Tourism's code: article 1
The understanding and promotion of the ethical values common to humanity, with an attitude of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious, philosophical and moral beliefs, are both the foundation and the consequence of responsible tourism; stakeholders in tourism development and tourists themselves should observe the social and cultural traditions and practices of all peoples, including those of minorities and indigenous peoples and to recognize their worth.
Surfing the net I found this free course on Travel Writing, it seems interesting.
Course Description
This semester, we will read writing about travel and place from Columbus's Diario through the present. Travel writing has some special features that will shape both the content and the work for this subject: reflecting the point of view, narrative choices, and style of individuals, it also responds to the pressures of a real world only marginally under their control.
Whether the traveler is a curious tourist, the leader of a national expedition, or a starving, half-naked survivor, the encounter with place shapes what travel writing can be. Accordingly, we will pay attention not only to narrative texts but to maps, objects, archives, and facts of various kinds.
Our materials are organized around three regions: North America, Africa and the Atlantic world, the Arctic and Antarctic.
The historical scope of these readings will allow us to know something not only about the experiences and writing strategies of individual travelers, but about the progressive integration of these regions into global economic, political, and knowledge systems.
Whether we are looking at the production of an Inuit film for global audiences, or the mapping of a route across the North American continent by water, these materials do more than simply record or narrate experiences and territories: they also participate in shaping the world and what it means to us.
Authors will include Olaudah Equiano, Caryl Philips, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Joseph Conrad, Jamaica Kincaid, William Least Heat Moon, Louise Erdrich, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca.
Expeditions will include those of Lewis and Clark (North America), Henry Morton Stanley (Africa), Ernest Shackleton and Robert F. Scott (Antarctica).
Darwin's Galapagos islands under threat from tourism, warns Andrew Marr
The Galapagos islands, where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution, are at risk of being ruined by tourists, presenter Andrew Marr has warned.
At the National Gallery in London there is an exhibitions dedicated to Monet, the founder of the Impressionism, hurry up, the last day is Sunday 20th September.
Unfortunately, I am in Italy it won't be possible be there physically :-(
..but mentally I will travel enjoying the following clips, with Bach and Mozart (Prelude in C major, BWV 846a, Rondo from Piano Sonata 58, Piano Sonata, K. 545, mvt. 3)
Info
Emma reports on the life and work of Claude Oscar Monet. The video includes many of Monet's paintings with music and narration.
Visual Art, Literature and Tourism will be the DNA of this blog, where my aim is to promote Culture v Business as Usual.
Jan van Eyck (active from 1422, dies 1441)
"Jan van Eyck was the greatest artist of the early Netherlands school.
He held high positions throughout his career, including court painter and diplomat in Bruges. So outstanding was his skill as an oil painter that the invention of the medium was at one time attributed to him, with his brother Hubert, also a painter.
Van Eyck exploited the qualities of oil as never before, building up layers of transparent glazes, thus giving him a surface on which to capture objects in the minutest detail and allowing for the preservation of his colours.
Nowhere is this better displayed than in this portrait of Giovanni di Arrigo Arnolfini, a merchant from Lucca and a frequent visitor to Bruges, and his wife Giovanna Cenami.
The signature on the back wall - 'Jan Van Eyck was here, 1434' - and his reflection in the mirror has led many to believe that he was a witness to their marriage.
The carving of Saint Margaret, the patron saint of childbirth, on the bed, and the presence of the dog - a traditional symbol of faithfulness - accentuate the marital theme."
- From "The A-Z of Art: The World's Greatest and Most Popular Artists and Their Works", by Nicola Hodge and Libby Anson
The Betrothal of the Arnolfini
Useful Info and Description
1434
Oil on Wood
National Gallery, London (Room 56)
"Van Eyck's art reached perhaps its greatest triumph in the painting of portraits.
One of his most famous portraits is "The betrothal of the Arnolfini" which represents an Italian merchant, Giovanni Arnolfini, who had come to the Netherlands on business, with his bride Jeanne de Chenany. In its own way it was as new and as revolutionary as Donatello's or Masaccio's work in Italy.
