| Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by grahame at 07:17, 28th August 2025 |     |
https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-news/have-a-good-trip.html
Travel sustainably. Leave only footprints. Support local businesses in the country you visit.
But make sure those local businesses are kind to their animals and pay a living wage to their employees. Try not to support oppressive regimes, and before you go check the country's record on press freedoms, LGBTQI+ rights, the rights of women and sustainability…
It's a lot to remember. Choosing to travel well is hard, and a holiday shouldn't be a chore. But for many of us, it's worth a little extra effort to travel responsibly.
But make sure those local businesses are kind to their animals and pay a living wage to their employees. Try not to support oppressive regimes, and before you go check the country's record on press freedoms, LGBTQI+ rights, the rights of women and sustainability…
It's a lot to remember. Choosing to travel well is hard, and a holiday shouldn't be a chore. But for many of us, it's worth a little extra effort to travel responsibly.
The UK came in 17th in the Holiday Extra Good Trip Index ...
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by TaplowGreen at 07:48, 28th August 2025 | |
Ironically if you were to consider LGBTQI/Women's rights as a "dealbreaking" criteria that would rule out visiting virtually all of the Middle East with the exception of.........................Israel.
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by Surrey 455 at 10:16, 28th August 2025 | |
It's been many years since I holidayed outside of the EU, so it's not something I really think about.
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by Bob_Blakey at 12:52, 28th August 2025 | |
My answer: No - I'm on holiday. It's up to them
It is no part of my responsibilities to tell the authorities of other sovereign nations how to run their country.
On our forthcoming trip around part of Europe all travel will be by rail save for the return from Italy to the UK which will involve a flight - because the Milan > Paris sleeper that we would have used was suspended in 2020 and subsequently withdrawn.
Support local businesses? It would be difficult not to since some degree of sleeping and eating will almost certainly be required!
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 17:28, 28th August 2025 | |
https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-news/have-a-good-trip.html
The UK came in 17th in the Holiday Extra Good Trip Index ...
... before you go check the country's record on press freedoms …
The UK came in 17th in the Holiday Extra Good Trip Index ...
From the BBC:
Reform council boss bans local newspaper's reporters
Mick Barton has banned his councillors from any engagement with the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live
The Reform UK leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has banned a local newspaper from speaking to him or any of his councillors "with immediate effect".
Mick Barton has banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live over what the BBC understands was a disagreement about a story it ran on local government reorganisation. Also included in the ban are BBC-funded journalists who work at the publication as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Senior editor Natalie Fahy said she was "very concerned" by the "unprecedented ban". In response, Barton said the party would not "allow misinformation to shape the narrative of our governance".
The authority will stop sending press releases to the publication, and Barton and his colleagues will not give interviews or invite them to council events. Reporters from Nottinghamshire Live and the LDRS will continue to attend public meetings.
A spokesperson for the council said: "The ban, which will only be lifted for emergency scenarios like flooding and weather-related cases, incidents at council-run schools, adult social care, or public safety issues, has come into immediate effect."
In a statement, issued on Thursday, Barton said the move was "not about silencing journalism", but "about upholding the principle that freedom of speech must be paired with responsibility and honesty. We firmly believe that open dialogue is vital to a healthy democracy, and we welcome scrutiny that is conducted with fairness, balance and integrity," he added. "However, we also have a duty to protect the credibility of our governance and the voices that we represent. For this reason, we will not be engaging with Nottinghamshire Live or with any other media outlet we consider to be consistently misrepresenting our policies, actions or intentions."
Reform took control of the authority at the local elections in May, winning 40 of 66 seats. Barton, who has been a councillor on Mansfield District Council since 2003, was elected to the county council for the first time in May and later announced as leader.
