#common_goods

The burning of our future will (not) be televised

Amidst the burning hell that is spreading and devouring mainland Greece (but also several more Mediterranean countries) I have been stranded in Santorini for the last few days.

Deeply saddened by this unprecedented -but fully predicted 1, 2, 3, 4 - development, I felt powerless to do anything. Public outcry and rage for the current and preceding management of forest fires in Greece is huge and soaring. Climate Crisis has become the main and utter excuse for every (in)competent and (ir)responsible administrator, elected or appointed, as if this is an inevitable god-sent condemnation. 

Alas, it is our own short sight and inability to comprehend and understand at last, that we are not above nature, we are an integral and dependent part of natural ecosystems and the biosphere; we have no “divine” powers that set us apart or above, neither as a species, nor as societies. For decades, if not centuries, we stand and watch the constantly growing over-exploitation, ill-fated management and depletion of commons, non renewable and natural resources -the tragedy of the commons-. The prevailing capitalistic model of development and exploitation is solely feasting and ravaging on everything that will turn into short term profits for the few, and disaster for the many. This is a vicious circle that has now brought us on the brink of collapse. But still at this critical point in time, we do not collectively take the responsibility and lift this burden to change the way we see and treat our own natural environment, our habitat, our own survival.

The photos in this post were taken during short hikes around the Caldera and other rural areas of Santorini before and after a post-apocalyptic sunsets, full of forest fire smoke, that traveled hundreds of kilometers from the ravaging wildfires in mainland Greece. The mistreatment of the natural and cultural environment of iconic and lush touristic destinations, (as is the case of Santorini) is ubiquitous.  We have turned insular communities surviving for millenia on sensitive ecosystems in decaying open pit gold mines. The same spots on the unique spectacular and breathtaking Caldera, are at the same time illegal dumps for old motorbikes, construction debris, home appliances and plastic waste. On these same spots over-consuming tourists are instagramming picturesque chapels with ill-assorted sunsets, caused by destructive wildfires..