Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The end of my stay in CR
Well, we just finished up our last obligations for class in CR. I am definately not ready to leave but I had an amazing time while I was here. I made memoreies that will last a lifetime and am so happy I made the trip. We leave Saturday morning so until then we can just hang out, shop, and site-see. I'm sure I will be back in the states before I know it!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Bananas Industry (A Reflection)
Of the three industries that I researched (coffee, ecotourism, and bananas), banana growing is definately lagging in terms of becoming sustainable. Though Chiquita seems to be moving in the right direction, it is only doing so on one plantation and as "Cradle to Cradle" says, being less bad isn't good. When Chiquita is considered a revolutionist in the industry for educating its workers on how not to get sick and for planting a million trees, it is clear that the industry as a whole is far from sustainable.
With that in mind, I began to wonder what would be the best way to move the banana industry onto a more sustainable path for the future. As we learned in class, usually market pressures are the most effective way of imposing change. So, from a market standpoint, what can individual consumers do? What can corporations like Chiquita and Dole do?
The answers are not clear cut but for consumers, the key to making banana companies change will be by speaking with their pocket books. If by changing in some way the amount or kind of bananas they buy, consumers will be able to show the big corporations that they will not stand for anything but change towards being more environmentally sustainable. For Chiquita and Dole and the other big corporations that dominate the banana industry, their roles will be, to change their viewpoints on social and environmental issues involving their companies. Chiquita has made small steps towards realizing and beginning change but I would guesse that 99% of the industry does not share the same views. This must change. It is the responsability of the company's decision makers to realize the harmfulness their banana growing is causing and to turn the industry towards sustainable practice.
Bananas are an intregal part of the economy in CR and an important piece of diets all around the world. Both these facts along with the increasing demand are reasons for an urgent change in the banana industry. The industry must change before its harmful effects are to bad to be reversed. My personal opinion is that bananas are very detrimental to the environment and if the industry is not made sustainable then the whole world may pay the price as future of things like global warming near.
With that in mind, I began to wonder what would be the best way to move the banana industry onto a more sustainable path for the future. As we learned in class, usually market pressures are the most effective way of imposing change. So, from a market standpoint, what can individual consumers do? What can corporations like Chiquita and Dole do?
The answers are not clear cut but for consumers, the key to making banana companies change will be by speaking with their pocket books. If by changing in some way the amount or kind of bananas they buy, consumers will be able to show the big corporations that they will not stand for anything but change towards being more environmentally sustainable. For Chiquita and Dole and the other big corporations that dominate the banana industry, their roles will be, to change their viewpoints on social and environmental issues involving their companies. Chiquita has made small steps towards realizing and beginning change but I would guesse that 99% of the industry does not share the same views. This must change. It is the responsability of the company's decision makers to realize the harmfulness their banana growing is causing and to turn the industry towards sustainable practice.
Bananas are an intregal part of the economy in CR and an important piece of diets all around the world. Both these facts along with the increasing demand are reasons for an urgent change in the banana industry. The industry must change before its harmful effects are to bad to be reversed. My personal opinion is that bananas are very detrimental to the environment and if the industry is not made sustainable then the whole world may pay the price as future of things like global warming near.
EcoTourism 4 (A Reflection)
There is not an activity that I have done in CR that was not revolved around the industry of ecotourism. I was able to experience the biodiversity and natural surroundings that has made CR famous. It was an amazing experience to be able to first hand be involved in the ecotourism practices of CR. From zip-lining to hot springs and cloud forests to snorkeling, I feel like I was able to see all aspects of ecotourism that Costa Rica has to offer. One of the most amazing things of these trips was that one country had all this to offer.
After these experiences, my personal, first reaction opinion, is that CR is doing an excellent job of preserving its natural surroundings while also providing a popular income generating service. The improvements I feel ecotourism could make to become more sustainable are very minor. Obviously, gas powered boats for transportation, cutting down trees to make concrete trails through forests, and the creation of lodging in otherwise natural parts of the country does not fit the environmental sustainable game plan. But the alternative to these small infringments on nature might be the total destruction of the biodiversity in CR. By having so much ecotourism, Costa Rican citizens are prospering and maybe more importantly, the world is prospering. The ecotourism industry in CR has saved the country from deforestation and the rest of the world from a more problematic global warming.
