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Spanish Pyrenees, National Parks, Observations, Climate
skeptics, Olives
Crossing back and forth between France and Spain we have
seen a good deal of the Pyrenees range of mountains.
The National Parks contain the best scenery, and it is some
of the best in the world, but unfortunately when these parks were established
everybody was in line for their chop. The locals still wanted to graze their
cattle, sheep, goats, horse's donkeys, etc, spinning the same old garbage about
the environmental benefits that this practice has.
The bottom line appears to be that National Parks are fine
as long as they don’t get in the way of making a euro/dollar. These watered
down National Parks do nothing to protect habitat. Perhaps as has been
suggested by some we should be re-wilding the planet. Current management of the
worlds environment has helped get us to the point where less than 3% of the
animals on the planet are actually wild animals.
Moving further into Spain some observations:
-
The bigger towns have an industrial look about
them, even the coastal resort towns,
-
A lot of industrial buildings, apartments,
houses are abandoned or not completed,
-
Not as many people own dogs in Spain as France which
equals less dog ***** for owners to ignore,
-
A good deal of older people here get out for a
walk in the mornings,
-
Regional towns are bereft of young people,
-
There are fewer people touring here, where on
the other hand, France is crawling with old ***** driving camper cars,
-
You can’t buy decent cereal, and
-
Spanish women have big noses.
Initially, after leaving the Pyrenees, we headed to the
north coast of Spain. New territory for us, and we did find a couple of decent
beaches away from the main coastal "resort" towns which are appalling places. You
would think you were on a different planet, and not just across the border from
France where they make an effort by using flowers to soften harsh streetscapes.
Spanish rural villages have at the very least a good sized
church (full of appallingly gruesome, and what can only be described as
'weird’, statues), and often a ruined castle. Your typical Spaniard has
experienced a degree of prosperity in the past, but since the GFC, they are being
forced into having to get used to being poor again. Some villages are starting
to look a little tired, and litter is a problem in some towns. Culturally they appear
to have a problem in the area of litter management. Walk into any bar/cafe and you will find the floor covered in rubbish. Every manner of food wrapper or lottery ticket is
tossed on the floor. Only males seem to frequent these coffee shops so perhaps
it is a male only ritual!
We happened to pull up at a mirodor (lookout), where we had
a few words with Basil and Sybil, a couple of retired Brits. We happened upon
them further up the road and it became apparent that they had noticed my one
line message “action now on climate change” on the back of the truck. Basil
lost no time in telling me that Europe would be bought to its knees
economically if forced to react to what he considered to be a natural climate
cycle. Good old Basil, like many of my and Gaels generation, find the
scientific reality of climate change a little too hard to deal with. Unfortunately
sticking your head up your **** and hoping for the best isn’t good enough for
future generations.
From a point mid way along the north coast we headed due south
through rural Spain. We managed four nights of bush, or wild camping as they
often call it here, on the way which was great. Not easy to do in Europe so a
few minor trespass laws have to be flouted on public land. But the peace and
quiet is worth the risk of being sprung and moved on.
The amount of land under the plow across Spain is staggering.
Virtually all the way south from Madrid to the Mediterranean sea, a
considerable distance let me tell you, is devoted to growing olives. Now I like
a virgin as much as the next bloke, but how much virgin olive oil does the
planet need? This is Europe’s version of a palm oil plantation. Olive farming
is monoculture on an industrial scale that has eliminated all the native flora
and fauna.
skeptics, Olives
Crossing back and forth between France and Spain we have
seen a good deal of the Pyrenees range of mountains.
The National Parks contain the best scenery, and it is some
of the best in the world, but unfortunately when these parks were established
everybody was in line for their chop. The locals still wanted to graze their
cattle, sheep, goats, horse's donkeys, etc, spinning the same old garbage about
the environmental benefits that this practice has.
The bottom line appears to be that National Parks are fine
as long as they don’t get in the way of making a euro/dollar. These watered
down National Parks do nothing to protect habitat. Perhaps as has been
suggested by some we should be re-wilding the planet. Current management of the
worlds environment has helped get us to the point where less than 3% of the
animals on the planet are actually wild animals.
Moving further into Spain some observations:
-
The bigger towns have an industrial look about
them, even the coastal resort towns,
-
A lot of industrial buildings, apartments,
houses are abandoned or not completed,
-
Not as many people own dogs in Spain as France which
equals less dog ***** for owners to ignore,
-
A good deal of older people here get out for a
walk in the mornings,
-
Regional towns are bereft of young people,
-
There are fewer people touring here, where on
the other hand, France is crawling with old ***** driving camper cars,
-
You can’t buy decent cereal, and
-
Spanish women have big noses.
Initially, after leaving the Pyrenees, we headed to the
north coast of Spain. New territory for us, and we did find a couple of decent
beaches away from the main coastal "resort" towns which are appalling places. You
would think you were on a different planet, and not just across the border from
France where they make an effort by using flowers to soften harsh streetscapes.
Spanish rural villages have at the very least a good sized
church (full of appallingly gruesome, and what can only be described as
'weird’, statues), and often a ruined castle. Your typical Spaniard has
experienced a degree of prosperity in the past, but since the GFC, they are being
forced into having to get used to being poor again. Some villages are starting
to look a little tired, and litter is a problem in some towns. Culturally they appear
to have a problem in the area of litter management. Walk into any bar/cafe and you will find the floor covered in rubbish. Every manner of food wrapper or lottery ticket is
tossed on the floor. Only males seem to frequent these coffee shops so perhaps
it is a male only ritual!
We happened to pull up at a mirodor (lookout), where we had
a few words with Basil and Sybil, a couple of retired Brits. We happened upon
them further up the road and it became apparent that they had noticed my one
line message “action now on climate change” on the back of the truck. Basil
lost no time in telling me that Europe would be bought to its knees
economically if forced to react to what he considered to be a natural climate
cycle. Good old Basil, like many of my and Gaels generation, find the
scientific reality of climate change a little too hard to deal with. Unfortunately
sticking your head up your **** and hoping for the best isn’t good enough for
future generations.
From a point mid way along the north coast we headed due south
through rural Spain. We managed four nights of bush, or wild camping as they
often call it here, on the way which was great. Not easy to do in Europe so a
few minor trespass laws have to be flouted on public land. But the peace and
quiet is worth the risk of being sprung and moved on.
The amount of land under the plow across Spain is staggering.
Virtually all the way south from Madrid to the Mediterranean sea, a
considerable distance let me tell you, is devoted to growing olives. Now I like
a virgin as much as the next bloke, but how much virgin olive oil does the
planet need? This is Europe’s version of a palm oil plantation. Olive farming
is monoculture on an industrial scale that has eliminated all the native flora
and fauna.
- comments
Stephen Keefe Amazing History !
Stephen Keefe Spains eagles nest
Kitat Algarrobito macro-hotel which violate law preventing to construct to 100 meters strip from the coast and placed in a specially dry area, in addition to the hotel a house developing including a golf course is planned. http://html.rincondelvago.com/sustainable-tourism_1.html