Comments on: Galapagos Islands Get World’s First “Green” Airport

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:54:29 +0000

I think this issue brings up a really important question. Is it better to try and remedy or reduce a problem from within or completely do away with a system and start over from scratch? It seems like this is an allegory for much larger issues, like the economic crisis that’s going on right now to our oil dependance and fueling our cars with alternative energies. Do we just let companies go bankrupt and people default on their mortgages? Will bailouts now just delay the inevitable later? I heard that for the entire amount of money the US has spent on the war on Iraq, the country could have been a fully functioning hydrogen economy with the entire infrastructure in place to make that happen. But how do you go about doing that? There are a lot of infrastructure and systems currently in place. How does the transition work?

By: Sundiver

Sundiver — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:42:37 +0000

The fact that they are putting a band aid on a larger project is not wrong VicinSea. It’s not enough but it’s also not wrong.
Most of them will get on boats that little or no though has gone into reducing their footprint. There is no LEED certification for marine vessels. There should be. A week of diesel gensets, toilet flushing, and garbage dumping by these boats is probably a substantial footprint.
We can build vessels that are much better. but how does one who invests in the technology compete against the guys using old, depreciated technology? This is not just a market fix. The market is ready with the solutions, awaiting leadership.

By: VicinSea

VicinSea — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:04:55 +0000

“According to an article in the New York Times earlier this year, the number of visitors to the Gal√°pagos rose more than 250% from 1990 to 2006, while the number of commercial flights to the area has risen 193% from 2001 to 2006.”
How long can the area sustain that kind of growth before the ecosystem starts to collapse? The whole strategy of the area has been to limit visitors to protect it and now they are throwing open the doors?
Where will the visitors stay?? Multi-million dollar beach front motels.
How will they get to the parts of the islands that they came to see?? Sea Planes, speed boats and jeeps.
What will they eat? Local cuisine including, no doubt, bush meat.
What will they do when they are not observing the wonder of nature?? Discos, night clubs, tennis courts, internet cafes, health clubs, golf, beach volleyball.
Where will the electricity come from to run these businesses? Gas or oil generators with 55 gallon drums being brought in on boats. There will be acceptable fuel spills.
How much garbage will they produce and how will it be managed? TONs and these are Islands so the garbage will end up dumped where ever it is conveniently out-of-sight.
The reasons why this project is wrong is endless.

By: Ricado S

Ricado S — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:29:52 +0000

You’ve gotta be kidding me. I think it’s great that they’ve made strides with building materials and the right concrete and whatever, but this is totally trivial compared to the impact that even a single flight would make.
I’m not bashing the effort, I think it’s great, but unless this is coupled with some serious management of tourist impact and education, it’s utter greenwash marketing baloney.
Now, if they replaced the planes with blimps… then they might be on to something!