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September 28 2014 

I remember in the late 1970s how the corporate world essentially invented the use of cost-benefit analysis in health, safety and environmental regulation. It was a brazen attempt to redefine the terms for understanding social ethics and policy in terms favorable to capital and markets.Â  Instead of seeing the prevention of death, disease and ecological harm as a matter of social justice, period, American industry succeeded in recasting these issues aseconomic matters.Â  And of course, such arcane issues must be overseen by a credentialed priesthod of economists, not ordinary mortals whose concerns were snubbed as selfish NIMBYism (Not in My Backyard).

And so it cam e to be that, with the full sanction of law, a dollar sum could be assigned to our health, or to the cost of getting cancer, or to a statistical baby born with birth defects. Regulation was transformed into a pseudo-market transaction.Â  That mindset has become so pervasive three decades later that people can barely remember when ethical priorities actually trumped big money.

It is therefore a joy to see Barbara UnmÃ¼ssigâs essay,âMonetizing Nature:Â  Taking Precaution on a Slippery Slope,âwhich recently appeared on the Great Transition Initiative website.Â  UnmÃ¼ssig is President of the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Germany and a stalwart supporter of the commons, especially in her backing of the 2010 and 2013 conferences in Berlin.

Striking a note that is note heard much these days, UnmÃ¼ssig points out the serious dangers of seeing the natural world through the scrim of money.Â  Here is the abstract for her piece:

UnmÃ¼ssigâs essay is followed by comments by some fantastic commentary by nine ecological economists and environmental policy experts, among others, who take issue with parts of the essay and elaborate on points of agreement.Â  Among the commentators are the noted ecological economists Herman Daly and Bob Costanza, but there are also some insightful comments by Neera Singh, Jutta Kill and Neil Glazer.

I especially liked biologist Jutta Killâs comments:

And finally, adopting someone elseâs frameâthe frame that sees ânatureâ in a way that capital doesâby default requires devaluing and undermining the values we (used to) consider worth fighting for. That would likely entail losing moral authority and legitimacy, at least over time. Adopting the concept of economic valuation means adopting the values of actors whose business model is built on limitless growth and the associated wrecking of ânatureââand many peopleâs livelihoods.

âHow can we honor the gift of conservation care labor that goes into the production of ecosystem services in ways that it is seen as a gift rather than as production of a service whose exchange can be sealed with a payment? And can we see these giftsâgifts by nature, by people who live in ecologically sensitive landscapes, gifts emerging from human-nature relationsâas invitation for long-term exchanges in sharing the burden and joy of environmental care?â

Read the essay and then the comments.Â  Some terrific insights into the pathological monetization of nature.

Originally posted in Bollier.org The post On the Dangers of Monetizing Nature appeared first on P2P Foundation.

Tags: ext_frdca tag_econ environment Umwelt February 27 2014 Saving Primate Lemurs Mushrooms, France's Latest Food Trend 

Local vs. imported 

The art of picking and preparing mushrooms 

Here is a simple recipe for raw porcini from a famous chef:Â

The chef explains the process as follows: Â

February 22 2014 Malagasy React to SI Swimming Suit Issue and Model's Take on Madagascar Nosy Iranja, Madagascar â Public Domain

February 20 2014 âThey Fell Our Souls and Memoryâ: Felling of Trees Draws Anger in Tajikistan

Whenever the authorities in Dushanbe launch a new redevelopment project or simply repair a road, they start by felling trees. Over the last decade, Tajikistan's capital has lost thousands of trees, mainly decades-old sycamores. The big trees once lined Dushanbe's major walkways and roads, providing much-needed shade in the city where summer temperatures often reach 40 degrees Celsius. In an apparent attempt to give the capital a more âmodernâ look, municipal authorities are replacing the felled sycamores withÂ ornamental trees and small conifers.

The felling of trees has accelerated since mid-2013Â as the authorities launched a major redevelopment effort in central Dushanbe. This has angered many social media users who feel that decades-old trees are an important part of the city's outlook and its ecosystem.Â

Sobir Kurbanov, one of the individuals affected by the development,Â wrote [ru] on the Facebook page âYa Dushanbinecâ [I am a Dushanbe Resident] on December 15:

