For the previous twenty years, we’ve journeyed throughout the globe, embracing the assumption that “travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness,” as Mark Twain so eloquently said. We’ve shared our adventures, our images, and our experiences in several cultures, believing that by showcasing the fantastic thing about the world, we might assist folks see past borders and variations.
But occasions have modified. The world we’re touring in now’s now not nearly sharing lovely footage—it’s extra complicated, extra divided, and extra fragile than ever earlier than.
Travel Used to Unite Us. Now, It Feels Different.
When we first began touring, the whole lot was new. Social media was in its infancy, and folks had been being launched to locations that they had by no means seen earlier than. Travel felt like a instrument for connection—a method to expertise totally different cultures, break down obstacles, and open minds to new prospects.
But now, we see a world that isn’t solely extra divided but in addition extra cynical. Travel has been commodified, diminished to an Instagram backdrop somewhat than a chance for studying. Instead of sparking curiosity and empathy, it usually fuels comparability, competitors, and apathy. Instead of uniting us, journey content material generally reinforces the divide between those that can discover freely and people who are struggling simply to outlive.
And whereas the world scrolls previous one other good sundown, too many individuals are combating simply to stay.
The Reality We Can No Longer Ignore
Conflicts are raging throughout locations we’ve visited.
Sudan is within the grip of a devastating civil warfare, displacing thousands and thousands.
In Yemen, an ongoing humanitarian disaster has left folks ravenous.
Ukraine remains to be below assault, with civilians struggling each day.
Myanmar’s folks stay below the management of a brutal army junta.
In Gaza, total households have been worn out, and harmless lives proceed to be misplaced.
Ethiopia, Haiti, Afghanistan, and so many others stay in turmoil.
And these are simply the conflicts that make headlines.
The World Is Burning—Literally
We can also’t ignore one other disaster unfolding in entrance of our eyes: Climate Change.
The locations now we have visited—the glaciers of Patagonia, the seashores of the Maldives, the rainforests of the Amazon—are altering, and never for the higher.
Wildfires have ravaged Greece, Canada, Australia, and California, displacing folks and devastating landscapes.
Floods have swallowed total villages in Pakistan, Libya, and Germany, leaving destruction of their wake.
Coral reefs that we as soon as marveled at whereas diving are bleaching and dying at an alarming charge.
The Arctic ice we as soon as stood on is disappearing, and island nations like Tuvalu and the Maldives are actually sinking.
We’ve witnessed these adjustments firsthand. We’ve spoken to locals who’ve misplaced their properties. We’ve walked by way of landscapes that now not exist. And we’ve realized—we will’t simply maintain sharing fairly footage whereas pretending the whole lot is ok.
We Can’t Stay Silent Anymore
We can’t proceed to walk round considering the whole lot is a dream anymore. We can’t sit in a spa, pretending all is nicely, ready for another person to say one thing.
We have to talk up.
We want to speak about politics, poverty, and human rights abuses within the locations we go to. We want to speak about how tourism impacts native communities and whether or not it helps or harms them. We want to speak about local weather change, in regards to the industries destroying our planet, and about what we, as vacationers, can do to make an actual distinction.
We need to arise towards fascism, authoritarianism, and oppression—and assist others arise as nicely.
We Don’t Blame Anyone for Staying Silent—But We Can’t Anymore
We don’t blame anybody who chooses to not converse out. This is our alternative alone.
For folks with jobs, households, and even our fellow journey bloggers and vloggers who’ve partnerships, talking out might imply shedding the whole lot—contracts, alternatives, and even their total livelihoods. We perceive why many keep quiet.
But we’re ready the place we will take that threat. And when the chance is talking out towards cruelty, corruption, and fascism—we predict it’s value it.
For practically 20 years, The Planet D has stood for discovery—the journey of exploring the world. But shifting ahead, we would like it to face for one thing even higher:
1. Decency – Because human rights ought to by no means be up for debate.2. Democracy – Because freedom will not be assured; it have to be defended.3. Determination – Because change doesn’t occur with out motion.
What’s Next for The Planet D
We’re not saying goodbye to journey. We’re nonetheless going to discover, nonetheless going to share guides and itineraries, and nonetheless going that will help you uncover the world. But we’re additionally going to inform the entire story.
We’ll nonetheless showcase unimaginable locations, however we’ll additionally expose what’s taking place behind the gorgeous footage. We’ll discuss in regards to the folks combating for justice, the communities on the entrance strains of local weather change, and the vacationers and locals making an actual distinction.
Because identical to that hammam therapeutic massage expertise we as soon as instructed you about—there’s all the time extra to the story. And it’s time we begin telling it.
A New Journey, Together
We know this shift may really feel surprising, nevertheless it’s the proper one. Travel has all the time been about discovery—and generally, which means going through uncomfortable truths.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. It received’t all the time be simple, however will probably be value it.
Dave & Deb