Title: Hi Around the World!British families "circumnavigated the globe" for 4 months without taking a plane, and the low-carbon journey was super cool!
Recently, I discovered a striking story in the field of military international relations, in which a British environmental family spent four months avoiding a plane and circumnavigating halfway around the world to Australia. How exactly did this jaw-dropping low-carbon journey come about?
The British family, which includes Shannon Coggins, Theo Simon and their daughter Rosa, has not flown since 2002 because of their belief in low-carbon travel. Their decision is not taken lightly, but is to actively combat the greenhouse effect and contribute to the global environment. This family of three is not the kind of radical environmentalist, but practices the concept of environmental protection through practical actions.
At first, this seemingly ordinary decision separated Shannon from her sister Ellie in Australia, who struggled to reunite because Shannon refused to fly. However, in December, with Ellie's upcoming wedding, Shannon's family decided to arrive in Sydney in a unique way to witness the momentous occasion.
The scale of the journey is remarkable. Not only did the family give up the convenience of flying, but they also spent years of savings and even quit their jobs. Shannon and Theo are not only members of the eco-friendly family, but also members of a band called "Seize the Day," a trip that forced many scheduled shows to be cancelled.
During the four-month cross-border trip, Shannon's family traveled to many countries, including Kazakhstan, China, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia and more. They chose land transportation, in addition to being able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of various countries, they also encountered a lot of hardships during the journey. For example, days on a train in the heat and a detour to Russia because of regional conflicts. These experiences made the trip even more interesting and enriching.
However, the real challenge comes at the end of the journey. Upon arrival in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, they found that the planned ship would have to wait for three weeks, while the wedding was just around the corner. Faced with the urgency of time, Shannon's family had no choice but to go against their principles and choose to complete this last short journey by plane.
Although they "broke the ring" in the end, this did not affect the results of their low-carbon journey. They roughly calculated that their detour reduced CO2 emissions by a significant amount compared to flying directly to Australia. This makes one wonder if there is a trade-off between environmental protection and convenience
The trip not only benefited from the environment, but also taught the Shannon family a lot of unexpected things. They learned the languages of the countries along the way and developed deep connections with the locals. Her daughter, Rosa, also learned Mandarin in China. This reminds me that eco-friendly journeys are not only for the sake of the planet, but also for enriching my own life experiences.
As a military international relations blogger, I can't help but wonder if this low-carbon journey also provides us with a way to rethink international relationsThrough land transportation, the British family has a deep sense of the customs of various countries, and does it also provide us with a more down-to-earth and authentic perspective on international relations?
In the end, this environmental journey may have broken some of the persistence to some extent, but the Shannon family's perseverance and efforts in low-carbon travel, as well as the rich life experience gained from it, are admirable. Perhaps, one day in the future, low-carbon travel will become more convenient, and there will no longer be such a huge sacrifice for environmental protection.
Through this fascinating story, we can see that environmental protection is not only a responsibility, but also an adventure and a challenge. The experience of this British family not only evokes our concern for the environment, but also makes us think about the broader issues of international relations. Perhaps, everyone can find some inspiration from this family's adventure to make a modest contribution to our planet.