[ÐÐµ]ÐºÐ¾Ð³Ð´Ð° ÑÐµÐ½Ð¸ÑÑÐ°Ñ Ð¸ ÐºÑÐ°ÑÐ¸Ð²Ð°Ñ, ÑÐºÑÐ°ÑÐµÐ½Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð²ÑÑÐ¾ÐºÐ¸Ð¼Ð¸ ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð°ÑÐ°Ð¼Ð¸ ÑÐ»Ð¸ÑÐ° Ð§ÐµÑÐ¾Ð²Ð° Ð¿Ð¾Ð»Ð½Ð¾ÑÑÑÑ ÑÐ½Ð¸ÑÑÐ¾Ð¶ÐµÐ½Ð° Ð´Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð¶Ð½ÑÐ¼Ð¸ ÑÑÑÐ¾Ð¸ÑÐµÐ»ÑÐ¼Ð¸. Ð¡Ð¿ÐµÑÐ¸Ð°Ð»ÑÐ½ÑÑ ÑÐµÑÐ½Ð¸ÐºÑ Ð´Ð°Ð¶Ðµ Ð·Ð°Ð²ÐµÐ·Ð»Ð¸. ÐÐ¸ Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²Ð° Ð½Ðµ Ð¿Ð¾Ð¶Ð°Ð»ÐµÐ»Ð¸, Ð²ÑÐµ Ð²ÑÑÑÐ±Ð¸Ð»Ð¸ Ð¿Ð¾Ð´ Ð¼Ð¾Ð»ÑÐ°Ð»Ð¸Ð²Ð¾Ðµ ÑÐ¾Ð³Ð»Ð°ÑÐ¸Ðµ Ð¶Ð¸ÑÐµÐ»ÐµÐ¹ ÑÑÐ¾Ð»Ð¸ÑÑ. ÐÐ¸ÐºÑÐ¾ Ð´Ð°Ð¶Ðµ Ð½Ðµ Ð¿ÑÑÐ°Ð»ÑÑ Ð²ÑÑÐ°Ð¶Ð°ÑÑ Ð½ÐµÑÐ¾Ð³Ð»Ð°ÑÐ¸Ðµ. ÐÐ¾Ð³Ð´Ð° ÑÐ°Ð¼ Ð·Ð°ÐºÐ¾Ð½ÑÐ°Ñ Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾Ð·Ð½Ð°ÑÐ½Ð¾ Ð¿ÑÐ¸ÑÑÑÐ¿ÑÑ Ðº Ð¿Ð°ÑÐºÑ Ð²Ð¾ÐºÑÑÐ³ Ð¾Ð¿ÐµÑÐºÐ¸ Ð¸ Ð²ÑÑÑÐ±ÑÑ Ð²ÑÐµ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÑ Ñ Ð¿ÑÐ¸Ð»ÐµÐ³Ð°ÑÑÐ¸Ñ ÑÐ»Ð¸Ñ Ð²Ð¾ÐºÑÑÐ³ Ð¾Ð¿ÐµÑÐºÐ¸, Ð¸ ÑÐ°Ðº Ð´Ð°Ð»ÐµÐµ. Ð Ð¿Ð¾ÑÐ»ÐµÐ´Ð½Ð¸Ð¼ Ð°ÐºÐºÐ¾ÑÐ´Ð¾Ð¼ ÑÑÐ°Ð½ÐµÑ ÑÐ½Ð¸ÑÑÐ¾Ð¶ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ðµ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÐµÐ² Ð¿Ð¾ Ð¿ÑÐ¾ÑÐ¿ÐµÐºÑÑ Ð¸ ÑÐ»Ð¸ÑÐµ Ð ÑÐ´Ð°ÐºÐ¸. Ð ÑÐ¾Ð³Ð´Ð° Ð¿ÑÐµÐ²ÑÐ°ÑÐ¸ÑÑÑ Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð´ Ð² Ð¿ÑÑÑÑÐ½Ñ Ñ ÑÐ¸ÑÐ¾ÐºÐ¸Ð¼Ð¸ Ð½Ð¾Ð²ÑÐ¼Ð¸ ÑÐ»Ð¸ÑÐ°Ð¼Ð¸. ÐÐµ Ð´Ð°Ð¹ ÐÐ»Ð»Ð°Ñ Ð¼ÑÑÐ¸Ð¸ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð° ÑÐµÑÐ¸ÑÑ Ð½Ð°ÑÐ°ÑÑ ÑÐµÐ¼Ð¾Ð½Ñ ÑÐ»Ð¸ÑÑ ÑÐ°Ð¼ Ð³Ð´Ðµ Ð²Ñ Ð¶Ð¸Ð²ÐµÑÐµ, ÑÐ¾ÑÑ Ð²ÑÐµÑ ÑÑÐ¾ ÐºÐ¾ÑÐ½ÐµÑÑÑ ÑÐ°Ð½Ð¾ Ð¸Ð»Ð¸ Ð¿Ð¾Ð·Ð´Ð½Ð¾â¦

Road workers have fully destroyed the once shady and beautiful Chekhov Street [in central Dushanbe], which was once lined by high sycamore trees. They used the special equipment [to fell the trees]. They didn't pity a single tree; they cut each and every tree with a silent consent of people living in the capital. There was not a single attempt to resist that. When they finish their job [on the Chekhov Street], they will certainly start felling trees in the park surrounding the [Opera and Ballet Theater] and will cut all the trees along streets adjacent to the theater. Their last move will be to fell all trees along the Rudaki avenue. This will turn our city into a desert with new and broad roads. God save you from the city mayor's office deciding to repair a road on your street, although this will affect all of us sooner or later. Chekhov Street in Dushanbe after all the sycamores that lined it were cut. Image by Shah Mardon, used with permission. Image by Shah Mardon, used with permission.

Artyom Geivandov commented [ru] angrily:

ÐÐ¾Ñ Ð´ÑÐ±Ð¸Ð»Ñ! ÐÐ½Ð¸ ÑÐ¾ÑÑÑ Ð¿ÑÐµÐ²ÑÐ°ÑÐ¸ÑÑ ÐÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð±Ðµ Ð² Ð¿ÑÑÑÑÐ½Ñ?!

Such idiots! Do they want to turn Dushanbe into a desert?!

Chekhov Street is not the only part of central Dushanbe affected by redevelopment and deforestation. Parvina Ibodova writes [ru] about a similar situation affecting another neighborhood in the city:

