The Aspinall Elephant Controversy

A look at the plan by The Aspinall Foundation to re-wild 13 captive, Kentish born elephants into ‘the wild’ in Kenya and why many scientists, conservationists and local community groups think it might not be such a good idea and is, in fact, ego-conservationism being done by someone who might have more financial interest in it than people could be led to believe.

Modern Things Romans Would Love #5: AirBnB

How coincidental these two entries follow each other. You see, it is difficult to travel without having people to take you places or places to stay when you get there. Roman hospitium, hospitality, is truly the stuff of legend. You might not think it given how often they showed themselves to be an elitist shower

Modern Things Romans Would Love #6: Travel and Tourist Tat

Archaeological evidence from across the Roman world has dug up trinkets from various other parts of the world; Jewellery, figurines, carvings, etc. Basically they found everything but fridge magnets, keyrings and postcards. Not only did Romans have a penchant for travelling the world – sometimes for leisure, sometimes for education and sometimes because they had to because they were soldiers – but they also liked to bring back trinkets for their families. Roman-era tourist tat actually existed.