The challenge is to create a solution to the increasing problem of waste disposal that is both affordable and sustainable.  Rural villages have very little money and traditional, “Western” approaches are prohibitively expensive.  AEN believes it has a solution.   We call it an integrated waste management program, or IWMP for short.  The solution is unique because it is designed specifically for implementation in rural areas where resources and money are in short supply.  This solution requires a comprehensive approach that includes the traditional change management mechanisms as well as the approach of a non-traditional use of “appropriate technology”.

“Change management” refers to a comprehensive village(s) wide education program that teaches villagers about the dangers presented by haphazard discarding of wastes, how to recycle wastes and how to compost organic wastes for re-use.  The education program is designed include government employees, local NGOs, and village adults.  In addition, there is a “teacher of teachers” (ToT) element that ensures this education is disseminated in the local schools as well.

“Appropriate technology” is the use of existing resources, both natural and human, in the creation of viable solutions to local problems.  In the case of waste management, an appropriate technology landfill would be a low-tech version of a sanitary landfill without all the Western “bells and whistles” and inflated costs therein associated.  The landfill would still be sanitary and able to contain toxic leachates and safely disburse build-ups of methane gas.  It is our belief that, using appropriate technology, regional sanitary landfills can be constructed for a fraction of the cost of the landfills constructed in Europe and the United States.  We currently have an American architecture firm taking on the unique challenge of designing the landfill to our specifications.  In the case of a rural village, an appropriate technology sanitary landfill is the only feasible solution that remains after recycling and re-use has removed the majority of the waste stream.

We would, in partnership with the Urban Foundation for Sustainable Development (UFSD) and Green Lane NGO, like to pilot our IWMP in the village of Akhurian.  Akhurian is located adjacent to Gyumri and has a population of approximately 10,000.  Our IWMP however, is not limited to just Akhurian.  There are at least 8 villages surrounding Akhurian that we will include in the project.  The idea is to build “regional” fills in order to achieve economies of scale and reduce costs.

The Akhurian project is important not just for Akhurian but for Armenia as well.  The project is designed to be replicable, thus it will serve as a replicable model for other rural villages that endeavor to solve their waste problems.  AEN envisions that villages, in close proximity to one another, combine resources to create regional landfills.  Regional landfills negate the necessity to construct 400 separate fills. In the case of Akhurian, there are eight additional villages involved in this venture with an additional five on the horizon.  In the case of Armenia, using this approach, perhaps 50 -60 regional appropriate technology sanitary landfills would suffice.

The importance of this project cannot be overstated.   The time has come for Armenia to address this issue.  AEN believes that villages are ready to address the growing problem that is waste management and we have a potential solution.   This project is unique in Armenia and the Caucasus.  We believe that with vision and determination Armenia can take the lead in sanitary waste management practices and serve as a model for other developing nations.

Our project is partially funded but we are seeking additional funding in order ensure that it is implemented properly.    We would also welcome any suggestions in regard to any phase of the project as well as identifying potential engineering firms willing to take on this unique challenge.  This is an opportunity to create positive change in Armenia and we welcome your assistance.

The first morning in Yerevan, I went with my father to visit my grandparents who also live in the city. The moment I stepped out onto the street, I realized how much I had missed this place. It was Saturday, so the Bazaar which functions only on weekends was up and running in the street. Colorful hats and ornamental rugs contrasted the white snow and fog of the morning beautifully. All throughout the market, Armenian music sounded from various vendor’s stalls, and people bustled about with the intention of staying warm. Four subway stops and a short uphill climb later, we were walking through the back alleys of Yerevan. As we neared my grandparents’ building, I marveled at the beautiful scenery that surrounded me. The ground was lightly covered in soft, white snow which crunched underneath my boots. On both sides of the street, five-story tufa buildings stood somberly, a disarray of balconies climbing up their sides. Everything looked worn and aged, yet the winter scene was beautiful and inviting.

When I stepped into my grandparent’s tiny fourth floor apartment, a sense of familiarity rushed over me as it always does. There, across from the front door, stood a dresser in the same place it always stands. The living room walls were still covered with the same beige, faded wallpaper, and in a corner stood a large china cabinet filled with crystal vases and porcelain tea cups: the very ones I used to play with as a child. My grandparents’ apartment looked the same, smelled the same, felt the same, and was in every way warm and comforting. In honor of our arrival, my grandmother had prepared a small feast, and so we  sat down at the old kitchen table, ready to eat.

