Catt-Trax 2 - The Fjords of Chile - Comments

Thanks D'Arcy - Going Carbon Neutral

Danny Catt — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:06:38 -0700

Many thanks for that URL D'Arcy. I hope some of the folks following the journey have taken the time to check out the Climate Friendly website. I am very pleased that Eagle Eye Tours in Edmonton have offered to make my journey 'Carbon Neutral' by doing exactly as you describe. Thanks again for your post.

Cheers, Danny

Hello Gunna in Iceland

Danny Catt — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 13:04:10 -0700

Hello Gunna!

And thank you so much for your message (and I aplogize for my late reply). I am now in Argentina after a fabulous visit to Antarctica. We were able to get below the Antarctica Circle (66.5 degrees South) because the ice was more open this year than in previous years. As you say, things are changing the world over and in particular the ice in both the Arctic and in Antarctica. I hope your winter in Iceland has been a good one... and thank you for your message and words of support.

Danny

carbon offsets?

D'Arcy Norman — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:01:11 -0800

Danny, I agree that the benefit of this journey far outweighs the cost (in terms of carbon). If it really bothers you, carbon offsets can be purchased. Usually, it involves paying a foundation to plant a number of trees to offset the amount of carbon output.

http://www.climatefriendly.com/offset-air.php

Your contribute to global warming

Gunna Lara — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:14:58 -0800

Hello Danny and thank you so much for your blog words and great photos. Your argument about you contributing to global warming by traveling is ruled out by the positive influence of people reading your articles in my opinion. And human impact on global warming is now even being recognised by american scientists that admit they were before payed by industrial companies to have another oppinion! We here in Iceland are very much experiencing the influence of climate change already by the rapid recrution of our glaciers and changes of ocean temperature. Keep up your good work Danny. Gunna

The Fjords of Chile

Danny Catt — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 11:50:53 -0800

Southern Coast of Chile

If you have ever journeyed along the Inside Passage on the central coast of British Columbia and up into Alaska, or if you have cruised the fjords of Norway, then you will have an inkling of what the southern coast of Chile looks like.

Glacier on the southern coast of Chile

Glaciation carved these fjords and we had a chance to see some of the glacial tongues that come down from the peaks to meet the sea. As in many parts of the world though the glaciers in southern Chile are retreating rapidly. Whether it is due to human caused climate change (global warming) or due to one of the planet’s natural cycles of warming and cooling … or a combination of both I am not sure. But, I am one who prefers to follow the precautionary principle… if we don’t know for sure let’s do whatever we can to change the trend!

If you are curious to learn about climate change I encourage you to check out a number of sources. You can look at the Environment Canada website, you can read Global Greenhouse written by Greg Cairns, BCIT’s Environmental Education Coordinator, on Catt-Trax2 Global Connections (under Global Warming). I would also highly recommend you watch the movie 'An Inconvenient Truth' (now available on DVD) and check out the associated website at www.climatecrisis.net.

Some of you might be thinking, and rightly so, does your journey not contribute to climate change (with all of the traveling you are doing)? And the answer is yes. However, I am pleased to be able to say that one of the supporters of Catt-Trax 2, Eagle Eye Tours based on Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is making my journey ‘carbon neutral’.

If you want to learn more about how this works, read Making Global Connections with Tourism, Cam Gilles short essay on Catt-Trax2 Global Connection (under EcoTourism).

I look forward to learning more about the effects of climate change here in the southern hemisphere when I reach Antarctica in early March.