There are literally tens of thousands of organizations that operate on a not-for-profit basis and are doing good throughout the world. Many thousands of these organizations accept donations-in-kind, such as a car donation, to help fund their good deeds. Did you know that many of these organizations offer vouchers for free vacations just for giving them your old used vehicle? That’s right; all you need to do is get rid of that old car and you get a voucher for a trip to a resort. Everyone wins! In addition, in the USA, these donation may also qualify for tax deductions which can end up meaning cash in your pocket. What more incentive do you need? Check out the site above and search for an organization promoting the cause of your choice in your area and before you know it you may be in a tropical paradise for free!
Making Tourism Sustainable
The challenge of the World Tourism Forum is to find ways to allow people to enjoy traveling around the world while at the same time limiting the negative impact to the environment and to local cultures caused by such activity. The greatest challenge facing humanity at the start of the 21st Century is to preserve the environment. Nature is a dynamic system where all the parts are interconnected. Mankind is part of the grand scheme, and yet acts in such a way as to destroy the very eco-system that he depends upon.
Carbon emissions in 2012 have reached 390 parts per million. On November 9th, 2011 the International Energy Agency published research showing that the 'door is closing'; and that unless we change our habits of energy consumption and carbon output we will be unable to prevent catastrophic climate change that will see sea levels rise, mass flooding, rapid species extinction (not experienced since the last Ice Age) and whole scale desertification.
At the same time economic activity (which includes tourism) is exhausting natural resources? fossil fuels, trees, water, marine resources, soil, minerals and plant resources are all being exhausted. With the world reeling from a severe economic downturn the temptation is to ignore calls for environmental responsibility (as shown in COP 17 meeting) and exploit natural resources even more to try and kick start ailing economies.
It is not just a matter of irresponsible use of natural resources that is making the present situation untenable, unsustainable; it is also pollution. Factories are polluting the air and water supplies, oil exploration is repeatedly polluting the sea and agricultural products are polluting the soil.
One of the biggest challenges for sustainable tourism is cultural pollution. As the world becomes a village small isolated communities in mountainous areas, by beaches and in forests have a growing contact with the outside world. As well as positive influences such as increased income there is also a tendency for these cultural units to be polluted by drugs, prostitution and the lure of easy money. Men stop fishing and do boat tours, women stop working the fields and become waitresses and sex workers. Children stop attending to their classes and take up begging and entertaining tourists. It is a sad pattern that can be seen all over the world.
At the same time tourism has become a consumer product. Too many people are taking planes, hiring cars, demanding air-con and willfully causing carbon emissions. The drive to 'up-grade' accommodation has resulted in too many swimming pools and golf courses all draining water resources and causing yet more carbon emissions.
The mission of World Tourism Forum is to find ways to allow people to travel without destroying the environment and without undermining local customs and ways of life. Since 2004 delegates have been meeting from all over the world to discuss ways to promote eco-tourism and to make tourism sustainable. Thousands of delegates from many countries gather to discuss the issues that beset their countries and to suggest ameliorative measures. Delegates come from the hotel industry, from NGOs, from conservation groups and from indigenous groups. According to Helene Rocques of the Sustainable Development for Accor Group, "It is possible to harmonize pleasure with sustainability".
Many initiatives have already been taken. Some more successful than others. These include encouraging governments to set up eco-tourist areas. One successful example of this is Koh Phangan in Thailand. 90% of the island's tree cover has been preserved by means of setting up National Parks and limiting building. As a result Koh Phangan has maintained its pristine natural environment and is now beginning to overtake the neighboring island of Koh Samui in terms of tourist numbers that has let unregulated development pollute beaches and cause wide scale deforestation. Tourists don't like the negative results that the temptation of the tourist dollar has caused and are looking for unspoiled natural beauty.