A simple corner of the real world had suddenly been fixed on to a panel as if by magic. Here it all was - the carpet and the slippers, the rosary on the wall, the little brush beside the bed, and the fruit on the window-sill. It is as if we could pay a visit to the Arnolfini in their house.
The picture probably represents a solemn moment in their lives - their betrothal.
The young woman has just put her right hand into Arnolfini's left and he is about to put his own right hand into hers as a solemn token of their union.
Probably the painter was asked to record this important moment as a witness, just as a notary might be asked to declare that he has been present at a similar solemn act.
This would explain why the master has put his name in a prominent position on the picture with the Latin words 'Johannes de eyck fuit hic' (Jan van Eyck was here). In the mirror at the back of the room we see the whole scene reflected from behind, and there, so it seems, we also see the image of the painter and witness.
We do not know whether it was the Italian merchant or the northern artist who conceived the idea of making this use of the new kind of painting, which may be compared to the legal use of a photograph, properly endorsed by a witness. But whoever it was that originated this idea, he had certainly been quick to understand the tremendous possibilities which lay in Van Eyck's new way of painting. For the first time in history the artist became the perfect eye-witness in the truest sense of the term."
Source: EH Gombrich, The Story of Art
The Renaissance (Definition)
Usually defined as the "revival of art and letter under the influence of classical models in the 14th-16th century"
It is generally agreed that Giotto may be said to have began the Renaissance in the other sense, that of according a new dignity to man and his works, but that the classical ideal hardly came into play before the first years of the 15th century, when the humanist ideals of Alberty were indistinguishable from those of Massaccio, Brunelleschi, Donatello, and, to a lesser extent, Ghiberti.
Source: Dictionary of Art and Artists p. 439, Penguin Reference Library
If you are a responsible entrepreneur, you should watch this short video, broadcasted by the British Library
Business is getting ethical
It is estimated that social enterprises comprise five percent of the whole UK economy, with a combined turnover of £27bn and businesses with an ethical or green dimension are becoming increasingly powerful and valued by customers.
In 2006 the Organic food market was worth £1.6bn, double the amount in 2000 and sales are forecast to hit £2.7bn by 2010.
So how do you start a social enterprise and where are the future opportunities? We hear from four of Britain 's most successful social and ethical entrepreneurs on their experiences.
Justin Francis is MD of ethical travel firm Responsible Travel
First: The philosophy of every university and entrepreneurs is based on Business as Usual
Second: The development of this noble business model, must be a duty of States , NGO's and UN, and not the opposite.
Conclusion: After a real and long agreement between these two figures, we can say, that the Corporate Social Responsibility is a mass-reality.
NB: Tomorrow there will be the G8, at L' Aquila (Italy), did you heard politicians speaking about CSR/SRI???
I did not heard anything!!!!!!
If you are disagree with me please post your opinions
Thank You
Social Innovation:
Entrepreneurs have a strong impact on society, not only as creators of wealth and jobs, but also as contributors to common good. Therefore we strongly encourage that the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility be adopted by the majority of companies, and be supported by governments. We also stress the importance of Social Entrepreneurship: entrepreneurs can contribute to sectors that offer social services and at the same time be profitable. We as young business leaders agree to engage in public/private partnerships that will help our businesses grow and to assist the next generation of entrepreneurs so they are contributors to the economy. We ask Governments to recognize the importance of private/public partnerships and the important role that young entrepreneurs can play if given the opportunity to engage equally with large corporations in government policy development and procurement opportunities.
Green Innovation:
We as young leaders see green innovation as an opportunity for growth. This can bring new markets, create new jobs and lead to a more environmentally sustainable development. Therefore, we encourage companies to adopt the highest level of eco-efficiency and invest in green initiatives. We also encourage the development global partnerships among all countries. We as young business leaders promote studies on the effects of our corporate carbon footprint and undertake proper actions to decrease it until we are carbon neutral. We urge governments to create matching incentives for young entrepreneurs to adopt new and greener technologies and also to nurture green innovation.
At University I did a thesis on how to develop a B&B formula, unfortunately I didn't used words such as: Collectivism, Society, Community and so on. My Goal was to implement this formula in a specific area, in the developed world, the main goal was to make money as soon as possible.
