A Concrete Island
I couldn’t help but write this piece in response to the news of transforming “Trafalgar Square” into a Green Space just two days ago, via the BBC:
More than 2,000 square metres of turf has been laid as part of Visit London’s campaign to promote green spaces and villages in the city.
The grass will cover the square for two days during which visitors will be able to soak up the sunshine in specially laid-out deckchairs or enjoy a picnic.
The turf, which has been sourced from the Vale of York, will then be moved to Bishops Park in Hammersmith and Fulham.
When you grow up in Bahrain, you don’t really become an environmentalist. There isn’t much natural beauty around here (not for the public to see at least); if anything Bahrain is now working at full throttle for it to match the regional aspiration to reach the far end of the achievements man had made around urbanized living, economical stability, skyscrapers and just a whole lot of cement and glass.
When other countries have exotic plants, endangered animals or inanimate natural objects (Such as mountains, gardens… etc) as national symbols of the nation’s people, values, goals or even history, we chose to have the BIC and Financial Harbor Towers not only as symbols of the country, but as tourist attractions and traveling hotspots when visiting Bahrain.
I seriously do not know how am I supposed to feel when I see (and this happens on a regular basis) when I see a tourist taking a picture near NBB Towers struggling to get the building along with the other person in the same shot. I do not know how I am supposed to feel when I see a Bahraini family having a picnic on roundabouts, their children running around left and right not so far away from the speeding cars, because those roundabouts happen to be the only “green” spots near them, because we do not have much greenery or “natural treasures” that the people of the country can enjoy let alone the incoming vacationer.
We live on an Island for god’s sake! Let’s assume the government does not own a single piece of land with a seafront, what about the sea? Why can’t we have cruises, diving trips, or even sea view tours? Why can’t we use the sea (Not the beaches) to the benefit of tourism, and for once maybe try to change the “sin city” title we earned for us being a “Drinks and Prostitute” hot town.
And what about the desert! Bahrainis are literally crammed up in only 30% of the mother island, most the rest of the island is either undeveloped land if not private property, why can’t we have desert trips or Safari trips around that side of the island?
Why is it that we are neglecting the natural development or even preservation of our country’s greenery, beaches and seas, and encourage the construction of cement jungles left and right? What happened to the palm tree fields we had? What happened to the sweet water springs all around the country?
“Bahrain” or “Two seas” was called that because it contains two kinds of water, sweet water from the springs and salty water from the sea, it was also once called “Paradise” and “Life of Eternity”, it is truly sad that we don’t have any of that left for us to see, let alone our children.
Oh yeah, Greeny Trafalgar.
(hope it doesn’t count as a spam)
You made me feel pity about ourselves when it comes to find some green spaces to relax, and we don’t find. We only have this place near the old dolphin park (can’t remember the name of the area). I hope (or maybe dream) that some day the government realizes that many projects can be done regarding green space and providing the general public, genuine parks where families can gather up and enjoy a BBQ or something.
Regards
There are things called “community gardens initiative” in places around the world, there is nothing stopping us – the normal people – from applying for and maintaining such garden plots near our homes; in fact I see a good reason for every neighbourhood or village to have such an initiative.
I fear however that the very same people who these space are supposed to serve will be the first to vindictively damage and vandalise those spaces and then simply blame the government. I have seen this in several locations around the island; one just opposite my dad’s house. Now they have refurbished it and installed a 24-hour guard detail in order to keep the druggies and vandal children and others out.
Sorry Mohammed. I’m not entirely with you on this one; yes there are a lot of problems due to the government, not having green spaces, or palm groves etc is not on that list. That squarely lies on the feet of the society generally.
@Mahmood:
I wasn’t really intending to point the fingers at the government at this, while I agree with you that we as citizens share a burden of the blame here; it is also fair to mention that we are hardly able to get pieces of lands for ourselves to live in let alone gardening it and such. The fact that many of the community parks were vandalized and misused by the locals isn’t a valid excuse for not offering them in the first place.
On the other hand, the government’s hands aren’t exactly clean on this one. We are supposed to have a “Green Belt” around the country which is an area where urbanization is restricted for the sake of preservation of the natural environment, what happened recently is that more than 65% of the Green Belt has been destructed and in fact built-up and developed. (Source) Also, if you have been following AlWasat some 4-5 months ago reporting a story about the theft of a land that was supposed to be owned by the government and a planned location for a local community park, but all of a sudden became private property.
The point of the matter is that this country is very heavily populated and will become an unpleasant never-ending suburban sprawl unless someone takes a measure to stop this before bland suburbia covers whatever is remaining of our countryside.
The disappearance of the sweet water springs in the sea, where Bahrain got its name from, is sure not a community driven idea.The building of BFH on top of the sea, is not a community driven idea either. The destruction of the water wells, building cities in the wrong places – on top of green north and leaving out the vast empty desert in the south, is also a government policy. The lack of environmental laws and policies, is also a government responsibility. Endangering the sea cows and the dolphins by building fake islands, is also a government problem. Killing reefs in Fasht Al-Adhem, is also a government problem. The destruction of Tubli bay by dumping wastes, is a government problem. Should I go on Mahmood?
I am not saying the people are totally innocent and that they never litter beaches, or that vandalism doesn’t exist in the country. However, the amount of planned-for damage caused by the government’s lack of interest in the environment has certainly caused much more harm to our natural treasures than vandalism.
When we talk about natural treasures we talk about our water wells, sweet spring waters, native animals like sea cows, dolphins and the various types of Fish. We talk about our reefs, the once-upon-a-time green northern part of Bahrain. We talk about reclaimed beaches and no-longer-existent Furdha.
That’s our natural treasures. Yes, the government is not doing enough. Yes, it their responsibility. I agree the people- when collaborating- can make some change, but with the environment being on the bottom of the government’s list of priorities, it won’t be easy. There was little we could do to prevent the damage caused by a poor, short-sighted governmental policy of building skyscrapers, in the totally wrong places.
If the environment was anywhere in the government agenda, you would at least see laws, policies, campaigns, recycling projects.
Vandalism is not the main factor for an island that is made our concrete, and saying plain primitive and shallow. Just look outside the window of any tower in Bahrain.
Sorry for the long reply. Maybe I should have replied in my blog.
اعتقد انها مسؤليه الحكومه ومسؤليه الافراد
فالجري وراء الرأسماليه تعني التخلي عن مفهوم الحفاظ علي البيئه
الفشوت المعرضه للدفن خليج توبلي الصيد الجائر ومشاريع الاعمار الغير منتهيه
كلها يمكن للحكومه تنظيمها او الحد منها
اما مفهوم البيئه والحفاظ عليها فهو مفهوم لابد ان يتعلمه الافراد لكن لا حياة لمن تنادي
اكبر مثل حال البر بعد موسم التخييم
من يذهب علي الشاطيء يرمي مخلفاته ويمشي ومن يجلس علي البقع الخضراء لن يجد هناك مشكله لو (نتف) اولاده الحديقه
لا يمكننا مطالبه الحكومه بشيء الشعب غير مهتم فيه
علينا الاقرار ان المفهوم المادي هو المسيطر وهو يعني التخلي عن ما تملك لاجل الماده
والجري وراء الربح السريع والوفير
ولذلك فأن مشاريع مثل التي ذكرتها لا يمكن مقارنتها بالمشاريع الاسثماريه وناطحات السحاب
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About Me
- Mohammed AlMaskati
East Riffa, Bahrain
I support a ONE Bahrain!
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