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Belize will reopen to tourism

Although its reopening date is somewhat later than some of its Caribbean neighbors, Belize has just announced plans to welcome back international visitors on August 15.

The United States is Belize’s largest source for tourism revenue, and the destination had been waiting on the situation there to improve before announcing a reopening date. Now that it seems there is no end in sight for COVID-19 in the US, Belize is reluctantly deciding to open anyway, and salvage part of its tourism season.

Prime Minister Dean Barrow said in a press conference, “After the most careful consideration, after the most searching examination, after the most intense debate we are able now to announce a firm reopening date for the PGIA, the Philip Goldson International Airport. That date, ladies and gentlemen, is August 15th, 2020. I want to repeat that the decision has not been an easy one. In our region, cases of the novel coronavirus continue to surge. In the U.S., our greatest source market for tourism, the number of states experiencing substantial jumps in the rates of infections is alarming. Particularly concerning is that Florida seems likely to become the new American epicenter and California and Texas, two of the states from which there are also direct flights to Belize, are among those seeing a pronounced resurgence of the virus. In the circumstances, and with the experts confirming that no end to this sea of corona troubles is in sight, it seemed to us futile that waiting any longer would provide a more favorable launching pad for our tourism restart. So we fixed on our August fifteenth date. We decided that any further delay would likely gain us nothing from a safety standpoint.”

On August 15, airlines such as United, American, Avianca, and Delta are expected to resume flights to Belize.

Photo: Belizing

Visiting won’t be a simple process, however. Travelers can only book one of the approved accommodations and must download the Belize health app and register their unique number to allow authorities to track their movements once in the country. Travelers will also be required to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival, and show their negative test result at customs; otherwise, they’ll have to take a test upon arrival at the airport.

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Barbados is reopening to tourism

Having reached a significant milestone in its fight against COVID-19, Barbados is officially ready to reopen to tourists on July 12.

On Friday, Prime Minister Mia Mottley announced that Barbados had recorded its 35th day with no new cases and zero active cases of COVID-19, so starting on July 1, all curfews will be lifted. Strict social distancing measures will also be relaxed, with sporting events now allowing spectators and gatherings of up to 500 people permitted.

Mottley also revealed that mid-July, commercial flights will resume to Grantley Adams International Airport, including service from Air Canada, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, and JetBlue. Virgin Atlantic and American Airlines are expected to resume service a few weeks later.

Visitors to Barbados will, however, need to prove they are healthy enough to enter the country. All travelers from high-risk countries (countries with more than 10,000 new cases in the past seven days and community transmission) will need to take a test 72 hours prior to their departure. Those from low-risk countries (countries with less than 100 new cases in the past seven days and not in the Community Transmission Category) can take a test up to one week prior to their departure.

They will also need to complete a health card before departure, for which they will obtain documentation via email that they’ll have to present at the border along with their negative test results.

Anyone without a negative test will have to take one upon arrival and will be quarantined for 48 hours at their own expense until the results are obtained. Those who test positive will be placed in quarantine.

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Camping for the first time

When my friends ask me to go camping, I usually have an arsenal of excuses ready. “Sorry, I’ll be out of town,” “Sorry, I already have plans,” or “Sorry, I might be getting my wisdom teeth out just for fun.” I have never camped before in my life. The idea always intrigued me, but the practical realities of buying camping gear, sleeping in the elements, and swatting mosquitoes away from my less-than-appetizing dinner of burnt sausages felt daunting and unnecessary.

But COVID-19 pulverized my excuses. These days no one has plans, going out of town isn’t believable, and the dentists aren’t doing elective surgeries. Camping is one of the only activities we’re allowed to do, as responsible travelers. It also doesn’t help that I’ve been quarantining in Colorado, after a lifetime living outside of Boston, where avoiding the outdoors is slightly acceptable. Out in the Rocky Mountains, judgments over never going camping reach new heights.

