The latest issue of TAZine, the Transitions Abroad webzine, is out, and this month’s installment is all about that oh-so-hot topic these days: eco-travel.

If you’re interested in the environment, travel, and sustainability (and as Matador readers, I’m guessing the answer’s yes for most of you!) then there’s lots of thought-provoking material to chew on in here.

A few of the highlights:

Matador’s own Nora Dunn offers Eight Ways to Become Part of a Community Abroad Within Two Weeks.

Friedel Rother shares advice on the art of “wild camping”.

Perceptive Travel editor Tim Leffel checks in on Iceland’s quest to ditch the foreign oil and go geothermal.

Alison Gardner helps us come to terms with the oft-mocked and maligned voluntourist.

And much more, too. So get reading!

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:

Don’t forget, Matador also has plenty of eco-content for your reading pleasure.

Check out Hal Amen’s photo essay of disappearing glaciers worldwide, or watch an inspirational roadtrip in the video, The Road to Sustainability.

Photo by darkpatator (Creative Commons)

“Se acabo el colonialismo (Colonialism is over),” declared President Evo Morales as his country voted to adopt a controversial new constitution last Sunday. A powerful sentiment, intensely meaningful for many here in South America’s poorest, most indigenous nation.

For Morales, the passage of the constitution marked the long-awaited fulfillment of a campaign promise that aided his election as Bolivia’s first indigenous president three years ago.

That promise was to redefine how the country viewed its native majority, to erase the privilege bequeathed to the descendants of European conquerors, to create a Bolivia where equal rights for all was a legally enshrined doctrine.

Between then and now, the path to Sunday’s vote had, at times, seemed to slip away. Following political clashes over the drafting of the constitutional document and violent confrontations in the streets that claimed dozens of lives, the referendum was postponed on three separate occasions.

Many feared January 25 would bring more of the same.

Not this time. The vote went off smoothly, praised by both international monitoring agencies and neighboring Latin American leaders happy to witness a peaceful display of Bolivian democracy.

In fact, the entire campaign was marked by a peculiar absence of emotion on the ground. Here in the central highland capital of Cochabamba, a few late rallies, a fair amount of graffiti, and the odd loudspeaker truck kept focus on the issue, but there was none of the passionate collective action that characterizes Bolivian political campaigning, particularly in the age of Evo.

Perhaps everyone was ready for a conclusion.

A tremendous calm settled over the city on Sunday—notably enhanced by the ban on vehicle traffic and alcohol sales—as citizens carried out the solemn obligation of casting a ballot. True to predictions, the “si” contingency won the day with roughly 60% of the vote.

But such tranquility is deceiving.

A closer look at the numbers details a nation starkly divided between the indigenous Andean provinces of the west, which backed the referendum by a ratio of 3 to 1, and the wealthier lowland regions to the east that handed Morales a 2 to 1 reprimand.

And what the campaign lacked in grassroots activity was made up for on the airwaves, ablaze with inflammatory and often utterly irrational rhetoric.

Opposition ads claimed, for instance, that the constitution would abolish Christianity, promote abortion and homosexuality, divvy up all current land holdings, and otherwise transform Bolivia into a rabidly pagan, socialist state.

The truth is that many of the articles originally proposed were so watered down over the months of heated negotiation and political maneuvering that they drew equal criticism from left and right. A rundown of major changes actually included in the document can be found here.

It wouldn’t be inaccurate to suggest that the vote was as much a referendum on Morales himself as the adoption of a new constitution… on his beliefs that the country’s indigenous peoples should be given a greater voice, that the government should exercise greater control over natural resources, that the majority of Bolivians have toiled too long under the yoke of oppression.

Yes, the constitution passed.

The sad reality is this means relatively little. Before anything changes in the day-to-day lives of the people here, before Bolivia can be “decolonized,” Congress must undertake the tedious process of crafting new laws to concretize the principles advocated in the document.

And, with the division between rich and poor, European and native, “no” and “si” unmitigated, that task is going to be as difficult as ever.

Photos: Hal Amen

[Editor's Note: This is the first article in an occasional series from guest writers responding to the prompt, "What's going on in your country?"]

In Madagascar, history repeats itself.

Photos: fanalana_azy

The past few months have been unfortunate for Madagascar.

A series of tropical storms hit both the east and the west coasts, leaving more than 40,000 people roofless and recovering from floods. However, if you were in Madagascar the near complete destruction of infrastructure would be an afterthought because a chain of political and social unrest has hit the country with equal force.

