Both supporting organizations possess a long history of environmental stewardship in Mexico as well as certification of sustainable agriculture.

“Our mission at PRONATURA has been the conservation of flora, fauna and priority ecosystems, while promoting society’s development in harmony with nature,” said PRONATURA Executive Director Ms. Rosa Vidal. “Our organization has been a pioneer for more than 25 years, linking environmental projects to local capacity building, environmental policy development, a focus on gender issues and innovation in financial services.

“Within the last decade, PRONATURA has been part of the remarkable efforts in Mexico to achieve social, environmental and economic sustainability,” she continued. “From this work a number of independent organizations, companies and networks have been born. PRONATURA has been at the heart of these initiatives which support new partners and alliances working for a better world.

“Today we are proud of supporting the incorporation of Green Globe Mexico, a sister company which certainly will be the landmark for green and sustainable tourism and related services in Mexico. We know that tourism businesses recognize the importance of better management of natural resources, energy and waste and with Green Globe Mexico there is a very good opportunity to offer qualified services in Spanish language to this important sector”, concluded Ms Vidal.

Agent for green

Green Globe is a worldwide sustainability certification based on internationally accepted criteria for sustainable operation and management of travel and tourism businesses. Based in California, it operates in over 83 countries via the Green Globe Alliance and is currently the only certification company to be an affiliate member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and is partly owned by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Green Globe Mexico will also assist Green Globe clients in Latin American with their inclusion in the inaugural Green Globe Book, a compendium of the best travel and tourism businesses, as well as provide business support for clients with their promotion at Luxury Travel Show Las Vegas, ITB Berlin, IMEX Frankfurt, Arabian Travel Market and other international travel shows.

“We are honored to be associated with the sustainability initiatives and programs in Mexico via our new license with Green Globe Mexico,” stated Green Globe Certification CEO, Mr. Guido Bauer. “Green Globe Mexico is a 100% owned and registered Mexican company, which means they will be able to meet the specific needs of their clients using Green Globe’s Spanish language system. Furthermore with their years of experience they will be able to ensure all Green Globe clients in Mexico are compliant with all Mexican as well as international regulations.”

Plans are already underway to utilize the experience and network from Green Globe Mexico’s office to deliver the Green Globe Spanish language program in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Guatemala and throughout Latin America.

For more information, visit www.greenglobe.com.

Based in the state or Morelos, the retreat includes in-depth private tours using hand-picked local guides, authentic gourmet dining, and the exploration of three enigmatic archeological sites, Xochicalco, Malinalco, and Tepoztlán.

Additional tours include visits to the historical centers of three cities, Cuernavaca, Malinalco and Tepoztlán, in addition to a private visit to the Robert Brady Museum and the Traditional Museum of Herbal Medicines.

Authentic Mexican culture and history

The hotel, Hacienda San Gabriel de Las Palmas, was selected for this trip because of its authenticity. This artfully renovated deluxe 20-room boutique hotel that offers a unique history that dates to 1529. Lush gardens, a holistic spa, an outdoor pool, and horse stables, are just a few of the property’s modern amenities.

With an impressive history in Mexico’s culture ranging from the country’s colonization, civil war, to present day, the property proudly boasts historic relics and a chapel, and will offer an evening lecture over cocktails about the history and legacy of hacienda life in the Americas exclusively for this trip.

Wellness activities included on this retreat are a custom tailored holistic full body massage, cooking demonstration on healthy gourmet Mexican cuisine and optional participation in the ancient indigenous Mexican detoxification sweat bath treatment, Temazcal, guided by a local shaman.

“Flor Escapes upcoming Mexican getaway – the Mystic Triangle – offers a unique combination of Mexico’s fabulous lesser-known cultural attractions, typical cuisine on a gourmet level, and wellness, in a deluxe format, and at a very attractive price point,” said Adamarie King, owner of Connoisseurs Travel, who has been nominated as a top travel specialist for Mexico by Condé Nast for the last nine years.

“It feels more like a quick trip to Europe, without thejet lag. It doesn’t get much better than that.” Although all-inclusive, this getaway is crafted similar to a custom itinerary allowing participants to experience private insider activities, such as a gourmet lunch at a private estate in Malinalco, which would be unattainable to travelers otherwise.

