WHAT IS GREEN TRAVEL

Green travel is an overarching term used to describe responsible travel practices that focus on economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. Green travel is about making sure that travellers choose businesses, tour operators, and transportation methods that maintain and preserve the ecological integrity of the environment and contribute to local community development; meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of current or future generations.

Green travel encompasses on six main factors:

1. Modes of transportation. Consider walking or cycling during your trip, using public transportation, renting hybrid vehicles, and traveling by train rather than plane whenever possible.

2. Offsets and environmental policy. Calculate and offset the carbon dioxide emitted by your travel and buy your trip from companies with policies that consider environmental, economic, and socio-cultural impacts.

3. Dollars spent locally. Ensure that local people benefit from your trip by spending money in community or locally owned businesses and working with tour operators and lodges that employ local people.

4. Environmental conservation. Choose a trip that strengthens the conservation efforts for and enhances the natural integrity of the places you visit, including protected areas and wildlife habitats.

5. Respect for local culture. Immerse yourself in and accept the differences of other cultures…learning about their customs and social norms before you visit, and speaking their language when possible.

6. Natural resource use. Reduce, reuse, and recycle…and consider the efficient use of water, energy, and building materials as well as the method of waste disposal used by your tour operator or lodging establishment.

Let’s be a Green traveller to help the local community be cleaned, safe and sustainable development. 

Source: iGreen Travel

Forwarding to the Global Cybersecurity Day will be held by the Boston Global Forum on Dec. 12th, 2015, Nha Trang Peace & Innovation Village (iNhaTrang) in collaboration with the Boston Global Forum host the FESTIVAL ONLINE with theme ” For A Clean and Pure Internet”. The event aimed at building the online users community to contribute and protect together for secure Internet, security, pure, compliance with the code of conduct and ethical standards on the Internet (ECCC) for the people’s life become more pure and healthy in spirit.

* Content for registration:

1. The images, video, story or topic with theme For A Clean and Pure Internet (authentication by contestants on copyright)
2. The images, video clips, video clips, stories, convey the message of peace, security, kindness, honesty and love.

* Applying time: 

• From 2.00am Dec.12th, 2015 to 2.00 pm Jan. 01st, 2015
• Likes + share from the post until the end on Dec.31st, 2015

* Condition to participate the Event:

1. Be a citizen of Vietnam.
2. Participants have to have facebook account with all information be included while register the festival online with: Full name, Address, Personal identify number (date and place of issue), Email, Phone number …
3. Participants join the festival online by posting photos, video, story with the theme of the contest:

* Step 1: Register for Online Event “Registration Festival Online” of the Face book: https://www.facebook.com/iNhaTrangVn

* Step 2: Post your content on page …. And then your work will be automatically posted to the page official Global Cybersecurity Day’s face book.

* Step 3: You can share on the social media and forum for having the supporting and vote to you from the community.

* The Award Information:

1. Participants with pictures, or video, or story has likes and shares the most and least like 50,000 or more will be funded trip visit to Boston, USA (airfare, accommodation, and travel expense in the US).
2. In particular, during the US trip, the winner will be arranged to meet and discuss with the professors of  Harvard & MIT University (USA) and will be a delegate to have speech on the conference be held by Boston Global Forum on May 2016.
3. The number of Special Award: 01 AWARDS

All information for registration, please contact via below info:

NHA TRANG PEACE & INNOVATION VILLAGE (I NHA TRANG)

Address: No. 5C Ly Tu Trong Street, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province

Email: info@inhatrang.net

Tel: 058 222 3339

Hotline: +84 090 121 919

(Source: http://www.tnhtour.org/practice-right-now/ ) – Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh

Meditation has been done outdoors for thousands of years. Wandering ascetics travelled from place to place sitting under open skies. The historical Buddha was enlightened while meditating at the foot of a tree in the fresh clear morning air. Zen poetry and art is almost always about nature. Almost everything that is related to meditation refers to nature in some way or another.

Because we choose to use the outdoors as our place of practice, we will no doubt trade some of the comforts of indoor spaces for the freedom of not having the burden of financial obligations and material accumulations. We will meditate in whatever weather we are given, as long as it’s safe to do so. This will become some of our greatest blessings as well as some of the greatest lessons.

There is something about meditating outdoors that seems so alive and rooted in life’s Great activity. The birds and beetles become our companions. The sounds of streams and rivers soothe and refresh us. Vast open spaces expand our awareness. The solid ground is alive and so are we. We are life being open to life. We breathe in the air from the trees and grasses, enlivening our whole body, and we breathe out nourishment for the flowers and bushes. Each in-breath gives life and each out-breath also gives life. When we meditate outdoors, that inseparable fusion becomes clear and gives rise to remembering our greater Being.