The biggest issue that I observed, is the amount of people who participate in ecotourism. On our trips, I noticed some places had less wildlife than others and in some places the wildlife was not afraid of humans due to being fed. The practices that are making these two things possible should be restructured. Preservation must be the number one thing that ecotourism accomplishes. As my experience with ecotourism grew from week to week I found myself more concerned about the footprint I left behind by participating.
Overall, the practice of ecotourism is pivotal to recreating a mindset all around the world that one can prosper off nature without abusing it. CR seems to have their ecotourism developement and industry in pretty good balance and could be a model for other countries with the same capabilities. Investment from N. America and Europe can ensure that the forests needed to hault global warming exist and even expand deep into the future.
Ecotourism is almost there from a sustainable standpoint and is an industry where sustainability is a great benefit. When prospering of preserving nature, the market forces with eventually make the industry sustainable. My experience has been exceptional and is a big reason why I think ecotourism can be a successful sustainable industry sooner rather than later.
After these experiences, my personal, first reaction opinion, is that CR is doing an excellent job of preserving its natural surroundings while also providing a popular income generating service. The improvements I feel ecotourism could make to become more sustainable are very minor. Obviously, gas powered boats for transportation, cutting down trees to make concrete trails through forests, and the creation of lodging in otherwise natural parts of the country does not fit the environmental sustainable game plan. But the alternative to these small infringments on nature might be the total destruction of the biodiversity in CR. By having so much ecotourism, Costa Rican citizens are prospering and maybe more importantly, the world is prospering. The ecotourism industry in CR has saved the country from deforestation and the rest of the world from a more problematic global warming.
The biggest issue that I observed, is the amount of people who participate in ecotourism. On our trips, I noticed some places had less wildlife than others and in some places the wildlife was not afraid of humans due to being fed. The practices that are making these two things possible should be restructured. Preservation must be the number one thing that ecotourism accomplishes. As my experience with ecotourism grew from week to week I found myself more concerned about the footprint I left behind by participating.
Overall, the practice of ecotourism is pivotal to recreating a mindset all around the world that one can prosper off nature without abusing it. CR seems to have their ecotourism developement and industry in pretty good balance and could be a model for other countries with the same capabilities. Investment from N. America and Europe can ensure that the forests needed to hault global warming exist and even expand deep into the future.
Ecotourism is almost there from a sustainable standpoint and is an industry where sustainability is a great benefit. When prospering of preserving nature, the market forces with eventually make the industry sustainable. My experience has been exceptional and is a big reason why I think ecotourism can be a successful sustainable industry sooner rather than later.
Final Coffee Post (A Reflection)
I came to CR with very little knowledge of anything to do with coffee. I knew as much as to how my parents brewed and enjoyed their coffee. I personally did not enjoy coffee for anything other than its aroma. But, after spending time examining and researching the coffee industry in CR and around the world, I quickly realized the complexity growing coffee entails on all levels, including a business processes level, social, environmental, and sustainability levels.
Now, when I think of coffee, so much more comes to my mind. I was able to experience every level of coffee production and formed my own ideas on how coffee can become sustainable. Though coffee may be successful in CR, the negative effects of making it successful may be too much. I wonder if coffee production might be better suited, from a sustainablility standpoint, by being produced in other parts of the world.
After seeing the coffee industry in CR first hand, I have come away better educated and prepared to talk about sustainability in a way that can relate to almost any business. The first week's visits to two totally different coffee plantations/businesses really opened my eyes to the sustainability issues the coffee industry faces but moreso, to how these same issues can be applied to other industries around the world.
Since an industry that seems as simple as coffee struggles with so many issues concerning sustainability, it sparked my initial interest into discovering how other industries and companies, with even more complexity, can begin to move towards sustainable practices. Throughout lecture and research for projects, I was able to relate sustainability back to the basic problems the Costa Rican coffee industry faces.
The influence the coffee industry has on Costa Rica's economy will always be a lasting impression in my mind. It will be interesting to follow the country and its progress towards helping the coffee industry become sustainable as I grow into a business man myself. One day it may be possible that CR will be considered a leader of sustainable developement and considered a model nation for forming sustainable industries.
Now, when I think of coffee, so much more comes to my mind. I was able to experience every level of coffee production and formed my own ideas on how coffee can become sustainable. Though coffee may be successful in CR, the negative effects of making it successful may be too much. I wonder if coffee production might be better suited, from a sustainablility standpoint, by being produced in other parts of the world.
