Michelle McAlister - OnEarth Magazine

While the Mainland Sleeps

I wouldn't exactly call myself selfless, or ‘eco-friendly' for that matter. Apart from recycling my old salsa jars and scrunched diet-coke cans, I really can't be bothered with ‘eco-mandates' or what ‘trading on carbon offsets' is supposed to mean. It all sounds like white noise to me. I tune it out-definitely somebody else's problem.
But after spotting an ad for international volunteers to help with the construction of the burgeoning Earth Connections Sustainability Center on the remote Isle of Eigg in Northwestern Scotland, I knew I had to go-oh, but don't get me wrong. I didn't have a sudden change of heart in an ecologically gung-ho sort of way. No. I signed up because I figured participating in the work camp would be a good way to explore the land of my ancestors-on the cheap. Plus, what's a little hard labor? Sure, the work would be a distraction, but I was positive I could find a way around that.
When I get to the Isle of Eigg, my local contact, ...read full post

Comments (1) | November 3, 2008
The End of the Tail

As I lay on my back in my over priced jungle-view suite, I consider the chore of carting out the tailless iguana that has taken up residence in my room. The trapped reptile sulks in the corner, and like me, he's contemplating his next move. I watch his nub of a former tail visibly thump and pulse; his severed spiked appendage lies beside him giving the impression of two scaly loafers chilling in my AC. I don't exactly know when or how this all happened, I just know that since arriving in Costa Rica four days ago, there is always someone special and unexpected waiting in my room for me-and it's never the pool boy with the deep tan.
Exploring the lush landscape of Costa Rica was the next destination on my tattered, pocket-sized list of ‘Places to Go before I Die'. Although I had briefly visited the Central American country before, it had only been a six-hour tease. The floating prison on which I was held captive-colloquially referred to as a ‘cruise ship'-had given me a ...read full post

Comments (0) | October 29, 2008