Souvenirs: Can three pieces of coral inspire tourism towards ocean regeneration?
Three pieces of coral, and the memories they evoke, inspire K Michael Haywood to consider how travel & tourism stakeholders might contribute to ocean regeneration.
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Every souvenir deserves a valued space in our homes. As gathered from the beach in Sao Martinho do Porto, Portugal, my recently found objects are gorgeous stones that now line the base of a birdbath.
But the souvenirs that have become renowned for their value and wisdom are “three pieces of coral resting on my window sill”; mementos of Bahamian beach-life enjoyed with two of our grand-daughters.
To this day they remind me of the lapping of waves, the endless sandcastles that washed away, the aromas of beach-barbecue jerk chicken, Bob Marley’s natural mystic-positive vibrations, and the rhythms of the people that characterise the sensational awe of island life.
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These pieces of coral represent a constant reminder of my youth. Having grown up in the Bahamas, my love of the Caribbean Sea and its reefs know no bounds.
Unfortunately the reefs’ ability to maintain foundational and evolutionary advantage is under constant threat and neglect, well-articulated in this programme on Caribbean Survival in the Anthropocene.
Hopefully the means through which people can change their memories is by predicting the ocean’s future; a future requiring foresight, an ethical frame of reference, a reliance on science, hope, and the careful reconsideration of past memories, leading to more poignant scenarios for thrive-ability, beyond mere sustainability.
Memories in future tense: Activating ocean regeneration
The more I examine these three pieces of coral I’ve noticed lately that they are no longer resting. They have become restless and shrill.
“Three pieces of coral restless on my window sill” demanding resolution to the … continue reading this “Good Tourism” Insight at The “Good Tourism” Blog.