â¦Ð¼ÐµÑÑÑ Ð½Ð°Ð·Ð°Ð´ Ðº Ð½Ð°Ð¼ (ÑÐ».Ð¢ÑÑÑÑÐ½Ð·Ð°Ð´Ðµ, Ð½Ð°Ð¿ÑÐ¾ÑÐ¸Ð² ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð´Ð¾Ð¼Ð° â1) Ð¿ÑÐ¸ÑÐ»Ð¸ Ð¾ÑÐ²ÐµÑÑÑÐ²ÐµÐ½Ð½ÑÐµ Ð»Ð¸ÑÐ° Ð¥ÑÐºÑÐ¼Ð°ÑÐ° Ð¸ ÑÐºÐ°Ð·Ð°Ð»Ð¸, ÑÑÐ¾ Ð±ÑÐ´ÑÑ Ð¾Ð±ÑÑÑÑÐ°Ð¸Ð²Ð°ÑÑ Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð´Ð²Ð¾Ñ, ÑÐ¾ ÐµÑÑÑ Ð±ÑÐ´ÑÑ ÑÑÑÐ¾Ð¸ÑÑ ÑÐ¿Ð¾ÑÑ Ð¸ Ð´ÐµÑÑÐºÑÑ Ð¿Ð»Ð¾ÑÐ°Ð´ÐºÑ.ÑÐ°Ð´Ð¾ÑÑÐ¸ Ð½Ð°ÑÐµÐ¹ Ð½Ðµ Ð±ÑÐ»Ð¾ Ð¿ÑÐµÐ´ÐµÐ»Ð°. Ð½Ð¾ Ð¿Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð¼, ÐºÐ°Ðº Ð¸ Ð²Ð¾Ð´Ð¸ÑÑÑ, Ð¿ÑÐ¸ÑÐ»Ð¾ Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ÑÑÐµÐ½Ð¸Ðµ. Ð´Ð»Ñ ÑÐ¾Ð³Ð¾ ÑÑÐ¾ Ð± Ð¿Ð¾ÑÑÑÐ¾Ð¸ÑÑ ÑÑÐ¸ Ð¿ÑÐµÐ»ÐµÑÑÐ¸, Ð¾ÐºÐ°Ð·Ð°Ð»Ð¾ÑÑ Ð½ÑÐ¶Ð½Ð¾ Ð±ÑÐ»Ð¾ Ð²ÑÑÑÐ±Ð¸ÑÑ Ð²ÑÐµ Ð½Ð°ÑÐ¸ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÑ, ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð°ÑÑ, ÐºÐ¾ÑÐ¾ÑÑÐ¼ Ð¿Ð¾ 25-35 Ð»ÐµÑ. Ð¼Ñ Ð¿ÑÑÐ°Ð»Ð¸ÑÑ Ð¿ÑÐµÐ´Ð¾ÑÐ²ÑÐ°ÑÐ¸ÑÑ ÑÑÐ¾, ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð¸Ð»Ð¸ Ð¸ Ð² Ð¼ÑÑÐ¸Ñ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð° Ð¸ Ðº Ð¿ÑÐµÐ´ÑÐµÐ´Ð°ÑÐµÐ»Ñ Ð½Ð°ÑÐµÐ³Ð¾ ÑÐ°Ð¹Ð¾Ð½Ð°. Ð¿Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð¼ Ð¾Ð½Ð¸ Ð¿ÑÐ¸ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð¸Ð»Ð¸ Ðº Ð½Ð°Ð¼, ÑÑÐ³Ð°Ð»Ð¸ÑÑ, Ð´Ð¾ÐºÐ°Ð·ÑÐ²Ð°Ð»Ð¸ Ð¸ Ñ.Ð´. Ð½Ð¾ Ð¾Ð½Ð¸ Ð³Ð¾Ð²Ð¾ÑÑÑ Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾ âÐ­ÑÐ¾ ÐÐµÐ½Ð¿Ð»Ð°Ð½ Ð¸ Ð½Ð¸ÑÐµÐ³Ð¾ Ð½Ðµ Ð¸Ð·Ð¼ÐµÐ½Ð¸ÑÑââ¦Â

Ð¼Ñ Ð´Ð°Ð¶Ðµ ÑÐµÑÐ¸Ð»Ð¸ Ð¾ÑÐºÐ°Ð·Ð°ÑÑÑÑ Ð¾Ñ ÑÑÐ¸Ñ Ð¿Ð»Ð°Ð½Ð¾Ð² Ñ Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð´Ð¾ Ð´Ð²Ð¾ÑÐµ, ÑÑÐ¾ Ð± ÑÐ¿Ð°ÑÑÐ¸ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÑ, Ð½Ð¾â¦Ð´Ð¾ÑÐ»Ð¾ Ð´Ð¾ ÑÐ¾Ð³Ð¾, ÑÑÐ¾ Ð² Ð¼Ð¸Ð½ÑÐ²ÑÑÑ ÑÑÐ±Ð±Ð¾ÑÑ ÐºÑÐ¾Ð¼Ðµ Ð²ÑÐµÑ ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð½Ð¸ÐºÐ¾Ð² Ð¸ ÑÐ°Ð±Ð¾ÑÐ½Ð¸ÐºÐ¾Ð², Ð¿ÐµÑÐµÐ²Ð¾ÑÐ°ÑÐ¸Ð²Ð°ÑÑÐ¸Ñ Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð´Ð²Ð¾Ñ Ñ Ð½Ð¾Ð³ Ð½Ð° Ð³Ð¾Ð»Ð¾Ð²Ñ, ÑÐ°ÐºÐ¶Ðµ Ð½Ð°Ð¿ÑÐ°Ð²Ð¸Ð» Ð½Ð°ÑÑÐ´ Ð¼Ð¸Ð»Ð¸ÑÐ¸Ð¸ ÑÐµÐ»Ð¾Ð²ÐµÐº 10-12) ÑÑÐ¾ Ð¼Ñ Ð½Ðµ Ð¼ÐµÑÐ°Ð»Ð¸ ÑÑÐ±Ð¸ÑÑ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÑâ¦

â¦about a month ago representatives from the [Dushanbe mayor's office] came to our neighborhood (Tursunzade Street, across the First Maternity Hospital) to tell us that they were going to redevelop our yard and build a new athletic field and a playground there.Â we were happy. but the happiness was gone soon. it turned out that in order to build all those facilities, they had to fell all our trees, the sycamores that were between 25 and 35 years old. we tried to prevent them from doing so. we went to talk to the mayor's office [and other officials]. then, they came to talk to us, argued with us, tried to prove their pointâ¦ they all said one thing, âThis is part of the General City [Reconstruction] Plan. Nothing can be changedââ¦

we decided to protect the trees in our yard. but last Saturday, in addition to all the officials and workers rebuilding our yard, they sent a group of police officers (10 to 12 persons) to prevent us from interfering with the felling of treesâ¦Â Sycamores cut on Tursunzade Street in Dushanbe. Image by Parvina Ibodova, used with permission. Image by Parvina Ibodova, used with permission.

Contributing to the discussion on Facebook,Â Said Negmatulloyev suggested [ru] a way to stop the felling of trees:

ÐÑÐ»Ð¸ Ð¿Ð¾ÑÐ°Ð´Ð¸ÑÑ Ð¾Ð´Ð¸Ð½ ÑÐ°Ð¶ÐµÐ½ÐµÑ, ÑÐ¾ Ð±ÑÐ´ÐµÑ Ð±Ð¾Ð»ÑÑÐµ Ð½Ð° Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²Ð¾.Â
ÐÑÐ»Ð¸ Ð¿Ð¾ÑÐ°Ð´Ð¸ÑÑ Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ Ð»ÐµÑÐ¾ÑÑÐ±Ð°, ÑÑÐ±ÑÑÐµÐ³Ð¾ Ð½ÐµÐ·Ð°ÐºÐ¾Ð½Ð½Ð¾, ÑÐ¾ Ð±ÑÐ´ÐµÑ Ð±Ð¾Ð»ÑÑÐµ Ð½Ð° ÑÐ¾ÑÐ½Ñ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÐµÐ².Â
Ð ÐµÑÐ»Ð¸ Ð¿Ð¾ÑÐ°Ð´Ð¸ÑÑ Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð½Ð¸ÐºÐ°, Ð¿Ð¾Ð·Ð²Ð¾Ð»ÑÑÑÐµÐ³Ð¾ ÑÑÐ±Ð¸ÑÑ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÑ Ð½ÐµÐ·Ð°ÐºÐ¾Ð½Ð½Ð¾ â Ð±ÑÐ´ÐµÑ Ð±Ð¾Ð»ÑÑÐµ Ð½Ð° ÑÑÑÑÑÐ¸ Ð´ÐµÑÐµÐ²ÑÐµÐ².Â
Ð¡Ð°Ð¶Ð°Ð¹ÑÐµ Ð¿ÑÐ°Ð²Ð¸Ð»ÑÐ½Ð¾!