Included in the retreat:

• Six-nights deluxe accommodations
• English speaking tour leader throughout the trip
• Private sightseeing with local, English speaking guides in each city
• ALL meals (breakfasts, lunches & dinners)
• Healthy Gourmet Mexican Cooking Demonstration
• One full body holistic massage
• Transportation within country according to itinerary
• Airport transfers in Mexico according to itinerary
• ALL sightseeing and cultural activities in itinerary to include entrance fees

Flor Escapes fuses travel with wellness and culture to develop exclusive holistic retreats. Trips include uplifting activities such as enlightening workshops, natural spa treatments, yoga and/or Qi Gong sessions, cultural activities and more. All destinations, hotels, guides, spa treatments and healers have been specially selected to ensure that each trip be a true escape and journey to relaxation, self discovery and fun! Properties represented by Flor Escapes are handpicked spa-based hotels that create enchanting and revitalizing experiences while taking a proactive stance in protecting the environment and supporting their local communities.

For complete details to include a brochure and video visit http://www.florescapes.com/index.html.

The policy is effective for select hotels in Cancun; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Maarten throughout the coming Fall 2009 travel season.

“Similar to our Promise Program, we continue to look for ways to give customers the confidence to book travel plans without the worry,” said Robin Hayes, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for JetBlue Airways. “According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this will be a near-normal hurricane season. It’s a beautiful time of year to travel and take advantage of some great vacation deals. Our new hurricane policy takes the concern out of the one thing that gives some customers reluctance to book travel to these popular tropical destinations during this time of year.”

According to JetBlue, any customer who has to cancel their Getaways vacation or end it early due to a hurricane, will receive full pre-departure refunds or post-departure hotel and flight credits from the airline – all without incurring cancellation fees.

All a customer needs to do is notify JetBlue within three days of the airline issuing a Hurricane Travel Alert for their vacation destination and prior to boarding the departure flight

Customers who have booked a JetBlue Getaways vacation package to participating hotels between Dec. 8, 2008 and Nov. 8, 2009 for travel between Sept. 1 and Nov. 13, 2009 and who are disrupted by the occurrence of a hurricane may be eligible for The Weather or Not Getaways Protection Policy. To celebrate, JetBlue is currently offering sale packages on Getaways vacations today through Aug. 14.

If a customer has already departed on their Getaways vacation at the time JetBlue issues a Hurricane Travel Alert for their destination, JetBlue will waive the change fees and move the customer to the next available departing flight. Travelers will receive a post-departure hotel credit for the number of nights that they did not use that can be applied to a future JetBlue Getaways vacation at the same hotel.

Additionally, customers will receive a $100 (a) flight credit per person to be applied to another JetBlue Getaways vacation to the same destination city within one year. The customer must change their reservation to an earlier return flight, subject to availability, and request a refund within 14 days of boarding the flight home.

A Hurricane Travel Alert is defined as a travel alert issued by JetBlue in the event a hurricane substantially impacts its flight operations to or from certain destinations. To determine whether a Hurricane Travel Alert is in effect, visit www.jetblue.com and, if a red link labeled “Travel Alert” appears at the top of the page, click on the link. This link will inform customers if the Travel Alert is a Hurricane Travel Alert, and what destinations the alert pertains to during that time.

Always ahead of their time regarding value, service and style JetBlue in 2009 ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Low-Cost Carriers in North America” by J.D. Power and Associates, a customer satisfaction recognition received for the fifth year in a row.

All requests for a refund or credit for a JetBlue Getaways vacation package under The Weather or Not Getaways Protection Policy must be made by calling 1-800- JETBLUE (538-2583), option #3. If located in Mexico, dial 1-800-861-3372; if located in St. Maarten, dial 1-801-365-2583; if located in Bermuda, dial 1-800-884-9616; and if located in Jamaica, dial 1-800-963-3014.

Pax Terra is well known for its efforts to promote sustainable global ecotourism as well as gray whale migration protection.

With gray whale migration being a main factor in the long-term economic viability of the Magdalena Bay region of Baja, plans are in motion to develop a sustainable ecotourism industry in the region – allhighlights of the World Environment Day festivities.

Dignitaries from the Mexican Government, a number of NGOs, and the Pax Terra management team will participate in the celebration and other activities planned for the day.

“Gray whale migration is extremely important to marine science,” said Janet Robertson, president of Pax Terra. “The disappearance of the gray whales would be a heartbreaking loss to environmentalists and ecotourists alike.”

The streaming program will include an Environmental Education Contest Award ceremony, a video premiere, a community meeting to promote environmental commitment and activities in support of sustainable ecotourism.

