2. ECOTOURISM: THE NEW FACE OF TRAVEL

Though there are many definitions of ecotourism, the term is most commonly used to describe any recreation in natural surroundings. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as: «responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people».

Worldwide, tourism generates annual revenues of nearly 3 trillion dollars and contributes nearly 11% of the global GNP (Gross National Product), making it the world's largest industry. Although the events of September 11th rocked the tourism industry and made it difficult to predict long-term trends, ecotourism is a growing component of the larger tourism industry, and several factors indicate that it is likely to thrive over time. These factors include increased awareness of environmental problems among tourist populations, willingness of tourists to engage in social- ly-aware travel, and interest in visiting lesser-known countries like Thailand and Belize rather than traditional vacation getaways.

In 1993 the World Tourism Organization (WTO) estimated nature tourism generated 7 per cent of all international travel expenditure. More recent research reveals this is now much higher, accounting for 20 per cent of international travel in the Asia-Pacific region and some areas, such as South Africa, experiencing a massive growth in visitors of over 100 per cent annually.

Ecotourists tend to travel on economy and to use clean but private 2 or 3 star accommodation. They typically stay with local families, or at small, environmentally friendly hotels called ecolodges. These opportunities for personal contact with members of the host community facilitate cross-cultural exchange and add greatly to the value of ecotourism experiences for some people.

Ecotourists are articulate, assertive and well educated. They demand quality experiences. When they are planning their trips ecotourists have many questions. They want to be informed on the best times to visit any particular site and what are the trade-offs going there at other times.

Amongst international ecotourists, most come from northern Europe and North America rather than from southern Europe or Latin America. Many Australians are also keen to experience ecotourism.

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Practically speaking, ecotourism includes activities in which visitors enjoy hands-on experiences, such as bird-watching in the Brazilian rainforest, hiking in the mountains of Nepal, participating in a traditional village celebration, or taking a canoe trip down a river.

The following are just some of the many topics which interest ecotourists: local flora and fauna, geology (people are interested in soils and what makes them different), spectacular features (waterfalls, lakes, grand forests, rocky headlands, coral reefs), history and culture. The aspects ecotourists find very interesting are: customs and rituals, religion, traditional art and crafts (such as weaving), ceremonies (the Balinese attract many hundreds of people to their cremation ceremonies), traditional music and dance, traditional architecture and building, traditional lifestyle generally from the forms of agriculture to the diet and style of cooking.

There are many factors which attract ecotourists. Apart from the destinations providing quality information is the key factor to ecotourism. Ecotourists are prepared to endure a great deal of discomfort to explore areas if the subjects can be made interesting.

The more that it explained and the better the explanations, the more time they will spend exploring. Ecotourists don't want to be rushed. They prefer fewer stops with more quality time at each. They want to watch the sunsets. They want to be assured that they will get adequate, well planned quality-time.

Ecotourism has the capacity to deliver a lot of economic benefits to traditional cultures. However whether those benefits are realized depends on how ell the ecotourism is managed. Having a good resource to attract ecotourists is a good start but to get the greatest local benefits requires careful management to maximize the time which they spend locally.

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3.LIFE THROUGH A LENS: HOW BRITAIN’S CHILDREN

EAT, SLEEP AND BREATHE TV

Lucy Ward, social affairs correspondent January 16, 2008

A generation of ‘multitasking’ children are living their daily lives – including eating and falling asleep – to the accompaniment of television, according to a survey of youngsters’ media habits. The flickering of the screen accompanies most of them before they go to school, when they return home, as they consume their evening meal and then – for 63%, far more than read a book each day – in bed at night. The study of five to 16-year-olds shows that four out of five children now have a TV set in their bedroom.

So ubiquitous has television become that many children now combine it with other activities, including social networking online, flicking their eyes from laptop to TV screen and back again. Even if they are focusing on the television, young people are now reluctant to commit to one programme, with boys in particular often flipping between channels to keep up with two simultaneous shows at once. The findings, from the market research agency Childwise, will fuel concerns that childhood is increasingly about private space and sedentary activities and less about play, social interaction or the child’s own imagination.

The government’s recent Children’s Plan, while attempting to calm panic over claims of ‘toxic’ childhood, focused on improving play facilities as a means of ensuring a more balanced life for screen-bound youngsters. Today’s survey findings indicate a revival in televisionwatching among children after three years of decline, driven mainly by more girls watching soaps such as Hollyoaks and EastEnders.

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Internet use – now that the social networking bug is biting younger than ever – is also continuing to grow at a far greater rate than the brief fall-off in TV viewing. That means British children spend an average of five hours and 20 minutes in front of a screen a day, up from four hours and 40 minutes five years ago. The rise may have come at the expense of reading books for pleasure, which, in a development that will alarm many parents, continues to decline as a regular pastime. While four out of five children read books in their own time, only a quarter do so daily and 53% at least once a week.