If you plant one sapling tree, the number of trees in the world will increase by one.
If you put in jail one lumberjack cutting trees illegally, the number of trees will increase by one hundred.
And if you put in jail one official who allows others to cut trees illegally, the number of trees will increase by thousands.
Plant [put in jail] the right way!

[Note: word play here; Russian word "sazhat'" means both "to plant" and "to put in jail"]

Russian Chronicles of Tajikistan blog suggests [ru] that the felling of trees is part of a much broader project by the authorities aimed at remodeling the country and its citizenry:

Ð Ð²ÐµÐ´Ñ ÑÑÐ¾ Ð½Ðµ Ð¿ÑÐ¾ÑÑÐ¾ Ð¿ÑÐµÐ¾Ð±ÑÐ°Ð¶ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ðµ Ð¾Ð´Ð½Ð¾Ð¹ Ð¾ÑÐ´ÐµÐ»ÑÐ½Ð¾Ð¹ ÑÐ»Ð¸ÑÑ. ÐÐ¾ÑÐ¼Ð¾ÑÑÐ¸ÑÐµ Ð½Ð° Ð»Ð°Ð½Ð´ÑÐ°ÑÑ ÐÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð±Ðµ Ð² Ð¾Ð±ÑÐµÐ¼, Ð½Ð° ÑÐ¾, ÐºÐ°Ðº Ð¾Ð½ Ð¸Ð·Ð¼ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ð»ÑÑ Ð·Ð° Ð¿Ð¾ÑÐ»ÐµÐ´Ð½ÐµÐµ Ð´ÐµÑÑÑÐ¸Ð»ÐµÑÐ¸Ðµ. ÐÐ¾ÑÐ¾Ð´ Ð»Ð¸ÑÐ¸Ð»Ð¸ ÐµÐ³Ð¾ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ´Ð¾ÑÑÐ¸ â ÑÑÑÑÑ ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð°Ñ, ÐºÐ¾ÑÐ¾ÑÑÐµ ÐºÐ¾Ð³Ð´Ð°-ÑÐ¾ Ð´Ð°ÑÐ¸Ð»Ð¸ Ð´ÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð±Ð¸Ð½ÑÐ°Ð¼ Ð»ÐµÑÐ½ÑÑ Ð¿ÑÐ¾ÑÐ»Ð°Ð´Ñ Ð¸ ÑÐ²ÐµÐ¶Ð¸Ð¹ Ð²Ð¾Ð·Ð´ÑÑ.

Ð§ÑÐ¾ Ñ Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð¾ÑÑÐ°ÐµÑÑÑ? ÐÑÑÐ°ÐµÑÑÑ ÑÑÐ¾Ð´Ð»Ð¸Ð²ÑÐ¹ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð´, Ð½Ð¸ ÑÐµÐ¼ Ð½Ðµ Ð¾ÑÐ»Ð¸ÑÐ°ÑÑÐ¸Ð¹ÑÑ Ð¾Ñ Ð´ÑÑÐ³Ð¸Ñ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð¾Ð² Ð±ÑÐ²ÑÐµÐ³Ð¾ Ð¡Ð¾Ð²ÐµÑÑÐºÐ¾Ð³Ð¾ Ð¡Ð¾ÑÐ·Ð°. ÐÐ°, ÐµÑÑÑ Ð¼Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ Ð½Ð¾Ð²ÑÑ Ð¿Ð¾Ð¼Ð¿ÐµÐ·Ð½ÑÑ Ð·Ð´Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ð¹, Ð½Ð°Ð»ÑÐ¿Ð°Ð½Ð½ÑÑ ÐºÐ¸ÑÐ°Ð¹ÑÐ°Ð¼Ð¸ Ð¼Ð½Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ÑÑÐ°Ð¶ÐµÐº â Ð½Ð¾ Ð²ÑÐµ ÑÑÐ¾ Ð½Ðµ ÐºÑÐ°ÑÐ¸Ñ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð´. Ð¡ÑÐ°ÑÑÐµ Ð·Ð´Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ, Ð±Ð»Ð°Ð³Ð¾Ð´Ð°ÑÑ ÐºÐ¾ÑÐ¾ÑÑÐ¼ ÐÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð±Ðµ Ð±ÑÐ» ÑÑÑÐ½ÑÐ¼ Ð¼ÐµÑÑÐ¾Ð¼, ÑÐ¾Ð¶Ðµ Ð¿Ð¾Ð´ ÑÐ½Ð¾Ñ. Ð Ð·Ð°Ð²ÐµÑÑÐµÐ½Ð¸Ðµ ÐºÐ¾ Ð²ÑÐµÐ¼Ñ Ð¿ÐµÑÐµÐ¸Ð¼ÐµÐ½Ð¾Ð²Ð°Ð»Ð¸ Ð²ÑÐµ ÑÐ»Ð¸ÑÑâ¦

ÐÐ¾Ð²ÑÐµ Ð¿Ð°Ð¼ÑÑÐ½Ð¸ÐºÐ¸, Ð½Ð¾Ð²ÑÐµ Ð½Ð°Ð·Ð²Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ, Ð±ÐµÐ·Ð»Ð¸ÐºÐ°Ñ Ð°ÑÑÐ¸ÑÐµÐºÑÑÑÐ°â¦

This is not just a transformation of a single street. Look at the landscape of Dushanbe and the way it has changed over the last decade. The city has been deprived of its pride, thousands of sycamore trees that used to provide the residents of Dushanbe with fresh air and summer shade.

