Carbon offset option removed by responsibletravel.com

Re Greenbox Travel
Irish Rail have confirmed that customers can now book bikes on new trains Dublin-Sligo 8 trains a day , a very welcome development despite being a few years later than new train but better never late than never , do you encourage your guests to come by train ?

Good News for Green Comapnies

see enclosed article for some good news in these hard times !http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?src=nl&id=17040

Clean Breaks -new rough guide features greenbox members

Clean Breaks unearths 500 unique experiences and new ways to travel that make a real difference to the lives of local people and the planet. Discover a wealth of new adventures from sleeping in houseboats in Kerala and witnessing the zebra migration in Botswana to taking the train-hotel from Paris to Madrid. Whether you fancy living like a local in a tipi with Native American Indians, riding with cowboys in Venezuela or staying in a bunkhouse barn in the Brecon Beacons, this guide is packed with the how, where and when to plan your next extraordinary experience.
Authors Richard Hammond, Green Travel Correspondent for The Guardian, and Jeremy Smith, former Editor of The Ecologist Magazine, combine cultural sensitivity with practical advice, hand-picking the best hotels, resorts, and tours run by earth-friendly people who are passionate about what they do, assuring a spectacular choice of inspirational travel ideas without compromising on the quality of your holiday. Whether you wish to experience a climate-friendly home-stay or simply want to see the world in a new light; make your next trip a Clean Break

We were fortunate to have Jeremy Smith visit Greenbox in late july and was very impressed with his time here and all our members he met .
See also http://www.greentraveller.co.uk/

see videoclip of the recent launch http://www.greentravelguides.tv/news/clean_breaks_launch

Vote for EcoTourism handbook up for international award

About the Award
Government websites that engage locals and visitors about ecotourism and responsible travel are eligible to win Planeta.com's annual Ecotourism Spotlight Award.

"Locals and visitors are seeking ecotourism experiences," said Planeta.com founder Ron Mader. "The Ecotourism Spotlight Award encourages government leaders to move forward as we give credit to those leading the pack."

Nominees for the 2009 award include Quito Visitors' Bureau, Responsible Tourism Guide to the Mekong , Ecotourism Laos, Failte Ireland and Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas.

"These nominees have utilized the Web in highly creative and innovative ways that engage locals and visitors and inspire us all," Mader said.

Examples of best practices include Failte Ireland's ecotourism handbook for all 16,000 Irish tourism businesses and Quito's documentation of eco activities including weekend bike rides. Web 2.0 tools are showcased on the Mekong site and multi-lingual information is showcased on the Mexico parks website. Two-time Ecotourism Spotlight Award winner Ecotourism Laos has been revising its site and shows how any good website is regularly updated to maintain its effectiveness.

The Ecotourism Spotlight Award was developed to create incentives for communication, opportunities for conversation and a reward for participation among government leaders working toward ecotourism and responsible travel. Municipal, regional, national and international government websites are eligible.

The winner is announced in celebration of World Tourism Day (September 27) to spotlight best practices from government institutions. Winners receive international exposure and bragging rights.

Besides the information on the wiki and Planeta.com, a review of this year's award appears online slideshare (one of my favorite web tools!) http://www.slideshare.net/planeta/2009spotlightaward

This Publication was jointly produced in assoication with Greenbox and many of our network members feature in it .

Greenfishing in Northwest-Riverside Cottage Kinlough

www.vimeo.com/5662583 or http://www.rte.ie/news/nationwide/index.html


"This feature was screened on RTÉ's Nationwide programme on July 19 2009. It focusses on one of the best kept fishing secrets in Ireland's north west, the Drowes Salmon Fishery. Typically, the first salmon of the year caught anywhere in Ireland is caught here. It's also a haven of peace and tranquillity and this feature highlights the owner's dedication to enhancing the fishery's Green credentials, having attained the EU flower, the European Union's standard for Green living.

Business and Finance Magazine - Article on Greenbox and Ecotourism

Hi Everyone

Please see a recent article published in the Business and Finance magazine on Ecotourism and the Greenbox.

Click on the link below to view the article:


Business and Finance Article

The Launch of Donegal Walking Week

Donegal Walking Week 2009, launched today by Donegal Sports Partnership, is hoping to encourage as many individuals, families, schools and workplaces as possible to get active and get walking. The event is primarily taking place from the 24th until 30th May with a focus on community led family fun walking programme all across County Donegal. The week will also include workshops and presentations on walking fitness, the environment and heritage.

The week long event will kick off with a family walk at the Bluestack Centre outside Donegal Town on the 24th May. This walk will include information sessions and practical demonstrations on outdoor activities such as tent pitching, outdoor footwear and clothing and personal safety.

Donegal Walking Week provides a great opportunity for both the local community and visitors to get out and sample the many walking opportunities Donegal has on offer. All abilities are catered for and local accommodation providers are offering overnight packages to encourage visitors to stay in the Donegal area.

A full programme of activities is planned throughout the week in all areas of the county including 26 guided walks both coastal and inland, a family challenge, educational workshops on outdoor activities and also on the environment and walking for health.

The week long festivities will conclude with a family fun day at Glenveagh Castle where they will present one lucky family with a €500 gift voucher sponsored by Wet’n'Wild, Letterkenny for having completed the family walking challenge!
Once again we have scheduled in some FitWalk workshops at various locations throughout the county, these workshop locations will be finalised shortly and a list will be published on www.activedonegal.com

The key sponsors of the event include Irish Sports Council, Fáilte Ireland, Health Service Executive, Gartan Outdoor Education Centre, Donegal VEC, Udarás na Gaeltachta, Donegal County Council, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Donegal Local Development Company, the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Bluestack Centre.