Marine Debris & Tourism

The idea that human pollution is damaging the Earth has lost all novelty. Since the advent of the First Industrial Revolution almost three centuries ago, smog and waste have slowly but surely begun to deteriorate our planet. Among those areas affected are our oceans, home to some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. Recent research has linked an increase in ocean debris with declining tourism among tropical beach destinations. Marine debris includes any

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Tea Tastes of Culture… and Environmental Impact

According to Indian legend, tea was the divine creation of Buddha himself. Buddha vowed to meditate for nine years straight without rest, but was eventually overcome by exhaustion and fell asleep. When he woke up, he was so upset by his weakness that he cut off his own eyelids and threw them into the dirt. His skin is said to have taken root in that very spot, germinating into plants that bore leaves in the

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The Global Debate on Vaccines

Vaccines are one of the most revolutionary public health technologies ever to be developed. In fact, their significant impact on population health is evidenced by how widely they are used to this day and how frequently they are brought up in public debate and discourse. One thing I find particularly striking about the discourse on vaccines is how differently have come to be perceived and accepted in developed and developing countries. Although undoubtedly remarkable in

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Choosing Organic Cotton Goes a Long Way

In today’s world of on-going environmental issues, it is more and more important for consumers to be aware and conscious of the products they are buying. As a consumer, we have the choice to decide what products we buy and where we buy them from. Choosing the right products can be very difficult if you don’t know what to look for. There are many options out there for sustainable, ethically sound products. Vegan, up-cycled, fair

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Why the World Needs Sustainable Tourism: Spotlight on Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Initiative

On October 20, 2017, Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan launched the Responsible Tourism initiative, a statewide program aimed at “making better places for people to visit and better places for people to live in” (Naguran, 2017). The Responsible Tourism initiative operates within the “triple bottom line” model often utilized by companies pursuing sustainability. The triple bottom line refers to responsibility and conservation in the economic, social, and environmental spheres. The project has existed on

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