Questioning environment
It is idealistic to ensure constructive environmental discussions between countries that are mainly, and understandably, concerned by land conflicts. Therefore, the Mediterranean basin is sadly turning into a junkyard. An emergency to tackle.
We can nothing but applaud the spectacle of a unified Europe standing, with other world powers, by Iraq’s bedside. And the clear will of the European Union to help Lebanon overcome its colossal debt is no less encouraging, now that it is expected to begin its long overdue economic reforms to donor countries. European support is still boosted by links deriving from human and geographic proximity, and that makes it all the more real and authentic. The fact remains that nations do not only live from political stability and economic prosperity. Even in the grip of all kinds of crises, people aspire to live with pure air and fresh water. Unfortunately, this matter often slips out of governmental hands. Civil society initiatives are neutralized, and fought, with the unconsciousness and inertia of administrations. In the absence of national and regional environmental strategies, what would all the programs suggested for the Arab region, particularly the EuroMed ones, be able to achieve?
Time is short though. Slowly but surely, our beloved and bright Mare Nostrum is taking the appearance of a dump. Leant on one of the most arid parts of the earth, the oriental shores of the Mediterranean are the theater of a voiceless struggle for controlling water, a vital resource: a struggle that can only be won by harshness, considering the rhythm of climate changes and demographic growth. Engaging a large scale Mediterranean dialogue on this issue, as Europe hopes, comes close to being impossible to this day: with which magic wand can we gather states that are separated by a heavy and lasting disagreement over the Palestinian conflict to discuss "anything else"? How could we debate about water management if we are not done fighting for land yet? These legitimate questions are uncontrollably to appeal to other alarming other questions: doesn't leaving things at their current state, and awaiting for a miracle peace, complicate the real search for peace? Doesn't this allow the germs of future wars to grow and light up over the years?Here we find ourselves faced, once more, with the ultimate and immemorial question:What came first: the chicken or the egg?
Issa Goraieb
Editorialist
(Excerpts from Cahiers Euromed, 2005)
This article reminds me of the book “A Green History of the World, the Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations” by Clive Ponting. In his book, Ponting describes how collapsed societies that have been involved in massive conflicts, while lacking of environmental priorities, completely exhausted the natural resources to which they had access. In fact, this article reflects the inability of countries concerned by land conflicts to stop destroying their natural resources even when irreversible resource destruction is obvious to all. Now, our entire society is embarked on a massive resource extraction. The question is: will we overcome the obstacles that previous societies did not?
Your reactions
I would like to be brief and thank Europa Jaratona program for its achievments in Jordan.
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.
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?
On: Mediterranean pollution “hot spots” under control by 2020?
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If you read the article you feel that you are dreaming, but life cannot continued without the saving of environment exactly as the editorialist said. However, how can the people who suffer from war and government crisis to think for that said. The blame should go to the people who have hand in that war or problems in general. But how can you blame someone who doesn’t care because he has his tidy land. The amazing thing in the issue is that the European Union who doesn’t have hand in any problems in the world is working as hard as possible to solve the other’s problems.