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 Eco Topics: Golf Courses in Crete July 05, 2006 5:31 AM

Crete -- an arid island. The topic of golf courses is a touchy subject. Golf courses require lots of water, fertilizer, and maintenance. What's the point of having them here? Here's some fundamental questions: 1. Why do we need golf courses in Crete? 2. Isn't golfing more fun and practical in cooler climates with lots of rainfall to keep those greens green? Scotland, Northern California, etc? 3. Are all golf courses in Crete environmentally safe and pesticide free? [Let's get real.] 4. What about the environmental damage caused by toxic runoff spilling into our beaches? If you have some statistics, we'd love to hear from you. 4. With such a small percentage of golfers flocking to Crete, aren't clean beaches more important? This is a serious topic requiring thoughtful and factual answers, please. Let's talk about the pros and cons. Always provide concrete solutions...it's not worth talking about problems unless we can live in the solution. Best regards, Nik  [ send green star]
 
Help stop unsustainable development at Cavo Sidero April 09, 2008 5:16 AM

Dear Friends, We fell in love with Crete - its people and its landscape - 30+ years ago. In that time we have seen many changes, some for the better some for the worse. As tourism becomes the mainstay of the Cretan economy, developments are inevitable. Many are ugly, a shame but not a catastrophe. Others may be beautiful but environmental and cultural disasters. The current proposal for the Cavo Sidero golf resort falls in the latter category. We know this area well because for the last two years we have been conducting environmental and archaeological research there. It is a museum of ancient field systems and settlements unique in Crete. It is also home to endemic flora and fauna. The proposed golf resort is ludicrous given the semi-desert climate and environment and a travesty given the antiquities it will destroy and endemics it will threaten. We have recently organized an online petition to protest the construction of this golf resort. If you are in agreement, please sign it and pass it on. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Save-the-Cretan-landscape Please contact us if you are interested in more information on why we are convinced this development is sadly misdirected. The court case is now set for May 9th. Time is short. Thank you for your time and consideration. Jennifer Moody MacArthur Fellow Environmental Archaeologist Research Fellow, Department of Classics University of Texas at Austin Oliver Rackham OBE, Fellow of the British Academy, Honorary Professor of Historical Ecology Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Authors of The making of the Cretan landscape, 1996, I Dimiourghia tou Kritikou Topiou, 2004  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
Alternatives to Unsustanable Development April 14, 2008 5:44 AM

Development projects like this are not simply a local issue but a global issue. Clearly, some people in the region support this project. People opposing such projects need to mobilize both the local and global community. Only a small percentage of people in that region are surfing the net, so an online petition is not likely reaching people that will be most effected by this project. They need to know the issues and their voices need to be heard. Is there a door-to-door awareness campaign? Are all residents aware of the pros and cons? There is minimal access to training in hospitality and tourism in that region. What kind of jobs do such projects create for residents? Fulfilling careers or seasonal menial jobs for minimum wages? The latter, of course, which cannot be considered "a good stable career." Are the short-term benefits for a few people worth the long term risks to the environment, traditional trades and culture of an entire region? What do the shepherds and fishermen in the region have to say? If residents consider this to be a solution (correctly or not) that will improve their lives, who is prepared to deny them that dream? Without support for responsible travel in the region, this is likely the only option that has been presented to residents in the name of "economic growth." Opposition to the project needs to be backed up with education and very strong support and funding!!!!! for the implementation of viable alternatives. How viable is this, really, for investors? This resort is unlikely to attract thousands of avid golfers. If they have money (which is what this resort aims to attract), avid golfers will travel to well-established regions instead. More travelers are looking for something entirely different from what this resort will provide. Just transporting thousands of people and goods to this resort creates a whole host of problems (and opportunities for some). The pollution created by transportation and tremendous increase in traffic will impact the public in general, as well as farmers and fishers. This could be the biggest, high risk venture to date, not just in terms of investor returns but irreparable damage to the cultural and natural heritage of Eastern Crete. Aside from that, projects that threaten the fragile marine environment not only effect Crete but the whole Mediterranean basin. This is not the first mega project concept and it will not be the last. To curb such projects requires cooperation between all countries sharing (and polluting) the Mediterranean sea to develop sustainable projects and provide training for rewarding careers in this field. Protecting the sea shared and enjoyed by many (unless it becomes a toxic tank they can no longer fish and swim in) should be the highest priority. It's not enough to say "this one is a bad idea." Simply battling Goliath projects still leaves people at square one. There's got to be a consensus that development that is truly sustainable for the community and environment is always the best solution. People need solid opportunities to implement "alternatives." If there’s money out there for unsustainable development, then it stands to reason that there’s also money available for sustainable development...people need to know how to find it.  [ send green star]
 
Desalination Raises Environmental, Cost Concerns April 30, 2008 6:50 AM

The Cavo Sidero Project Plan in Crete includes a desalination plant. FYI, from Worldwatch Institute: Desalination Raises Environmental, Cost Concerns by Ben Block on April 28, 2008 As global freshwater reserves dry up, desalination plants are receiving greater attention as an option for providing both drinking water supplies and agricultural irrigation. But a new study released on Thursday raises several concerns about the environmental impact and cost effectiveness of the widely touted technology to convert seawater to fresh water. The full article: http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5720  [ send green star]
 
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