Another important area of sustainable tourism is nautical tourism. Diving, snorkeling, fishing and sailing have all in the past caused pollution, damaged coral reefs and depleted marine resources. Organizations such as government tourist ministries and regulatory bodies such as PADI continue to improve guidelines to make nautical tourism sustainable.
As people travel more they become jaded with the 'regular' tourist destinations and seek to go to more and more 'exotic' locations such as Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands. It is vital that systems be put in place to preserve these natural environments and the indigenous culture.
Finally, there is the unavoidable fact that airplane travel causes immense amounts of carbon emissions not just in flights but also in building airplanes. It is essential to encourage people to take more environmentally friendly types of transport where possible. It is also essential that airline companies are lobbied (as well as governments) to set up more rigorous strictures for off-setting. It is not just a matter of emitting less carbon but also of planting more trees and other carbon recyclers. The World Tourism Forum intends to bring all the major players together to make these things happen.
This website is intended as a resource for all those connected to the tourist industry. The articles herein introduce travel destinations and travel products and seek to encourage debate on how to make tourism sustainable. If solutions are not discussed and enacted foreign tourism could well go the way of the dodo.
Prior to my daughter being born my wife and I loved to travel. From Tibet to Thailand and Baghdad to Bulgaria, we visited numerous countries both near and far from our home in the UK.
However after my daughter was born we took a couple of more ‘gentle’ breaks in the UK. With many horror stories floating around from friends and associates about nightmare foreign holidays with children, we were reluctant to venture abroad.
When we finally went to Israel we quickly discovered that planning days around exploring the local culture and play activities for our daughter, we were able to experience a much happier, more harmonious holiday.
Playgrounds were plentiful in Israel and we found as long as we checked to ensure there were adequate playground surfaces, such as wet pour or Notts Sport ChildsPlay, then we were comfortable letting our daughter enjoy herself. It was also a great way for her to meet other youngsters and watching them play games without speaking was a joy.
So if you are reticent about taking your young child on holiday, simply make sure you allow a little time for them to do the things they like and I’m sure you’ll all enjoy your travels.
Tags: Playground Surfaces, Wet Pour.
For many keen travelers and young people today, travel is less about the two-week vacation and more about a solid stint of living and working overseas. This kind of travel has been taking off in recent years, with more and more students and college graduates taking a ‘gap’ year to gain experience and seek opportunities overseas.This is a great choice for many young people, giving them the chance to deeply experience new cultures without the unrealistic financial burden of a long, finance-draining holiday- a young student on a pharmacy technician salary could hardly afford to save several months’ expenses in advance, let alone the travel costs. However, there are logistics to be dealt with that the typical vacationer would not expect.
Firstly there is the matter of visa types. For most tourists, a short-term visitors visa will suffice and is relatively cheap and easy to come by in many countries. However, when you add work and a long stay into the equation, the matter of visas becomes more complicated. For example, visitors from most countries are able to obtain a $30USD tourist visa on arrival in Indonesia. This would allow them to stay 30 days, extendable on application to 60, with no paid work of any kind permitted. This is a very easy and uncomplicated process.
However, add a little paid work into the equation, and it becomes very complicated. One would have to apply for a work visa, which means first obtaining a “sponsorship” from an Indonesian company which typically costs hundreds of dollars. The work visa itself costs around $1200USD per year. When you take into account the low wages in this continent, it becomes apparent that Indonesia may not be a suitable choice for your working holiday, except in circumstances where you have actually been offered a job in advance so your employer can arrange your visa.
Luckily there are many other options and opportunities available all over the world. Those aspiring to live the working holiday dream simply have to be meticulous about their research before leaving home.
If you haven’t visited Denmark yet you should consider giving it a chance. There is a lot more to this little country beside the little mermaid, Jomfru Anegade and Carlsberg. Denmark is one of the leading countries in green energy and has some of the largest windturbine factories in the world. They are also among the leading countries in solar power with companies like Solceller also trying to improve the way the suns energy is used to heat our homes or provide us with cheap green electricity. Especially solceller is worth visiting if you are near Denmark as they offer guided tours where you can learn the basics about solar energy and see how some of the many solar collections are made in the Solceller production halls. To find out more on how you can go on one of these tours take a look here at their website on Solceller.
