tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56872792634710330502024-03-05T05:25:12.846-08:00Latest news from travel writer Ian MiddletonAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-52831536074612323722008-05-17T05:50:00.001-07:002008-05-17T05:50:30.887-07:00A star is born<object width="451" height="433"><param name="movie" value="http://images.stupidvideos.com/images/player/player.swf?sa=1&sk=7&si=2&i=63611"></param><embed src="http://images.stupidvideos.com/images/player/player.swf?sa=1&sk=7&si=2&i=63611" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="451" height="433"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-71298136213270954892008-03-29T05:16:00.000-07:002008-03-29T05:20:21.611-07:00Harp seal hunt is barbaricI am absolutely disgusted by the cruelty of Canada’s commercial baby harp seal hunt. As you are aware over the next few weeks, more than a quarter of a million seals will be killed for unnecessary fur products. Nearly all of these seals will be less than three months old. Many will suffer painful and lingering deaths. This is unacceptable cruelty and the UK and Europe’s role in the trade in seal products is allowing this to happen.<br /><br />I’ve witnessed the inhumane method these hunters are using to kill the seals. Seals were clubbed up to six times before being dragged onto a boat and thrown in a pile with others. The hunter did not check to see if the seal was dead, and certainly did not bleed the seal on the ice as regulations state. I also witnessed a seal manage to escape the hunter, but not until it had already been smashed over the head once. This seal will undoubtedly die a long and painful death as a result of this injury. So I ask you, is this humane?<br /><br />Why do these seals need to die? Some reports state that there is not an overabundance of seals and they do not need to be culled. IFAW has stated clearly that because of the reduction in sea ice many seals are being born in the water and are drowning. But is this being taken into account when the Canadian government issue their quotas? No. But even if there is an overabundance of seals, why shouldn’t there be?? It’s not like there isn’t enough room for them out there on the frozen wastelands of the Hudson Bay. And this can also mean more food for the Polar Bear, who is also under threat of extinction. The only animal with the right to kill these baby seals is the Polar Bear, and he only does this to survive. Canadian hunters are killing these baby seals for a trophy sport, and for a trade that is totally unnecessary in this day and age. We can manufacture artificial furs that are just as good as the real thing.<br /><br />It’s also been ludicrously suggested in the past that the seals were responsible for the collapse of cod stocks in the North Atlantic in the 1990s. Just read this:<br /><br />http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=128372<br /><br />This is not even an economic necessity for the fisherman because, as stated in an interview with the representative from IFAW, the cost of paying for an icebreaker ship to clear a path for these fishing trawlers could be used instead to compensate the sealers for a loss in trade should the hunt be banned. But the real truth is that this is not the sole income for these people, (It only happens once a year so how could it be?) and they could very easily live without it. I’m sure that if it was worked out, the cost of the hunt probably outweighs the profits.<br /><br />Please help push for a ban on the trade in seal products in the European Union, and the entire world. A national ban in the UK would help achieve an EU-wide ban. The Governments have the power to stop imports of all sorts of products without the need to introduce new legislation so this would be a relatively quick and easy step to take. We also have the power to stop this by refusing to buy any animal products and even boycotting Canadian products, if possible. <br /><br />Therefore I urge you to immediately send a message to the UK and EU governments, and also the governments around the world to ban the import of all seal products, to start with, and also any animal fur that is still being sold today.<br /><br />You can send a message to the UK Minister for Trade, Gareth Thomas MP here<br /><br />http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.campaign.id=430<br /><br />Read more here:<br />http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=127996<br /><br />http://www.stopthesealhunt.co.uk<br /><br />More videos here:<br /><br />http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/video/?