Meditating in nature isn’t always bliss though. There are challenges when in the midst of uncomfortable weather or pesky bugs and wildlife. The fact that nature is always changing and unyielding to our personal preferences, offers us great lessons in letting go and dealing with our desperate preferences for comfort and ease. When sitting outdoor week after week, season after season, there is a real sense of the cycles of life and a wonderful development of fortitude and patience. Life never stays the same, it keeps moving and changing.

Weather doesn’t just happen in the outer environment though, it also happens in our minds and emotions as well. At times there are warm sunny days, gloomy drizzling days, freezing winds and powerful downpours. We sit in the midst of it all and in the process find a part of our Being that notices and is open to whatever is there. When we can be open to this weather of the environment, mind and body, we begin to have a greater sense of being able to give ourselves to the nourishment of life. The need to desperately grasp and pull at our situations and relationships for comfort and peace begins to ease. When we can connect with the inherent peace and contentment within our own being, kindness and generosity naturally occur.

Meditating outdoors is just meditating though. Nature is simply an alive place to engage in an ancient, yet contemporary, practice. Parks, forests and beaches happen to be the place we choose to gather together with people on parallel journeys to practice a ‘way of life’ based on the wisdom of meditation.

Source: http://driftingclouds.org/why-outdoor-meditation/

One of the tourist sites that you should not miss in Nha Trang is the stone church located at the height of 12 m in the city center.

Every year, the coastal city of Nha Trang attracts many tourists. In addition to the famous sights such as the long coast with beautiful white sand beaches, the famous islands such as Hon Tre and Hon Tam with enough beach games, Vinpearland resort, Vung Ro Bay, Cam Ranh long beach … Nha Trang also has a lot of cultural and historical relics located right in the city heart. Located at a height of 12 m high in the heart of the city, the stone church is an attraction to many visitors, film-makers and photographers at home and abroad. The official name of the church is the King Cathedral, but local people often call it the stone church, Nha Trang church, Nui (Mountain) church or Nga Sau church. The church is one of the unique architectures of the French style in Nha Trang.

Aiming to spread the Catholic lifestyle in Nha Trang, priest Louis Vallet (1869 – 1945) built this church. After he died, the priest was buried at the foothills of the church. On September 3, 1928, the construction of the stone church began on a small mountain named Bong. The name of Nui (Mountain) church comes from here. To create space on the mountain, people used about 500 mine cases. The church was built entirely with the western catholic church architecture. Its design is similar to the famous church in Sa Pa and some other churches in Vietnam. A high bell tower in the middle with three bells inside is the characteristic of Western catholic churches.

The church’s beautiful space is favored by photographers and cameraman. Young couples also choose this place to take wedding photos. The church opens to visitors every day, from 8am and it still maintains sermons in the morning and afternoon.

(On the evening of 10th July, 2015), the Professor & Scientist from Harvard University, MIT and Boston Global Forums (in USA) and  Professor in Viet Nam  include: Prof. John Quelch: Professor John Quelch, Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School; Co-Founder, Member of Board of Directors, Boston Global Forum; Professor Thomas Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government; Co-Founder and Member of Board of Directors, Boston Global Forum; Professor Robert Desimone, Doris and Don Berkey Professor of Neuroscience; Director, McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Member of  Board  of Thinkers, Boston Global Forum; Mr. Llewellyn King : Llewellyn King, executive producer and host of White House Chronicle, PBS; Member of Editorial Board, Boston Global Forum; Mr. Richard Pirozzolo, founder and CEO of media company Pirozzolo Company Public Relations, Member of Editorial Board of the Global Forum Boston …… and Dr. Tran Dinh Thien – Director of the Institute of Vietnam Economics; Dr. Mai Trong Nhuan – Former Viet Nam National University …. visited the Khanh Hoa Agarwood company for attending the special moments of Viet Nam Thiền trầm Culture

The cozy and special show took place in the sacred space, quiet and filled with spiritual atmosphere of the earth and sky. All visitors were enjoy the special food of sannest which only have in Khanh Hoa province, to hear the story about the history of Agarwood, the historical of this Land as well as to hear the traditional music melody. All have created a unique beauty of “Thiền Trầm” culture in Khanh Hoa, Vietnam that is only unique and special in Viet Nam. “Thiền Trầm” Culture which were created and developed by Khanh Hoa Agarwood Company towards building a meditation space for develop of local culture, noble and sacred.

Source: Tramhuongkhanhhoa.com.vn

Agarwood is known by various names in different cultures: it is known as “chenxiang”, “chenshuixiang” and “shuichenxiang” in Chinese; “aguru” in Sanskrit; “oud” in Arabic; and “gaharu” in Indonesian. For many thousands of years, Asian countries have called Agarwood “the Wood of the Gods” and “the King of Incenses”. In ancient times, only the nobles and people of high status could possess and enjoy Agarwood. But more sacredly, Agarwood is treasured in the three major religions of the world.

