Sad, disheartened, frustrated & powerless... that's how I feel after watching this video. Unable to do anything.
Private beaches, ecological reserves turned into privately-owned tourist spots, destruction of lagoons & coral reefs, savage landscaping of mangrove swamps into beaches - this is the dark side of paradise.
Do we really need more shopping malls, Integrated Resort Schemes (a country within a country) & 7-star hotels, at the cost of our environment? I think we need to remind ourselves why tourists come to Mauritius… (PS. It’s for our natural beauty).
Make no mistake, this is just the tip of the iceberg - coal power station, primate exports, harvesting of sea cucumber…
So far we've been only reaping the benefits of this unchecked development. But progress is a double-edged sword & the time will come when the consequences of our actions will come back to haunt us. It might be too late by then.
While we indulge ourselves in petty communal politics, go on with our costly materialistic lives, rant on our slow Internet, the hidden wealth of Mauritius is being plundered… & no one cares.
Video shared by l’Express. Originally uploaded by MPM.
To be aired in a Thalassa special on Mauritius, segment titled “Ile Maurice…l’ange gardien de la côte.”
Blog reactions:
- Quelle honte!
- En attendant le scrutin…
Update:
Photos from one of the IRS mentioned…