So last weekend, I finally said “yes” to camping, with one of Matador’s Outdoor editors, no less. If not now — with no excuses, no options — when? As we pulled up to the dispersed campsite in Eagle, Colorado, the astounded “you’ve never been camping!?” remarks echoed in my ears from the past 29 years of my life. At the very least, those were words I’d never hear again. I was pretty sure I’d be miserable, but vowed to approach the experience with an open mind. Here’s what I discovered.

“Camping” means whatever you want it to mean.

Photo: Alexandr Vlassyuk/Shutterstock

Camping culture is a bit tricky. It’s supposed to be all about nature, inclusivity, holding hands around a fire, and listening to that one guy play his acoustic guitar off tune. When you pull back the layers, though, you realize camping culture can be rather judgmental. You can’t make a fire? You don’t know how to set up a tent? You think glamping is real camping? Avid campers have a firm idea of what “camping” should be, and it can be a bit intimidating, especially if you’re camping with people more experienced than you.

But take it from a guy who definitely didn’t camp like a purist. Camping is whatever you want it to be. We heated up a frozen pizza on a portable grill, drank sake out of measuring cups, and I slept in the back of a truck rather than cozying up in the tiny two-person tent — and it was great. Sure, I could have rolled out a sleeping bag on the bare earth just to appease the imaginary camping gods, but I’ll take a dry, good night’s sleep in a truck with tinted windows any day of the week — I still got to wake up surrounded by nature. Don’t let anyone define camping for you. It’s a complete myth that camping has to mean roasting s’mores, catching at least three fish, and hiking a Fourteener all before lunch. Camping can change to fit your own personality and adventure style, and everyone can (and should) derive something different from the experience.

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It’s not a Survivor audition tape.

When I first committed to venturing into the wilderness for my epic (one-night) odyssey, I immediately worried that I wasn’t prepared. I had flashbacks to when I was 12 years old watching Survivor — the guy who couldn’t make fire always got voted off first. But camping is very forgiving. If you’re going with other first-timers, great, you’ll figure it out together and learn from your mistakes for next time. If you’re camping with an experienced partner or group, that’s even better. Time to put camping’s kumbaya spirit to the test. Your seasoned friends should be happy to show you the ropes and teach you their outdoorsy wisdom without judgment.

Not knowing what you’re doing is part of the experience, and part of the fun. You’re going to mess up, forget basic gear at home, ask stupid questions, and be uncomfortable. But that’s kind of the point. Camping is an excuse to be sloppy, unprepared, dirty, and test your resilience. Basically, it’s an excuse to be truly human. No one wants to camp with the person who immediately builds a perfect fire, sets up the tent in seven seconds, and makes you feel crappy for not doing anything. If you ask me, that’s the person who should get voted off the island first.

It’s social distancing at its best.

Photo: Drepicter/Shutterstock

Usually, summer means our attention is pulled in a thousand different directions. Between pool parties, BBQs, bar hopping, and music festivals, the entertainment field is typically pretty crowded. Not so in 2020. The coronavirus hasn’t just leveled the playing field — it’s knocked out the competition, rang the bell, and raised camping’s hand in the air.

With most of our favorite summer pastimes canceled or dramatically altered due to the coronavirus, camping remains unscathed. Medical experts agree that camping is one of the safest summer activities we can practice, and we don’t even have to worry about masks or giant plastic bubbles. Rebecca Katz, director of the Center for Global Health Science and Security at Georgetown University Medical Center, told NPR, “As far as summer activities go, [camping] is least risky from a virus perspective.” Of course, sleeping in the same tent as 26 strangers isn’t advisable, but generally speaking, you can embark on a camping trip with peace of mind — which, at a time when the news cycle is soul-crushing, is pretty much the best thing you can hope for.

Just go to say you did it.

You should never do something just because you feel pressured to do it, but if you’ve never been camping, you should probably examine the reason why. I spent over 20 years declining camping invitations because I was sure I’d hate it, and ultimately, it took a pandemic to get me into the woods. It shouldn’t have taken that long.

