Contents
Crescatorii de nuci: bioagriculture opportunity
Cycling News : successes reported
Profile: Associatia de Ecoturism Romania
WWOOF: Worl d Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms
Profile: Clubul de Ecologie s¸i Turism MOLDAVIA
Feral Dogs: More problems with ‘wasteland’ dogs (and a possible solution?)
Salvati Romania:saving heritage and green spaces from concrete death
Ethical Investment Fund takes Shape
Car Death: the ‘real’ cost of car crashes
Organisations: Contact details for environmentally friendly organisations
Romanian Environmental News
No. 002 Published 30th April 2008
Welcome to REN 2, the email newsletter promoting a more environmentally-friendly Romania. REN 1 received enough praise for us to energise ourselves and make REN 2 even better. I am slowly improving my computer skills, so REN 2 takes up much less memory than REN 1. Pictures have been removed, but may appear in a ‘colour supplement’. Hopefully this will solve the main problem voiced about REN 1.
The environment and the very real crisis caused by over exploitation of the planet by human beings, is hitting world news headlines almost every day. Just see our article World in Crisis which shows some of the headlines and stories that have appeared on the BBC news website in April alone. The massive increase in food prices has multiple causes and has created real pain for many in poorer countries (see Adevarul Verde 10th April 2008). The demand for more fuel in rich countries is now not only leading to almost daily increases in the price of oil, but also to large scale sowing of crops for biodiesel rather than food. Rainforests are being cut down to provide more land for agriculture, while the actual area of land growing food crops is decreasing. All this so that the already very rich citizens of North America, Western Europe and Japan can get even richer.
Communism destroyed many people’s lives. Capitalism/Consumerism is rushing to destroy the planet, in the name of individual choice. Every action in our daily life has to be analysed for its impact on the planet. We must tell others what decisions we have made and why we have made them. It is often said how pointless the actions of one person are, but this is not true. Only by spreading our message from one person to 10s of people, 10s to 100s and so on, until billions of people on the planet are living low impact lives, aware of their impact on the planet and constantly reducing it, can we succeed. Unfortunately time is very short. Are the days of NGOs numbered and the days of ethical earth-friendly business here? (see Romanian Low Carbon Investment Cooperative). Environmentalism in the world we live, has to show profits. Ethical business has an enormous advantage. When business is ethical the whole planet profits. All future mankind profits.
Great Place
The mayor of the village Sinca Noua, around twenty km from Fagaras , is doing fantastic work. Over the past years, the town hall has put sustainable development at the top of the agenda. Sinca Noua claims to be the first ecological village in Romania. Eighty to ninety per cent of the ‘gospodari’ (smallholders) are organic; an organic bakery and butchers have been set up; ‘var stins’ (lime putty) is produced, and solar panels are being used on many buildings. See http://www.equus-silvania.com/en/sincae.htm
About REN
Romanian Environmental Newsletter campaigns for a sustainable, ethical, equitable future for Romania. We believe that both the planet and capitalism are set on a collision course. To start moving towards a less damaging and more equitable society we need to put the welfare of the planet and the best interests of all before profit and selfish gain.
REN welcomes contributions from all in any of our four languages: English, Romanian, Hungarian and German. Articles should not be too long. Links can be given to websites for those who want to read more. REN is published quarterly. Next publishing date July 30th 2008
Contact
REN Email: editor_ren@operamail.com
Address: REN, Douglas Mcfarlane, Oficiul postal 1, CP2, Huedin, Jud. Cluj, Romania.
Tel: (Romania) 0264 351150 or mobile (Romania only)0751792593
This edition of REN has been put together by Douglas Mcfarlane, who takes full responsibility for the content. All unsigned content is my responsibility alone. Our other contributors are, Noelle Nightingale from Peace Corps in Romania, Aura Neag at Intbau, Sara Meaker from Low Impact Living Transilvania, Ramona Duminicioiu from InfOMG-Romania, Tim Hulings from Snowridge.