{"id":23975,"date":"2011-08-07T14:43:19","date_gmt":"2011-08-07T12:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=23975"},"modified":"2011-08-07T14:43:19","modified_gmt":"2011-08-07T12:43:19","slug":"green-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/green-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Green Travel"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Travel Photographer Margaret E. Hyde<\/strong><\/p>\n

Webster\u2019s Dictionary defines mindfulness as \u201cthe trait of staying aware (paying close attention to) your responsibilities and\/or being present in the moment.\u201d When traveling, I strive for a mindful experience, meaning I am present and fully take in my experiences in the moment and try to stay aware of the impact of my travel experience.<\/p>\n

Travel, which requires the use of transportation, is by its very nature not a \u201cgreen\u201d activity, but it can be a mindful journey.<\/p>\n

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Mindful travel involves asking questions and making sustainable choices in how and where you travel and choose to stay. Why bother taking the time and energy to be more mindful and aware? The travel industry is one of the worlds largest industries, with billions of people traveling globally, and it is making an impact on the environment globally in terms of warming effects of carbon and more locally in terms of its effect on wildlife, indigenous cultures, and cultural heritage sites — from the destruction of coral reefs in the Caribbean to the accumulation of plastic waste in remote villages and parks.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips to help you be a Mindful Traveler….<\/p>\n

Carbon Offsetting:<\/h3>\n

This is making the impact of your travel “carbon neutral” by balancing out the impact of your carbon-emitting travel source, be it plane, train, or car by paying an organization money to plant trees to offset the global warming effects emitted by your trip. It is a minor cost, usually between $10 to $ 50 dollars, depending on the length of the trip. The Internet is full of free sites where you can calculate your carbon footprint. My favorite is\u00a0Terra Pass Carbon Foot Print Calculator<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Once you have calculated your carbon footprint for your trip, you can use an organization like Trees for the Future<\/a> to offset the carbon footprint of your trip. For other organizations that offer carbon offsetting, you can go to this\u00a0Green Travel Resources<\/a>\u00a0page.<\/p>\n

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Choose an Eco-Friendly Hotel or Resort:<\/h3>\n

There are many websites listing organizations that rate eco-friendly hotels, but sometimes it is hard to tell how sustainable they really are. The most important things to look for and ask about are the following:<\/p>\n

Do they have a \u2018green\u2019 sustainability program? What does that refer to? Is it a recycling program, gray water, energy efficient lighting and\/or alternative energy program, or simply an optional guest reuse of towel and sheet program?<\/p>\n

To me, the most mindful choice is the hotel and resort that is committed to giving back and supporting the eco-system, culture, and community that they are in. A non-profit foundation that supports the community is the mark of a truly committed sustainable eco-hotel or resort.<\/p>\n

For a list of truly eco-friendly high-end hotels and resorts you can go to Eco Luxury<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For a list of budget friendly truly eco-friendly resorts, you can also go to that Green Travel Resources<\/a> page I mentioned above.<\/p>\n

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Be a mindful traveler:<\/h3>\n

In the words of Chief Seattle, \u201cTake only memories, leave nothing but footprints.\u201d<\/p>\n

To do this, be mindful of the following:<\/p>\n