Deciding an experience isn’t your cup of tea — whatever that experience may be — is perfectly fine, as long as you actually try it first. I used to wear my lack of camping experience as a badge of honor — a weird, reverse-hipster right of passage that I stubbornly refused to shed. I did myself a disservice. The only thing dumber than judging people for not camping is passing judgment on an activity without ever taking the plunge yourself. So even if it’s the most miserable weekend of your life, and you find yourself dissecting the experience with a therapist years later, go camping anyway — even if it’s just to be able to make this excuse next time: “Sorry, I’ve been before, and it ain’t for me.” Thankfully, that won’t be the case for me.

The next time I go camping, I have no idea if I’ll sleep in the truck again or brave the tent. I don’t know if I’ll eat roasted sausages or another frozen pizza, go backcountry camping or hit up a glampsite. But one thing I do know: There will be a next time.

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Biggest food fights in Spain

No fewer than five festivals in Spain license participants to lob food at one another. In fact, at these particular festivals, throwing food is how you participate.

La Tomatina is the most famous. The annual tomato fight, which results in over 200,000 pounds of crushed tomatoes sloshing around the streets of Buñol, has been held outside of Valencia on the last Wednesday of August since 1945. Ticket sales were introduced in 2013 to cap attendance at 20,000, which is double Buñol’s permanent population.

The following Friday, about 70 miles south, a similar battle involving garnacha tintorera grapes ensues in Pobla del Duc. Flour and eggs are the ammo of choice in Ibi during Els Enfarinats every December, and Batalla del Vino participants splash wine around Haro, in La Rioja, every June. There’s even a day in March dedicated to pieing people with meringue in Vilanova i la Geltrú, near Barcelona.

Critics of La Tomatina have questioned the festival’s sustainability. Any event that uses literal tons of food for anything other than consumption is subject to the same criticism. Yet these festivals are not entirely frivolous: They’re expressions of Spain’s food culture, from farm to table to squished all over the sidewalk.

A long, messy history

Photo: donvictorio/Shutterstock

Murky origins are a theme of Spain’s longest-running food fights. Three of the oldest have roots in Christianity, though they’re largely viewed as cultural festivals today.

Ground for Haro’s annual wine battle was laid in the sixth century when pilgrims began visiting San Felices de Bilibio’s burial site in the cliffs a few miles from town. A hermitage was erected there in the 18th century, marking the spot where the Batalla del Vino has officially commenced every June 29 since 1965.

Winemakers have existed in La Rioja since the Roman Empire. Some sources cite the practice of using wine in place of water during baptisms at the hermitage around the 20th century as the battle’s inspiration. Another origin story ties it to an argument between Haro and neighboring Miranda de Ebro over town lines. This might explain why the mayor of Haro plants a flag outside the hermitage, where participants also say mass, before the wine fight begins.

Carnival is behind La Merengada, the annual meringue war in Vilanova i la Geltrú. It’s unclear when residents flung their first fistfuls of meringue, but every year on Fat Thursday, the Catalan city puts its own spin on feasting before fasting the day before Lent: Kids get the day off school, everyone assembles for a food fight, and when all the meringue is gone, participants are rewarded with free-flying candy during the Batalla de Caramelos.

Ibi’s famous flour fight on December 28 has looser religious ties. It has been held on the Day of the Holy Innocents, which commemorates the children massacred by King Herod in a New Testament story, for over 200 years. Now, the date is viewed similarly to April Fool’s Day, with the flour fight imitating a coup between Els Farinats (“the floured ones”) and La Oposicio (“the opposition”). Eggs and fireworks help turn the town center into a cakey mess, which is cleaned up only after a series of ballroom dances restores peace in the early evening.

Celebrating the Spanish bounty

Photo: lakisha beecham/Shutterstock

Where Haro’s wine fight nods to La Rioja’s religious and winemaking heritage, the La Raima grape battle outside Valencia outright celebrates the fruits of Pobla del Duc’s land and labor.

Agriculture is the backbone of Pobla del Duc’s local economy. Grapes have historically represented the majority of the city’s income, and La Raima has marked the end of the harvest since the 1930s. Legend has it that the battle began as a playful fight between growers who had excess garnacha tintorera grapes, which are used to make Alicante Bouschet wine, at the season’s close. Now everyone gets involved. As many as 200,000 pounds of end-of-season grapes are dumped in the town square on the last Friday in August for anyone to throw.

