Milky Way Rising from Australia

“I love this stop-motion clip of the Milky Way rising, filmed in Coonabarabran, New South Wales, Australia. This clip illustrates how much light pollution affects our ability to see the stars by showing us what’s visible without expensive equipment once you get out into the unpolluted Australian bush. On a personal note, I have regularly spent time in Coona throughout my life, and as an Aussie living in London it’s lovely to see the Milky Way and the Aussie scrub in a familiar context.”
~Jen Campbell, Social Media Specialist at WHL Group

The Playground Earth

“When I first saw the clip, I was simply inspired by it — the beauty of the images, the longing it created to see the places pictured. Now that I have two young sons, one of whom has started asking difficult questions about our place in the cosmos, I find the video even more entrancing. After reviewing with my son an astrology book that zoomed out from the earth to the solar system to the galaxy to the universe, this video let me zoom back in on the earth, so that we could talk about who we are, the terrestrial environment in which we exist and the responsibility we have for it.”
~Ethan Gelber, Director of Media and Communications at WHL Group

This is What Global Warming looks like.

“In this video that highlights how violently the earth ‘fought back’ in 2010, what I find most chilling is that it makes me think about the devastation that natural disasters have caused around the globe in the short few months that have followed the video. To me, it’s a haunting reminder of what to expect if we don’t take action.”
~Jennifer Aston, Africa Regional Office Director, whl.travel

Earth amazing sights

“There are many, but I like the entire series shown here. You cannot help but be overwhelmed by how truly awesome and versatile our planet earth is.”
~Rob Shortland, CEO at whl.travel

Saving the sea: Maldives cabinet meets underwater!

“This video inspires me as it is people like Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed who are leading the charge on climate change awareness. Through videos and novel ideas such as this to raise awareness, I hope that finally world leaders will act, and climate change will cease being a political issue, but rather something we must do, and do now.”
~Shaun Gilchrist, Urban Adventures associate and local partner

The Solar House

“This video captures the spirit of a new way of living – one which connects us with the earth and the communities in which we can live in joyous and fulfilling ways. The fact is that most still see anything “eco” as being uncomfortable, tasteless, boring, and something to be wary of. The reality is quite the opposite and this video is a celebration of that.”
~Len Cordiner, founder and CEO of WHL Group

‘Ice Skating’ Polar Bears – Nature’s Great Events

“I love this clip because it’s full of bittersweet ‘firsts.’ For this polar bear cub, it’s the first time venturing out onto the ice. It may be the first time that the mother has taken her young onto such thin ice, and the first time she’s had to spread her weight more widely. We can see the first signs of adaptation to the new conditions brought about by a warming planet. We’re learning that for the first time, humans have had a hand in climate change. This poignant ‘ice skating’ moment doubles as a call to action.”
~Cynthia Ord, managing editor of The Travel Word newsletter

Maya Lin – Unchopping a Tree

“I saw this video after it was shown at the Copenhagen Climate Summit and I guess it made an impression on me because I never forgot it. I think it really adds some perspective onto the damage we are doing to our planet. It has that inspirational punch that makes me want to get out there and chain myself to a tree!”
~Maureen Valentine, chief content editor at whl.travel

Female Elephants Rescue a Drowning Baby

“I love elephants, so my choice for an Earth Day moment had to be an elephant clip. See how the elephants use different techniques to pull and push the baby out. These great creatures are teaching us a few lessons here. We all can work together no matter how difficult the job. And no matter how little we are we all count and are important to somebody.”
~Sylvia Cordiner, admin support for WHL Group

Lontra Comendo Peixe | Parque Nacional do Iguaçu

“I like this video because it was a wonderful ending to our day at Iguazu National Park. This past Saturday, Wallace, Fabio (Foz do Iguaçu MPO) and I went to the park for a full day of activities. It was an amazing experience! The falls are incredible of course, but the park is also full of life. We had the chance to see a wide range of species, including Tufted Capuchin, Caiman, Common Agouti, Nasua and Toucan. The most exciting was the view of an otter having a dinner. We got really close, and I had the chance to record this cool video. Our guide, who has been working in the park for the past 7 years, said that he never managed to get so close to one for that long. It was definitely an inspiring nature experience.”
~André Franchini, Manager at Hotel Link Solutions

