic toiletries to customers, we are safeguarding our environment, and mitigating plastic waste and waterway pollution."</p>
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British Airways 757. Jon Osborne / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
By Adam Vaughan
Two-thirds of people in the UK think the amount people fly should be reined in to tackle climate change, polling has found.
<p>Amid a backdrop of protests against aviation expansion and the rise of the Swedish flygskam (flight shame) movement, in a poll of 2000 adults, 28.2 percent said air travel should definitely be limited, with 38.7 percent saying it should probably be restricted. Just 22.2 percent felt there was no need for limits, and 10.8 percent said they did not know.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://cdn.roxhillmedia.com/production/email/attachment/760001_770000/CAST%20Briefing%2002%20-%20Public%20opinion%20in%20a%20time%20of%20climate%20emergency.pdf" target="_blank">poll</a> was conducted by YouGov for the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations, an academic research collaboration in the UK. It comes after campaigners were <a href="https://twitter.com/HeathrowPause/status/1172865648550170624" target="_blank">arrested last week for plans to fly drones near Heathrow airport</a>. The Heathrow Pause group says the green light for a third runway at Heathrow is a "dangerous folly" due to its climate impact.<br></p><p>Lorraine Whitmarsh at Cardiff University and Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations says that more than two-thirds of people supporting limits on air travel is higher than she expected, and signals a shift in social attitudes. "Just a few years ago when we asked people if they were willing to reduce their flying, most people were negative about that," she says.</p><p>She says her research suggests that attitudes are changing due to increased exposure to media coverage of climate change and perceptions that <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/extreme-weather" rel="noopener noreferrer">extreme weather</a> events are becoming more common.</p><p>The polling also found that 48 percent of people had become more worried about climate change in the past year, up from around a quarter when the question was asked in 2014. Reducing meat consumption was less popular than curtailing flights, with 53 percent supporting eating less meat to tackle climate change.</p><p>Whether people will actually do it remains to be seen. A recent <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2197888-politicians-will-have-to-force-us-to-adopt-climate-friendly-lifestyles/" target="_blank">years-long study of Europeans</a> found people tend to opt for small climate actions such as driving more efficiently rather than taking fewer long-distance flights.</p>
<p class=""><em><em><em>This story originally appeared in <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/2216743-most-people-in-the-uk-back-limits-on-flying-to-tackle-climate-change/#ixzz5zsiPLnjM" target="_blank">New Scientist</a></em>. <em>It is republished here as part of</em> <em>EcoWatch's partnership with Covering Climate Now, a global collaboration of more than 250 news outlets to strengthen coverage of the climate story.</em></em></em></p>From Your Site Articles
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Trending
While airlines only serve bottled drinking water directly to customers, they use the plane's water for coffee and tea, and passengers can drink the tap water. Aitor Diago / Getty Images
You might want to think twice before washing your hands in an airplane bathroom.