The report, based on interviews with 1,147 children in 60 schools around England, Scotland and Wales, found television viewing now averages 2.6 hours a day across the age group, though one in ten say they watch more than four hours daily. The survey, which has been conducted annually for 14 years, asked for the first time whether children watched television while eating dinner or in bed before going to sleep. It found that 58% watch during their evening meal, while 63% lie in bed watching the screen (rising to almost three-quarters of 13 to 16-year-olds). Two-thirds – particularly the youngest children – watch before school, and 83% turn on the television after returning home.

Rosemary Duff, Childwise research director, said television was now “almost woven into children’s lives”, but added that the quality of viewing had changed. “A lot of television viewing has lost the ‘pay it attention’ feel it used to have. It used to be less ubiquitous but much higher in its importance whereas now it is widespread but just part of the background, not just at home but wherever you go.”

Anecdotal evidence indicated that children now multitask, keeping one eye on the television as they flick through magazines or use the computer, Duff added. Boys asked by the company to choose between programmes on different channels frequently refused, saying they would ‘watch both’. “They flick from one to another and cannot conceive that they should have to make a decision. They are puzzled that you should put them in a situation of having to make one or another choice.”

Computers are also now a key part of children’s private worlds. “The Internet is now an essential part of most young people’s lives,” says the study, with 85% of five to 16-year-olds accessing the Net, and over a third (including a quarter of five to six-year-olds) owning a computer or laptop of their own. On average, they go online just over four times a week, spending two hours each time.

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The survey shows a rise in Internet use, particularly among younger children, driven primarily by a boom in the use of social networking sites, primarily Bebo. Communication, says the report, “has overtaken fun (e.g. online games) as the main reason to use the Internet and study is now far behind”. Almost three quarters (72%) of children have visited a social networking site, and over half have set up their own profile – sometimes lying about their age to sidestep minimum age safeguards. Children as young as eight are now signing up.

Kathy Evans, policy director of the Children’s Society, which is conducting its own inquiry into modern childhood, said there was now “mounting public and professional concern about the potential impact of children’s TV and Internet viewing habits”. The inquiry will report next month on children and technology as part of its two-year investigation.

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4.SIDE EFFECTS OF BECOMING A VEGETARIAN

by Benna Crawford, Demand Media

A vegetarian diet is a healthy choice if you pay attention to nutritional requirements and follow a balanced eating plan. The Mayo Clinic created a vegetarian food pyramid that recommends daily food intake of six servings of grains, five servings of nuts, beans, legumes and other protein foods, four servings of vegetables, two of fruit and two of

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unsaturated fats. (See References 5) Inattention to dietary needs can create side effects that are unpleasant and unhealthy. For vegans, who avoid all animal products, countering potential dietary deficiencies is particularly important.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

If you are a strict vegetarian and eat no dairy, eggs or other animal products, your diet may be deficient in vitamin B12. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include anemia, weakness, poor balance and tingling in the arms and legs, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. B12 is important for metabolism, maintenance of the central nervous system and the formation of red blood cells. Vegetarian sources of B12 include fortified grains and nutritional yeast, as well as vitamin supplements.

Iron Deficiency

The most readily absorbed iron is available in foods many vegetarians do not consume: red meats, poultry and fish. A lack of sufficient iron can cause anemia. Symptoms of low iron include exhaustion, weakness, slow cognitive development, chills and increased susceptibility to infection. Women who suffer from iron deficiency can give birth to premature or low birth weight infants. But the type of iron found in beans, lentils, enriched grains, spinach, raisins and tofu is adequate for normal nutritional needs. The National Institutes for Health recommends that vegetarians get twice as much iron as non-vegetarians because the type of iron they consume is more difficult to absorb. NIH advises vegetarians to increase iron absorption by taking vitamin C or consuming citrus with plant-based iron sources.

Zinc Deficiency

Zinc helps you to smell and taste. It's also important for the immune system -- zinc helps wounds heal, is a factor in cell division and cell growth and contributes to the process of carbohydrate break down. Zinc is found in high protein foods like meats and dark meat poultry, so vegans and many vegetarians can develop a zinc deficiency. That could result in poor appetite, frequent infections, hair loss and a host of other symptoms. One good way for vegetarians to consume zinc is by eating legumes, peanuts and peanut butter, although zinc from animal protein is more readily absorbed by the body.

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Calcium and Bone Loss

Strong bones need calcium and one of the best ways to get it is from dairy products. If milk, yogurt and butter aren't part of your diet, look for cereals, breads and juices that have added calcium, fortified tofu, kale, broccoli and Chinese cabbage. Calcium shortages can lead to thinning bone density and osteoporosis, dental problems and other medical conditions. Calcium helps blood to circulate through the body, muscles to move, nerves to transmit messages from the brain, and it releases hormones and enzymes. The NIH points out that calcium supplements can interfere with some medications so you should check with your health care provider before adding supplements to any diet.

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5. TEENAGE RUNAWAYS

Mark Twain's book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered one of the greatest works of American literature. It is the story of a boy who runs away from home, in part because of his abusive father. In keeping with the American concept of individualism, the boy's experiences as a runaway, both good and bad, help him grow as a person and establish his independence and maturity. The modern plight of runaways, however, differs greatly from Twain's narrative.