To understand how a country better known for its unique biodiversity has gotten to this point, one must go back seven years, when long-time president of Madagascar, Didier Ratsiraka, was ousted by a young up and coming self-made businessman, Marc Ravalomanana.

After a close and contentious election, Ravalomanana claimed the presidency, carried by his strong popularity in Antananarivo, the capital city. Ravalomanana showcased his popularity with street demonstrations that ultimately forced Ratsiraka out.

For the next six years, Ravalomanana ruled uncontested and the GDP of Madagascar grew steadily under his watch, but some would argue it was at the expense of the poorest.

But tensions became apparent when a series of unpopular measures brought a new mayor into office in Antananarivo, defeating Ravalomanana’s protégé. The new mayor, Andry Rajoelina, is a young, dynamic, self-made businessman, quite popular in the city.

Sound familiar?

Ravalomanana and Rajoelina were so alike they could only dislike each other, and some measures in past months brought out the tension to open confrontation. First, there was the decision to lease a major portion of the arable land in Madagascar to Daewoo Logistics at an outrageous discount price in exchange for help for land development. Cries of agricultural neo-colonialism led to the deal being put on hold.

Then, the private TV station of Andry Rajoelina was ordered to close because it was allegedly at risk of causing social unrest. Things only escalated: Rajoelina issued an ultimatum to Ravalomanana to reopen his television station or else.

That “else” was the call for a national strike on January 26th. Unfortunately, public demonstration quickly got totally out of control on either side, and reports of looting, arson, and various acts of vandalism came out on the Internet. Most radio and TV stations were shut down, as well as most businesses.

The nation is currently at a standstill because the location of the president is unknown and the police forces seem strangely absent. People are under a self-imposed curfew as fires are set ablaze and gun shots are heard. Fires have now come very close to national oil reservoirs.

One expects the unrest to spread to the other major cities if the current situation perseveres. Reports are still pouring in that citizens are now self-organizing for the protection of their neighborhoods because they cannot wait for authorities to show up anymore.

It is still unclear how this unrest will come to an end.

To learn more about current events in Madagascar, visit Global Voices Online and follow Lova on Twitter.

Yup, you read that right. The Digital Photography School has teamed up with Lenovo to offer a $50,000 prize in the Name Your Dream Assignment competition.

Here’s how it works: submit an idea for your dream, never-done-before photo shoot; there’ll be a voting phase to narow things down, and then a panel of judges will select the eventual winners.

In addition to the $50,000 grand prize, there’s a slew of addition stuff up for grabs: camera goodies, a Lenovo Thinkpad (optimized for photographers), and more.

The contest opens March 3rd — which leaves lots of time to think up your dream assignment. Go ahead, get brainstorming!

Photo by Pear Biter (Creative Commons)

Jail time for kissing in public? For using slang in the street?

Sound like Dubai?

Try Guanajuato, a city in central Mexico, the world’s PDA capital.

Eduardo Romero Hicks, the city’s mayor, recently passed an anti-obscenity law that bans kissing in public, “obscene” speech (including the classic Mexican slang word, “guey”), buying anything from street vendors, begging, and obstructing public space without a permit.

Ironically, Guanajuato is famous for El Callejón del Beso (Kissing Alley), a narrow alleyway where, as legend has it, couples who kiss will have seven years of good luck. Couples who pass by without kissing will have seven years of bad luck. The street is one of the city’s predominant tourist attractions.

The mayor, who belongs to the conservative right-ring National Action Party (PAN), justified the law by stating that kissing in public embarrasses children. To which I respond: Since when are laws made according to what embarrasses four year-olds?

I’m not the only one who finds the law ridiculous: university students took to the streets in Guanajuato to protest, UNAM law students wrote up a petition and sent it to the mayor, and activist and ex-PRI member Gerardo Fernandez Noroña organized a “collective kiss” (which, before anyone gets any salacious ideas, occurred mostly between family members—Noroña kissed his young niece) in Mexico City to protest.

Meanwhile, senators from the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) and the PRD (Party of the Democratic Revolution) spoke out against the law as retrograde, barbaric, and medieval. The latter party pledged to begin an investigation to see if the law violates the Mexican constitution and impedes on individual human rights.

Many have speculated here in Mexico that the law is an attempt by the PAN to distract attention from the growing violence between drug cartels, the contested 2006 election, and widespread government corruption. PAN rule has seen a terrifying wave of violence sweep Mexico, with daily executions and assassinations of police chiefs and judges.

