tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990368764201781852.post7729950742699971560..comments2024-01-24T14:04:38.516-08:00Comments on The Urban Birder: Hula Bird FestivalThe Urban Birderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16086054667616458956noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990368764201781852.post-31290332399909259152012-12-16T11:31:35.658-08:002012-12-16T11:31:35.658-08:00Dear TUB,
Please continue to visit "difficu...Dear TUB, <br /><br />Please continue to visit "difficult places such as Isreal and support conservation there - if more people did this; than this kind of thing would help promote better culture, more peace. Birding tourism and birding recreation is all good and very scarce to come by here in the East (Stam from Athens Greece)<br />Stam Zogarishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15084695188714472494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990368764201781852.post-71041048426527041222012-11-19T01:08:52.268-08:002012-11-19T01:08:52.268-08:00Wow. Just wow. You know, some people can manage to...Wow. Just wow. You know, some people can manage to be concerned by the condition of the environment and human rights abuses (and here's the clever bit) <i>at the same time</i> and actually change their behaviour to address both. Incredible huh?<br /><br />Of course, our concerns are not "far greater" than yours, who could possibly be as concerned as you? You are an example to us all. <br /><br />PS. Hope you carbon off-set all those flights.Darrylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17409696102367510518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990368764201781852.post-20168223115266443982012-11-18T15:37:48.891-08:002012-11-18T15:37:48.891-08:00I promote nature not politics - regardless of wher...I promote nature not politics - regardless of where that nature happens to be. If I allowed politics to dictate where I travelled then I would never leave my house and would probably live my entire life within the confines of my bedroom.<br /><br />I understand your concerns given the conflicts that have been going on in Israel but my concern for wildlife are far greater. I am happy that I visited Israel and was impressed by the efforts of the conservationists there who are trying to create havens for the millions of birds that migrate through the area. They have my support.The Urban Birderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16086054667616458956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990368764201781852.post-29598433708836989942012-11-18T11:54:49.490-08:002012-11-18T11:54:49.490-08:00Given that the Foreign Office lists Israel and the...Given that the Foreign Office lists Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) as a 'Country of Concern' due to wide-ranging human rights concerns (see http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/news/708321882/October/hrdreport-updates-181012 and quarterly updates at http://fcohrdreport.readandcomment.com/human-rights-in-countries-of-concern/israel-and-the-opts/quarterly-updates-israel/?showall=1) do you not feel a little uncomfortable accepting free trips and providing an advertisement for the Israel Government Tourist Office at this particular point in time?<br /><br />I guess private individuals have to make up their own minds, but shouldn't supposedly high profile birders be applying some form of ethical standard to the countries they visit? Would you have visited Burma/Myanmar before the release of Aung San Suu Kyi? Should we avoid Mugabe's Zimbabwe? Did people avoid South Africa during the apartheid era? Where should birders draw the line? <br /><br />I'm guessing most birders would avoid Malta, due to concerns about hunting but, bizarrely, many appear to visit Israel despite the demolition of Palestinian homes in the OPTs, the continued presence of illegal settlements within the OPTs, the demolition of homes and forced relocation of Bedouin in the Negev, numerous indefinite administrative detentions (without charges or presentation of evidence), and the large numbers of civilian deaths and injuries due to Israeli military activity.<br /><br />PS. I'm not suggesting the militants in Gaza are any better than those in Israel, but then nobody advertises birding trips to Gaza do they.Darrylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17409696102367510518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990368764201781852.post-14530859065048185362012-11-18T07:30:43.457-08:002012-11-18T07:30:43.457-08:00An awesome list!
Very envious.
GrahamAn awesome list!<br /><br />Very envious.<br /><br />GrahamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6990368764201781852.post-60899924613476276172012-11-17T08:09:33.307-08:002012-11-17T08:09:33.307-08:00Looks like you saw loads on your trip, look forwar...Looks like you saw loads on your trip, look forward to seeing more photos from it. From FindlayFindlay Wildehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12697309393957070336noreply@blogger.com