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US president Joe Biden has used a trip to a tornado-ravaged area to wade into the controversy over Aaron Rodgers’ Covid status, advising the NFL player who attempted to avoid a vaccine row with the “woke mob”.

President Biden was paying a visit to the Midwest, where at least 100 people have been killed by winds of up to 100mph in five states this week, when he made his surprising remark about vaccines.

Surveying scenes where the freak conditions had torn off roofs, toppled trees, overturned vehicles and caused power outages in Mayfield, Kentucky, the head of state stopped to talk to two women.

When he was that one of the women was donning a Green Bay Packers cap and shirt – the team Rodgers plays for – Biden warned: “Tell that quarterback he’s gotta get the vaccine” while the cameras were rolling.

VIDEO: @POTUS wraps up a conversation with two women, pats the woman wearing @packers gear on the back and says, “Tell that quarterback he’s got to get his vaccine.”

The two women laugh. pic.twitter.com/J7aC8HFyLH

— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) December 15, 2021

“I just lost my entire life. My job, my car, my house, my town.” Joe Biden “Hey tell Aaron Rodgers he needs to get the vaccine” Fucking politics I tell ya

— JRUE HOLIDAY STAN (@Messerli_Bryce) December 16, 2021

Video footage of the incident showed the two women laughed in response. And while Rodgers is yet to address this latest episode in the saga, he may well do if he appears again on the Pat McAfee Show, which has provided the stage for the controversy. 

In early November, Rodgers appeared on the popular program to address accusations that he had lied about having the vaccine because he claimed he was “immunized” and went on to contract Covid.

“I realize I’m in the crosshairs of the woke mob right now, so before my final nail gets put in my cancel culture casket, I think I’d like to set the record straight on so many of the blatant lies that are out there about myself right now,” he told the show.

“I didn’t lie in the initial press conference. During that time there was a very…  a ‘witch hunt’ that was going on across the league where everybody in the media was so concerned about who was vaccinated and who wasn’t, and what that meant and who was being selfish and who would talk about it.

“[It was about] what they meant when they said it was a ‘personal decision’, [and that] they shouldn’t have to disclose their own medical information… and at the time, my plan was to say that I had been immunized. It wasn’t some sort of ruse or lie – it was the truth,” he clarified.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers explains his vaccination situation on @PatMcAfeeShow: pic.twitter.com/Bbli8YF9Ym

— Michael Mc (@Michael_NFL) November 5, 2021

Jen Psaki on Aaron Rodgers promoting alternatives to the COVID-19 vaccine: ‘You know how we feel about misinformation’ pic.twitter.com/pwTSdEYs4T

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 13, 2021

Days later, White House press secretary Jen Psaki publicly criticized Rodgers for spreading “misinformation”.

“I’m not an anti-vaxx flat-earther,” the 38-year-old insisted, saying he had consulted popular UFC commentator and podcaster Joe Rogan over alternative treatments.

“I have an allergy to an ingredient that’s in the mRNA vaccines. I found a long-term immunization protocol to protect myself and I’m very proud of the research that went into that.”

As Rodgers faced widespread backlash and lost sponsors, those close to him told People that he was “very unhappy with the response”.

Rodgers returned to the program and apologized, acknowledging that he is “a role model to a lot of people”.

Aaron Rodgers beat Covid unvaccinated and Biden is pissed.

— Kathy (@KathyFeebs) December 16, 2021

OK grandpa, let’s get you home

— Quoth the Raven (@QTRResearch) December 16, 2021

“I made some comments that people might have felt were misleading. To anybody who felt misled by those comments, I take full responsibility,” he accepted.

Many of the Biden administration’s rules and regulations aimed at increasing vaccination in the US have been held up or quashed by courts recently.

Republican state attorneys general, businesses and religious groups have claimed that the administration has gone beyond its authority in a country where Covid is thought to have killed around 800,000 people.

Biden’s legislation moves have included an executive order in September requiring federal contracts to include clauses mandating contractors to make employees take jabs.

pic.twitter.com/tsiUqakPDg

— So It Goes (@AllDayMGray) December 16, 2021

Biden really has his finger on the pulse of the issues facing people WHO HAD THEIR HOUSE BLOWN AWAY

— deb saxton (@milfandcookie) December 16, 2021

An order in the same month effectively required almost 97 percent of federal employees to get vaccinated by mid-November.

