The world is too much with us late and soon
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers
Little we see in nature that is ours
We have given our hearts away a sordid boon
This sea that bares her bosom to the moon
The winds that will be howling at all hours
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers
For this for everything we are out of tune
It moves us not – Great God! Id rather be
A pagan suckled in a creed outworn
So might I stand on this pleasant lea
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn
Have site of proteus coming from the sea
Or hear old triton blow his wreathed horn

This poem reminds me how gentle the earth is with us given what we do to it. It also says how far out of tune we are with our natural world and I remember being in Ireland and Cornwall in the spring 2006.

Over this period I had a host of experiences from a wonderful view of the majesty of the natural world, feeling I was a part of the spring watching flowers open before my eyes, creating storms, seeing angelic and devilish eyes in people. Seeing how lusty and greedy people can be. Feeling I was connected to Indians seeing quetzals on the lampposts following nature to help me when I was lost. Talking to lots of people in my mind and finding that people like me even despite myself.

My anxiety and breakdown started with the details released in figures around 2004 related to carbon levels in the high atmosphere which demonstrated higher CO2 levels than could be attributed to human effects. It has bee further exacerbated with the most recent evidence which. highlights we cannot stabilise the climate at 450ppm carbon dioxide and will likely see a 3-5 degree rise in temperature. There is potential that if we reach a 5-degree rise we will trigger a number of events, which will lead to mass extinction not just of a wide range of species but billions of people. This may be due to methane in the oceans, a change to the ocean current conveyor systems and extreme weather.

We are still holding to a very narrow and incorrect economic model based upon a completely flawed value system, which puts no value on natural systems rather than considering them priceless. For short-term economic gain we are exploiting the natural world way beyond its capacity to regenerate. It is now beginning to collapse and still we choose to ignore the realities.

I chose to work in sustainable tourism because of the potential for this industry to inspire and change the lifestyle choices possibly more rapidly and effectively than any other industry. I still hold to that opinion for it is precisely the inspiring people we meet which can influence our behaviour. Unfortunately this work is neither financially supported by governments or the industry and it remains as a semi voluntary effort by a small number of people. In these dark times it is easy to be negative and this website is my own challenge to log my thoughts, find the positives and inspire myself on this journey. I face an inner darkness and oblivion, which makes me feel guilty that I cannot inspire more effectively, am not stronger, more complete in my commitment and more focused and unrelenting in achieving my goals. I have taken on work that I know is beyond most people including myself and can only attribute any success to those people around me who recognise my anguish and help me find a balance that overcomes the despair.

That said I do recognise the great achievements we have made to date and just like the film a wonderful life I know the world would be a darker place without my colleagues and myself.