Save the whales, save the world

The western coast of Baja California Sur is home to a group of islands that makes up one of the most productive marine regions of Mexico – its social and ecological importance of the region is undeniable. As well as being a major area for state and national fisheries as well as the natural home for a number of fish and inverterbrates hatching and breeding areas, it is also the birthplace of the gray whale and other marine mammals.

In recent years, the human-friendly gray whales were taken off the endangered species list. But they are now again in danger of extinction.

“If the gray whale is to survive the environmental effects of overfishing and commercial development in or near the protected waters that allow it to thrive, remedial action needs to be taken immediately,” adds Robertson, “including promoting sustainable ecotourism and other methods to help Baja fisherman to maintain and enhance their livelihoods.”

The events scheduled for the World Environment Day Celebration in Baja are expected to launch a major initiative that will be a first step in bringing attention — and major tourism — to the entire Magdalena Bay complex.

Pax Terra supports global efforts to restore nature’s balance and achieve sustainable development with support from the scientific community and experts in social, economic and environmental affairs. It works to promote and support the general welfare of society, and mitigate the environmental effects that have to potential to adversely affect quality of life of the species that inhabits one of the world’s most important ecosystems.

To watch the video, visit http://pax-terra.org/live-video-stream.

With a presence in over 100 countries around the globe, World Environment Day is one of the main vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and boosts political attention and action.

With thousands of events in UNEP’s six global regions including North America, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and West Asia, World Environment Day is considered one of the largest environmental events of its kind.

Building on the idea that climate change is everyone’s individual responsibility, "Your Planet needs You! Unite to combat climate change" demands action in the face of a potential new climate change deal this coming December. It is a chance for communities throughout the world to show how much they care about the planet.

"On this World Environment Day, I encourage all people to take concrete steps toward making the planet greener and cleaner," said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. "Switch off the lights. Take public transportation. Recycle. Plant a tree. Clean up your local park. Hold corporations responsible for their environmental practices. And urge your government representatives to Seal the Deal in Copenhagen."

While World Environment Day is a truly global event, playing the role of host to the main festivities in this third year is Mexico – a leader in global carbon market participation, reforestation campaigns and natural resource management.

"I am delighted that Mexico and its people will be the 2009 global hosts of the annual United nations celebrations on 5 June under the theme ‘Your Planet Needs You! Unite to Combat Climate Change’," said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program. "Mexico is among a group of nations showing real leadership on the challenges of our age – from climate change to bringing environmental goods and services into the mainstream of national and international economics."

Headling the festivities in Mexico will be a series of events in Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Province, includi a conference on the Green Economy with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mexico’s Environment Secretary Juan Elvira Quesada, and Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

There will also be photo exhibits, an art competition, a Maya "Healing the Earth" ceremony, and a Symphonic Visual Concert entitled "The Shield of Nature" by the Philharmonic Choir and World Heritage Orchestra.

‘HOME’ around the world

The global premiere of the new film ‘HOME’, by world-renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, will be one of the major worldwide events taking place at over 100 locations around the world. Screenings – including star-studded premieres at the Eiffel Tower and in New York City’s Central Park – will be free of charge, and the film will also be available for free download on YouTube.

Using the stunning aerial footage that is Arthus-Bertrand’s trademark, the film – shot in more than 50 countries – makes an urgent appeal for the planet in peril and all its treasures, arguing that we have barely ten years left to reverse its destruction.

Climate Heroes

Another highlight this year will be the launch of the Climate Heroes project – a new UNEP initiative that supports individuals who are undertaking exceptional personal feats, high-profile expeditions, and other acts of environmental activism to demonstrate their commitment and to raise awareness of the "Your Planet Needs You" theme.

This year’s Climate Heroes include:

• Roz Savage, who is rowing across the Pacific Ocean to inspire people to take action on CO2 levels by walking more and driving less
• Charles and Sho Scott of Ride Japan, a father-and-son team cycling through Japan to raise environmental awarenes
• David de Rothschild, who is building a boat out of recycled plastic to cross the Pacific and visit the Pacific Garbage Patch and raise awareness of the gigantic problem of waste and overconsumption
• Project Kaisei, a team of innovators who are studying how to capture waste in the ocean, detoxify it, and recycle it into diesel fuel

The North American front

Meanwhile, Omaha, Nebraska will the U.S. host city for WED 2009, in a reflection of the city’s commitment to environmental and sustainability issues.

Ever since Earth Day (April 22nd) events throughout the community have been highlighting resources, initiatives and methods that promote low carbon economies and lifestyles, such as improved energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, forest conservation and eco-friendly consumption.