During La Merengada, regional ingredients also feature more conventionally at the traditional post-fight meal. Meringue and candy are followed by xató, a traditional Catalan salad made with tuna and a nutty, garlicky sauce. No single dish represents the Batalla del Vino or La Tomatina, but both festivals are bookended with ample meals and merriment. Revelers often make a weekend out of La Tomatina, and on the eve of the Batalla del Vino, the people of Haro take to the streets to eat, drink, and party before their early-morning pilgrimage.

The problem of sustainability

Photo: Morgentau/Shutterstock

None of Spain’s food-throwing festivals has attracted as many travelers, or critics, as La Tomatina. Yet, in its own way, the tomato fight also pays tribute to Spain’s agriculture.

The most popular theory behind La Tomatina’s origin is that a group of young people threw the first tomatoes during a separate parade in 1945. The tradition stuck, and as the tomato-throwing festival grew, the city looked to Extremadura, a region about 350 miles west, where tomatoes are abundant and sold cheaply due to their poor quality.

According to Buñol’s former mayor, who defended the festival against criticisms of food waste in 2016 after Nigeria’s staple tomato crops were ravaged by Tuta absoluta moths, these tomatoes would not otherwise be consumed, even at their ripest.

“If you look at the garbage bins in Spain,” he told the BBC, “there is more waste thrown away every day than the tomatoes used at La Tomatina.”

La Tomatina’s nearly spoiled tomatoes and La Raima’s excess grapes may not be going to waste, exactly, and no one seems to be decrying the wine spilled during the Batalla del Vino. But the ethical implications of events that inherently waste food, in Spain or otherwise, remain open to scrutiny. Perhaps, in an increasingly sustainable era, these celebrations will evolve to focus more on making meals than making messes.

But whatever the future has in store for Spain’s big, public food fights, the intention behind them will surely stay the same: to bring people together over food, in true Spanish fashion.

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Where to go in the UAE

A friend from the Middle East once told me that he couldn’t wait to visit the United States. When I asked him where he wanted to go specifically, he looked at me quizzically and said, “New York City, where else?” as if the answer was obvious.

It might sound like a funny exchange, but Americans are guilty of the same preconceptions. As far as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are concerned, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are New York City. They’re the glittering letters on the Broadway marquee that grab all the attention. Given the popularity and notoriety of these two emirates, it’s easy to forget that there are five others with attractions that outshine their more popular neighbors. From Fujairah’s white sand beaches to the longest zipline in the world in Ras al Khaimah, these emirates aren’t as opulent as Dubai, but they’re equally worth visiting.

1. Sharjah

Photo: Mesam/Shutterstock

If we rewind 40 years, travelers to the UAE would have made Sharjah their first stop. Decades ago, Sharjah was the region’s biggest tourist attraction, until Sheikh al-Qasimi decided that limiting Western influence was in the best interest of his people and turned Sharjah into a dry state with strict sharia laws. Now, although Sharjah is technically a dry emirate, the neighboring emirate of Ajman does not have an alcohol prohibition. The border between the two emirates runs right through the center of Sharjah City, so a cocktail is just a quick walk away.

Sharjah has some of the best cultural offerings in the Gulf. The Sharjah Art Museum is the largest art gallery in the region, and the Heart of Sharjah heritage center is an immersive way to step back in time by walking through preserved streets, and see ramparts, courtyards and traditional architecture. You can also see traditional dhous from Iran — Arab sailing vessels — floating in the harbor, just as they have done for thousands of years.

2. Fujairah

Photo: Kingsly/Shutterstock

If Dubai is New York City, Fujairah is Miami. Formerly part of Sharjah, it gained independence in 1952 and is separated from neighboring emirates by the Hajar mountains. It’s the only emirate that doesn’t have access to the Persian Gulf, but its beaches on the coast of the Gulf of Oman have turned it into a beach resort destination. Al Aqah Beach, one of Fujairah’s most popular beaches, abuts the border of Musandam, an Omani exclave, and gives sunbathers views of the area’s mountainous landscape and fjord-like coastline.

