My anger over the growing problems of Armenia’s most important natural resource, Lake Sevan, is hitting a boiling point. I am always overjoyed when I finish my climb from either the Dillijan Valley or the Ararat Valley and I am met with the beauty of Lake Sevan. However, her beauty is only skin deep.
Garbage lying around next to the garbage cans and bins is such a common site in Armenia these days, that nobody seems to pay any attention to it. Still, today I just couldn’t let it go…
I try to understand people, who throw something in the street, because then can’t find a garbage can. I said - I try! But what do I call those, who have put these plastic bags full of garbage right next to the empty garbage can? Why, people? Why?
PS: After writing this post I understood, that I’m the biggest pig of all! After taking the photo, I spared the effort and didn’t pick up the plastic bags to put them in the empty garbage can! I just left it there as it was! Maybe it has something to do with my Armenian Genetics???
Armenianow.com posted a little later than usual yesterday, so in case you haven’t looked at it yet, it has a number of stories on NGOs that are doing really good work. Even better — they aren’t all in Yerevan!
One especially interesting case is of an NK NGO that has trouble getting funding as NK isn’t recognized as a state. (Or maybe this was especially interesting to me because I am writing a paper on the statehood question for my international law class right now!)
Please check out ArmeniaNow for some really great stories of NGOs doing positive things.
On a related topic, I shared with a crowd at Onnik’s presentation in London, an excellent survey of NGOs in Armenia done by a wonderful scholar at the LSE, Dr. Armine Ishkanian. Here’s a publically free work of hers that may interest you if you’re curious about NGOs in Armenia. If you have access to a university’s library online database you can surely fine her longer works.
James Tufenkian, who is in rug manufacturing and tourism development business in Armenia, has been recognized by Travel and Leisure magazine for “defending the historical, cultural, and ecological integrity of tourist destinations.”
The magazine paid tribute to seven innovative programs and initiatives across seven categories in the inaugural Global Vision Awards. Selected by a jury of seven distinguished global travel authorities, the winners are defending the historical, cultural, and ecological integrity of various regions throughout the world and are featured in the magazine’s December issue.
The winners are:
Economic Development: Tufenkian Artisan Carpets, Nepal and Armenia
New York-based James Tufenkian has enhanced the economy of developing communities in Nepal and Armenia by implementing worker-welfare programs, providing schools, housing, medical facilities and a water-purification plant for thousands of artisans and craftspeople.
HETQ brings to us a story about yet another forest in Armenia that is slated for destruction by a commercial entity.
Armenian Copper plans to destroy the forest in order to open and exploit the copper and molybdenum mines located beneath it, as well as to build an extraction plant nearby. According to Minister of Ecology Vardan Aivazyan, the reevaluation of mineral reserves in the Teghut mine was slated for completion in the last quarter of 2007. The minister was thus convinced that the mine could not be exploited before 2007. But it should be noted that any major decisions will be taken earlier, and deforestation will naturally precede the exploitation and processing of the mine. Therefore, there is little solace for ecological organizations and the general public in the fact that exploitation will begin no earlier than two years from now.
According to Aivazyan once again, “Armenian Copper has already completed its study of the Teghut mine and preliminary data show that there are reserves of up to 500 million tons of copper and molybdenum.”
There was a moderately strong earthquake in Yerevan overnight. While it was felt stronger because it was at night, it was only magnitude 3.1, with epicenter at the village of Parakar (near Zvartnots Airport).
According to REGNUM, the earthquake struck at 2:10 a.m. on July 30, and its intensity in Yerevan was IV-V points.
According to the seismic gap theory, periodic moderate and small-magnitude quakes are good as they release the energy in the fault. A disclaimer: this explanation would probably not suit well with many residents of Nork Masiv and Nork Marash who fled outside in the middle of the night.
The World Wildlife Federation’s bi-monthly newsletter was published today.
Topics covered:
* Shikahogh
* Environmental Awareness in the Media
Among others.
As Armenian news agencies report today, a Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Hayk Tchshmaritian resigned today and admitted that he’s one of the owners of the Golden Palace hotel in Victory Park in Yerevan.
Or should we say “resigned today AFTER admitting” that he’s one of the owners of GP?
Unfortunately, he managed to get away with his lame story about how he built the hotel to promote business in Armenia. Azg was the first to report on June 29 the connection between Deputy Minister Tchshmaritian and the new hotel in Yerevan (which, by the way, destroyed a 2 hectare part of forest/amusement park at the Victory Park). Government officials in Armenia are prohibited from engaging in private commercial activity by the law on civil service.
What the heck are the ecopolice? And why would they need guns?