It is stated in Chapter nineteen of The Lotus Sutra that the fragrance of agarwood can penetrate the three worlds, which makes it an important offering.

Pieces of agarwood or agarwood incense is used in meditation, scripture chanting and other holy ceremonies. Agarwood is also used in making 108-bead necklaces to be hold when buddhists recite the scripture. Being warmed by body temperature, the agarwood beads would then release a fragrance that induces clarity and the peace of mind.

There are a total of five places in the Bible (both The Old Testament and The New Testament) where Agarwood is praised as one of the most precious fragrances.

More than 1,400 years ago, The Prophet Mohammad advised that Agarwood creates pleasant, enduring scents for the body. Agarwood appears in daily life as well as spiritual life of a Muslim since it contains many types of remedies.

Agarwood is an integral part of the ceremonial washing of Kaaba, the cuboid building at the center of Islam’s holiest mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The sacred event takes place twice a year; the first time is 15 days preceding Ramadan and the second time is 15 days after Haj.

Source: tramhuongkhanhhoa.com.vn

Trầm Hương Khánh Hòa (Agarwood from Khánh Hòa) is a noble specialty from the tropical forests in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Agarwood is burnt as incense, carved into ritual objects or distilled into finest Agarwood oil, which is even more valuable than gold. Trầm Hương Khánh Hòa was probably made famous in the third century by Indian and Chinese traders who brought this specialty from Vietnam, through the legendary Silk Road, to the Arab world – Islam.

Trầm Hương Khánh Hòa carries great cultural and religious significance, associates with legends of Po Nagar, the Mother of Nha Trang, and Gods, symbolizes a happy and prosperous life. The pure aroma of Trầm Hương Khánh Hòa always wafts within the glory of Po Nagar and Gods as well as in majestic spaces of Nha Trang – one of the most beautiful bays in the world.

How Agarwood is produced still remains a mystery, even to those who know it well. It is said that Agarwood is formed when Heavenly Aroma from the sky blends with the resin leaking from the wounds of an Aquilaria Crassna tree; the substance then is nourished for hundreds of years with sunshine, ocean wind, and many other natural factors. Therefore, Agarwood is considered as a Sacred Aroma from Heaven and Earth.

For many centuries, only the royal elites are those who are offered Agarwood. Agarwood plays a critical role in religious ceremonies, help people connect with their ancestors and worship God. When Agarwood is burnt, the spreading noble aroma creates a peaceful, warm, dignified atmosphere, offers trust and admiration for the supernaturals, brings light, hope and good-hearted thought to humanbeings. It is also believed that wearing a necklace or a bracelet made of Agarwood brings good luck and keeps devils away. Agarwood that is left indoor represents the homeowner’s power, help them possess joyful soul, broad relationships, nice children, and longevity.

Science has proved that the natural aroma of Agarwood is air-form nutritions that feeds living organisms, create energy for the body to function, and is the cure for many physical and psychological illnesses.

Vietnam is proud that Trầm Hương Khánh Hòa together with the country spirit have created not only extraordinarily brave but also humane and magnanimous. Vietnamese wisdom and bravery has been appreciated by the world community. Vietnam is a peace-loving country, strongly and creatively integrating into the world, aiming to the targets of building prosperous lives, a strong country and an equitable, democratic and civilized society.

Source: Tramhuongkhanhhoa.com.vn

(July 17, Hanoi) – The Boston Global Forum Leaders met with Vietnamese leaders, economists, and scientists during their visit to Khanh Hoa and Hanoi, Vietnam in July to discuss important issues about economic and research development in Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa.  Human brain research in Vietnam was also discussed.

On July 11, Khanh Hoa Provincial Government in collaboration with Boston Global Forum (BGF) hosted the “Peace and Innovation” conference in Nha Trang to celebrate the 20 years of diplomacy and friendship between the United States and Vietnam. The event was a featured activity in the framework of Nha Trang Sea Festival 2015.

Attending as key speakers were BGF leaders including Harvard’s Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press and BGF’s Co-Founder and Member of Board of Directors, Professor Thomas Patterson; Harvard’s Charles Edward Wilson Professor of Business Administration and BGF’s Co-Founder and  Member of Board of Directors, Professor John Quelch; BGF’s CEO and Editor-in-chief Nguyen Anh Tuan; MIT’s Doris and Don Berkey Professor of Neuroscience and BGF’s Member of Board of Thinkers, Professor Robert Desimone.  The discussion was centered on the development of the economy of Khanh Hoa and identifying strategies to make it become an innovative centre of technology and culture in East Asia. This is an ambition that was shared by Khanh Hoa’s Governor Nguyen Chien Thang in his speech at the Boston Global Forum conference at Harvard Faculty Club on June 10, 2015.

