Mutual Benefit

It was in the early days of tourism. Train lines covered the country, the automobile had made it entrance and more and more people could afford a holiday.

On the west coast of Denmark, in a small fishing village, a small hotel was built, and the wealthy tourists from Copenhagen arrived for their summer vacation. You could tell the tourists from the locals without any problems.

A radio reporter was sent to the place to report on this new phenomenon of tourism on the far away west coast.

"What is there for the tourists to be seen here of extraordinary and amazing things?", he asked an old fisherman.

"Well, for the tourists there are us", he answered, "and for us there are the tourists", he added.

Improve Yourself

I signed a petition today. Don't let the Rich ruin the Riviera! It was a petition against a new marina. A group of people want to build a small harbour, mainly for pleasure craft, in the small village by the sea where we spend our summer holidays. It's incredible. Think of the extra traffic on the roads leading to the village, and think of the coastline where our cottage is. It will never be the same again. And think of the noise of boat engines and people hanging out at the harbour drinking beer till late at night. and what might happen to the value of our cottage. And just now when we have had the swimming pool installed and have started building a garage for the 4 wheel drive.

I signed the petition and accepted to take some sheets to have more people sign the petition. I managed to get a few. It was mostly women signing. But when I asked my wife she wouldn't sign. Her father had a small sailing boat and I guess she has always imagined that some day we might have one too. And the a small harbour in the neighbourhood would come in handy. And I suspect that she thinks that with more people in the village, there will also be more shops.

I also brought the petition round to Uncle Jack for him to sign. "This is you chance to help make the world a little bit better", I said.

He looked at the petition. "The only sure way to improve the world", he said "is for everyone to try to improve his own behaviour and not the behaviour of others."