ECOPOLICE TO BE FORMED WITHIN ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
07.07.2005 06:42
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Ecopolice will soon be formed within the Armenian Ministry of Environment Protection, stated Minister of Environment Protection Vardan Ayvazyan. In his words, the respective law establishes the goals, principles, control directions, structure of control on subordination of inspectors, their duties, powers, order of making transgressors responsible. The right of ecopolicemen to carry arms will be determined soon, reported Regnum news agency.
As my last ever post on Blogrel, finally some good news. Under unprecedented pressure from environmentalists in Armenia and individuals and organizations in the Diaspora, the government has backed down. Shikahogh is saved. A truly remarkable precedent has been set that will hopefully result in people standing up to the government when they try to circumvent the law and the constitution in the future. Writing for Hetq Online, Tigran Paskevichyan, puts it simply.
I am sure that the cooperation between Armenian NGOs and experienced, respected Diaspora Armenians will not end here, because it is time to put a stop to the government’s hostility toward society, their placing of the interest of the state over that of society, thereby infringing the rights of the possessors of that state, the people.
Mtnadzor is unique as a virgin forest but it is not unique as an event in which a group of officials turns public property and national treasures into objects of sale. It happened in Haghtanak Park when they cut down all the trees to build a hotel; it happened in the park near the Opera House when they poured concrete on the green areas and turned them into cafes; it happened with Northern Avenue, when along with people’s huts and cottages they destroyed buildings that were historical and architectural treasures. Now it’s about to happen to Komitas Park and the Pantheon, which they want to move, in order to use the land for public and private construction.
In every one of these cases, ordinary citizens and non-governmental organizations were alone in the struggle against the authorities, and they were defeated. Their defeat, however, was not a disgrace for them, but for the government who paid a disgraceful $14,000 to the owners of the houses they demolished in the center of Yerevan , a sum too small to buy an apartment on the outskirts of town.
I am sure that the experienced, respected Diasporans see and understand all this, and, having lived all their lives in democratic countries, they know that oppressing society and silencing public opinion never works in the long run. They know that the state, so long dreamed of, is stable and safe when negative processes are noticed right away, talked about, and put an end to.
These Diasporans have demonstrated their patriotism though their actions, and in doing so, their love for their homeland has grown stronger.
Real change in Armenia will only happen when more and more people stand up and demand that the law functions and their rights are protected. The next flash point will come when the constitutional ammendments are put up for referendum towards the end of the year. The Council of Europe have already demanded that the government implement real changes to the constitution and society will soon determine whether the government’s promises to do are genuine or not.
Anyway, more coverage of Shikahogh and the imminent constitutional ammendments is available over on my blog at http://onnik.blogspot.com.
Bulldozer, Siunik Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian
According to ArmInfo, and contrary to what was reportedly said at this morning’s public meeting on Shikahogh, the Minister of Transport and Communication, Andranik Manukian, has said that an alternate route around the Shikahogh Nature Reserve has now been adopted by the Government.
The minister said that the alternative road will be 7 km longer and 150 meters higher of the project of the highway proposed by ministry of Transport - Meghri-Shvanidzor- Verishen-Tsav-Kapan. The alternative road will pass by the forest reserve via the village Shishkert. According to preliminary data, its construction will cost $20 mln.
It’s hard to say whether this is genuine as the tendency has been for the government to say one thing, wait for people to forget and then press on with what they wanted to do in the first place. Still, at least the Minister has a sense of humor.
The minister said that decision on alternative project was not made under pressure of ecological public organizations. “It is a decision of the government and instruction of the president.” Moreover, he stated that the role of public organizations, their numerous protests, was equal to naught in this decision.
Yeah, right…
Still, if they do go ahead with the alternate route and need to raise a few extra bucks, perhaps they could start with taxing the oligarchs. Hell, even Andranik Manukian has something to give back to the country. The Hotel Metropol was, allegedly, just one of his businesses in Armenia.
Don’t forget to check out my new blog for more on Shikahogh.
I just left the forum that was held regarding the proposed road that would go through and subsequently destroy the Shikahogh nature and wildlife reserve. As expected, the debate was heated.
According to the minister of transport and communication Andranik Manukyan, 30,000 trees would be cut from the reserve. Minister Ministry of Environmental Protection Vardan Ayvazyan naturally downplayed the extent of damage to the reserve and its surroundings. All of the proposals that were received were rejected as being economically unfeasible, since they called for the road to be stretched an additional 20 kilometers or more to avoid cutting the reserve, thereby costing millions more to construct.