Nottinghamshire Live editor Ms Fahy said those who applauded Reform's decision "should think carefully. We pride ourselves on our balanced and accurate coverage of all political parties across the county and our treatment and coverage of Reform has been no different to any other parties," she said. "We see this as a direct attack on the free press and our ability to hold elected members to account. Ultimately, we will struggle to find out where taxpayers' money is being spent, so those who applaud this decision by Reform should think carefully. My concern as a journalist of 20 years is that we are increasingly seeing attacks of this kind which affect how we can carry out our jobs effectively. We'll continue to speak out and fight against them in the hope of bringing about change."
The Liberal Democrats have written to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, urging him to intervene.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesperson, MP Max Wilkinson, called it a "dangerous and chilling" decision. "Reform's move to block local journalists from reporting on their work is straight out of Donald Trump's playbook," he added.
MP Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman, said it was a "disgrace for Reform to deliberately cut off local journalism". He added: "They are completely denying communities the right to scrutinise those in power. If Reform can't even face questions from the Nottingham Post, what hope is there that they could ever face the serious responsibilities of government?"
The leader of the opposition on Nottinghamshire County Council, Conservative Sam Smith, called the ban an "extremely dangerous step". He added: "It's not just the press Reform are shutting out in Nottinghamshire. It's the voice and views of residents."
The BBC funds 165 LDRS reporters across the UK, three of which are funded in Nottingham.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Independent journalism is vital to local democracy, and journalists must be free to question those in power without fear of reprisals. We continue to support Notts Live in seeking a resolution."
Mick Barton has banned his councillors from any engagement with the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live
The Reform UK leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has banned a local newspaper from speaking to him or any of his councillors "with immediate effect".
Mick Barton has banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live over what the BBC understands was a disagreement about a story it ran on local government reorganisation. Also included in the ban are BBC-funded journalists who work at the publication as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Senior editor Natalie Fahy said she was "very concerned" by the "unprecedented ban". In response, Barton said the party would not "allow misinformation to shape the narrative of our governance".
The authority will stop sending press releases to the publication, and Barton and his colleagues will not give interviews or invite them to council events. Reporters from Nottinghamshire Live and the LDRS will continue to attend public meetings.
A spokesperson for the council said: "The ban, which will only be lifted for emergency scenarios like flooding and weather-related cases, incidents at council-run schools, adult social care, or public safety issues, has come into immediate effect."
In a statement, issued on Thursday, Barton said the move was "not about silencing journalism", but "about upholding the principle that freedom of speech must be paired with responsibility and honesty. We firmly believe that open dialogue is vital to a healthy democracy, and we welcome scrutiny that is conducted with fairness, balance and integrity," he added. "However, we also have a duty to protect the credibility of our governance and the voices that we represent. For this reason, we will not be engaging with Nottinghamshire Live or with any other media outlet we consider to be consistently misrepresenting our policies, actions or intentions."
Reform took control of the authority at the local elections in May, winning 40 of 66 seats. Barton, who has been a councillor on Mansfield District Council since 2003, was elected to the county council for the first time in May and later announced as leader.
Nottinghamshire Live editor Ms Fahy said those who applauded Reform's decision "should think carefully. We pride ourselves on our balanced and accurate coverage of all political parties across the county and our treatment and coverage of Reform has been no different to any other parties," she said. "We see this as a direct attack on the free press and our ability to hold elected members to account. Ultimately, we will struggle to find out where taxpayers' money is being spent, so those who applaud this decision by Reform should think carefully. My concern as a journalist of 20 years is that we are increasingly seeing attacks of this kind which affect how we can carry out our jobs effectively. We'll continue to speak out and fight against them in the hope of bringing about change."
The Liberal Democrats have written to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, urging him to intervene.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesperson, MP Max Wilkinson, called it a "dangerous and chilling" decision. "Reform's move to block local journalists from reporting on their work is straight out of Donald Trump's playbook," he added.
MP Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman, said it was a "disgrace for Reform to deliberately cut off local journalism". He added: "They are completely denying communities the right to scrutinise those in power. If Reform can't even face questions from the Nottingham Post, what hope is there that they could ever face the serious responsibilities of government?"