Photo: BGF leaders and Vietnamese scientists attending the Peace and Innovation Conference

New fresh ideas made by Professor Thomas Patterson and John Quelch suggested concrete changes by Khanh Hoa’s administration as well as a call for freedom of thought and communications and creation of a community of scholars in Nha Trang. This generated ebullient discussions by several Vietnamese leaders, economists, and scientists who are enthusiastic in finding solutions to make Nha Trang prosper as well as to build a long-term strategy for maintaining peace and security in the South China Sea where Vietnam is a claimant.

BGF’s Chairman, Governor Michael Dukakis, and its member of Board of Thinkers, Professor Joseph Nye, who could not attend due to their tight schedules, also sent theirs congratulatory videos to that added to the event. This was highly appreciated by Khanh Hoa’s leaders and attending delegates. Governor Dukakis believed that Nha Trang has an opportunity to become an innovative zone in East Asia and hoped the U.S will be extremely helpful in this project.  Professor Nye expressed his appreciation of Governor Nguyen Chien Thang’s valuable idea of creating a tightened relationship between Nha Trang and Boston and his idea of building Nha Trang into an innovative centre of technology and culture in East Asia. He also believed in a more comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the United States.

BGF leaders were important elements of the conference and made special remarks in tightening the Vietnam- U.S relation as well as bringing resolutions for building Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa into an innovative and creative center of East Asia as well as maintaining peace and security in the South East Asia.

Mr. Shubhranshu Choudhary, Founder & CEO, CGnet Swara; Foreign Policy’s 2014 “Top 100 Leading Global Thinkers”; Michael Dukakis Leadership Fellow, Member of Young Leaders Network for Peace and Security, Boston Global Forum delivered a speech in the conference on July 11.

They were also invited as distinguished guests by Khanh Hoa’s Governor, Dr. Nguyen Chien Thang, to the Nha Trang Sea Festival’s opening ceremony which was held on the evening of July 11 in Nha Trang City.

Meeting of Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and BGF’s Member of Board of Thinker Robert Desimone (the Director of MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain research)

On July 16, BGF’s CEO and Editor-in-Chef Nguyen Anh Tuan and Member of the BGF Board of Thinkers, Professor Robert Desimone (the Director of MIT’s McGovern Institute for Brain Research) met with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam and Minister of Technology and Science Nguyen Quan to discuss how to develop neuroscience research in Vietnam.

Two sides had an open talk on how Vietnam could involve in neuroscience research. 

Scientific research is still a matter of concern in Vietnam due to its insufficient government funding as well as lack of capable scientists in conducting relevant and high quality research. In the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam expressed his ambition in developing technologies advances and bio-science in Vietnam as well as in neuroscience. Because America is the leader in these areas, he hoped for a closer collaboration between Vietnam and the U.S in these fields.

(Source: Boston Global Forum)

To somebody, meditation sounds so stupid, while the others are afraid of it might cause a clash with their religion. That’s normal misunderstanding. However, medictation is absolutely different. This is a therapeutic for your mental and physical health.

The meditation needs a real quiet space, eyes closed and let your mind say out loud, so that it can solve troubles without violence interfere. It includes focus on breathing while keeping track of mental thoughts and images without love or hate feelings.

When you start, let’s practice in a short time, then increase at a time. Please notice a rule that just in a short time but should be everyday, it’s still better than a long time but not regular.

There are 5 good points of medictation for health which were proved by scientists:

1. HEART 

   Meditation gives you calm and possibility of copping with stress. Many researches prove that : medictation might release the heart attack a half.

2. BLOOD IMPRESSURE

   Your blood pressure will reduce naturally, just by a daily routine of meditation, simply. This was proved.

3. RELEASE STRESS AND ENHANCE ENERGY

   Energy, immunize system and your total health will improved and enhanced by daily meditation, when the parasympathetic Nervous System works less, which leads to the concentration of hormones causing stress and chronic depression.

4. ENHANCE INTELLECT

   A study from UCLA Los Angeles reveals that: medictation enhances the grey matter in the brain cuttix – which has the close connection to general intellect.

5. CAPABILITY OF AWARENESS AND THINKING

   Similar researchs at Massachusetts and German indicates that: the change of peaceful feeling is the key for the change of brain, after 8 weeks with daily medictation.

   We are living in the era with many things might cause stress, even depression. Although we have many ways to release such as: alcohol, cigarettes, TV shows, they just bring you stupidity and darkness in your brain.

   In the end, meditation is still the best for whom would like to have their peace in mind and soul.