Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on Dec 21

Internal flights across all of Europe are a thing of the past with the fantastic train network!

Even though the UK is an island and separated from the rest of the European mainland by the English Channel - you can still get there by train.

And, no.  There isn’t a great big record-breaking bridge between the 2 - there is the Channel Tunnel to Ashford Railway Station; a straight through train route taking as little as an hour to pass from France to the UK and costing as little as €89!

Train Travel:
Although you may have to fly to Europe in the first place, trains are a great way to see the countries you are visiting - and to meet the people.

Sitting on a plane would normally see you enclosed in your own little space, watching a movie no doubt.  And if you did talk to anyone it would only be the person sitting right next to you or the steward.

On a train, you can see everyone, hear everything and watch the great views pass you by outside.  You won’t need movies and inflight magazines to entertain you: you will have mountains, cities, great rivers and tiny villages.  All a magical part of your vacation experience!

Arriving in the UK:
Just hop on any train from Paris or Brussels that’s heading to Ashford International Station - and the UK is a few short hours away!

Once your high speed train emerges from the tunnel and into the UK, you can visit anywhere else in the country if you alight in Ashford - or maybe consider staying onboard and head straight through to London.

The train carriages are sold as sitting only, so you all have your own designated seat and no standing passengers - meaning the experience is all the better!  Almost luxurious!

If it’s only a fleeting visit, go straight to London - stay a few nights.  Explore the many sights of London and a night at the Theatre, then hop straight back on the high speed train at St Pancras and you will be ordering croissants and coffee in Paris for lunch!

Travel Europe:
There are many travel deals for train travel throughout Europe - like buying a 2 week pass, or a multi-destination ticket - many of which include travel to the UK.

Many international train stations around Europe also include other transport links such as long distance coach and bus stations and indeed airports for your departure flights.

And if you are from the UK itself or have been living there, then why not visit Ashford International’s website for information on departing train times, prices and all other relevant details like parking and connecting trains or buses.

There is no excuse now to fly to the UK when exploring Europe - just hop on board a train!

posted by Catherine on Dec 14

This is the story of an amazing 20-month journey around the world without flying!

Nick Tuppin and Holly Gee decided that they were going to travel the world together, but not by buying a round-the-world plane ticket and bouncing across the globe in 6 months!

They wanted adventure - and they wanted it to be an eco adventure.  Whether it’s walking, cycling, buses, trains, or freighters - they will use it!  Talk about inspiring!

And they wanted to give back to the communities they were visiting as well, so they volunteered and worked their way around as well. Working in a school and helping to set up a website are just some of the things that they became involved in along the way.

The Route:
Starting out in France in September 2008, they passed through Spain and across the Atlantic to the Caribbean.  On from there to Columbia and up through Central America, the States and finally out the top through Canada and Alaska in September 2009 to Korea, China and ending up in Nepal for The New Year.

In 2010, the journey will continue across Mongolia and Russia, then down south to Turkey and up across eastern Europe on the Danube river, then hopefully home for May 2010.

So far they are right on track and their latest blog posts show them in Kathmandu.  The articles are certainly detailed and shows how they are getting by - including an impromptu job interview!  It also details about the attempts of locals to get into the British Gurkha Army and their participation in a house blessing ceremony!

They have included some great photos of their journey - every step of the way.  They include maps and historic images along the way too - making you feel like you are part of the journey with them.

Although they do have a history of travel - they are just two ordinary people who had normal jobs and just wanted to make a difference.  So they got up and did something about it!

That could be you!

posted by Catherine on Dec 8

Responsible Travel in association with Virgin Holidays have announced the winners for 2009!

As always, r:travel magazine is being distributed to everyone to let us know which travel companies are exceeding the standards for eco holidays, eco tours and responsible tourism.  Helping you choose a better holiday - and making sure that those companies that make a difference are recognised!

Here is a sneak peak at some of the winners - or go to their own website for more details:

Best In A Marine Environment: Whale Watch Kaikoura - New Zealand:
Offering some of the best whale watching tours - totally staff and owned by the native Maori population.  Not only have they grown this company from nothing for themselves, but the tours are all low impact, and the money has allowed them to purchase some of their ancestral land!

