[RRL]

Ref final note:

Exactly. I have quite a few friends who regularly fly/travel to these scenic ocean/river systems, but will absolve themselves of concern because they're using some 'reef safe' sunscreen when they dip in to the water. Greenhouse gas emissions are always someone else's fault. Industry, diesel trucks, etc etc.

They're also the same folks that attack Airbnb and gentrification at home, but are the first to jump on to the Airbnb moneyed expat lifestyle when traveling.

At this point, it's not even worth the time to debate.

[ch4s3]

You could make a compelling argument that no one with any real power would care about the reefs if they weren't regularly visited by relatively wealthy tourists that have at least some connection to those in power and the broader public. Yellowstone wouldn't exist without people like John Muir. Travel helps people connect with the physical world and the people who inhabit physically and culturally remote places.

[RRL]

I've heard this used as the line of thinking for why we still have zoos as well. To help conservation. If animals are out of sight and out of mind then they're out of my concern. So, let's keep the zoos to keep wild animals on top of mind, and hopefully around a little longer.

[matthewmcg]

Interestingly, some of the more effective environmental activist organizations are groups that started to protect the outdoor recreation activities of wealthy people. Trout Unlimited is a good example.

[gusgus01]

This feels like a corollary of the concept of "Voting with your wallet", which is a debatable concept at best. Individual actions in the face of corporations like airlines and airbnb won't affect the company. It's only going to negatively impact your life. Working on systemic change is the answer.

[upsidesinclude]

Debatable at best? In what sense?

There are a thousand examples of companies evaporating for exactly that reason.

'Systemic change' doesn't mean anything in reality. You can't destroy a national economic model and just replace it any more than you can make people spend money where they aren't going. Economies rely on travel and so travel has subsidy.

During 2020 no one flew anywhere and the airlines were smashed with losses. That's not sustainable for any real length of time. If individuals cared to stop flying, they would and airlines would be bankrupt in 2-3 years. No amount of subsidy can maintain those organizations without broad customer support. The soviet infrastructure decline of the 80s is a perfect example of that process in action

[jstanley]

> the same folks that attack Airbnb and gentrification at home, but are the first to jump on to the Airbnb moneyed expat lifestyle when traveling.

Are you sure they're the same people?

It is a classic mistake to lump everyone you've ever disagreed with into a single group and then lampoon the group for its contradictions.

[PuppyTailWags]

I have certainly seen the very same people express concern about gentrification but then will also go out of their way to book airbnb or airbnb-style accommodations for travel because it feels more authentic than a hotel.

[RRL]

This (subset) of the people who attack Airbnb and gentrification at home.

[virtue3]

One could argue that the oil industries play to shift greenhouse gas emission responsibilities to consumers was pretty horse shit.

Especially since greenhosue gas emissions for the airline industry is about 3% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

[hackernewds]

Right. Everyone could simultaneously choose to never travel and it might make a romantic, but not actually impactful dent in the climate apocalypse story.

[pvaldes]

Everybody is bad, except me of course, but in the end this is a little step in the right direction.

So... Why is a problem that a few less anemones don't die?. Conservation is not like zapping a magic wand and all is good again.

Even little steps helps and every little problem solved is one less problem that we have.

[hackernewds]

You can also live a practical life while making ethical practical choices. Traveling to another state is a necessity, even if for leisure.