<p>A <a href="https://www.dietdetective.com/airline-water-study-2019/" target="_blank">recent study</a> from <a href="https://www.nycfoodpolicy.org/" target="_blank">Hunter College's New York City Food Policy Center</a> and the non-profit <a href="https://www.dietdetective.com/" target="_blank">Diet Detective</a> ranked the water quality of major national and regional airlines, and found that only four of them had "relatively safe, clean water."</p><p>"We need to make sure violations have penalties and costs that make airlines want to comply. We should tighten up the rules and add more tests to determine aircraft water quality," The Food Policy Center executive director and Diet Detective founder Charles Platkin told <a href="https://guce.huffingtonpost.co.uk/consent?apidSessionId=3_cc-session_06e5d834-c2a7-4c3e-885a-5aa44332e79c&done=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.co.uk%2Fentry%2Fairline-water-quality_us_5d8152f7e4b03ec1bc96639b%3Fguccounter%3D1%26guce_referrer%3DaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaHVmZnBvc3QuY29tL2ltcGFjdC9ncmVlbg%26guce_referrer_sig%3DAQAAABFXUZWmHvjiWgGjXkA66o01LayoBMLfeHLotsIqvlLKbd16ObUf69tSdT7JEpkQThsKvvlRouHaHoBPIVx5Ov1rU2dWlQIphvtzkFPXQIy84-dx7gAXLgStxCHdajfxbu0NN_IZN3t23nRk6PSrA7R2JRln0hTycz7Sld-AXpFi&lang=en-gb&brandType=eu&gcrumb=tmXyGHE=&trapType=ats&bucketed=false&src=null" target="_blank">HuffPost Wednesday</a>. "It's not just an ick-factor ― there are public health concerns."</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Which airline’s water is the safest? Our recently released study with <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCFoodPolicy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nycfoodpolicy</a> rates the quality of water provided to passengers and finds that many airlines are providing unhealthy water. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FoodSafety?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FoodSafety</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WaterSafety?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WaterSafety</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Airlines?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Airlines</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WaterQuality?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WaterQuality</a> <a href="https://t.co/TtKQxUGNfP">https://t.co/TtKQxUGNfP</a> <a href="https://t.co/0opaq8SKOr">pic.twitter.com/0opaq8SKOr</a></p>— Charles Platkin (@dietdetective) <a href="https://twitter.com/dietdetective/status/1167185451339276288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>The study ranked the airlines on a zero to five scale based on 10 factors, among them fleet size, federal violations, positive reports of E. coli and coliform in water samples and responsiveness to questions. A score of three or higher meant the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drinking-water" target="_self">drinking water</a> was relatively safe.</p><p>Here is how the airlines fared.</p><p><u>National</u></p><ol><li>Alaska Airlines: 3.3</li><li>Allegiant Air: 3.3</li><li>Hawaiian Airlines: 3.1</li><li>Frontier Airlines: 2.6</li><li>Southwest Airlines: 2.4</li><li>Delta Air Lines: 1.6</li><li>American Airlines: 1.5</li><li>United Airlines: 1.2</li><li>JetBlue: 1</li><li>Spirit Airlines: 1</li></ol><p><u>Regional</u></p><ol><li>Piedmont Airlines: 4.33</li><li>Sun Country Airlines: 2.78</li><li>Envoy Air: 2.11</li><li>GoJet Airlines: 2</li><li>Trans States Airlines: 1.78</li><li>Compass Airlines 1.22</li><li>PSA Airlines: 1.22</li><li>SkyWest Airlines 1.11</li><li>Endeavor Air: 0.78</li><li>Air Wisconsin Airlines: 0.68</li><li>ExpressJet Airlines: 0.56</li><li>Republic Airways: 0.44</li></ol><p>While airlines only serve bottled drinking water directly to customers, they do use the plane's water for coffee and tea. Passengers also use it in the airplane restrooms. The study authors recommended that passengers never drink airplane bathroom water, avoid airplane coffee and tea and use hand sanitizer instead of the airplane bathroom sinks.</p><p>"I also don't wash my hands in the lavatory anymore," Platkin told HuffPost. "I make sure to have sanitizer. If you wash your hands in what could potentially be unsafe water, it sort of negates the whole process of actually washing your hands. You could be spreading E. coli all over... Sure, it's not <em>likely</em>, but why should you take any chance?"</p><p>Airplane water is supposed to be regulated by the Aircraft Drinking Water Rule (ADWR), which was put in place in 2011. It requires airlines to test their water tanks for coliform bacteria and potential E. coli and to disinfect and flush each plane's water tank four times per year. If E. coli is found, the plane must shut off access to the water tank within 24 hours to disinfect and flush it. Platkin told HuffPost he thought the 24-hour window was too lax.</p><p>"Why not immediately?" he asked.</p><p>While ADWR violations have decreased significantly for both regional and major airlines since 2012, Platkin thought this might be because of weakening enforcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/epa" target="_self">(EPA</a>). The number of penalties it has issued against the airlines has declined in recent years.</p><p>The agency and the major airlines were also not very cooperative with the researchers, Platkin wrote in the study summary.</p><p>"The 'Shame on You' Award goes to the EPA and nearly all major airlines (regional airlines weren't contacted) for their very poor response time and lack of cooperation answering detailed questions," he said. "The EPA didn't answer most penalty-related questions, and Spirit, Allegiant and Frontier did not respond to any questions. Very weak responses — and responses that didn't address questions — were provided by American, United, and JetBlue, which had a large number of violations during the past seven years."</p>
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Prince Harry Launches Sustainable Travel Initiative 'Travalyst' With 5 Big Industry Players
04 September 2019
Popular
Prince Harry launched a sustainable travel initiative Tuesday in Amsterdam, a city that has been impacted by excessive tourism, the Associated Press reported.