While I sat there in my grandmother’s blue-tiled kitchen, I ran through memories of eating breakfast with my cousins, playing poker with buttons while we ate. Filled with bittersweet nostalgia, I scanned the walls in order to soak in every detail, especially those which never change. Before anything else, I noticed that the doors of the white kitchen cupboards were awfully crooked. For some reason, these misaligned pieces of wood made me incredibly happy. You see, in Armenia one can always rely on things being broken or badly put together. I know that does not sound very nice, but let me explain the beauty of it. This country is full of superficial imperfections: the amount of trash exceeds the capacity of trash cans; abandoned construction sites and depleted buildings are everywhere; drivers simply do not believe in traffic lights; and everything is always dusty. Many scorn these details, but I love them. Funnily enough, I enjoy being here in the rubble, the disorganization,  the dirty and busy streets. I feel alive when I am here, and much closer to reality than I do when I am in California. To my eyes, imperfections are what make Armenia special. I find it refreshing that there is a place in this world where perfection is not sought after, or really even thought of. After all, life is never ideal, and this country gladly acknowledges that fact.

I am not saying that Armenia should not strive to improve its traffic laws and waste programs, of course it should. However, I find it remarkable, that even though Armenia has numerous economic and political struggles, there is something like a deep joy in the spirit of the country. Yes, the people complain about absolutely everything, but at the same time they are joyous, always celebrating something or another, and are generally proud to be Armenian. The culture here values family, and life itself, more than anything materialistic. That is why these people are able to function, with relative happiness, in a country that is broken and corrupt. Perhaps you will not agree, but I find that to be quite beautiful.

This is Shamshadin and this is just one of the reasons why we at AEN, and other dedicated NGO’s, struggle on.  Merry “American” Christmas.

These were all taken in or around the village of Chinchin.

The pictures were taken at a little church called Mayrivank, just outside of Berd.  The church itself was rehabilitated by our friends Matt and Annie Ash.   The donkey was politely asking me to stop stepping on his dinner.

And these pictures were taken on the road from Berd to Tchambarak.

Nubarashen is located about 12 kilometers outside of Yerevan and is home to the overwhelming majority of the city’s trash.  This trash includes the typical solid waste such as plastic bottles, bags, glass, paper and so on.  It has been estimated that 4-5 tons of trash are deposited there every day.  It also includes chemicals, solvents, offal, medical wastes, construction wastes, pesticides and much more.  It does not take much analysis to figure out that the mixture of all these elements, with water, produces an incredibly toxic soup.  Most landfills in the United States, for example, require a separate facility for chemicals and pesticides, another one for solid waste, another one for medical wastes and so on.  Nubarashen just piles these various types of waste together.

Back to the toxic soup.  Nubarashen does not have a protective barrier or bladder to keep leachates from seeping into the soil and eventually into the water table.   Modern urban landfills have some type of barrier(s) to protect against this occurrence.  Again, Nubarashen has none.  What is more frustrating is that seemingly, government officials are aware of the situation, aware of the dangers and still choose not to act on it.  Perhaps if they lived in Nubarashen municipality the situation would be rectified.  There are still rumors floating around Yerevan that a Japanese company had been contracted to clean and retrofit the landfill.  It turned out that the Japanese company was only interested in harvesting the methane from the landfill which, to the best of our knowledge, they have ceased doing.  To date, no cleanup or retrofit has been attempted.   And, only very recently has there been interest in studying the issue of pesticides that are dumped there.

In addition to the leaking toxins, there are many additional issues.  The methane build-up in the non-tapped areas poses a threat of spontaneous combustion.  The landfill continually smolders sending toxic fumes into the air.  The trash is not “compacted”, rather it is simply dumped, often down ravines where it is left untended.  The landfill heavy equipment is often in disrepair and/or broken down.  It staggers the imagination that a landfill such as this could exist in a country such as Armenia.  The fault is quite simply a lack of governance.  Enough experts have reported and testified concerning the appalling conditions found there.   Even as a newcomer to Armenia I am aware of Nubarashen.  As such, I cannot be convinced that government officials are unaware of the dangers of inaction.  Here is where the energy and outrage of Diasporans and environmental activists worldwide would be most effective.  Drop the government a line at:

http://gov.am/en/structure/5/

Direct your letter to First Deputy Minister Simon Papyan.    Some of us are hearing that this may be a man genuinely interested in helping protect Armenia’s natural resources and protecting the public health.  Urge immediate action in the cleanup of Nubarashen.