Rodgers missed a defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9 due to Covid but has since helped the Packers to a 10-3 record with four games of the regular season remaining.

On Sunday, he provided four touchdowns and 341 passing yards in an outstanding performance as part of 45-30 win over the Chicago Bears, and he is set to feature against the Baltimore Ravens on the road next time out.

Union bosses have warned that football is rife with grooming, assault and “horrific abuse” after disturbing accusations of repeated rape emerged against a long-serving coach and former Gabon national youth team boss.

Patrick Assoumou Eyi, who is said to be known locally as ‘Capello’, allegedly abused boys while leading Gabon’s under-17 team and serving in his current role as the country’s top-flight technical director. 

He is accused of luring them to his home, which he dubbed the ‘Garden of Eden’. Some victims have reportedly claimed that boys were provided for other leading figures in Gabonese football to abuse. 

The alleged victims say they have not contacted police because they lack faith in the justice system, according to the Guardian.

[#Gabon ] Patrick Assoumou Eyi, ex-sélectionneur de la sélection gabonaise des U17, est soupçonné d'avoir commis de nombreux abus sexuels à l'encontre de jeunes joueurs.

(@guardian) pic.twitter.com/uG0bgISoU9

— Footballogue⭐️⭐️ (@Footballogue) December 16, 2021

Alleged victims claim that Eyi – known as “Capello” – abused boys in his previous role as head coach of Gabon’s under-17 team and in his current role as technical director for La Ligue de l’Estuaire, the country’s highest league

— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) December 16, 2021

But Fifa’s international players’ union, Fifpro, has received a complaint and said that its preliminary inquiries unearthed “consistent evidence from credible witnesses” who unanimously say young players have long been forced into sexual relationships as a “pre-condition for footballing opportunities”.

“If these allegations are indeed true, it is yet further evidence that football is being consistently exploited, across leagues and continents, as a forum for abusers to access, groom, extort and assault players,” the union added.

“More must be done to prevent this horrific abuse and we call on football’s governing bodies to act as a matter of urgency.”

Eyi stepped down from working with the under-17s squad in 2017 but the outlet said that he continues to work with young people at the La Ligue de l’Estuaire despite a former official in Gabon’s football federation, Fegafoot, reportedly claiming that he attempted to raise concerns of sexual abuse allegations at a 2019 board meeting which were brushed off.

The official is said to have been fired as a result, though Fegafoot denied that claim to the newspaper.

“He forced me to have sexual relations with him,” one player who represented the under-17s side from 2015 to 2017 was quoted as saying. “That was the condition to stay in the national team.

One former player who was coached by Eyi said that the coach would lure alleged victims to his home, which he called the “Garden of Eden”. Some victims have alleged that Eyi also provided boys for other figures in football to abuse.

— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) December 16, 2021

“At the time, I left my village in order to help my family. I was living in the capital [Libreville] and becoming a professional footballer was the only way to get out of misery. So I did what I had to do to help them.”

“Capello raped so many boys,” the player was quoted as alleging. “He sometimes went to the countryside to find new ones.

“He took advantage of poverty and also gave some boys to other officials. In our national team, the majority had to give sex.

“That’s the reality of Gabonese football for decades but no-one can shut down the system. Predators are too numerous… we suffered hell.”

Two other alleged victims say Eyi abused them when they were under 18 while they attended an academy in a Libreville suburb between 2017 and 2019.

“Sometimes, he took some kids to his house, ‘Le Jardin d’Eden’,” one is said to have explained. “He was very nice to me but every time I saw him he told me I was beautiful.

“One day, he told me that some of the players gave masturbation… he left his office with a smile. It was like he was sending me a message.”

“I had some sexual experiences with Capello, I was obligated to,” the other player is quoted as saying.

“I quit football, you know. I tried my best for my family and now I live out of the country. I can’t go back.

