It’s time to wrap up the week now with our favourite links from around the web.

Steve Jackson weighs in on the downside of voluntourism, sparking an interesting debate, answered here and further explored here.

Rolf Potts shares an enlightening discussion with Tim Ferris, author of The Four Hour Work Week, on how to free yourself from the daily grind.

John Rosenthal asks the hard question most of us would rather not confront: is travel destroying the planet?

Zen Habits dishes up what we’ve all been looking for, A Guide to Escaping Materialism and Finding Happiness.

Dumb Little Man believes we all need reminders on Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist.

Finally, Frank Bures takes aim at the Western world’s continued attempt to turn Africa, the second largest continent in the world, which has 53 countries and nearly a billion people of every variety and situation, into one giant crisis.

In the same vein, don’t miss another brilliant essay, How to write about Africa.

Happy Canada Day!