CONVERSATION
CONVERSATION
CONVERSATION
HUMAN TRACES:
ETHIOPIA
HUMAN TRACES:
ETHIOPIA
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
THE BALANCE OF FACTS
DESTINATIONS
DESTINATIONS
The Dreamtime, or the Dreaming, portrays the Aboriginal beliefs in spiritual existence. According to the tribes that first settled down in the continent, the Dreaming's roots date all the way back to the very begging of the creation of the world. The meaning and ideology of the term is generally not so well-understood by non-indigenous people as it is referred to as part of the culture of one of the early nations, which differs from modern perceptions.
The Spirits were the creators of everything. They made the land and the seas, the rocks and the plants, the sky and the earth. They were the higher power and the Australian Aborigines spent their lifetimes honoring this power, which guided their path and shaped their way of thinking. Not only creators of everything, which could be seen as well as felt, the Spirits also gave the Aborigines the Dreaming.
The time when everything started existing according to the initial Australians, was called the Dreaming. This is the foundation of the continent's culture. The origin of the Dreaming goes way back - 65 000 years back in time to be exact. The Ancestors of the nation shaped the land, forming some parts of it as sacred. The Aborigines were very careful and overprotective of those places, strongly believing in their significance.
The Australian Aborigines are known to have believed that the world didn't have any shape and was therefore empty. Darkness dominated, and life was simply asleep, but this changed when the creation began happening. After the Dreaming and the influence of the Spirits, objects began taking shapes and came to be. They created the four elements: water, earth, air and fire, as well as all the planets, the Sun and the Moon. The Dreaming therefore is a continuous process, which never ended. It is a small cosmos on its own, unifying the past, present and the future into one.
The Australian Aborigines' home riches so many vivid areas of the continent, including Fraser Island, Tasmania, Palm Island, Groote Eylandt and Mornington Island. The Aborigines had very strong believes in relation to the powers of the land, claiming that they never owned it - it rather owned them. The only reason they were able to call it their home is because they were looking after it and the land was taking care of the people in return.
Equally important to the Dreaming was the tribes' understandings of the disappearance of the Spirits. There came a time, when the creators of everything vanished from sight. Some of them were thought to have started living in sacred places, which is why the Aborigines perceived their homeland to be so sacred. The ancestors of today's Australians used to believe that the creators started living in rocks, in water holes and some went up to the sky to guide the people from above and keep them safe. Others transformed completely, taking the forms of the rain, the lightnings and the thunderstorms so they could be part of peoples' life.
Among the hundred's different Aboriginal languages, there isn't a word to describe 'time', because to them this simply doesn't exist. Dreaming and Dreamtime are used to replace it and summarize the ideologies of the Aborigines about everything they knew, everything they could see, feel and experience. This is why the Dreaming has such a vivid, and overwhelming meaning and has survived the obstacles of time. For the past couple thousand years, the Dreaming has built a rich cultural heritage that can identify a whole nation.
Read more about the Land, its connection to people and the way it has been perceived from different generations in the very first print issue of ORIGIN. The Land Issue covers varied topics, most of which remain related to cultural aspects of the land and its importance.
A lot of people travel to explore places and learn about them which is the message that ORIGIN wants to spread. With traveling, however, comes certain responsibilities that we should all be aware of. Elephants riding has become a popular way to explore locations by land. People have been doing this as part of their trips, mostly to places such as Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia and other parts of Asia. It is a common thing to see in certain places in Africa as well. We investigated the activity to explain why it is wrong and riding elephants should be banned everywhere.
Our first print issue studies culture and traveling represented through the land. We explored various location around the globe and learned what makes the land so valuable, which nations cherish it and how it helps us establish an identity. Traveling is important to us but traveling responsibly and making an impact is what we feel proud to stand behind. This is why riding elephants as a way of amusement should be reconsidered.
Let’s talk about the details. Elephants are very caring and extremely intelligent animals. It is a well-known fact that they never forget anything. When kept in captivity instead of spending their life in the wild, elephants die younger. Unlike in other species, this is common for the gentle giants and is often a result for stress.
Many African cultures respect elephants, believing they symbolize strength, loyalty and power. However, power can be a very tender concept. Elephant used as a tourism tool suffer from great pain daily. Elephants can be hurt very severely from the weight of carrying people and a trainer on their backs. The reason for this is the design of their spines. They have sharp protrusions, extending upwards from their spine instead of having round spinal disks. The protrusions and the tissue that serves to protect them can be harmed easily from weight pressure. Once a damage to their spine has been made, there is no going back and sometimes the harm can be irreversible. While this can’t be physically seen, the harm that the chairs can do to the elephants’ skin is. It is often the case that the chairs and the weight on their back can damage the animal’s skin and cause pain to their body. The chair, called Howdah, that gets attached to their backs, rubs on their skin and can cause blisters, which can sometimes get infected.