A complaint over the allegations of sexual abuse has been registered with Fifa by the international players union, Fifpro. Fifpro said it was deeply concerned about the allegations

— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) December 16, 2021

“Capello bought kids from remote provinces or villages with a poor background in the majority.

“He brainwashed them and made them believe they had to give sexual favours to him. One other coach told us one day: ‘If you want to play with the under-17 national team, you know what you have to do.’”

Eyi, who was a winger but went into coaching at a young age with a noted eye for spotting footballing talent, is said to have posted a series of messages on his WhatsApp statuses where he seemed to make reference to the allegations and wrote: “Those who use lies as a weapon don’t know the reverse on the spiritual side.”

Fegafoot’s media officer, Pablo Moussodji Ngoma, was quoted by the Guardian to have referenced the allegations on Facebook, criticizing them for a “weakness of evidence”.

“The testimonies of the actor victims, with their names, can dissuade the perpetrators of these abominable acts but we must also allow the judicial bodies and even the courts to punish them,” he reportedly wrote.

“The rest will be taken as one more communication operation for those who are committed to tarnishing Gabon’s image internationally.”

In a reported statement, Fegafoot said it had “never registered any complaints relating to any act of this nature”.

“To our knowledge, [Eyi] does not have a team and is not appointed to lead any national team,” it is said to have added.

“The players you have met should consider also contacting us in order to diligently investigate because we confirm that such facts must be denounced in court and to the competent judicial bodies.”

This scandal is just the latest to rock Gabonese football, which in November saw ex-Rennes star Stephane Nguema and four fellow ex-internationals arrested for protesting against continued cancelations of the domestic leagues.

As a consequence, Nguema has had to leave his role as the players’ union secretary-general, with members claiming they haven’t been paid in almost two years.

The US National Football League (NFL) had updated its Covid-19 protocols in response to the spread of the Omicron variant, imposing restrictions on both vaccinated and unvaccinated players.

The NFL announced its revised protocols in a statement on Thursday, revealing that masks would be mandatory “regardless of vaccination status,” that in-person meals would be banned, and that meetings would be held either remotely or outdoors, “effective immediately.”

“The changes we are making today aim to address the increase in cases and the advent of the Omicron variant,” the statement declared, adding that the NFL would “continue to strongly encourage booster shots as the most effective protection.”

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“All of these changes are grounded in our data and science-backed approach, with safety our number-one goal for the entire NFL community,” the NFL concluded.

While both vaccinated and unvaccinated players were ordered to mask up, the league cut the vaccinated some slack, making it easier for them to return to play after quarantine.

Under the new protocols, vaccinated players have more testing options which will allow them to hit the field after quarantine quicker, while unvaccinated players will continue to be required to test daily, unlike vaccinated players who test weekly.

Still, the new protocols did not go down well on social media, with critics pointing out that rolling out restrictions for vaccinated and unvaccinated players might discourage skeptics to get the jab.

After bullying all players and coaches into getting “vaccinated” for covid the NFL today announced new covid policies that essentially acknowledge there is no difference between the vaccinated and unvaccinated players.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) December 16, 2021

Genuine question, what incentive to NFL players have to get vaccinated? All this does it make it so people on the fence won't do it. https://t.co/gz3AUjmDnw

— Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) December 16, 2021

NFL in August: “Get vaccinated to enjoy freedom”

NFL today: “LOL JK” https://t.co/Z4rOyYx3PC

— BeatinTheBookie.com™️ (@BeatinTheBookie) December 16, 2021

The NFL has been pushing its vaccine-skeptical players and staff into getting vaccinated and previously enforced harsh, separate protocols for the unvaccinated, which included daily testing, mandatory masks, and a ban on mingling with others.

Several stars have been punished for breaking the NFL’s Covid-19 rules and Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown was suspended this month for using a counterfeit vaccination card to ‘prove’ his status.

NFL Network’s Judy Battista reported on Wednesday that around 100 players recently tested positive for the virus over a three-day span.

It’s undeniably been a strange time for travel this past year. With COVID-19 still present, many of you may be a little hesitant to venture too far abroad. 

