The backpackers’ adage clearly states:

Take nothing but pictures; leave nothing but footprints.

But this phrase was coined before the term carbon footprint. Today one’s print is much larger than one’s foot.

With all of the fossil fuel needed to get somewhere, are we now unable to resolve our desire to see the world up close with our desire to tread lightly on the Earth?

The question becomes, Is it worth it to travel?

Here I will attempt to answer the question with an unequivocal YES! contingent upon doing things with the impact of our choices in mind.

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From Appalachian Voices:

Mountaintop removal is a relatively new type of coal mining that began in Appalachia in the 1970s as an extension of conventional strip mining techniques. Primarily, mountaintop removal is occurring in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. Coal companies in Appalachia are increasingly using this method because it allows for almost complete recovery of coal seams while reducing the number of workers required to a fraction of what conventional methods require.

Please spread the word about this destructive and counter-productive practice!

Worried that stopping mountaintop removal would cost jobs in Appalachia? MTR actually competes with other forms of coal mining that require more people. The first thing that would happen if MTR were ended is that there would be more jobs in mining.  Besides, there are already three times as many people in the area working on tourism rather than mining. MTR threatens to take those jobs away forever.

Take action today:

Sign this petition. (Rainforest Action Network)

Write your Congressperson.

Tell a friend.

Aurangabad is a fairly large city in central India. It is best known for being home to the relics of an impressive Buddhist culture, Ellora & Ajanta, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Join me for a brief tour of these two surreal ruins as well as a peek at a lovely town that is too often overlooked by visitors to India.

All photos by Cheyney

Also posted @ Daily Kos

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I can see why CurrenTV might have been a bit reluctant to take on TLP in addition to all they have been dealing with this year. Today, very sad news out of the most oppressive regime in the world.

North Korea sentences US journalists to 12 years hard labour

Euna Lee and Laura Ling were seized on March 17 while working on a television documentary about North Korean exiles crossing the border into China. It is unclear if they crossed the border into North Korea or were apprehended by aggressive border guards while still inside China.

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The trial of the two journalists began on June 4, however no details emerged from the closed hearing until today. The North has not specified the exact charges, or allowed foreign observers into the proceedings.

Our thoughts and prayers are with these two brave young American women.