I heard the news and immediately wondered what Edward Abbey would have thought. Abbey is the author of the 1975 novel, The Monkey Wrench Gang.  The title refers to the physical act of tossing a monkey wrench into the moving parts of a machine in order to sabotage and stop various activities.  The novel was a fictional tale of a group of individuals desperate to stop the development of the American Southwest, particularly the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam.  The novel’s gonzo characters have now found their counterparts in Hrazdan.

I was informed at the latest Aarhus meeting of the recent events in Hrazdan.  These events will likely never make it in to the national news and will probably never be acknowledged by the government.  The story as I was told goes like this.  A group of Hrazdan residents recently approached workers who were test drilling on the proposed mine site.  The residents requested from the workers the licenses and permits required of the mining company.  The mining company employees, of course, had no such licenses or permits and none were subsequently produced by the contractors or owners.  None were produced because no such “legal” documents exist.  The residents, already aware of this fact, were trying to make a point.  They did in the days that followed.

Perceiving themselves to have no recourse in the redress of the illegalities taking place in their backyards, the residents of Hrazdan proceeded to damage (destroy?) the drilling equipment on the proposed site, thus putting a halt to continued testing for the time being.  Drilling equipment is not cheap and the monetary damage appears to be substantial.  In addition, the destruction of this equipment was itself illegal and the perpetrators have put themselves at risk of prosecution by the same people that own the mine. This was a very serious and very dangerous activity.   Why would these people put their lives and liberty in such peril?  Was this action worth the risk?

I guess answers will vary according to the interests represented.  My take is that these residents were pushed to the desperation point with this mine looming above them less than a mile away.  They were desperate because there was no one else to whom they could turn.  They pursued the legal options and worked through the Aarhus centers and did what they should have done.  As I mentioned in the original blog on Hrazdan, the mining company owners and government (these are the same entities) subverted the constitution of the Republic of Armenia when they approved the “licenses” and “permits”.  They did so without following the legal steps listed out in both the Armenian constitution and the Aarhus Convention which they ratified nearly a decade ago.  The government violated the very laws which they are sworn to protect and enforce.

So what recourse do citizens have in this case?  If you have a good answer then you are wiser than I.  Should this be viewed as an act of sabotage and a clear violation of the law?  Or should it be viewed as an act of civil disobedience?  What I am relatively certain of is this; the occurrences of monkey wrenching will likely increase and situations will become even more tense and, perhaps, violent.  The citizens of Armenia are being pushed to the wall in Hrazdan and many other places.  Once their belief in the efficacy of the rule of law is permanently destroyed they will strike back to protect their villages, homes and fields.  Times are tough in Armenia but they don’t have to remain that way.  Armenia needs leadership that cares about its citizens and its lands.  This type of leadership requires courage and audacity.  President Sargsyan “pledged” to end the oligarchy.  Are these genuine sentiments or merely the oligarchy’s version of the monkey wrench, designed to get Europe off its back?  Time will tell.

My second blog entry is a plea for help from the Diaspora.  I am not prone to hyperbolic outbursts but I was thoroughly disturbed by a recent event which is described below.  The issue as I, and many others, understand it, involves a potentially enormous environmental threat to Armenia.   Read on and decide for yourselves if the proposed Hrazdan open pit iron ore mine indeed poses a dire threat.

I attended a rather unusual Aarhus meeting on Friday, September 23^rd.  The meeting was unusual because it involved a single issue, the Hrazdan mine, and was held in the capital city of Yerevan.  Normally, a meeting of this type would be held in the affected city’s marzpet (mayor’s office).  An Aarhus meeting, for those unfamiliar, is an OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) sponsored meeting of individuals interested in ensuring transparency and pursuing justice in government decisions impacting the environment (Click on this Aarhus Convention link for a more detailed explanation.).  As a signatory to this convention the Armenian government agreed to abide by its laws and stipulations and which, to this point in the case of Hrazdan, it has blatantly and arrogantly ignored. This behavior is common knowledge here in Armenia but may come as a surprise to Diasporans in the United States.

