On this Leap Year Day, Let's leap from virtual/actual tourism to vicarious tourism -- and onto
Devastation resulting from tourism
Devastation resulting in forest destruction
Earthsaver, Scientist, Diplomat, Politician Lee White of Gabon (and Earth)
Earthsaver, Architectural Linguist, Blogger Steve Walker of Earth
Please check out these related video clips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=NdFIXO_eEjQ&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adBnsXD0_bw&list=PLxQLsUWr0FzS7jtRVIgD9n9K_FxdjlJmj&index=19
Dear Fellow Earthlings,
In my previous blog (Installment 506, February 14, 2020) I lauded Lee White for all of the things
he has accomplished as he deals with problems that the nation of Gabon faces. Not mentioned in the blog
is the fact that White sees increased production of palm oil and the development of tourism as ways for
Gabon to help its ordinary citizens reap the financial and social benefits that these two industries offer.
It is my contention that these two industries would only add to the problems in Gabon. Therefore, I
have composed the following appeal to Lee White, with you my blog readers having the opportunity to take
a look at my plea for him to tread lightly regarding the tourism and palm oil industries.
My Dear Professor White,
My name is Steve Walker. I have a blog whose theme is "Save Languages, Save Earth".
In the past seven years I have composed 507 blog installments, whose main purpose is to awaken people,
to make them aware of the plight Earth's ecosystem is undergoing.
Recently I became aware of the wonderful Earthsaving type of work you have done in your
nation of Gabon. I am in full agreement on your thinking that it is people who should solve the
problems of global warming, social inequality, preservation of Earth's life forms, human overpopulation,
international strife, and uncivil approaches to dealing with differences of opinion among humans.
As I see it, sir, tourism has grown into a worldwide industry, losing its character due to the sheer
number of people who participate in it, to the huge amounts of fossil fuels used to keep it going,
and to the destruction of all of those "out-of-the-way" places that are no longer truly "out of the way".
Better to do away with the notion of "tourism" and rather dispatch a small number of professionals,
equipped with drones and other high-tech gadgetry, to capture samples of the cultures, natural endowments, and the overall ambiances of every spot on Earth. Then, vicariously, all humans could -- for a price -- view the fruits of these professionals' efforts. The funds paid out would go partially to those who will have had created the very realistic documentaries, but the majority would go to the people and other natural phenomena of the places depicted.
We humans must learn to "love from a distance", "to worship from afar"!
Secondly, regarding palm oil, an edible vegetable oil which is taken from the reddish pulp of the oil palm:
... While it is true that the oil palm is of African origin -- and Gabon is a "part of Africa" -- the oil palm was in the beginning only a "tiny part" of the ecosystem of Gabon. "Cities of oil palm plantations" will destroy Gabon's balance of nature just as "cities designed to handle the tourist industry" will destroy Gabon's cultural balance. The descendants of oil palm plants that might have once thrived in other parts of Africa will produce unintended deleterious conditions when introduced or re-introduced into Gabon. Invasive species have a way of "attacking" unprepared local plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, viruses, -- and (for those who believe that humans are not animals) humans as well....
We humans must learn to welcome bona fide guests, but to refrain from inviting would-be tourists. Just
as one rabbit in your garden might be a cute addition, eating only a small amount of the garden delights, a
sudden surge in rabbit numbers can devastate that garden in a very short time. And just as a little palm oil
can be used for various purposes, too much of it will crowd out the possibility of optimal utilisation of other oils -- including those that may improve the economy, the local natural environment, and even the health of the people of Gabon..
By the way, Professor White, you are cordially invited to come and see how I am trying to foster a
better natural environment on my own miniature natural paradise (which I call Reltonia) in the state of
Oregon in the United States!
Yours faithfully,
Steve Walker
....And there you have it, my fellow Earthlings! I look forward to receiving a prompt reply from Lee White.
On this Leap Year Day, let us make the leap from virtual/actual tourism to "vicarious tourism" -- and from a dependence on palm oil to one based on an admixture of diverse oils.
Steve Walker
Earthsaver and Jingles Creator
© 2013 Steve Walker, The Jingles-The Japan Foundation for English Pronunciation, Summit Enterprises.