What do we have left? We have an ugly city that is no different from other cities of the former Soviet Union. Yes, there are many new and pompous buildings, multi-storey houses [built] by the Chinese â but these do not adorn the city. The old buildings that made Dushanbe such a cozy place are also being demolished. On top of this, they have renamed all the streetsâ¦

New monuments, new names, faceless architectureâ¦

The blog adds [ru]:

ÐÐ½Ð¸ Ð½Ðµ Ð¿ÑÐ¾ÑÑÐ¾ Ð²ÑÑÑÐ±Ð°ÑÑ ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð°ÑÑ. ÐÐ½Ð¸ Ð½Ðµ Ð¿ÑÐ¾ÑÑÐ¾ Ð¼ÐµÐ½ÑÑÑ Ð»Ð°Ð½Ð´ÑÐ°ÑÑ Ð³Ð¾ÑÐ¾Ð´Ð°. ÐÐ½Ð¸ Ð»Ð¸ÑÐ°ÑÑ ÐÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð±Ðµ ÐµÐ³Ð¾ Ð´ÑÑÐ¸. ÐÐ½Ð¸ ÑÐ¾ÑÑÑ Ð¿Ð¾Ð¼ÐµÐ½ÑÑÑ Ð½Ð°Ñ, ÑÐ´ÐµÐ»Ð°ÑÑ Ð¸Ð· Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð´ÑÑÐ³Ð¸Ñ Ð»ÑÐ´ÐµÐ¹, Ñ Ð´ÑÑÐ³Ð¸Ð¼Ð¸ Ð¸Ð´ÐµÑÐ¼Ð¸ Ð¸ ÑÐµÐ½Ð½Ð¾ÑÑÑÐ¼Ð¸. ÐÐ½Ð¸ Ð»ÐµÐ¿ÑÑ Ð¸Ð· Ð½Ð°Ñ, ÐºÐ°Ðº Ð¸Ð· Ð³Ð»Ð¸Ð½Ñ, Ð½Ð¾Ð²ÑÑ Ð»ÑÐ´ÐµÐ¹ Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð¾Ð³Ð¾ Ð¢Ð°Ð´Ð¶Ð¸ÐºÐ¸ÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð°. Ð Ð²ÑÐµ, ÑÑÐ¾ Ð¾ÑÑÐ°Ð»Ð¾ÑÑ Ð¾Ñ ÑÐ¾Ð³Ð¾ Ð¢Ð°Ð´Ð¶Ð¸ÐºÐ¸ÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð°, ÐºÐ¾ÑÐ¾ÑÑÐ¹ Ð¼Ñ Ð·Ð½Ð°Ð»Ð¸ Ð¸ Ð»ÑÐ±Ð¸Ð»Ð¸, Ð¾Ð½Ð¸ Ð²ÑÐ¶Ð¸Ð³Ð°ÑÑ ÐºÐ°Ð»ÐµÐ½ÑÐ¼ Ð¶ÐµÐ»ÐµÐ·Ð¾Ð¼.

ÐÑÑÑÐ±Ð°Ñ ÑÐ¸Ð½Ð°ÑÑ, Ð¾Ð½Ð¸ Ð²ÑÑÑÐ±Ð°ÑÑ Ð½Ð°ÑÐ¸ Ð´ÑÑÐ¸ Ð¸ Ð¿Ð°Ð¼ÑÑÑ. ÐÐ½Ð¸ Ð²ÑÑÑÐ±Ð°ÑÑ ÑÑÐ°ÑÑÐ¹ Ð´Ð¾Ð±ÑÑÐ¹ Ð¢Ð°Ð´Ð¶Ð¸ÐºÐ¸ÑÑÐ°Ð½.

They do not just fell the sycamores. They do not just alter the city's landscape. They deprive Dushanbe of its soul. They want to change us, turn us into a different kind of people, with a different set of ideas and values. They are molding us, as if we were clay, into a new people of a new Tajikistan. And they root out mercilessly all that is left from the Tajikistan we used to know and love.

By felling sycamore trees, they fell our souls and memory. They fell the good old Tajikistan.

Tags: Central Asia &amp; Caucasus Citizen Media English Environment Russian Tajikistan

February 19 2014 Human Waste Scavenging a Reality in India Despite Sanitation Laws 

Mayank further commented: 

Ajay blogged:

And Sonal (@ArtForCause) tweeted:

Conversion of traditional dry toilets 

Rehabilitating manual scavengers China: A Survey of City Pollution

Greenpeace has released its 2013 survey on air pollution in China. Dan Harris suggested foreign corporates should consider the index before picking their officesâ locations. The summary of the Greenpeace report in English can be found in China Hush.

Tags: China East Asia English Environment Quick Reads

February 18 2014 Adapting to Extreme Climate Change in Mali and Madagascar Forest in the Kayes region of Mali CC-NC-2.0

An undeniable impact Locust invasion in downtown Fianaratsoa, Madagascar

How to adapt

February 17 2014 Water source in Mwamanongu, Tanzania. CC-BY-2.0

February 16 2014 China Central TV Blames Beijing Government for Air Pollution

Beijing has reached Red Alert Levels of Smog during the past few days. China's state media CCTV wrote some comments on Sina WeiboÂ on Feb 15, 2014, blaming Beijing government'sÂ impotency:

è¿ç»­å å¤©çæ²é»ï¼è¯´æäºä¸ä¸ªé®é¢ï¼ä¸¥éé¾é¾å¤©æ°å¤äºï¼æ°ä¼èªç¶å°±ä¼éº»æ¨ï¼ç¤¾ä¼ä¹ä¼çè§æ ç¹ï¼ä½å¤®è§è´¢ç»æéçæ¯ï¼æ¿åºä¸è½å½çå­ï¼å®å¿é¡»è¦è©è´èµ·èªå·±çè´£ä»»ï¼å®åè¦æè´£ï¼è«æ ç¥ï¼æ çï¼æ ä¸ºï¼æä»¥ï¼å¤®è§è´¢ç»å¤§å£°çé®ä¸å¥ï¼è¿éï¼è¿æäººç®¡é¾é¾åï¼

Several days of silence indicates one problem: with constant smog, people will become numb, the society will turn a blind eye, but the government cannot be blind, it must shoulder its responsibilities, No excuse for ignorance, fearlessness or inaction! So, CCTV Financial channel is asking, is there anyone who's going to solve the smog problem?

