皇上的王國

很多人一聽到「生態旅遊」，就懷疑這行業能否賺錢。事實上，生態旅遊不但能為我們帶來利潤，而且還對人類社會其他方面有所裨益。我試圖從實際效益、科學用途和藝術價值三個角度去說明生態旅遊的意義。

    生態旅遊在現實生活中能提昇我們的生活品味和質素，參加生態旅遊接觸的是遠離俗世煩囂的大自然，在過程中既能增長知識，也能陶冶性情，舒緩緊張的情緒。我們都市人「久在樊籠裏」，身心均需要淨化，回歸大自然實為明智之舉。當社會上愈來愈多人愛好生態旅遊，則整體人類健康也會不知不覺地改善，公共醫療開支的壓力也能減輕，任何生態活動俱使我們的身體健康強壯。大自然也是我們的老師，戶外活動肩負起教育我們和下一代保護環境的意識，有意義的生態旅遊是其中一個辦法。

    在科學方面，生態旅遊推動了環保科技。工業革命雖解放了生產力，但也造成嚴重的環境污染。生態旅遊的興起為科學研發較環保的科技產品，如在使用無污染的汽車和觀光船等提供誘因，為新科技帶來無限商機。一切以再生資源和能源的可持續性發展觀念，更正現今新一代科學工程家的智慧。我們的中國尚未意識到汽車數目高速增長帶來的禍害，希望能藉著發展生態旅遊，使在位者或控制資源的主人重新開發綠色科技。

    至於藝術價值方面，藝術是我們對身邊事物感覺昇華，有著無限力量，但可惜，很多人對周邊事物並不敏銳。幾年前文化中心聖誕節過後遺下的一切塗雅己不可笑。生態旅遊能回復人那種對身外事物樸素的好奇心，促使我們用眼去看飛鳥，用耳去聽流水，用手去觸奇石，用鼻去嗅香花，進而提昇心靈欣賞和創作能力。倘若有一天，他們的小朋友行山時在高處看見一隻山雞，剎那想起的不是大雞三味，而是創作一首歌頌山雞的詩，這不是一件很美妙的事情嗎？

  Does eco-tourism make a profit? It makes much more than monetary benefits. Let me spell out the propitious trilogy of eco-tourism.

  Pragmatic- it improves our standard of living. Immersing yourself in the Nature ( whether quietly or actively ) is the best way to draw yourself from the hurly-burly city life, and to relax your body and mind and enrich your spirituality in this beatific ambiance. It allows you to marvel and appreciate the magnitude and wonder of the natural world and to meliorate your physical and mental well-being. The nature is also an ideal classroom for environmental and civil education. You can never imagine how much you learn, and enjoy, in a well-organized eco-tour.

  Scientific-Eco-tourism enhances the environmental consciousness in technological development. Technological advancement accelerates productivity as well as pollution. Eco-tourism provides an incentive for the development of green products, such as vehicles of minimal environmental impact and recycle systems in lodges. Renewable energy and the concept of sustainability are the essence of development of scientific and engineering. It is sad to see that China has not realized the danger of the upsurge of the number of cars in the country; but eco-tourism can be the solution to combat these undesirables by promoting the incentives and initiatives for green technologies.

  Artistic- The sensitivity towards our environment is the key to artistic refinement. Our artistic sense transcends our daily experience into sublime sentience. Look at the havoc and ravages at the Cultural Centre and you see the poverty of sensitivity in the society. Eco-tourism arouses our curiosity and admiration towards all things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small – this is crucial to our appreciation of arts and our creativity. Isn’t it wonderful if our kids write a poem about a pheasant they see during a hike instead of thinking about chicken nuggets?

作者:萬大偉先生

皇上:大家領悟幾多?做到又有幾多?下一次接觸大自然時，你會是帶著這種心情嗎?