The leader of the opposition on Nottinghamshire County Council, Conservative Sam Smith, called the ban an "extremely dangerous step". He added: "It's not just the press Reform are shutting out in Nottinghamshire. It's the voice and views of residents."
The BBC funds 165 LDRS reporters across the UK, three of which are funded in Nottingham.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Independent journalism is vital to local democracy, and journalists must be free to question those in power without fear of reprisals. We continue to support Notts Live in seeking a resolution."
On that evidence, I wouldn't go on holiday anywhere near Nottinghamshire.
CfN.
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by johnneyw at 17:48, 28th August 2025 | |
I'm satisfied that I've never visited a country with an unacceptably questionable attitude towards it's citizenry.... although here's the thing.....call it "enlightened self interest" if you like but I'm sure that I've always had it at the back of my mind that any government/regime prepared to run roughshod over it's people might not be one that I should feel secure with.
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by grahame at 18:34, 28th August 2025 | |
I'm satisfied that I've never visited a country with an unacceptably questionable attitude towards it's citizenry.... although here's the thing.....call it "enlightened self interest" if you like but I'm sure that I've always had it at the back of my mind that any government/regime prepared to run roughshod over it's people might not be one that I should feel secure with.
I *have* visited at least one country with a questionable attitude towards some of its citizenry and actually met some of the disadvantaged from that attitude while there. It came as a corollary to a business trip - not the sort of meeting that I had expected during the trip and it showed a very interesting angle and from some exceptional people; I came to the understanding that it was not a western attitude, but yet it was how life was done and lived there are the group, away from any press / media coverage - lived within the differences of culture and not unhappily. Not really "riding roughshod" - more doing it very differently to we understand.
Looking forward - on vacation, I would not choose to visit somewhere that I felt hugely out of line - so hugely out of line that I could not understand and appreciate the "why".
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 22:04, 28th August 2025 | |
Two, rather random, anecdotes from me, based on our few weeks' holiday visit to the Republic of South Africa, back in 2003, starting in Cape Town:
1. Staff in our hotel in Cape Town couldn't have been more helpful, or cheerful - they were all black natives, generally serving white visitors (am I even allowed to write that?). One saw our child's Harry Potter tee-shirt at breakfast, and she was thrilled, while another, seeing we were from England, told us she was a great fan of Ryan Giggs and Manchester United in general.
2. A visit to Robben Island, by hydrofoil, to have a conducted tour there. Our guide was a native black local, who introduced himself as a previous fellow prisoner with Nelson Mandela. He gave an excellent commentary throughout our coach tour of the island, and engaged in a free discussion with one of our party, who I think was a retired (white) member of the RSA prison service.
Sorry if I've gone on a bit here, but I wanted to point out that there are many people in overseas countries, which are perhaps perceived as 'racist' here, who are not so bad, when you actually visit them.
CfN.
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by grahame at 12:16, 2nd September 2025 | |
Not one of our most participated polls - and no clear results that give a statistical bias one way or the other. As pointed out, there IS a danger of judging others countries by our own standard and that is indeed a danger. Firstly, all parties there may be happier with it than you might think as different does nt necessarily mean bad. And secondly, who are we to impose our views and standards?
| Re: Responsible travel - the countries that are "doing better" than the UK Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:41, 4th September 2025 | |
https://www.holidayextras.com/travel-news/have-a-good-trip.html
The UK came in 17th in the Holiday Extra Good Trip Index ...
... before you go check the country's record on press freedoms …
The UK came in 17th in the Holiday Extra Good Trip Index ...
From the BBC:
Reform council boss bans local newspaper's reporters
Mick Barton has banned his councillors from any engagement with the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live
The Reform UK leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has banned a local newspaper from speaking to him or any of his councillors "with immediate effect".