&videoSource<br />ID=1310963&flashURL=/feeds/skynews/latest/flash/seal_280308_0600.flv<br /><br />http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/video/?&videoSource<br />ID=1310963&flashURL=/feeds/skynews/latest/flash/seal_280308_0600.flv<br /><br /><br />Ian Middleton<br />Travel writer, photographer and animal lover<br />http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hvzQ30MAiAU&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hvzQ30MAiAU&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-20972660119229804862008-03-14T12:53:00.000-07:002008-03-14T13:06:05.942-07:00I love these, classic old adverts for Tetley Tea featuring the Tetley Tea Folk. They just don't make adverts like these anymore!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rdGbIBWzmoY&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rdGbIBWzmoY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GKCLUHIciqo&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GKCLUHIciqo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Zpo7SDFG2U&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Zpo7SDFG2U&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kb1X-Q4lYgo&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Kb1X-Q4lYgo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-91191668348277180352007-06-08T00:54:00.000-07:002007-06-08T00:54:03.896-07:00Hill of Tara / M3 motorway: Massive Hange Found Beside Hill of Tara<a href="http://hilloftara.blogspot.com/2007/05/massive-hange-found-beside-hill-of-tara.html#links">Hill of Tara / M3 motorway: Massive Hange Found Beside Hill of Tara</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-66535829563749155492007-03-23T12:20:00.000-07:002008-12-10T00:51:31.141-08:00Reply to a recent blog on culling bears in Slovenia<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuJeR2NTVkoDXjRoiyqDksjVgpjhE3ih7oZduvnRBWujfA4z1zPxpnoht96T7FaZ8aG0IcrNKsJrDoJFqUv4gldRR8KZ1AkmEXvCADK0I1OPbsk1cSk6rBZIjlMV_HML7zgui5uRxBAM/s1600-h/LJ-Zoo-CRW_9279_jpg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045203110156922786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuJeR2NTVkoDXjRoiyqDksjVgpjhE3ih7oZduvnRBWujfA4z1zPxpnoht96T7FaZ8aG0IcrNKsJrDoJFqUv4gldRR8KZ1AkmEXvCADK0I1OPbsk1cSk6rBZIjlMV_HML7zgui5uRxBAM/s320/LJ-Zoo-CRW_9279_jpg.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.carniola.org/2007/02/blowing-away-bears-in-slovenia.htm">http://www.carniola.org/2007/02/blowing-away-bears-in-slovenia.htm</a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br />I can't figure out if the author of this blog is being sarcastic or serious. I am living in Slovenia now with my girlfriend, and I love bears and am more frustrated with the lack of information or tours available to view bears in the wild (NOT HUNT THEM!). This whole business of so-called culling the bears is completely wrong. Whether or not the government’s estima<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZHdZr_RnFTpdvsJeGEp-bM0pHjR7BEcPyApTbNsrjpSzBAykjr0aTnUneUI-m1N0kNty3gtnW-hBSs5dk_fVXo__iDXi0Trzny3BJvfIW62lvrsEPjHwRa4V2RoKQMTypfvvkRO8EuE/s1600-h/LJ-Zoo-CRW_9287_jpg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045203363559993266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZHdZr_RnFTpdvsJeGEp-bM0pHjR7BEcPyApTbNsrjpSzBAykjr0aTnUneUI-m1N0kNty3gtnW-hBSs5dk_fVXo__iDXi0Trzny3BJvfIW62lvrsEPjHwRa4V2RoKQMTypfvvkRO8EuE/s320/LJ-Zoo-CRW_9287_jpg.jpg" border="0" /></a>tes as to the amount of bears in Slovenia is accurate or not, this is not the way. There are other ways: relocation, castration of male bears to stop population growth and so on. It's also not possible to count the bear population as it's highly likely that the bears travel between Slovenia and Croatia.<br /><br />But the worst thing in the world would be to stoop to Russia's level and allow bear hunting tourism to take place here in Slovenia, just to make money and make some stupid tourist feel like a big man for killing a bear!! The bear hunting tourists in Russia are being lead to easy targets and are killing defenceless female bears and leaving their cubs to die.<br /><br />As for the hunters tasked with the cull in Slovenia, these are the same people who recently hunted a so-called aggressive and dangerous bear for (defending its cubs) and causing the starvation and death of its cubs.<br /><br />If the government wants to profit from its bears, then it should try organising bear watching tours so people can appreciate the bears and learn more about them, which is something the majority of tourists would like and something that is sorely needed here.<br /><br />Take a closer look at the photo at the top of this page and ask yourself, do you really want to kill this wonderful creation of nature?</div></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-26784483197904640572007-02-21T02:42:00.000-08:002007-02-21T02:43:35.608-08:00Travel e-book releases by Ian Middleton: Travel Writer and photographerIreland and South America travel books now include photos.<br /><br />As the world speeds full throttle into the technological age, the emergence of the e-book as an accepted form of reading material is becoming ever popular. There is also one other advantage to this, reduced publishing costs. To produce a fully illustrated book with hundreds of full colour photographs is costly to say the least, and also pushes up the retail price. But with Adobe PDF the only increase is in file size. When I first published my books on Ireland and South America, I was disappointed that I could not include the great photographs taken during these journeys.<br /><br />With the increasing popularity of e-books this has now been made possible. To this end Ian Middleton is pleased to announce the release of To the End of the World and Back (A South American Adventure) with 140 full colour photos, and Hot Footing Around the Emerald Isle with over 100 photos and 18 new articles from further travels around Ireland, including an article about a 280-mile hike for charity from Wexford to Donegal, in aid of asthma research.<br /><br />To celebrate this I am offering a free ebook with the purchase of any paperback, or two e-books for the price of one when bought directly through the publisher's website.<br /><br />For more information visit the website: <a href="http://www.schmetterlingproductions.co.uk/">http://www.schmetterlingproductions.co.uk</a><br /><br />Ian Middleton: Travel Writer and Photographer<br /><br />Email: <a href="mailto:ian@ian-middleton.co.uk">ian@ian-middleton.co.uk</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-56365420192462285462007-01-30T10:46:00.000-08:002007-01-30T10:46:04.623-08:00Hill of Tara / M3 motorway: Irish Environmental Law Association - paper for discussion<a href="http://hilloftara.blogspot.com/2005/12/irish-environmental-law-association.html#links">Hill of Tara / M3 motorway: Irish Environmental Law Association - paper for discussion</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-66118770576346293082007-01-30T10:27:00.000-08:002007-01-30T13:43:03.440-08:00The Decline of Ireland’s Celtic HistoryI was driving down the road in Ireland one day, listening to the radio, when someone wrote in and complained that because of the English having occupied Ireland for so long and forcing its language and way of life upon the Irish people, this has resulted in a loss of the old Celtic ways that can never be got back. The writer said he would never forgive the English for that. As an Englishman who has travelled around Ireland constantly over the last five years, I can honestly say that he has a point, and that I hope if I ever bump into him that I can put on a convincing Irish accent.<br /><br />In 2004 I was commissioned to write a travel guide to Ireland’s ancient sites, her myths and her legends, called Mysterious World: Ireland. During my research I learned all about the spiritual heartland of ancient Ireland.<br /><br />While at the Solstice festival at the Hill of Tara I learned that the government has plans to build a motorway through the Tara valley. The people at the Tara foundation<br />(<a href="http://www.tara-foundation.org/">http://www.tara-foundation.org/</a>) have been fighting this since the announcement was first made. The Hill of Tara is one of Ireland’s most important historical monuments. For thousands of years the High Kings of Ireland ruled from this spot, making Tara Ireland’s ancient capital, both politically and spiritually. Tara is at the heart of the country’s history, legends and folklore. Many legendary battles were fought here, and many of Ireland’s most important legends all relate to this hill. Tara holds the secret to much of Ireland’s ancient past, which for thousands of years was passed down through the generations in story form. To destroy Tara would be to cut the heart out of Ireland, historically and culturally.<br /><br />According to a video made recently by the Tara Foundation, Ireland’s minister for transport, Martin Cullen, disbanded Duchas, the heritage service that was set up to protect Ireland’s monuments and has re-written the legislation allowing him to have sole discretion in deciding whether an archaeological site is a national monument or not, and also giving him unprecedented power to destroy any monument he pleases. These powers were put in place after the row over Carrickmines Castle delayed the completion of the M50 motorway circling Dublin.<br /><br />If this is true, and I’ve no reason to doubt it, then this could well set a dangerous precedent for the destruction of some of Ireland’s ancient historical monuments, of which there are literally hundreds across the country.<br /><br />Ireland’s culture lies within her legends and the many ancient sites that bear testimony to these stories. It was in the Tara Skryne Valley that the famous showdown between a pagan king and Saint Patrick took place. When the Saint travelled Ireland spreading the word of God, a high king known as Laoghaire ruled from Tara. Every year at the start of spring, the Pagan ceremony of Beltaine was performed, which coincides with Easter. Fires were lit on all the hills. St. Patrick angered the king by lighting his paschal fire on the Hill of Slane prior to the time set by the Druids. The king confronted the Saint and Patrick famously produced a shamrock and proceeded to use it to explain the union between the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost. Soon after, the King converted to Christianity and the shamrock became one of Ireland’s national symbols.<br /><br />This is just one of many important moments in Irish history that took place here and just proves that Tara is the ancient, spiritual and historical heart of Celtic Ireland. How can anyone destroy this legacy, just to make someone’s journey half an hour shorter?<br /><br />Another hill that holds an important place in Irish history is the Hill of Uisneach. In 2004 I headed out in search of this hill. Leaving Mullingar I took the R390 to Athlone. Just before reaching the village of Killare, I spotted a lay-by on my left with a brown, tourist information sign that read: The Hill of Uisneach. I pulled over. The sign was aligned with the fence and faced the road. This seemed to indicate to me that the hill behind it was the Hill of Uisneach. It took over an hour of climbing those hills for me to eventually emerge upon an outcrop overlooking the road, only to spot the dolmen I was looking for on the other hill across this road.<br /><br />How many know that it was here that the four ancient provinces of Ireland were mapped out by the Fir Bolg? On the Hill of Uisneach lies an ancient dolmen, said to be the intersection point for these ancient divisions. What is even more significant is that when the Milesians defeated the Tuatha dé Danann, the Dé Danann queen, Erin, was granted a request by Amergin, the leader of the Milesians. He promised to name this land after her, and so Ireland got its name. It is said that Erin is buried under this dolmen.<br /><br />Firstly, either the lack of thought, or the lack of knowledge has resulted in a sign that is totally misleading to anyone wishing to see this place. Secondly, access can only be gained by hoping you don’t get caught by the farmer. (In the farmer’s defence they are being hampered by this stupid compensation culture forcing them to pay money if someone injures himself on THEIR land!) And thirdly, why isn’t this ancient and important monument being protected? And let’s not even start with the fact that the story above was not even mentioned on the sign.<br /><br />The Hill of Uisneach lies between the two major towns of Mullingar and Athlone. Will it be next?<br /><br />Like the caller said, the English did almost wipe out the Irish language and the Celtic culture, so all I can say is this; don’t allow the Irish government to finish the job!<br /><br />Ian Middleton, Co-author<br />Mysterious World: Ireland<br /><a href="http://ireland.mysteriousworld.com">http://ireland.mysteriousworld.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk/">http://www.ian-middleton.co.uk/</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5687279263471033050.post-77053950523897681662007-01-30T10:26:00.000-08:002007-01-30T10:26:50.879-08:00Hill of Tara / M3 motorway: Irish Environmental Law Association - paper for discussion<a href="http://hilloftara.blogspot.com/2005/12/irish-environmental-law-association.html#links">Hill of Tara / M3 motorway: Irish Environmental Law Association - paper for discussion</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06523681137571248254noreply@blogger.com0