<p>The initiative, called <a href="https://www.travalyst.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Travalyst</a>, is a partnership between the Duke of Sussex and five major industry partners: Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Visa, Chinese travel company Ctrip and Ctrip-owned Skyscanner. It will work to reduce the travel industry's contribution to the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-change" target="_self">climate crisis</a>, boost <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/conservation" target="_self">conservation</a> and environmental protection in tourist destinations, work to make sure more tourism money goes to local communities and find solutions to over-tourism.</p>
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word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Instagram: “We are excited to announce the launch of ‘Travalyst’, a global initiative striving to change the impact of tourism, for good. Partnering…”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>"Sometimes when we appreciate the world's beauty, we heighten its fragility," Prince Harry said, as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/03/travel/prince-harry-travel-travalyst.html?te=1&nl=morning-briefing&emc=edit_MBE_p_20190904&section=whatElse?campaign_id=51&instance_id=12107&segment_id=16702&user_id=d8eb7cee9d3c5ab39515239b6ec54d19&regi_id=88631294ion=whatElse" target="_blank">The New York Times reported</a>. "It's a paradox. But in our enthusiasm we can put great strain on the natural wonders we travel to see as well as the communities that call these places home."<br></p><p>The initiative comes as travel is on the rise, the Associated Press reported. The number of trips taken every year has more than doubled since 2000, according to the World Bank. In 2018, people around the world took 1.4 billion international trips, a figure that was reached two years faster than the UN's World Tourism Organization predicted. The initiative also comes amidst growing awareness of the travel industry's impact on the environment and the climate. Swedish climate activist <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/greta-thunberg" target="_self">Greta Thunberg</a> recently <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/greta-thunberg-new-york-2640084970.html" target="_self">completed a high-profile sailing trip</a> to New York City in order to avoid flying. Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, also faced criticism for flying on a private jet this summer to visit singer Elton John, the Associated Press reported.</p><p>While Harry's travel initiative has been in development for three years, Kensington Palace told The New York Times, some criticized the timing of the launch, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2019/sep/03/prince-harry-launches-sustainable-travel-initiative-travalyst?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco&fbclid=IwAR07NvXz8Ugx9giHpQDFwGbY8bRRXC2-F00eEzXEyq20skb8jiowMBgYK4A" target="_blank">The Guardian reported</a>. The companies involved could not provide details and said that more announcements would be made in the next 18 months.</p><p>Prince Harry addressed his travel habits in Amsterdam.</p><p>"I came here by commercial. I spend 99 percent of my life traveling the world by commercial," he said in a video shared by Bloomberg News. He said he could not rule out the use of private jets for security reasons, but always tried to balance out his impact by offsetting his carbon dioxide emissions.</p>
<div id="612d4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="M4NZDI1576661515"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1169082703876120576" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Prince Harry just launched a sustainable travel initiative called Travalyst https://t.co/X0mdj5WpmC</div> — QuickTake by Bloomberg (@QuickTake by Bloomberg)<a href="https://twitter.com/QuickTake/statuses/1169082703876120576">1567566011.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Part of Travalyst's goal will be to help travelers understand the environmental impacts of their choices.<br></p><p>"We want to make <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sustainability" target="_self">sustainability</a> a priority across the entire travel experience," <a href="http://booking.com/" target="_blank">Booking.com</a> chairwoman Gillian Tans told The New York Times. "Another goal is how to minimize the environmental footprint of travel, and the other goal is to protect and preserve local environments, welfare and cultural heritage and help to improve the welfare of local people for the longer term."</p><p>This is the first sustainable travel initiative that Harry has supported, but he has previously promoted environmental conservation projects in Africa. Tans said he was evidently passionate about the issue in meetings.</p><p>"If you think about the duke, for all his life he has been supporting conservation projects, and also he has traveled so much and has seen the connection between environmental damage, community struggles and tourism," Tans told The New York Times.</p>