At Solceller you can also see a small museum where they various old types of solar collectors and you can easily see how they go from a huge 25×25 feet solar collection which can barely power a single light bulb to a 5×5 inch solar collection which can power 50. It’s a fashinating trip through time if you are into green energy or just want to see future of electric before everybody else, then Solceller is a great place to visit.
You should also give tivoly in Copenhagen a try if you are near there, you can find better rides other places but in no other amusement parks do you eat this well or find this level of ideal happiness just by walking around in this park which is over a hundred years old.
If you are in Jutland consider the Foråp Summerland theme park with a forest theme, which is great for both adults and kids alike or the Randers Rainforest if you want to study exotic animals up close.
If the weather is great and it’s the middle of the summer then they got some fantastic beaches around northern Jutland with fine white sand and shallow waters which are ideal for most children.
Should you be visiting Fyn, do check out the home of H.C Andersen which is still preserved as it was when he lived there, and of course a visit to Solceller should not be forgotten either if you are near Fyn or wants to experience something a little different.
Tags: green energy, solar energy, solceller
Smokers have been having a hard time of it over the last decade or so as the number of places they can light up has decreased by the year. Most public places and modes of transport used in the developed world now have no smoking rules in place which means nicotine addicts are relegated to the street corner to get their fix. Those of us who like to travel to far off lands now feel we have a difficult choice to make if we want to enjoy our annual holidays to the max. We can either visit those less developed countries who have yet to introduce anti-smoking measures, or we can spend the majority of our trip looking for places where we are allowed to sneak a smoke.
This dilemma for smokers has encouraged forward thinking travel companies to come up with a tourism product aimed solely at smokers who are fed up with governments measures which seem to exist to make our lives a misery. The only problem is with these sorts of packages you’ll have to spend your trip doing things organized by someone else. I don’t know about you but when I go away for a holiday I like to make my own decision about how I’m going to spend my time.
Some Options For Smokers Looking To Travel
- Las Vegas – If you are fan of gambling as well as nicotine, and don’t want to leave the States for a break, then you won’t find a better destination than this. The bright lights of Vegas opens it’s arms to tobacco users, and offers an exciting place to take a break from the real world.
- Croatia – This increasingly popular European destination has all the charm and character of Italy with cheaper prices and spectacular scenery. Smoking is still something of a national sport here so you have the freedom light up whenever the urge takes you.
- Egypt - The land of the Pharaohs is a smokers paradise. You can smoke to your hearts content, visit the Pyramids, and pick up a pack of 20 for around $5.
Another Option For Smokers
If you can’t be bothered to make your travel plans based specifically around you nicotine needs then you might want to try using an electronic cigarette for the time you are away from home. These products allow you to “smoke” without lighting up so they can be used in most places with a smoking ban.
The best e cigarette products are easily available online and although they aren’t quite as satisfying as the real thing they do offer an alternative for those times when you are in a strange land and can’t find a smoking friendly area.
There is no better way to document and highlight your travel than through pictures. Thankfully the affordability and continuing evolution of low cost digital cameras has resulted in more amateur photographers snapping photos worldwide than ever before. The challenge with using a digital camera is that professionally printing pictures can be extremely expensive and time consuming. However, with declining printer prices, and availability of compatible printer ink cartridges, more than 45% of digital photographers now print their photos at home, with professional results.
Printing your photos at home used to mean that you needed a darkroom and special paper and chemicals. Now it simply means having a photo printer at your disposal. Today’s photo printers offer unparalleled image quality, on par with what you’d find a professional studios. In addition to cost savings, the other main advantage of printing your own photos is that you can manipulate your photos until you feel that they are just right. Whether it’s cropping, removing red eye, or adding a border, most home photo printers and software give you the tools you need to effectively alter any photo to meet your needs. ators) can never match the prints you make yourself.