Best Low Carbon Transport And Technology - Alcatraz Cruises - USA:
This small company are really striving to make their tour boats as eco friendly as they can, investing in new technology to reduce nitrogen and carbon emissions - and they have created the worlds first hybrid ferry boat which uses solar energy for power!

Best Volunteering Organisation - People And Places - UK:
Rather than a large scale operation for everyone to choose where they want to go for their volunteering, this smaller company match up your skills to where they are most needed and will be most useful. 

This ensures that your time is well spent doing things that you enjoy and are good at - and you get the results for the community that they desperately need as you are a perfect match!

Best Destination - Cape Town - South Africa:
This destination has been chosen as the best overall location for eco friendly travel and tourism.  Building up for the 2010 World Cup has seen many companies and organisations here investing in huge eco improvements and schemes with support from the Cape Town Responsible Tourism Policy & Action Plan.  Making sure that important eco policies are adopted from the start of projects through to the end.

Hope it helps you choose your next eco holiday!

posted by Catherine on Sep 30

Staying on a working farm that promotes wildlife has got to be good!

I recently stayed in a holiday cottage in the Weald in Sussex, England for 2 weeks, more out of urgent necessity than anything else (we needed to move in tonight!)

Therefore, my eco wants and needs were rather pushed to one side with the need for somewhere to sleep in the south-east of England with Internet access!

We called one place that looked adorable but was full for most of the 2 weeks, but the owner very thoughtfully and totally of no gain to herself, recommended a friend of hers that was just starting out so would no doubt have spaces! 

I called them hesitantly, knowing that my first concern was the Internet, then availability then price.  In that order.  (Some of the cottages are so highly priced that even if they came with free food the whole time you were there and a complimentary pony, it wouldn’t be worth it!)

Anyway, I called up a friendly man who answered all my questions and gave me his website address to view the cottages.  We had been viewing others and had found that a great many were just large sheds in some-one’s back garden - not ideal really in terms of the freedom to wander about and come and go as you please without the curtains twitching!  However, his cottages were in the middle of the countryside and a delight to look at, so we called back and said we’d be there by 5!

The Cottage:
It turns out that these 3 cottages are part of a rescued 150-year-old barn on the farm (now a fully functioning equestrian center), and had been very thoughtfully renovated up to a high standard and carefully furnished.

They all had a countryside feel to them, with paintings and pictures or the local art and landscapes.  The inside was spacious and showed the beams of the roof space and had a mezzanine bedroom on top.

There were some eco features including a half-bath, reclaimed furnishings and furniture and all modern appliances including an efficient microwave, condensing boilers, gas stove, nicely they had limited electronics but plenty of books magazines and board games instead!

And it turns out that the cottages aren’t the only thing that the landlord thinks are important.

Nature Comes First!
Since taking over the farm, the owner has focused on keeping it preserved.  Based in the Weald - an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) - and with centuries and centuries of history behind it, there was a good basis for him to start from.

His ancient hedgerows divide his 80 acres of pasture and woodland, and many were almost 1000 years old from my estimations of noticeable species present (oak, hawthorn and ash to name a few).  He also leaves a good 6 feet of untreated land on each side of the hedges to promote their use as a wildlife haven and hasn’t removed any of them at all - I found his farm on a map from 1880 and they were all still there today.

He had also banned hunting on his land - which has got clear traces of pheasant farming and many a spent shot gun cartridges from the past.  In fact he does the opposite - he helps release animals back into the countryside from his farm. 

He has already released whole families of badgers and hedgehogs, has re-homed a flock of battery-farmed chickens (of which he gave us plenty of tasty eggs from) and has re-homed 2 lovely dogs and 4 feral cats into his clan!  However the 2 owl boxes in the main barn haven’t yet been used permanently - but the pair of tawny owls in the woods make up for that!

A Work/Life Balance.
Being a working farm, he has of course, got plenty of farm machinery all about the place and no doubt his isolated location brings many large vehicles some distance from towns to run a successful business - but I think it is worth it.

Most guests here no doubt never traipse around the countryside like we do, and so all of his land hardly gets disturbed by man - and how frequently we saw fallow deer and how close we were able to get to them before they crashed off through the woodland shows that they are at home here - they like it here!

