Senior Trips Greycations Rock with the Whole Family


The U.S. Travel Industry Association estimates that more than 5 million family vacations a year in the United States now encompass three gen- erations, with grandparents often footing the bill. Multi-generational travel is a hot trend, having increased from 22 to 32 percent in the last five


Expanding Problem Cities Growing Like Weeds


Worldwide


Expanding cities around the globe, especially in fast-growing countries like China, India and Brazil, are putting the world under increas- ing environmental stress, according to experts at a climate conference, Planet Under Pressure, in London, reports Reuters. The additional 1.5 million square kilometers of space they expect to be occupied by 2030 will mean growing greenhouse gas emissions and resource demand. The United Nations foresees global popu- lation rising from 7 billion to 9 bil- lion people by 2050, adding roughly a million people each week. Farsighted urban planners want to improve how cities are planned, developed and run. “Everything being brought into the city from outside—food, water, products and energy—needs to be sourced sus- tainably,” observes Sybil Seitzinger, executive director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Utility meters and sensors that monitor power generation network capacities and electricity supply and demand can help conserve energy. Builders can also target more effi- cient land use, better building stan- dards and policies to promote public transportation instead of vehicle use. More urban areas need to follow the example of cities like Vancouver, in Canada, which obtains 90 percent of its energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar and tidal ener- gies, and has developed a 100-year sustainability plan.


years, with the phenomenon expected to grow as the U.S. population ages. Travel companies, hotels and theme parks have taken notice and are eager to cater to the trend. Cruise lines are especially active in marketing fixed-price packages that include activities for all ages, meals and group discounts. All-inclusive resorts and vacation rental agents are also on board, offering plans to accommodate all budgets.


Source: Orlando Sun-Sentinel


natural awakenings


July 2012


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