In recent days, photos of dead fish forming a carpet over the Pagasitikos Gulf in Greece have been circulating worldwide.
International news outlets are talking about a massive ecological disaster, likely linked to the floods in Thessaly last winter and the contaminated waters that were discharged into the sea.
At the same time, here in Cyprus, photos of the Tzelefos Bridge and the now non-existent river beneath it are spreading. There’s not a drop of water to be seen. The reservoirs are also reaching their limits, and in the semi-mountain areas, one can see dried-up trees.
The consequences of the destruction caused by climate change are now more than evident. While it might be comforting to think that Cyprus has always experienced prolonged periods of drought, this phenomenon is no longer local for us to merely talk about another drought in our long history.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has once again warned that sea levels are set to rise soon, with no possibility of returning to their previous state, emphasising the need for immediate action. Speaking at an international forum, he stressed that saving the seas is a global necessity. “The rise in sea levels is a crisis entirely caused by humanity,” he said.
Sea levels are rising, threatening coastal areas and even entire islands, while humanity is simultaneously threatened by water scarcity.
Obviously, little Cyprus is not responsible for the global problem, but everyone bears a part of the responsibility and is part of the problem. What are we doing about it?
At Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock), the authorities want to create a beach. They say they want to develop it. And when we hear about development, we can imagine how much concrete might be poured after the bulldozers clear the area.
There are also plans to develop the area around the waterfalls in Kritou Terra (even though their continued existence is threatened by drought).
They want to build parking and recreational areas to facilitate visitors, attract more people, and collect fees. The plan was rejected, but not so at Kourion Beach, where concrete is being poured on the beach to construct a recreational area.
In Platres, a private individual is building a house almost within the river. In Trimiklini, another individual altered the course of the Kouris River for their own benefit. Complaints were made, committees were set up, investigations were conducted, but nothing happened. As for Akamas, we’re still figuring it out.
These are just a few of the latest crimes against nature. Meanwhile, Cyprus is eyeing the European Commission’s Mediterranean portfolio. So that our Commissioner can save the Mediterranean too!