He has created a veritable British wildlife reserve here, and so what if he hasn’t got composting toilets or a wind turbine?  He has ’saved’ this little piece of the countryside for the next generation, creating a safe corridor for wildlife travelling around this area which include Ashdown Forest to the north and the South Downs National Park to the south.

And anyway, does ‘eco’ have to mean completely self sufficient?

If you are in this area and want a great place to stay for wildlife and peace and quiet in a beautiful landscape then use this link to get more information on this farm stay.

posted by Catherine on Jun 2

Seriously - think of you favorite wild animal - and then ask yourself the question: What am I doing to keep them alive?

Many people love pandas, tigers, penguins or even great white sharks - but many of us don’t really make a difference to their fight for life on this planet.

What Can I Do From Home?
Watching a documentary about them on TV does actually help believe it or not. If the TV ratings for a show on African Hunting Dogs gets top ratings - they see money they are making and go out and make another one. But to film these creatures, they need to make sure that they are healthy and their habitat is kept safe.

Buying specialist magazines or books can also make larger companies aware of an interest in certain wildlife or habitats so that they focus more on them and possibly invest more money in research and/or protection.

Similarly, you can join a charity or wildlife group that is helping to educate local people to live with dangerous species (as with the lynx), train specialists to protect endangered animals (as with gorillas) or just stop people chopping down their home (as with orangutans)!

Some charity organisations also sell ‘gift’ packs for certain animals or habitats - such as the WWF. This allows you to buy a gift for a friends birthday/wedding/event that actually sends fund directly to your chosen destination!

Your friends get a cuddly toy, information and magazines all about the dolphin or turtle or whatever - and they get to help protect the wildlife! Rather than buying some consumer gifts and throwing away loads of packaging and sticky tape to haunt future generations - your gift will be keeping those habitats alive for future generations (and yourself) to enjoy!

What Can I Do Abroad?
Obviously joining a charity vacation abroad to actually work with the animals or local communities involved will be a great help. You will be there first hand to help protect your favourite creatures - and learn so much more about them.

You could even just take a vacation to the country that they live in and just support that nation in terms of tourism - maybe booking a tour specifically to see those animals in their habitat. By telling your local hosts and native tour guides that these animals and this habitat were the only reasons for you trip here will make sure that they are aware of the importance of preserving that.

If you went to India and didn’t pay to go see the tigers - why would they bother to help keep them there? Tourism runs like a business - if the tea plantation makes more money than the tiger reserve - guess what might happen? The reserve is taken over by tea!

Make sure that you also tell tour companies the reason for your holiday - I mean if you (and 100’s of other vacationers were asking for a whale-watching holiday in Mexico and they didn’t offer one - I’m sure they would start looking into it!

You must be active in telling companies why you are or are not booking with them. If they don’t know what their potential customers are wanting - they can’t offer it. Don’t just leave them to guess - make the choice for them - make them support your cause.

It may even have a multiplying effect as some people who aren’t so active may book an alternate holiday instead - but if they saw a new wildlife trip on offer in the brochure - they may book it themselves, sending even more funds and interested people to your favorite location or to see your favorite animals!

Basically - you need to get active and show your support for the things you like. Just like you favorite store: if you don’t support it - you could lose it!

posted by Catherine on May 23

Trying to turn over a new leaf in terms of your travel habits? Here are some great ideas for train travel around Europe and The United States.

There is the InterRail Pass for all 30 countries in Europe and the Amtrak USA Rail Pass for all the mainland states (with possible extension into Canada). Both of which are very flexible and just waiting for your adventure to begin.

How Do They Work?
Well you can choose from a selection of options available for each pass type depending on how long or how far you want to travel.  For example do you want unlimited travel for the whole month, or do you just want to get from east to west coast and back again?

Once you have decided on this you can see which of the packages will best suit your needs.  If you are hoping to visit several cities on your trip, then you could focus on the number of journeys included in the ticket rather than the time-scale, but if you want to just go all over whenever you fancy, then the time scale becomes more important.

What Does InterRail Offer?
Interrail offers both types of tickets, so basically you can either have so many journeys within a set period of time - like 5 days travels out of a 10 day period, or 10 days travel over a 22 day period.  Alternatively you can have 22 consecutive days of travel in your package so you are not limited to catching a train to the next town for the day and back if you like a certain hotel. 