Fujairah is also famous for its forts. Fujairah Fort, built in 1670, is the oldest fort in the UAE, previously serving as a home for the ruling family. Visiting the fort and its surroundings, you can see restored old houses, exhibits about traditional Arab life, and a display of the old irrigation system used by Emirati farmers. Bithnah Fort dates back to 1735 and was considered integral to the defense of the eastern UAE. From the ramparts, you’ll have a stunning view of the countryside and mountains.

For a completely opposite vibe from the emirate’s beaches, you can visit its mountain wadis — dry riverbeds that only contain water after heavy rain. Exploring the Hajar Mountains, you’ll find Wadi Siji, Wadi Saham, Wadi Al Taiwan, and Wadi Maidaq. One of the most popular ways to see the wadis is by “wadi-bashing” — four-wheeling through the dry riverbeds.

3. Ras al Khaimah

Photo: solkafa/Shutterstock

The northernmost emirate, Ras al Khaimah has evolved from its status as a small fishing community. Increasingly attractive to tourists, the emirate has become a base for outdoor adventurers looking to take advantage of the rugged landscape of the Hajar Mountains. Although now Ras al Khaimah is quite modern, you can still get a taste of its simpler roots by visiting the ruins of Jazirat al-Harma, about 12 miles south of Ras al Khaimah city. Although the village has been abandoned since the 1960s, you can still see the traditional coral-block architecture and get a sense of what life was like for the pearl fishermen who lived there.

Usually Dubai is known as the emirate of superlatives, but Ras al Khaimah is home to the world’s longest zipline. The Jebel Jais flight spans 1.7 miles across a dramatic canyon and allows zipliners to travel up to 74.5 miles per hour. One of the most unique elements of the experience is landing on the halfway platform, which is suspended in midair.

Since you’re in the desert, chances are you’ll probably want to cool off at some point. Khatt Springs southeast of Ras al Khaimah city is a collection of mineral-rich pools, whose water is thought to have restorative and therapeutic properties. Surrounded by an oasis with palm trees, you might be fooled into thinking that you’re bathing in a mirage.

4. Ajman

Photo: trabantos/Shutterstock

Although one of the smaller emirates, Ajman combines a little bit of everything that makes the other emirates special. It’s also a great place to relax and dip your toes into Arab history without the hassle of crowds. Ajman’s most important cultural offering is the Ajman Museum, built in the old 18th century Ajman Fort. Wildlife enthusiasts can see pink flamingos and 60 other bird species at the Al Zorah Nature Reserve, and further connect with nature by hiking one of the trails through the Hajar Mountains, or going quad biking in the desert. If you’re looking for a more laid back vacation, don’t worry: Ajman also has several beaches available to guests of the resorts, most notably the Kempinski Hotel Ajman.

5. Umm al Quwain

Photo: Patrik Dietrich/Shutterstock

The smallest emirate, located between Ras al Khaimah and Ajman, Umm al Quwain spans just 308 square miles. This isn’t a big-things-come-in-small-packages situation. There’s not a ton to do in Umm al Quwain, but if you’re trying to check off all seven emirates, or have some extra time to pass through, you won’t be disappointed. Like Ajman, Umm al Quwain isn’t plagued by hordes of tourists, so it feels more authentic and relaxing than a trip to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Visit the Al-Dour Port, an old trading site now featuring a small temple and fort, or check out the islands on the eastern part of the mainland’s peninsula. Jazriat al Ghallah, Al Chewria, Al Harmala, Al Qaram, and the other islands are home to birds and marine life that are well worth the detour. For an adrenaline rush, you can even visit the Emirates Motorplex, where you can rent a motorbike or quad bike to rip around the desert.

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Amsterdam bans Airbnb in places

Amsterdam has been battling overtourism for a while now, banning tours of certain areas of the city center and implementing strict rules on public drinking to appease locals fed up with large unruly crowds at their front doors, but this latest change might be the biggest one yet.

Amsterdam is completely banning Airbnb and similar holiday rental platforms from three districts in the city’s old center, starting on July 1. According to a press release from the City of Amsterdam, currently “1 in 15 homes in Amsterdam is offered online.”

