Life Onboard LAST UPDATE  December 29, 2006
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December 11, 2006 Change Yourself, Change the World – Rudolf Ragonesi
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Rudolf Ragonesi, founder of The Gaia Foundation
All around the world, countries are struggling with pollution, climate change, and depletion of natural resources. These problems, however, are only the effects of a much larger one, according to Rudolf Ragonesi, founder of a non-profit organization based in Malta called The Gaia Foundation. Mr Ragonesi joined the 55th voyage as a Guest Educator, and spoke to participants about how the lack of understanding of the consequences of human actions lies at the root of many issues.
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A sign at the entrance to The Gaia Foundation in Malta
According to Mr Ragonesi, mainstream information sources do little to create awareness, so individuals need to actively educate themselves. “Assess your own lifestyle habits, and determine whether your choices are having a positive or negative impact on the environment, on the lives of other people, on animals, and on your own health,” he urged. The power to change the world and solve problems can be found at the grassroots level, he added, because even if laws are enacted they oftentimes cannot be enforced. “The system will only change if our consumer patterns change to reflect more justice, because the system is there to satisfy our needs, for better or for worse,” he said. Below is a list of problems and solutions that Mr Ragonesi discussed with participants.
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Hotels help tourists enjoy natural areas, but also contribute to their degradation
Problem: Seventy percent of fish stocks have been depleted worldwide, and some species, like blue fin tuna, have been depleted by ninety percent. Over-fishing and fishing practices that kill unintended targets such as dolphins and turtles are also a huge problem.
Solution: Choose eco-certified fish products, ask markets to supply eco-certified products, and don't consume fish in excess of one's actual needs. Consider vegetarianism, too.

Problem: Tourism has a heavy impact on the environment. Hotels use more water, electricity, and chemicals than regular households. Airplanes heavily pollute the upper atmosphere. Souvenirs tend to involve more wasteful packaging. Tourists tend to generate more plastic bottle waste than usual.
Solution: Become an eco-tourist. Choose “green” hotels that have eco-certification and generate less waste. Urge hotels and youth hostels that aren't eco-certified to go green. Choose trains over planes when possible, because they generate less pollution. Bring your own water bottle with you when you travel, and fill it at hotels instead of frequently purchasing and disposing of bottles. Choose eco-friendly souvenirs. Change the mentality of “taking” from a site, and think about how to contribute to it. Give back to local economies by choosing locally grown food and other local products, and give back to local environments by volunteering time in activities such as tree planting.
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Problem: Pesticides and other chemicals cause great harm to one's health and to the environment.
Solution: Choose organic fruits and vegetables. They may be more expensive, but oftentimes they contain a much greater nutrient value than regular produce. Choose clothes made from organic cotton, because regular cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. Choose eco-friendly shampoo, body-soap, and laundry detergent.

Problem: Many products are manufactured under conditions of injustice. Farmers in some countries receive only two percent of profits gained from their crops. Some children are denied the opportunity of education because they must work to supplement the meager wages of their families. Important labor rights, such as a minimum wage, job safety, and established working hours are denied to laborers in many countries. Many animals suffer; cows for example are forced to overproduce milk and can barely stand as a result of calcium loss.
Solution: Choose fair trade, cruelty-free, and free-range products. Ask markets that don't stock these products to start doing so.
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A child in Rome asks for donations to help support her family
Problem: Much lighting is inefficient; we're using the same type of bulbs that were invented in 1895 despite great progress in technology.
Solution: Replace old lighting with more energy-efficient types in homes, offices, and schools.

More information about Mr Ragonesi, The Gaia Foundation, and creating sustainable societies can be found at www.projectgaia.org.