The mayor’s “freezing” of the law mere days after passing it tends to support this view. Supposedly, the law is merely being put on hold while the government begins a campaign to educate citizens about it. I wonder: Educate citizens? Are there going to be how-to-not-kiss-in-the-street and how-to-not-block-the-sidewalk classes for Guanajuato’s citizens?

The new law points to an alarming trend in Mexico: the creeping influence of the church, and particularly the Vatican, in state affairs. Just as the Bush administration mixed right-wing politics with conservative religious values in its law-making, the Calderón administration is taking controversial steps closer to the Catholic Church, despite public outcry about the disintegration of the laic state.

Photo: Julie Schwietert Collazo

COMMUNITY CONNECTION:
What do you think about the no-kissing law? Sound off in the comments below!

There are scholarships for travel writers.

There are scholarships for travel photographers.

And finally, thanks in part to Matador member Craig Martin, there’s a scholarship for travel podcasters!

Craig, host of Indie Travel Podcast, has partnered with World Nomads and Global Vision International to offer emerging podcasters the opportunity to travel to Guatemala… for free.

While the ultimate goal of the scholarship is to help the winner develop podcasting skills that will result in the production and launch of a five minute podcast documentary, the scholarship is especially sweet because it will offer the winner the opportunity to participate in a community building project on the ground in Guatemala.

The winning applicant will have airfare, vaccinations, visas, a homestay, and meals covered. Bonus goodies include a handheld digital recorder the winner will be able to keep after the trip, as well as mentoring from ABC Australia’s Tim Latham, a radio journalist.

For full details of the scholarship and instructions for applying, visit this site.

And kudos to Craig for living the Matador vision: using travel as a means of building community. That’s what it’s all about.

Photo: Surizar

It was a busy first week of work for President Obama, and one filled with some landmark executive orders.

Within two days of taking the oath of office, President Obama’s administration announced that Guantanamo is to be closed in a year, waterboarding is no longer a legitimate form of interrogation (covert or otherwise), and so-called “black sites” (secret detention facilities) and the practice of extraordinary rendition are to be rendered obsolete immediately.

Alongside these announcements, though, was a hint that another important policy change would be implemented forthwith, and it’s one that’s likely to delight New Yorkers and tourists alike: the Statue of Liberty’s crown might soon be reopened to visitors.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visited the Statue of Liberty on Friday. He indicated that the administration views re-opening Liberty’s crown to visitors as a priority, though he acknowledged that any policy change will depend upon the conclusions reached in a safety report that is expected to be issued in April.

Liberty’s crown has been closed to the public since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The National Park Service, which is responsible for maintaining the Statue and the grounds upon which it sits, decided that crown visits needed to be suspended due to safety concerns, as the design of the crown prevented a quick exit in the event of an emergency.

Even the expression of interest in re-opening the crown is a gesture of symbolic significance that isn’t lost upon New Yorkers or visitors who view the Statue of Liberty as an American icon. The Obama administration’s prioritization of the re-opening of the crown seems to reaffirm a statement he made in his inauguration speech:

“…[W]e reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.”

Photo: David Paul Ohmer

Photo: stuartpilbrow

The blogosphere and mainstream media have been abuzz with praise and criticism about President Obama’s Cabinet picks, as well as other key appointments.

Observers and analysts have noted that the President has striven to create a balanced administration, one in which non-traditional appointees with limited government experience are given equal input alongside seasoned politicians who possess solid government credentials.

One of the more interesting aspects of the Obama administration, however, is the number of 20-somethings assuming posts of importance and responsibility.

Here’s a look at Obama’s young guns– the 20-somethings we’re likely to see and hear from a lot in the next four years:

Jon Favreau, 27

Obama’s speechwriter coined the “Yes We Can” motto that became the rallying cry of Obama supporters during the campaign. Favreau actually began his career, though, as a freshly minted college grad hired by John Kerry during his presidential bid in 2004.

Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Favreau met President Obama backstage during the 2004 Democratic convention just before Obama gave the electrifying speech that effectively launched his national political career. Favreau impressed Obama when he boldly interrupted the senator– who was practicing his speech– to suggest a line rewrite.

While Favreau has had his less shining moments–most notably a mini-scandal in which a photo of him groping a cardboard cut-out of Hillary Clinton surfaced on Facebook– Favreau’s speeches have been so moving and effective that such immature indiscretions have been largely overlooked.

