Our planet is a complex place — ancient places and traditions imperiled by war, land grabs, urbanization, changing values, changing climate. Our upcoming articles this winter and spring demonstrate how much change is underway, and why it is so important to preserve –or reintroduce –ways to ensure a sustainable planet.  Here’s a preview of what’s coming in Green News Update.

Smallholders in Havana sell their produce on the street. Empty lots are used for raised bed production to feed urban populations.

Bound for Cuba? 15  “must see” towns, places  and experiences,  selected by recent travelers on  “people to people” tours. (We’ll share plenty of photos too)

The destruction of Palmyra, ancient city and World Heritage site in 2015

Cultural Crimes -Path of Destruction: Ancient cities and sites survived the World Wars, but not today’s.  We’ll preview a new documentary film (Destruction of Memory), related court cases, and a roundup of world monuments/cities destroyed or looted to fund terrorists armies.

Andre Bauma who is mother and father to four orphan gorillas. Photo courtesy of Getty. We featured him last year as an Environmental Hero!

Earth Week  Heroes 2016:  We’ll share a lineup of people who have done a lot for the planet and for humanity. Here are a few of the heroes we wrote about for Earth Day  2013 and  Earth Day 2014

Fondation Louis Vuitton just days before its official opening (Oct 2014) Bobbie Faul-Zeitler CC – 3.0

Museum Roundup 2016:  If you love the arts, this roundup is for you! Beirut’s museum scene, the new Tate Modern, Factory Manchester, Abu Dhabi’s Guggenheim, Paris’s Fondation Louis Vuitton, Maurice Sendak’s legacy, International Center of Photography  plus Berlin, China, Jakarta, St. Petersburg and more.   Check out our 2015 Museum Roundup

Shepherdess Carole with 800 sheep in Winter Nomads 2012

Transhumance – nomads and pastoralism: What’s that ? The  seasonal movement of people who shepherd their animals – sheep, cattle, reindeer — to seasonal ranges and feeding grounds, an ancient tradition now declining.

Into the spring

Iberian lynx and kit, highly endangered. Photo by Antonio Rivas Salvador. Courtesy of Rewilding Europe. All rights reserved.

Rewilding Europe: An update on our very popular series on conservation and biodiversity initiatives –Netherlands, Lapland, Croatia, Southern Carpathians, Oder Delta, Danube Delta and more. (See our original 4-part series from 2013)

Arctic Ocean exploration. Courtesy of NOAA

The Arctic – our newest ocean?: The “commons” at the top of the world may be up for grabs as the glaciers melt and the permafrost thaws.  Who owns it? Will big business win control? What will happen to indigenous people, animals and birds ?

Iron Curtain Bike Trail Flickr Rich Gibson

The Iron Curtain Bike Trail: At 10,000 kilometers in length, the former Soviet empire’s border is gone.  Are you ready to bike it ?

Bookmark Green News Update and come back whenever you can!