International year of Forests * 2011

“Forests have always fascinated me. My major interest is the trees. I used to spend hours reading about the different species, their reproduction, the seeds, flowering period, the use that the natives make of them, etc. I had the pleasure to travel widely in the Brazilian Amazon and Atlantic Forest. It’s unexplainable the feeling you get near a tree that is 300 or even 500 years old.”
~Wallace Faria, Central and South America Project Manager, whl.travel

Earth Day: Give Earth a Hand

“I like this one because it shows a great concept of giving a hand to make the Earth greener. At the beginning, it expresses Human’s ambitions, focusing just on things (cars and machines) that might cause harm to the Earth and the living environment. The clip’s message, then, is that it’s time the Earth’s inhabitants should switch their needs to something more essential, without side effects like destruction and pollution.”
~Tuan Truong, content approval on the content team of WHL Group

SchoolHouse Rocks Energy

“I grew up watching Schoolhouse Rock videos and although “The Energy Blues” first aired in 1978, the video’s message remains relevant today. Energy: quit wasting it all, will ya?”
~Laura Fornadel, Asia and the Pacific Project Manager, whl.travel

Home

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“With breathtaking footage of earth juxtaposed with astonishing images of defilement, Home takes us on a journey through human history and our ever-changing relationship with our planet. Sit back and get comfortable. This is a full-length documentary.”
~Ashley Hiemenz, product development at Gunyah

We would love to hear about other inspiring video clips about our earth. Share your links and thoughts below in the comment section.

Conspicuous furry ears and a golden-orange crown distinguish the golden-crowned sifaka (Propithecus tattersallli) from other members of the sifaka family of lemurs. It is critically endangered and can only be found in northeast Madagascar.

Today, 85 percent of the species in Madagascar are indigenous, but less than 20 percent of Madagascar’s original vegetation remains. This has made it one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots – areas with extremely high endemism under severe threat. Slash-and-burn farming, logging for timber and charcoal production have all resulted in severe deforestation, detrimental soil erosion and loss of habitat. Poaching has also resurfaced as a problem. Meanwhile, the erosion has exposed a red, lateritic soil, which has given rise to the country’s notorious nickname: the Red Island.

With Madagascar’s distinctive flora and fauna vulnerable, hundreds of known endemic amphibians, birds, mammals and plants are in need of protection. The radiated tortoise and the carnivorous fossa, along with several kinds of baobab trees and the aye-aye, perhaps the globe’s most unusual primate, are only a few of the species at risk. Given these and other endangered species that exist only on Madagascar – and as scientists continue to discover new species – it’s increasingly clear how biologically important the island is and how little we know about wildlife in Madagascar.

Fortunately, to help a growing conservation effort, the iconic lemur has emerged as the country’s de facto mascot. The lemur’s high international profile, made poignant by their plight, is helping to raise awareness about other endangered species as well. But much more can and should be done to preserve this remarkable island ecosystem.

Camping for Conservation

Evasion Sans Frontière (ESF), the whl.travel local connection on Madagascar, strives to conserve and protect the country’s prodigious biodiversity. Specialising in the north of Madagascar, ESF offers a variety of personalised tours that benefit local communities and respect the Malagasy culture and environment. It is the only Malagasy agency with headquarters in Antananarivo and branches in Diego Suarez and Nosy Be, the largest of Madagascar’s outlying islands.

Children playing in the streets of Antsahabe village in the Sokafana district. Fanamby, along with the neighbouring Saha Forest Camp, assist in the development of local communities like Antsahabe and provide conservation education for village children in Madagascar.

In operation since 1995, ESF is a member of a local group called Océane Aventures, which promotes sustainable tourism and environmental initiatives and works with local nongovernmental organisations in Madagascar. In 2009, Océane Aventures and ESF joined forces with a conservation organisation called Fanamby to manage a programme that helps safeguard Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity. Recognizing that the majority of Malagasy people have had few economic opportunities through tourism, the partners specifically sought new ways to protect their delicate environment by engaging in conservation that supports local villagers and provides them with lasting employment.

Fanamby developed tented tourist camps in four private protected regions that cover an area of approximately 125,000 hectares. The partners manage these areas while the Malagasy communities own and maintain the tourist camps. Community members are trained for employment within the camps and are able to earn a steady income as chefs, wait staff and tour guides. Additionally, the partners promote agricultural subsistence and villagers are trained in organic farming methods.

