I left behind everything that didn’t weigh on my soul,
the paths that led nowhere;
my heart, once a calm garden,
is now a sea searching for its wide channel.
I live to write what silence holds,
to carry my words to distant lands;
for my children, who are light in my wanderings,
for my grandchildren, seeds of new days.
I am no longer the same one who believed in castles,
who expected miracles with every sunrise;
now my life is a half-open book,
where only what the heart has learned matters.
GRACIELA NOEMI VILLAVERDE is a writer and poet from Concepción del Uruguay (Entre Rios) Argentina, based in Buenos Aires She graduated in letters and is the author of seven books of poetry, awarded several times worldwide. She works as the World Manager of Educational and Social Projects of the Hispanic World Union of Writers and is the UHE World Honorary President of the same institution’s Activa de la Sade, Argentine Society of Writers. She is the Commissioner of Honor in the executive cabinet in the Educational and Social Relations Division of the UNACCC South America – Argentina Chapter.
From “Being Human is Hard” by O’lmas Umarbekov — Gulchehra, from my perspective, regrets…
My first, pure love I gave to you,
My whole heart I offered as a gift, too.
In return, I had hoped for love from you,
Yet my unforgettable mistake—you became “you”!
All my attention was only on you,
My day passed with your letters in view.
If from afar I glimpsed you, my eyes would burn through,
Yet my unforgettable mistake—you became “you”!
You said you longed for my arrival, that you’d wait,
Without a word, silently, you walked away.
You hid trust completely from my vocabulary’s slate,
Yet my unforgettable mistake—you became “you”!
I heard later, you said many words,
“I didn’t love, I didn’t burn,” yet again.
You turned my whole heart into a play for your amusement,
Yet my unforgettable mistake—you became “you”!
You found your own Shirin and Layli,
Burning in their love, you became another story.
What could I have said? As always, fine…
Yet my unforgettable mistake—you became “you”!
I loved… In the end, I proved it true,
Without you, I preferred death over any rue.
I cut off even the memories that I knew,
Yet my unforgivable mistake—you became “you”!
— (Anvarova Mohira)
Anvarova Mohira Sanjarbek qizi was born on September 2, 2007. She lives in Yaypan city, O‘zbekiston district, Fergana region. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Humanities and Language Education at Kokand State University. She is actively engaged in educational and humanitarian fields. Mohira actively participates in the university’s cultural and educational events. She holds a B-level certificate in her native language and a B2-level certificate in English. In addition, she is involved in creative activities and works on articles and theses.
I am Axmedova Gulchiroyxon, a second-year undergraduate student at Kokand State University, Faculty of Primary and Technological Education, specializing in Primary Education. I actively participate in numerous competitions and assessments.
Jesús Rafael Marcano Guzmán, (Maturín, Venezuela, 1993)
Founder of Sakura Centro Cultural de Arte y Literatura Japonesa and the Jaykismo Movement. He is a member of the EIDOS International Artistic Movement (headquartered in France) and currently serves as President of the EIDOS International Artistic Movement, Venezuela-Asia chapter.
He stands out for his work as an author of bilingual works in Chinese and Spanish, establishing himself as an important promoter of Sinology and Asian literature in Ibero-America. He has published research on the influence of Chinese religion and philosophy on culture and language for the Association of Chinese Schools in Spain, one of which was translated into French and published in TingaNews Magazine (Burkina Faso, 2026).
He is a contributor to the cultural magazine China Bambú, Dragones y Tinta (Spain, 2025), the portal Japón desde Japón (2025), and a columnist for the Spanish newspaper Siglo XXI. His poetic work abroad includes the publication of haikus in English in the Greek magazine Homo Universalis (2026). In February 2026, the Greek magazine Polis Magazino published a series of his haikus in a bilingual Greek-English edition to commemorate World Greek Language Day, edited by Eva Petropoulou Lianou. This publication consolidates his work as a multilingual author and promoter of poetry and Asian literature in Ibero-America and Europe.
His most notable published works include Hanasaki (2021) and Haikus (2025) under the seal of Editorial Giraluna, among others.
Recognitions and Memberships:
· First place poetry prize at the first “Aventuras de papel” exhibition (Mar del Plata, 2024)
· Prof. Ciro Artemio Constantino Álvarez International Award by the Royal International Academy of Art and Literature (Mexico, 2024).
