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 From the EditorThere's nothing quite like traveling to remind us we're such a small part of this wonderful planet. Whether you're spotting bears, moose, and caribou in Alaska, exploring ancient Mayan culture on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, or marveling at summer's midnight sun in Stockholm, you realize that there's so much more to life than what's in your own backyard. When I first read Daniel Scott's story "Absolute Wonder" I felt I was right there in Australia's Tropical North Queens-land, snorkeling wide-eyed among potato cod fish, giant clams, and colorful coral, prowling the coastal mangrove for edible creatures with an Aboriginal guide, and finding total serenity in the world's oldest rainforest. Those types of encounters with
Mother Nature make us think long and hard about taking better care of our planet.
There's only one Earth, and that's why it's incumbent upon each of us to help
preserve it for those who come after us. That message is reaching people far and
wide, as growing numbers of individuals and companies find ways to make a difference.
For example, check out "Climate Control Commander,"
to read about Shell International's global climate adviser, David Hone, and why
he says big oil companies need to be part of the solution to global warming. Thinking
about how you can reduce your own carbon footprint? Read "The
Next Little Thing" for a look at a growing trend toward smaller homes,
including some truly tiny, but efficiently designed, homes — some are as
little as 200 square feet! A tiny house may not be right for you, but it's still
fun to read about. Wherever your travels take you next — a sandy beach or
your favorite city — have a great time. Gail Harrington, Editor Contributor Bios Daniel Scott is an award-winning travel writer based in the coastal hamlet of Charlotte Bay, in New South Wales, Australia. He has written for publications on four continents, including the Guardian (UK) and the South China Post, and is a regular contributor to the travel sections of Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age. He specializes in adventure travel and will go anyplace, within reason, that offers a chance of a wildlife encounter. So he was thrilled to visit the Great Barrier Reef and Tropical North Queensland to pen this month's cover story.  For the past 20-plus years, George Fetting has traveled extensively and worked on a number of national and international publications, such as Travel & Leisure Australia, Vogue, and Time. He has won a number of prizes and was named the 2008 Australian Travel Photographer of the Year by Capture magazine. "I grew up in Queensland, so the Great Barrier Reef is my part of the world," he says.
We welcome letters from our readers: Letters about this magazine should be sent to the Editor, Continental magazine, 99 Bedford Street, Floor 5, Boston, MA 02111, or e-mailed to continental@pohlyco.com. Letters must be signed and include the writer’s address, daytime telephone number, and e-mail address, when possible. We reserve the right to edit letters for space and clarity.
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