Photo credit : global-warming-information.blogspot.com

For many years now scientists have discovered the changes in the amount of icebergs’ significantly melting quicker each year. The loss of ice is continuing to increase and studies has reported that this summer the Arctic Sea is a prime example of climate change. The dramatic changes in the oceans are only one aspect of global warming. After this summer, scientists have reported that this year was the second highest summer of ice loss. Over 40 – 50 percent of the icebergs’ thickness decreased. At the end of each summer, scientists monitor levels of ice loss around our global and just over a week ago the results shocked many. Even though scientists have been monitoring the levels of ice loss since the early 1980’s, no one really have considered to scare people of the damage we are causing. Not only are the icebergs melting, but also so many other great landmarks are changing due to the climate change.

Global warming is damaging some of the most amazing natural sights in the world. One being the Amazon and the animals who call the Amazon home. Many of the coral reefs around the world are starting to be band from people sighting seeing. Even forests across the world are facing water shortages. A huge water shortage is happening in China; the Yangtze River. Where tones of wild salmon are dying everyday. Yet, what is really horrible is not only global warming impacting our earth, but also the people. Many people around the world are feeling the pressure of the climate change. Africa is the number one at the moment, is that is living through some of the most natural changing ever experienced. The drought is killing thousands daily and only one cause is the source of this.

Many people are trying to take action to stop the climate change and the pressure is on to take meaningful steps to protect us, and the natural wonders of the world. Many people study this type of field from online masters degree programs (often through biomedical engineering schools). Although, really only a very small-scale of the number of people around the world are making changes. The thought of not be able to see a wonder of the world because of the climate change is sad. We should not be running to race against climate change.

This site is called The Plastiki it is all about these individuals traveling from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia by boat. Yet, not by any ordinary boat. This boat is created with 12, 500 recycled plastic bottles in which traveled several months at seas. It by passed thousands of islands by traveling 8,395 miles in 130 days. Now there was a reason for this mission across the sea, it was to send out a message and find a solution to eliminating waste from our lives. The expedition leader David de Rothschild is speaking tomorrow, July 28th, 2010 in Sydney about this cause and why they traveled across the Pacific Ocean for it. On July 26th, the boat arrived to its destination, Sydney for it’s final stop of the crew’s voyager across the ocean.

Now tell me, isn’t this idea creative or what? It’s not only creative but also a great way to reach to people and grab their attention about an important issue around the world. The crew not only reached out to thousands, but also encouraged many fellow individuals to take the risk in creating an idea as unique as their own.

Source: http://cortestravel.com

Today I was looking at some pictures of my European trip of 1998 with my sister and my parents and I remembered how amazing Monaco is. Monaco is a little city-state located in South Western Europe on the northern central coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This little country is known for its high class way of life, its beautiful panorama, the casino, the best Formula 1 races and the expensive yachts owned by the rich population of the country. It’s amazing that wealthy foreigners make up the majority of the population at approximately 84%. For those who don’t know, here is a very brief political description of Monaco. This country is a constitutional monarchy and principality, with Prince Albert II as head of state. The House of Grimaldi  has ruled Monaco since 1297, and the state’s sovereignty was officially recognized by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861. Despite Monaco being independent, its defence is the responsibility of France.

Casino

The Monte-Carlo Casino is one of the most popular casino’s in the world. It’s elegant and immense structure brings a certain mixture of class and style to the city. I never went inside to see what it looks like but the outside is very beautiful and looks pretty much like a monument. Here are two fun facts to know about Monaco. First of all, there are no taxes in this country, which explains the large number of rich people and celebrities. Secondly, the citizens of Monaco are not allowed to gamble in the casino, which is pretty awkward. Also, in this casino, we can fin the  Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo, an opera and ballet house, and the headquarters of the Ballets de Monte Carlo.  It  also hosts the annual European Poker Tour Grand Final.

Source: http://alopa-viviane.blogservice.in

Formula 1

The Formula 1 event in Monaco is the nicest and most important race in the sport because it is held in the city’s streets. It’s set up takes about six weeks to prepare, time to set up the benches, the slowing down tracks, the lights, the garages, etc. It is also one of the most difficult tracks in the world because it’s streets are very tight and it makes it a lot harder to pass an opponent. The race is usually held the second weekend of May and attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world.