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By Carol Pucci, Yasmeen Wafai and Zeb Larson
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzNjY4Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzEyMjI1Nn0.mE30LOHkNBi5FIwKPVHMWCMRqmBsQb1Q-X5M1eGRAfM/img.jpg?width=980" id="49c4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6e416620193bfc102e479c72c5b55f72" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><strong>Share a meal in a local household.</strong> <a href="https://www.eatwith.com/" target="_blank">Eatwith.com</a> and <a href="https://www.mealsharing.com/" target="_blank">Mealsharing.com</a> connect travelers with people in host countries who love to entertain. Prices vary. Eight other guests and I recently paid $49 each, staying past midnight sharing food, wine, and conversation in the home of a French journalist covering the yellow vest protests in Paris. <a href="http://saigonhotpot.vn/" target="_blank" title="">Saigon Hotpot</a> sets up meals in university students' homes as well as city and street food tours in Ho Chi Minh City.</p><p><strong>Trade off hosting. </strong>More than 2,000 households in 48 states and 50 countries participate in the <a href="http://affordabletravelclub.net/" target="_blank" title="">Affordable Travel Club</a>, a Washington state-based hospitality exchange group for people over 40. Hosts offer an extra bedroom, breakfast, and an hour of their time to acquaint travelers with the area. Members pay a gratuity of $15 (single) or $20 (double) per night to defray costs, but most hosts open their homes for the experience of meeting new people rather than the income.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Walk and talk.</strong> Spend time with a <a href="http://globalgreeternetwork.com/" target="_blank" title="">Global Greeter</a> volunteer who likes sharing what they love most about their hometown. Greeters act not as guides, but as new friends in destinations all over the world. I recently hung out with Valerie, 42, a volunteer in Lyon, France, wandering through the city's network of underground passages and visiting her favorite places, such as sampling oysters and white wine at a Sunday market. The service is free, although visitors are welcome to make an online donation to the Greeters network. — <em>Carol Pucci</em></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzNjY4OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNDE4OTUxOH0.u2_y_gXAHK-XNQF8pjAG3zXR6SCdHe9yNGaWLbiqvTg/img.jpg?width=980" id="dcdc8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a43fa8a25eaef917685064b832e0411e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><strong>Lodge locally. </strong>Sleep where your dollars make a difference by staying in independently owned hotels, small inns, and homestays rather than internationally owned chain hotels. Look for hotels that partner with nonprofit organizations to train and employ disadvantaged youth. The Responsible Travel Guide Cambodia led me to Robam Inn in Siem Reap, whose owners returned to start the business after taking refuge in Canada during the Khmer Rouge regime.</p><p><strong>Spend intentionally. </strong>Eat and shop at places dedicated to fair trade. Consult listings on the <a href="http://wfto.com/" target="_blank" title="">World Fair Trade Organization's website</a>. Explore beyond tourist areas where small entrepreneurs can't always afford the high rents. This is how I found Belil, an art gallery and cafe in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico, selling textiles made by a women's weaving cooperative.