MUENCHHAUSEN
AN ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER ABOUT ENVIRONMENT,
RENEWABLE RESOURCE TECHNOLOGY,
AND RELATED TOPICS
By BOOTSTRAP PRESS, INC.
BETHESDA, MD
GREENBARON@CSI.COM
=================================================================
AUGUST 18, 2004
=================================================================
WELCOME!
The Green Baron welcomes one and all who take the time to read Muenchhausen. He aims to “tell it like it is” as much as possible, and avoid advocacy and ideological positions. There are enough of those to go around in other publications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Green Baron again thanks all those who make it possible to meet, and ask questions of many distinguished people of our times. For this issue, he again thanks the staff members of the Embassies of Serbia and Montenegro, and Albania for hosting press conferences the Green Baron was invited to attend July 21. He also thanks the Embassy of Armenia for the opportunity to hear and converse with the Assistant to the President (Economics) of that nation. As always, are given to Mr. Peter Hickman of the National Press Club, Washington, DC, who so ably organizes many of these conferences.
VIEWS FROM THE TOP: SERBIA
On July 21, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, the Green Baron had a chance to ask Boris Tadić, President of Serbia and Montenegro (formerly a component of Yugoslavia), about his views on environmental conservation and sustainable development. He told the Green Baron that his country “must do everything to protect the environment, because such action will be necessary if Serbia and Montenegro is eventually to join the European Union. European procedures will be followed,” Tadić said. He is the first non-Communist President of Serbia and Montenegro. Tadić did not reply to a question by the Green Baron concerning addressing environmental problems left in his country by previous Communist and Socialist regimes. His main emphasis is on the promotion and maintenance of political stability “because of Serbia’s terrible history.” Initially, he said, more emphasis will be given to development.
For some geographical perspective, it should be mentioned that Serbia is part of the Balkan Peninsula; its capital is Belgrade. The mighty Danube River flows through that city on its way to the Romanian—Bulgarian border and on to the Black Sea. These days, much of the Danube River needs to be cleansed of many pollutants.
VIEWS FROM THE TOP: ALBANIA
That same day, President Tadić was photographed shaking the hand of Ilir Meta, former Prime Minister of Albania. Given the history of enmity between those nations during the 1990s and early part of the first decade of the 21st century, this picture is historic. Meta is now director of the Institute for Peace Development, a member of the Albanian Parliament, and a lecturer in economics at the University of Tirana, Albania’s capital.
Meta told the Green Baron that he is concerned about sustainable development for the long term, but that his first concern is with the removal of surplus war materials, including mines. Moreover, Meta explained that Albania has been experiencing “14 years of very bad conditions, even after 14 years after the Communist regime fell. So we must first focus on public order and crime. It is therefore difficult to work on the environment now, even though this is very important,” he pointed out.
Nevertheless, Meta acknowledged that the Communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha (pronounced HO-ja) and his successor Ramiz Alia “was bad. Their environmental legacy resulted from rapid industrialization and military buildup in a very closed society. The consequences are still present.”
Meta, however, said that there is an increase in environmental awareness. For example, “the government wanted to import other nations’ wastes, but the people would not allow that the use of our undeveloped country as a garbage can.” Also, “we need to start cleaning up for many reasons, and promoting tourism is one of them, as is, of course, protecting the health of our people.” In addition, “We plan to emphasize not only tourism, but the energy resources Albania may have. We want to develop solar and other renewable energy in the future.
“But we continue to have problems,” Meta continued. “We still have a bad infrastructure. Energy costs are high; the costs seemed lower because in the past, they were kept artificially low. Albania has started to reform its energy structure. We are developing thermal power in the south and hydro power in the north. We couldn’t get started until 2003,” Meta told the Green Baron, “because only then did funds from the World Bank begin to arrive.”
VIEWS FROM THE TOP: ARMENIA
“Investment must lead to growth in my country,” said Vahram Nercissiantz, Chief Economic Assistant to the President of Armenia. “We have the most open economy in our region [of the Caucasus],” he told a press conference at the National Press Club (Washington, DC) on August 10. “There cannot be a market economy without liberal democracy,” Nercissiantz added. (The Green Baron’s jaded query: Does not the socioeconomic system in China indicate that there can be a market economy without liberal democracy? Might the same not be asked about the emerging market economy in Vietnam? One hopes that in the long run, Nercissiantz proves to be right!)
In any event, Nercissiantz told the press conference that Armenia’s economy “is the most stable in our region, whole growth in 2003 was about 14%. But we have environmental problems with roads, water supply and pollution, and soil salination. This is a legacy from the time when Armenia was one of the republics of the old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR].
“Environmentally sustainable development was a problem in the USSR—one that was generally neglected. But in Armenia, we were conscious of the need for sustainable development even then, and we continue to be so today. For that reason, Armenia is moving away from heavy industry toward a knowledge-based, high-technology economy. This gets us away from polluting, too,” Nercissiantz explained. “This will help us develop a more ecology-friendly service economy,” he added.
