EcoLur
Green movement in the late 80’s and ‘green’ movement in the 2000’s. What do these movements have in common and how they differ? Public figure Tigran Hakobyan expressed his opinion in his conversation with EcoLur.
About 80’s.
“Definitely it was “pure” green movement.” Environment or environmental protection was not taught in the USSR, the problem referred to chemical pollution with productions, nuclear energy risks, i.e. Armenian nuclear power plant and Nairit plant. People were struggling against such productions, under ‘green’ slogans and maybe didn’t even realize there were fighting for national self-preservation. It was certainly a political movement. If to take the nuclear power plant, which is located in zone of seismic risks, it was a strong call threatening national security. Realizing this people selected gentle way of fighting – they declared not a political fight, but green movement, but gradually came to political slogans. That is, slogans “Close nuclear power plant”, “Close Nairit” were actually political ones. Karabagh movement started for independent country and democratic reforms. This was a normal transformation, as (pure) environmental movement couldn’t acquire independence or Karabagh.
About 2000’s.
I am when that can see this increased civic activity. If to recall year 1988, we can see that now other tasks are a priority such as urban development, ecology and even esthetics. But they gather so many people, the movement in 1988 against nuclear power plant gathered 100 times more people. This means that raised environmental problems worry not so many people, and its most part is located in Yerevan. But this is a beginning like it was in 1988. We need many factors for development, both leaders and a uniting idea. The tasks, which united the nation were left in the past and present – Karabagh issue and genocide. At present we don’t have any vision for future. There is another problem we don’t often focus on, we accuse people of remaining aside, however, people become active when they have to solve main task, like it was in 1988, 1991 and 1995 in the wartime. People have right to rest and gain strength. We should wait.
July 09, 2012 at 16:13