Interrail is only available to Europeans - (and you cannot travel in your own country on your ticket) but covers travel to 30 countries, including Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, France, The UK, Spain, Romania, Turkey and Serbia! So, in 10 days you could have covered 15 or more countries!

There are also other deals that you can link to these passes, including local transport networks like the Swiss Pass (allowing you unlimited travel on their network) and of course free or reduced entry to museums or historical sites like with the Great British Heritage Pass.

Alternatively, you can just choose one country to travel in - for example - if you have booked a cheap holiday to Turkey and want to see more without paying the high fees of your tour operator! You can pay as little as £110 for 8 days train travel within a period of a month (you don’t have to be in the country for the whole month) and take day trips to wherever you want from your hotel base! Great stuff!!

The Amtrak Alternative:
The USA Travel Pass allows a slightly different service where it sells you passes with a number of ’segments’ included. These ’segments’ are legs of a journey and count as one segment per single get on-get off journey. So if you just travel 10 minutes down the road on your Rail Pass - you use up a whole segment!

As with the Interrail Pass, you do have the option to just buy a normal train or bus ticket locally for shorter journeys so you don’t waste your money on these little bits so to speak!

However, there are many long distance trains that can make this more worth while if you were looking for a coast-to-coast experience! For example you could make it from New York to San Diego in 3 segments (although on is a long long long old journey), or from New York to Miami on one all-day journey!

Both types of tickets are readily available online or through agents - who can help you choose the best package and also give you great tips - from £110 up to £582 for Europe (kids under 3 are free)and from $389 to $749 for the US Pass (kids under 2 are free). Students can get great discounts too!

So where are you going?

posted by Catherine on May 17

Get your Kids Involved With the Wildlife In The UK, by joining one of the National Societies!

There are so many wildlife and nature groups in the UK, that there is always a reason to take you vacation locally and teach your kids about the very place they live in.  And as everyone is staying closer to home thie year - why not make the most of it and join a national society to get some great goodies and free entry for great days out!

Kids need to learn about the animals in the world - and it’s all fair and well teaching them about lions in Africa and Emu’s in South America - but what about the animals they get to see almost everyday!  Shouldn’t they know about those first?

Well, below are 4 great nature clubs that the family can become a member of to get to grips with where red squirrels live and what Robins eat.

RSPB - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
There are over 100 RSPB reserves in the UK - and each one offers a perfect insight into local bird species as well as the mammals and invertebrates that share their habitat.

They have a Wildlife Explorers Club for the youngsters, meaning that they get magazines, information, posters and stickers as well as free entry to all the sites and member events.  You can join up to 3 children from the same address for just £25 for the year - and they get a free gift depending on their age group.

The WildLife Trusts Across The UK.
There are 47 Wildlife Trusts covering the British Isles with over 2,226 reserves - most with visitor centres offering maps and advice - and all are free to enter.

However, you can actually join with your local wildlife trust rather than a national membership, and get regular updates on their reserves and their Action Diary of events.  You can join the Family Watch membership group where your children can attend events and win merits for their actions - learning more all the time.  You can even encourage your child’s school to join as well!

You don’t have to join just your local Trust - you could select one where you normally take a holiday - and volunteer while you are away.

The Woodland Trust. 
1,000 woods covering 20,000 hectares - all completely free!  You can take you family to any of these sites for a great day out, including those with restaurants, large open areas and information stations.

Kids can join the Nature Detectives Club which gives them related information about the woodland habitat and regular competitions to enjoy.  There is also the opportunity to get their Teacher involved with a special membership package, where they get equipment to use in their classes.

WWT - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. 
With only 9 sites in the UK, this is a charity that you won’t regret joining!  Not only do you get to see an amazing array of both British and migratory wetland birds at close quarters - you also get to see some exotic and endangered species face to face as well!

Kids can feed the birds from their hands, follow the trails across boardwalks and through woodlands as well a pond dip for bugs and shellfish.  All sites have an amazing amount of information for the family to enjoy, with large sculptures dotted around - and of course the famous nene geese that the founder saved from extinction!

Our wetland areas are also declining far too fast for some species and so joining this society will be making sure that the country has something left for your kids future!

Stay Local & Enjoy Local!

posted by Catherine on May 2

It’s not just in the tropics that disease can spread and be debilitating!

