Alternative Tourism, Meeting 20 September 2005
Cape Manor Hotel |
Patrick Dowling and Networkers |
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Note: Our Meeting started later than scheduled, due to delayed arrival of visitors. The positive side about it was that much networking was done and old contacts re-established.
Members may access the visitor’s list.
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Introduction
Teodora opened the meeting by introducing herself and in turn introduced Vaska
Vaska spoke about herself and Alternative Tourism in Bulgaria before introducing Elaine
Elaine briefly outlined of how to help people by visiting the rural areas
Rudolf introduced himself
Speakers
Patrick Dowling Topic: Tourism And The Environment
Justin Topic: Internet Marketing
All visitors introduced themselves before the individual "table discussion" continued
Lucky Draw See... and the lucky winners are?
The meeting ended shortly after 14:30h after having a very successful "workshop" and a lovely Brunch
Tourism And The Environment
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A talk to the Alternative Tourism Forum
Speaker: Patrick Dowling
Environmentalist
Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa
Western Cape Region
WESSA is the oldest Environmental NGO in SA having been established in 1926. Broadly its mission is to promote public participation in caring for the earth. Its main involvements and activities are: environmental policy development, lobbying government at all levels, playing a watchdog role by participating in environmental impact assessments, environmental education and training, project management, supporting local environmental initiatives and the establishment of friends and other action groups.
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It has a membership base of over ten thousand and produces national magazines as well as regional newsletters. It is one of few organizations prepared to take government or business to court on environmental principles despite the prohibitively high costs of such actions. Despite this it welcomes co-operative partnerships with business and government on environmental and poverty alleviation projects.
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Sustainable Development
One of the largest global environmental problems is one of definition – that of “sustainable development.” Since the phrase was coined at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 it has been routinely manipulated by many to mean sustaining development and the generation of vast profits, often in an unsustainable way that damages both the natural and socail environment. Some of the chief facets of “unsustainability” to be avoided by enterprises wanting to do the right thing are:
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- Wasteful energy consumption
- Careless solid waste production and management processes
- Unconscious and prodigal water consumption and waste water production
- Inefficient and polluting transport
- Air pollution
- Careless resource use (E.g. minerals, fish, forests, plants, land, animals, oil, human labour)
- Irresponsible promotion of consumerism
- Overpackaging
- Mining with no rehabilitation plans or intent
- Inequitable and exploitative use of land
- Limiting access to those who can pay
- Cutting off of traditional access and commuting routes
- Acquiring ownership rights over genetic materials
- Promoting bio- and other technologies without due observance of the cautionary principle
- Inefficient and exploitative globalised trade practices
- Economic competition which shuns the precautionary approach
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For tourism to take its place genuinely in the quest for sustainability and the development of environmental awareness it has to deliberately set out to minimise these impacts.
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Cumulative Impact Furthermore it has to be sensitive to the cumulative impact of various tourism initiatives and ask questions like:
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- Is this going to increase prices for locals?
- Is traffic congestion going to get worse?
- Are today’s tourists going to become part-time residents later and inflate property prices?
- Is this going to lead to the development of exclusive facilities intended only for the rich like golfing estates, wellness centres, 5star hotels, inappropriate game lodges?
- Will traditional local access be denied because of any of these?
- Will tourism initiatives like this lead to the need for mega new infrastructure that impacts on the environment like dams on sensitive rivers, airports on wetlands, conference centres on dune fields, roads along the coast?
- Are there really many local jobs flowing from this idea and at what level of dignity and meaning are they?
- Is this going to encourage a “zoo” expereince for local people who will feel that they are being gawked at?
- Are local resources like crayfish, abalone, indigenous timber, fresh water, rare fauna and flora going to be impacted on?
- Is this initiative for luxury or learning?
- Who matters most – clients or country?
- Have I talked to local people about the idea?
- Can they benefit in ways that go beyond job creation? – education, health, food production, culture?
- Is local culture going to be distorted or made artificial?
- Are unreasonable expectations going to be created?
- What is sustainable and what is unsustainable about this idea?
- Will natural or built heritage be impacted on negatively?
- How can this initiative contribute to environmental restoration and conservation (E.g baboon monitors, erosion control, waste minimization, fish protection, alien vegetation control etc)
- Where can “my” tourists leave a positive mark voluntarily?
- What useful and sustainable ideas can tourists leave here and visa versa?
- Have I provided networking information for them?
- Are the overt and covert messages I give tourists sufficient to modify behaviour positively and give useful information?
- Am I aware of the sense and meaning of the relevant environmental legislation like the ECA, NEMA, NWA, The White Paper on Sustainable Coastal Development, Marine Living Resources Act, Biodiversity Act, National Heritage Act – and how they have relevance to my endeavours?
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Quick review of poster
This was produced to help poor, mostly illiterate people on the coast, get to grips with the notion of tourism. It points out some of the positive and negative aspects or tourism and introduces ideas for products and services that could generate a modest income.
