Friday, June 11, 2010

Hurtigruten on Facebook

Hurtigruten is on Facebook - of course. Join us and be updated with the latest travel news, videos, special offers etc.!




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Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Norway Ranked among Top Ten Most Peaceful Nations in the World

The Top 10 most peaceful countries in the World were announced yesterday by the Institute for Economics & Peace:


1 New Zealand
2 Iceland
3 Japan
4 Austria
5 Norway
6 Ireland
7 Denmark
7 Luxembourg
9 Finland
10 Sweden


Western Europe is markedly the most peaceful region, with the majority of the countries in this group ranking in the top 20 overall.


According to the Institute for Economics & Peace, Norway’s score deteriorated slightly from last year, contributing to a slide of two places to 5th position in the 2010 GPI. Access to small arms and light weapons remains highly restricted. Relations between Norway and its neighboring Scandinavian countries, with which it shares a strong cultural and linguistic heritage, are very good, with close co-operation remaining a cornerstone of Norway’s foreign policy. Most GPI indicators relating to safety and security point to a harmonious society: violent crime is rare, human rights are accorded great respect, the political scene is stable and violent demonstrations are highly unlikely to occur. There are more security officers and police per head in Norway than in Denmark, Finland and Sweden.


The results of the Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2010 suggest that the world has become slightly less peaceful in the past year. The GPI, which gauges ongoing domestic and international conflict, safety and security in society and militarization in 149 countries, registered overall increases in several indicators, including the likelihood of violent demonstrations and perceptions of criminality. In some nations, an intensification of conflicts and growing instability appears to be linked to the global economic downturn in late 2008 and early 2009.

getting excited!

We're beginning to plan the voyage "in the wake of the Vikings"!

There are few things remaining on my to do in Greenland list, visiting the Norse ruins was on of them. I have read widely on the topic and visited some of the ruins. This trip will allow me to fill in some important blanks. To see 1. the church as Hvalsey (the best-preserved Norse Greenland ruins!) and the North American ruins at L'Anse sux Meadows (North America discovered ~500 years before Christopher Columbus!) are both big game sites to see.

I've actually take a ship through Prins Christian Sound and by the highest sea cliffs in the world at Torsukatat; part of the voyage.

I'm excited my parents are joining the voyage.

We're doing a pre-tour in Iceland.

Exciting stuff!

Jason Box

Saturday, June 5, 2010

National Geographic CSD & Hurtigruten

Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and the well-being of its residents. We are proud to state that this in many ways reflects the historical “mission” of Hurtigruten. Hurtigruten is a part of Norway.

National Geographic's Director of the Center for Sustainable Destinations Jonathan Tourtellot talks about sustainable tourism in Norway.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Climate change already visible on Greenland

Many scientists and governments are talking about what “will happen” once climate change begins to occur, but on the great island of Greenland global warming isn't just a future problem - it's happening now.

Greenland
is the largest island on the planet, and most of it - around 85 percent - is covered in ice. At over 656,000 square miles, it's the largest area of fresh water ice in the northern hemisphere. Scientists have predicted that if the Greenland ice sheet were to completely melt, ocean levels could go up by 23 feet, which would have catastrophic effects for low-lying coastal regions across the globe.

While scientists can't agree on how much or how fast the Greenland ice sheet will melt, what is certain is that the Arctic is warming up faster than the rest of the planet and that Greenland is already losing a large portion of its ice. As scientists continue to debate and take measurements, the effects of climate change are already visible on the island.

What are your thoughts on global warming?