All posts by The Beetle

Our Friends Ryanair

Ryanair’s Chief Executive, Michael O Leary has been hitting back about criticisms that the airline industry are irresponsible when it comes to CO2 emissions.

In response to being called, “the irresponsible face of capitalism” over its stance on climate change, Michael O’Leary suggested that old aircraft should be penalised as should business class passengers and also connecting travellers, the latter referring to indirect, environmentally inefficient journeys.

He said business class travellers were paying only a fraction of the cost of their expensive tickets, compared with UK plans to charge 10 pounds (US$19.38) on Ryanair flights where the average fare is 28 pounds.

As a final parting shot, Ryanair’s chief called for an end to “environmental hysteria” in British politics and media which he blamed for exaggerating the role of aviation in CO2 emissions. He acknowledged that global warming was an issue but said that the industry contributes less than 2 percent of global CO2 emissions.

Even the UK’s Prime Minster Tony Blair has been caught up in the row over his refusal to give up long-haul holiday flights in the interests of saving the planet. Naturally, Mr O’Leary said Blair was “absolutely right to keep flying”.

Then, Mr O Leary recently announced at a press conference that increases in airline taxes aimed at helping reduce greenhouse gases should be repealed as greenhouse gases were not the real reason for the increase in taxes and demanded an explanation from the Treasury about how it plans to use the extra £1bn in revenue that will be raised. ‘Gordon Brown won’t spend any of this money on the environment. He is just using the environment to steal more taxes from ordinary passengers,’ O’Leary claimed. Some truth in this?

Environmentalism has become a political hot potato these days – what do you think? E-mail the Beetle and let her know and we will publish your views and thoughts.

Webmaster Paul

A big thank you goes to Webmaster Paul for his unsung and unpaid, not to mention heroic work on the Globetrotters Website and for organising the mail out of this e-newsletter. If it was not for Paul’s work, this e-newsletter would never happen. The Beetle feels he deserves a big mention and a big thank you. Here he is – he is a shy and retiring type so he’s at the end of this e-news and maybe he won’t notice it and get embarrassed.

Being Careful: Thailand

The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office advise against all but essential travel to Thailand. The Beetle notes that it is interesting when governments issue travel warnings, when you have first hand experience of being in that country – all is not what governments make it out to be. Parts of this travel warning seems a little extreme. This is what they say about Thailand:

On 31 December 2006, eight bombs exploded in various locations in Bangkok, killing three people and injuring at least 36 others including six foreigners. As a result, the Thai authorities have strengthened security in Bangkok. Very little real evidence of this during the Beetle’s visit, which included 31st December. Security at the new airport is atrocious.

The possibility of further attacks cannot be ruled out. You should exercise caution when travelling within Bangkok and where possible avoid crowded public places.

There is a high threat from terrorism throughout Thailand. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against places frequented by foreigners.

On 19 September 2006, there was a coup against the Thai civilian government and martial law was imposed throughout the country. Yep, the Beetle was there too when this happened – all very good natured and utterly peaceful. On 28 November 2006 martial law was effectively lifted in 41 (of the total of 76) provinces, including Bangkok. An interim Prime Minister was appointed on 1 October 2006. There remains a risk of further political instability in Thailand. You are advised to avoid any demonstrations and large crowds.

Globetrotters Travel Award

A member of Globetrotters Club? Interested in a £1,000 travel award?

Know someone who is? We have £1,000 to award each year for five years for the best submitted independent travel plan. Interested?

Then see our legacy page on our Website, where you can apply with your plans for a totally independent travel trip and we’ll take a look at it. Get those plans in!!

Cocaine on Banknotes

Using the latest forensic techniques, scientists at Dublin’s City University have discovered that One hundred percent of banknotes in the Republic of Ireland carry traces of cocaine. The researchers were said to be “surprised by their findings”. Some of the notes had such high levels of cocaine on them that it is thought they were used to snort the drug. Others had much lower traces and may have been cross-contaminated, perhaps in the wallets or pockets of users. The results are similar to other similar scientific studies from other countries such as the UK and Spain where cocaine has also been found on a high proportion of notes. The study found that higher value banknotes, such as 20 and 50 euros, were more likely to contain greater traces of the drug.

Spanish researchers also recently published a study that revealed that traces of cocaine can be found on 94 percent of banknotes in Spain, a country that has one of the world’s highest rates of users. Cocaine now sells for as little as 60 euros ($80) a gram, or 5 euros ($7) a line, and it is regularly used by 1.6 percent of Spaniards, up from 0.9 percent in 1999, a government report said this month. Law enforcement agencies say cocaine is getting cheaper and more popular in Europe because of efforts to boost production by Colombian paramilitaries and rebels who need money for weapons. Spain is a major entry point to Europe for the smugglers.

Indian Cobra Charmers

Pressure from animal rights activists has resulted in many Indian snake charmer’s snakes, (mostly cobras one of India’s endangered reptiles,) being impounded. What to do? Enterprisingly, the newly unemployed Indian snake charmers have started to play their flutes at weddings and world festivals.

“We now have accepted the fact that we cannot perform with snakes,” said Hawa Singh Nath, a wiry, bearded 68-year-old charmer who lives in the suburbs of the capital, New Delhi. “We are hardly earning half of what we used to earn before,” Nath said. “Many are going to the cities and most of our children do not want to take up our profession. We have no regrets that they won’t play the flute. We need to do other jobs now to survive.”

Nath himself performed his 300-year-old music at the Dubai film festival in 2005, while others have travelled to the U.K. and Middle East or put on special wedding or birthday party shows. Other charmers have turned the tables and some now work at animal centres and forestry offices, educating visitors about snakes.

Snakes Earthquake Warnings

Still on the subject of snakes, China has come up with a novel earthquake prediction system which relies on the behaviour of snakes. The earthquake bureau in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi autonomous region in southern China, has developed its early warning system using a combination of snake natural instinct and modern technology. Experts at the bureau monitor snakes at local snake farms via 24 hr video cameras linked to a broadband Internet connection. “When an earthquake is about to occur, snakes will move out of their nests, even in the cold of winter,” said bureau director Jiang Weisong. They are said to be able to sense an earthquake from 120 km (70 miles) away, three to five days before it happens. “If the earthquake is a big one, the snakes will even smash into walls while trying to escape.” Beats being eaten.

Volunteer as a Teacher in Ghana

Help A School in Ghana HASPOG is a non-governmental organisation whose goal is to help enhance education and development in Ghana and at the same time promote healthy interaction among peoples of different countries through our International Volunteer-Teacher Program.

In this program HASPOG has been, and is still, inviting and placing volunteers from different parts of the world in Ghanaian schools, both in the countryside and urban areas – according to their preference; and they are enjoying it! We call it ‘Educational Empowerment for Accelerated Development’. By the time volunteers leave Ghana they would have been immersed in the rich Ghanaian culture, way of life and not least, the friendly and warm spirit of the people. Click here for more information.