After a few hours, users were unable to comment or repost the post.

According to an âofficial Chinese report,â rampant air pollution in Beijing has rendered the city as âbarely suitableâ for living.

Tags: China Chinese Citizen Media East Asia English Environment Media &amp; Journalism Quick Reads [Photos]: Birds Of Bangladesh 

February 14 2014 Ending Illegal Logging and Launching Forest Carbon Credits in Madagascar Philippine Ocean Park Criticized for Using Dolphin in Marriage Proposal Romantic or cruel? A controversial marriage proposal in the Ocean Adventure park in Subic

A marriage proposal became controversial in the Philippines after it was done by using a dolphin as a signboard. The proposal was made in the facility of Ocean Adventure Subic Bay. The photos of the event went viral which triggered a maelstrom of reaction. Later, the photos were removed from the Facebook page of the theme park.

But Earth Island Institute was able to make screenshots of the controversial proposal and shared them online. The group is urging a boycott of the theme park aside from calling for the release of all captive dolphins.

In response, Ocean Adventure Subic Bay claimed that it used zinc oxide to write the marriage proposal on the back of the dolphin which the company said is a safe material and sun protection applicable for dolphin.

But Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines said this is no excuse to âvandalizeâ an animal:

Vandalizing an animal has no place in conservation.

Zinc oxide is used to prevent sunburn and skin irritation in stranded cetaceans, meaning it is used as a medical aid to prevent further injury to the animal in distress

Angela Colmenares-Sabino questions the right of the theme park to exist as an education and conservation facility:

It doesn't matter what material was used to write on the dolphin's belly. The very fact that they're diminishing the important ecological role of dolphins into this clearly states that Ocean Adventure, claiming to be a facility for education and conservation, is not for education and conservation at all but a commercial cruel facility.

Patricia Sorongon-Yap thinks the couple should not be blamed:

Some got mad at the couple, and some doesn't understand why WE are against this idea for a proposal. For me, it's actually not the couples fault. A lot of people are unaware of the simple fact that dolphins are NOT fish, let alone that dolphins or any other kind of wildlife animal are not supposed to be written on especially for commercial purposes (regardless of the material used). The management of Ocean Adventure assured the public that it used a safe material when it wrote the marriage proposal on the dolphin.

Aldwin M. Arcena weighs both sides of the issue:

I mean what's the worse that's gonna happen to the dolphin? Although it could count into more negative sides if that paint is somewhat poisonous or something. It's just a marked dolphin, nothing to get so angry about

Michael Paolo Tiglao urges commenters to show more anger at people who kill dolphins:

â¦why are you ranting about this stupid paint, you should share and post how certain asian countries kill dolphins so just to get their soup or dumpling or sometn', why don't we all do something about that, and just so you know thats a park and they care for their animals, that paint will be cleaned after. the dolphin is still alive and no blood is spilled., just my two cents on how negative people can be. have a good day

Tags: East Asia English Environment Philippines Weblog

February 13 2014 Argentina's Polar Bear âArturoâ Will Stay at the Mendoza Zoo Image from the Facebook page OSO POLAR Arturo (Arturo the POLAR BEAR). Text: âI'm a polar bear â what part of polar don't you understand?â

A group of medical specialists determined thatÂ Arturo the bear, the only polar bear in captivity in Argentina, should stay in Mendoza instead of being transferred to Canada, after anÂ intense heat wave put hisÂ healthÂ at risk.

The blog Un Mundo en Paz (A World of Peace)Â [es] explains:

Por unanimidad, los especialistas decidieron que elÂ oso ArturoÂ se quede en Mendoza. Analizaron que por su edad, 23 aÃ±os, no puede ser sometido a una serie [de] anÃ¡lisis necesarios para el traslado y enÂ CanadÃ¡Â no podrÃ­a recibirlo porque el animal no cumple con los requisitos que exige el protocolo de ese paÃ­s.

Unanimously, the specialists decided thatÂ Arturo the bearÂ would stay inÂ Mendoza. They determined that because of his age, 23, he could not be submitted to the series [of] analyses needed for the move, and inÂ CanadaÂ he would not be received because he does not meet the requirements of the country's protocol.

In January of 2014, due to the demands and pleas made by different groups that the bear be put in a place more suitable for his species, the governor of the city of Mendoza, Francisco PÃ©rez (@PacoPerez), announced from his Twitter account that the bear was being evaluated physically to determine the possibility of eventually moving him to Canada:

Comunico que nuestro Gobierno, en caso que la junta mÃ©dica asÃ­ lo determine, aprueba y apoya la decisiÃ³n de trasladar al Oso Arturo.

â Francisco PÃ©rez (@PacoPerezMza) enero 24, 2014

Let it be know that our Government, if the medical board decides it is best, will approve and support the decision to move Arturo the bear.

Durante Febrero, una junta mÃ©dica conformada por Veterinarios locales, nacionales y extranjeros, evaluarÃ¡ la salud del Oso Arturo.

In February, a medical board made up of local, national and foreign veterinarians will evaluate the health of Arturo the bear.

Esta junta determinarÃ¡ si Arturo estÃ¡ en condiciones de soportar un traslado, teniendo como principal propÃ³sito salvaguardar su salud.

This board will determine whether Arturo is in good condition to deal with a move, being that the main goal is to safeguard his health.

Si la junta mÃ©dica lo aprueba, y el Oso Arturo puede ser trasladado, dos entidades canadienses estarÃ­an interesadas en recibirlo.

For their part, the Association of Civil Servants and Lawyers for the Rights of Animals (AFADA) [es] presentedÂ a statementÂ [es] announcing the request for a habeas corpus for the polar bear's illegal loss of liberty.Â

The Facebook pageÂ EcolÃ³gicos UnidosÂ [es], calls for continuing to fight [es]Â for the polar bear:


Nosotros probamos con todo y no lo logramos â¦ pero no quiere decir que alguien mÃ¡s preparado y con mÃ¡s herramientas no pueda hacerlo !Â



We tried everything and we weren't successful â¦ but that doesn't mean that someone more prepared and with more tools can't do it!


The pageÂ OSO POLAR ArturoÂ [es] does the same, andÂ reportsÂ [es] that the result is âthe worst newsâ they could have imagined. 