Armenia has a large nuclear power plant, another leftover from the USSR. European nations have helped improve safety during the last 10 years, but Armenia seeks alternative energy sources, so that its dependence on nuclear power can be reduced. That plant is currently shut down, but it likely will be restarted when safety measures are fully implemented. “Armenia will need diversified sources of energy to keep its economy going,” said Nercissiantz.
What might some of those alternatives be? Hydrogen fuel cells, perhaps? Nercissiantz said that some work is starting in Armenia, but so far, hydrogen energy is still mostly “bleu sky”.
Solar and wind energy, on the other hand, is in play. Nercissiantz said that Armenia is seeking nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that can come up with proposals for such energy development, if they can show hoe such energy would enhance the country’s economy. Anyone who has a reasonable proposal should send it to the Ministry of Finance in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.
Nercissiantz also noted that Armenia is making efforts at exporting fresh produce and at establishing environmentally clean aquaculture. In addition, the country plans expansion of experimental farms.
Future issues of Muenchhausen will deal with aquaculture and with the declining supply of fish and seafood in the world.
WHAT IS BOOTSTRAP PRESS?
Bootstrap Press is a nonprofit organization founded in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A., to promote the development and management of technology and businesses based on renewable resources. We also encourage the preservation of our Earth's natural habitats and its plant and animal species. So do a lot of other organizations, and more power to them for doing so!
Bootstrap Press is different because its members believe that the development of renewable resources and the preservation of habitats and species are receiving far more lip service than the financial and technical support needed to achieve these goals. We also think they will continue to be subjects of more talk than action until someone can show how renewable resources and the diversity of biological species can be the basis for potentially profitable businesses as well as a matter of ethics. Bootstrap Press intends to provide a forum for the discussion of how to build up such business, and of related topics.
There's one more thing we should mention about Muenchhausen and Bootstrap Press. We try to present only the scientific and technical facts that are correct to the best of our knowledge, belief, and good faith. It is up to Muenchhausen's readers to draw their own conclusions and make their own judgments.
NOTE: The mention of a product or service in Muenchhausen is in no way to be regarded as an endorsement of that product or service by Muenchhausen, Bootstrap Press, the Green Baron, or any other contributor to Muenchhausen.
AN ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER ABOUT ENVIRONMENT,
RENEWABLE RESOURCE TECHNOLOGY,
AND RELATED TOPICS
By BOOTSTRAP PRESS, INC.
BETHESDA, MD
GREENBARON@CSI.COM
=================================================================
AUGUST 18, 2004
=================================================================
WELCOME!
The Green Baron welcomes one and all who take the time to read Muenchhausen. He aims to “tell it like it is” as much as possible, and avoid advocacy and ideological positions. There are enough of those to go around in other publications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The Green Baron again thanks all those who make it possible to meet, and ask questions of many distinguished people of our times. For this issue, he again thanks the staff members of the Embassies of Serbia and Montenegro, and Albania for hosting press conferences the Green Baron was invited to attend July 21. He also thanks the Embassy of Armenia for the opportunity to hear and converse with the Assistant to the President (Economics) of that nation. As always, are given to Mr. Peter Hickman of the National Press Club, Washington, DC, who so ably organizes many of these conferences.
VIEWS FROM THE TOP: SERBIA
On July 21, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, the Green Baron had a chance to ask Boris Tadić, President of Serbia and Montenegro (formerly a component of Yugoslavia), about his views on environmental conservation and sustainable development. He told the Green Baron that his country “must do everything to protect the environment, because such action will be necessary if Serbia and Montenegro is eventually to join the European Union. European procedures will be followed,” Tadić said. He is the first non-Communist President of Serbia and Montenegro. Tadić did not reply to a question by the Green Baron concerning addressing environmental problems left in his country by previous Communist and Socialist regimes. His main emphasis is on the promotion and maintenance of political stability “because of Serbia’s terrible history.” Initially, he said, more emphasis will be given to development.
For some geographical perspective, it should be mentioned that Serbia is part of the Balkan Peninsula; its capital is Belgrade. The mighty Danube River flows through that city on its way to the Romanian—Bulgarian border and on to the Black Sea. These days, much of the Danube River needs to be cleansed of many pollutants.
VIEWS FROM THE TOP: ALBANIA
That same day, President Tadić was photographed shaking the hand of Ilir Meta, former Prime Minister of Albania. Given the history of enmity between those nations during the 1990s and early part of the first decade of the 21st century, this picture is historic. Meta is now director of the Institute for Peace Development, a member of the Albanian Parliament, and a lecturer in economics at the University of Tirana, Albania’s capital.