The Northern Hemisphere has it’s ‘bug’ that can ruin your eco holidays, andit is found in woodlands all over the US and Europe.

It’s called Lyme’s Disease and is now classified as an emerging infectious disease as it is becoming more widespread over the past 10-20 years.  It is not yet as bad as some diseases, but if you have plans to go camping, trekking or hiking - then give this a quick ‘Heads Up’.

What Is Lyme Disease?
This is currently the most common tick-borne disease affecting humans north of the equator.

Ticks are the main vector, and having fed on an infected host like a woodland deer, they fall off onto the floor until they are hungry again.  They then sit and wait for the next warm body to come past to hop on for dinner!  That could be you.

Once on you, it will search for direct contact with the skin - bite through - and then start feeding.  This prolonged contact with your blood allows the infection to pass into your system.

Think you would pick it off before it bit you?  Well, no.  It is usually the nymph stage of the ticks life cycle that carries the disease, and they are a lot harder to see than the adults!  And - they have materials in their saliva that prevent you from feeling pain where they are feeding.

Therefore, making sure that you are well covered in clothing or natural tick repellent is a must.  Especially from May through September as this is when the nymph stages are most active.

What Are The Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
There are currently 3 distinct stages of Lyme Disease, but not all stages have symptoms and symptoms can vary immensely from person to person, so these are only a guide.

Stage 1: Local Infection.
Well, you may well get a large rash at the wound site within a few days or up to a month, looking a bit like a ‘bulls-eye’.  However, not all people get the rash and it is generally painless.

You could also experience flu-like symptoms, including headaches, tiredness, muscle soreness and a fever.  But you could get no noticeable symptoms at all at this stage.

Stage 2: Spreading Infection.
After the initial localised rash, the infection starts to spread around the body in the bloodstream and it is possible to get more rashes anywhere across the body.

Others include a purple lump appearing on the earlobe or other extremities, heart palpitations and muscle, joint and tendon pain.  If Stage 1 was left untreated, symptoms can be worse - and include meningitis and facial paralysis (Bell’s palsy).  Also shooting pains throughout the body and swelling on the brain have been noted as well as mood changes!

Stage 3: Late Persistent Infection.
This is usually only found in untreated patients - and is reason enough to prevent tick bites in the first place!

Many patients go on to develop severe (short term) or chronic (long-term) symptoms including many important organs: brain and heart, as well as nerves, eyes and joints - and can be disabling.  In severe cases it can even be fatal!

And Your Pets?
Dogs, cats, horses and even cattle can get Lyme Disease too from infected tick bites - although the symptoms and time scale are different.  It has even been identified in other small mammals.

How To Prevent Infection:
So, when you are planning a summer trip to the woods - make sure you have adequate protection for your skin - either with clothes or natural and organic repellent sprays.

May is actually Lyme Disease Awareness Month, to raise the profile of the problems surrounding this little known but growing infection.  Although it is not transmitted people-to-people, it is still important not to get infected in the first place, and to avoid the symptoms.

Don’t let this put you off having a great eco adventure in the forest - but just be aware that we have nasty little bugs too!

posted by Catherine on Apr 25

The Mediterranean is where most Europeans go for their short sunshine holidays - and why not? 

28 countries border the warm waters of this inland sea, and many others are within a short journey or flight.  And, with the current trends towards taking holidays closer to home - it is likely to remain popular and possibly see some new visitors who would normally travel long haul.

Where To Choose:
Listed below are 4 eco-resorts in slightly unusual locations not normally thought of for eco resorts.  None of them are in the countryside or surrounded by forests or mountains, but they offer a little touch of ‘eco’ without going to extremes.

1) La Ferme D’Augustin: near St Tropez - Southern France.
This delightful little resort is only 5 minutes away from the bustle of St Tropez, but has it’s own little beach just steps away from your room. 

It offers an authentic feel, and grows and uses much of it’s own produce for your stay.  Homegrown vegetables and fruits play a huge role in your stay - and the relaxed peaceful atmosphere makes it much more natural an more a part of the local area.

Water and energy uses are montitored and staff trained to improve even more.  Much recycling is carried out and the hotels own food and garden waste goes back into the earth to grow more seasonal fruits for the breakfast table!