After the city conducted a poll of residents and local organizations, 75 percent supported banning the home-sharing platforms from operating in the districts of Burgwallen-Oude Zijde, Burgwallen-Nieuwe Zijde, and Grachtengordel-Zuid.

In the press release, deputy mayor Laurens Ivens said, “This [consultation] indicates that the subject is very much alive among Amsterdammers. What is striking is that no less than 75% are in favor of a ban on holiday rentals in the three districts.”

The districts where home-sharing platforms will still be allowed to operate will have severe restrictions in place. Starting July 1, it will only be permitted to rent your own home to visitors for a maximum of 30 nights a year.

In another two years Amsterdam will conduct another study and may add more districts to the ban if similar problems arise in other areas.

Amsterdam is not alone in its struggle against the overtourism brought by short-term holiday rentals. Earlier this year, Prague’s mayor Zdeněk Hřib proposed plans to ban property owners from leasing out entire flats unless it’s their own home and they are temporarily away.

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Positive environmental news June

Environmental activists cheered Denmark this week as the country dropped a major announcement: It will reduce its carbon footprint 70 percent by 2030. The small Scandinavian country formalized the Danish Climate Act on June 17, with eight of its 10 political parties voting in favor. The country will invest in two large offshore wind farms along with carbon capture technology to pull carbon from the air. The biggest win here is that, unlike the steps outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement, the Danish Climate Act is legally binding. The country had previously announced the commitment but formally made it a legally binding deal this week.

“Today is a historic day, marking the end of a long journey from the conception of an idea to a fully fledged Climate Act, designed to guide Denmark all the way to climate neutrality,” said Danish Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities Dan Jørgensen. “The law sets our 70% reduction target in stone and reconfirms our full and unwavering commitment to deliver our part in the common fight against climate change.”

Of course, it’s far easier for a country of 5.8 million people to slash its emissions by such a large margin in a short period of time than for a large country like the United States to do the same. Inspiration and competition run rampant in politics, however, and the forward-thinking Scandinavian bloc is likely to take further action following Denmark’s pledge. In 2016, Norway pledged climate neutrality by 2030. Though this commitment is not enshrined in law, activists certainly have a large pedestal to stand on and shout should the commitment falter.

The model could also inspire US states to enact a similar framework, whether legally binding or not. America’s Pledge was enacted by US cities, states, businesses, and universities after President Donald Trump announced that the US would withdraw from the Paris Agreement. The US Climate Alliance is a coalition of state governors, representing 23 states and more than 60 percent of the US population, who have pledged to uphold their states’ commitments to the Paris Agreement. If the Trump administration is removed from office in January 2021 and replaced with a president who prioritizes climate action and makes decisions based on scientific data, the goals of these committees could make their way back to Washington with the Danish Climate Act as a new example for future drafting of bills.

The takeaway for US citizens is to vote in the presidential election this November and to urge everyone around them to do the same. Register here.

More climate wins:

Electric vehicles had a big week. The ride-hailing app Lyft is going all-electric. The company announced this week it would phase out gas-powered cars from its fleet by 2030, a move that will cover its drivers’ vehicles, its rental fleet, and autonomous cars.

And, it’s now easier than ever to drive across the US in an electric vehicle. Electrify America completed the first of its two proposed cross-country networks of EV charging stations, covering I-70 and I-15 from Washington, DC, to Los Angeles.

Beyond the country’s road system, the US Senate passed a major conservation bill to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund on a permanent basis and address a backlog of maintenance issues on public lands, including national parks. The bill was drafted by Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, and passed the Senate with 73 votes in favor and 25 against.

The House of Representatives is likely to pass their take on the bill. Its massive success in the Senate is a testament to the growing economic benefit of conserving public lands for recreation and restoration rather than oil and gas leasing and development, an issue that Matador Network has covered extensively — you have plenty of green-powered fuel for the next time someone tells you public lands are better off in private hands.

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Empty hotel rooms to housing

Thousands of hotel rooms are going unused due to the sharp decline in travel, and in New York City, officials are looking at turning those rooms into affordable housing.

