August is right around the corner and holidays are approaching. No worries, going on vacation in a heavenly setting without polluting or ruining your health is possible. The secrets for green holidays are still well kept, but here’s what you should know…
First of all, don’t go too far! We keep repeating it, but long commute is extremely polluting, especially by plane. You can use the Ademe comparator to compare the weight of your travel in CO2 depending on different means of transportation. For accommodation, rather settle for eco-friendly housing. You can find such accommodation by looking at the Guide du Routard du tourisme durable or the Petit Futé du tourisme solidaire. Prevent your skin from sunburn with organic sunscreen, always take eco-friendly bags with you and go on expeditions in isolated places. Be careful not to leave any waste behind you. Everybody knows that every gesture counts!

Want to discover preserved countries? Here are the 10 less polluted countries of the world:

1. Iceland
2. Switzerland
3. Costa Rica
4. Sweden
5. Norway
6. Mauritius Island
7. France
8. Austria
9. Cuba
10. Colombia

Now all you have to do is choose!

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At the 21th century, there’s nothing simpler than organizing your vacations. An Internet access, a search engine, a few clicks and it’s done. Unfortunately, finding accurate information for an eco-friendly travel is, still today, another story. TripSketch decided to meddle and led the way with a mobile application called “Green Traveler”. Winner of the “Calling All Inovators” Nokia contest, this application is also available on iPhone, Android and Nokia N8. All you have to do is browse the Internet on your cell phone and you can book a room in the green and eco-friendly hotel of your choice! A breeze of progress seems to be blowing on our phone networks…

www.tripsketch.com

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« Partir autrement à la rencontre du monde » is a book telling the stories and experiences of the shooting team of the French TV show Partir Autrement, presented by Bruno Blanchet on TV5. At a time when mass tourism is booming, with disastrous consequences on the environment, this book is an invitation to explore the planet with a new perspective, focusing on human relationships. This book encourages fair tourism,community based tourism and tourism sustainability, with travelers that are proactive. Full of beautiful color pictures, it also comes with detailed datasheets about the 15 countries visited, 20 initiatives to promote responsible tourism, and personal anecdotes.

« Partir autrement à la rencontre du monde » a book by Denis Landry and Rémy Saint-Gelais, published by Guide de Voyages Ulysse, EUR 27,99

The World Earth Festival invites each of us to become a player in protecting the environment. It was launched in 2004 by Terralliance. Its aim is to provide nations worldwide with an opportunity to celebrate the planet together and at the same time, raise awareness of how fragile it is and commit to protecting it.

In France, the celebration will take place from June 13-15 at the Parc de Bercy, with a special emphasis on the two key issues which led to the Festival being set up: solidarity and the environment. During this three-day event, over 6000 visitors are expected at the Parc for a number of events: an “association village” with 50 exhibitors, topical lectures, exhibitions, interactive workshops and a score or so of concerts featuring music from around the world. These events will take place daily from 10am to 10pm and will be completely free of charge.

See the website for more information: www.festivaldelaterre-idf.org

Gardens and landscaped areas play an important role in the life of city-dwellers.  Recognizing the ecological importance of such zones can help to improve their access and maintenance. Since 2001, the city of Paris has undertaken a sustainable development initiative which aims to provide continuous improvement of the environmental quality of these gardens. The key stage is that of certification. The Hôtel Gavarni itself is aiming to obtain an eco-label.

The Ecocert certification body has designed a label known as EVE (Espaces Verts Ecologiques) which recognizes eco-friendly management of landscapes. Launched in 2006 in 16 Parisian parks, it was progressively extended last year to another 60 or so parks in the capital. The label, awarded by Ecocert for a period of one year following an audit, can be renewed following a second inspection.

This initiative to promote eco-friendly management of green areas corresponds to a number of objectives:
- reducing ambient pollution (air, noise, etc) and other hazards (soil and water pollution, etc)
- encouraging the development of fauna, flora and biodiversity
- responsible water management
- introducing GM-free, low-maintenance plants
- responsible garden waste management
- introducing waste sorting available for the public, etc
The 60 certified parks and gardens include the Parc de Passy and the square belonging to the Musée Galliera, both located in the 16th arrondissement, just down the road from the Gavarni.