2) The Victoria Hotel: Sliema - Malta
This boutique resort is listed as one of Malta’s Eco-Certified hotels, which means it meets or exceeds the criteria set by that country for ‘eco-friendliness’ as they say.

The Hotel has an Eco Committee who’s job it is to update and implement eco practices, which already include seperation of waste, reduction of eco un-friendly cleaning products and increase in use of eco-friendly biodegradable products along with maintenance of electrical stock and appliances to reduce energy and chemical leaks.

They have also implemented low water usage bathroom and kitchen facilities, and improving irrigation in the gardens to conserve water alongside reducing pesticide use.

3) Locanda Della Avelle Nuova: Urbina - Central Italy
This accommodation is set in the heart of an organic farm who’s owners believe and work by the mantra: one should tread lightly on the earth.  It is also just a stones throw from the UNESCO Heritage Site of Urbina.

The owners currently grow most of their own crops, fruits and vegetables and raise their livestock 100% organically.  They make their own bread, pasta, jams and wines for guests meals.

Their green credentials include: solar power, composting, recycling, staff eco-training, reduced emissions, local conservation, using reclaimed materials and local staff and skills.  They also allow guests to use their horses to view the landscape rather than drive!

4) Desert Lodge: near Cairo - northern Egypt.
This hotel is one of the few eco-designed locations in Egypt - and really is a sight to behold!  Built in a traditional style by local craftsmen using only local and natural materials, this stylish hotel is spacious and clean.

The lodge is located to allow easy access to all the sights and the local community.  With walking, cycling and camel-back tours available - you can really explore with minimal impact.

Due to it’s desert location, the resort takes great pains to conserve water, and reduce consumption without affecting comfort.  They supply their water for guests in glass bottles rather than plastic and all their cotton furnishings are 100% Egyptian!

posted by Catherine on Apr 9

Would You Buy A Tiger Cub?

The trade in live animals and animal parts is one of the most active in the world - and only people like you can stop it by refusing to buy any animal parts or any live animals - and by reporting anything you see that is suspicious to the WWF

Live Animals:
Even if it is legal to import live animals into your home country - why would you do so?

They will no doubt be live caught (with parents and siblings often killed to collect them) and will have been badly handled and possibly smuggled in tiny spaces to you or your seller. The rates of survival on these journeys are very low, so for every animal that arrives, huge numbers could have died along the way.

As the animal is not endemic to your country, it may well need imported foods or specific diets and nutrients that you may be unaware of, equipment to maintain the correct humidity and temperature (which you might not even know yourself) and no doubt any illness or disease it has already got or may pick up from your end may not be treatable by a local vet as they have no experience or the veterinary equipment and medications to treat it.

And most obviously, if you brought one, then someone else might want one therefore creating or increasing the numbers caught and traded. You are perpetuating the cycle of death and destruction of species and habitat.

Stuffed Animals:
For the same reason - be wary of buying stuffed animals that are endangered species.

We all know that the rarer something becomes - the more it is worth, so by buying even a really old stuffed animal that has since become endangered you are letting that vendor know that there is a demand for whatever it was. It may well encourage him to find someone to supply him with another one……

Traditional Medicines:
There is no scientific proof that traditional medicines are effective against disease or can increase your fertility. It’s like your bank manager telling you how to make loads of money with shares and investments - when if he knew how to make loads of money - why is he still working in a bank rather than in a big mansion on a desert island?

However, most traditional medicines are made with animal parts - and many of these animals - like tigers - are endangered. There is no need for you to try any of these treatments as you are very likely encouraging illegal poaching and trapping.

And as with most ‘natural’ remedies that sound to good to be true - they probably are. Surely if there really was a part of an animal that really did prevent disease almost 100% of the time - do you not think that medicine would be available worldwide rather than in some tiny backstreet store outside of town??

Any Unidentified Animal Parts:
If you really want to do everything you can to avoid encouraging illegal wildlife poaching, then avoid buying anything made of or by any animal.

Just as the sale of leather from cows is a by-product of the beef and dairy industry, so the sale of teeth, bones and fur, feathers and quills can be the by-products of other trades.

It is a minefield out there, so you need to be quite broad with your shopping choices no matter how pretty or ‘amazing’ that souvenir is - because it would look a lot better if it was still alive!

And remember no matter how bad the trade is - if you buy it - they will make more. Just look at McDonalds!!!

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