For their part, ESF promotes Fanamby’s positive relationships with Malagasy communities by organising and marketing camping tours to the protected areas and spreading word about the project. Through these actions, ESF supports sustainable tourism and fulfils tourists’ desires to see Madagascar’s incomparable species firsthand.

“We find tourists are happy to contribute to local development through our programmes that offer guests the opportunity to discover endemic Malagasy regions and species,” said Rojo Johnarson of Evasion Sans Frontière. “We have concern for saving the environment and helping people at the same time and we’re able to achieve both with the tour we’ve created.”

Exotic Island Escape

Evasion Sans Frontière’s 12-day Lemur & Baobab Tour offers travellers a chance to discover the endemic flora and fauna of Madagascar like no other tour can. Along the way, there are visits to protected regions like the Marofandilia Forest, composed of spiny dry forest and inland dunes. Located in the Menabe region of Western Madagascar, along the Mozambique Channel, the area is home to endemic critters like the Verreaux’s sifaka, the red-tailed sportive lemur and smaller pale fork-marked lemur, as well as nearly 200 plant species. A stroll down Avenue of the Baobabs is in the shade of trees nearly 30 metres tall!

The Avenue of the Baobabs, or Alley of Baobabs, stretches between Morondava and Marofandilia Forest where Fanamby's Baobab in Love Camp is located. Baobabs can reach the ripe old age of 800 and grow to heights of 30 metres (98 feet).

Another port of call is the Ankarana Special Reserve, an area with dramatic scenery that includes dry deciduous forests and eroded limestone karsts known as tsingy. Local lemur species include the crowned lemur, Sanford’s brown lemur, northern sportive lemur and grey mouse lemur. Other resident animals are the fossa, mongoose and Malagasy giant chameleon, believed to be the world’s largest (up to 68 centimetres in length). The reserve is also home to bats, boas and numerous birds, including ibis, vangas, couas and hawks.

Other trip highlights are visits to sacred sites in the Anjozorobe-Angavo Protected Area in the Malagasy central highlands, panoramic views, visits to Antakarana Kingdom villages and local lodges at one with their wild surroundings. Of course, overnights at camps run by local Malagasy communities are perfect opportunities to contribute to local community development efforts and witness Fanamby’s methods in action.

Madagascar is a poor country and providing locals with employment and usable skills helps combat the lure of damaging activities such as logging and poaching. The Lemur and Baobab Tour and Fanamby programs provide effective means to protect wildlife, create jobs and promote community welfare, supplying locals with a much-deserved piece of the economic pie.

If a 12-day is too ambitious, even for a one-of-a-kind tour, support can still be shown through a one-day tour or custom-tailored trip. Contact Evasion Sans Frontière for more information.

Newlyweds Ken and Isabella look to the horizon and contemplate their future at Anse Source d’Argent on la Digue Island in the Seychelles after their wedding

Today, the African archipelagic nation of the Seychelles, already admired the world over for its stance on nature conservation – there are programmes in place to protect everything from the world’s smallest frog to its largest seed – is now indeed being lauded for altogether different reasons.

Let the Sunshine In

The Republic of Seychelles, as it is officially known, was recently named the world’s number one honeymoon destination by sunshine.co.uk, a notable UK-based travel agency. Following an announcement in October, the company now ranks the Seychelles above a number of high profile destinations, with Marrakech (Morocco) coming in second, and Jamaica, Las Vegas and Bulgaria rounding out the top five.

The Seychelles islands are truly breathtaking. With honeymooners now looking for some exotic flavour to add spice to the celebration of their matrimony, the 115 coral islands located in the Indian Ocean northeast of Madagascar are an ideal destination for those who won’t fuss about getting a bit of powdery, white sand in their wedding shoes.

Life in the Seychelles moves at a relaxed pace, one taken to heart by the affable and laidback populace of roughly 87,000. With this in mind, honeymooners have access to a tranquil or dynamic romantic getaway, one gauged to satisfy all tastes and all taking advantage of the country’s translucent waters, pristine nature reserves and gorgeous coral reefs, the most notable of which is the World Heritage Site Aldabra Atoll, home of the world’s largest population of giant tortoises, as well as many varieties of unique flora and fauna.

