Thursday – July 26th, 2012
...Environmental consciousness is imparted in
Antitorona.
A house cannot be erected on unconsolidated land, as a road cannot
be built on a marsh. It is of little use to treat malaria if there are
millions of mosquitos in your own garden. Living in clean, stable and well
organized environment gives humankind the possibility of projecting itself
mentally into an evolving future.
Seeing structures
like roads, schools and bridges arising around oneself stimulates the urge
to be part of the system creating them. Man identifies himself with the places
he lives in, it is his strength and the banner of his pride. Instilling the
knowledge of belonging a community gives strength and stability, and thus we
have set out to render the environment we live in functional and tangible.
Plans for the
safeguard of the territory must be taken into account in every social
development enterprise. In our village at Nosy Komba the awareness of
environmental protection is more and more present. Children know that rubbish
must not be thrown out in the street but taken to the incineration plants,
the zebus (local cattle) must not trample the surfaced village roads,
trees must be protected and be part of the urban environment; the public spaces
should be left unoccupied and available to everyone.
We are all aware
that the important structural works that are being undertaken are to prevent
that the village is washed away from under our feet by the rains.
Ø 1997 - Earth
consolidation: Terracing has been important to stop erosion, which is typical
during the rainy season, and to acquire a greater surface for the natural
expansion of the village.
Ø 2001 - Initial
urbanization: Surfacing the road which would become the backbone of the village
and the symbol of urban unity.
Ø 2003 Reforestation:
The Nosy Be administration altered the status of Komba island to a protected
area for tourism use. Thus rice cultivation which has a high environmental cost
has been forbidden and reforestation has been instated in its place.
