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Necessary To Create Alternative Economies In Teghut And Shnogh
Interview with Al Eisaian, U.S.-based Armenian businessman, Teghut
activist, Environmentalist
What were the main objectives of going to Shnogh-Teghut on February 10th, 2013?
I first went to Teghut and Shnogh in June of 2012 to learn more about
the mine and the general situation on the ground. I have been a hiker
/ nature-lover and environmentalist for as long as I can remember.
After I read Dr. Jared Diamond's book "Collapse" I became an even more
committed environmentalist. What I witnessed in Teghut in June of last
year was devastating and I resolved to try and do my part to save that
beautiful forest.
In our first visit to Shnogh-Teghut, we met a young lady, who was the
leader of the Women's Resource Center. I felt that this young lady was
genuinely interested in learning more about the alternative ways to
develop an economy that was based on the natural riches of the area
and tourism. We had several conversations via Skype and Facebook chat
and I promised that I would come back to spend more time with her and
the villagers to explore possibilities.
I then emailed a few friends and asked if they'd like to join me on
the trip... One thing led to another and close to 80 people decided to
join me on the trip.
As such, the main objective of the trip was expanded to include ideas
from the folks that decided to join me. The objectives are listed
below:
1. Community-building through the arts.
- Anna Meschian: Who is from Boston organized the musical event
planning. She is from Boston and trained in the famous El Sistema
method. She taught the children of Shnogh and Teghut some new songs
and along with the local music teachers prepared the children to sing
for the community. She also asked the famous Yerevan band Nairi to
come and perform several songs. In addition she invited Raffi
Wartanian, another American-Armenian artist from Philadelphia to join
and sing a few songs.
- Barenk Hayeren dance group came and taught the local children
traditional Armenian dances and hundreds of kids participated.
- Lucineh Kassarjian of ReAnimania Festival came and 40 children did
beautiful paintings.
2. Let the Shnogh and Teghut Communities know that we care.
- By simply being in the community and listening to the villagers, we
can learn more about their lives and try to be friends and lend a hand
if we can.
3. Spend Money in the local economy by purchasing local products and
spending the night.
4. Educate ourselves on the best way to make allies of the villagers
in preserving the local environment.
- It's so important NOT TO LECTURE the villagers. They know full well
the negative aspects of the mine. But we need to develop alternative
means for them to earn a living otherwise the short term needs will
ALWAYS beat the intermediate or long term needs.
How can we stop the imminent dangers to the environment and the the
communities that live in Teghut-Shnogh and surrounding areas?
I believe that the only rational and workable alternative is to
rapidly and resolutely collaborate with villagers and the young folks
in Teghut and Shnogh to create alternative economies. We are either
committed to preserving this forest for generations to come or we are
just giving lip service. There were ten rooms prepared by the
villagers to accommodate overnight stays that would stimulate a bit of
the local economy. But unfortunately only 7 people decided to stay.
What is worse is that the villagers felt disrespected by some
activists as being talked "down to."
This is unacceptable! These people are no different than human beings
everywhere. We need to learn to calmly and patiently listening to them
and not act like we have all the solutions. They want alternatives,
they want to work with activists and diasporans. But we must respect
them and understand their predicament.
Alternative Economy?
As I have expressed in many meetings in LA and in Yerevan, we should
all collectively put our money where our mouth is. If we care about
this area, if we care about its people then we must work together to
bring new jobs to the area to counter what Vallex is offering. We have
a formidable foe but I believe, I HAVE TO BELIEVE, that our brothers
and sisters in these communities will make the right decision and stop
working in the mines once we are able to help and provide
alternatives. Thats what I like to work on.
Do I know that Vallex had tried to interfere and disturb our
community-building efforts?
Yes and I was not very surprised by it. I noticed the hostile demeanor
of some folks towards Yeghia Nersesian and some other folks. All I can
say is that I encourage all of us to be smarter than that and not
allow saboteurs control the agenda. Sometimes working silently and
diligently and establishing one-on-one deep connections is much better
than public and aggressive actions. I was unable to deliver 80% of
what I had personally prepared to deliver in the form of training
because so many community-members were coerced into leaving. I was
disappointed but again because I had insisted on an open and organic
approach versus a tightly-controlled approach, I was not
fully-surprised.
One thing is clear, we have to continue building bridges of
understanding with the community if we are to win their hearts and
minds to what we believe is the right course of action.
In the final analysis, I was SO GRATEFUL for all the 80+ people that
cared so deeply to join in the trip. I was equally GRATEFUL for the
warmth of the local community and I hope that we will continue our
collaboration for a better future for all of us.