After a course on Human Rights, I changed my mind, Individualism is based on "Human Independence" and Collectivism is based on "Human Interdependence" that's the difference, my idea is to create a Bed & Breakfast in the developing world, where I'll put my stress on synergy, communities, and promoting the concept on how to create a responsible business, where the profits will be used for infrastructures, education, and the most important goal "make poverty History".
Swami Radhananda receives Tourism BCs coveted Environmentally Responsible Tourism Award on February 12th 2009 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Vancouver. This was in recognition of Yasodhara Ashram's focused efforts towards sustainability.
On internet I found this article, what do you think?
14 april 2009 - Tourism is neither panacea nor blight.
The impacts of tourism on people and the environment are well documented.
Yet, the controversies in tourism remain undocumented, and sometimes even unpopular.
A look at the current tourism environments from non-academic sources illustrates the importance and need to discuss tourism controversies in academia, Omar Moufakkir writes.
Be Prepared: Before, During and After an Earthquake
Do you know how to prepare for and survive a major earthquake? According to Department of Conservation scientists, it will be critical to have the right answer to that question somewhere in California sometime in the coming years.
Many people think having bottled water on hand is a good idea. That's true, as long as you have enough. Many are certain that standing in a doorway during the shaking is a good idea. That's false, unless you live in an unreinforced adode structure; otherwise, you're more likely to be hurt by the door swinging wildly in a doorway or trampled by people trying to hurry outside if you're in a public place.
How to be Prepared
o Electricity, water, gas and telephones may not be working after an earthquake.
The police and fire departments are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to fend for yourself for at least three days, preferably for a week.
o You'll need food and water (a gallon a day per person); a first aid kit; a fire extinguisher suitable for all types of fires; flashlights; a portable radio; extra batteries, blankets, clothes, shoes and money (ATMs may not work); medication; an adjustable or pipe wrench to turn off gas or water, if necessary; baby and pet food; and an alternate cooking source (barbecue or camp stove). This list can also be applied to other disasters, such as floods or wildfires.
o It's also a good idea to decide beforehand how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake and to conduct in-home practice drills. You might choose an out-of-the-area friend or relative that family members can call to check on you.
o Securing water heaters, major appliances and tall, heavy furniture to prevent them from toppling are prudent steps. So, too, are storing hazardous or flammable liquids, heavy objects and breakables on low shelves or in secure cabinets.
o Discuss earthquake insurance with your agent. Depending on your financial situation and the value of your home, it may be worthwhile.
During an Earthquake
o If you're indoors, stay there. Get under -- and hold onto --a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay clear of exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, fireplaces and appliances. The kitchen is a particularly dangerous spot. If you're in an office building, stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator.
o If you're outside, get into the open. Stay clear of buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you.
o If you're driving, move the car out of traffic and stop. Avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses. Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines. When you resume driving, watch out for road hazards.
o If you're in a mountainous area, beware of the potential for landslides. Likewise, if you're near the ocean, be aware that tsunamis are associated with large earthquakes. Get to high ground.
o If you're in a crowded public place, avoid panicking and do not rush for the exit. Stay low and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.
After an Earthquake
o Check for fire or fire hazards. If you smell gas, shut off the main gas valve. If there's evidence of damage to electrical wiring, shut off the power at the control box.
o If the phone is working, only use it in case of emergency. Likewise, avoid driving if possible to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles.
o Be aware that items may fall out of cupboards or closets when the door is opened, and also that chimneys can be weakened and fall with a touch. Check for cracks and damage to the roof and foundation of your home.
o Listen to the radio for important information and instructions. Remember that aftershocks, sometimes large enough to cause damage in their own right, generally follow large quakes.
o If you leave home, leave a message telling friends and family your location.
Japan is an earthquake-prone country. Be prepared and don't panic when it happens!
Check your emergency survival kit regularly to see if the food is outdated or any items are missing so that the kit is usable when it's needed.
