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INTERVIEW: ARMENIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST MARIAM SUKHUDYAN
Posted by Liana Aghajanian on February 4, 2013 at 12:49 p
Armenian environmental activist Mariam Sukhudyan/Photo courtesy
Mariam Sukhudyan
Mariam Sukhudyan is the quintessential face of Armenia's active
environmental community. Through her activism both on the ground and
with the help of social media, she has carried the message of pertinent
environmental issues beyond the borders of the South Caucasus country
and gathered much admiration in the process.
In 2010, Sukhudyan was awarded the U.S. Embassy of Armenia's first
ever Woman of Courage Award, honoring her "responsibility, courage
and leadership in the pursuit of justice." The award came after her
and a group of volunteers at the Nubarashen Special School Number
11 alleged child abuse from staff, statements that she once faced
up to 5 years imprisonment for, before the charges were dropped and
redirected towards school staff.
Since then, she's been at the forefront of the struggle between
activists and government officials in Armenia over the future of
Armenia's lucrative mining industry and the unrepairable damage that
she says Armenia can't afford.
Learn more about Sukhudyan, the environmental movement in Armenia
and why the battle over Teghut Forest is so important to activists
in our short interview below:
Q. When did you first become interested in the environment, and why?
A.I first became interested in environmentalism when I noticed things
taking place around, wilfulness towards nature and environment, The
civil struggle began with Symphony of Stone in Garni in 2007 , when a
group of people were destroying the monument of nature with crowbars
for the workshop of Paravon Mirzoyan, the director of national art
gallery and for the church floor of Hovik Abrahamyan. Yet later it
was known, the natural monument became means for serious business,
and it was being mercilessly destroyed.
Q. What is the current environmental situation in Armenia like?
A. It 's much like a sick , wounded woman who will be saved only by
means of her endless love and immense faith...If we don't turn this
love into efficient activity, we wont have Armenia any more ...
Q. Why is it so important for you to be an environmental activist
in Armenia?
A. It's absolutely of no importance which way I will be called ,
environmentalist or activist , simple citizen of RA (Republic of
Armenia), a woman fighting together with her maternal instincts,
or a blind romantic person... reality is that we lose Armenia, and
the opportunity of living atmosphere, producing healthy generation
and having continuation, the type of an Armenian person is being
degenerated and it is the problem of all of us , irrespective of our
geographical position.
Q. Can you describe what victories you have had in your fight to
protect the environment in Armenia and also what failures?
A. Struggle is a victory itself , the man who fights never loses,
if there is still someone who believes and does his best to change
the country he lives in, then nothing is lost. Sometimes victories
are visible and tangible as, let us say the struggle in Trchkan,
where the building of water power plant was suspended and the biggest
waterfall in Armenia was saved.
Khosrov forest reserve was saved from becoming restaurant and and a
place of fun ... As we know, by government's decision one great part
of the forest reserve was given to be built on, this illegal activity
was again banned on behalf of community and NGOs .
The biggest achievement is civic revival , because Armenia is just
like its citizens , it's our internal mirror. So if we seek for a
good and worthy life, respected rights, harmony with nature so first
and foremost we should be the one to take the initiative and pass on.
We won't allow our rights to be violated every time ... while you
stoop, do not complain, but if they ride you, this mean it's high
time to draw our spine up.
Armenian activists protesting illegal logging/ Photo courtesy Mariam
Sukhudyan
Q. What is the most important environmental problem facing Armenia now?
A. The mining industry gnaws from inside our organism like a worm.
Armenia is like a tasty, juicy fruit, which is being attacked from
different sides, squeezing out the juice of our homeland , Armenia
becomes deprived of juice, air , water and life. If we do not stop
the wilfulness performed in the sphere of mining industry, we will
destroy the country that we inherited centuries ago. It's quite enough
to take a map and look at the sectors where metal mining industries are
marked and the scene of the environment we live in will be clear , if
we do not stop this policy then in fact all is a lie, our patriotism,
love towards our children and family worship.
Q. Through Facebook and the internet, you get a lot of support from
people around the world, including the Armenian Diaspora. How does
that make you feel?
A. It's very good that diaspora is gradually interested in the
environmental issues of Armenia, today Armenia contains not only
victims of genocide. There is also the living breathing nowadays
Armenia , which is again in need of huge attention, love and concrete
actions. We expect that Armenians living abroad will feel themselves
inside Armenia and from now on will take part in today's life of
Armenia, irrespective of the fact which corner of the world they live
in. Armenia needs you.
Mariam Sukhudyan/by Yeghia Trchkani Nersesian
Q. Can you tell me about some of the most recent event you were
involved in, saving the Trchkan Waterfall as well as Mashtots Park?
Why are these issues important to you?
A. The park belongs to the community and no one has the right to
sell it, divide it, spoil it and make a trading center. It's time
for a simple citizen to understand that this country belongs to him
and he is the owner and the servant , that he has to take part in
events round him. We lose our type, we lose the human inside us ,
the environment which nourished us for centuries.We MUST kill the
slave and awake the owner.
Our next battle is Teghut, we call on the whole diaspora to focus
its thoughts and activity towards Teghut, in case of need to travel
with tents to the North of Armenia and with their presence suspend
the disastrous performance of the mining industry , the collecting
of one hundred million tonnes of industrial wastes and its flow into
surrounding environment, I have to remind that here are the traces
of Qur Araqs cultural civilization.... And while losing Teghut,
we will turn over the last page of Armenia.