Mick Barton has banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live over what the BBC understands was a disagreement about a story it ran on local government reorganisation. Also included in the ban are BBC-funded journalists who work at the publication as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Senior editor Natalie Fahy said she was "very concerned" by the "unprecedented ban". In response, Barton said the party would not "allow misinformation to shape the narrative of our governance".
The authority will stop sending press releases to the publication, and Barton and his colleagues will not give interviews or invite them to council events. Reporters from Nottinghamshire Live and the LDRS will continue to attend public meetings.
A spokesperson for the council said: "The ban, which will only be lifted for emergency scenarios like flooding and weather-related cases, incidents at council-run schools, adult social care, or public safety issues, has come into immediate effect."
In a statement, issued on Thursday, Barton said the move was "not about silencing journalism", but "about upholding the principle that freedom of speech must be paired with responsibility and honesty. We firmly believe that open dialogue is vital to a healthy democracy, and we welcome scrutiny that is conducted with fairness, balance and integrity," he added. "However, we also have a duty to protect the credibility of our governance and the voices that we represent. For this reason, we will not be engaging with Nottinghamshire Live or with any other media outlet we consider to be consistently misrepresenting our policies, actions or intentions."
Reform took control of the authority at the local elections in May, winning 40 of 66 seats. Barton, who has been a councillor on Mansfield District Council since 2003, was elected to the county council for the first time in May and later announced as leader.
Nottinghamshire Live editor Ms Fahy said those who applauded Reform's decision "should think carefully. We pride ourselves on our balanced and accurate coverage of all political parties across the county and our treatment and coverage of Reform has been no different to any other parties," she said. "We see this as a direct attack on the free press and our ability to hold elected members to account. Ultimately, we will struggle to find out where taxpayers' money is being spent, so those who applaud this decision by Reform should think carefully. My concern as a journalist of 20 years is that we are increasingly seeing attacks of this kind which affect how we can carry out our jobs effectively. We'll continue to speak out and fight against them in the hope of bringing about change."
The Liberal Democrats have written to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, urging him to intervene.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesperson, MP Max Wilkinson, called it a "dangerous and chilling" decision. "Reform's move to block local journalists from reporting on their work is straight out of Donald Trump's playbook," he added.
MP Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman, said it was a "disgrace for Reform to deliberately cut off local journalism". He added: "They are completely denying communities the right to scrutinise those in power. If Reform can't even face questions from the Nottingham Post, what hope is there that they could ever face the serious responsibilities of government?"
The leader of the opposition on Nottinghamshire County Council, Conservative Sam Smith, called the ban an "extremely dangerous step". He added: "It's not just the press Reform are shutting out in Nottinghamshire. It's the voice and views of residents."
The BBC funds 165 LDRS reporters across the UK, three of which are funded in Nottingham.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Independent journalism is vital to local democracy, and journalists must be free to question those in power without fear of reprisals. We continue to support Notts Live in seeking a resolution."
Mick Barton has banned his councillors from any engagement with the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live
The Reform UK leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has banned a local newspaper from speaking to him or any of his councillors "with immediate effect".
Mick Barton has banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm Nottinghamshire Live over what the BBC understands was a disagreement about a story it ran on local government reorganisation. Also included in the ban are BBC-funded journalists who work at the publication as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Senior editor Natalie Fahy said she was "very concerned" by the "unprecedented ban". In response, Barton said the party would not "allow misinformation to shape the narrative of our governance".
The authority will stop sending press releases to the publication, and Barton and his colleagues will not give interviews or invite them to council events. Reporters from Nottinghamshire Live and the LDRS will continue to attend public meetings.
A spokesperson for the council said: "The ban, which will only be lifted for emergency scenarios like flooding and weather-related cases, incidents at council-run schools, adult social care, or public safety issues, has come into immediate effect."
