URGENT
DEVELOPMENT OR ECO- DEVELOPMENT IN
ECUADOR?
In this moment of humanity,
I think, there are few activities, social, civic, human, that are so needed
as the ecological activities or the quest for a sustainable development.
Especially in third world countries. The participation of each and every
young person is needed, to diminish, if not stop the short term way of
thinking, nonglobal, nonfraternal of previous generations, that still
see nature and resources as inexhaustible. Is not the purpose here to
blame anybody; just to be conscious of past mistakes and take actions
in the present.The struggle is not against
generations, is against past perspectives, created interests (industries, ¨productive¨ activities, etc.) that have as an end the consumption or
transformation of resources that need to be protected, for the good of
those same productive activities. But, because these activities require
large amounts of money for their operations they turn against themselves
by their economic urgencies. As a dog that has gotten so hungry, it starts
to try biting its own tail. Therefore, looking at the planet, from a simplistic,
materialistic, short term and selfish way, cause by an inherited ignorance
and compulsive behavior.
Youth in this times don’t have that ignorance
anymore. So, they should act now. The ¨development no matter what¨ generation,
has short sight glasses over their eyes, so they see up to a certain distance
only. They can not see that they are going to the same predicament towards
disaster but especially their own sons and grandsons are the ones who
will really live this disaster in all its magnitude. This filter they
have on, convince them that they are ¨producing¨. And that at this time
there is only production or die.The question is FOR HOW
LONG?..
For how long there will be resources, nature; so they
can produce so called ¨development¨. Its so simple it seems they just
don’t want to understand. They have had this short sighted glasses for
a long time, and it seems as if it has become part of them.There are alternatives for
certain industries. It´s been proven in other countries where
there is regulation (Canada, USA, Cuba, Costa Rica, etc.) where i.e. salmon
has become a sustainable industry. Cuba exports lobster in a sustainable
way to occidental countries. Costa Rica has no oil and no military expenses
and turned instead into Education, Tourism and Preserving its major and
real resources; its forest, wildlife people and beauty.For that matter we need, more
that ever, real idealists, who are the ones who think by themselves. The
ones that have the capacity to maintain always their own perspective and
defend it and live according to it. I think we need young people, idealist
that talk more what they feel. We hope that the media join and collaborate
in this, giving and setting up space for this people, therefore strengthen
and support democracy in this way too. Sustainable development is real
development, thinking in our future as in next generation’s future too.And the saddest part of all
besides this ignorance is that in the name of this ¨productivity that
country needs it ¨ anybody can extinguish its own nonrenewable natural
resources (real savings) and be rewarded with a medal or diploma. The
sad part, is that this ¨production¨ obtained by the sacrifice of the country
natural resources, a mutilation of it, a real crime against it; this so
called productivity will disappear inside the big throats of bureaucracy,
bad administrations or the industrialists that after they got what they
wanted, will take this production to other parts of the world where it
suits them better. Because now they ¨own¨ that productivity and they
decide what to do with it: a part of our country. Same as to maim an organ
of a friend and take it elsewhere to sell. This nation its being raped
and throwed on other places of the world, ripped apart. Us, simple citizens
won’t have anything but resignation until we find out that the paradise
we had it’s taken out and what we have now are leftovers. This are the
real antination, this is another outcome of institutionalized corruption
that to the people who really love this country, shame us.It is up to us, common citizens
to make a difference. Let’s not wait for others to do it for us.
That
has been our experience and that is why we are, where we are.Anything towards a sustainable
and/or renewable productivity is OK. Globalization or industrial globalization
taken lightly, could bring serious consequences to third world countries
if certain projects do not have a proper Eco-evaluation and research.
To use nature is one thing, to exploit it is another, and is no good business,
nor development or ¨modernization¨, to mascarade it with those names.
Now, to complement what has
been said before with answers and propose solutions to this great ignorance
that we are living, I rather use this word ¨ignorance¨ describing third
world or undeveloped countries. And that includes: corruption, lack of
vision, lack of creativity, low identity, wrong perspectives, misseducation,
etc. So then, to this ignorance or lack of right education, one answer
or solution clearly is Tourism. And, specifically Eco-Adventure
Tourism. And I will explain why.I think that in developing
countries like Ecuador, the main problem is not that we are poor, or that
the World Banks have us in chains with debts; although it could help to
loosen those chains a little for ¨global¨ benefit, or that we don’t have
resources, etc.The main obstacle in these
countries, is to find a way to get the money where it’s needed or attain
a better redistribution of income on the low levels of society.This means to get over the
system or chain of International Loans-National Banks-Person or Company-Industry-therefore
jobs-therefore income.
