| It is also understandable why the green lobby and the | | | | right project before setting off and the key message |
| tourism industry has brought into question the | | | | is – do your research if you want to so some really |
| justification for volunteering abroad and why | | | | valuable work. Prospective volunteers must examine |
| volunteers sometimes feel like they are caught in a | | | | the work they will be doing and how it affects local |
| conundrum. | | | | people and the natural environment. Although there are |
| Global warming is one of the most serious threats | | | | some good placement companies out there, a |
| facing the world and some of the leading campaign | | | | do-it-yourself placement is the most ethical form of |
| groups have stated that the most ethical thing we can | | | | volunteering as you work directly with the host |
| do for the environment is to stay at home. Whilst we | | | | organization. You also have the assurance that all your |
| can all agree that the best form of travel is to avoid | | | | money goes to the cause rather than paying for the |
| flying, we should not stop flying altogether. That would | | | | marketing and administration expenses of a volunteer |
| send us back to the dark ages with massive | | | | placement (sending) agency. If you opt to work |
| unemployment (1 in 10 people work in the tourism | | | | through an agency please be aware that some of |
| sector), business recession, and increased poverty | | | | these agencies offer little more than glorified holidays |
| (deepening recession, increased unemployment and | | | | and others are more interested in making money than |
| worsening poverty is not conducive to creating new | | | | helping the environment or providing sustainable and |
| lower carbon technologies and lifestyles). | | | | well-targeted help for local communities. No one |
| There are many people who rely on tourism for their | | | | benefits from these placements apart from the |
| livelihoods and many natural habitats depend on visitors | | | | companies that organise them. An ethical volunteer |
| for their survival. If you want evidence of this you | | | | ensures that as much of their money as possible |
| should look no further than Latin America. Tourism is a | | | | reaches the grassroots level of society. Eco-conscious |
| big contributor to the economy of many Latin | | | | travellers should consider contributing to a project that |
| American countries and the industry generated nearly | | | | helps reduce the impact of climate change and/or |
| US$2 billion in Costa Rica alone in 2007 (three-fifths of | | | | provides a hands-on approach to offsetting their own |
| GNP). Tourism helps support some of Latin | | | | carbon emissions. |
| America’s most fragile natural habitats and if we | | | | It is also worth mentioning the length of time volunteers |
| stopped flying there many national parks and private | | | | spend overseas. You are clearly going to do more |
| reserves will lose their incomes, deforestation will | | | | harm than good if you travel all the way to Costa Rica |
| increase and global warming will accelerate. Unless we | | | | from the UK (a carbon-heavy 8,700km flight) to |
| support the people and communities now making | | | | rescue sea turtles and stay for only a few weeks. To |
| money through ecotourism they have no other choice | | | | maximise the benefits for local communities and |
| but to exploit natural resources. | | | | negate the environmental impact of your flight you |
| Similarly, it is worth noting the importance of | | | | need to contribute to a project for a much longer |
| international volunteers to conservation efforts in the | | | | period of time. A long stay is more sustainable if |
| region. Without the commitment and financial support | | | | travelling long distances as this will enable you to |
| of international volunteers, many organizations would | | | | minimise the impact of your flight. The time spent as a |
| be unable to carry out their vital work. This is because | | | | volunteer is time not spent contributing to carbon |
| there is generally very little governmental or outside | | | | emissions in your home country (i.e. non use of home |
| support for these organisations and the projects which | | | | appliances, zero emissions form you car, etc). A long |
| they manage. Your contribution as a volunteer could | | | | stay also eliminates the need to take several shorter |
| help ensure the long-term survival of a tropical forest | | | | holidays throughout the year. |
| or an endangered species. This is because you are | | | | In reality, the dramatic growth in short breaks and |
| actively participating in the conservation of that habitat | | | | cheap flights is a more pressing issue than questioning |
| or species. The participation of international volunteers | | | | the justification for volunteering abroad, particularly if |
| also enables money to reach grassroots level of | | | | volunteers wish to devote their time and energy to do |
| society and this can change a small communities | | | | something positive for the environment. Those who |
| perception of their environment or an endangered | | | | want to stop us flying should focus more on the |
| species. | | | | business and the leisure side of flying rather people |
| The question of whether it is possible to be an ethical | | | | wanting to make a difference (e.g. those that fly with a |
| volunteer seems to largely rest on the ability to make | | | | purpose). The destruction of the Amazon and other |
| informed choices before and during your trip. If you | | | | tropical forests around the world should also be a |
| choose the right project, minimise the impact of your | | | | priority for campaign groups (e.g. air travel accounts |
| travel, maximise the benefits for local economies, and | | | | for less than 5% of carbon dioxide emissions, clearing |
| stay for a considerable period of time, then you can | | | | tropical forests for agriculture is estimated to produce |
| most definitely volunteer abroad with a clean | | | | 18% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions – more |
| conscience. | | | | than the entire global transport system). |
| It is worth mentioning the importance of choosing the | | | | |