Thankfully, there are lots of incredible locations just a quick journey away which you can visit safely for a much-needed change of scene. In fact, many of our guests have already traveled during COVID-19 and enjoyed some truly life-changing experiences!

COVID-19 travel is made easy when you choose destinations with shorter journey times and fewer crowds. From breathtaking national parks unchanged by the modern world to places famed for their vibrant cultures and age-old traditions, why not plan other-worldly experiences in the following locations a little closer to home?

Alaska

Diverse and dramatic landscapes hiding wondrous wildlife and ancient indigenous communities make Alaska an ideal option for COVID-19 safe travel. 

The region’s vast wildernesses allow you to steer clear of the crowds and spend the majority of your trip in the great outdoors. Enjoy a week hiking in the immense Denali National Park – home to the highest peak in North America – or glimpse grizzly bears amongst the tall trees of Glacier Bay National Park.

Alaska’s coastlines are a haven for animal fanatics, too. Untouched beaches give way to Pacific Ocean waters teeming with seals, whales and sea lions, particularly around the scenic Kenai Peninsula. Anchorage is also a must-see during COVID-19 travel to Alaska. Despite its status as a city, it’s far from crowded. Taste the eclectic local cuisine and stop off at the Alaska Native Heritage Center where you can learn all about the area’s fascinating indigenous groups. 

Mexico

Mexico may be home to one of the largest, most bustling cities in Central America, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a great location for COVID-19 safe travel! 

Avoid the big cities and beach resorts and make for lesser-known locales. Experience the tranquillity of Palenque, an ancient Mayan city set within the Chiapas jungle that boasts UNESCO World Heritage status. Those after sun and sea should consider a trip to Punta Mita. The private peninsula is perfect for COVID-19 travel, with high-end hotels and quiet beaches creating a paradise for R&R. 

Many of Mexico’s colorful colonial cities are also ideal for soaking up some of the country’s eclectic culture. Oaxaca is a melting pot of traditions and tantalizing cuisine. What’s more, it has a distinctive local identity which can be explored at its various arts and crafts markets, as well as its amazing restaurants. Alternatively, peaceful San Miguel de Allende in the highlands of Central Mexico is a magnet for culture-seekers and those excited to soak in the area’s natural thermal springs.

Hawaii

Most visit Hawaii for its luxurious beach resorts. Nevertheless, there’s far more to this North American oasis than its soft sand shores!

Embrace Hawaii’s welcoming culture with a visit to Oahu Island. As well as being home to the capital, Honolulu, you’ll also discover wonderful hiking trails and fantastic museums where you can learn more about the islands’ intriguing pasts. Oahu also hosts the Polynesian Cultural Centre where you can learn about local ways of life. Prefer a more hands-on cultural experience? Take a trip to a local village to meet indigenous communities and sample the deliciously fresh Hawaiian cuisine.

If you’d rather go off the beaten path, Maui and Kauai are wonderful picks. The latter is blanketed in virgin forest and is a true playground for outdoor adventure seekers. Take a canoe trip through the verdant Wailua River valley or laze around on deserted beaches along the Napali Coast. Maui is a haven for snorkelers thanks to its amazing reefs. You’ll also be able to see a different side of Hawaiian culture in Upcountry Maui. Meet real-life Hawaiian cowboys and admire exquisite artwork in charming Makawao!

Costa Rica

If you’re searching for a nearby country that’s particularly great for sustainable trips, there are few better places than Costa Rica. The Central American nation is not too far to journey to for a week or so of once-in-a-lifetime adventures – and the options are truly endless!

Head deep into one of Costa Rica’s protected forests, such as the Monteverde Cloud Forest Ecological Reserve, where you’ll have numerous hiking trails to explore and a choice of luxury eco-lodges to stay in. The country also boasts two spectacular coastlines where you can enjoy balmy weather conditions and all manner of marine life. The Tortuguero region is particularly stunning and its sandy coves are the nesting grounds of graceful giant sea turtles. 

Those who want to keep their distance from their fellow travelers might prefer a holiday to one of Costa Rica’s quieter locales. The dreamy Osa Peninsula is great for beach lovers who like to feel like the only people on Earth, while the charming town of Bajos del Toro lets you immerse yourself in the authentic rural traditions of the country. 