A runaway is a child or teenager who chooses to leave home without parental consent, and who is unprepared for such independ-

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ence. According to the Children's Defense Fund, 3,288 young people run away every day. The result for the majority of runaways is anything but romantic, and the motivation behind the act is less the assertion of free will than the immanent need to escape. They are almost always fleeing from something or someone.

At the most benign, such problems may concern marital trouble between parents. Teenagers often blame themselves for the problems their parents have. One or both parents may suffer from alcoholism or some other substance abuse problem. This can make home life extremely difficult, especially when it is combined with emotional or physical abuse. In situations such as these, 20 running away may seem reasonable. While a teenager's desire to escape an abusive home life is understandable, there are cases where the source of motivation is less evident. Teenagers occasionally run away from fairly stable households. This may be caused by a personal problem on the part of the teenager, who may be excessively sensitive, emotionally disturbed, or suffering from some shame that he or she cannot admit. The misplaced desire for selfassertion, or the need to rebel, may be behind the choice to run away. These cases are more difficult to deal with than straightforward cases of abuse, since the cause is the runner's unbalanced psychological state.

The reality of life as a runaway is neither romantic nor exciting. In fact, it is against the law in the United States. Runaways who are under the age of eighteen may be sent to a facility for underage offenders or even an adult jail if they are caught by police. And if they are not caught, homeless life is filthy and dangerous. In the United States, there are few well-administered services for runaways. Homelessness means, at the very least, being almost constantly sick with a variety of diseases. It is, of course, difficult to find proper food. The problems that teenagers face in this situation would be difficult enough without the added troubles from people around them. Many runaways become either victims or members of street gangs. Violence is a constant threat. There is also the likelihood of drug addiction or alcoholism. Young girls are particularly at risk from rape, sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS, and pregnancy. Since the teenage years are a time of development, the longer a teenager remains in the environment of the streets, the less likely he or she will be able to be rehabilitated and re-join mainstream society. While running away may seem to be an escape from an intolerable situation, the homeless life provides neither shelter nor relief.

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Social responses to runaways vary. If caught by police, runaways are often sent back to their homes after a period in detention. However, if the young person has run away because of abuse, being brought back may simply allow for more abuse, causing the youth to ran away again. An alternative is to place the teenager in a youth facility or a foster home. Though social programs for this purpose often receive inadequate funding and support, they still provide an alternative to the street. Runaways from non-abusive families are a different matter. Many such young people require psychological treatment, which the state is not obliged to provide. If the family cannot provide this sort of treatment, it is likely that teenager will run away again. While improved social programs can help in treating the problem, the source of the problem remains personal and, therefore, difficult to prevent. Although there are more questions than answers about the reasons teenagers run away, as well as appropriate treatment options, one thing is certain: runaways need more help than they are receiving.

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6. THE NATURE OF TV IN AMERICA

Richard Burke

Part.1 In the programming strategy, particularly of the net works, what has always been the case is this. Within the prime time, i.e. from 8 in the evening until 11that is what we consider our prime time of

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the day – the net-works traditionally were fairly successful at sharing the mass audience that was out there. That is to say, NBC would have roughly 30 percent, and CBS would have 30 percent and ABC would have had 30 percent. This is in the prime time. Those numbers would be slightly lower if you took them over a day’s time, but I’m concerned only with the evening viewing time. And then other 10 percent of the audience traditionally would have watched public broadcasting or they would have watched independent stations or they might have, in the very early days of cable, been watching one of the superstations. But by and large the networks were reasonably satisfied to have 30 percent. Over the last 5 or 6 or 8 years that number has started to drop, and they are obviously very concerned about that. That number went down as low as 75 percent in the last 2 or 3 years. In a commercially based system every viewer that you lose and every rating point that you lose can be converted into dollars. And the advertisers re saying, ‘Well, now look. You used to be able to deliver to us, as they say, so many hundreds, of thousands of viewers. You don’t seem to be able to do it any more. Why should we pay the sane advertising rate?’ In trying to get this 30 percent the networks have been accused frequently of producing what some critics have called the least objectionable programming. And by ‘least objectionable’ what people mean is, it doesn’t have to be good. You don’t have to take any risks with it. You don’t have to put a lot of time into it. It just has to be less objectionable than what the other network is looking at. Because the theory is that large numbers of people don’t watch programs anyway. They watch television. They go over to the television and say, ‘What’s on?’ and keep turning through or pressing the buttons, and somebody says, ‘Oh, that’s okay. Stop there, That’s fine.’ Well, in this theory that I am explaining very superficially here, what you finally stop at is what’s least objectionable, at least for you. So the networks will take and have taken this position that you don’t have to win, you just don’t fail. You see if you take big risks, you are likely to fail. So don’t fail. That would be a primarily rule/ Don’t lose your one third, and try to produce the least objectionable programming possible.

Part II: Now, if you subscribe to this analysis of television programming, particularly by networks, what you find out is that there isn’t really as much diversity as there appears to be. I look at the schedule sometimes and in my best efforts to find something least objectionable what I have to conclude is that it’s all objectionable and I’ll

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