Enjoy a light fruit breakfast with homemade juices and freshly baked bread at La Reserve Hotel, located on a private beach at Anse Seber and overlooking the Seychelles' Curieuse Marine Park

Open Doors for All

No longer viewed as an exclusive stomping ground for the rich and famous, the Seychelles Islands are now on the radar of travellers of all backgrounds. The islands offer a wide range of Seychelles hotels – everything from simple shoreline bungalows to extravagant and exclusive resorts – and also present a full menu of Seychelles activities, including snorkelling and walking through the Praslin Island Nature Reserve.

As honeymooners frequently opt for a taste of luxury, there is an assortment of honeymoon suites with breathtaking views. Le Duc de Praslin and La Reserve Hotel on Praslin Island provide guests with idyllic lodging at reasonable rates. For a bit more seclusion, Patatran Village sits on a rocky cliff overlooking the crystal blue sea on La Digue Island.

The Seychelles is also the perfect destination for an actual wedding. In the spirit of the country’s relaxed atmosphere, couples can hold their nuptials practically anywhere, with Mahé Island presenting bride and groom with the widest range of ceremony options.

Interested? Then Pascal and the spirited team at Holidays Seychelles, your whl.travel local connection, can help you plan your dream honeymoon, including finding the perfect hotel and island for your romantic holiday and all other aspects of any special holiday. The dedicated Holidays Seychelles wedding coordinator can lend a hand for a more complete Seychelles Wedding or Honeymoon Package.

The Floriano Falls at Foz do Iguassu

‘They’, of course, are the small piece of heaven in Foz do Iguassu (also written Foz do Iguaçu), the fourth largest city in the Paraná state of Brazil. And no, we don’t mean the city’s Buddhist Temple or the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab mosque (the largest outside the Middle East), but, rather, a spectacular natural wonder and the area’s number one attraction: the massive and thundering Iguassu Falls. Once you’ve laid your eyes on these awe-inspiring cascades, you’ll certainly understand why.

Iguassu Falls and National Park

Iguassu Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is one of the widest waterfalls in the world, with a total of 275 spillways spread out along 2.7 kilometres of the Iguaçu River and with a flow equal to three times that of Niagara Falls in the USA. All that water powers the world’s largest hydroelectric generator built into the Itaipu Dam. A guided tour of the Brazilian falls includes a walk along a path that runs into the river canyon and extends to the lower base of the Devil’s Throat, a vast and towering U-shaped cataract on the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Cataracts speedboats take you close to the action at the Iguassu Falls

The falls may be the area’s primary drawing card, but in the surrounding Iguassu National Park, travellers will be equally amazed by rich and subtropical vegetation, as well as wildlife including jaguars, ocelots, howler monkeys and giant anteaters. Organised tours of the park, like the one along the Black Well Trail, take in some of its most memorable sights.

Buddhist Temple

While the Iguassu Falls are ideal for adventurers and nature-lovers, they are not the only reason to visit Foz do Iguassu!

If you’re searching for serenity and an escape from the crowds, look no further than the city’s Buddhist Temple, one of the least-visited places and an ideal location for contemplation. The temple’s positively charged atmosphere greets visitors with over 100 statues of bodhisattvas, or those working towards Enlightenment, their hands extended forward in a gesture of welcome. Each conveys something spiritual about life, mainly health, joy and luck. Other statues of dragons, elephants and a large reclining Buddha also adorn the 42-hectare garden-filled grounds.

Statues confer positive energy to the grounds of the Buddhist Temple visible in the background

The main temple itself – covering 2,500 square metres – is the largest in Brazil. The local Chinese communities of the tri-border area built it, and all of the temple’s interior statues were shipped from China. The balcony of the temple is a very favourable lookout point with views of Acaray Island, the Paraná River, Bridge of Friendship, parts of Foz do Iguassu and the centre of Ciudad Del Este, Paraguay. For an equally splendid vista, stand beside the seven-metre-high golden seated Buddha, Mi La Pu-san, who appears to be laughing and delights all who gaze upon him.

The temple is a central point of prayer and meditation for Buddhists in Foz do Iguassu and the surrounding region. ‘ORBI’ is written above the entrance, meaning ‘place of heaven’. Given how few tourists visit the temple, it truly is a refuge.

The temple is located in the California Garden on Aluízio Ferreira de Souza St 99 and is open Thursday to Saturday from 9:00 to 17:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00.

For more information about Foz do Iguassu, including accommodations, tours, activities and lots of insider tips, contact your local whl.travel connection: the team from Falls Vision Receptivo at www.iguassu-hotels.com.br.