Meta told the Green Baron that he is concerned about sustainable development for the long term, but that his first concern is with the removal of surplus war materials, including mines. Moreover, Meta explained that Albania has been experiencing “14 years of very bad conditions, even after 14 years after the Communist regime fell. So we must first focus on public order and crime. It is therefore difficult to work on the environment now, even though this is very important,” he pointed out.
Nevertheless, Meta acknowledged that the Communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha (pronounced HO-ja) and his successor Ramiz Alia “was bad. Their environmental legacy resulted from rapid industrialization and military buildup in a very closed society. The consequences are still present.”
Meta, however, said that there is an increase in environmental awareness. For example, “the government wanted to import other nations’ wastes, but the people would not allow that the use of our undeveloped country as a garbage can.” Also, “we need to start cleaning up for many reasons, and promoting tourism is one of them, as is, of course, protecting the health of our people.” In addition, “We plan to emphasize not only tourism, but the energy resources Albania may have. We want to develop solar and other renewable energy in the future.
“But we continue to have problems,” Meta continued. “We still have a bad infrastructure. Energy costs are high; the costs seemed lower because in the past, they were kept artificially low. Albania has started to reform its energy structure. We are developing thermal power in the south and hydro power in the north. We couldn’t get started until 2003,” Meta told the Green Baron, “because only then did funds from the World Bank begin to arrive.”
VIEWS FROM THE TOP: ARMENIA
“Investment must lead to growth in my country,” said Vahram Nercissiantz, Chief Economic Assistant to the President of Armenia. “We have the most open economy in our region [of the Caucasus],” he told a press conference at the National Press Club (Washington, DC) on August 10. “There cannot be a market economy without liberal democracy,” Nercissiantz added. (The Green Baron’s jaded query: Does not the socioeconomic system in China indicate that there can be a market economy without liberal democracy? Might the same not be asked about the emerging market economy in Vietnam? One hopes that in the long run, Nercissiantz proves to be right!)
In any event, Nercissiantz told the press conference that Armenia’s economy “is the most stable in our region, whole growth in 2003 was about 14%. But we have environmental problems with roads, water supply and pollution, and soil salination. This is a legacy from the time when Armenia was one of the republics of the old Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR].
“Environmentally sustainable development was a problem in the USSR—one that was generally neglected. But in Armenia, we were conscious of the need for sustainable development even then, and we continue to be so today. For that reason, Armenia is moving away from heavy industry toward a knowledge-based, high-technology economy. This gets us away from polluting, too,” Nercissiantz explained. “This will help us develop a more ecology-friendly service economy,” he added.
Armenia has a large nuclear power plant, another leftover from the USSR. European nations have helped improve safety during the last 10 years, but Armenia seeks alternative energy sources, so that its dependence on nuclear power can be reduced. That plant is currently shut down, but it likely will be restarted when safety measures are fully implemented. “Armenia will need diversified sources of energy to keep its economy going,” said Nercissiantz.
What might some of those alternatives be? Hydrogen fuel cells, perhaps? Nercissiantz said that some work is starting in Armenia, but so far, hydrogen energy is still mostly “bleu sky”.
Solar and wind energy, on the other hand, is in play. Nercissiantz said that Armenia is seeking nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that can come up with proposals for such energy development, if they can show hoe such energy would enhance the country’s economy. Anyone who has a reasonable proposal should send it to the Ministry of Finance in Yerevan, Armenia’s capital.
Nercissiantz also noted that Armenia is making efforts at exporting fresh produce and at establishing environmentally clean aquaculture. In addition, the country plans expansion of experimental farms.
Future issues of Muenchhausen will deal with aquaculture and with the declining supply of fish and seafood in the world.
WHAT IS BOOTSTRAP PRESS?
Bootstrap Press is a nonprofit organization founded in Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.A., to promote the development and management of technology and businesses based on renewable resources. We also encourage the preservation of our Earth's natural habitats and its plant and animal species. So do a lot of other organizations, and more power to them for doing so!
Bootstrap Press is different because its members believe that the development of renewable resources and the preservation of habitats and species are receiving far more lip service than the financial and technical support needed to achieve these goals. We also think they will continue to be subjects of more talk than action until someone can show how renewable resources and the diversity of biological species can be the basis for potentially profitable businesses as well as a matter of ethics. Bootstrap Press intends to provide a forum for the discussion of how to build up such business, and of related topics.
There's one more thing we should mention about Muenchhausen and Bootstrap Press. We try to present only the scientific and technical facts that are correct to the best of our knowledge, belief, and good faith. It is up to Muenchhausen's readers to draw their own conclusions and make their own judgments.
NOTE: The mention of a product or service in Muenchhausen is in no way to be regarded as an endorsement of that product or service by Muenchhausen, Bootstrap Press, the Green Baron, or any other contributor to Muenchhausen.
posted by Green_Baron00 @ 8:22 PM
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