Environmental Action in Yerevan
Via The Armenian Observer, news of another environmental protest. Given increasing concerns about corruption and environmental destruction surrounding what the municipality calls “urban planning,” but which the rest of us call criminal negligence and abuse of power for personal gain, the event sounds interesting.
Dear Fellow Citizens,
Public Ecological Coalition invites you to participate in an open-air press conference and action to be held
on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 6 pm, in the Opera garden area by the Arno Babajanyan Statue.We are against all the actions which cause ecological disaster in our city. The greediness of our “elite” is beyond measure. The construction business has purposefully destroyed the green areas and the historical and cultural monuments of the city for the latest decade, turning it into an asphalt-concrete desert.
Yerevan residents intensely struggle for the green areas near the houses, yet women and children face the attacks of the police and other armed forces.
It is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back. Emergence of a huge foundation pit for construction in Opera garden by the Swan Lake became culmination of negligence and arbitrariness toward the ecological and cultural environment and toward public opinion. After the representatives of the coalition set up a clamor, the construction seemed to be suspended. However, all the efforts to find out who embarked upon the construction and what should be built there were doomed to failure.
The authorities even promised to fill in the foundation pit that “belonged to nobody.” Let us help them.
All interested individuals and organizations are welcome to join the action by gathering near the pit at the abovementioned date and time. Please also bring “a handful of soil” with you to fill the pit. Let it be our contribution in the struggle against illegal construction business.
The event, followed by a press conference, will bring together prominent public figures.
Your active participation will determine the future of our city.
Public Ecological Coalition of 32 Organizations
Incidentally, the idea for this event sounds like something Sksela would come up with. Does anyone know if they were involved with the organization of this event. Regardless, good idea wherever and whoever it came from.
Comment by Onnik — July 25, 2007 @ 8:44 pm
I have no idea whether Sksela is involved in organization of the event but it sure is a great idea! The condition of the city is horrible - almost no green and recreational areas are left, the traffic is awful due to all the ongoing repair works…I just hope that people will show up, the information on the initiative was widely distributed. And too bad I won’t be able to show up
Comment by Marish — July 25, 2007 @ 10:17 pm
Not all that many people for 32 organizations, but wasn’t all that bad
Comment by Anush — July 27, 2007 @ 2:03 pm