Canada

Embrace lakeside living or tick off some of the country’s 48 epic National Parks with a COVID-19-safe trip to Canada. Jaw-dropping landscapes are spread across the nation, in addition to amazing cities with distinctly different histories and traditions.

Thrilling adventures are at your fingertips in beautiful locations like Jasper National Park. Spring and summer are the best times to visit Canada for extraordinary wildlife encounters. Pacific Coast hotspots such as lovely Vancouver Island are famed for whale watching, while 5,000 kilometers east on the Atlantic Coast is where you’ll find sleepy fishing towns which seem frozen in time. You could also book a winter break to enjoy miles of powdery snow and exhilarating winter sports in Whistler. 

Canada may have a reputation as an adventure holiday destination, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit for cultural getaways, too. Quebec City and Montreal are the best places to experience the country’s intriguing French heritage, whether that’s mouth-watering cuisine like poutine or elegant European-inspired architecture. 

Alternatively, Dawson City on the shores of the Yukon River is an excellent spot to educate yourself about the Klondike Gold Rush. You could also ask our destination experts to put together an itinerary that lets you interact with the local indigenous communities across Canada and learn about their ancient ways of life. 

Let your Enchanting Travels team of experts guide you as you plan COVID-19-safe travel to destinations that a little closer to home. 

Do you love travel stories from around the world? Sign up for our newsletter or register for one of our free webinars! 

The post COVID-19 Travel: Closer to Home, A World Away appeared first on Enchanting Travels.

Along with soaking up spectacular landscapes, glimpsing extraordinary wildlife and sampling mouth-watering cuisine, we think making deep connections with the countries and communities we visit is vitally important, too. That’s why at Enchanting Travels we always strive to offer one-of-a-kind responsible travel experiences to all of our guests, regardless of their chosen holiday destination. 

From selecting local guides to show you around their home cities to organizing memorable trips which provide much-needed support for indigenous communities, there are so many ways to give back to the people and places we visit on our travels. You could also enjoy various hands-on experiences – from craft workshops to building projects – or go completely off the beaten path during a life-changing sustainable travel trip. 

To give you an idea of what responsible travel activities we’re able to provide as part of your tailored trip itinerary, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite options below.

Spend a day with Kenyan grandmothers

Not just home to some truly wonderful wildlife, Kenya is also well-known for its friendly and fascinating communities. Why not give back to them with this interactive, once-in-a-lifetime experience?

We’ve partnered with One Horizon, an Africa-based tour company that specializes in responsible travel, to offer this amazing activity option. It’ll see you spending a day with a welcoming group of inspiring older Kenyan women, learning about their lifestyles and gaining an insight into their local traditions and practices. 

Many of the grandmas work hard to support their families. Part of your experience will therefore include gifting either one piglet or 25 chicks to their farms which will help provide them with vital sustenance and income in the months to come. 

Depending on the day you visit, you’ll be able to assist with chores around the farm and even prepare a traditional – and very delicious! – Kenyan lunch. It’ll be a day for making memories and changing lives – both the grandmas’ and your own. 

Enjoy a real-life “Out of Africa” experience with Florian Keller

If you’ve ever watched the 1985 blockbuster Out of Africa, you’ll know just how beautiful the scenery in this corner of the world can be! 

This next experience is one we’re able to offer exclusively to guests visiting Kenya. That’s because our company co-founder, Florian Keller, currently calls the same location where the inspiring film was shot 36 years ago his home. Receive a warm welcome into his wonderful property near Nairobi and enjoy breakfast or drinks with views across the stunning Ngong Hills. 

In addition to soaking up the scenery and spotting the occasional wild animal in the distance, you could also sit down to dine beside the property’s magnificent fireplace. It was here, three decades ago, that Robert Redford and Meryl Streep’s characters told stories to each other over the crackling of the warm open fire. 

A truly unique experience, visiting Florian’s home allows you to glimpse a place that has shaped the imaginations of countless people across the world!

