Why is it a geographic issue?
TOurists and Ayers rock.
As spectacular and amazing that Ayers Rock is; the large attraction of tourists has cause a huge amount of issues in the Australian community. Ayers Rock has proven to be a great tourist attraction world wide, meaning thousands of people every year would come to visit and admire the landmark. Unfortunately, tourists who decide to climb the mountain forget that the land is also sacred to the native people in that area. Litter, rubbish and even human feces. This infuriated the local native people and started a new, issue that still is being discussed by the Australian Government. A geographic issue.
Uluru is a major tourist attraction world wide, and people come from all over the world to see and climb this amazing structure. To tourists, climbing the rock is very important. A goal to achieve, maybe something from your bucket list to tick off. However, with the rock closed; they may not be able to experience the place as much as they would like.
The traditional owners of Uluru, are called the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, whom are Aboriginal
people from the Western Desert region of Australia, who prefer to call themselves as Anangu.
Anangu have lived around Uluru for over ten thousand years. These traditional owners, whom have right to the land even now; have allowed tourists to come and climb to rock for many years. However recently, these owners are not appreciating the fact that tourists are disrespecting the area, as the "rock" is actually sacred ground. It is of course also a religious and holy place, leading to the quote:
Uluru is a major tourist attraction world wide, and people come from all over the world to see and climb this amazing structure. To tourists, climbing the rock is very important. A goal to achieve, maybe something from your bucket list to tick off. However, with the rock closed; they may not be able to experience the place as much as they would like.
The traditional owners of Uluru, are called the Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, whom are Aboriginal
people from the Western Desert region of Australia, who prefer to call themselves as Anangu.
Anangu have lived around Uluru for over ten thousand years. These traditional owners, whom have right to the land even now; have allowed tourists to come and climb to rock for many years. However recently, these owners are not appreciating the fact that tourists are disrespecting the area, as the "rock" is actually sacred ground. It is of course also a religious and holy place, leading to the quote:
you "trample around" on sacred ground of the natives! The Rock is very interesting and beautiful to climb to enjoy the performance of Nature, however this is known to be disrespectful to the native people. A comparable situation are Aborigines jumping in a church on the altar..Tourist's gathered below Ayers rock..(Uluru)
Uluru is a geographic issue simply because of tourists. Tourism is a large part of Australian culture and is an even larger source of economic income. However, the local Aborigine's are concerned of the way Ayers Rock, or Uluru, is being treated. Rubbish and human excretion. As there are no public facilities, bathrooms for those in need. The climb can take no more than an hour maximum, however tourists are still clearly leaving behind one kind of mess or another.
Local residents, tribes and environmentalists are worried that tourists, people from around the world are coming to visit a sacred area; and are treating it with great disrespect. Trampling over religious grounds, and leaving it in a bad state, intentionally. This is one of the reasons that Ayers Rock should be closed for climbing, keeping it sacred, and restricting tourists to only admiring it.
Local residents, tribes and environmentalists are worried that tourists, people from around the world are coming to visit a sacred area; and are treating it with great disrespect. Trampling over religious grounds, and leaving it in a bad state, intentionally. This is one of the reasons that Ayers Rock should be closed for climbing, keeping it sacred, and restricting tourists to only admiring it.
Local residents, tribes and environmentalists are worried that tourists, people from around the world are coming to visit a sacred area; and are treating it with great disrespect. Trampling over religious grounds, and leaving it in a bad state, intentionally. This is one of the reasons that Ayers Rock should be closed for climbing, keeping it sacred, and restricting tourists to only admiring it.
Local residents, tribes and environmentalists are worried that tourists, people from around the world are coming to visit a sacred area; and are treating it with great disrespect. Trampling over religious grounds, and leaving it in a bad state, intentionally. This is one of the reasons that Ayers Rock should be closed for climbing, keeping it sacred, and restricting tourists to only admiring it.
Why is Uluru important to the Aborigine people?
Ayers Rock, or Uluru is a sacred and holy ground for the local Aborigine people. Hundreds of years ago, and even still today; the Aborigine religions still continue and Ayers Rock remains a reminder. The place is owned by the Aborigine people including rights over the land and the area. However, of course tourists will continue to come to admire it, the people worry that if it continues at this rate; the disrespect shown will take great tolls. To the Pitjantjatjara tribe that lives in the area, it is very sacred to them, it was said to have come about during the much fabled "Dreamtime".