After seeing the coffee industry in CR first hand, I have come away better educated and prepared to talk about sustainability in a way that can relate to almost any business. The first week's visits to two totally different coffee plantations/businesses really opened my eyes to the sustainability issues the coffee industry faces but moreso, to how these same issues can be applied to other industries around the world.
Since an industry that seems as simple as coffee struggles with so many issues concerning sustainability, it sparked my initial interest into discovering how other industries and companies, with even more complexity, can begin to move towards sustainable practices. Throughout lecture and research for projects, I was able to relate sustainability back to the basic problems the Costa Rican coffee industry faces.
The influence the coffee industry has on Costa Rica's economy will always be a lasting impression in my mind. It will be interesting to follow the country and its progress towards helping the coffee industry become sustainable as I grow into a business man myself. One day it may be possible that CR will be considered a leader of sustainable developement and considered a model nation for forming sustainable industries.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Pics from Puerto Viejo
From Bottom to Top:
Our hotel near Puerto Viejo.
View from my room.
Our hotel's private beach.
Me on the beach ready to swim!
Me ready to go around town on my mo-ped! Exciting!
Me ready to go around town on my mo-ped! Exciting!
Trip to Puerto Viejo
We arrived late Friday night in Puerto Viejo and stayed in a little motel for the night. Saturday morning, before leaving for our final destination, we went snorkeling. This time we were in the Carribean Sea and were able to see a coral reef along with tropical fish. I did not find this snorkeling trip to be as successful as the trip in the Pacific in the Osa. After snorkeling, we were provided snacks and allowed to rest on the beach and walk around a National Park. In just a short amount of time we were able to discover white-faced monkeys, a 3-fingered sloth, and a yellow-eyelash viper. Seeing these three creatures were all very exciting because it was the first time seeign the sloth and snake and because we were able to get very close in observing them. After a short boat ride back to the mainland, we were provided lunch. Soon after, we boarded the bus to depart for our final destination in Cahiuta, Costa Rica.
When we arrive in the early afternoon on Saturday, I spent almost my entire time either on the beach or in the hotels pool. During our stay, all meals were provided and they were very delicious! We had our own private beach and pool, as well as a sand volleyball court for some recreation. All day Sunday was spent soaking up the Costa Rican sun. Luckily I avoided getting burned! While at the beach we passed the football and frisbee, played volleyball, swam and relaxed. It was exactly how I had pictured Costa Rica in my mind. Nights were spent relaxing with the many friends I had made on the trip. On Monday morning, it was a little sad to leave because it was a great final trip and made me realize the end of my Costa Rican Study Abroad stay was near.
On the way back to San Jose we stopped again in Puerto Viejo for a 2 hour shopping/lunch break. Myself and 3 other friends decided to rent mopeds for and hour. We used them mostly as a joy ride around the town but were also able to get some shopping and lunch done. I was definately not experienced in driving the vehicle but quickly got accustomed to driving it and ended up having an amazing time! After turning in our mopeds and getting some ice cream, it was back onto the bus for the 4 hour ride back to San Jose.
We arrived around 4:30 pm safely. Pictures of this trip are soon to follow.
When we arrive in the early afternoon on Saturday, I spent almost my entire time either on the beach or in the hotels pool. During our stay, all meals were provided and they were very delicious! We had our own private beach and pool, as well as a sand volleyball court for some recreation. All day Sunday was spent soaking up the Costa Rican sun. Luckily I avoided getting burned! While at the beach we passed the football and frisbee, played volleyball, swam and relaxed. It was exactly how I had pictured Costa Rica in my mind. Nights were spent relaxing with the many friends I had made on the trip. On Monday morning, it was a little sad to leave because it was a great final trip and made me realize the end of my Costa Rican Study Abroad stay was near.
On the way back to San Jose we stopped again in Puerto Viejo for a 2 hour shopping/lunch break. Myself and 3 other friends decided to rent mopeds for and hour. We used them mostly as a joy ride around the town but were also able to get some shopping and lunch done. I was definately not experienced in driving the vehicle but quickly got accustomed to driving it and ended up having an amazing time! After turning in our mopeds and getting some ice cream, it was back onto the bus for the 4 hour ride back to San Jose.
We arrived around 4:30 pm safely. Pictures of this trip are soon to follow.
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