· Member of the Andrés Eloy Blanco Society of Poets.
· Member of the Latin American Poetry Route (Monagas State).
“I used to think the goal was to be loved. Now I know it’s to be understood.”
Emma Thompson
We are kind to each other
The cooking utensil to the other
cooking utensils in the drawer
The spoon to the other spoons, yes, everything
must have its place, every trace
of prey, each invisible doorway
into the kitchen
What is courage,
what is increase? It is only a
place to start
The garden is cool,
the tree’s shade
My father’s voice
I murmur a response
The washing hangs on the line
My brother’s daughter strums
a toy guitar, we have a
butternut pizza for supper
We can’t get the boys out of the angry green sea,
nor can we get them out of the jacuzzi
The white gaze lies dormant
in the shade like our brown bodies
We put a plaster on her finger
the wound is bloodless now
I make iced matcha lattes for myself and my dad
I lick the white moustache off my upper lip
Overnight I have turned into a capitalist
My fingers into stars, my legs
into a wave, the bead of the presenter’s
tongue on the television into a fig
The current moves through me
This time it’s personal
It catches the light of the fire
inside my father, inside all of us
The smell of burning meat, drumsticks
The kitchen is time and memory
Legs are tanned, burned by the sun’s time and memory
The boys and my sister play a board game
My mother screams and screams at me
The room grows quiet
A pink geranium grows out of my mother’s throat
Something within me is crushed like a pill
Slowly the sun in my mother’s eyes
turns into a mocking face, a laugh
Its poison is killing me slowly. She is just a woman
and I am just a woman
The moment passes
The child starts to laugh too because my mother is laughing
I break, I break
A wave flows into me and I lose consciousness
It’s evening
The game continues
A woman walks by the house with her dog
The dog barks
There’s a white feather in my mouth
It tastes like snow
Going
“When we can’t think for ourselves, we can always quote.”
Ludwig Wittgenstein
I offer you cranberry bread.
I offer you this knife for the hard cheese.
I offer you this clock.
I offer you the dark.
I offer you this fruit.
I offer you this orange.
I offer you this as a blessing.
I offer you this sweetness.
I offer you this shroud.
I offer you this veil.
I offer you this truth.
I offer you this memory.
I offer you, Africa.
I offer you these gifts.
I offer you equality.
I offer you this ancient sea.
I offer you music.
I offer you this river.
I offer you this garden as meditation.
I offer you the history of this continent.
I offer you this as an alternative.
I offer this to you for our salvation.
I offer this to you because I love you.
I offer you this because today you are getting on a ship,
and sailing far away from me.
I offer you sleep, captor.
I offer you this forest that I dragged behind me
because you have the personality
of foolish paper and the medicine of the wildflower.
I offer you this frozen mist.
I am offering you this blue cat. Take it.
Please accept it gracefully.
Let it be your companion.
I offer the dissolution of the sun.
And now, now I come to peace.
Now I come to minister to you.
I bring you coffee and poetry books.
I will bring you a pen and an empty journal for your thoughts.
It was Christ who brought us this morning.
It is time. It is the hour of your departure.
I turn to embrace you, to say goodbye.
Waiting/Relapse
“Put down the pen someone else gave you. No one drafted a life worth living on borrowed ink.”
Jack Kerouac
“Today I can’t stand myself, and I will force myself to write because you’re unhappy. So, I must mask the monster within and find the landing place. I must smile because I want to see you smile. I must count the days and remain quiet in your presence, because you are not at peace. This is what I tell my mind on bad days.”
Tourism and Its Impact: Economic, Cultural, and Environmental Dimensions
Abstract Tourism has become one of the fastest-growing global industries, influencing economic development, intercultural communication, and environmental sustainability. This paper examines the multidimensional impacts of tourism through a qualitative analytical approach based on existing scholarly literature and international tourism reports. The study identifies tourism as a significant driver of economic growth, a facilitator of cultural exchange, and a factor that can both protect and threaten the natural environment.
The findings suggest that sustainable tourism practices are essential to balance economic benefits with social and ecological responsibilities.