Some of the details regarding the mining operation are sketchy at this point and bear further investigation.  For example, my understanding is that the mine is owned by a combination of Armenian and Chinese companies.  The Chinese company, Fortune Oil purchased 35% of Bounty Resources Armenia (this information comes from a February 2011 article in Hetq and an article in ArmTown.com) which owns the iron mine in Hrazdan.   The license to operate this mine was given to Nagin Ltd. which is 72% owned by Caspian Bounty Steel and 28% “owned” by Souren Ayvazyan.  Here is where it gets interesting.  Caspian Bounty Steel is registered off-shore, in the Virgin Islands.  Registering off-shore is the choice of almost every Armenian mining company as it allows companies to maintain anonymity in their actions.  Interested in an “American” source on this point?  Check out the Bloomberg’s Businessweek.com’s snapshot of Caspian Bounty Steel’s “Key Executives”, “Board Members” and “Executive Committee Members”.  There are none listed.

This brings us to the second highly interesting aspect.  Souren Ayvazyan is the son of MP Vardan Ayvazyan.  According to Hetq, Vardan Ayvazyan and another MP, Tigran Arzakantsyan are the individuals who sold the 35% of Bounty Resources to Fortune Oil, to the tune of $24 million.  Government officials are forbidden, by law from engaging in these extra-governmental activities.  These activities are, obviously, illegal but it is standard operating procedure in the “Republic” of Armenia.  Bringing in a Chinese company to run the mine just serves to rub salt in the wound.

What is definitively known about the potential mine is as follows.  It will be an open pit mine.  Core samples are already being collected.  It is located 1.5 kilometers from the city of Hrazdan (click on this link for a short video, in Armenian, of the mining site).  The picture below shows the site as seen from Hrazdan (all pictures are courtesy of the Acopian Center at the American University of Armenia).

Residents of Hrazdan, Sevan, Tsaghkadzor and other area towns and villages are opposed to the placement of the mine in this location.  And, more disturbing, it is located approximately 500 meters from the Sevan- Hrazdan and about 700 meters from the Hrazdan River itself and 500 meters from the Atarbeykan hydroelectric power station (see map). The Hrazdan River is one of Armenia’s major arteries, equivalent in relative importance to the Mississippi or Missouri Rivers.  It is one of the major water contributors to the Ararat Valley, Armenia’s breadbasket.  In addition, the Hrazdan winds its way right through the middle of Yerevan, home to nearly half of Armenia’s population.  The thought that the Hrazdan could be polluted from mining operations, tailing dumps and other unforeseen events should send a warning shiver through the spine of anyone who loves Armenia.

The captions are blurry here but they say:  Figure 3:  Proposed mining site (red) on top of the hill and distance in meters to closest houses (yellow) and pumping stations (blue).  The small dark blue band north of the mining site is the Hrazdan River, the band south of it the Hrazdan channel.  The two dark blue patches to the south-west are the Hrazdan reservoirs  (the red line distances are, from the top moving counterclockwise, 630 meters, 1790 meters, 1200 meters).

Figure 4: View from the proposed site of the Nagin mine on top of the hill towards Hrazdan town.  Figure 5: View from the west towards the proposed mining site.  Closest houses 630m away.

More disturbing than this is the threat the mine poses to the natural springs and aquifers in that area.  Hrazdan receives approximately 60% of its water from the springs in the area.  The same is true for Tzaghkadzor and the numerous villages and towns in the area.  Yerevan also draws water from the same aquifers.  Any damage to the aquifers and springs, purposely administered or inadvertently conducted, poses a disastrous threat to the long term existence of these municipalities.   There were numerous scientists at the meeting that presented their findings to the Aarhus attendees and they all warned of irreversible, permanent and catastrophic damage to the aquifers and springs should something go wrong.

The caption reads, Fig 9: Proposed mining site (red) on top of the hill and distance in meters to the pumping stations (blue) which deliver drinking water to the cities of Hrazdan, Abovyan, Gagarin, and Tsaghkadzor (close to one hundred thousand inhabitants in total).  The water source of the pumping station is a shallow underground stream originating in the mountains to the west (the red line indicates a distance of 1300 meters).

