The topic of emigration is still outstanding. People say a number of reasons for emigration such as poor life without any prospective, amateur and corrupt officials, shortcomings in the army, etc. In addition to the mentioned, the poor environmental protection policy and wrong exploitation of mines is resulting in a new type of migration, which is ecological migration. In other words, if they build another high storey building adjacent to your building by increasing the seismic danger, or when it becomes already impossible to live in a certain area, it results in ecological migration. Karine Danielyan, ecologist, doctor and professor of geographic sciences, head of the Stabile Human Development and the UN ecological projects in Armenia, says that currently there is ecological migration from Armenia.
– Mrs. Danielyan, is the natural protection so poor because our negligence to the nature or there are other reasons?
– It is the story of the hen and egg; I mean both are the reasons. I think there must be change in both of these situations because I do not imagine a person who cares about the nature but is so cruel to people and the surrounding nature.
– Currently the Trchkan waterfalls are in danger. There are cities such as Yerevan, Hrazdan and Abovyan where the pollution level exceeds the permissible level by several times. When they start to exploit the metal mines of Hrazdan, Abovyan and Svarandz, it will be a disaster for the people.
– It is a rule of power. Those who have the power to press on the weak ones, they use their opportunity. As according tour imagination the nature is weak and does not give an answer, we do the same to the nature too. But we are mistaken because the nature is very strong, simply we don’t understand its answer. The UN has statistics, according to which the number of disasters is doubled every ten years. During the recent times it has become faster. The idea that the human being is a strong biophysical power and is able to change processes in the nature does not work. It is a fact that our interference in the earth brings to earthquakes in different places. By the way, it can be used as a biophysical weapon too. Polluted oceans, air and earth result in climate change. It always has influence on all types of biological beings, including the human being. Scientists have proven that the water bears and transfers information. Let’s pay attention to the fact that water has a very important meaning in the Holy Bible. Baptizing is done with water. We wonder whether our connection with the space is through a water environment.
– One can see how we treat our nature only by looking at the buildings in the center of the city. When it seemed to us there was no centimeter of free land in the center, the general architect found a place where to build a new hotel – near the Republic Square underground station.
– They are not building, but ‘fitting’ in that area. When they find a meter of free land in between two buildings, they decide to build a new elite building. It is amazing; we are doing absurd things in Yerevan. I think there are ecological emigrants in Armenia. For example, the former residents of the incumbent North Avenue are ecological emigrants. There are people who emigrated or died as a result of heart attack. The social and ecological rights of people are violated. In the corner of Koghbatsi and Pushkin street people are fighting because some company is building a new construction, which moves the basement of the surrounding building. I have talked to the people from those buildings and they say if the new construction is built there, they will leave. It concerns the building at the corner of Nalbandyan and Sayat-Niva streets, where they have deconstructed a kindergarten in order to build an elite building. There is a high storey building adjacent to the children’s center after Igityan, but they are building a new one there. People are calling me but they are afraid to say their names. It shows how much people are disappointed and frightened. They can’t live in such situation, and those who have to leave from the country because of such problems are ecological emigrants.
– What can make people cut trees or build a high storey building in between two other buildings? Maybe they had a poor childhood. Eventually such approach to Sevan and mines is a sign of weakness. This means that they make money by damaging the health of others and the nature. It is a sign of sick psychology.
– I have a very good opinion about the talent of our nation, about their commitment to learning new languages and education. But we have a very bad character – greediness. And also jealousy. These characters have been our enemies for ages and most of our tragedies are a result of these characters. When I talk to people, I see in the eyes of many of them that even if it is a flood after them they don’t care about it. They think only about becoming reach and leaving money for their children. They think that if it becomes worse in Armenia, they will take their money and go to France or Spain to live. I don’t believe that the officials who spend money on building villas in other countries may think about this country and nation. Emigration is stipulated not only by city construction, but by mining business too. During a discussion the representative of energy and natural resources said, “What’s wrong with that? We will extract if we find gold even under the lake Sevan.” All the country is living on mining businesses. The people of Hrazdan are complaining and they say if nobody listens to them, they will not only leave from that place but from the country generally. Today’s ecology is tomorrow’s economy.
– So far, we have been mistakenly wrong, that the thoughts of Soviet origin were still in force, i.e. ”Human being is the master of the Nature, or is he the jewel?”
– Once Rajiv Gandhi said the culture of civilization should be changed, and the priority should go to ecological education. About western civilization he said, that ”Your culture should be changed, because you have considered even the human above the Nature.” Eastern culture differs. An Indian salutes the Sun and the Nature when he wakes up. Yes, the developed countries have passed the phase where we are nowadays. They also have destroyed the essential part of biodiversity, nowadays they try to restore it, but they are not able to recover it fully. It is not obligatory to repeat their mistakes. Armenia is one of those unique territories to be considered as the homeland of species development. In these terms our biodiversity is of essential importance, our genetic resources are a great fortune. Seems that we do not realize that, but the world does. You can see funds are allocated to our protected areas. Wherever you go and say you are from Armenia, people’s eyes are shining in all professional levels. Let us once again recall that Armenia is one of the most important centers of social diversity. Let us not make our protected areas as places for hunting and entertainment…
P.S. Recently Ruben Hakhverdyan composer, said he will not leave from Armenia, as the tomato is still very tasty here. The composer stated in his interview, that he is planning to leave from Armenia at the end of tomato season. Later he explained his statement as a matter of his infinite wit. Let us be fair, as the wit is less tasty than the autumn tomato…