To learn more about the environmental movement in Armenia, visit the
Pan-Armenian Environmental Front
http://www.ianyanmag.com/2013/02/04/interview-mariam-sukhudyan/
Posted by Liana Aghajanian on February 4, 2013 at 12:49 p
Armenian environmental activist Mariam Sukhudyan/Photo courtesy
Mariam Sukhudyan
Mariam Sukhudyan is the quintessential face of Armenia's active
environmental community. Through her activism both on the ground and
with the help of social media, she has carried the message of pertinent
environmental issues beyond the borders of the South Caucasus country
and gathered much admiration in the process.
In 2010, Sukhudyan was awarded the U.S. Embassy of Armenia's first
ever Woman of Courage Award, honoring her "responsibility, courage
and leadership in the pursuit of justice." The award came after her
and a group of volunteers at the Nubarashen Special School Number
11 alleged child abuse from staff, statements that she once faced
up to 5 years imprisonment for, before the charges were dropped and
redirected towards school staff.
Since then, she's been at the forefront of the struggle between
activists and government officials in Armenia over the future of
Armenia's lucrative mining industry and the unrepairable damage that
she says Armenia can't afford.
Learn more about Sukhudyan, the environmental movement in Armenia
and why the battle over Teghut Forest is so important to activists
in our short interview below:
Q. When did you first become interested in the environment, and why?
A.I first became interested in environmentalism when I noticed things
taking place around, wilfulness towards nature and environment, The
civil struggle began with Symphony of Stone in Garni in 2007 , when a
group of people were destroying the monument of nature with crowbars
for the workshop of Paravon Mirzoyan, the director of national art
gallery and for the church floor of Hovik Abrahamyan. Yet later it
was known, the natural monument became means for serious business,
and it was being mercilessly destroyed.
Q. What is the current environmental situation in Armenia like?
A. It 's much like a sick , wounded woman who will be saved only by
means of her endless love and immense faith...If we don't turn this
love into efficient activity, we wont have Armenia any more ...
Q. Why is it so important for you to be an environmental activist
in Armenia?
A. It's absolutely of no importance which way I will be called ,
environmentalist or activist , simple citizen of RA (Republic of
Armenia), a woman fighting together with her maternal instincts,
or a blind romantic person... reality is that we lose Armenia, and
the opportunity of living atmosphere, producing healthy generation
and having continuation, the type of an Armenian person is being
degenerated and it is the problem of all of us , irrespective of our
geographical position.
Q. Can you describe what victories you have had in your fight to
protect the environment in Armenia and also what failures?
A. Struggle is a victory itself , the man who fights never loses,
if there is still someone who believes and does his best to change
the country he lives in, then nothing is lost. Sometimes victories
are visible and tangible as, let us say the struggle in Trchkan,
where the building of water power plant was suspended and the biggest
waterfall in Armenia was saved.
Khosrov forest reserve was saved from becoming restaurant and and a
place of fun ... As we know, by government's decision one great part
of the forest reserve was given to be built on, this illegal activity
was again banned on behalf of community and NGOs .
The biggest achievement is civic revival , because Armenia is just
like its citizens , it's our internal mirror. So if we seek for a
good and worthy life, respected rights, harmony with nature so first
and foremost we should be the one to take the initiative and pass on.
We won't allow our rights to be violated every time ... while you
stoop, do not complain, but if they ride you, this mean it's high
time to draw our spine up.
Armenian activists protesting illegal logging/ Photo courtesy Mariam
Sukhudyan
Q. What is the most important environmental problem facing Armenia now?
A. The mining industry gnaws from inside our organism like a worm.
Armenia is like a tasty, juicy fruit, which is being attacked from
different sides, squeezing out the juice of our homeland , Armenia
becomes deprived of juice, air , water and life. If we do not stop
the wilfulness performed in the sphere of mining industry, we will
destroy the country that we inherited centuries ago. It's quite enough
to take a map and look at the sectors where metal mining industries are
marked and the scene of the environment we live in will be clear , if
we do not stop this policy then in fact all is a lie, our patriotism,
love towards our children and family worship.
Q. Through Facebook and the internet, you get a lot of support from
people around the world, including the Armenian Diaspora. How does
that make you feel?
A. It's very good that diaspora is gradually interested in the
environmental issues of Armenia, today Armenia contains not only
victims of genocide. There is also the living breathing nowadays
Armenia , which is again in need of huge attention, love and concrete
actions. We expect that Armenians living abroad will feel themselves
inside Armenia and from now on will take part in today's life of
Armenia, irrespective of the fact which corner of the world they live
in. Armenia needs you.
Mariam Sukhudyan/by Yeghia Trchkani Nersesian
Q. Can you tell me about some of the most recent event you were
involved in, saving the Trchkan Waterfall as well as Mashtots Park?
Why are these issues important to you?
A. The park belongs to the community and no one has the right to
sell it, divide it, spoil it and make a trading center. It's time
for a simple citizen to understand that this country belongs to him
and he is the owner and the servant , that he has to take part in
events round him. We lose our type, we lose the human inside us ,
the environment which nourished us for centuries.We MUST kill the
slave and awake the owner.
Our next battle is Teghut, we call on the whole diaspora to focus
its thoughts and activity towards Teghut, in case of need to travel
with tents to the North of Armenia and with their presence suspend
the disastrous performance of the mining industry , the collecting
of one hundred million tonnes of industrial wastes and its flow into
surrounding environment, I have to remind that here are the traces
of Qur Araqs cultural civilization.... And while losing Teghut,
we will turn over the last page of Armenia.
To learn more about the environmental movement in Armenia, visit the
Pan-Armenian Environmental Front
http://www.ianyanmag.com/2013/02/04/interview-mariam-sukhudyan/