Informazioni di comportamento in caso di terremoto. Il terremoto è un fenomeno naturale e conseguentemente dobbiamo prepararci all’eventualità che esso avvenga senza farci sorprendere impreparati, tanto più se abitiamo in una area definita storicamente “sismica”. Cosa fare quando il terremoto non c’è: - Verificare lo stato di salute della propria casa; una casa in buone condizioni subisce meno danni ed è meno pericolosa di una in cattivo stato di manutenzione.
Informarsi se sono stato fatti gli adeguamenti antisismici (esistono varie leggi che danno contributi ai cittadini per gli adeguamenti, informarsi presso gli Uffici Tecnici dei Comuni!).
- Tenere a mente dove si abita, nel senso di conoscere il proprio quartiere e memorizzare le aree libere vicino casa.
- Informarsi su cosa prevede in caso di terremoto il “Piano comunale di Protezione Civile” del proprio paese per il quartiere dove si abita, conoscere dove si trova “l’area di attesa”.
- Informarsi sul posto di lavoro e nelle scuole se esiste un piano di evacuazione. Chiedere di partecipare al progetto “Scuola sicura”. - Nei condomini: indire ogni 6 mesi una riunione per verificare le conoscenze di comportamento di ciascun inquilino, chiedere che vengano eliminate le situazioni di pericolo derivanti dagli “aggetti”, dai cornicioni, etc. (non vuol dire: eliminare gli aggetti ed i cornicioni, ma le situazioni precarie!).
Per evitare comportamenti che potrebbero aumentare i danni ed i problemi in caso di terremoto è opportuno seguire alcuni semplici consigli. Durante il terremoto: - Cercare di stare calmi e rimanere dove ci si trova. Coloro che sono a casa si debbono portare vicino ai muri maestri, sotto gli architravi, lontano dalle finestre.
- Evitare assolutamente l’ascensore, e fare attenzione alle scale. Le cose che più facilmente possono causare danni in casa sono: lo scaldabagno, i pensili della cucina, i lampadari, i mobili alti e pesanti. Evitare di accendere le luci, chiudere il gas.
Ripararsi sotto il letto o sotto i tavoli robusti.
- All’esterno le prime cose che cadono sono: i cornicioni in cattive condizioni, i comignoli, le tegole, i vasi dei fiori, i balconi a sbalzo (se mal collegati!), i vetri. - Se si è in macchina fermarsi ed aspettare che il terremoto cessi (le scosse possono durare da pochi secondi a pochi minuti!)
- Sul posto di lavoro comportarsi come in casa: portarsi sotto le travi o ripararsi sotto banconi o scrivanie; la stessa cosa va fatta a scuola. - E’ molto pericoloso precipitarsi fuori da dove ci si trova, ma è opportuno uscire al termine delle scosse, con calma!
- Non usare il telefono, le linee potrebbero essere interrotte, quelle attive servono per i soccorsi. Dopo il terremoto: - Recuperare le cose più necessarie come un maglione, una coperta, una bottiglia d’acqua. Portarsi dietro una torcia elettrica, evitare la tentazione di fare la valigia, prendere la radiolina.
- Chiudere gli interruttori centrali della luce, del gas, dell’acqua.
- Uscire di casa, dal posto di lavoro, da scuola assieme, responsabilizzare subito qualcuno che chiuda la fila! - Portarsi nelle “aree di attesa” memorizzati e previsti dal Piano comunale di Protezione Civile.
- Evitare di prendere la macchina (anche se la tentazione è forte!), le strade saranno molto probabilmente non praticabili e la vostra auto contribuirà ad aumentare la confusione ed a rallentare i soccorsi!
- E’ consigliabile restare uniti, non farsi vincere dalla tentazione di tornare a casa a prendere qualcosa d’altro (un terremoto è fatto anche di repliche e scosse di assestamento, che possono essere altrettanto pericolose della prima botta !).
- Pazienza! I soccorsi hanno bisogno di un po’ di tempo per la organizzazione.
- Segnalare ai soccorritori solo i casi che hanno particolare urgenza, contribuire al rapido dispiegarsi dei soccorsi non intralciandoli, mettere a disposizione dei responsabili dei soccorsi le proprie competenze e specializzazioni, evitare la diffusione di notizie non verificate.
