Mexican leader seeks climate commitments ahead of 2010 Cancun conclave

From an Associated Press article posted on Yahoo!News:

DAVOS, Switzerland – Facing down the skeptics, Mexico's president urged governments and companies on Friday to cough up the cash to fight climate change and avoid a repeat of the failure at Copenhagen to set binding targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

With a worldwide shaky economic recovery under way, Felipe Calderon pleaded for aid and investment from executives and political leaders at the World Economic Forum, hoping to unite the world on a firm blueprint to slow the warming of the planet.

This year's big U.N. climate change meeting — being held Nov. 29-Dec. 10 in the Mexican resort of Cancun — will be challenged to succeed where the 2009 meeting in Copenhagen failed.

"We need to try to learn from our mistakes in Copenhagen," Calderon said. "If we can find an economic mechanism ... we will be on track."

Calderon spoke a day after the United States took an important symbolic step by submitting targets to the U.N. climate body, pledging to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 — using 2005 levels as a standard. But the commitment must be approved by Congress, which is not guaranteed.

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Find your way with a MapChick map!

From an introduction to the MapChick:

Our first trip to Mexico was 1982, from that very first vacation, we knew we were hooked!

Of all the many adventures (aka "trouble") Perry [MapChick's husband] has gotten me into over the years, this map business has to be the best.

You have to understand that Perry has that entrepreneurial spirit that won't rest until it's fed!

We started out writing a guidebook to Cancun, which had to have a map, Perry is a graphic designer, so the visual aspect had to be there. We realized as we got into the map that we may not need a book at all, why not turn this into a "guide map". Can-Do Maps & Guides was born, our first edition of the Cancun map was published in 1997, and we've been adding new maps and updating them ever since.

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Rage and the economics of the environment

From an interview of British economist Tim Jackson by Stephen Leahy posted on Tierramerica.info:

"The continued pursuit of growth endangers the ecosystems on which we depend for long-term survival," says the British economist, ferocious critic of the Copenhagen Accord on climate change.

TORONTO, Canada, Jan 25 (Tierramérica).- "Rage is sometimes the appropriate response" to the failure of the world's leaders to craft a new climate treaty in Copenhagen, says British economist Tim Jackson.

The Copenhagen Accord, the outcome of the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in December, not only revealed global environmental governance as a fiction, but also demonstrated a continuing blind adherence to the mantra of economic growth, says Jackson

Professor of sustainable development and director of the Research Group on Lifestyles, Values and Environment at Surrey University in Britain, Jackson is also a British government advisor and economics commissioner for the Sustainable Development Commission.

Jackson is also a professional playwright with numerous radio-writing credits for the BBC, based in London.

Tierramérica's Stephen Leahy spoke with Jackson by phone about his new, controversial book "Prosperity without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet", the Copenhagen Accord and prospects for a real climate treaty, continuing a conversation they began last month in Copenhagen.

TIERRAMÉRICA: Your book "Prosperity without Growth" argues that economic growth in developed countries is making people less happy and destroying the Earth itself.

TIM JACKSON: It's clear the continued pursuit of growth endangers the ecosystems on which we depend for long-term survival.

There is also ample evidence that increasing material wealth in developed countries is not making people any happier, but just the opposite in some countries. Beyond a certain level of income, there is no correlation of greater income with greater happiness.

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Birds, Wildlife: Cozumel

From a post on the blog of Chritian Artuso:

The Island of Cozumel lies a mere 20km off the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and is only 45km by 15km in size. There are mangroves around the island's coast but the habitat is mostly "semi-humid" scrub, a fascinating tropical habitat type that does not grow particularly tall despite receiving reasonable quantities of water (rainfall). This habitat type is also found in the eastern Yucatan Peninsula.

The theory of island biogeography would predict that such an island have moderate biodiversity, limited by its small size but augmented by frequent arrivals from the mainland. Cozumel, however, is something of an enigma, since it has four endemic species and many distinctive endemic subspecies, perhaps surprising given its proximity to the mainland. The avifaunal mixture of Cozumel is also intriguing in that, although it shares some species with the mainland, there are a suite of species with a more Caribbean distribution, including for example the Western Spindalis that occurs on Cozumel but not on the mainland. Other bird like Yucatan (Yellow-lored) Parrots and White-crowned Pigeons don't mind making the crossing on a regular basis, apparently even twice daily in some seasons.

