Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific

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Title – Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 17th February 2007

Having a good understanding of the environment you are visiting allows you to plan your trip and gives you a greater chance of it being successful in making it the experience of a lifetime, rather then a missed opportunity.

Tanna Island in Vanuatu is truly the other side of the world form almost everywhere you start and in every sense of the phrase. Active volcanoes, cargo cult tribes and a village culture and social higherachy that goes back thousands of years. Understanding your destination will help your to appreciate the significance of your impact on this fragile way of life and experience it without disturbing it.

It is easier then ever to travel and you can travel almost anywhere, but you’ll never understand everything. But if you consider it a great honour if you are even given the slightest of insights into the way that other people live in their home country, you can learn a great deal from your hosts. Travel in the knowledge that even the smallest insight makes you a very lucky person and not pushing your luck keeps you safe and often result in even more acceptance.

Arriving by accident in a village and seeing a village meeting taking place is not an invitation to get out you cameras and flash away. In Vanuatu it may be a very serious matter and village meetings solve problems from how to share a harvest to dealing with “crimes” and acting as court and sentencing processes for those involved. You wouldn’t walk into a court house at home and if you mistakenly did, you would make every effort to remove yourself without being noticed, the same should apply when you visit a new country.
Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop concentrates on developing individual’s skills to allow them to travel well prepared, safely and with a sense of Cultural Awareness, allowing you to have a positive impact on your destination.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

Vanuatu cargo cult marks 50 years

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Title – Vanuatu cargo cult marks 50 years
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 15th February 2007

The world is a fascinating place full of fascinating people; there are still places where time seems to have stood still and nowhere more so then Tanna on Vanuatu in the South Pacific. As these remote locations become ever more accessible travellers need to understand the places they are visiting before they get there.

This approach reduces the considerable culture shock you can encounter and prevents your visit distressing local residents and ruining what is often a very fine balance between accommodating and benefiting from tourism and maintaining their traditional and preferred lifestyle.

The Cargo Cult in Vanuatu is certainly no exception they have a unique and strange existence that is almost the same as it was 60 years ago when John 'Frum' America first landed on their shores and they started this strange phenomenon of worshipping cargo. But the village remains secretive and tries to protect itself from outside influence and the ridicule that often comes with it. But if you try and understand and befriend the villagers you might just be lucky enough to be invited to a village sing-sing (festival) and experience what lies past the hype, a very traditional and respectful South Pacific Community.

Understanding and respecting local cultures is a core aspect of our workshop, by examining the cultural traditions of your destination country, you can minimise your impact on the local community and maximise your experiences.
Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop addresses all your travel needs and sets you on the way to planning a carrying out a successful and unforgettable experience.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

Euro emergency number 'unknown'

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Title – Euro emergency number ‘unknown’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 7th February 2007

It’s a simple fact; the number 112 will generate an emergency response within 27 EU countries. This fact alone might provide you with a way of seeking help when you most need it. Once you move outside of these countries the situation becomes more complicated. For example if you find yourself in South Africa the Police Number is 10111, The Ambulance & Fire Brigade 10177?

Destination information is a vital part of the trip preparation process, knowing some basic phrases and emergency numbers (not just the emergency services) will stand you in good stead when things don’t go according to plan.

Our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshop will give you all the preparation you need to start your trip planning in good time and allows you to arrive at your destination, feeling your trip can start on day one, with the confidence to discover all your host country has to offer.

Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/

Vets warn of rabies if quarantine rules are watered down

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Title – Vets warn of rabies if quarantine rules are watered down
Source – The Times
Date – 3rd February 2007

Rabies is a disease that the UK has so far been protected from. Thanks to the effective eradication schemes in continental Europe the threat of rabies in the UK has actually diminished, but as the countries where rabies is endemic move further and further away, the authorities are ever more aware that complacency is probably the main threat to it eventually finding its way on to our shores.

But just as the disease seems to be moving away from the UK’s shores, we are moving further a field in our holidays and travel experiences. Ever more adventurous travellers are seeking out more and more remote locations and venturing into areas where rabies is endemic. A vaccine that is readily available should be a real consideration following a risk assessment that you need to carry out prior to setting off. Will you be working with local people and in areas where stray dogs or other carriers are common? Is the country you are visiting on the list of high risk areas?

Over 10 Million people receive post infection treatment for rabies each year, but in many countries the treatment is simply not available and failure to have the vaccination makes infection substantially more dangerous. Rabies needs to be treated as soon as possible after the infection to have a better chance of success, having to fly home simply adds further risk.

Due to the expense and nature of the vaccination, the Rabies vaccination is often overlooked as an essential travel vaccine, but learning about risk allows you in consultation with you GP or Travel Clinic to make an educated decision regarding its necessity. Understanding the symptoms and method of transmission allows individuals to make safe choices when visiting endemic areas.

Thailand is a country with a Rabies problem, yet still 13% of visitors make physical contact with animals that have the potential to carry the rabies virus. This is very uninformed behaviour considering the nature of the Rabies virus and the risk to those who travel without a vaccination.

Beyond The Blue’s Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop provides you with the information you require to start your Travel Health planning and information about specific risk at your destination.



Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.com/