Black emergencies in the Mediterranean

Mediterranean countries are facing demographic, ecological, economic and cultural challenges. Concerted action is needed to prevent catastrophic consequences. That’s one thing presenting a consensus, for a change.

Twenty two countries, spread between the North and the South, border the Mediterranean. Together, they are compelled to protect this common heritage. In spite of numerous divergences between riverside countries, it seems urgent to build mutual understanding in order to prevent the Mediterranean from becoming a dumping ground.

In history books, the Mediterranean Sea is known as “the cradle of civilizations”, whereas nowadays, researchers and analysts call it “the sea of divergences”. Its inhabitants are at the same time the wealthiest and the poorest on the planet; the annual income of inhabitants of Northern Mediterranean is 26 times superior to that of Southern inhabitants. In addition, there have been demographic upheavals in Mediterranean. Until 1950, the region counted around 212 million inhabitants (two third from the North and a third from the South). In 2000, it had 440 million inhabitants, and the prediction forecasts 600 millions of inhabitants for 2025 (two third from the South and a third from the North). Did the partnership agreements take into consideration these alarming numbers? How is it possible to clear up these problems?

First thing first

Galloping urbanization is one of the major causes of pollution in the Mediterranean. The number of cities has gone up from one hundred in 1900 to two hundred in 2000 with more than 300 million inhabitants. But seaborne pollution is no less dangerous than terrestrial contamination. Recent studies have shown that more than 70 thousands of ships and freighters and 30 % of the world’s oil tankers furrow the Mediterranean, not to mention the 650 thousand of yachts and pleasure boats. According to international organizations, a total of 2600 tonnes of oil and dirty grease are discharged every day in the sea!

More than 80% of used water is deversed in the Mediterranean littoral without being processed. In addition to liquid and solid industrial wastes, touristic activities, over consuming of water and energy, exhaustion of hydraulic resources in some regions… Indeed, the list of pollution factors is long.

It is true that protocols and agreements are already implemented in the Mediterranean (such as the Barcelona protocol dating from 1976). However, they are neither sufficient nor very well respected. And the partnership agreements omitted to implement any efficient prevention or protection strategy. Urgency once again!

Habib Maalouf
President of the Lebanese Association for Environment & Development
(Excerpts from Cahiers Euromed, 2005)

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Abderrahmane, Morocco | 16-11-2009, 13.10h

There are many similarities between the people living in the Mediterranean sea. Either in the history that is dated back to many centuries or the quality of knowledge of the people in the region. The sea in reality is hosting a divergent civilization that cannot be ignored by anyone in the world. But can we live in the Mediterranean countries and waiting for others to gather our similarities? Many initiatives have been taken till now without practice. So, I think that the civil society in the region should integrate in the unity of the Euro-Mediterranean countries.

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I would like to be brief and thank Europa Jaratona program for its achievments in Jordan.

Mohammad Talal Ramini
On: E-TVET reform (Jordan)

It is good to hear that there is someone who really cares about our historical monuments. While reading the article, I was hoping to find so many Tunisian names to make sure that, also, in our country there are people who are hell-bent on preserving what is left of a glorious history. Tunisia, thanks to its location, welcomed many civilizations whose leaders built huge and glorious buildings. Not only in cities near the shores, but also in the far west cities like Sbitla, Kasserin...

I believe that in order to save the surviving monuments, there should be a campaign to make Tunisians aware of the significance of such a loss if those buildings become ruins.

Schhaider
On: Initiatives to preserve Tunisian architecture

I have read this article with cautious and i was not happy of the approaches being written due i guess to lack of real understanding of current environmental issues we are facing. The problem of pollution will not be tackled only through fundings bec most of the money used is not appropriately used and if ever used we seek the traditional methods the old fashion way. We need to look at alternatives , less costs , better and more sustainable output. Waste problems are derived from mass consumerism and lack of understanding of what our lives should mean to us as far as human values and choices we should take in life. Building waste water treatment is needed but what is more needed is eduation and awereness and return to ethics and values. We can keep dumping money on projects but who would assure me that our resources are being well taken care of and not depleted in a fast way? Where is the concept of sustainibility?

Boutros Mouawad
On: Mediterranean pollution “hot spots” under control by 2020?

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