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A violation of nature is in act
by michil costa
“The fact that some politicians go to Mass is certainly blasphemy. It is not blasphemy however the fact of a symbolic funeral in which one rapes a valley with the objective in reality being to see it continue to thrive.” These are the words of the theologist Don Paul Renner.
The Provincial goverment of Bolzano has authorized a new access road – already constructed in great part – which has the affect of violating an area to which previously there had been limited access only. In this manner, in the summer of 2010, an ancient area dating back 250 million years, was transformed and provided us with the latest example of disregard for the protection afforded by UNESCO in granting the Dolomites a place amongst the Worlds Natural Heritage Sites. In this Newsletter I reproduce some of the thoughts of our friend Don Paolo Renner:
“…more and more people are becoming exasperated by the ease in which millions of years of Nature’s work in forging the essential sculpure of our environment is being decimated. And they also understand that putting at risk the essential form of Nature’s environment also affects the very existential make-up of mankind itself.
‘But a road or a hotel or two certainly does not put at risk the very fabric and future of mankind, for on the contrary such action creates extra jobs in this period of crisis’. An observation sure to be greeted with great laughter.
New paths have brushed away proud indigenous trees and the ground has become a layer of gravel imported from who knows where. The contact with soft pine needles, and with the aromatic plants has been denied. Paths have been fenced, bushes crushed and the characteristic dry stone walls which offered shade to small animal life, reptiles and birds are a thing of the past. People are more than disappointed. Many tourists, seeing the way things are going, are threatening not to return to our parts and to search an alternative holiday destination, more considerate of the environment and environmental issues.
As if the scenario described were not enough these attacks on the ecosystem are taking place in 2010 – the year dedicated by ONU to biodiversity. True, one can live without crickets, white-lilys, eagles and marmots but what is there left to substitute the emotions felt by unexpected spottings or pleasant encounters with creatures great and small? We are moving in a dangerous direction, eliminating more and more landscapes and ecosystems which can never be replaced or recreated.
To keep Nature intact is both a moral obligation and an investment in the future which has itself an economic return. Visitors will willingly search out incontaminated places even if such brings some effort and sacrifice. The satisfaction gained in reaching an oustanding viewpoint, or an incontaminated woodland area, or a peak from which the views are breathtaking are proof that life itself rewards effort. Nature has a wild and demanding sense of beauty. Violating it by asphalting and speading concrete is not only a damage to Nature itself but a damage done to ourselves – as if we are sawing away the very branch which supports us.”.
To conclude I would like to add a consideration – a consideration coming from a business man, a hotelier and as a man of the valleys. It is Nature itself which has brought the wealth to our beautiful valleys. Our wealth and our future economic prosperity will depend to a great degree on how we area ble to defend and nurture the natural patrimony we possess. To disregard Nature and to cement over it is as if to waste away the trreasure we have and to betray our guests and tourists – they who like we love our montains and our valleys.
michil costa
FACEBOOK: Salvun Antersasc
CORRIERE DELLA SERA (google translate): La strada nella malga e la corsa a Facebook (per bloccarla)
LA STAMPA (google translate): Il Tar: niente asfalto nel parco delle Dolomiti
IL FATTO QUOTIDIANO (google translate): Dolomiti, il sacco dei monti pallidi
IL BLOG DI BEPPE GRILLO (google translate): La distruzione di Antersasc - Intervista a Klausspeter Dissinger e Michil Costa
BLOG MICHIL: www.michilcosta.net
MANUEL RIZ (google translate): Shrek & Antersasc
“The fact that some politicians go to Mass is certainly blasphemy. It is not blasphemy however the fact of a symbolic funeral in which one rapes a valley with the objective in reality being to see it continue to thrive.” These are the words of the theologist Don Paul Renner.
The Provincial goverment of Bolzano has authorized a new access road – already constructed in great part – which has the affect of violating an area to which previously there had been limited access only. In this manner, in the summer of 2010, an ancient area dating back 250 million years, was transformed and provided us with the latest example of disregard for the protection afforded by UNESCO in granting the Dolomites a place amongst the Worlds Natural Heritage Sites. In this Newsletter I reproduce some of the thoughts of our friend Don Paolo Renner:
“…more and more people are becoming exasperated by the ease in which millions of years of Nature’s work in forging the essential sculpure of our environment is being decimated. And they also understand that putting at risk the essential form of Nature’s environment also affects the very existential make-up of mankind itself.
‘But a road or a hotel or two certainly does not put at risk the very fabric and future of mankind, for on the contrary such action creates extra jobs in this period of crisis’. An observation sure to be greeted with great laughter.
New paths have brushed away proud indigenous trees and the ground has become a layer of gravel imported from who knows where. The contact with soft pine needles, and with the aromatic plants has been denied. Paths have been fenced, bushes crushed and the characteristic dry stone walls which offered shade to small animal life, reptiles and birds are a thing of the past. People are more than disappointed. Many tourists, seeing the way things are going, are threatening not to return to our parts and to search an alternative holiday destination, more considerate of the environment and environmental issues.
As if the scenario described were not enough these attacks on the ecosystem are taking place in 2010 – the year dedicated by ONU to biodiversity. True, one can live without crickets, white-lilys, eagles and marmots but what is there left to substitute the emotions felt by unexpected spottings or pleasant encounters with creatures great and small? We are moving in a dangerous direction, eliminating more and more landscapes and ecosystems which can never be replaced or recreated.
To keep Nature intact is both a moral obligation and an investment in the future which has itself an economic return. Visitors will willingly search out incontaminated places even if such brings some effort and sacrifice. The satisfaction gained in reaching an oustanding viewpoint, or an incontaminated woodland area, or a peak from which the views are breathtaking are proof that life itself rewards effort. Nature has a wild and demanding sense of beauty. Violating it by asphalting and speading concrete is not only a damage to Nature itself but a damage done to ourselves – as if we are sawing away the very branch which supports us.”.
To conclude I would like to add a consideration – a consideration coming from a business man, a hotelier and as a man of the valleys. It is Nature itself which has brought the wealth to our beautiful valleys. Our wealth and our future economic prosperity will depend to a great degree on how we area ble to defend and nurture the natural patrimony we possess. To disregard Nature and to cement over it is as if to waste away the trreasure we have and to betray our guests and tourists – they who like we love our montains and our valleys.
michil costa
FACEBOOK: Salvun Antersasc
CORRIERE DELLA SERA (google translate): La strada nella malga e la corsa a Facebook (per bloccarla)
LA STAMPA (google translate): Il Tar: niente asfalto nel parco delle Dolomiti
IL FATTO QUOTIDIANO (google translate): Dolomiti, il sacco dei monti pallidi
IL BLOG DI BEPPE GRILLO (google translate): La distruzione di Antersasc - Intervista a Klausspeter Dissinger e Michil Costa
BLOG MICHIL: www.michilcosta.net
MANUEL RIZ (google translate): Shrek & Antersasc
Col Alt 105 str. - I-39033 Corvara (BZ)