</p><p><strong>Tour responsibly. </strong>Use local, independent guides. University students working for tips often guide tours listed on freetour.com, a website that offers group walks in dozens of cities worldwide. <a href="http://globalexchange.org/" target="_blank" title="">Global Exchange</a>, a San Francisco-based human rights organization, sponsors "Reality Tours" focused on relationship-building and promoting local economies. An upcoming trip to Palestine will include homestays with farmers during the fall olive harvest and visits with fair trade cooperatives on the West Bank. — <em>Carol Pucci</em></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzNjY5MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MTM5MTI4NX0.b9-rAAB_ogd1yebxcz1zO1mM2sFCy2z1I2fuoIsxhpE/img.jpg?width=980" id="ed5ed" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a404baeea3a9a36e9effbe75ad5f57b1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><strong>Visit a national park — but take the train. </strong>Help decrease vehicle traffic at these parks and support the struggling <a href="http://amtrakvacations.com/" target="_blank" title="">Amtrak</a>, which offers trips to places like Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon and Glacier National Park. You could travel roundtrip to the Grand Canyon, stay two nights in a hotel and two nights onboard, with breakfast and dinner included. Or maybe a trip to Glacier aboard historic Empire Builder with three nights in a hotel and a tour of the park. More than 100 packages are available.</p><p><strong>Do some citizen science. </strong>If you're out and about in nature, you can plug into a ton of projects, such as a BioBlitz using the iNaturalist app. It's a cool exercise that lets you record as many plant and animal species as possible in a designated area and time, while contributing useful data for science and conservation. A green tree frog in Texas and a wapiti in Alaska are just two of the more than 206,000 species documented so far. Or you can measure light pollution and send your data to web app Globe at Night.</p><p><strong>Build a trail in Washington state. </strong><a href="http://wta.org/" target="_blank" title="">Washington Trails Association</a> offers a volunteer vacations program where you can escape for eight days with a group of fellow volunteers to help maintain trails. Trails are important to our environment because they help limit potentially negative impacts on natural areas. Food and tools are provided, and camping options are available as well, including car and backcountry. You'll have time to relax and explore on your own. Options include Kalaloch Beach on the Olympic Peninsula, Lake Chelan in the Central Cascades, and Deception Pass State Park on the Puget Sound. — <em>Yasmeen Wafai </em></p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xOTYzNjY5MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTc0NzU0Nn0.EdzKeU7C2d_b_4dXIQrkLfnVI7qAISdBOAwzq-RDg14/img.jpg?width=980" id="59372" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="abb8b38bedbdc549743140881a60dce0" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p><strong></strong><a href="http://makingtheroad.com/" target="_blank" title=""><strong>Making the Road</strong></a> is a Chicago-based group that uses travel seminars to educate U.S. participants about the liberation movements and histories of southern Africa. The tours are led by long-time civil rights and labor activist Prexy Nesbitt, who was closely involved with the liberation movements in Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Travelers meet labor leaders, artists, politicians, and intellectuals to educate themselves about the shared issues that southern Africans and Americans face, such as racism, labor struggles, and militarism.</p><p><strong>DeTour</strong> exists to change the image of Hawai'i as a tourist playground, a perception that ignores its occupation and oppression by the U.S. military and its treatment of Native Hawaiians. DeTours' decolonizing tourist experience encourages visitors to support Hawaiians' wish for sovereignty. Stops include areas polluted by the military and sites important to Polynesian and ancient Hawaiian history—all to show a side of Hawai'i out of the shadows of U.S. imperialism.</p><p><a href="http://veteransforpeace.org/" target="_blank" title=""><strong>Veterans for Peace</strong></a> was formed in 1985 by U.S. veterans to increase public awareness of the causes and costs of war and to oppose militarism and arms proliferation. The nonprofit has hundreds of chapters worldwide, including one in Vietnam composed of former servicemen who live there and organize annual tours across the country. The tours are designed to show damage left by the war in Vietnam and to raise funds for ongoing work, such as ordnance removal and support for victims of Agent Orange. — <em>Zeb Larson</em></p>
<em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/travel/tips-vacation-social-justice-20190701" target="_blank">YES! Magazine</a>.</em>
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By Brian Barth
Agricultural adventure awaits you in the lower latitudes. Here are a few ideas to salivate over, from the rootsy to the ritzy.