The training that elephants are required to go through when in captivity sometimes adopts a traditional Thai ‘phajaan’ or ‘crush’ technique. Explaining the technique would compare it to the animals’ spirits constantly and continuously being broken by the means of torture and social isolation. This is done in order to tame them. Elephants are wild animals, this is their nature as they are born in such conditions. Making them safe and obedient around people requires them to go through such training. As horrible as it sounds, in some places young elephants are taken away from their mothers to be abused with nails, bull hooks and bamboo sticks to make them obey rules, given by people. The animals often lack sleep and are starved to become submissive.
Actions from such nature are cruel and harmful as the technique is used to crash the animals’ spirit. Once wild and free, elephants become a source of tourism and entertainment. Nobody, who cared about sustainable tourism should ever ride an elephant.
In a sense, elephants have a human soul. They socialise and feel everything – pain, happiness, grief, sadness etc. They spend their life building families and finding friends. The largest land animals are a gift from nature and it is our responsibility to take special care of them and make sure they live according to their nature. Many animals, who are kept in captivity, are forced to live in isolation and carry heavy loads all day long, which is a wrong way to treat them. Their strength and power shouldn’t be abused but treated gently and celebrated by people. Elephants require minimal care to stay happy and healthy, which comes from giving them freedom to behave naturally and socialise. It is our responsibility to be culturally aware while traveling and make sure to spread awareness about the problem.
You can read the rest of the article as published in the LAND issue.
WHAT'S IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE
The CLIMATE CHANGE Issue #02
Climate change is the most challenging phenomenon that we are up against. We dedicate this as the theme of our second print issue to explore the topic in more depth and introduce you to ideas about what you can do as a traveller to lead a more sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle.
Words by: The Editors
22 March 2020
We are humbled and grateful to be able to introduce to you The CLIMATE CHANGE Issue. Our team worked really hard to deliver quality armchair travel content to you. We want you to explore this topic from different perspectives, which is why we've included diverse content in this issue.
Climate change is a pressing manner and one of the most important cataclysm that we are faced with in our lifetime. Together we have the power to influence it for the better, but there is a long way to go. The problems originating from changes in the climate, whether they are drastic or happening slower over a longer period of time, affect every living organism on the planet. Our team talked to brand owners who want to influence nature for the better through their actions. We looked at some statistics and put together articles about the results of climate change and what we can do about it. We explored some of yours and our favourite destinations that are now endangered because of climate change.
Here is a short overview of what you can expect to find in our second print issue to get you excited for ordering your own copy.
It is Really Happening
We went back in time to trace when the first traces of climate change started showing and explored the issue through facts that prove this is actually happening. Backed up by scientific data, we take a look at the scale of climate change.
Our team wanted to interview the team behind Aura House because of their approach to provide a guesthouse that represents its surroundings and exists in compliance with the changes that nature is currently going through. You will find this incredible tucked-away place in the Balinese jungle and we guarantee that you will want to go back again to have your own little piece of paradise.
Destination Inspiration. Venice, Italy
Venice is just one of many places around the globe that is in danger of disappearing underwater in the recent years due to its location and climate changes. We explore what this Italian dream-land has gone through and how everything looks like since our editors last visited a few months ago. Dive into the charm of Venice and discover more spots that are in danger of having the same faith.
An Epidemic of Disbelief
Although science proves the existence of climate change, there is still debate among some whether this revolutionising cataclysm is actually a reality or not. Our team researched in-depth what are the reasons behind such claims and who expresses viewpoints of doubt to support the controversy.
Throughout the Generations
From the beginning of the industrialisation to modern day times, we have grown a lot as a society and have been successful in achieving progress in different areas such as medicine, technology, education and so on. However, this progress has affected generations in different ways. We take a look at how climate change has evolved over time and what challenges today's generations face in comparison to previous ones.
Our team spoke to Elora Hardy and the rest of the team behind IBUKU to talk about the inspiration of founding the company, the importance of supporting the local communities by working with them and about what just might be the future of architecture. Explore this journey Elora is on to deliver sustainable living spaces sourced in an eco-way in times when nature is most challenged.
When the Wild Goes Silent
As part of nature, animals are also experiencing a time of changes and uncertainty. Whilst some species are in danger of going extinct, others already have. Our team takes a look at how the animal kingdom has reshaped and adapted to the current ecological situation and what this means for humankind.
The couple behind this incredible brand are on a mission to help the planet become greener. Alex and Laura, co-founders of Will&Bear talked to us about their favourite fashion brands, the inspiration for their travel adventures and why working with trees.org is so important for them and their community. Read our exclusive interview and browse their online shop as for every purchased hat, there will be 10 trees planted.
New Era of Refugees
History tells stories of migrations because of various reasons. For decades people have been migration from a land to another. The reasons behind such huge moves are often due to wars, political pressure or economic instability. Recently, nature has become the reason for migrations. Climate change has marked the beginning of a new era of refugees.
1°C Difference
The global temperatures increase causing a chain of events with unpredictable force. The warming up of ocean waters is causing massive shifts and melting of the Arctic ice. Read about the consequences that 1°C difference has and what this means for the animal kingdom, the humankind and nature.
NOMADSofORIGIN is an independent annual publication with a focus on sustainable travelling and global cultural values. Each issue features interviews, engaging articles and photo guides, which take our nomadic readers through different destinations and introduce them to local people's perspectives.
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