The four Cozumel endemic species include a hummingbird, a vireo, a thrasher and a wren. The hummer is the Cozumel Emerald, and what a beauty! Unfortunately, the long, deeply forked tail of the male doesn’t show very well in these photos... but you get the picture [in the following photos on Christian's blog]!

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Choosing a Spanish school in Mexico

From an article on MexConnect:

The reasons to learn a foreign language are many. "For those of us traveling or living in Mexico, there is no doubt that learning Spanish enriches our lives," says Ohio native Anne Meyer, a social studies teacher.

Spanish differs from region to region, so studying Spanish in Mexico gave her advantage for retiring in the Lake Chapala area, where she plans to move in a few more years. But language schools abound. Which one do you choose? And how?

Ask questions
First of all, you want to make sure the school and staff are qualified. For example,

How long has this school been in business?
With what professional organizations is it affiliated?
Has it been approved by any official government entity?
Is the staff highly qualified? For example, do teachers hold a university degree?
Can you obtain college credit for your efforts?
Do you have access to a media lab? The Internet?
Also important are your own needs. You'll learn best when there's a good fit.

Are there specific courses available to suit your needs, budget, and interests? Are the Spanish courses designed for you to use the language on a daily basis? Is there a home-stay program for total immersion?

Finally, how much does it cost and what is included in the price?

Does your Spanish course include conversation classes?
What is the cost of living for a week or a month while you study?
Does the school organize tours? Are they included or charged separately?
Are there specials available where you can save money?

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Minnesota students learn and contribute in Akumal

In a course called The Maya Riveria. Its Land. Its People, students students fro the University of Minnesota learned and served by helping Centro Ecológico Akumal (CEA). From CEA's newsletter:

They cleaned up the mangroves in front of CEA's property, picking up more than two tons of trash!

They also helped restore Akumal Bay's dune, painted CEA's dorms, built a big game for the children at the Akumal Library, cleaned CEA's wetlands, conducted beach clean-ups, and many other things.

We are more than happy with the results, their enthusiasm and everything they gave us. We hope you enjoyed your stay. Thanks lots! Akumal will always welcome you!

From the students' blog for the course:

We left Akumal with mixed feelings. Sad that our time together was coming to an end, but excited to be returning to our homes, families and friends (oh, and of course the begining of the spring semester). I will miss the tropical weather and amazing beauty of the Maya coastline. But most of all, I will miss the students.

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Hope for Haiti fundraiser, Akumal, January 24

On Sunday January 24th, fund-raising events will be executed simultaneously in Playa del Carmen, Akumal and Puerto Morelos to raise much needed funds for Doctors Without Borders who is helping the victims of the earthquake that wracked the small island nation last week. “Hope for Haiti” is a local, grassroots campaign whose mission is to raise badly needed funds to support the relief efforts.

"Hope for Haiti - Akumal" will be held on Sunday, January 24th 2010 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm on the stage in the center of Akumal. Live music, DJ, food and beer, a raffle for great prizes.

Proceeds from the event will be sent to Doctors Without Borders.

I hope you will all join us on Sunday to enjoy the live music, good friends, food. and help us help our Caribbean neighbors.

WHO: Akumal community and visitors
WHAT: Live music festival Akumal Main Stage
WHERE: Centro Akumal Plaza Ukana
WHEN Sunday January 24, 2010
TIME: 2 pm - 9 pm

2:00 - DJ
3:00 - Caribbean Soul Band
4:15 - DJ
5:00 - Video presentation on Haiti
6:00 - Mayan ceremony by Charlie and Maria for good prayers to Haiti
7:00 - Bandikoro

Raffle prizes include:
- 4 tickets to Xel Ha
- 4 tickets to Rio Secreto
- 4 day passes to the Day spa at Hacienda Vista Real
- Spa Services from Bahia Principe

THANKS to these businesses for help and support:
- Club Akumal Caribe, staff and some security
- Buena Vida
- LocoGringo
- Yoga Akumal
- Akumal Beach Resort
- Turtle Bay
-other contributors to be announced.