For those who travelled to Nice, Cannes or the Côte d’Azur, you will definitely love this place. I personally think that this place is a must see country in Europe because it is so elegant and classy. The view is absolutely breath-taking and will make you feel like you are in heaven. There are many things to see in Monaco and a lot of money to spend. If you’ve already gone to Monaco or if your planning on going please share your experience with us. If you go and win at the casino, please come and share the fortune as well Just Kidding, have a great trip.

We all heard the famous song from Juanes titled “La Camisa Negra”. It actually is a pretty good song, with very good rhythm. Unfortunately, some countries do not think the same way. The song was actually banned in Italy and in the Dominican Republic. I’m pretty sure you can guess why it was banned in Italy, right? “La Camisa Negra” which translates to “The Black Shirt” in English, was used in Italy in support of neo-fascism. Because of the association of the “black shirt” song title and the Fascist Blackshirts of Benito Mussolini, the italian dictator during the Second World War. Also, many nightclub attendees from the far right political position (those who prone dictatorship and complete State control over the population) would raise their arm in the fascist salute whenever the song was played.

 Obviously, in response to this action, the left-wing media network named Indymedia called for a boycott of the song. Nowadays, even if the fascist party is practically disappearing or lacks popularity, there is still a certain presence in certain regions of Italy. After this news, Juanes clearly stated that his song “La Camisa Negra” had nothing to do with fascism nor Mussolini and that the italian people just misinterpreted his song. His song was also banned in the Dominican Republic for its sexual undertones, but it had no political link.

For those who are not really familiar with fascism, here is a brief description. In political science, fascism is a model of government where the State has total control over its population, intervenes in its private lives and pushes nationalism to its maximum. The key is to have a united nation, stong and common. In Italy, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini ruled the Kingdom of Italy from 1922 until 1943. His and his fascist party, ” I Fasci di combattimento” used strength and terror to take power and later on walked on Rome to take over the Government. The sad part is that the king, Emanuel III actually saw order and stability in Mussolini, and let him do it. We all know what happened next! I truly believe that when visiting a country, it is important to know all about its government, or its political background, because then you might understand a lot more on certain monuments or pieces of art. For example, did you know that the Notre-Dame de la Défense church, in little Italy Montreal, is the only church in the World that has a painting of Mussolini on it?

How fascinating that a Church has a painting of a dictator who, along with Hitler, ordered the murders of thousands of Jews in Europe. Also, during the twentieth century, authoritarian nationalist movements appeared worldwide: Adolf Hitler’s Nazism in Germany, Peronism in Argentina under General Juan Domingo Perón, Falangism in Spain under Generalissimo Francisco Franco, the Iron Guard in Romania, Integralism in Brazil, Action Française and the Croix-de-Feu in France, the Arrow Cross Party in Hungary, Austrofascism in the Austria of Engelbert Dollfuss, and many more. Read up on the political history when you visit a country, it could be very interesting and make your adventure even better. Have Fun!

Before explaining the myths of the three civilizations, it is very important to know that the city of Teotihuacan is, in all three civilizations, the place where everything was created. The legend says that in the dark underground of the city, the Gods were reunited to decide who would take care of what and had to sacrifice themselves by jumping in the deep cenotes so that they could die and fulfill their mission. The myth explain that the poorest and smaller god of all jumped in the hole and sacrificed himself with no hesitation and became the Sun, because of his braveness and determination and the stronger God, who was afraid, became the moon. I have never been to Teotihucan, Mexico, but I’ve heard amazing stories and feedback from it. I know that Hernan Cortez was amazed by the city when he came to conquer the Aztecs. So please, if any of you have been, I would appreciate it if you could share some information on it.
Ok, let’s start with the Aztecs, they were the most powerful and feared people in Meso-America and were considered as a civilization of warriors. The Myth explains that the Aztecs, at first, were hated by all and were chased from wherever they went. But, fortunately, the Coluacs, decided to accept them in their civilization because they were very impressed by them. After living in Aztlan for a very long time, they began their search for their promised land guided by Huitzilopochtli, the left hummingbird, or the main God, who tells them to walk till they would see an eagle eating a snake. So after years of walking, they finally found an eagle eating a snake in the city of Tenochtitlan and based their civilization at that very location. As you noticed, the logo on the mexican flag is an eagle eating a snake. Also, the Aztecs believed they were the descent population of the sun, and believed that they often had to sacrifice blood and enemies to feed them, because if they would stop feeding the gods, it would mean the end of life.