But, the greatest threat to the health of the people of Hrazdan and the surrounding environment has yet to be mentioned in this blog.  If profound and dire threats to the region’s (and country’s) water resources wasn’t serious enough, the most catastrophic attack on the local environment will come from the air. The dust raised from the open pit mining operation will be carried by the winds to the town.  This is simply unavoidable and a fact that cannot be dismissed or reasoned away.  Winds are not always going to blow dust away from the town.  There are times when winds will carry dust containing metallic compounds into the town, onto schools and playgrounds and into the various water channels and the Hrazdan River.  The pictures show the proximity of the mine to the town and water ways.  Decide for yourselves if a threat exists.   The scientists and citizens at the Aarhus meeting were understandably frustrated.  But, these people were not just angry and frustrated but were visibly frightened.  I have been in Armenia long enough to know that Armenians are a tough and resourceful people but there was no mistaking the fear that existed in their eyes.  It was unnerving.

Fig. 1 (left): Distance between proposed mining site and schools No. 4 and No. 6 in Hrazdan. Fig. 2 (inset, right): View from School No. 4 towards the hill. The red line on top is 1800 meters, the lower red line is 21oo meters.

After being introduced and explaining AEN’s mission they asked me if “America” could help in any way. Hence this blog and my initial request.  What do these people want?  They want what any American would want if an open pit mine was proposed 500 meters from a main water source and a few miles from a major city.  They would want to know that the mining operation would be environmentally sound and operated in a clean, environmentally sound fashion.  And, most importantly they would want an Environmental Impact Assessment conducted, prior to any operation being approved.  These residents of the Hrazdan region are asking for public hearings and an EIA.  The problem is that the government will not accede to their requests.

In fact, the government officials will inform anyone with the clout to actually receive a return phone call or email that the “environmental impact assessment” has already been conducted and the operation will be safe and as clean as possible.  Let us examine that claim.  My understanding of this matter is that the Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted by the Lernametalurgiai Institute, cjsc.  (LMI). LMI is also known by the name of the Mining and Metallurgy Institute.  LMI gave the site and participating operators a clean bill of health.  So who, or what, is LMI?  LMI is owned by Vallex.  Vallex is one of the largest mining companies in Armenia and is the company trying to construct a copper mine in the wilderness area of Teghut.  They are also the owners of the infamous copper smelting plant in Alaverdi that spews a substantial daily dose of toxic particles onto city residents from its unfiltered smoke stack.  Having a Vallex owned, financed and controlled company conduct an EIA is akin to having a mob attorney also act as the jury in the case against their client.  It is simply unheard of in societies whose governments have the best interest of their citizens foremost in their minds.

The operators will also “guarantee” that the mine tailings will be stored and treated in accordance with international standards.  They will inform that there is “no danger” to the springs or water table.  The Ararat Valley will remain unpolluted and fertile.  They will opine about the economic benefits to the local communities.  They will do all of this with a straight face.  Americans would not blindly accept this on faith and neither do these people.  They want an independently conducted EIA (There is a “rumor” that Fortune Oil has contacted SRK Consulting Limited from the UK, but this has yet to be confirmed.). They want what is standard operating procedure in the developed world.  I am not “anti-mining” but I also want an independent agency, with no ties to Armenia or any mining company, to conduct this study.  The stakes are too high here not to have this done.

What can you, the reader, do to help?  Read through our information portal for up-to-date news on mining and other issues.  Conduct your own independent research as well.  Do you know someone with political or economic clout in Armenia?  Ask this individual about Hrazdan and an independent impact assessment.  Will this someone also help us draft legislation requiring independent EIA’s in the future with the requisite enforcement provisions?  Do you know of a reputable independent agency willing to conduct the EIA?  Please let us know.  Do you know someone who would volunteer to translate this blog and other relevant material into Eastern Armenian?  Our website is currently English only.   Would you like to donate or help us organize for the purpose of receiving public hearings and an independent EIA?  Do you have any suggestions for us?

Armenians are requesting your help in protecting the country.  What do you say?