Government and local tourism companies argue with the fact of closing the "rock" for tourists to climb. The loss of money and tourists to the country concerns many people including these companies mentioned previously. Even so, many of the local people and environmentalists agree that the landmark is being reduced to a mess and should not allow tourists to continue disrespecting the place. It's a confusing issue, and much of the issue is still unresolved.
Government and local tourism companies argue with the fact of closing the "rock" for tourists to climb. The loss of money and tourists to the country concerns many people including these companies mentioned previously. Even so, many of the local people and environmentalists agree that the landmark is being reduced to a mess and should not allow tourists to continue disrespecting the place. It's a confusing issue, and much of the issue is still unresolved.
View points.
1.) I personally believe that the rock should be closed for climbing unless with permission from the local Aborigine people. This way tourists can still admire Uluru just as they once had done, with only a minor change. Climbing the rock would be moderately off limits but tourists still had the ability to admire the landmarks beauty. It would allow the rock to stand as it always has, and would probably still please both tourists and the Aborigine people in the area.
2.)If we were to restrict climbing to once a year, or month; I think the solution could be effective however the problem of litter/pollution would probably still occur. As long as the rock is open for tourists to close, tourists will continue to disrespect the location by polluting and littering the are intentionally. Restrictions, I believe, should be made on how many people can climb at one time; perhaps even deny the entry of items like plastic or canned food items. Things with little packaging would be obviously let in, and the larger; more damaging and packaged left behind. Either that or install rubbish bins around the area, and on top of it.
2.)If we were to restrict climbing to once a year, or month; I think the solution could be effective however the problem of litter/pollution would probably still occur. As long as the rock is open for tourists to close, tourists will continue to disrespect the location by polluting and littering the are intentionally. Restrictions, I believe, should be made on how many people can climb at one time; perhaps even deny the entry of items like plastic or canned food items. Things with little packaging would be obviously let in, and the larger; more damaging and packaged left behind. Either that or install rubbish bins around the area, and on top of it.
PRO'S
1.) For view point one:
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Con's
1.) For view point one:
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PRO'S
2.) For view point two:
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CON'S
2.) For view point two:
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Solutions?
There are many solutions to the issue, from allowing tourists to continue climbing up the major attraction; after all, money is being paid for said tourists to come and visit. Some may complain of waste of money, or not being able to experience the landmark to the best ability. Closing this tourist attraction would surely also bring a lot of anger to the community from overseas also. This would be a problem short term.
Both social and economic issues would receive problems. People would definitely be disappointment if Uluru were to close it's climbing features. Ayers Rock has not just become a popular tourist destination; but an amazing family spot. Families throughout Australia also gather to the rock to enjoy the company of a holiday within their own country. These family spots would be restricted to admiring up at the rock, rather than looking down from it. Although this is not the biggest problem that is being addressed, it's still there, and important to a lot of people. The closure, or climbing ban of Uluru could also mean a lower amount of tourists. Those who did come would not be able to climb, and I would be unsure of whether it would be worth coming again. It would be a wonderful thing to see, but surely not as great as actually being up and on the rock.
Another solution to this issue could simply be to allow tourists to climb once a month, or even once a year. This way, tourists would still have the chance to climb the "rock" as well as tourist companies would still be able to earn money from the area. This could be a very good solution, and probably a definite option in trying to solve the issue.
Both social and economic issues would receive problems. People would definitely be disappointment if Uluru were to close it's climbing features. Ayers Rock has not just become a popular tourist destination; but an amazing family spot. Families throughout Australia also gather to the rock to enjoy the company of a holiday within their own country. These family spots would be restricted to admiring up at the rock, rather than looking down from it. Although this is not the biggest problem that is being addressed, it's still there, and important to a lot of people. The closure, or climbing ban of Uluru could also mean a lower amount of tourists. Those who did come would not be able to climb, and I would be unsure of whether it would be worth coming again. It would be a wonderful thing to see, but surely not as great as actually being up and on the rock.
Another solution to this issue could simply be to allow tourists to climb once a month, or even once a year. This way, tourists would still have the chance to climb the "rock" as well as tourist companies would still be able to earn money from the area. This could be a very good solution, and probably a definite option in trying to solve the issue.