Caribbean Eco-resort planned by Richard Branson

Richard Branson, high-profile British entrepreneur, is once again attempting to jump on the “Green,” bandwagon with a “eco-resort,” in the Caribbean

According to Yahoo news, Mr. Branson said that his two private Caribbean Islands have a higher purpose than serving as ultra-luxury retreats for entertainment and business A-listers, and he plans to power the proposed resort with a mixture of solar and wind power. He apparently said this while standing next to his collection of pink flamingos, a species not native to the Caribbean, but decorative enough to warrant importing and to hell with the environmental consequences.

It is actually inexcusable for the Caribbean to need to use dirty fuels anymore when it has all these natural resources on its doorstep

The Island itself, Mosquito Island, is currently an uninhabited dot of land off the Island Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. The proposal includes plans for wind cooling, and solar heating, both of which are available just by standing on the beach I would imagine. The full story is here.

Mr. Branson has been selling himself as a “green,” advocate for some time now, and we all know how well his plans to run his airplanes on coconut oil are progressing. Last time I checked, the air was still full of Virgin banners using Avgas.

So, how eco-friendly can a resort this remote be? Is it merely coincidence that any one visiting this resort from Europe must fly half way around the world first, and Mr. Branson just happens to own an airline?

He has already defended himself from the allegation that he is a hypocrite for running a transatlantic airline and claiming to be an environmentalist with the argument that if he didn’t do it, somebody else would.

Now, I am no expert on carbon footprints, but lets take a family of four in Sussex, for example: a car drive to Heathrow, a transatlantic flight to Miami, a local flight to San Juan, a taxi ride to the port, and a boat trip out to the eco-resort on Mosquito Island. Does it matter if the air-conditioner is wind-powered? Slightly more environmentally friendly than trying to sell rich Russians a few minute trip into space? Virgin Galactic. Probably.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with a luxury resort on a private Island in the Caribbean. Just don’t tell me you are doing the planet a favor.

Comments welcome