The cloud of smog, which covers Tirana from Dajti stone-mine up to Durres hills, couldnt stay away from the attention of international environmental scientists and organizations. The pollution in the town of Elbasan has proven to be higher. The heat during summer in this location comes down from the deforested mountains and blends together with the carbonic gas, smog, rust and the garbage, making the life of the inhabitants of this town and the surrounding areas very difficult.
As soon as you cross Qafe Morina you notice that even in Kosovo the forests and trees are cut down without any criteria or remorse, just like in Albania. Many towns are covered by the dust and the winds, which nowadays are not filtered or hindered by the forests that used to surround these towns. Likewise, beyond Kapshtice, regardless the order implemented by the Greek government and citizens, you can see semi dried out bushes and abandoned lands. Although Greece is part of the European Union, this country is turning into a center for the production of cancerogenic goods for the eastern market. Although Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Rumania have a better tradition in respecting the law and preserving the environment, transition has caused problems that have just started to make their first appearances. On the surface of the peninsula and our territorial waters there are scattered big quantities of concrete materials and radioactive substances and none of the states has control over them. Of course, the most alarming situation is in our country, Albania, but nonetheless the lack of responsibility is noticed in the whole region.
Some time ago the Southeastern scientists and environmental organizations held a debate on environmental issues. The damage caused to the ozone layer and the attitude of the people in this peninsula made some of these scientists draw the conclusion that Balkans, in three hundred years, will become a desert. This conclusion caused different reactions. One of the participants brought into this debate the example of the Israeli people, who in the middle of the desert, have build up a modern city and an abundant life.
The argument that none of the Balkan nations does not have the vitality of Israeli people, sounded disturbing as well as irrelevant. The people of Balkans, and in particular Albanians, although they have gone very far in destroying the resources that mother nature has generously given to them, should not be subject of judgments. The current situation is a result of lack of knowledge, discouragement, and loosing hope in the future. The citizens of Balkans, although they aspire the united Europe, are not sure about the future. None of them is sure about how will this union be. The global policy seems to instill poverty, organized crime, destruction of property and degradation of national cultures. No clear position has been demonstrated with regards to the protection of liberty, property, national customs and cultural diversity (this treasure of the European continent). The work for bringing prosperity challenges every evil, nourishes the nature and revives all populations, but this happens only if this is motivated and if the ideas about the future are clear. The thrust of Albanians, in centuries, to resist the purge and assimilation, encouraged this nation to face difficulties, injustice and barbaric acts and to survive; but today Albanians are discouraged and not motivated. Traditionally, Balkan countries, under the pressure of the politics of powerful countries, have worked more towards the aim of destroying each other instead of nourishing their lives. The consequences fell on the people, especially on the Albanians. This collapse can be faced if the policy for the European unification and integration encourages each nation to build its own state, to preserve its national identity and own wealth. Policies of globalization and integration, drafted according to the interests of the most powerful states, can cause problems not only in our country, but also to developed countries and with long traditions in state making. The unification of the people in Europe cannot be reached by unifying, destroying, or taking away the national tradition. If the Unified Europe will be capable to build the federation of states and preserving the values of each nation, we will not have the problems we experience today, but we will have an open and diverse society, where we will feel more the compliance with the law, liberty, and human rights, respect toward other races and religions. Each European citizen will work without being humiliated for the peace, the future of their children and coming generations.
In this path of our existence, I believe we should encourage and support the Albanians, Greeks, Serbs, Rumanians, Bulgarians, Bosnians, Macedonians, Montenegrins, etc. Like this we can walk towards the unification, a civil society, harmony. And like this Balkans can not be a desert, but our oasis, the oasis of resurrected people.
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