13:25 06/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29535
Interview with Al Eisaian, U.S.-based Armenian businessman, Teghut
activist, Environmentalist
What were the main objectives of going to Shnogh-Teghut on February 10th, 2013?
I first went to Teghut and Shnogh in June of 2012 to learn more about
the mine and the general situation on the ground. I have been a hiker
/ nature-lover and environmentalist for as long as I can remember.
After I read Dr. Jared Diamond's book "Collapse" I became an even more
committed environmentalist. What I witnessed in Teghut in June of last
year was devastating and I resolved to try and do my part to save that
beautiful forest.
In our first visit to Shnogh-Teghut, we met a young lady, who was the
leader of the Women's Resource Center. I felt that this young lady was
genuinely interested in learning more about the alternative ways to
develop an economy that was based on the natural riches of the area
and tourism. We had several conversations via Skype and Facebook chat
and I promised that I would come back to spend more time with her and
the villagers to explore possibilities.
I then emailed a few friends and asked if they'd like to join me on
the trip... One thing led to another and close to 80 people decided to
join me on the trip.
As such, the main objective of the trip was expanded to include ideas
from the folks that decided to join me. The objectives are listed
below:
1. Community-building through the arts.
- Anna Meschian: Who is from Boston organized the musical event
planning. She is from Boston and trained in the famous El Sistema
method. She taught the children of Shnogh and Teghut some new songs
and along with the local music teachers prepared the children to sing
for the community. She also asked the famous Yerevan band Nairi to
come and perform several songs. In addition she invited Raffi
Wartanian, another American-Armenian artist from Philadelphia to join
and sing a few songs.
- Barenk Hayeren dance group came and taught the local children
traditional Armenian dances and hundreds of kids participated.
- Lucineh Kassarjian of ReAnimania Festival came and 40 children did
beautiful paintings.
2. Let the Shnogh and Teghut Communities know that we care.
- By simply being in the community and listening to the villagers, we
can learn more about their lives and try to be friends and lend a hand
if we can.
3. Spend Money in the local economy by purchasing local products and
spending the night.
4. Educate ourselves on the best way to make allies of the villagers
in preserving the local environment.
- It's so important NOT TO LECTURE the villagers. They know full well
the negative aspects of the mine. But we need to develop alternative
means for them to earn a living otherwise the short term needs will
ALWAYS beat the intermediate or long term needs.
How can we stop the imminent dangers to the environment and the the
communities that live in Teghut-Shnogh and surrounding areas?
I believe that the only rational and workable alternative is to
rapidly and resolutely collaborate with villagers and the young folks
in Teghut and Shnogh to create alternative economies. We are either
committed to preserving this forest for generations to come or we are
just giving lip service. There were ten rooms prepared by the
villagers to accommodate overnight stays that would stimulate a bit of
the local economy. But unfortunately only 7 people decided to stay.
What is worse is that the villagers felt disrespected by some
activists as being talked "down to."
This is unacceptable! These people are no different than human beings
everywhere. We need to learn to calmly and patiently listening to them
and not act like we have all the solutions. They want alternatives,
they want to work with activists and diasporans. But we must respect
them and understand their predicament.
Alternative Economy?
As I have expressed in many meetings in LA and in Yerevan, we should
all collectively put our money where our mouth is. If we care about
this area, if we care about its people then we must work together to
bring new jobs to the area to counter what Vallex is offering. We have
a formidable foe but I believe, I HAVE TO BELIEVE, that our brothers
and sisters in these communities will make the right decision and stop
working in the mines once we are able to help and provide
alternatives. Thats what I like to work on.
Do I know that Vallex had tried to interfere and disturb our
community-building efforts?
Yes and I was not very surprised by it. I noticed the hostile demeanor
of some folks towards Yeghia Nersesian and some other folks. All I can
say is that I encourage all of us to be smarter than that and not
allow saboteurs control the agenda. Sometimes working silently and
diligently and establishing one-on-one deep connections is much better
than public and aggressive actions. I was unable to deliver 80% of
what I had personally prepared to deliver in the form of training
because so many community-members were coerced into leaving. I was
disappointed but again because I had insisted on an open and organic
approach versus a tightly-controlled approach, I was not
fully-surprised.
One thing is clear, we have to continue building bridges of
understanding with the community if we are to win their hearts and
minds to what we believe is the right course of action.
In the final analysis, I was SO GRATEFUL for all the 80+ people that
cared so deeply to join in the trip. I was equally GRATEFUL for the
warmth of the local community and I hope that we will continue our
collaboration for a better future for all of us.
13:25 06/04/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index.php/eng/0/interview/view/29535