The city will also hold its own premiere of the film ‘HOME’, and youth events will include an award ceremony for the North American winners of the International Children’s Painting Competition and an interactive environmental workshop for Omaha students.

Here, there and everywhere else

Thousands of other activities will take place around the world for World Environment Day 2009:

Tree plantings around the world: WED 2009 will see a wave of tree planting around the planet as part of UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign, which aims to see 7 billion trees planted by the end of 2009. New partners who have recently come on board include the Scout Movement and the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Tree plantings will range from the massive to the local, with 20,000 mangroves to be planted in Keddah (Malaysia) as well as small-scale plantings by communities around the world, from Sierra Leone to India.

Even more: Twitter campaign: UNEP will plant one tree for every person who follows its new Twitter page www.twitter.com/UNEPandYou by 5 June.

Youth video conference: A videolink will unite youth across three continents – in Nairobi, New York, Panama and Vienna – to discuss their role in promoting awareness and actions on climate change.

World Environment Day events around the world

• Russia: UNEP will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the organizers of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, whereby UNEP will advise the Olympic organizers in their efforts to green the Games – including issues like sustainable transport, renewable energy, ecosystems management, and green procurement among others.
• Afghanistan: A neighbourhood clean-up will take place in Kabul on World Environment Day, along with a series of awareness-raising campaigns through schools and mosques.
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: In Sarajevo, the ‘Run to the Hills’ 10-km race will take runners from around Europe up the beautiful forested paths of the Olympic Mountains.
• Nepal: An ‘Ecofootball’ match entitled ‘GOAL-against Climate Change’ will bring together celebrities, politicians and environmentalists, with the aim of raising awareness on climate change and the need for a united response.
• Brazil: An online campaign will call online volunteers to produce, translate and disseminate information and advice on environmentally-friendly lifestyles.
• Kenya: A seafront clean-up will be organized on the island of Lamu with schoolchildren, students, community and government representatives.
• Belgium: The EchoFestival in Brussels’s Royal Park will include a picnic, exhibits, a concert and a fair for a "shared eco-cultural experience".
• Republic of Korea: 30,000 children will take part in a painting competition on the environment.

For more information on World Environment Day 2009, visit www.unep.org/wed/2009 as well as www.sealthedeal2009.org.

In the past, changes in regulations have also increased the processing time for passport renewals. RushMyPassport.com offers a private passport expediting service that can help customers bypass increased processing times and get their passports faster.

The last time that passport regulations changed, in 2007, the US Passport Agency was flooded with applications, and some travelers reported waiting months for their passport renewals to be processed. Should a similar situation occur this year, RushMyPassport.com offers an expediting service that can help customers renew their passports quickly, in as little as 24 hours.

RushMyPassport.com is a private company licensed as a passport hand courier by the US Passport Agency. The company strives to help consumers cut through the “red tape” and get passports and passport renewals processed in a timely fashion. Consumers wishing to use RushMyPassport.com’s service can order expedited passports online at http://www.RushMyPassport.com. Several different services offerings are available at various price points, depending on the processing speed required.

RushMyPassport.com also uses proprietary tracking software, so clients can check the status of their passport orders in real-time. A travel specialist is assigned to each customer to help them through the passport application process. Once RushMyPassport.com receives the client’s passport application and supporting documents, they are delivered to the US Passport Agency for processing, then returned to the customer via Federal Express.

According to Adam Boalt of RushMyPassport.com, “Our service is an excellent option for people who aren’t able to wait to get their passports. If processing times increase as a result of these new rules, RushMyPassport.com will be here to provide a faster alternative for our customers.”

Based in West Palm Beach, Florida and Washington, D.C., RushMyPassport.com is one of the most highly regarded private passport expediting companies. Each year, the company helps tens of thousands of Americans get their passport processed quickly and efficiently. The company was just recently voted the #1 by the Wall Street Journal in speed and customer service.

Los Arboles Tulum, the first environmentally-friendly project set in 1,200 acres near Tulum, Mexico, has obtained all necessary permits to sell five-acre lots with full title and title insurance starting at only $55 thousand dollars.

Featured in The New York Times , the Austin American-Statesman and The Miami Herald, Los Arboles Tulum is a result of U.S. developer The Tierra Group’s dream to offer an example of how real estate could be developed while retaining the land’s pristine natural environment and vast biodiversity.

