They discovered untold stories while capturing breathtaking portraits of locations. It just might tempt you to try to go there before it’s gone.
Here are some of the highlights from the chat, and you can see more of his answers on the CNN Facebook page. These highlights have been edited for clarity and grammar:
Brian Farmer: Bill Weir, how did you pitch this to CNN?
Bill Weir: I said I wanted to find the most amazing places right on the brink of massive change, and go there before they do. I framed it as questions from a father: my kid will turn my age in 2050. What will her world look like? Will there still be tigers in the wild? A flowing Jordan River? How many glaciers will be left in the Alps? How many species will go extinct in Galapagos? Jeff Zucker bought it almost immediately.
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Bill Weir: All of them have their charms, but whether it is Galapagos or Venice, I’d encourage people to look for ways to appreciate the local communities in the deepest way.
I heard it in every destination; the cruise ship passenger who spends a couple hours in St. Mark’s Square or looking at iguanas in Galapagos, buys a cheap souvenir and an expensive Coke and gets back on the boat does not help the people or landscapes.
More conscientious eco/etho tourism allows these places to stay intact while still giving the locals the income they desperately need. Sometimes that means giving up the creature comforts of a big chain hotel or comfy cabin, but the experience for the guest and host can be MUCH richer in the end.
