tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163876234969175446.post4277452862078819130..comments2024-03-22T10:56:23.359+02:00Comments on Land and People: I read Al Hayat todayRami Zuraykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14644937988631864952noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4163876234969175446.post-27253390537541628392007-07-15T22:58:00.000+03:002007-07-15T22:58:00.000+03:00loss of mangrove wetlands - I remember at the time...loss of mangrove wetlands - I remember at the time of the tsunami that it was said: mangroves protect the coast against tsunami swells.<BR/><BR/>Loss of fish breeding grounds is also regrettable.<BR/><BR/>We are rebuilding the wetlands of the Bay Area to the tune of about 32 billion dollars - however global warming may drown all our efforts. Once this bay was the wonder of the world, filled with birds, fish and wildlife.<BR/><BR/>This article makes me sad. I knew there was a reason I hate all these ugly new developments in the Gulf.<BR/><BR/>one of my Lebanese uncles visited us in California last year for the first time. i thought he would appreciate our beautiful coast line between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, with its long miles of protected farm and beach land. There are many thousands of acres of woods in the hills also protected from development. No, my uncle said he thought it was a shame they didn't let people build in these places, because real estate is too expensive here and people should be allowed to build wherever there is open land.<BR/><BR/>And Lebanon's defaced coastline is the result of that thinking. Northern Californians fought and are still fighting bitter wars with rich developers to keep shreds of our coast intact. <BR/><BR/>Southern California, more conservative than the Bay Area (more like the Arab world really - money matters most), has turned from a gorgeous land of rolling hills and orchards into one vast disgusting tract of houses and freeways. It's unsustainable (see Jared Diamond). It's also sinfully ugly. And it's bad for the health of the ocean, naturally.<BR/><BR/>Sigh. God will sort it out, but maybe not in the lifetimes of our great-grandchildren. I fear for our species' future.Bedouinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00214561733659157727noreply@blogger.com