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing a tremendous hit to our hotels because of the reduction in tourism, because of the lack of travel — and hopefully most of that will come back. But some of it may not,” Vicki Been, deputy mayor for housing and economic development in NYC, said during an economic roundtable. “So we’ve been looking hard at — are there hotels that we could acquire to turn into supportive housing rather than having to build from ground up? We’re looking both at, are there assets that we own that we can make available to affordable housing or other needs — and are there private market buildings that we could acquire to convert into affordable housing at a cheaper cost.”

Converting vacant hotels that won’t recover from the COVID-19 pandemic into housing could offer a cost-effective way to create large-scale affordable housing. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio aims to build and preserve 300,000 units of affordable housing by 2026, and hotels could be a big part of that plan going forward.

Brenda Rosen, CEO of Breaking Ground, said hotels in Manhattan could be converted into single occupancy units for as little as $250,000 per unit, which would be half the cost of building a new structure from scratch.

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Amazon's Climate Pledge Arena

On Thursday, Amazon announced that it has bought the rights to rename Seattle’s downtown stadium. The company is choosing to call it the “Climate Pledge Arena” as a continuation of its commitment to protect the environment. With an ability to seat just over 18,000 people, the stadium will be home to a new NHL team as well as the Seattle Storm, a WNBA team.

“We’ve secured naming rights to the historic arena previously known as KeyArena. Instead of naming it after Amazon, we’re calling it Climate Pledge Arena as a regular reminder of the importance of fighting climate change,” Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO, said in a press release. “We look forward to working together with Oak View Group, a new Climate Pledge signatory, and NHL Seattle to inspire global climate action.”

Photo: Amazon

Amazon’s goal with this project is to fight climate change and foster a better environment for the future by creating the first-ever net-zero carbon arena in the world by 2040. The facility will generate zero waste and be powered by renewable energy by on-site solar panels and off-site sustainable sources. The arena will reuse rainwater in its ice system to create “green ice” for NHL games. Additionally, at least 75 percent of the venue’s food program will be sourced locally to support regional farmers and all unused goods will be donated to the local community.

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Grand Canyon heat warning

Visitors to the Grand Canyon might notice an unusual smell this summer — that of burning rubber. It’s so hot within the walls of the Grand Canyon that the National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning below 4,000 feet, comprising the inner parts of the canyon. The extreme heat could cause parts of shoes and hiking boots to melt, ruining not only your day of hiking but also your gear.

Grand Canyon is an unforgiving environment. The heat inside the canyon can cause shoes to come apart, and heavy hiking boots can trap sweat and lead to painful blisters. Before setting off on a hike, understand the limitations of yourself and your gear. https://t.co/PLebJv4uTz pic.twitter.com/fvB4DgHcl2

— Grand Canyon NPS (@GrandCanyonNPS) June 22, 2020

Within the canyon walls, the heat is amplified because as air sinks, it becomes compressed and releases heat as energy. That heat radiates throughout the canyon, raising ground temperatures above what’s found on the canyon’s rims. Day-trippers and backpackers are advised to be mindful of their footwear, as the extreme heat could cause shoe soles to separate from the rest of the shoe. Visitors should also pay close attention to their travel companions. Asphalt may be too hot for dogs’ paws, resulting in burns to their foot pads.

Planning a visit to #GrandCanyon with a furry friend? Be #puppared! As the temperatures rise, the asphalt on the trails can become too hot for paws. Have a plan to beat the heat—just like Juju here!

For more advice on bringing pets to Grand Canyon, visit: https://t.co/HfEk9lifYu pic.twitter.com/6FSs13FhTM

— Grand Canyon NPS (@GrandCanyonNPS) June 24, 2020

Park rangers encourage visitors planning to hike down into the canyon to do so before 10:00 AM and after 4:00 PM, in order to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Hikers should bring and consume plenty of water and be mindful of their physical abilities (keeping in mind that once someone goes down, they must also climb back up again). In such an extreme environment, there’s no shame in taking a break under the shade of the canyon walls or a tree. The National Park Service also offers canyon-specific hiking tips on its website.

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