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Haiti quake occurred in complex, active seismic region

From a news release issued by the Woods Hole Oceanogrphic Institution:

The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that triggered disastrous destruction and mounting death tolls in Haiti this week occurred in a highly complex tangle of tectonic faults near the intersection of the Caribbean and North American crustal plates, according to a quake expert at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) who has studied faults in the region and throughout the world.

Jian Lin, a WHOI senior scientist in geology and geophysics, said that even though the quake was “large but not huge,” there were three factors that made it particularly devastating: First, it was centered just 10 miles southwest of the capital city, Port au Prince; second, the quake was shallow—only about 10-15 kilometers below the land’s surface; third, and more importantly, many homes and buildings in the economically poor country were not built to withstand such a force and collapsed or crumbled.

All of these circumstances made the Jan. 12 earthquake a “worst-case scenario,” Lin said. Preliminary estimates of the death toll ranged from thousands to hundreds of thousands. “It should be a wake-up call for the entire Caribbean,” Lin said.

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Snorkeling with turtles in Akumal Bay

From a post by Marisa Marchitelli on Up Take:

Akumal is a small beach town nestled between the popular tourist destinations of Playa Del Carmen and Tulum along the Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. While I have been to this region of Mexico several times, I never thought to stop in Akumal until my most recent trip. After asking locals for snorkeling recommendations, I was consistently told that I could never expect to see as many sea turtles as I would in a matter of breaststrokes from the shore of Akumal.

When I arrived at the beach, my “common sense” told me that it wasn’t really possible. The beach was littered with sunbathers emerging out of the hotels that line the coast, and the waters were packed with small fishing boats and snorkelers. How could turtles be casually hanging around all this activity? I gave it the benefit of the doubt and took the plunge.

I swam as far away from shore as was safe and saw nothing but an infinite field of kelp and felt disappointment. I decided to turn back. Then, all of the sudden, I saw three turtles feeding! It was incredible and as I kept snorkeling around I came across at least a dozen more.

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Akumal library gets challenge grant for 2010

From a post on the blog of the Hekab Be Biblioteca de Akumal:

Once again, faithful library supporters have offered Hekab Be a challenge grant of $2250 U.S.

Every dollar donated to Hekab Be between January 1- February 28, 2010 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $2250. If we are successful in meeting this generous offer, we will have raised enough money to cover our operating expenses for 3 months. This will put us in good stead for a prosperous New Year!

We realize people may be feeling financially drained after the holiday season, but hope that you will consider giving whatever you can, since every dollar you give will count twice. Remember that your donations are tax-deductible.

To make a donation to help us meet the challenge, go to our donation site, where you find information on how to donate using paypal or by sending a check:
http://hekab-be-paypal.blogspot.com

Remember we are a tax-exempt organization, so your donation is tax-deductible!

Please be sure to write in “challenge grant” on your check memo or paypal form so that your donation gets counted twice!

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Top winter eco-destinations

In an article on Earth911.com, Lori Brown lists Sian Ka'an among the top eco-destinations:

If your trip to visit the extended family didn’t qualify as a “vacation,” we’ve got the solution to the post-holiday-deflated-and-jaded feeling.

Whether you’re escaping the 9 to 5 grind or the stifling snowstorms that keep you locked inside, these destinations are sure to perk up your mood and kick off the New Year in ultimate eco-style. . . .

Centro Ecologico Sian Ka’an, Mexico - This small lodge located near the Mayan ruins of Tulum in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Sit and is truly an industry leader for its environmental initiatives.

Operating completely on solar and wind energy, the non-governmental organization center has developed a wetland waste treatment system to recycle greywater and treat blackwater and use a rainwater collection system for all non-drinking water needs.

The modestly priced cabins are perfect for the eco-minded traveler looking for an environmental education experience without all the unnecessary bells and whistles.