It’s very important that you focus on the quality of the paper when going to print your photos from around the world. Photo paper is a must as it will ensure that the ink is absorbed correctly. Also consider using glossy paper for that smooth, glossy, long lasting finish. The investment is good quality paper will likely bring your total cost per picture to just $.25!
Tags: photos, printer ink cartridges, printers, printing pcitures
Seeing the World is a part of many people’s bucket lists. However, if you aren’t able to travel visiting local places can be just as fun. In this article we will help you discover local places to visit that should be on your bucket list. Whether you are in the St George Real Estate or live in Australia this is the article for.
The first tip to finding fun new places in your local area is to check the internet. There are many blogs where people have extensively explored your local area and give great ideas. One way I would find these websites is by first Googling thing to do in [insert city]. When looking through websites make sure you look for reputable sites that know what they are talking about. Check for site reviews and try to discover what others are saying.
Next when trying to discover your own city you should consult travel magazines and books. You would be surprised at how much you are missing out on that can be found in books. I would start with buying a book about restaurant reviews. For example in Austin Texas they have a wonderful book called The Fearless Critic. This book is full of real restaurant reviews. This book has helped me explore some of the greatest unseen local spots I would have never visited. Lastly when exploring new areas keep an open mind. Remember that you may love what you thought you would never try.
There are growing numbers of people following a fruitarian diet today. If you have never heard of this lifestyle choice before then you may feel that it is an extreme kind of diet. You’ve probably guessed that a frutarian eats fruit. That’s about it. If all a person is going to eat is fruit, it’s imperative that they get enough calories from their food sources. Even though fruits are sent all around the world from where they are grown, to get the best quality produce, you really want to go to the regions where your fruits of choice originate.
In fact fruit holidays are a real and many people choose their holiday destinations based upon the types of fruits that can be found. It is the tropical countries that offer bountiful harvests whether it be in the Americas, e.g. Costa Rica or in Asia, e.g. Thailand. There are a wide range of options as to the countries that offer great fruit harvests. At home, many of us spend time searching for the best juicer in our efforts to stay healthy. But when we go on holiday we can enjoy eating some of the tastiest fruits on the planet.
Tropical fruits include bananas, mangoes, durian, guava, jack fruit, longan, lychees, mangosteen, pineapple and many others. For Americans and Europeans, some of these fruits can be hard to find at home while others are impossible to purchase. Even when we do find somewhere at home that sells these fruits, the quality may be questionable and the price fairly high. When we visit regions of the world where these fruits are grown, we can expect to pay low prices for delicious sweet fruit.
We all know traveling is amazing; I myself have been to over three different continents in just the past two years. But unfortunately most international traveling is quite pricey. Plane tickets themselves will cost more than most people are able to afford, my plane ticket to South Africa cost me 2k and my flight to Thailand cost me $1,300.
Then you have traveling to places such as Europe, which right now for the American traveler is extremely expensive seeing how the dollar converts. For people who are trapped deep in credit card debt traveling outside the country may seem like an impossibility. Those who fork over thousands a month just to stay current with credit card bills would stand a lot better chance at achieving their travel goals is they were to get themselves out of debt.
Thankfully there are debt relief plans that can really help people to save money on what they owe and get out of debt quickly. Then it is just a matter of saving up a few months worth of money that was previously going to the creditors and you have enough to go explore the world. Don’t let debt stand in your way of becoming the adventurer you always imagined yourself to be.
Tags: debt relief, traveling
As the idea of sustainable tourism heats up, so does the desire for eco-friendly travel products. Consumers who wish to travel while causing minimal environmental damage frequently want to travel with eco-friendly products to further their environmental stance. Here are a few eco-friendly travel products that you might enjoy:
Recycled travel bags: Eco-friendly travel bags breathe new life into old trash, like bike inner tubes and scraps of velcro. Check out the Flat Bags brand with bags starting at $45.