Explore Delhi during a Salaam Baalak Trust City Walk

India’s capital is a true kaleidoscope of sights, sounds, cultures and colors. This next responsible travel experience allows you to see the city through the eyes of a new generation by embarking on an English-speaking walking tour of Delhi organized by the Salaam Baalak Trust. 

This NGO supports the city’s street children and gives them access to opportunities to help achieve their dreams. Working and street children in India are at constant risk of crime, exploitation and falling into poverty. Salaam Baalak provide safe centers for vulnerable kids across the city where they can receive essential services such as medical care, education and food and clothing supplies.

We recommend to our guests visiting Delhi that they support the organization by booking one of the organization’s City Walk tours. They’re led by the children themselves, who have been formally trained as local guides. You’ll get to visit corners of the capital that aren’t usually seen on regular tours and receive first-hand insight into the city’s contemporary culture. 

Experience authentic Tanzanian culture at the Africa Amini Maasai Lodge 

If Tanzania has long been on your travel bucket list, why not plan a safari experience there with Enchanting Travels? One of the many ways you can make your stay more responsible is to book a few nights in the Africa Amini Maasai Lodge.

This incredible property is located in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro and run by Africa Amini Alama. The 16 lodges resemble traditional Maasai dwellings, complete with straw roofs and earth walls, yet they also all feature plenty of modern creature comforts. Most of the staff at the lodge are Maasai, too, and you’ll be able to embark on a range of remarkable activity options which will give you first-hand experience of their culture and traditions. 

As well as providing jobs for members of the local community, the money generated from bookings at the lodge goes towards a range of inspiring projects in the surrounding area. This includes educational and medical programs, in addition to vital wildlife conservation. 

Overall, this exceptional accommodation experience allows you to stay in a truly stunning property, while simultaneously giving back to important community projects.

Connect with a local farming family in Kerala, India

The picturesque Kerala region is one of the most popular and naturally beautiful destinations we send our guests to in South India. In addition to enjoying its epic landscapes on organized tours and excursions, you could also embrace responsible travel with a stay at Phillipkuttys Farm. 

The property in the backwaters of Kerala consists of seven thoughtfully designed villas. They’re spread out on a working farm located on an island in serene Lake Vembanad. You’ll be hosted by the farm’s friendly owner and his family who are on hand to take you on tours of the farm, cook you mouth-watering Keralan dishes or even just to have a chat over a steaming cup of chai!

The open-plan villas have all been individually designed and are entirely private from both each other and the host family’s home. Soak up peaceful vistas of the water from your verandah and admire traditional furnishings which have all been individually chosen to give the villas a homey feel. 

There is also a whole program of activities on offer for guests at Phillipkuttys Farm, including private yoga classes, bike rides to nearby villages and sunset cruises on the farm’s wooden canal boat. 

Dive deep into the culture of Laos in Luang Prabang

Laos is a country whose culture remains a mystery to many. Consider rectifying that with a visit to the nation’s most regal city, Luang Prabang. 

Tucked away on the northern fringes of Laos, the entire metropolis boasts UNESCO World Heritage status. It was the country’s royal capital for thousands of years until 1975 and now consequently offers visitors a melting pot of architectural styles and beautiful landmarks to explore. 

Instead of simply spending a few days touring Luang Prabang’s peaceful Buddhist temples and magnificent Royal Palace, why not embrace its distinctive culture with a few responsible travel experiences? 

Get involved with the early morning alms giving led by the city’s local monks or set off on an elephant trek through the Huay Sae Valley with the Shangri-Lao Explorer Camp. The camp based just outside Luang Prabang provides responsible treks which begin with feeding the elephants and chatting to a local veterinarian about their health and well-being.

Another brilliant activity to add to your itinerary in Luang Prabang is volunteering with the Big Brother Mouse initiative. The selfless organization creates, publishes and hands out educational books to the most deprived schools in the area. Spend a morning selecting books to be donated and delivering to schools in need.

Ready to dive deeper on your next journey? Simply tell us your dream destination and we’ll show you ways you can connect with its local people and culture. 

Do you love travel stories from around the world? Sign up for our newsletter or register for one of our free webinars! 

The post Responsible Travel: Creating Community Connections appeared first on Enchanting Travels.