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| Barry Green, Ideas on Tourism & Sustainability |
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If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. (JRR Tolkien) |
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I believe that to maintain a reasonable standard of living into the
future in Western Australia we need to look very carefully at how we
manage our economy, food supply, resources and society. I believe
that the internet has a major place to play because it allows the
discussion of ideas that don't get an airing in the mainstream media.
The internet allows for the free exchange of ideas providing
exciting opportunities for innovative businesses and individuals to
prosper. At the end of 2008 we saw the economic and
environment effect of allowing
sales and marketing types to
lead the world. Hopefully the failure of the global economic model
driven by greed will be replaced by a new sustainable economic model driven by
true science, not the commercial science of multinational
corporations, and a genuine interest in caring for the
planet and its people. In 2010 a proposal to mine coal
in the beautiful
South
West at
Margaret River was challenged by a well organised internet based
campaign run by the
The No Coal!tion , this resulted in the
proposal being disallowed. Also. while great damage has been
done to the states agricultural industry by the release of GM
canola, it now looks ( March 2011) like reason might prevail
with the Premier now announcing the the state will not be going down
the path of
GM wheat. For more on this discussion see the
science of organic farming.
Aren't we fortunate to live in a democracy that allows its citizens
to express an opinion, and at a time when the best of American enterprise
and technology
has produced the internet and
Google, allowing for the free exchange of ideas! Australia's CSIRO is providing leadership
with its work which is explained in
ECOS
a bi-monthly CSIRO magazine reporting on the science
and news behind sustainability in the environment and industry. As I see it, domestic Tourism , and Agritourism in particular is an extension of the growing health and wellbeing industry. Holidays allow people to think about what they are doing and where they are going and holiday experiences inform and educate people about the values of, Nature Conservation, Farmers Markets , Farm Tourism, Organic Farming , Permaculture , Slow Food Sustainable Living and even can contribute to aboriginal reconciliation and an appreciation of our Heritage and Culture. Harvest Highway is a project that attracts people from Perth to explore teh attractions and food producers along the South Western Highway that runs from Armadale to Walpole, an area from which much of WA's fresh food is produced. All will have to become increasingly significant if we are to maintain reasonable living standards in the face of declining natural energy resources. I'm not sure that International Tourism to WA has a big future as rising oil costs will make mass long distance air travel too expensive. I question our governments justification for encouraging investment to cater for international tourism which could well turn out to be a passing phenomenon. The organisation Forum Advocating Cultural and Ecotourism, FACET represents similar ideals, their charter is "To inspire and promote the responsible community use of Western Australian Cultural and Natural Heritage through tourism". I was delighted to present as case study titled "Agritourism and the Internet, remaking the connection between Farmers and Eaters" at their very successful Culinary Journeys Conference held in Manjumup in April 2013. Check out the Culinary Journeys Website and facebook page . If you agree with the ideas expressed here and in the associated links, please feel free to link to any of these pages from your website, this way you are helping to spread the concept of stability through diversity! If your website is relevant to the content of this site I'll happily provide a reciprocal link. If you take a few moments
to check out the 4 main sections of this site,
WA
Holiday Planner,
Special
Interest Accommodation,
Travellers
Links and
Unique
West Australian products, gifts and souvenirs, I
think you will be amazed at the amount of information and ease of
access. Barry Green
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ABC Open talk with Barry about Radio in various forms
https://open.abc.net.au/posts/barry-heart-radio-84wu6hh |
The following article was first published in Australian Organic
Producer Magazine, Spring 2011 edition, by the Biological Farmers of
Australia (BFA). For further information regarding organics, visit
www.bfa.com.au or contact
the BFA, the voice of Australian organics, on ph 07 3350 5716; email
info@bfa.com.au. |
Article from
Farm Weekly "Ripe" insert June 2010, for more WA Farm Holidays
visit
www.farmstaywest.com.au  |
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Article from The Countryman "My Block" March 2009    |
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To read my discussion paper on organic farming visit Organic
Farming 
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To read my discussion paper on organic farming visit Organic Farming
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Farm Tourism : The following article from the ABC Organic Gardner Magazine, Spring 2006
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| More about Land For Wildlife properties with areas of land reserved for nature conservation |
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| More about Land For Wildlife properties with areas of land reserved for nature conservation |
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| The above was prompted in part by my frustration at being unable to develop a dialogue with the WA Tourism Commission. An organisation that receives $54 million dollars in taxpayer funds but which charges small operators like our Boronia Farm Farmstay as much as multi-national hotels for a listing on their website www.westernaustralia.com . |
| If you wish to list your business or community group on this website please see our Link Policy |