Jane Tuna

Positive thinking Fethiye is changing rapidly – in many ways for the better. If I say this often enough maybe I will come to believe it. It's very easy to be disparaging of those people and places with which we are in close proximity and this together with the British characteristic of cynicism can sometimes make it difficult to see the positive aspects of our lives friends and places we love. As a consequence I have taken a decision to try not to fall into the trap of being critical of things about which I can do nothing. I am reminded of the “Serenity Prayer” written by Reinhold Niebuhr. In case you don't know it here it is. "God grant me the serenityto accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference." A couple of weeks ago I went to a small but extremely well organized press conference at the Fethiye Chamber of Commerce about Baba Dağı (literally “Father Mountain”) which has been designated as a Area of Special Botanical Interest (ÖBANET) such is the extraordinary wealth of endemic plants on its slopes. A group of articulate individuals explained the importance of protecting this area from development and the excesses of tourism. The protection of the environment is important for the paragliding companies too who use the summit of Baba Dağı as their take-off area. The owner of Sky Sports wants to work together with the environmentalists insisting that these problems can be more quickly solved through the pooling of resources and ideas rather than in isolated factions. This wonderful mountain and its riches can only benefit from cooperation between such groups. They can be reached through their Web sites: Linkleri Üyelerimiz Görebilir. UslanmaM Üyeliği İçin Tıklayın and Linkleri Üyelerimiz Görebilir. UslanmaM Üyeliği İçin Tıklayın I am also pleased to tell you that Fethiye now has several organizations that are raising money for various commendable projects in this area. FIG (Fethiye International Group) is now in its fifth year and in a small but determined way it is under the auspices of our local Turkish charitable foundation FETAV improving the lives of disadvantaged local children. Their enthusiasm is to be commended and their transparency (published accounts etc.) admired. FIG's achievements can be seen on their Web site Linkleri Üyelerimiz Görebilir. UslanmaM Üyeliği İçin Tıklayın. Another feather in Fethiye's cap is the Çalış Carnival due to take place this year on June 7. Once again locally organized and like FIG combining the energy of both Turkish and foreign nationals they will be raising funds for local children who have made notable achievements despite adverse personal and family circumstances. This is a “first” for this area and although plans are well under way they are still anxious to find sponsors to help them with this unique project. Their Web site is Linkleri Üyelerimiz Görebilir. UslanmaM Üyeliği İçin Tıklayın. Ok! I have been upbeat about what's going on in Fethiye but now I want to draw your attention to something that has recently caught my eye and that is the coverage given by the media to the damage goats (yes goats!) are doing to the forests of Turaaa (which as I've said before I think are among the best in the world) Goats are by their very natures voracious and they can destroy saplings young shoots and plants within minutes but they are after all only doing what comes naturally to goats. Humans on the other hand in the form of governments powerful companies and even individuals can do far more damage to the forest environment in the time it takes to sign a license shake hands over a deal or throw rubbish (i.e. a cigarette) out of a car window and yet they (unlike goats) have access to compelling information about pollution environmental degradation deforestation (a depressingly long list could follow here but I am constrained by the editor.) Please! Let's not blame goats for what's happening in our beautiful mountains and forests. It is people who have to take responsibility for the environment (and for their goats too of course.) Now please excuse me while I say the “Serenity Prayer” and take a few deep breaths. Oh! That's better…