“We are so proud of this project and this achievement, we fought hard for it because we truly believe you can develop real estate in a sustainable way,” says Jason Schnurr, Partner and Director of Business Development. “Our goal in creating a 95% conservation development in one of the most beautiful places in the world was to create an experience that others could share and be assured that it will be preserved forever.”

Some of the “green” features include permeable roads, use of off-the-grid energy systems, constructed wetlands that work in lieu of septic systems, as well as a comprehensive home-owners’ association in place to govern compliance and harmony within the community.

“I finally found the perfect hideaway, where I can live according to my principles, yet it takes me fifteen minutes to get to the beach or to explore the ruins,” said Lucy Gallagher, an entrepreneur who relocated to Tulum from the United Kingdom. As an expat residing in the locale, she was looking for a sanctuary to escape the hordes of tourists and call home. Los Arboles Tulum became the perfect solution, offering her a five-acre lot with conservation easements in place to preserve her privacy and guarantee serenity within the community.

With prices starting at $55 thousand dollars and financing options, buyers include current Riviera Maya residents, as well as people from all over the United States and from as far away as Italy. Clients are self-made business owners or career men and women who are seeking a simpler life or a getaway from civilization, surrounded by natural beauty.

Los Arboles Tulum is the only jungle development to offer full title upon closing, title insurance from Stewart Title and a complete subdivision permit. It is located on the well-travelled Tulum-Coba highway, thus offering convenient access to the subdivision.

About Los Arboles Tulum
Los Arboles Tulum, is an affordable ecological subdivision of 221 residential properties located in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Set in over 1,200 acres of pristine high canopy jungle, this environmentally responsible community is being developed with an enforceable set of guidelines in order to protect the unique natural environment of the region based on a comprehensive environmental study documenting all native flora and fauna. It is located eight miles west of the town of Tulum on the Tulum-Coba Highway.

For more information, visit www.myjunglehideaway.com .

Administered by international environmental advisory group EC3 Global, the Green Globe program recognizes the Inn at Loreto Bay’s commitment to operating at the world’s highest environmental standards. To achieve bronze status, the Inn has implemented an integrated environmental and social policy and is committed to benchmarking its energy and water consumption, total waste production and community involvement.

During the certification process, the Inn at Loreto Bay earned “best practice” results in the following areas: energy consumption, water saving, waste diverted from landfill, waste recycling, community contributions, paper products, cleaning products and pesticides. These measures will ensure efficient practices and large cost savings, guaranteeing that the Inn at Loreto Bay is on the path to securing a sustainable future for the environment. To learn more about the resort’s Green Globe Initiatives in Loreto Bay, Mexico (http://www.discoverloretobay.com/hotel/green.php) simply visit its website.

The other efforts of the Inn’s environmentally-friendly practices, such as ecological body care products in refillable containers, compact fluorescent lighting, a high density compactor for recycling and native drought-tolerant landscaping, may be inadvertently overlooked by resort guests, but many offerings, including electric shuttles and organic and heirloom food menu offerings, are certainly hard to miss.

“Guests of the Inn can learn about all of the resort’s policies and practices on an in-room television channel devoted solely to sustainability and environmental awareness,” said General Manager Alfredo Rosas. “We also educate our visitors through ecology brochures in the hotel lobby; during the trailers of our weekly, complimentary movies; and, of course, first-hand from our friendly staff and concierge.”

To learn more about the resort’s partnership with local eco-tourism partners you can visit its all encompassing website www.DiscoverLoretoBay.com. Activities include whale and turtle watching, mule trekking to visit ancient cave paintings, island hiking, tours to see medicinal desert plants and, of course, traditional favorites like sailing, kayaking, snorkeling and diving. During their stay, guests may also choose to volunteer at Animalandia, a local animal clinic, or at one of three local schools where the Inn has established organic vegetable gardens and “edible classroom” programs.

“The resort is founded on the conviction that improving local social and ecological resources will end up increasing the economic viability of the development,” continued Rosas. “Attaining Green Globe’s bronze status is only the first step to fulfilling that vision. We look forward to achieving higher Green Globe performance in the years ahead.”

About Loreto Bay Resort
Loreto Bay is an 8,000-acre seaside community neighboring the historic town of Loreto in Baja California Sur, Mexico. The Loreto Bay community includes the 155-room Inn at Loreto Bay hotel with on-site fitness center and spa services, three restaurants, swim-up pool bar, 24-hour concierge services and golf, and plans for 6,000 authentic Baja-style homes, mixed-use buildings among pedestrian-friendly street and nearly 1,500 acres dedicated for a nature preserve. Visitors to Loreto Bay enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, golf and plenty of sunshine.