In a statement, issued on Thursday, Barton said the move was "not about silencing journalism", but "about upholding the principle that freedom of speech must be paired with responsibility and honesty. We firmly believe that open dialogue is vital to a healthy democracy, and we welcome scrutiny that is conducted with fairness, balance and integrity," he added. "However, we also have a duty to protect the credibility of our governance and the voices that we represent. For this reason, we will not be engaging with Nottinghamshire Live or with any other media outlet we consider to be consistently misrepresenting our policies, actions or intentions."
Reform took control of the authority at the local elections in May, winning 40 of 66 seats. Barton, who has been a councillor on Mansfield District Council since 2003, was elected to the county council for the first time in May and later announced as leader.
Nottinghamshire Live editor Ms Fahy said those who applauded Reform's decision "should think carefully. We pride ourselves on our balanced and accurate coverage of all political parties across the county and our treatment and coverage of Reform has been no different to any other parties," she said. "We see this as a direct attack on the free press and our ability to hold elected members to account. Ultimately, we will struggle to find out where taxpayers' money is being spent, so those who applaud this decision by Reform should think carefully. My concern as a journalist of 20 years is that we are increasingly seeing attacks of this kind which affect how we can carry out our jobs effectively. We'll continue to speak out and fight against them in the hope of bringing about change."
The Liberal Democrats have written to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, urging him to intervene.
Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesperson, MP Max Wilkinson, called it a "dangerous and chilling" decision. "Reform's move to block local journalists from reporting on their work is straight out of Donald Trump's playbook," he added.
MP Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman, said it was a "disgrace for Reform to deliberately cut off local journalism". He added: "They are completely denying communities the right to scrutinise those in power. If Reform can't even face questions from the Nottingham Post, what hope is there that they could ever face the serious responsibilities of government?"
The leader of the opposition on Nottinghamshire County Council, Conservative Sam Smith, called the ban an "extremely dangerous step". He added: "It's not just the press Reform are shutting out in Nottinghamshire. It's the voice and views of residents."
The BBC funds 165 LDRS reporters across the UK, three of which are funded in Nottingham.
A spokesperson for the BBC said: "Independent journalism is vital to local democracy, and journalists must be free to question those in power without fear of reprisals. We continue to support Notts Live in seeking a resolution."
On that evidence, I wouldn't go on holiday anywhere near Nottinghamshire.
CfN.
Following up on that particular news story, here is an update, from the BBC:
Nigel Farage to speak to Nottinghamshire Reform council leader over press ban
Nigel Farage has said he will "have a little chat" with the leader of a Reform UK council over a decision to ban contact with reporters from a local newspaper.
Last week, Nottinghamshire County Council told the BBC that Mick Barton had banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm, Nottinghamshire Live, from speaking to him and other councillors "with immediate effect".
It followed a disagreement over a story the publication ran about local government reorganisation, though Barton later said the ban applied only to him personally.
Farage, the national leader of Reform UK, has now said he will intervene in the row. Farage is currently in Washington, D.C, and on Wednesday spoke to Congress about free speech issues in the UK.
Afterwards, the BBC asked Farage why Barton had banned Nottingham Post reporters. "I don't know. I'm going to see him [Barton] at the [Reform UK] conference this Friday and have a chat with him," Farage said.
When asked if he was happy about the ban, Farage added: "He obviously thinks they're bad actors, but I think I've got a good history of being a peacemaker in these situations."
When asked if Barton was "in trouble", Farage added: "No, no, I am a very good peacemaker and I've seen all this before. I've been in and out of politics for 30 years, I have seen these disputes before, and we need to find a solution."
He did not answer when asked if the county council ban would be lifted.
Barton previously said: "We haven't got a problem, I've not got a problem, I'm being professional and I hope the Notts Post become professional. The ban still stands until they come and apologise. They need to pick the phone up and speak to me." He added he had "never stopped" his councillors from speaking to journalists at the publication.