The AFPÂ [es] news agency shared a video of the news, showing the protesters awaiting the result:

Meanwhile, Greenpeace ArgentinaÂ [es] calls forÂ joining the fightÂ [es] to improve the conditions in the enclosure where Arturo is now.Â

Written by Laura Schneider Â· Translated by Sally Seward Â· View original post [es] Â· comments (0)
Donate Â· Share: facebook Â· twitter Â· googleplus Â· reddit Â· StumbleUpon Â· delicious

Tags: Argentina Citizen Media Environment Protest Spanish Weblog

February 12 2014 Controversial Sindh Festival Accused of Risking Ancient Ruins for Flashy Kickoff Fireworks during the opening ceremony of Sindh Festival held in Moen Jo Daro. Image by Jamal Dawoodpoto. Copyright Demotix (3/2/2014)

The people of Sindh province in the south of Pakistan, the site of one of the oldest civilizations in the world, are currently celebrating a festival to pay tribute to their rich and vast cultural heritage. The brainchild of the oppositionÂ Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the festival aims to revive the historyÂ of Sindh, his home province, with a 15-day celebration in various cities showcasing local art,Â music, sport and more.Â  However, critics accused him of playing the Sindh card by exploiting the peace loving innocent Sindhi people.

If that was not enough, before the celebrations had even begun, the festival drew ire from some for its decision to hold the theatrical opening ceremony at the ancient ruins ofÂ Mohenjo-daro.

Mohenjo-daro, an UNESCOÂ World HeritageÂ site, is one of the earliest urban settlements in the world, dating back to 2600 BCE. A stage and other event infrastructure was built nearby the delicate ruins for the opening ceremony of 1 February 2014, to which aboutÂ 400 or more dignitaries wereÂ invited. The federal government and even some leading archaeologists did not give the green light for holding the festival there. However, the organizers of the event and the PPP government in Sindh assured that the ceremony was being planned with painstaking attention to details,Â ensuringÂ that the ruins were not threatened.

Pakistani writer Bina Shah wrote on her blogÂ that she wasn't convinced:

So the Sindh Festival opened last night at Mohenjodaro, but it didn't remain untouched by controversy: the accusation that the ruins were being damaged by preparations for the festival, including the building of a stage, construction of steel pillars, and other things that shouldn't be happening on or around delicate ruins from a five-thousand year old civilisation. In addition, the vibrations by the construction and the loudspeakers during the concert, and the bright spotlights would possibly degrade the site even further. Furore erupted on social media, petitions were signed, and letters written. The Festival went ahead as planned and by all accounts was successful, but it's still a sensitive subject as we wait to assess the impact of the concert on the site post-event. Labourers prepare for the Sindh Festival at Moenjo-daro (Mound of the Dead), the location of the remains of an ancient Indus Valley civilisation. Image by Jamal Dawoodpoto. Copyright Demotix (3/2/2014)

Local journalist andÂ environmental activist Amar Guriro'sÂ photographs of the stage being constructed at the ruins first drew the attention of many to the choice of venue when they viral on social media. Debates emerged over the use ofÂ wooden and steel scaffolding over and near the ruins, heavy spotlights and lasers for a light show, and sound systems for the ceremony that could possibly damage the area.

While commenting on Amar Guriro'sÂ photographs, Shah added on her blog:Â

I was very concerned when I saw the photographs and I retweeted them so that people might pay attention to the issue. The Festival organisers responded by claiming they'd had archeological experts both local and foreign approve the plans and help build the site in a safe way.

Journalist Mohammad Malick wanted someone to inform Bilawal Bhutto Zardari about the importance of the ancient city:Â

pl send a tweet each to bilawal bhutto urging him to change venue. 5000yr old civilisation is way more imp than any individual's ego

â Mohammad Malick (@MalickViews) January 30, 2014

Senior Editor of The NewsÂ Talat Aslam tweeted his thoughts about the opening ceremony:Â

The 5,000-yr-old ruins of Moenjodaro, which survived conquests, floods, pestilence, were finally destroyed by The Great Festival of 2014â¦

â Talat Aslam (@titojourno) January 29, 2014

Environmental communicator and cricket journalist Afia Salam was also against the idea:Â Â Â

Moenjodaro is a UNESCO World Heritage siteâ¦ and it is illegal to even move a brick or add anything thereâ¦ http://t.co/V9i0Orw2nb

â afia salam (@afiasalam) January 29, 2014

The official Twitter handle for the Sindh FestivalÂ was quick to clarify their position:

1/3 Pls do not confuse pics of wooden scaffolding & protective sheets for the stage.These are only to protect the site from any potential

â Sindh Festival (@sindhfestival) January 29, 2014

2/3 damage in unlikely event of accident. Done specifically on instructions of Dir. of Archaeology to protect the site. It is NOT the stage

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari defended the choice:Â

â BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) January 30, 2014

The ruins of Mohenjodaro

According to UNESCO, Mohenjodaro is the best-preserved urban ruin on the Indian subcontinent. The ruins, unearthedÂ by a British archaeologist Sir John Marshall in 1922,Â are already threatened by harsh climatic conditions, floodsÂ and saline actionÂ of the Indus River water.Â

Ever since the news broke on social media,Â protestsÂ and online petitions signed against the opening ceremonyÂ at the Mohenjodaro ruins marred the main event. According to a news report published in Dawn Newspaper, UNESCO was unhappy with the idea of holding an event at the ruins. The report said thatÂ a week before the festival at Moenjodaro, the director of UNESCOâs World Heritage Sites declared the opening ceremonyÂ as an âimproperâ activity.

But here is what the organizers had to say after the opening ceremony of the Sindh Festival at Mohenjodaro:

A picture worth thousand words, says it all. Moenjodaro after inauguration on Feb 1 is open and unhurt. pic.twitter.com/yw2vDBNQGK

â Sindh Festival (@sindhfestival) February 4, 2014

Tags: Arts &amp; Culture Citizen Media English Environment Governance Pakistan South Asia Weblog An âIncreasingly Uncertainâ Future for Central Asia's Fergana Valley

On the Caravanistan blog, Cycloscope writes about radioactive landfill sites in the Fergana Valley, a region âabsurdly divided between Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistanâ:

Unaware of the dangers of radioactivity, the locals take the equipment in the old abandoned mines and sell them as scrap, risking not only their own lives but also the spread of radioactivity. A further problem isÂ the use of rock from landfills as a building material for houses and roads.