About Green Globe
Green Globe is the worldwide benchmarking, certification and performance improvement system assisting international organizations to attain sustainability. Green Globe provides a certification system that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including climate change, waste reduction and non-renewable resource management.

The Caracol complex was originally built with respect to its surrounding eco-systems, with accommodations and facilities interwoven and separated by bridges, streams and gardens where guests can discover exotic birds, turtles and a variety of colorful fish.

Situated five minutes from Playa del Carmen, the resort is adjacent to the world’s second largest living coral reef, the Meso-American Barrier Reef. The complex is also home to 16 cenotes; underwater caves that were essential in Ancient Mayan culture as a place to communicate with their gods.

“In order to move towards a sustainable future, we decided to transform our Caracol complex into an Eco-Resort by implementing a variety of ‘green’ practices that are taken to the next level,” said Jacques De Paep, director of sales and marketing, Sandos Hotels & Resorts.

“One of our goals is for hotel guests to take home some of the eco-friendly principles we’ve put in place at the new Caracol Eco-Resort & Spa, and in this way, everyone can continue to play a role in sustaining the environment,” he added.

The new plans outline the Resorts’ focus on carbon reduction by way of alternative energy technology, aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by 75% by 2012.

Plans also include an “Eco-Zoo”, in which designated areas of the property will be home to a native species, often-times endangered. The resort plans to coordinate these efforts with universities and and other wildlife agencies in an effort to protect and potentially re-establish the species population.

Guests will have the opportunity to attend free lectures and tours in order to learn about the wildlife at the resort, as well as participate in ecological activities including beach clean-ups, saving tortoises in Akumal, Mexico.

“We realize that in order to teach our guests how to actively protect the environment, we must lead by example,” said De Paep. “Ultimately, we hope to promote responsible environmental and social practices to all of our visitors as well as the all-inclusive hotel industry at-large.”

About Sandos Hotels & Resorts
Sandos Hotels & Resorts, headquartered in Spain, has four products on the Riviera Maya, Mexico, housed in two resort complexes – Caracol complex, which consists of Sandos Caracol Eco-Resort & Spa and the Select Club Beach Resort & Spa; and the Playacar complex which contains Sandos Playacar Beach Resort & Spa and the Playacar Riviera Hotel section – and one resort, the Sandos Papagayo Arena Beach Resort & Spa in the Canary Islands. Future openings are planned in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

For more information, visit http://www.sandoshotels.com/.

The theme chosen by the UN Environment Program (UNEP), which coordinates the day on June 5th on behalf of the UN system and the peoples of the world, will be ‘Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change’.

It reflects the urgency for nations to agree on a new agreement at the crucial climate convention meeting in Copenhagen some 180 days later in the year, and the links with overcoming poverty and improved management of forests.

The news that Mexico has been chosen to host World Environment Day (WED) 2009 was announced jointly by President Felipe Calderón and Achim Steiner, UNEP’s Executive Director at a press conference in Mexico City.

The decision in part reflects the growing practical and political role of the Latin American country in the fight against climate change, including its growing participation in the carbon markets.

Mexico is also a leading partner in UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign. The country, with the support of its President and people, has spearheaded the pledging and planting of some 25 per cent of the trees under the campaign.

UNEP has now launched a new and more ambitious phase-the Seven Billion Tree Campaign. This aims to see more than one new tree planted for every person alive by the Copenhagen meeting as one empowering symbol of the global publics’ desire for action by their political leaders on the greatest challenge for this generation.

President Calderón said:”It is great news that today the UN, through Achim Steiner, has announced that Mexico will be the international seat for World Environment Day next 5 june here in our beloved country”.

He said he hoped WED would not only be a time of reflection on the great challenges facing humanity including climate change, but an event linked with “a lot of action and committment”.

“Undoubtedly this decision further underlines Mexico’s determination to manage natural resources and deal with the most demanding challenge of the 21st century-climate change,” said President Calderón.

Mr Steiner, who is also a UN Under-Secretary General, said: “I am delighted that the President and the people of Mexico will be the hosts of WED only some 180 days before governments meet in Copenhagen before the crucial UN climate convention meeting”.

“Mexico is at the cross-roads of the Green Economy politically, physically and practically. Firstly it still has many challenges, from high air pollution in cities and dependence on fossil fuels to land degradation and the need to fight poverty. But Mexico is also emerging as one among a group of developing economies who are bringing much needed leadership to the need for a new, comprehensive and decisive climate treaty,” he said.

