http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/09/in-the-nation-that-gave-birth-to-democracy-the-environment-is-sacrificed-on-the-altar-of-greed-and-political-clientelism/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://dissidentvoice.org/2007/09/in-the-nation-that-gave-birth-to-democracy-the-environment-is-sacrificed-on-the-altar-of-greed-and-political-clientelism/#comment-5779 byron evyenopoulos Wed, 12 Sep 2007 20:12:45 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/2007/09/in-the-nation-that-gave-birth-to-democracy-the-environment-is-sacrificed-on-the-altar-of-greed-and-political-clientelism/#comment-5779 Dear Professor, Maybe all Greeks should stop pretending that ideology can solve their problems, including the environement. This winter will see the tragedy of the fires compounded by floods. Greek youth will once again demonstrate on a regular basis in Thessaloniki and Athens - plastering posters and painting ugly grafitti defiling the urban environment, instead of doing something constructive like planting trees. They throw molotov cocktails and destroy property as if it is a rite of passage. After graduation, they will learn to drink $5 cups of coffee, bitch and blame their government for everything that is wrong with the country, while throwing their lit cigarettes out of their SUVs into narrow streets designed for donkeys and pedestrians. Either the Greek youth rises to confront their environmental future and learns to tackle corruption in government or the nation will become a desert in the next 50 years. Greece has the potential to begin building windfarms and solar farms throughout the country but it lacks leadership of any kind despite the large numbers of Greeks who possess university educations. The nation wastes 80% of its water resources on inefficient farming techniques despite a looming water shortage on horizon. Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism talks about building environmentally destructive and water wasting golf courses to attract a different kind of tourist. Greece should be building marinas on its islands and encouraging sailing vacations. Greece may be the birthplace of democracy, however, it is abundantly clear the heirs of that gift prefer to worship their past instead of building their future. So sad. Dear Professor,
Maybe all Greeks should stop pretending that ideology can solve their problems, including the environement. This winter will see the tragedy of the fires compounded by floods. Greek youth will once again demonstrate on a regular basis in Thessaloniki and Athens – plastering posters and painting ugly grafitti defiling the urban environment, instead of doing something constructive like planting trees. They throw molotov cocktails and destroy property as if it is a rite of passage. After graduation, they will learn to drink $5 cups of coffee, bitch and blame their government for everything that is wrong with the country, while throwing their lit cigarettes out of their SUVs into narrow streets designed for donkeys and pedestrians. Either the Greek youth rises to confront their environmental future and learns to tackle corruption in government or the nation will become a desert in the next 50 years. Greece has the potential to begin building windfarms and solar farms throughout the country but it lacks leadership of any kind despite the large numbers of Greeks who possess university educations. The nation wastes 80% of its water resources on inefficient farming techniques despite a looming water shortage on horizon. Meanwhile, the Minister of Tourism talks about building environmentally destructive and water wasting golf courses to attract a different kind of tourist. Greece should be building marinas on its islands and encouraging sailing vacations. Greece may be the birthplace of democracy, however, it is abundantly clear the heirs of that gift prefer to worship their past instead of building their future. So sad.

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