The threat coming fromÂ radioactive waste is aggravated byÂ unsettled borders, water scarcity, and a history of ethnic riots, making the future of the region âincreasingly uncertainâ.

Tags: Central Asia &amp; Caucasus Citizen Media English Environment Ethnicity &amp; Race Health International Relations Kyrgyzstan Quick Reads Tajikistan Uzbekistan War &amp; Conflict VIDEOS: Argentina's Melting Pot of Culinary Traditions

[All links lead to Spanish-language sites unless otherwise noted.]

The diverse migratory flows that have reached Argentina from the 1880â²s and until now contributed to the richness and variety of the typical [en] cuisine in the country.

The various âferias de colectividadesâ (cultural fairs) that take place throughout Argentina are good illustrations of this. In these fairs we can witness not only a display of each community's traditions, folkloric dances, beauty pageants and souvenirs but also their traditional dishes. For instance, during theÂ Fiesta de ColectividadesÂ in the city of Rosario that takes place every year, a varied menu is offered representing the multiple communities (Latin, European and Asian) that compose the Argentinian society. In this video, we can see how typical Paraguayan food is prepared and sold during that same fair in Rosario.

On Facebook, the page Encuentro Anual de ColectividadesÂ (Annual Gathering of Communities) shows some dishes that will be sold during the 2014 program in the city of Alta Gracia [es]. The city, located in the CÃ³rdoba province, is quite famous because it is where the revolutionary Che Guevara [en]Â lived for 12 years. Photo posted on the Facebook Page of the Encuentro Anual de Colectividades event

Every September, the MisionesÂ province [en]Â also celebrates its traditionalÂ Fiesta Nacional del InmigranteÂ (National Feast of the Immigrant). For the occasion, the Polish community, among other migrant groups, cooksÂ Kursak Polski na Royezaj, better known as Polish chicken.

1 pollo
1 cebolla grande
2 ajo puerro
1 morrÃ³n rojo mediano
1 morrÃ³n verde mediano
200 gramos crema de leche
200 gramos champiÃ±ones
sal y pimienta

PreparaciÃ³n de la salsa
Picar la cebolla bien fina, rehogar con una cucharada de aceite, agregar los morrones cortados en daditos, agregar el ajo puerro picado muy fino. Revolver muy bien, agregar crema de leche y los champignones.
Cocinar durante cinco minutos, agregar sal y pimienta a gusto.
Optativo nuez moscada.
Si queda muy espesa la salsa agregar leche para suavizar. Servir acompaÃ±ado con pollo a la parrilla o al horno


1 Chicken

1 Large Onion

2 Leeks

1 Medium Red Pepper

1 Medium Green Pepper

200 g. Cream

200 g. Mushrooms


Preparation of the sauce

Chop the onions very finely. Fry lightly with one tbsp of oil. Add the peppers after they've been diced followed by the leeks finely cut. Stir well. Add the cream and mushrooms.

Cook for 5 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also add some nutmeg if you wish. If sauce gets too thick, add some milk. Serve with grilled or roast chicken.

In addition there are community-specific celebrations, such as the one by the Volga Germans [en], who settled mostly in the province of Entre RÃ­os. The Volga Germans lived in the region of southeastern European Russia, close to the Volga riverÂ [en]. They came to Argentina in 1878 and preserved their traditions as well as their language. Cuisine is naturally at the heart of these traditions. This video produced by the AsociaciÃ³n Argentina de Descendientes de Alemanes del VolgaÂ (Argentinian Association of the Volga Germans Descendants) demonstrates how to prepare a Kreppel:

There also many restaurants serving foreign food. The Croatian community in Argentina, for instance, keeps its culinary traditions with restaurants likeÂ Dobar Tek, offering a richÂ Croatian menu. This video shows the âartâ of preparing an apple strudel.

The Armenian community is also quite influential in Argentina.Â Romina BoyadjianÂ suggestsÂ the 5 best dishes in Armenian cuisineÂ while pointing out that the Community in the diaspora has reinvented the typical dishes:

Algo curioso es que la comida armenia que se come en Argentina es muy distinta a la que se consume en Armenia. Esto tiene que ver con las reinvenciones que hacen los diferentes pueblos al partir de su tierra natal, las costumbres que traen consigo y lo que termina siendo valorado en la nueva comunidad. Hay comidas que acÃ¡ se consideran tÃ­picas y que allÃ¡ apenas se conocen.

It's quite intriguing that the Armenian cuisine we eat in Argentina is quite different from the one actually consumed in Armenia. This has to do with the reinventions done by the different populations based on their homeland, the traditions that they bring and what ends up being valued in the new community. Â Some dishes are considered traditional yet they are barely known there (in Armenia).

One of the cities symbolizing the Jewish immigration to Argentina isÂ MoisÃ©s Ville [en], established by the first immigrants who reached the country. On the YouTube account of the initiativeÂ SeÃ±al Santa FeÂ we can see the city and get to know how traditions are preserved through well-known dishes such as the strudel or the Knish [en] among others:

But which dish was quickly adopted by immigrants upon their arrival to the country? The asado [en] without any doubt, especially because the majority of the newcomers were peasants and meat was quite cheap. The Club Argentino de Asadores a la Estaca (Argetinian Club of Rotisseurs) has some photos for you to enjoy. Asado â Photo by Laura Schneider

Written by Laura Schneider Â· Translated by Thalia Rahme Â· View original post [es] Â· comments (0)

Tags: Arabic Argentina Armenia Arts &amp; Culture Citizen Media Croatia Digital Activism Environment Germany History Israel Mauritania Middle East &amp; North Africa Paraguay Poland Spanish Sub-Saharan Africa Travel Weblog Youth

February 11 2014 Remembering Dr Alison Jolly, Lemurs of Madagascar Expert Dr. Alison Jolly, Primatologist 1937-2014- Public Domain

February 09 2014 India's Solar Vision Promises Clean Energy And Happy Farmers 

Katie Fehrenbacher writes in technology blog Gigaom:

Here are more reactions on Twitter:

February 05 2014 Caribbean Diaspora Blogger Makes Meatless Monday Meaningful

She continues: Rainbow Pizza, a la Afrobella.

There was one challenge with the pizza, though:
