Message-ID: <Pine.ULT.3.91.971114160755.1331B-100000@henson.cc.wwu.edu> Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 16:12:05 -0800 From: Nancy West <mailto:n9510239@HENSON.CC.WWU.EDU> Subject: Re: From Development to Education (fwd) To: mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU
Thanks, Bob.I love sailing (especially vs. "stinkpotting") and sure would choose that form of travel to get from America to Africa, (or anywhere for that matter) if only time permitted. I suspect a lot of others would too but unfortunately we are in the minority. So, I guess that's where the problem is. :-) nw
******************************************* On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Tu and Bob Myers wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Nov 1997, Nancy West wrote:
>
> > Just wondering, how will Americans get to Africa, Australians to South
> > America, Europeans to Australia---swim???
>
> Good point! Let's see if I can get my foot out of my mouth.
>
> Thor Hyerdahl (sp?) went from South America to Hawaii in a boat without an
> engine*. I'm not sure if it was made using non ferrous metal tools or
> not, but iron can be made without fossil fuel. The Polynesians have been
> navigating all over the Pacific without engines for a long time, also.
> Both of them did it in boats that didn't use fossil fuels in the materials
> or construction of the boats.
>
> Sailing is not a lost art.
>
> There are working sail boats in SE Asia, that make a little money from
> tourists, now. Some of those are made without parts made using fossil fuel
> also, lotsa time and skill but no money.
>
> You could say that part of the wind they use comes from old fossils like me
> flapping their jaws, which would kinda make wind a fossil fuel and blow the
> whole idea. ;-}
>
> Now, how practical is it? I'll grant that not many people will do it, but
> it is practically possible to do so without fossil fuel (oil, coal,
> natural gas) entering into the system. Would I want to make an
> intercontinental trip under those conditions? Only once!
>
> My diatribe was more about "can't", than non fossil fuel tourism. But,
> you asked a (what I consider a mostly**) reasonable question, so I tried
> to give a reasonable (not too smart alec) answer.
>
> Bob
>
> * The man that helped TH make the boat is apparently still going strong
> making reed boats on lake Titicaca in Peru. I saw him on a Michael Palen
> travel program this week.
>
> ** I'll bet there was a little "Get Real!" attitude in the question, but I
> stuck my message out-what the hey.
>
>
>