Mr Steiner said that in addition Mexico was seizing the opportunities of the carbon markets and had, in just four short years, become second only to Brazil in terms of wind, solar, biogas and other Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in the region.

“Thirdly Mexico’s ambitions in terms of combating climate change under its new Special programme-ambitions that include renewable energy to using forests and other nature-based assets as carbon sinks-will send a clear message to countries in the region and the world that Mexico means to be part of the solution,” he noted.

“Finally, Mexico is set to be one of the big economies of the 21st century along with nations like China and India. Thus its ability to encourage the greening of the economy of neighboring nations-both North and South of its borders-will be significant,” he noted.

Climate Change
Mexico, which accounts for around 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, is demonstrating its commitment to climate change on several fronts.

Mexico was praised by Non Governmental Organizations at the recent climate convention talks in Accra, Ghana for being among a group of countries willing to build bridges between the North and the South.

UNEP is looking forward to the shortly-to-be published Special Programme on Climate Change covering 2008-2012.

It is likely to set ambitious goals for the Mexican economy from boosting the climate-friendliness of ‘hard’ infrastructure via energy efficiency and an increase in renewables to boosting the carbon management of Mexico’s ’soft’ infrastructure including its forests and soils.

About World Environment Day
World Environment Day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of UNEP.

WED is commemorated each year on June 5th in a different city. It is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The day’s agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. World Environment Day is also a popular event with colourful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essay and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and cleaning-up campaigns.

On that particular day, heads of State, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Environment deliver statements and commit themselves to care for the Earth. Pledges are made which lead to the establishment of permanent governmental structures dealing with environmental management. It also provides an opportunity to sign or ratify international environmental conventions.

Last year the main global host was New Zealand and the theme was ‘Kick the C02 Habit-Towards a Low Carbon Economy’.

• Charles Landry–Seen as an international authority on creativity and city futures, he focuses especially on how the culture of a place can invigorate and revitalize the economy, enhancing the sense of self and confidence.
• Eric Maisel–Creativity coach and trainer, prolific author, and widely cited expert on creativity, Dr. Maisel has worked for over 20 years to bring out the creativity in artists, performers, and seekers of all sorts.
• Jack Loeffler–Mr. Loeffler is an aural historian, writer, radio producer, and sound collage artist who has made his home in northern New Mexico since 1962. He has produced nearly 300 documentary radio programs, authored a number of books, and continues his field research throughout the American West and northwestern Mexico addressing the relationships of indigenous cultures to their respective habitats.
• Greg Richards–European Executive Member of the Association for Tourism and Leisure Education (ATLAS) Mr. Richards has directed a number of ATLAS projects on topics including cultural tourism, crafts tourism, sustainable tourism, tourism education, and labor mobility in the tourism industry.
• Crispin Raymond–Credited as the originator of the concept of Creative Tourism, along with Greg Richards, Mr. Raymond founded Creative Tourism New Zealand and has worked in the arts, culture, and tourism fields for 25 years.
• Alex Pattakos, Ph.D.–Affectionately nicknamed “Dr. Meaning,” he is widely respected as a pioneer in transformational thinking. Dr. Pattakos is passionate about helping people realize their highest potential and find deeper, authentic meaning in their life and work.
• Becky Anderson–As Executive Director for HandMade in America, Becky oversees operations and programs and serves as a consultant for cultural and economic development projects related to crafts. In 1999 she was named by US News and World Report as one of “America’s Top Twenty Visionaries” for community and civic development work.
• Geoffrey Godbey–Dr. Godbey, Professor Emeritus, Penn State University, has authored or co-authored eight books and approximately one hundred articles dealing with leisure behavior, history and philosophies of leisure, leisure service organizations, and the future of leisure and leisure services.
• Jay Walljasper–A writer and editor for three decades, Mr. Walljasper is currently a contributing editor for National Geographic Traveler. He spent 20 years writing for and ultimately directing content at Utne Reader where he produced some of the earliest coverage on ecotourism and urban revitalization. His new book, The Great Neighborhood Book is a guide to fixing broken neighborhoods and how citizens can save the world on their own block.
• L. Kelley Lindquist–Mr. Lindquist has been the President of Artspace Projects since 1987 and has grown the organization into the nation’s leading non-profit developer of space for artists. He is also involved in the broader task of restoring national confidence in America’s creative communities and helping artists reclaim their rightful place in the national discussion about the role of the arts in American society.
• Robert McNulty–Founder and President of Partners for Livable Communities, United States, Mr. McNulty is known primarily for persuading local officials to view public and private partnerships as a resource for revitalizing cities in the Americas. He has been a frequent writer, editor, and contributor on urban strategies over the last twenty years.