Corn plastic luggage tags: Biodegradable luggage tags made from, you guessed it, corn! These tags only run about $1.50 each — an inexpensive and eco-friendly solution.
E-readers: You don’t need to kill trees to travel with your favorite books. Look into buying a Kindle or a Nook so that you can read all of the books you want without wasting paper.
All-natural hair and skin products: There are many all-natural products available that won’t damage the environment but will still make you look beautiful. (One of our current favorites is a hair oil called mira hair oil — look up mira hair oil reviews to see what we’re so excited about!)
The next time you travel, consider the environmental impact of not only your mode of travel, but of the products you carry with you.
The only way, in my humble opinion, to reduce the negative effect on the environment by people travelling to far off holiday resorts is to stop them travelling in the first place. Although the tourist will inadvertentally damage the environment whilst travelling, he does bring economic benefits to the country he visits and, as many of the more exotic holiday resorts have little industry to boost their economies, any planned reduction of tourism would really hurt the people of these countries.
Travelling on holiday and business will damage the environment, as will international trade with the resulting movement of goods. I have a business selling gifts with the customer’s coat of arms and I send these all over the world. The packages containing the coat of arms gifts travel by ‘plane, which damages the ozone during the flight. However, to stop me sending my coats of arms in order to minimise the damage to the ozone layer will instead damage my business.
I suggest that a better way to minimise damage to the environment is to concentrate on other ways to reduce environmental damage such as the introduction of electric cars and improving the insulation of homes in cold climates, both of which will reduce the amount of fossil fuel that is burnt. I will happily drive an electric car, thereby reducing my personal carbon footprint, if it enables my business to continue to send coats of arms products to customers around the world.
No matter how hard the environmentalists try to limit man’s development and progress towards a better way of life, I think they will fail. People want to be free to travel and to enjoy their lives and they are finding that all the new technological breakthroughs in recent years help them attain that lifestyle.
There will always be people who want to go back to the way things were. There will always be people who say that we are killing ourselves by destroying the earth. And there will always be people who want to take away other people’s freedoms in the name of preserving the environment. But there will always be more people that just don’t care. At least that is what I think to be the case.
Yes, technology can create waste, byproducts, and harm us in ways we probably haven’t even determined yet. An example of this is the effects of cell phones on the brain. Cell phones are new enough that it is impossible to really know whether there will be long term negative effects by all the electromagnetic fields that are created from cell phones. The World Health Organization believes that cell phones might be found to be very dangerous years from now. But are the warnings about cell phones a real concern to most people? Absolutely not because people LOVE the convenience of them. In fact cell phones for kids are more popular than ever as even children are asking for them at increasingly younger ages. It is a trend that just can’t be stopped!
The fact is that people WANT to fly on planes, drive cars, travel on trains, and do all the things that traveling around the world requires. They want to take part in all the modern conveniences that have become available to them in the last 50 to 100 years and most really don’t care that much about pollution. I think the largest segment of people on Earth will always be those that are living for today and are not concerned about tomorrow. Perhaps that is a sad commentary but we are at heart a selfish people.
Tourism is a bigger world industry today than it has ever been and that is due to the modern inventions that make travel easier. Many countries are seeing first hand how helpful tourism can be to their economies and it is unlikely that many of them will willingly do things that will harm this new trend. Yes, some may create Eco-friendly beaches, forests, or whatever but most will do anything to bring in the dollars. More money today is just too tempting.
Tags: environment
One of the great problems with the wine industry, wine tourism and specifically most wine of the month club offerings is that they are not even close to environmentally sustainable or efficient.
The average wine tourist flies thousands of miles and then drives even further, often in a small group. Most of us that study the issue can tell you that the average wine consumer enjoys themselves much more when they have a small group instead of a tour bus, so it isn’t like filling larger vehicles is even going to be helpful.