Keywords: tourism, economic impact, cultural exchange, sustainable tourism, environmental impact
Introduction Tourism plays a vital role in the modern globalized world. Increased mobility, globalization, and digital accessibility have enabled millions of people to travel across borders annually. Countries increasingly rely on tourism as a source of income, employment, and international cooperation. However, tourism also produces social and environmental challenges that require responsible management. The purpose of this paper is to analyze tourism from three major perspectives: economic contribution, cultural interaction, and environmental consequences. The study aims to demonstrate that tourism is beneficial when managed sustainably but potentially harmful when uncontrolled.
Literature Review Previous studies indicate that tourism contributes significantly to national GDP and employment rates (UNWTO, 2023). According to economic development theories, tourism stimulates local markets by increasing demand for transportation, accommodation, and services (Sharpley, 2018).
In developing countries, tourism is often considered a catalyst for regional development (Scheyvens, 2019). From a cultural perspective, tourism promotes intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding (Smith & Richards, 2017). Cultural tourism allows visitors to experience traditions, festivals, cuisine, and heritage, strengthening global awareness and tolerance. However, researchers warn that commercialization may threaten cultural authenticity (Cohen, 1988).
Environmental studies highlight both positive and negative outcomes. Ecotourism supports conservation and environmental education (Weaver, 2001). Conversely, overtourism causes pollution, biodiversity loss, and infrastructure pressure (Gössling et al., 2019).
Methodology This study uses a qualitative descriptive research method. Data is collected through analysis of international tourism reports, academic journals, and case studies. The method focuses on comparative analysis of tourism effects across economic, cultural, and environmental dimensions.
The research does not rely on primary field surveys but synthesizes existing reliable academic sources.
Economic Impact of Tourism Tourism significantly contributes to national and local economies. It generates employment in hotels, restaurants, transportation services, entertainment sectors, and small businesses. Many countries depend on tourism revenue as a major component of GDP. For example, Mediterranean countries benefit greatly from seasonal tourism activities.
Tourism also supports entrepreneurship. Local artisans, guides, and small enterprises benefit from tourist spending. Infrastructure development such as airports, roads, and communication networks often improves due to tourism demand, benefiting residents as well as visitors. However, economic dependency on tourism may create vulnerability during crises such as pandemics or political instability. Therefore, diversification of the economy remains necessary.
Cultural Exchange and Social Influence Tourism fosters intercultural communication by enabling people from different backgrounds to interact. Travelers learn about local customs, languages, and traditions, while host communities gain exposure to global cultures. This exchange promotes tolerance and global awareness. Nevertheless, cultural commodification may occur when traditions are modified solely to satisfy tourist expectations. Maintaining authenticity while accommodating visitors is essential. Community-based tourism models help protect cultural heritage by involving local residents in decision-making processes.
Environmental Impact Tourism affects natural ecosystems in multiple ways. Responsible tourism supports conservation programs, national parks, and heritage protection. Ecotourism initiatives encourage environmental awareness among travelers. In contrast, uncontrolled tourism leads to overcrowding, waste production, water consumption, and habitat destruction. Popular destinations often suffer from environmental degradation due to excessive visitor numbers. Sustainable management strategies such as visitor limits, recycling programs, and eco-friendly accommodations are necessary.
Discussion The findings demonstrate that tourism is neither entirely positive nor negative. Its impact depends on planning and regulation. Sustainable tourism integrates economic growth, social well-being, and environmental protection. Governments, businesses, and tourists share responsibility in maintaining balance.
Conclusion
Tourism remains a crucial global industry with powerful economic, cultural, and environmental effects. When properly managed, it supports development, cultural understanding, and conservation. However, without sustainable policies, tourism may damage communities and ecosystems. Future tourism strategies must prioritize sustainability to ensure long-term benefits for both travelers and host societies.
References Cohen, E. (1988). Authenticity and commoditization in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research. Gössling, S., Scott, D., & Hall, C. M. (2019). Global tourism and environmental change. Routledge. Scheyvens, R. (2019). Tourism for Development. Routledge. Sharpley, R. (2018). Tourism, tourists and society. Routledge. Smith, M., & Richards, G. (2017). The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Tourism. UNWTO. (2023). International Tourism Highlights. Weaver, D. (2001). Ecotourism. Wiley.
