Jain Spirit 2002 06 No 11

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 29

to rubbish collection and recycling services and, most importantly, we have the education. Many people have not had these advantages and so it falls upon us, travellers to these often delicate environments, to set good examples and to act with the same care, if not more, than if we were at home. After all, without the beautiful beaches, parks and forests of our holiday destinations, travel would be a very empty experience indeed.
Water systems are fragile and in many places clean piped water is a luxury. When travelling, especially in hot countries, don't waste water in the way that we might unknowingly do at home, like leaving the tap running when brushing your teeth. We all do it! Try to minimise the amount of washing; many hotels are decked out to the standards that you would expect at home but this doesn't mean that the local environment can sustain them in the same way. Have a look around and see how the locals get their water; hotels have been known to take their water from nearby villages so that people, often children, have to walk a long way to pump water from a well. Seek out places that fit in with the local environment.
When it comes to disposing of rubbish, it is important to set a good example. If you are visiting outdoor sites, such as waterfalls or national parks, take a piece of rubbish home with you; other people will get the message and follow your example. In Cambodia I visited a beautiful river, a favourite weekend picnic spot of the locals that also held enormous religious significance. How strangely they looked at me when I started to gather a small pile of rubbish and set fire to it, but how pleased I was when some teenagers jumped up to help me. I am usually not in favour of starting fires in public, but neither am I of dirtying a beautiful place with rubbish, so be cautious.
When you are involved in outdoor activities, stick to the footpaths, keep off the coral and keep your car on the road. Many places leave the opportunity open for off-road travel or hiking, but this is usually not because it is deemed acceptable are but because the tourist infrastructure isn't in place. Never buy products made from endangered species (like coral) and report the illegal exploitation of wildlife to the local authorities. However, also be aware that practices are different in other cultures; animals that we regard as domestic are often a vital source of food in many countries and we must respect this. It can be hard to see the poor treatment of animals so use your initiative, but be open-minded.
Neerav Dhanani (top) with friends building a classroom in the Rio Muchachu Valley on the coast of Ecuador during his gap year. Many young people today go for adventure holidays which also involve community service to the local people
Leave A Light Footprint
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The best way contributing to the development of a culture and learning from it ourselves is to leave the guidebook in the hotel or guesthouse and go out and meet local people. They will quite often want to know about your culture as much as you are interested in theirs. However, tread sensitively and be aware of how your actions can offend others. Attend local festivals, religious occasions or public events, if appropriate, and talk to people about your own. But be aware of photography: most people will be willing to be photographed if you ask them politely but you should never photograph something if you are not given permission. Sacred sites, religious places, traditional rituals and particular people may
someone
or
be more than offended, sometimes even harmed, by photography. It was painful watching tourists climbing Uluru (Ayer's Rock) in Australia when the Aboriginal people, for whom the rock held special sacred powers, specifically asked people not to. Walking around the base of the rock was a lot of fun and we had the whole fourteen kilometres to ourselves (I would advise people to carry more water than they think they need!).
We often have a lot more to give than money, so share your food and consider offering your talents and skills to help the local people. An hour spent teaching a person a few words of your language or how to draw a picture will be rewarding and fun for you, and means the chance for a little varied education for them. You will also learn something too. You could also carry with you small gifts like pencils, tennis balls or ribbons; a new ball for a child might mean that a whole village can take part in a cricket game. Even though this all sounds like hard work, with some thought and a little practice travelling to benefit others will soon become second nature.
Rose Skelton is a freelance travel writer who lives in London.
Important Weblinks
www.lonelyplanet.com. www.world-tourism.org www.vso.org.uk
www.tourismconcern.org.uk
June-August 2002. Jain Spirit
27