So how can we make wine tourism sustainable? Let’s start by working with airlines to give back to environmental causes based on these, often small flights. Secondly, let’s make sure that every winery (not just the extremely high end) has some type of soil and land preservation system in place. Without these types of changes, there really isn’t any good way to make sure that wine, wine tourism and a wine club shipping bottles across the country every month…..are being good members of the environmental community.
I am pleased you had the opportunity this afternoon to experience the magic of Viejo San Juan and El Morro. This World Heritage Site is a major source of pride for Puerto Ricans and a major selling point for our island as a tourism destination. We are very fortunate to have the asset of a rich, authentic Latin culture steeped in over 500 years of history. The area you toured today, built between the 15th and 19th centuries, represents our legacy from the past and an irreplaceable source of inspiration for the future. We recognize that this is a draw for tourism, especially as heritage and culture become increasingly important to today’s travelers. We celebrate all that is our culture and are very proud to share it with you and anyone who steps on our shores.
Old San Juan is only a small example of what our island offers. We have 78 municipalities on our island, all of which have an equally rich city center with a plaza and examples of 15 century Spanish and European tradition. For example, our second oldest city, San German, is home to Porta Coeli, one of the oldest churches in the Western Hemisphere. Now, more than ever, as competition is growing from far flung destinations worldwide and Mexico and Latin America nearby, the Caribbean as a whole must find new ways to remain competitive. As travelers become more adventurous, we must give them easy access to experiences they crave. As the “experience” of a vacation grows as a priority for travelers, we need to continue to develop products that give visitors the conveniences they expect while enabling them to feel a strong sense of the place they are visiting. Cultural tourism is increasingly popular among travelers. In the U.S., our main feeder market and a major source of visitors for much of the Caribbean, 75% of adult travelers attended a cultural activity or event while on a trip, according to a recent TIA survey. This translates to an estimated 109.8 million U.S. adults. Additionally, although historical places and museums have seen a decline in visitor numbers and are not a major driver of travel, they are still an important part of any travel itinerary. A majority (58%) of U.S. adult travelers included an historic activity or event on a trip according to the same TIA survey. This translates to an estimated 84.7 million U.S. adults.
With these numbers from the U.S. in mind, it is obvious why we must work to preserve our cultural and historical assets while making them accessible to visitors. We benefit from our weather and the various physical attributes of our islands and hotels, which give the Caribbean as a whole an advantage. We also benefit from the stability of our region, proximity to the US mainland, airlift and affordability relative to Europe. However, we cannot assume the competition won’t catch up. Especially as more affordable and exotic places such as Central and South America and Asian countries become increasingly aggressive in their efforts to develop their products. Increased support from our communities and visitors, as well as private and government investment are keys to success because we need to make preserving our heritage a priority. Heritage is a broad concept and includes the natural as well as the cultural environment. It encompasses historic places, natural environments, cultural practices and experiences. To experience heritage is to gain an understanding of the long process of how a culture came to be, based on historic development rooted in the identities of those who create history, from the indigenous people to colonists and settlers. In Puerto Rico, this is evident in all aspects of our culture. You see Taino, African and European influences in our cuisine, dance, art, crafts and our people. As an archivist and passionate historian, I understand the risk at which our treasures are put by the cost of preservation, natural disasters, instability of governments and other dangers to structures, traditions and biodiversity. We look up to organizations such as UNESCO, ICROM, OAS and FIAF that aim to set standards and challenge us all to play a role in protecting our natural and cultural heritage. We must follow their leadership and live by the examples they are setting worldwide.
Tourism continues to be the foremost vehicle for cultural exchange, providing a personal experience, not only of that which has survived from the past, but of the contemporary life and society of others. Tourism can be an immensely positive force for natural and cultural conservation by generating funding, educating the community and influencing policy. Tourism itself has become an increasingly complex phenomenon. We must take into account so many issues, including the political, economic, social, cultural, educational, ecological and aesthetic dimensions that are inherent to tourism development. The achievement of balance among these areas presents many challenges and opportunities.