The Mayas are probably the most intelligent civilization that has existed in meso-america because of their progress in astronomy, mathematics and architecture. Also, unlike the other civilizations, they don’t have any strong capital or main city, they have little city with concentrated powers in all of them, wich we could compare to a very early stage of federalism . Again, if any readers ever visited cities such as Tikal, Palenque, Copan or Chitchen Itza please leave comments to share the memories.

The third most important civilization is the Incas. This huge civilization was the last one before the second spanish wave of conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizzaro, eliminated them. The myth explains that Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, who were bother and sister, and husband and wife, and children of the Sun. After emerging from the Titicaca Lake that borders Peru and Bolivia, the Sun told them to go on a mission and to install themselves at the exact place where Manco Capac’s symbolic stick would sink to the ground. As many of you know, that symbolic place was Cuzco. I hope you’ve all enjoyed this brief History article on the three main civilizations of latin america, and even if it sound a bit “essay-ish” I really hope it picked your curiosity to an eventual trip in the cities mentioned in the article. For those who have already been, please share some memories with us .

Just as Tanya was hooked on the “Waving Flag” song by K’naan, I am presently hooked on a T.V show called ROME. I’ve already stated in past articles about my love for History and Politics but this TV show is a drug. It’s so uncensored, brutal and realistic all at the same time. Most of us have already heard of or studied the Roman Empire. Just like the Greeks, the Romans are the true creators of ancient Democracy. Now, this TV show demonstrates how life was during the Roman Empire, how adultery and slavery was allowed, how politicians would bribe the Senate, and how favors would be exchanged between the Leaders of the Republic of Rome and its Senators or consuls. Also, threatury was just as present in the past then it is now in modern civilisation. I think this show really demonstrates the reality of the political game. How one is to manipulate those around him in order to give to others, or how one has to satisfy the population, his allies and always be a step ahead of his enemy, who he too, can bribe the Senate to go against another person.

All this is  bloody interesting but, the question is again: What does this have to do with backpacking right? Right. Well when backpacking Rome, you can relive these moments by visiting the old Roman prison of Castel St-Angelo, the old ruins of Rome and especially the colosseum, where the games took place and gladiators, warriors and animals would fight till the last breath for the Emperor’s entertainment.

 I’ve backpacked in Rome about three times now, and I never get fed up of it. I love Rome, it is one of the most amazing places I’ve ever seem. Imagine a city where modern life and ancient civilisation live together, that place is Rome. I’m sure a lot of the readers here have already went, since it’s a very popular city, but for those who have never been, I really suggest you visit those ruins and the city itself, it is breath-taking. Have a safe trip and don’t forget to come back to Off- Track Backpacking to share the memories.

Canadian Parliament

I was in 6th grade last time I stepped foot in Ottawa. What do I remember about my class trip? Well, not much! After so many years, I decided to go back. Why? Because now I have a friend  who lives there! If there is one thing you will quickly learn about me, it’s that I normally take road trips to places where I have a friend. So yeah, over 12 years later, I was finally back in Ottawa- a 2 hour drive away from Montreal. As I drove through the city, I was actually pretty impressed by the Parliament and for a slight second, I felt in Europe.

So what exactly is there to do in Ottawa? The main touristic spot is obviously the Parliament. And if you’re not Canadian, you’re probably really lost right now! Ottawa is Canada’s capital and the Parliament sits on Parliament Hill. The Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital back in 1857.

Canada’s Parliament involves 3 parties: the Queen (represented by the Governor General), the appointed Senate and the elected House of Commons. The Senate is normally represented by the color red. It has 105 members and they are appointed by the Governor General, divided in a way to represent regions, provinces or territories across Canada. Senators can serve until they are 75 or until they choose to retire. It is only at that point in time where another Senator will be appointed. The House of Commons on the other hand has 308 members and are elected by us Canadians. They can serve for no longer than 5 years as per our Constitution. Green represents the House of Common, a color that follows the traditions of the British House of Commons. Both the Senate and the House of Commons can propose new bills or laws. Once the party approves it, they’ll go over to the other party to get the final approval stamp. Any bills to collect or spend public funds must however originate in the House of Commons.