<h3>1. <a href="https://northcountryfarms.com/" target="_blank">North Country Farms</a><strong> – Kilauea, Hawaii</strong></h3><p>This small organic farm near the famed Na Pali coast on the island of Kauai offers a single guest cottage, which rents for under $200 per night. Ensconced in tropical foliage, you'll have the option of picking your own produce and grilling local seafood on the <em>lanai</em> (that's Hawaiian for veranda).</p><h3>2. <a href="http://www.bellemontfarm.com/" target="_blank">Belle Mont Farm</a> – Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis</h3><p>This sprawling eco-resort, with rooms starting in the $200 to $300 range, includes 400 acres of farmland and the "world's most edible golf course." Dining options abound with multiple restaurants (mountainside, beach or 30-foot wood table out in the fields, your choice), plus a bar serving house-brand rum and a farm-fresh grocery delivery service for those booking one of the self-contained suites.</p><h3>3. <a href="https://www.kahandakanda.com/" target="_blank">Kahanda Kanda</a> – Galle Fort, Sri Lanka</h3><p>Located on a traditional tea estate, you'll dine on meals prepared from the surrounding gardens—they'll even set up a table for two under the stars—before retiring to your private mini-villa, which can be had for under $300 a night (you get your own pool in the pricier villas).</p><h3>4. <a href="https://copaltreelodge.com/" target="_blank">Copal Tree Lodge</a> – Punta Gorda, Belize</h3><p>Rooms at this 12,000-acre eco-resort start at just $125 per night and come with views of the rainforest. Your food, however, will come from the 3,000-acre organic farm on-site that produces everything from eggs and vegetables to coffee, chocolate and rum.</p><h3>5. <a href="https://haciendadesanantonio.com/" target="_blank">Hacienda San Antonio</a> – Comala, Mexico</h3><p>In the volcanic highlands of south-central Mexico lies a very pricey farm stay—rooms start at $700 in the off-season. No detail is spared in the lodgings, as well as the food, 90 percent of which comes from a nearby biodynamic farm. The hacienda has a beachside sister resort nearby, supplied by the same farm, which is even more lavish.</p><p> <em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://modernfarmer.com/2018/12/5-places-to-visit-for-your-next-winter-escape/" target="_blank">Modern Farmer</a>.</em><em></em></p>
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Each year, almost 1.2 billion people travel abroad, making travel and tourism one of the largest industries in the world. Representing a whopping 10 percent of the global economy, it supplies millions of jobs and benefits countless communities.
<p>Yet while travel has many positive impacts, it can also take a heavy toll on the environment, from putting increased strain on fragile ecosystems and culturally significant sites to contributing to rising fossil fuel emissions. But that doesn't mean you have to drop your suitcase and cancel your reservations, says WWF's travel experts. These simple actions can help you significantly reduce the footprint of your next trip and leave a positive impact on local communities.</p><p><strong>1. Do Your Homework</strong></p><p>Before you book, research destinations that prioritize sustainability and that are investing in preserving their natural and cultural heritage. Some countries, such as Namibia and Bhutan, have environmental protection written into their constitution. Others demonstrate an ongoing commitment to conservation by creating and taking care of their national parks, marine reserves, and wildlife refuges. According to Jim Sano, WWF's Vice President of Travel and Conservation, "Selecting a destination that achieves a balance of protecting natural and cultural resources, providing for sustainable livelihoods, and creating a high-quality traveler experience is challenging. <a href="http://greendestinations.org/" target="_blank">Green Destinations</a> has started to compile a list of sustainable destinations against the Global Sustainable Tourism Council's Destination Criteria—a recognized set of criteria to assess a destination's management policies and practices. Two-hundred destinations have been selected to date."</p><p><strong>2. Getting There</strong></p><p>One of the best ways to travel more sustainably is to be thoughtful about your modes of travel. Are there environmentally-friendly ways to reach your destination? If you must fly, you can reduce your carbon footprint by selecting direct flights and by choosing a more energy-efficient aircraft, both of which lead to less jet fuel being burned. Travelers can also offset their travel emissions by purchasing reputable, accredited carbon credits from an offset platform like MyClimate.