“Where the heck is Armenia?” was a common question asked of me when friends and students of mine discovered I was heading here.  The fact is that most Americans haven’t a clue about anything concerning Armenia, unless they happen to personally know an Armenian.   And of the Americans that have a vague understanding of Armenians and their history, virtually none of these will ever make the trip here.  Enter me.  My name is Kirk Wallace and I am AEN’s newest employee and its designated blogger.  And I’m not a Diasporan.  I am Scots-German with not a drop of Armenian blood in me.  Yet here I am in Yerevan writing a blog for an Armenian NGO, discussing Armenian issues, and investigating Armenian problems.  I was charged with this responsibility precisely because I am not Armenian.  Ursula Kazarian (AEN President) and Serda Ozbenian (AEN Executive Director) thought my status as a non-Armenian would provide an interesting perspective.  That is what I will try and provide in these forthcoming blog entries.  I will try and inform readers of some of the myriad environmental issues here, AEN’s involvement, if any, with them as well as an occasional post on some aspect of Armenian culture I find interesting.  I haven’t the slightest understanding of the Armenian alphabet and I will often misspell words, much to the chagrin, possibly, of my readers.  I offer my apologies, in advance, sort of.  Let the blogging commence with a rare piece of good news on Trchkan Waterfall.

Trchkan Waterfall

On November 1 I attended a rally to “Save Trchkan Waterfall”.  Trchkan is located in Lori marz and is Armenia’s highest and most abundant waterfall.  The rally was one in a series of events designed to stop the construction of a small hydro power plant near the top of the waterfall.  As of November 4 the President of Armenia, Serge Sargsyan, ordered construction to be halted and the waterfall designated a “specially protected area”.  As I write this I am grinning from ear to ear.  Here is why.

Photo by Jeff Masarjian, Executive Director, Armenia Tree Project. From www.treehugger.com.

1.  Victories of this sort, in Armenia, are as rare as a Chicago Cub’s World Series title. It is a moment to be cherished.  Only one previous environmental victory even comes to mind for me, that being the epic struggle to save Shikahogh.  Chalk up the second.
2. The activists!  I cannot begin to express how important the grass root groups were in this struggle.  A group of the most steadfast activists staged a “camp out” at the access road to the construction site, literally forcing the halting of any further construction.  They slept in tents and camped through the rain and freezing weather.  The resulting publicity from this action led directly to the government’s decision to cease construction on the falls.
3. The townspeople!   Townspeople themselves showed support for the activists.  After some sketchy moments at the beginning of the “camp out” activists were brought food and drink from villagers and even some of the construction workers.
4. Civil Society!  None exists in Armenia, save for the environmental movement.  Listen up Diasporans!  It is from within the environmental movement that Armenia will develop lasting civil society mechanisms.  It is currently the only sphere in which meaningful change takes place.  Support for environmental organizations means supporting the development of Armenia into a legitimate democracy that shows a respect for the rule of law.
5. The rule of law!  The fact is that the government’s approval of licensure for the hydro plant was against the law, specifically the law “On Specially Safeguarded Natural Reserves”.  According to this law, activities in the area dangerous for its maintenance, are prohibited.  The fact that Sargsyan was forced to recognize this is progress, no matter how small.
6. Sargsyan?????  He decided to follow the law of the land.  I’m giving him credit for this.  I’m sure if it was a giant open pit mine the decision wouldn’t have been as easy.  But, nevertheless, here’s to more of the same in the future Mr. President.   Genats!!
   

   Photo from www.armenianow.com

7. Me!  My first blog/article was going to be about the deplorable situation in Hrazdan.  Now I get to start off on a positive note and postpone the Hrazdan article for a week.  In fact, I was getting worried that positive developments were going to be few and far between.  Thank you members of the “Lets Save the Trchkan Waterfall”.

Words of caution.  I almost made it out of this blog without sharing any depressing sentiments that environmentalists are almost always forced to express.  Trchkan was illegal from start to finish.  The licensure process was fraudulent as they almost always are.  There was no independent environmental impact assessment conducted.  There were no public hearings.  The Aarhus Convention was not adhered to.  These and other violations were committed.  The fact that construction was allowed to begin was itself a travesty of justice and a clear indication of how “business” is conducted in Armenia.  The next blog on Hrazdan will provide a clearer example of how laws, processes and common decency are continually subverted in the Republic of Armenia.  But for now, let’s savor the moment.