Lampedusa - Travel for Necessity

A tiny island located 205km from Sicily and 113km from Tunisia, Lampedusa politically belongs to Italy but geographically belongs to Africa (since the sea between the lands is less than 120m deep). The landscape on this island is completely arid and resembles the environment of North Africa in many ways.

Lampedusa, in spite of its size and climate, has had a very interesting and colorful past. It was the landing place and a maritime base for the ancient Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. It was only in 1860 the island became part of the new Kingdom of Italy. During World War II, the island was captured by British forces in Operation Corkscrew. The western part of the island became a U.S. Coast Guard transmitter in 1972.

Currently on the island, there is a severe problem of illegal immigration that has attracted global attention and media in the recent past. Since this city is so conveniently located between Italy and Africa, it is known as being the gateway from Europe to Africa. It is a prime transit site for illegal immigrants hoping to enter Europe from Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

On a typical weekend, aid workers and Italian officials expect about 1500 refugees to arrive in Lampedusa. The immigrants usually pay Libyan smugglers for transit. Since the holding camps on the island can hold only a few hundred people at a time, the Italian government transfers them to detention camps in mainland Italy. They are eventually released and their deportation is not strictly enforced.

An article in a British daily sums up the situation very aptly:
British National Party- Aug 1, 2008
"The Italian government’s decision to declare a state of emergency over the immigration invasion being suffered by that country has been proven correct with the news that a tiny Italian island has been brought to its knees after more than 800 illegal immigrants arrived by boat from Africa within a space of 24 hrs.
The migrants, all from Africa, arrived on Lampedusa, south of Sicily, pushing its services to breaking point. Government officials said the huge influx underlined the need to issue a state of emergency over the problem of illegal immigration which has become a key concern of the new Italian government".

These are some other countries where illegal immigration is currently a huge problem, listed in no particular order:
Angola
Argentina
Bhutan
Chile
China
European Union
Greece
India
Iran

Immigration, having become one of the biggest problems countries all over the world are facing, is one of the best examples where people travel for necessity in order to escape their oppressors or their living situations.

--Preethi Chethan

Akshardham Temple

The Akshardham temple is located in New Delhi, India. Priest Brahmaswarup Yogiji expressed a wish in 1968 that the temple be built on the bank of the river Yamuna. Therefore his wish was fulfilled and the making of the Akshardham temple began in 2000. It took 300 million man hours by 11,000 volunteers of priests, artisans and various other people. The temple was completed in an astonishing period of 5 years only through the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Akshardham means “ the eternal, divine abode of the supreme God, the abode of eternal values and virtues of Akshar as defined in the Vedas and Upanishads where divine Bhakti, purity and peace forever pervades.”
The temple is extremely beautiful with a lot of intricate artwork on the exteriors and interiors with images and sculptures of various Hindu Gods and Goddess’s. The pillars, ceilings, domes and other aspects of the temple are ornately carved in pink stone and pure white marble. The pink stone symbolizes bhakti in eternal bloom and the white marble symbolizes purity and eternal peace.
The temple depicts India’s ancient architecture, art, culture and rich heritage.
Besides the temple there is a boat tour here, which takes you through an experience of the discoveries and inventions of the rishi-scientists of India and other significant buildings and monuments. There is also a giant movie screen where one can watch the journey of an 11-year-old child yogi’s epic pilgrimage of India.
Therefore the Akshardham temple offers a great learning for those interested in the ancient Indian culture and traditions.

Source for information and images : http://www.akshardham.com/
-- Radha Kapoor

Study Abroad

Most colleges offer study abroad programs. It gives students the opportunity to study in another part of the world - different from where they've chosen to go to school for a set four years. Students can go for a semester, a year, or a several weeks during Winter or Summer break. Parsons the New School for Design has a school in Paris where many students from New York City go to study. They not only get to see a new city, experience a new culture, try new foods, speak a different language, they get to learn in a whole new environment. Different people, students, and professors all offer new and different ways of seeing and doing things. It is important to get away from what you are so comfortable. Being away from that is a challenge, but could also help students grow and refine their styles. It may help a student to mature and feel more worldly. Study Abroad is not just an opportunity for students to go party and see the world - it is an opportunity to travel and see and try new things. There is opportunity to see new art, new architecture, meet new people and create new contacts. Being able to say you studied in Paris or in London may be the leg up on the next graduate applying for the same job you are.

Mandatory Evacuation

Emergency evacuations are the movement of people from a dangerous place due to the threat of a disastrous event, such as a bomb threat or fire in a building, floods, or hurricanes. In 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, about 1.2 million residents of the Gulf Coast were ordered to evacuate. This of course does not mean that all of them did, but this is a situation when traveling was absolutely necessary. It seemed as though all of the South was in danger and the only way to escape the effects of the natural disaster were to flee from home. Even those who did not evacuate when told to, later needed to leave New Orleans due to the fact that Katrina wiped out everything. Losing your home, your cars, your schools and stores, are not one's ideal reasons for traveling, but there are certain times when it is necessary to just pick up and leave. The act of actual evacuating is not much easier than convincing yourself that you should. The traffic jams and accidents caused from entire towns and cities trying to escape all at once is a nightmare.

Carnevale, Venice

   
The first written account of the of the Carnevale Di Venezia was in 1268 and the wearing of masks has always been a part of carnevale[1].  Traditionally, Carnevale began on St. Stephen's Day (December 26) and lasted until Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, which is the day before Ash Wednesday [2].  Now Carnevale begins two weeks before Ash Wednesday and the dates for the 2009 Carnevale are February 13-February 24 [3].  I have always been curious about this event probably because Halloween is one of my favorite holidays.   And the tradition of carnevale as the great equalizer because everyone was hidden behind a mask is something that I find very liberating.  Also according to accounts of the modern day carnevale a party can begin during carnevale at any time and any place if there are enough people in one place [4].  I see the Carnevale Di Venezia as a once in a lifetime in experience that is a perfect blend of old and new, which is something I am always on the lookout for when I travel.  This event also suggests another motive for travel and that is escape.  Not necessarily as a means of escaping danger because that falls under necessity, but escaping as a means to get away from your life or your problems and just experience.  This is travel as escapism. 

1&2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauta,_mask#The_Masks

3&4&Pictures: http://www.carnivalofvenice.com/area.asp?id=4