Members of this remarkable group will hold daily presentations during the conference, addressing their respective areas of expertise as they relate to developing models of creative tourism and cultivating local enterprise. In addition, key leaders from other UNESCO Creative Cities in attendance will be sharing their ideas and success stories including representatives from Aswan, Egypt; Berlin, Germany; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Montreal, Canada; Popayan, Columbia; Edinburgh, Scotland; Bologna, Italy; and Seville, Spain.

While mornings at the conference are planned for practical discussion, the afternoon activities will revolve around experiencing creative tourism as it is practiced in Santa Fe. The alliance for cultural diversity represented by the Creative Cities Network is based on successful centers of creativity helping other cities grow to become vibrant hubs of creativity themselves. The creative tourism conference will play a significant role in passing on knowledge about how other cities can develop their creative resources.

Who Should Attend? The conference has been developed specifically for those wanting to increase economic development, job growth, and cultural preservation by more actively engaging visitors with their destination’s creative resources. Creative entrepreneurs, city and urban planners, tourism professionals, community leaders, municipal economists, creative industry developers, educators, cultural experts, and artists will all benefit from the skills learned during this unique participative conference.

The Santa Fe International Conference on Creative Tourism is organized by the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission and the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau in collaboration with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Visit http://www.santafecreativetourism.org/ for more information.

“David Lida shows us a Mexico City that’s not in the guidebooks, but, like a subversive code-breaker, he has pointed out the pathways to its delectably seamy soul. If Burroughs were alive and planning a return visit to Mexico today, he’d want to take this book with him.” —Jon Lee Anderson author of Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life and The Fall of Baghdad

David Lida moved to Mexico City fifteen years ago in search of a kind of culture, energy, and spontaneity that he thought had been lost in his native New York City. What he found was a thriving, miraculous urban center comprising centuries of living history, even as its rapid development was making it a prominent force on the world stage. Through the eyes of an American who has become an insider, First Stop in the New World is a street-level panorama of contemporary Mexico City—from the high arts to the sex industry; from the dense jungle of urban politics to the interactions of everyday commerce; from one end of this five-hundred-square-mile city to the other. Lida expertly captures the kaleidoscopic nature of life in a city defined by pleasure and danger, justice and lawlessness, ecstatic joy and appalling tragedy—in limbo between the developed and developing worlds.

While London and Paris have become more homogenous, less captivating, and less surprising since the days when Dickens and Balzac wrote about them, Mexico City points to our urban future—if Manhattan was, as posited by Rem Koolhaas, the urban “Rosetta Stone of the twentieth century,” Mexico City will play that same role in the twenty-first. And with his personal, literary-journalistic account, David Lida will serve as the ultimate chronicler of this exciting city at a vital moment in its history

You can purchase this book directly from Amazon by clicking its link in the “Recommended Reading” section of the sidebar of this page.

Winners include Steve Bridger, Hector Ceballos-Lascurain, Jorge Chàvez de la Peña, Fernando Garcia Aguinaco, Marlene Ehrenberg, Juan Carlos Ibarra, Jennifer Morfín, Antonio Suárez and Francisco Verástegui. The winner receives a trophy, diploma and a cash award of $1,000 from Emilio Kifuri, president of Canyon Travel.

As of 2007, additional financial support comes from Destination Ventures which allows Planeta.com to develop some supporting projects, including the documentation of Oaxaca’s historic trees on YouTube and Google Earth.

In 2008 the Colibri Ecotourism Award celebrates its seventh anniversary, making this one of the longest-running tourism awards. Selection is made by Planeta.com founder Ron Mader in consultation with friends and colleagues.

The United Nations General Assembly established the first World Environment Day — http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/tour/wed.html — in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. The focus of the global 2008 celebration will be on the opportunities for countries, companies and communities to work toward low carbon economies.

Celebrity Endorsements
As featured on their website, World Environment Day features a list of well-known endorsers, including Sir Richard Branson, Angelique Kidjo, Mikhail Gorbachev, Samuel Eto’o, Gong Li and Gabriel Yared.

For more information on the Colibri Ecotourism Award, visit www.planeta.com/colibri.html.