If you have kids, you know about WALL-E. And if you don’t, here’s a primer: It’s the latest movie made by Pixar, the folks who brought us Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, and many other CGI movies that are great fun for children and adults alike. WALL-E is no exception. Get ready to stand in line, because every child in the United States is going to be begging to see this one. And hold onto your wallet, because the market is surely about to be flooded with adorable WALL-E tie-in products and toys. Isn’t that always the way?
But one thing you don’t have to do is brace yourself for an agonizing 2 hours of kiddie fare. WALL-E is a terrific movie, and the creative geniuses at Pixar have skillfully balanced a child-friendly story (with more screen time for cute robots than people) with an enjoyable, futuristic tale of how said robots help humans (living in outer space) reclaim their own lives. The underlying theme of the environmental degradation of our planet is, amazingly, not depressing: This is above all an optimistic film, with hopeful messages about the resourcefulness of “the little guy” (or ‘bot) and the importance of taking care of planet Earth.
That being said, there are real ecological problems on our planet here and now. We don’t have to go 700 years into the future to see entire cities of garbage and human refuse. How can the Vacation Gals, fervent proponents of the joy of travel, promote an activity with such a huge carbon footprint? Easy – because we also reduce our carbon debt in various ways, and to varying degrees. And you can too.
Tips and Resources to Travel Green
Airplane travel is certainly the fastest way to get to distant vacation destinations; travelers can buy carbon offsets to support sustainable travel practices. I like Sustainable Travel International as a resource for purchasing carbon offsets that invest in clean energy and help offset CO2 emissions.
Here’s a tip from a great resource, the Rainforest Alliance: “Have a fun vacation and make a difference.” The Eco-Index Sustainable Tourism site is a listing service for approved tourism businesses that strive to conserve natural resources in travel destinations (and improve the livelihoods of local cultures nearby). The Eco-Index is also recommended by the Vacation Gals as a reliable resource.
The Rainforest Alliance itself is in itself a trustworthy resource for eco-travel. The Go Green SmartGuide to Sustainable Travel is recognized as a great source for information regarding hotels, restaurants, and other elements of the travel industry that help promote or operate with environmentally sound business practices.
If you’re taking a car trip this year (and with air fare the way it is these days, who can blame you?), consider switching your auto club membership to Better World Club. It’s a “green” alternative to AAA.
There are many ways to be kind to the Earth and still travel around it. The future represented in WALL-E is avoidable, after all. We don’t have to live in such disposable ways, in such a consumerist culture – the choice is ours. We can see the world and help keep it healthy.