The challenges exist in creating sustainable tourism models that take into account preserving our assets. Excessive or poorly-managed tourism and tourism related development can threaten the very nature of what we are trying to promote. Although it is important to create conveniences for visitors via infrastructure and development, we must be wise about how we proceed to ensure the wellbeing of our communities, heritage and natural environment. Better & healthier natural environment attracts people who have health issues or who want a break from unhealthy city environments. Unhealthy environments with dirty air contribute to developing heart disease & higher cholesterol, particularly higher LDL levels, and many other health issues that people in large cities are trying to escape from. Tourism should bring benefits to our communities and provide an important means and motivation for them to care for and maintain their heritage and cultural practices. The involvement and co-operation of lawmakers, community representatives, conservationists, tour operators, property owners, hoteliers, and anyone who has a direct or indirect involvement with tourism is essential to achieve a sustainable tourism industry and enhance the protection of heritage resources for future generations.
If tourism is to remain successful in the Caribbean we must work as one to develop unified models for this type of development. We must also partner to emphasize the natural, cultural and historic attributes of our region and position ourselves as a broader offering than just one island. We all stand to benefit from a shared mission that positions the Caribbean as more than just beaches and resorts, but also a region with a wealth of enriching experiences. Against the backdrop of major competition in our industry, we must be supportive of each other and show a united front as a region that has a broad appeal. I understand this is difficult to do while maintaining what is unique about each of our islands, but we must seriously focus on working together to maintain what the consumer desires and make sure we are ahead of trends as a region. Tourism can provide an significant means of communication and dialogue between individuals and countries, as well as an economic activity and a means of presenting and enhancing our heritage. The Caribbean can serve as an example by taking a leadership role in demonstrating the power of the combination of history, culture and tourism.
The “Spirit of Man” is a gas-fired beacon figure. It is 320 feet high, (Base included). To give you some idea of the scale. “The Angel of the North” at 65ft high. “The Colossus of Rhodes” 120ft. “The Statue of Liberty” 151ft. “Big Ben” 320ft.
This impressive at free standing structure is part sculpture, part building. Ideally it would be sited next to the Thames, facing the rising sun. This beacon figure is a universal symbol of hope. Its aesthetic appeal and symbolic content captures the spirit of this millennium and will prove to be a mighty icon for London and the UK.
The internal frame (skeleton) is composed of steel girders, supporting an outer skin of interwoven copper tubing. Natural gas would be pumped through some of the tubing on the outer structure and ignited. The flames would be automatically controlled for effect and safety. The emanating flames signify the “incandescent spirit of man” (1984 George Orwell). George Orwell was a terribly heavy smoker & admired strong loose tea, he had Fortnum& Mason’s tea purchased for him in Catalonia & in 1946 he published a work about brewing the perfect cup “A Nice Cup of Tea”. He died due to health conditions.
At certain agreed national festivals, gatherings and commemorations, the Spirit of Man would be ‘fired up’ and be a spectacular sight for miles around! During more everyday use, conventional lighting would be used to highlight the structure.
The face of the figure will be gold, with bronze hands and the feet made of limestone or granite blocks. The steel frame will be painted with an industrial yellow primer. Because of the angles involved, the lifts will be rack & pinion operated.
Its internal structure will contain several floors, with viewing lobbies, a lounge, photo/art gallery, museum, gift shop and cafes.
Inspiration for the Spirit of Man came from a variety of sources, prehistoric, classical and modern.
Colossal sculptures of the past and present were a particular influence. Initial inspiration being the legend of the “Wicker Man.”
The photo is of a 3 feet high scale model of the structure. Proportions are based on a 6 foot tall man. The model is shown without its outer woven copper piping, is to be completed.
