Letter to "foreigners" living
in "Le Morvan" (Burgundy).
To Dutch, British, German and other people
living in "Le Morvan".
From the very ancient ages, "Le Morvan" has welcomed foreigners and strangers, whether
they came from another French province or from further away. In difficult
times, Le Morvan has hosted people who didn't really
know where to go.
"Morvandiaux",
i.e. people from "Le Morvan", are extremely
tolerant. This in part reflects the fact that they are confident in their
capability to preserve their environment and specific life style, and the
belief that all people who really want to live in the region will do the same.
But, indeed, this has never been an easy task.
Morvan people, with their strength of mind
and independent will, have managed to preserve their environment, in a way that
most now envy. Today, new comers who have left regions where the environment is
in a disastrous state want to benefit from this preserved environment in
"Le Morvan". However, many of them do not
really care to act and help this environment being preserved. They do not
really feel responsible. They just want the benefit, not the trouble.
Furthermore, some call themselves "environmentalists",
"greens", "alternatists", etc.
and support bureaucratic and lobbyists concepts of what is to be done concerning
the environment. One of the most fashionable of these superimposed conceptions
is that of "sustainable development'", aspect of it being "renewable
energies", part of it being "windmill energy". Everyone who
takes pains to study facts and realities knows that most of such a discourse
is plain hypocrisy and that – only to speak of it – windmill energy is pure
window- dressing, Whatever is done to develop it, will not even cover the
increase in energy consumption in the coming years. In counterpart, great
damage, irreversible damage could be done to the environment in developing
such energy sources, especially in a region such as "Le Morvan".
The implantation of windmills in "Le Morvan" would indeed greatly affect the quality of
life in this region, especially concerning the average noise levels and the
landscape. This would greatly reduce the attractiveness of the area which main
assets are peacefulness, wilderness, calm and beauty.
To protect our region, and specifically the
region of Montcimet-Anost-Cussy, where a windmill
project has been initiated that could be considered as a "test", we
have created AMAC, a not-for-profit organisation. A few foreigners have already
joined us. But, as we now have a strong foreign community in the region mainly
composed of Dutch, British and German persons, we want more of them in support,
many more of them. They will help us and we will inform them and help them.
Hence, join AMAC. Write us, in English, Dutch,
German, or French (of course) and we will answer you.
Frank Wittendal
AMAC president.