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Conclusion
Apologies if this came across as something of a wet blanket; it wasn’t meant to, but it is easier to integrate such sustainability concepts nearer the beginning of an enterprise than after it has gained great momentum. WESSA is currently involved in a joint project with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) that, amongst other things, will be encouraging fledgling tourism initiatives in poor communities mostly on the West Coast. It would be great if the Alternative Tourism Forum could help in promoting, testing and evaluating of such efforts and possibly be roped into some of the training. I look forward to a mutually rewarding relationship with the Forum. Thank you.
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The First Anniversary just around The Corner:
Chief Of SA Air Force Unveils Vintage Planetarium
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Photographed at the opening of the SA Air Force Planetarium are from left to right: Col JCJ Butler, Officer Commanding Air Force Base Ysterplaat
Mr Chris Teale, Resident Museologist
Lt Gen Roelf Beukes
Ms Tammy Park, Assistant Curator
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On the 13th October 2004 the Chief of the South African Air Force, Lt Gen Roelf Beukes officially opened the 1923 Spitz A1 planetarium at the SAAF Museum, Air Force Base Ysterplaat. This particular instrument has an out of the ordinary heritage. It was one of 40 constructed and only one of three remaining in the world. It is also the only one still operational. It was used during the Second World War by the Royal Navy at Gordon’s Bay where navigators were trained in what is known as astral navigation. After the war it was transferred to 80 Air Navigation School at CFS Langebaanweg, where it was utilised in the training of pilots and navigators. When 80 ANS relocated to Cape Town International Airport during the early 1970’s, the planetarium was also relocated and was housed in a specially constructed building. When the decision was taken to move 35 Squadron and 80 ANS back to Air Force Base Ysterplaat the planetarium was brought to the SA Air Force Museum and after some two years of hard work was reassembled and restored back to pristine condition. Although the GPS has replaced the need for astral navigation, it will still be utilised by 80 ANS who present survival-training courses for aircrews.
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No. 01-001
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Sophie Peters, 1998
Please Diarise:
28 September - 29 October Art Exhibition Gallery Erdmann Contemporary exhibits Manfred Zylla's Work on Paper
08 October
Atlantis Open Day
at the Atlantis Crafts and Tourism Information Centre, crn. Arion Drive and Anna Ave (next to tennis courts, diagonally opposite Shoprite)
Contact: Miles/Martinus at 021 572-0272
13 October WESSA Open Day
in the WESSA "barn", 31 The Sanctuary, off Pollsmoor Rd, Kirstenhof. Topics for presentation and discussion include an item on energy and climate change and report backs from local groups on specific challenges and successes (incl legal and admin tools and approaches).
Bookings: Patrick Dowling at 021 701-1397
18 October Alternative Tourism Network Meeting at the Air Force base Ysterplaat, Milnerton
19 October Friends of EE Meeting At the Aquarium at 14h00 for those interested in Environmental Education
Bookings: Patrick Dowling at 021 701-1397
23 October Freshlyground Concert Manyanani Peace Park, Khayelitsha Local Agenda 21, 918-2564
02 December International Bulkin Welcome Concert City Hall, Cape Town Tickets at the door. R60-R100
03 December Air Show
Air Force base Ysterplaat Milnerton
5th–10th March 2006 Velo Mondial, Cape Town
We are working on a cultural exchange project between Bulgaria, Germany, Poland and South Africa – for our Local artists. For more information contact Rudolf (Rudi)
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Painting to the music of Beatroot Mothertongue
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Nico Phooko, 2005
Nico, at home in Gauteng, is currently a guest at the Greatmore Studios in Cape Town |
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Alternative Tourism ... and the lucky winners are?
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Carmen Thompson won a a free Alternative Tourism Membership to the value of R600
Patricia Harrison won a voucher to the value of R500 which will be credited when joining
Promoting Africa
Dave Cowley won cosmetics "Bulgarian Rose" estimated value R500 (to be passed on to his wife only)
Justin our Internet Marketing speaker won a bottle of Bulgarian Merlot
Congratulations To You All
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Skiing Holiday in Bulgaria
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From November until February 2006 Skiing Holiday in Bulgaria, departing every Thursday. Contact Teodora
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Hout Bay
Heritage Day
The fireing of the 25pounder field gun initiated the start for the race of road runners and surf skiers
Atlantis West Coast Environmental Co-operative
From the left Melvin Miles, Office Administrator, Elaine Corbett, Alternative Tourism, Martinus Fredericks, Project Co-ordinator
10th German Cultural Weeks ~ Exhibition
Manfred Zylla ~ Work on Paper. A wide range of woodcuts, etchings and paintings on paper.
From the left:
Cirah Rasool, UCT
Peter Clarke, Artist
Mavis Smallberg, Writer
Manfred Zylla (kneeing)
Emile Maurice, Heritage Agency
Garth Erasmus, Artist
Sipho Hlati, Artist
Gallery Erdmann Contemporary, Cape Town
Opened by Peter Clarke
Sponsored by the German Consulate General Cape Town
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.... and on the Final Note from Alternative Tourism
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A big THANK YOU (from the left) Rudolf, Vaska, Elaine and Teodora to all the Guests and Members participating at the Alternative Networker's event.
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