Another really interesting part of the Parliament is the Library. When the Parliament burned down in 1916, only the Library survived the fire because of its iron doors. As you walk into the Library, you’ll notice a statue of the young Queen Victoria. The room is gothic-like and you should pay attention to the handcrafted details in the room- from the rough sandstone exterior, to the thousands of different flowers and masks carved into the white pine panelling. I felt so much smarter by simply standing in the room!

Although I’ve taken the time to learn about different cultures, I never really took the time to appreciate my own country. That’s exactly what I did last weekend. Too bad flying within Canada is so damn expensive! They should definitely pass a bill to make flying within Canada cheaper!

When we think of Italy, we picture the beautiful canals of Venice, the magnificent coliseum of Rome, the Duomo of Milano, the Ponte Vecchio of Florence and the beautiful landscape in the south. It it one of the greatest countries to visit in Europe if you are a tourist, but the political reality isn’t so nice. Italy is one of the most corrupted democratic countries in Europe. For the first time in more than 10 years, a “Presidente del Consiglio” was elected Prime Minister for the second time in a row. Italy’s unstable political situation brought 10 different governments in 10 years from 1990 to 2000. Also, when we think of politics, we automatically think of its link with organized crime. Now obviously when you’re backpacking in Italy this information isn’t very useful, you might even say: so what? I just want to visit the country! It’s true, if your planning on visiting Italy, you really shouldn’t care about the fact that Silvio Berlusconi is Europe’s richest head of state and is worth about 9.6 billion dollars, or that he controls 70% of italy’s media communication, or that he tried to vote a law that protects him from any fraud or criminal allegations, but it’s still very interesting to know.

I’ll be very honest, most people don’t really care about politics, they find it boring or annoying. But I guarantee you, when you study it and you understand it, it’s just like a game of Risk. It is all strategic and it is all about charisma and communication. Unfortunately, Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Premier, has alot of money, a good image and alot of strings that he can pull to get what he wants, because he lacks integrity. For instance, several Mafia turncoats have stated that Berlusconi had connections with the Sicilian criminal association. The informers say Berlusconi met Stefano Bontade, then one of the mafia’s most powerful bosses, because he feared for his family’s safety at a time when Italy was plagued by a wave of high-profile kidnappings. In addition, there were several rumors in the parliament that brought people to believe that he’s had personal relationship with minors, which some were prostitutes. His wife even divorced him because he would attend birthday parties of 18-year-old woman and not even attend his own son’s birthdays.  Anyhow, on march 28th 2010, Berlusconi was revoted in parliament and is now, for the second consecutive time, the Prime Minister of the Italian Democratic Republic. So for all you backpackers out there, travelling Italy or that are planning on travelling Italy or Europe, have fun, and I hope this article picked your curiosity.

Do you ever get annoyed from friends and family members who always discourage your trips by saying: I hear it’s a very dangerous country? or You better watch out I hear they steal organs down there? If that is the case, you are far from being the only one. When travelling Latin America, especially countries such as Colombia, it is important to leave with a clear mind and not think that all these horror stories are generalized. This being said, I personally think that wherever you travel, people will always try to find some bad news or stories to discourage you from going. Is it jealousy? Maybe! My role here is to give you some useful political information when travelling Colombia.

The current Government is relatively stable in Colombia if we compare it to other Latin American countries. The main problem however for those planning a trip in Colombia in 2010 is that a Presidential election will take place in the country on May 30th, 2010.

The Canadian Government is saying that travelers should monitor local news and be aware of the possibility of disruptions in the period leading up to the elections and that public gatherings and areas where demonstrations may occur should be avoided. Don’t be afraid of this statement because it is only normal for a Government website to communicate the possibility of dangers in foreign countries. If you are planning to travel Colombia in that period, do keep in mind that there may be a delay in your scheduling. So this being said I wish you all an exciting and adventurous vacation in Colombia and/or South America. Don’t forget to come back to Off-track backpacking to share the memories with us.