In what seems like perhaps an unlikely combination, the province of Buenos Aires and the state of Alabama are currently working to create a partnership.According to Global Atlanta, the governors of the two areas are meeting in Atlanta to talk about areas of interest they share, particularly public health, tourism and trade.What can these far away places share?Alabama Governor Bob Riley visited Argentina early in the year, from June 5 to the 7, as part of his tour of South America.The purpose of his visit was to encourage the use of the state’s port: Mobile.The governor of Buenos Aires Daniel Scioli arranged a return visit to the state, showing the interest of the province in strengthening this relationship.

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The creation of a Sustainable Tourism Stewardship Council (STSC) moves a step closer to becoming a reality as a coalition of international organisations agree to establish a body that increases credibility around sustainable tourism certification programmes, and ultimately helps protect the environment, rights and livelihoods of local communities. The United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the United Nations Foundation are amongst the supporters of this initiative. As part of this joint scheme, they will work with the Rainforest Alliance, an international environment organisation, and other NGOs and industry groups, to raise funds, recruit stakeholders and launch the STSC in early 2009.

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