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Kurdistan really has plenty of
environmental problems
9.4.2007
Opinion |
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April 9, 2007
Kurdistan region (Iraq), I moved to Kurdistan
in February to open our new office here. It's been a
crazy time and I've had either no time or no
internet connection to post.
Our first major work here has been to conduct a
biodiversity survey of the three Kurdish
governorates (Sulaymaniyah, Erbil & Dohuk). It was
more of a pre-survey ... since we are new here and
need to learn the lay of the land.
We also had to be very careful to involve Kurdish
University and Ministry staff along the way. We
really are the guest here and as an essentially Arab
organization, not everyone is that happy to see us
working here.
I was able to go on a few of the survey trips and
Kurdistan really has some stunningly beautiful areas
but plenty of environmental problems as well. They
burn trash (often including plastic) everywhere and
here in this city there are two cement factories (as
I say, making the world safe for impervious
surfaces) and they are pumping out all kinds of crap
... one is actually right in the city. Every river
has, at least somewhere along its course, been
turned into a gravel mine and people like to come
down to wash their cars and trucks in the river
beds.
There is almost no protection of the beautiful sites
of Kurdistan (of which there are many), which have
been over developed and in many cases spoiled.
Dumping occurs everywhere, including around peoples
homes and no one seems to be bothered by this.
Sewage goes right into the rivers, etc ... anyway
it's a long and sorry list.
People in the West should have a healthy
appreciation for all the work that has been done to
improve and keep the environment clean & healthy ...
they complain or make fun of environmentalists but
they have just never seen how bad it can get.
Here, after so many wars and unrest (on a drive
around this city our office manager points out areas
where he knew people who were shot and near by our
office is a big park, formerly an Iraqi Military
base and a major site for the killing and torture of
Kurds), the Kurds are just getting started on the
long road to recovery.
peacework blogspot.com
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