Is necessary also, that these countries go over
industrialism. Because, is not necessary nor convenient. In fact, there
is enough industrialism on most of these countries. In Ecuador’s case,
Substantial agro exportation and oil exportation. In short, I think that
industry has made its job already.But, the question follows,
where is the money?. The money is still in 10% of the population. Poverty
keeps increasing. Why?. Because we keep using only the model International
Bank-Local Bank-Loan-Industry-jobs therefore wealth. But wealth where?.
Well, enough years has past by to know the answer.Now, why "Eco-Adventure
Turism" and not tourism (I like to call it Traditional tourism)?.
Will explain that further, now I will make a few empiric calculations
to illustrate a few convenient points of Tourism in general as an integral
developing source model in countries like ours in Latin America.At present there is around
500 thousand tourists entering each year in Ecuador, this has meant to
the country roughly 300 millions USD according to last data(1997). This
means that Tourism has become one the main production sources in the country,
after Oil and agroindustries like banana and shrimp.Now, lets imagine that with
a proper government promotion of the country’s natural attractions and
the private tourist companies (the only real promotion that really is)
we could sell to 1 million tourists that will enter each year. And just
to use a number lets think each tourist will come to expend 1000 USD.
Therefore, we multiply 1 million by 1 thousand equals 1 billion USD
gross income in each year.The most important thing is
not the quantity, is "where this money will go". This money goes DIRECTLY from the Eco-Adventure Tourist without
middle persons, banks, government or non government organizations, etc.,
to: the hotel, hostal or cabins local owner, boat, bus, van, restaurant
or working kid who sells newspaper or cleans shoes. In other words this
money goes to where is supposed to go. Without regulating or non-regulating
entities. The effect is instantaneous, the injection of money is done
by the tourist, creates small business owners instead of just employees,
maintains jobs and keeps people from urban areas, decentralizing population,
taken a great burden from the shoulders of governments and including women
anb all ages, races, and areas. Avoids corruption and goes over this
big source of poverty in Latin American countries. This is an efficient
and effective industry that multiplies different positive answers to the ¨real¨ development we need.Now, I will explain why Eco/Adventure
tourism and not just traditional Tourism. Logically we will never
succeed selling Ecuador as a destiny for attractions like Las Vegas, the
Caribbean, Europe, etc.,we should do with what we have, thus needing less
infrastructure big loans and investments. Ecotourism is cheap, easy and
to my understanding distributes currency in better way. Why? Because Eco/Adventure
tourism goes to all towns or areas of the country. And Ecotourist goes
to small towns like Machalilla in the Coast, different little towns of
the Andes like Baños, as well as in the Amazon and of course Galapagos.
In other words, what we need is a Eco-adventurer Tourist that goes
elsewhere but just Quito, Guayaquil, Manta or Cuenca, etc., that
will travel throughout Ecuador, that will spend this 1000-2000 USD, in
all the country if possible, so I am talking of the so called ¨mochileros¨
or backpacking tourists, young people that will cover practically all
Ecuador with 1 to 2000 USD, and even probably discovering by themselves
areas with potential adventure tourism that we have not even imagine because
generally "tourism officials" do not even ride a bike, not to
mention a mountain bike!.We have to know who we are,
to know what we can offer. Know thyself says the Greek and Oriental saying
with famous wisdom. This is a moment to apply it. We are underdeveloped
or poor (in money), ignorants or poorly educated with inefficent and corrupted
administrations.As we are poor, we can not
have the luxury of great investments for large and fancy infrastructures.
As we are poorly educated, we must jump over industrialization cause otherwise
we have first get educated to a high level, something we can not afford
and is too late for that, I think, and politicians do not want it. As
we are corrupt, we must get over government bureaucracy administrations
as much as possible, and choose a developing model so these people don’t
even see the money.Now, let’s say what we are
positively and what we really have and are rich in. We have a great
biological diversity (one, if not the largest in the world by density),
large tourist natural attractions, climate diversity and ethnic diversity,
cilunary diversity, in very short distances for any tourist to be able
to cover everything in few days, therefore economically. But mainly,
we are people with a natural sympathy to the foreign; we are sociable
and like to be nice to people from other countries with few exceptions.
These are our great resources and this is why we are really rich, but
seems like we are not conscious about it yet.Then, we could achieve a fast,
efficient and effective development that will primarily get to the low
class, the other way around as it should be, from the traditional Banks
model, and after that injection of wealth we could then talk about education,
health, etc. This social stimulation will go directly to the poor masses
so they could rise their levels of living by themselves saving the government
a significant amount of money, work and temptation.To get completely over underdevelopment
the participation of the government is needed, but in this way, even if
it does or not, we are not depending on good or but administrations of
our resources. Our development is really in our hands if we want to do
an autoanalisis. As the wisdom says: ¨ Know thyself first, Ecuador¨.
This article or part of it
can be use for all purposes but for personal uses. You dont even have
to have my approval since many of the ideas here are from the contribution
of many people through history.
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