The road is expected to cost around $20 million if I remember correctly– a lot of financial figures were thrown around. However, one National Assembly representative from Meghri, whose name I did not catch but is reportedly a party member of Stepan Demirjian’s oppositional People’s Party of Armenia, claims that the cut timber alone is expected to be worth $60 million on the going market. He also stressed that the intented road going through Mtnadzor, the village adjacent to the reserve, is not possible and alternative route must be decided upon.
A final decision will be presented to the general public next Friday, June 24 again at AUA, according to Minister Manukuyan.
We can all admit the the opposition in Armenia is many things… disorganized, lame, lacking in energy, without focus. Something needs to happen to get these people motivated! (I’m not calling for revolution here, just change!) Any ideas? Here are a few of mine…
A few things to think about:
more…
On Friday 17 June, a public hearing on plans to build a highway through the Mtnadzor forest and Shikahogh nature reserve will be held at the AUA in Yerevan. It will probably prove to be the last stand against the disregard of laws relating to the environment in Armenia and if it fails, as one Diasporan activist remarked this weekend, the country will end up as a desert when there are no more forests left in twenty years time.
Environmental Public Alliance of Armenian NGOs organizes a Public Forum to discuss the expediency of passage of the freeway through Shikahogh reserve and possible alternatives.
Participants of the Forum will include representatives of the National Assembly, President’s Office, Government Ministries, academia, international organizations, non-governmental organizations, etc.
Public Forum will take place on Friday, June 17, 2005 from 10:00-13:00 at the American University of Armenia, 5th Floor Conference Hall, 40 Baghramyan Street, Yerevan.
— from armenianforests.am
Mtnadzor, Siunik Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian
The Environmental Public Alliance of Armenian NGOs has organized a Public Forum to discuss possible alternatives to the construction of a highway through the Shikahogh nature reserve and Mtnadzor forest. The Public Forum will take place on Friday, June 17, 2005 from 10:00-13:00 at the American University of Armenia, 5th Floor Conference Hall, 40 Baghramyan Street, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.
For background information on the campaign to save the Shikahogh nature reserve and Mtnadzor forest please click here.
Despite government assurances that construction of a new road connecting Agarak to Kapan via a protected nature reserve would be suspended for 15 days while alternate routes are surveyed, work still continues, Siunik Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian.
Carolyn Mugar, founder of the Armenian Tree Project and Executive Director of Farm Aid, sitting alongside the current Agarak-Kapan Highway, Siunik Region, Republic of Armenia © Onnik Krikorian.
After posting news that the Armenian government is continuing to construct the new and contraversial road from Agarak on the Iranian border to Kapan in Armenia, an item from ArmenPress.
Clearly, the Armenian government has misled the public and the media.
GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO HALT CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD THROUGH UNIQUE FOREST RESERVE
KAPAN, JUNE 8, ARMENPRESS: A cohort of top government officials, including deputy energy minister, nature protection and transport ministers and territorial minister traveled Tuesday to Armenian’s southern Shikahogh reserve, the planned site of a new highway, the authorities want to build to have a short and safe road to neighboring Iran, but ecologists warn once the road is built it would endanger one of the country’s three pristine forest reserves.
The new highway is planned to take a route across the Mtnadzor Forest that covers a third of the Shikahogh reserve in southern Armenia. Established in 1958, the reserve is inhabited by rare and endangered plants and animals. Ecologist say at current rates of cutting, the last of the forests could be gone in as little as 20 years, saying also that Armenia’s forest areas have drastically reduced from 40 percent of the country to around eight percent.
Representative of the Armenian branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) points out part of the planned new route © Onnik Krikorian
After literally having just returned from a three day visit to the Shikahogh Reserve in the southern most Siunik region of Armenia, I thought I’d post some immediate impressions and information before sorting out some of the photos for posting on Blogrel tomorrow. The trip was organized by Armenian Forests, the Armenian Tree Project and the World Wildlife Fund who were accompanied by representatives from other environmental NGOs and film crews from ArmNews and Yerkir Media TV.
Both will be airing news stories on TV tomorrow and Yerkir Media TV should also be putting together a documentary film.
Carolyn Mugar, founder of the Armenian Tree Project and Executive Director of Farm Aid in the US, was also on the trip. Hopefully, she will take new details about the campaign to find an alternate route for the road to the American-Armenian Diaspora this week. Until then, an update:
Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, the government has said that all construction has been suspended for 15 days until alternate routes are surveyed. However, this is not true. Construction is going on in three locations including one that leads up to the Mtnadzor forest. This means that regardless of the outcome of the reported Environmental Impact Assessment — and whatever is said during the Public Hearing scheduled for Friday — the government has NO intention to consider new routes.
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