Passport, Cash and Conscience – How to Travel Ethically

When the disturbing news about forcible sterilisation of Ethiopian women in Israel emerged, Parlour set out the reasons why a trip to the Holy Land lost its previous appeal. But what about other journeys to destinations where the path isn't so pristine? The ethics of each passport stamp can be a hard fought battle between one's head and heart. Realistically, pressing 'pay now' on an airline booking can sometimes be a slow descent into moral bankruptcy. Which direction do we point our moral compass? Let’s explore. Political InstabilityLike anything, travel is full of crazy moral mathematics and the metrics can be baffling. For example, an unstable market + travel = helpful income to a tanking economy. Or an unstable market + travel = economic support for a corrupt regime. Or, unstable market + unstable travel = ain’t no one happy + my head hurts, someone get me a cocktail.Let’s refer to Burmese political activist and leader Aung San Suu Kyi who entirely discourages travel to Burma, er, I mean supports travel to Burma. In reality, Kyi's actually said both but why? Despite my mathematical examples, travel isn’t a zero sum game. There are no right or wrong answers. Like a high school debate, you can pick a side and argue like a bulldog for either perspective. One argument may win but the opponent still has some significant points too.Your metrics and compass are your own. Each of us has a mental line we can't cross or an issue close to our heart, be it gay rights or our own ethnic or religious identity. Identify your own line, then go hard or stay home. If your argument for travelling is that you are supporting trade, human rights and democracy, then put your money where your ethical mouth is. Research and ask the right questions like, which hotel is government run? Where do activist groups recommend visiting? Does that bar commercially benefit alleged perpetrators of human rights abuses? If you tour a Brazilian favela, do the profits go into social programmes or bolstering drugs trafficking? Unsurprisingly the ethical angle is a great selling point in a market awash with questionable options so it is not impossible to weed out operators offering ethical bang for your travel buck.For some help through the minefield, take a look at Ethical Traveler and the totally under-appreciated social and political history sections of the Lonely Planet guides. I know the bar/club guides are well thumbed but focus here, people. And don't discount gathering information on the ground because, like a British day without rain, it's nearly impossible to find a taxi driver who won't discuss politics until you consider walking the last two miles of your journey. Who is the Guardian of the Moral High Ground? No specific business can definitively tell you where to go, but some travel companies operate with a nod to government, the United Nations or other agencies for guidance. In the case of Burma, the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Burma lifted its opposition to foreign tourism when the government relaxed, though didn't release, its dictatorial grip. Like anything else, there are shades of grey which can lift the moral burden and once the decision is made, research to understand the context and appreciate the politics. Make your input positive, ditch that 'I am only one person' nonsense, you are better than that. Declining to pay a $5 bribe at passport control does make a difference. Travel with the sociological Broken Windows principle in mind, which states that one broken neighborhood window leads to apathy over fixing another, which leads to vandalism, then crime, then deteriorating social order. One bribe isn't a drop in the bucket, it is a twister in a social and political tsunami, which are ravaging poorer economies. Take the higher ground and be the change you want to see on your travels. Bribes don't 'get things done,' they halt development and betray the democratic values Westerners push to developing countries. Pick Your Poison CarefullyVisiting a shady political location, your tourist currency prolongs dictatorial power and undermines it, it helps individuals and damages them. Make a difference by travelling with open eyes and purpose. While heading to Sri Lanka, Colombia, Cuba and Zimbabwe can be packed full of worrying realities and moral headaches, consider this, the Jimmy Carter Foundation monitors democratic elections globally. Depending on the metrics, there is one country among the many others that fails to meet all of the criteria for full democratic transparency, America. So select your destination and defensive argument with care because there is a case to be made for and against any country.