</p><p><strong>3. Find Eco-Friendly Lodging</strong></p><p>Seek out eco-conscious hotels and accommodations that support sustainable development and have minimal impact on the surrounding environment. Specifically, look for places to stay that use renewable energy, have effective waste management systems, recycle, or were built using renewable materials. With the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, you can easily find certified sustainable lodging to fit your requirements.</p><p><strong>4. Choose Tours Wisely</strong></p><p>When scheduling tours or sight-seeing trips, book through companies that adhere to environmentally-friendly policies, including protecting <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/wildlife">wildlife</a>, supporting indigenous peoples, and employing local guides who are familiar with regional laws and customs. Thankfully, there's an abundance of reputable companies that can help globetrotters find adventures that aren't damaging to nature or communities.</p><p><strong>5. Support Local Economies</strong></p><p>Try to visit regions where local people are empowered to manage their land and natural resources—such as wildlife, parks and marine protected areas—meaning that tourism dollars directly benefit the local economy and can influence positive change.</p><p><strong>6. Shop Carefully</strong></p><p>Tempted by an "antique" carved ivory tusk? Or a black coral bracelet? Think twice. Just because an item is for sale doesn't mean it's legal to purchase. Some products, such as snake wine, tortoiseshell accessories, shells and coral jewelry, ivory, or furs are made from protected plants or endangered species and can be illegal to export or import. They can also be the products of poaching or mislabeled to entice tourists. Before you spend, be sure to ask questions. What is the item made of? Where did it come from? By making informed choices—or just saying no—you could dodge a serious fine at customs or help reduce the market demand for trafficked, at-risk species. For a list of items to avoid, check out WWF's <a href="https://c402277.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/publications/315/files/original/Buyer-Beware.pdf?1345686864" target="_blank">Buyer Beware Guide.</a></p><p><strong>7. Be Smart About Plastics</strong></p><p>Each year, more than 8 million tons of plastics wind up in our ocean, where they disrupt delicate ecosystems and endanger marine wildlife. Much of this harmful waste comes from single-use plastics like throw-away water bottles, take-out packaging, and plastic shopping bags not recovered by waste management. Minimize the amount of plastic waste you produce when you travel by carrying a re-usable water bottle, opting for locally filtered water where possible, and bringing your own tote bags for shopping.</p><p><strong>8. Look, Don't Touch</strong></p><p>No matter where you go, you should never touch, feed, taunt, or play with the wild animals you encounter, which could spell trouble for both you and the animal. Also keep away from tourist attractions where you're allowed to have hands-on experiences with animals or where wild animals are exploited. These are often harmful to the animals and fuel the illicit trade in exotic pets or endangered animal parts.</p><p><strong>9. Pick Your Products</strong></p><p>Some common <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/hawaii-coral-reefs-sunscreen-ban-2565189657.html">sunscreens</a> and soaps contain harmful chemicals that can be absorbed by the ocean's fragile <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coral-reefs">coral reefs</a> systems and contribute to coral bleaching. Before you dive in, make sure to use reef-friendly products, such as biodegradable or mineral-based sunscreens, shampoo and soaps. Or think about switching to protective clothing, like rash guards and wet suits, which dermatologists say are just as effective as sunscreen. </p><p><strong>10. Enjoy Sustainable Activities</strong></p><p>As you explore new places, opt for recreational activities that don't pollute or use energy, such as kayaking, biking or hiking. Not only will you create zero carbon emissions, you'll likely discover unique sights and experiences away from the beaten path.</p>
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