Eugene Kang, 24

Kang, a first-generation Korean American whose title is “Special Assistant to the President,” got an early start to his own political career. Before joining the Obama administration, he ran for Ann Arbor, Michigan City Council while still a senior at the University of Michigan. Though he lost by just 90 votes, Kang sharpened his political acumen and proved his mettle, earning him a place in the Obama White House.

Even before the inauguration, though, Kang was a key player in the Obama campaign, charged with the responsibility of enhancing Obama’s presence and connection within Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. He is credited with creating Obama’s website for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

Eugene Kang, foreground; Reggie Love, background; Photo: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

Reggie Love, 26

Love has been appointed the President’s Personal Aide, a promotion he received in 2008 after serving as a staff assistant to the President in 2007. Love is a graduate of Duke University, holding a degree in political science. While at Duke, he played basketball, and is Team Obama’s #1 baller.

While it may seem demeaning to fetch the President’s coffee (but hey, it’s a job I’d be pretty happy to have), Love showed that he’s capable of influencing Obama: he’s credited with teaching Obama the fist-bump… and introducing him to Jay-Z. The men worked out together each morning during the campaign.

Love may also be Obama’s closest competitor for a nomination as the administration’s most handsome man. People Magazine named him one of America’s most eligible bachelors, and Vanity Fair concurred that Love is a hot item.

Katie Johnson, 27

Photo: Boston Globe

Johnson has been selected to serve as President Obama’s personal secretary. A graduate of Wellesley (like Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton), Johnson has been described by others in the administration as “highly qualified” for her post.

During the campaign, she was a key aide to Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, proving herself to be an organized and invaluable team player.

Johnson has a BA in political science. While at Wellesley, she interned for Hillary Clinton. She has since worked as a campaign field organizer at the state level and gained legal experience as a paralegal for a New York City firm.

Johnson is accustomed to being cool under pressure: before accepting her current position, she not only worked with the calm and affable Plouffe; she also worked with the explosive Rahm Emanuel for two years during Emanuel’s tenure as the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Big news out of Central Africa today, where a messy, many-sided, on-again-off-again war has been bubbling along for the better part of two decades.

Laurent Nkunda, the leader of a rebel faction in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been arrested in Rwanda.

Nkunda is a one-time ally of the Rwandan government whose predominantly Tutsi forces have been tussling with Hutu militias in Eastern Congo since the latter fled Rwanda in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide.

He was initially approached by a joint Congolese-Rwandan force on the Congo side, but was only arrested after fleeing across the border.

It’s an interesting power shift: the Tutsi-led Rwandan government, whose forces have entered Congo hunting the Hutu militias several times since the end of the genocide, had been a longtime supporter of Nkunda.

Now, it appears they’re more willing to work with the official authorities in the DRC — and they’re not the only ones.

From the AP story:

Earlier this month, Mr. Nkunda suffered a major blow when his ex-chief of staff, Bosco Ntaganda, formed a splinter movement and last week announced his forces would work together with Congo’s army to fight the Hutu militias and eventually integrate into the army.

The rebel group’s splintering may have been the key to the new cooperation between DRC and Rwandan authorities:

Rwanda has been under international pressure for months to use its influence over Tutsi rebels to end the conflict and the breakthrough agreement may have been borne out of the split within Mr. Nkunda’s movement that both Congo and Rwanda were quick to exploit.

So now, with the DRC government, the Rwandans and some of the rebels all (temporarily, at least) working together, will we finally see some progress in the seemingly-intractable problem of the Hutu militias in Eastern Congo?

Well, hopefully this will at least mean a reduction in the level of fighting in the area, and some relief for its citizens. But as far as the militias go, I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Many of the key figures behind the Rwandan genocide remain leading figures in the militias. And when you have nothing waiting for you besides a high-profile trial for genocide and crimes against humanity, there’s not much reason to lay down your arms.

Photo by Julian Harneis (Creative Commons)

Despite being in the news more or less constantly, the Middle East is an area that most outsiders — even those of us who travel frequently — don’t know very well.

Need proof?

Check out this Middle Eastern geography quiz. It extends beyond the Gulf into North Africa and Central Asia, and synching up the country names with their spots on the map may prove trickier than you think!

The quiz landed in my inbox as a forward. Scrolling through the email chain, I saw words like “educational”, “humbling” and “makes me feel dumb” used to describe it.

Give it a shot, and let us know how you do!

To learn more about the region, check out Matador’s recent article, What Every American Should Know about the Middle East.

Photo by HORIZON (Creative Commons)