Picture: Geoff Holloway
The UTG Journal Issue #3
This Issue of The UTG Journal covers the following topics:
‘Ecotourism’ – the new greenwash term – by Geoff Holloway page 1
Editorial – Protest rally against proposed cable car on kunanyi page 6
People Power – by Geoff Mosley page 7
Legacy and understanding – by Tom Hogarth page 8
“I would like to draw attention to the first article, which provides an extensive account of ‘ecotourism’ and the impact of the use of the term across Tasmania,” UTG Secretary, Geoff Holloway, began.
“There have been serious attempts to define, and establish standards for, ecotourism. For example, The International ecotourism Society (TIES), which claims to have over 750 organisational and 14,000 individual members plus 85,000 followers on facebook, has at least five key principles at the base of its definition of ecotourism, namely that it:
• is non-consumptive and non-extractive
• creates an ecological conscience
• holds ecocentric values and ethics in relation to nature
• is based on community involvement and consultation
• recognizes the rights and spiritual beliefs of the Indigenous people.”
“In Tasmania the word ‘ecotourism’ is being used as a greenwash term in order to facilitate the privatisation of Tasmania’s National Parks (eg, Three Capes Track, Cradle Mountain, Lake Malbena, Lake Geeves, the South Coast and Frenchman’s Cap). The Three Capes Track was the first cab off the rank; now it is being used as a model in both Tasmania and mainland States to put private and government-funded infrastructure inside World Heritage National Parks and privatise the exploitation of these areas. The rush has begun . . . and all of this is being conducted behind closed doors with no public consultation or involvement – which contravenes at least Article 3, sections 4 & 5 of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, adopted by UN in 2001 (United Nations & UN World Tourism Organisation).
Tasmania is also in breach of other Ethics in this Code.”
“This onslaught of attacks on the wilderness integrity of Tasmania´s National Parks and World Heritage Wilderness Areas is more insidious than forestry ever was,” Geoff Holloway concluded.
Download UTG Journal …
http://cdn-src.tasmaniantimes.com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/UTG-JOURNAL-3-online.pdf
Geoff Holloway, United Tasmania Group Secretary
