| All boats
have always carried, to some extent, excess waters and on board species,
but the growth of global markets and the size of the vessels have intensified
this pattern.
Upon discharge
of the waters in alien seas, plant and fish and foreign ecosystems
are released to potentially, like the Mnemniopsis, wreck havoc on the local
eco-system.
According
to one US Geological Survey, this problem is costing some 100 billion
dollars a year just in the USA alone, and it is estimated that the introduction
of foreign species is implicated in the disappearance of 70% of all lost
native species in the last 100yrs.
Like the transportation
of goods, the transportation of people too is having its effects felt in
the uncontrollable expansion of the tourist industry.
Tourism is
the biggest growing sector in the world economy and the environmental campaign
groups are fully stretched to even follow its devastating impact let alone
fight to contain its more evident abuses.
Tourism,
with its simplistic philosophy of converting the coastline into shopping
malls, tower blocks and playgrounds is pushing people to live on the very
edge of existence. If you haven't already noticed, the coastal strip is
getting a tad crowded these days.
Yet towns like
Almunecar – Granada’s flagship coastal resort - are planning to double
their size, introduce 4 golf courses, 2 new mariners and a million new
private swimming pools. All this is being planned during the worst drought
in sixty years.
Some people
are now saying that the first step is just to admit the obvious. If
we can get that far we can start in seriousness to look for solutions.
It is obvious that the worlds economies are based on goods and services
that are derived from the exploitation of the worlds natural resources.
These resources are finite and the depletion of them are causing global
damage to our planet. This is the obvious. The UN, WHO, the Kyoto Summit
etc. are all in agreement. It is obvious: Unless we change direction and
reduce fishing to recover the ecological balance, protect habitats so that
populations can recover, reduce toxic wastes, limit coastal developments,
stop the carrying of water ballast in large sea containers, conserve fresh
water and plan growth sustainably, we will end up we are heading: ????
Are we likely
to change direction?
Probably
not.
It’s clearly not in the interest of commercial sectors to even raise an
eyebrow over ecological concerns. Look at the petrol industry that is committed
to squeezing out every last drop and selling it to you and me before replacing
oil with a sustainable alternative. So is despair the answer?
No. The answer
is to inform yourself, discuss the issues and give support to the groups
that are fighting on our behalf:
Talk about
it, visit and inform yourself in web sites like www.wild-spain.
Join (at least as a supporting if not active, member) one of the
following: Ecologists in Accion or Greenpeace.
The following
are Paul's previous articles for the magazine:
To contact Paul
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