The ban, which included BBC-funded journalists based at the title as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, had been criticised by senior editor Natalie Fahy. Ms Fahy attempted to hand Barton a copy of the Nottingham Post at the start of a full meeting of the county council on Tuesday, which he refused to accept. Ms Fahy told the BBC, on Wednesday, that the dispute had "really blown up".
"I'm really glad everyone is talking about it because it's such an important issue," she said. "A lot of national journalists are concerned the same thing could happen to them with Reform. I want to get back to basics. I want to resolve this amicably so we can get on with our jobs - which includes finding out how council tax money is spent. Mick has to be reasonable and understand the role of the local press in holding councils to account."
According to the Post, an article written by its agenda editor Oliver Pridmore prompted the ban. The piece - about ongoing discussions over the reorganisation of local government - included a claim that two Reform UK councillors said at a public surgery they could be suspended from their county council group if they did not vote for Barton's preferred model.
Mr Pridmore attended the meeting and afterwards said: "We haven't got anything to apologise for, and we stand by the coverage we produced. It's the exact same coverage we provide on any council in our patch."
A petition created by the publication, called Reform: Stop hiding from press scrutiny, has gained more than 26,000 signatures.
Barton was contacted for comment.
Nigel Farage has said he will "have a little chat" with the leader of a Reform UK council over a decision to ban contact with reporters from a local newspaper.
Last week, Nottinghamshire County Council told the BBC that Mick Barton had banned the Nottingham Post and its online arm, Nottinghamshire Live, from speaking to him and other councillors "with immediate effect".
It followed a disagreement over a story the publication ran about local government reorganisation, though Barton later said the ban applied only to him personally.
Farage, the national leader of Reform UK, has now said he will intervene in the row. Farage is currently in Washington, D.C, and on Wednesday spoke to Congress about free speech issues in the UK.
Afterwards, the BBC asked Farage why Barton had banned Nottingham Post reporters. "I don't know. I'm going to see him [Barton] at the [Reform UK] conference this Friday and have a chat with him," Farage said.
When asked if he was happy about the ban, Farage added: "He obviously thinks they're bad actors, but I think I've got a good history of being a peacemaker in these situations."
When asked if Barton was "in trouble", Farage added: "No, no, I am a very good peacemaker and I've seen all this before. I've been in and out of politics for 30 years, I have seen these disputes before, and we need to find a solution."
He did not answer when asked if the county council ban would be lifted.
Barton previously said: "We haven't got a problem, I've not got a problem, I'm being professional and I hope the Notts Post become professional. The ban still stands until they come and apologise. They need to pick the phone up and speak to me." He added he had "never stopped" his councillors from speaking to journalists at the publication.
The ban, which included BBC-funded journalists based at the title as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, had been criticised by senior editor Natalie Fahy. Ms Fahy attempted to hand Barton a copy of the Nottingham Post at the start of a full meeting of the county council on Tuesday, which he refused to accept. Ms Fahy told the BBC, on Wednesday, that the dispute had "really blown up".
"I'm really glad everyone is talking about it because it's such an important issue," she said. "A lot of national journalists are concerned the same thing could happen to them with Reform. I want to get back to basics. I want to resolve this amicably so we can get on with our jobs - which includes finding out how council tax money is spent. Mick has to be reasonable and understand the role of the local press in holding councils to account."
According to the Post, an article written by its agenda editor Oliver Pridmore prompted the ban. The piece - about ongoing discussions over the reorganisation of local government - included a claim that two Reform UK councillors said at a public surgery they could be suspended from their county council group if they did not vote for Barton's preferred model.
Mr Pridmore attended the meeting and afterwards said: "We haven't got anything to apologise for, and we stand by the coverage we produced. It's the exact same coverage we provide on any council in our patch."
A petition created by the publication, called Reform: Stop hiding from press scrutiny, has gained more than 26,000 signatures.
Barton was contacted for comment.
Posted by Chris from Nailsea, with my highlighting added for emphasis.
