Before that moment, I had never been faced with an environmental experience that brought me to tears.  I grew up in a very outdoorsy family; camping, hiking, backpacking, and eco-tourism were the general theme of our vacations.  But watching a couple hectares in the Amazon Basin of Bolivia burn before my eyes was absolutely beyond my comprehension.  It was an experience in nature I’d never really even thought about before.

Earlier the same day, I met members of an indigenous group that has occupied this unprotected section of the Amazon for hundreds of years, ever since their ancestors began recording history.  These communities know the land better than anyone, and their entire lives are tied to the rainforest.  The fires are typically set to clear a portion of the rainforest for the provision of more land used for growing crops.  After a section has been cleared, its soil allows for only about three years of crops.  After those three years, it will be another 15 years before the soil is fertile enough again.  Thus, every few years, more of the rainforest is being cleared in order to provide room for growing crops.

Despite the harrowing image I witnessed, I felt incredibly defensive of both Bolivia – a country I have come to love – and the indigenous people responsible for the burn.  What I find so extraordinary about the most successful human beings is that they possess a remarkable capacity for compromise on the issues they care most about.  These leaders accomplish what they do because they are willing to give concessions in order to promote the greater cause.  It takes extraordinary character not to run to perpetrators in rage, but approach them in peace.

As my husband and I sat on the boat watching the fire glow, I felt my sense of rage give way to peacefulness.  When we entered this world, it wasn’t perfect, and when we leave it, it won’t be.  With whatever resources we have available to us, we must do the best we can; and often, the most harmful thing to our cause is our own passion for it.  We talked about how one day my husband would come back and teach the indigenous better fertilization techniques that would improve their lives while also protecting the nearby rainforest. Solutions are there, but they require seeing issues from both sides.  Progress can never be realized when staring from the outside looking in; it requires standing on both sides of the river.

We believe that there’s no better way to expand the mind then through travel. Unfortunately – due to climate change – a lot of the most fascinating places on Earth may not be around for people to enjoy in the future. When we were in South America to do some volunteering, we had the chance to see Antarctica. It’s incredible! Let’s pay attention to climate change in order to make that experience possible for generations to come. Also, working to curb climate change helps to alleviate the grip that poverty and hunger have on communities around the world.

In honor of October 15th, Blog Action Day, we wanted to draw attention to what’s going on. Check out the Blog Action Day site here, where you’ll find lots of ways to get involved in order to be a part of positive change.

Michele volunteering in Playa del Carmen

As a full time blogger living abroad, I have noticed a common bond among other bloggers and their willingness to help promote each other’s volunteer efforts. In some ways, it’s simple for bloggers to volunteer because they can help spread the word about a particular event or charitable organization no matter where they are in the world. My friend Michele who lives in Playa Del Carmen in Mexico, for example, helps support Holy Cross school by writing about it whenever she can (my island was the subject of her Blog Action Day post last year).

Recently, Michele was one of the organizers of Mexico’s first annual Taste of Playa. A portion of the proceeds from this community culinary festival went to Ak Lu’um International School for their food program, and provided the school with safe, clean drinking water for the upcoming year.

Peanut Pet Shelter fundraiser at Luna Blue

I thought Taste of Playa was reason enough to take a “volunteer vacation.” I could spend time with friends, and help out with the event in person. While in Mexico, I also had the opportunity to go to the “Leave Your Wallet At Home” fundraiser for the Peanut Pet Shelter, a no-kill animal shelter in Playa Del Carmen devoted to rescuing and finding good homes for injured and abandoned dogs and cats. It was a fun event and I’m glad I was able to attend.

While volunteering in Belize, I have found that expats are often creative at organizing interesting, new ways of raising money in their new communities. Sometimes this can be in the form of a smaller, intimate event like the “Leave Your Wallet At Home” fundraiser. Sometimes it takes the form of an International Food Festival like Taste of Playa, where the proceeds go to providing drinkable water for a not-for-profit school. There are so many people in need that the weight of it can seem overwhelming. But coming together with a group of people and enjoying an evening out while raising money for a worthwhile cause makes it more fulfilling, not to mention fun, for everyone.

While San Pedro, Belize and Playa del Carmen, Mexico have many differences, the sense of volunteering within the community feels very much the same. It may not be like that everywhere in Latin America but I am glad that I have been able to find a like-minded spirit in Michele, and it’s great that we can support each other’s causes.