Fonte: Architetto Francesco Pio ACITO Disaster Manager MATERA
In 1786, Goethe had travelled to Italy via Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass.
He visited Lake Garda, Verona, Venice, Rome and Alban Hills, Naples and Sicily. He wrote many letters, which he later used as the basis for Italian Journey.
Source: Wiki
Goethe (B.1749 - D.1832) was one of the key figures of German literature and the movement of Weimar Classicism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries; this movement coincides with Enlightenment, Sentimentality (Empfindsamkeit), Sturm und Drang and Romanticism.
The author of the scientific text Theory of Colours, he influenced Darwin with his focus on plant morphology.
He also served at length as the Privy Councilor ("Geheimrat") of the duchy of Weimar.
Goethe is the originator of the concept of Weltliteratur ("world literature"), having taken great interest in the literatures of England, France, Italy, classical Greece, Persia, the Arab world, and others. His influence on German philosophy is virtually immeasurable, having major effect especially on the generation of Hegel and Schelling, although Goethe himself expressly and decidedly refrained from practicing philosophy in the rarefied sense.
The Travels of Marco Polo is the usual English title of Marco Polo's travel book, nicknamed Il Milione (The Million, see below) or Le Livre des Merveilles (The Book of Wonders).
This description of his travels and stays in the Orient, including Asia, Persia, China and Indonesia, between 1271 and 1298 is also known as Oriente Poliano or Description of the World.
It was a very famous and popular book in the 13th century. The text claims that Marco Polo became an important figure at the court of the Mongol leader Kublai Khan.
However, modern scholars debate how much of the account is accurate and whether or not Marco Polo ever actually traveled to the court or was just repeating stories that he had heard from other travellers.
The book was actually written in French by a romance author of the time, Rustichello da Pisa, who was reportedly working from accounts which he had heard from Marco Polo when they were in prison in Genoa having been captured while on a ship.
I think that through the literature we can defeat any kind of racism, for this reason I'll post writings, poems of famous writers, the first one is Charles Dickens.
Written by: Charles Dickens
Pages: 179
Charles Dickens
Review of the Book: After Martin Chuzzlewit was published in 1844, Dickens deliberately took a break from novels to travel in Italy for almost a year.
Bored by many traditional tourist sites and repelled by the greed and empty rituals of the Catholic church, Dickens is far more attracted by urban desolation, the colourful life of the streets and visible signs of the nation's richly textured past. He is especially drawn to the costumes, cross-dressing and sheer exuberant energy of the Roman carnival.
Although seldom overtly political, Pictures from Italy often touches on the corruption and cruelty of Italian history, the grinding poverty and a sense of continuing oppression lurking just below the surface. A thrilling travelogue which is also deeply revealing about its author's current anxieties and concerns, this neglected work deserves a secure place among the masterpieces of Dickens's maturity.
As the issues of global warming and international development become more pressing, many are reexamining the role multinational corporations play in our society.
Some believe that corporations will be the new agent of change in this era of globalization, while others question the potential corporate social responsibility can have to solve all the world's problems.
Elliott Brown is Founder and CEO of Springboard Forward, an award winning non-profit organization that provides career development services that empower individuals to find a lifetime of Engaged Employment™. In 2005, Elliott was elected an Ashoka Fellow for his innovative work in changing the way poverty is being addressed in the United States. He graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Psychology in 1989.
Bruce Piasecki is the President and Founder of the American Hazard Control Group, a management consulting firm specializing in energy, materials, and environmental corporate matters since 1981. Dr. Piasecki is the author five books, including In Search of Environmental Excellence: Moving Beyond Blame. His latest book, World Inc., will be released in April 2007. Visit worldincbook.com
David Vogel is the Solomon P. Lee Professor of Business Ethics at the Haas School of Business and Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of The Market for Virtue: The Potential and Limits of Corporate Social Responsibility. He has lectured on corporate responsibility to professional and academic conferences in the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy, Denmark and Canada.
Source: Youtube
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the full text of which appears in the following pages. Following this historic act the Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the text of the Declaration and "to cause it to be disseminated, displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and other educational institutions, without distinction based on the political status of countries or territories."