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Whale of a time

From an article by Jimmy O'Leary on News of the World:

SO there I was in the depths of the Caribbean Sea with the world's biggest shark heading straight for me.

Frozen with fear, the only sound I could hear was my heart beating along to John Williams' Jaws theme.

Dum, dum . . .

There was no escaping the 36ft beast, its giant mouth wide open ready to gobble up anything in its path.

Dum, dum . . .

But there was no girlie scream or calls for a bigger boat.

Because the mammoth creature was in fact a whale shark, which only eats algae, plankton and other tiny sea creatures - a kind of veggie monster.

One of nature's most spectacular wonders, it was oblivious to little me swimming alongside it.

Only moments earlier I had been sitting on the side of a boat off the Mexican coast with our guide Eva, who had asked: "Who wants to go first?"

While the other divers looked down at their flippers and adjusted their masks, I watched in horror as my hand shot up. I've no idea why - the pounding Mexican sun must have got to me.

We were floating on beautiful blue waters an hour's boat ride from Isla Mujeres (Island Of Women).

This is a Mexican hidden jewel and one of the greatest places on earth to see the migration of turtles, dolphins, manta rays and blue marlin.

Oh, and let's not forget the whale shark, which by now was sliding off into the distance.

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Only 150 days until World Oceans Day; start planning!

From The Ocean Project:

Start the year off on an ocean theme! The more you learn about our amazing blue planet, the more you will find that a healthy ocean is essential not only for the future of the fish, the coral reefs, and all life in the ocean, but also for our own future. No matter where you live, your actions impact the ocean and you can make a difference!

Remember to plan an event for World Oceans Day 2010 - it promises to be the biggest and best one ever. It seems far off but is only 150 days away so start planning an event soon!

Please visit www.WorldOceansDay.org to get ideas, inspiration, submit your event online, and connect with others. We also welcome feedback on how best to improve the website for our partners and other friends. A new design and new content is coming soon! Send your thoughts to Bill at bmott@theoceanproject.org. We are also looking for help in translating the site so please contact if you are able to help.

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Mexico tourism secretary invites gays from all over the world to get married

From an article on Travel Video News:

Mexico City enacted Latin America’s first law recognizing gay marriage Tuesday and said it hopes to attract same-sex couples from around the world to wed. The law, approved by city legislators on Dec. 21, was published in Mexico City’s official register and will take effect in March. It will allow same-sex couples to adopt children and municipal officials say it will make Mexico’s capital a “vanguard city”-and attract extra tourism revenues.

“Mexico City will become a center, where (gay) people from all over the world will be able to come and have their wedding, and then spend their honeymoon here,” said Alejandro Rojas, the city tourism secretary.

The law, approved by city legislators on Dec. 21, was published in Mexico City’s official register Tuesday and will take effect in March. It will allow same-sex couples to adopt children and municipal officials say it will make Mexico’s capital a “vanguard city” - and attract extra tourism revenues. . . .

The annual economic impact of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender travelers is about $70 billion in the United States alone, according to Community Marketing Inc., a tourism research company that specializes in gay and lesbian consumers.

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Haciendas in Yucatán

From an article on Latido de Mexico:

Haciendas in Mexico were the basis of an economic system introduced by the Spaniards in the 16th century, similar to the feudal system of Europe. Many of them were originally cattle ranches which in the 19th century converted to produce rope from henequen. In Yucatan, the hacienda owners used the local Mayan population to work the fields and factories at slave-like wages or no wages at all. Over time, haciendas became symbols of wealth and culture, decorated with architecture, furnishings and art from around the world. There are over 170 haciendas in Yucatan, some of them completely renovated and turned into 5 star hotels and historical museums while others are left unrestored, sometimes abandoned, to collapse and fall apart over time.

A hacienda usually consisted of the Casa Principal, or main house, where the hacendado and his family lived and the administration of the business took place. The processing of the henequen took place in the Casa de Maquinas, the machine house, the overseer lived in the Casa del Majordomo, many of the haciendas also had a chapel, La Capilla, and several other smaller buildings used for storage and living quarters.

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