Where all in this togeather

[Captain Kong]

but the St Helenans , I would let them have their Airport
Rob.
.
.
Hi Rob, I dont think St Helena should have an airport. it would be the ruination of a beautiful Island.
I last went to St Helena in 2002 and it is a naturaly beautiful place. They had just got Satalite TV and for the first time those lovely people were seeing crime, on those awful American TV shows. It really was affecting them.
The people there were living in a time warp where it was the same as a hundred years ago,
The people were very happy in their isolation. A little fishing, a little farming etc.
Now if you build an airport all that will end, Holiday Inns and Hiltons sprouting up everywhere, KFCs, MacDonalds, rubbish, garbage, polluting everywhere, hundreds of thousands of daft tourists pouring in, Ski boats speeding round the bay, the whole environment, peace and quiet, being destroyed. The poor people who once lived in a paradise will now have to work for peanuts, whilst being exploited by all kinds of foreign companies, just to survive. They will be pushed off their land to build the airport and again when the Hotels come. I have seen it happen so many times around the world, Paradise to be destroyed for Profit by foreign Investors.

NO, a Thousand Times No to the Airport.
Just leave them alone.
Cheers
Brian.

[robpage]

[QUOTE=Captain Kong;85120]NO, a Thousand Times No to the Airport.[QUOTE]


I was last there in 1972 , It was idyllic , a little fishing and farming , the only attraction was Napoleon's old house and empty grave , We got there with a Deck cargo of petrol in 45 gallon barrels , the Island had run dry , no tanker drivers to go on strike there . Clan line used to boost the regular monthly Mail ship call from the Good Hope & Southampton Castles . The kids had to come back to the UK for a good secondary education , there was limited medical facilities etc . I would agree with leaving it alone , I dread it when I see cruises to the Galapagos and the Antarctic . The proposed runway is 6000 feet , which restricts the aircraft that can use it to planes like the Airbus 319 , Boing 737 etc , but it is unlikley that from a major centre like Cape Town that these could run fully loaded , so I would hope that this alone would restrict tourism . My thoughts were that this development was impossible back forty years ago , because there was not a straight enough piece of island to build a runway on , modern technology , like most things today has a way around that . When the St Helena eventually retires in 2015 then I cannot see what alternatives there are for the St Helenans except the Airport ./St Helena currently costs the UK about £20m each year to administer and while the airport would cost £250m, it was hoped that it would enable the island to become sustainable. I understand that there was considerable local anger when the plan was shelved a few years ago . At the moment the local wage is £70 a week , so most of the working men/ women leave the Island , leaving granny to hold the babies . I share your sentiments Brian , after all when the airport arrives the first Kebab shop and Curry house will follow very soon , but what is the alternative to the end of the St Helena , and as far as I know the end of the last Royal Mail Service ship , there will be a tear from me when R.M.S no longer preceeds a Ship's name anywhere in the world . The decision dates back to 2009 , and there is a very good consultation document at Consultation report on whether an airport is the most appropriate option for access to St Helena in the current economic climate : News and Press Releases – Saint Helena Access Project which is a great insite to what the Islanders actually want . I Still think a Ship is a good option , but no one , it seems wants to run or build one , if what I am reading is true then there is no alternative other than abandonment .

[Captain Kong]

Yes I can see your point Rob, it is just that I have seen it too often around the world, these lovely little places destroyed by Big Business and over development. The native is pushed out. . I guess it is all called `Progress`.

It is like a joke that I Half remember......
the business man says if you work for me then when you retire you can buy a boat, go Fishing, go swim on a beach, relax in the sun and grow bananas, Paw Paw, mangoes and all kinds of stuff in your garden.
The Native says,
.
"I do all that already."

.
Cheers
.Brian.

[robpage]

One of my favorite places in all the parts of this globe that I have travelled is a small greek Ionian Island that 20 years ago had one ATM cash machine , a lot of Greek owned Tavernas , and a great life style , now the Tourists ( 18- 30 style ) has not only destroyed it but they have taken it beyond the point of no return . I just hope that St Helena remains remote , and that even the rich tourists , just dont make it there . I like you think there has been too much too far , but the balance is sustainability and what tips the balance with me is the loss of the RMS St Helena in 2015 , If that still ran , I would not be defending the airport one tiny iota .

[happy daze john in oz]

There are many spots around the globe that have been destroyed by tourism. Bali is one, but next door is the Island of Lombok. Only one small part has been taken over, the rest is still pristine, well for now anyway. Driven all around the island and it is pure paradise, but then many parts of Bali away from the tourists is much the same. Been to places there that even the locals only go to on specila occasions. But as with any country, get away from the toruist areas and eat where the locals eat.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Isn't it funny when we go somewhere out of the ordinary and find that idyllic spot we say "we hope it doesn't get spoilt by tourists" perhaps forgetting that we are a tourist at that time and are starting the avalanche !

[alf corbyn]

thats ok john, but some of the native food takes some getting used to. i have just read about slicing a mokeys head open and all eating its brains while it is still alive.

[Willie Saunders]

Ivan, we werent tourists, we were visitors !

[Captain Kong]

Last year I went to several Islands in the Tuomotus, Kiribati, Fanning Island and Marquesses in the South Pacific.the islands had no airstrips, No hotels or Kebab shops. just pure natural south seas, I guess we were just visiters not your average tourists. each Island especially Fanning Island where the people had nothing, not even a water supply, or electricity etc
We left six Barrels for them to collect rain water in and a few supplies to keep them going until the nex trip,
The ship went there every year and left a few supplies for them. The people were happy that we had called, they were singing and thankful that we had taken the trouble to visit them. I think a hord of tourists an airport and hotels and Spud U Like would destroy their little paradise. they would never be the same again.
Cheers
Brian.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Willie, it wasn't personal, it was a generalisation, I don't do personal