Participating in the 2014 International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Academy of Environmental Law (IUCNAEL) Colloquium in Tarragona, Spain was, as expected, another enriching experience, as it had been in the past colloquia. The intense discussions among leading environmental law educators and specialists, where at least 200 papers were presented on climate and energy issues, left an indelible impression and feelings of hope that things could be better.
The message of the distinguished speaker, Dr. Ludwig Kramer, an IUCN AEL Fellow, former chief counsel on the environment of the European Commission and one of the environmental law and policy experts in Europe, for vigorous citizen engagement demanding accountability for the appalling national and global inaction on climate change, was both inspiring and challenging, especially for this columnist.
Universitat Rovira I Virgili, in partnership with CEDAT and other institutions, left no stone unturned in ensuring the colloquium’s success. Delegates are going back to their countries filled with memories of beautiful, sustainable and heritage-rich Tarragona.
The social events prepared for the participants included the trip to the Roman Amphitheater, wine tasting, the human tower performance by the Colla de Castellers Xiquets de Tarragona and the welcome reception hosted by Tarragona Provincial Council, dinner at the wonderful bay “Punta del Miracle” and the Colloquium Dinner at Vermut Rofes.
A magnificent Roman Amphitheater, a World Heritage site declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea, is well-preserved, built in the second century A.D. The amphitheater is surrounded by lovely gardens which showcase the plants and trees that were common during the Roman times. Doves, swallows and small birds are in abundance. Grapevines and olive trees are also present as Roman agriculture was based on cereals (wheat), vines and olives, which produced flour and bread, grapes and wine, olives and olive oil.
Unforgettable was the dazzling human tower up to 10 tiers high set up by the castellers, made up of men, women and children of various ages and sizes. One readily appreciates the values of teamwork, discipline, responsibility, solidarity, helpfulness, the feeling of belonging watching the performance. The castells is a distinct Catalan tradition, declared by Unesco as Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
The group who performed before the delegates, the Colla Castellers Xiquets de Tarragona, is said to be the oldest Colla of human towers of the city of Tarragona
(https://www.iucnael2014.cat/program/social-programme/). A sculptured depiction of the castellers in action adorns one of the main squares in the City of Tarragona.
Walking the wide avenues and the alleys is a way of life in Tarragona. Young and forever young denizens, many with their dogs on leash, and tourists definitely do not have the face of the harried and harassed pedestrians scampering to cross the unsafe streets in Cebu and many parts of the Philippines. The distinct zebra lines and traffic lights are found in almost all corners of the streets and plazas. The walkways occupy half of the avenues. Pedestrians are definitely respected and accorded spaces for relaxing, chatting and even eating, as street cafés are in abundance.
Of course, as people prefer to walk, there are fewer vehicles and no congestion, unlike the daily traffic woes faced by many in metropolitan areas in Cebu and the country, including the reported Banilad-Talamban road “chaos”. Needless to say, the air was fresh. I did not miss the polluting toxic carbon emissions at all.
The streets in Tarragona are likewise clean, without litter. Huge bins with clear labels for plastic, paper, cans and other resources, are very visible in various parts of the city. On an early morning walk to the coast, I saw the streets being vacuumed by the city’s service personnel.
One can drink from the tap as the government made sure that each citizen has access to safe and clean waters.
The beach is another visible commons. Families and friends converge to swim and relax, a disappearing sight in our country as the Water Code is brazenly violated. Section 51 clearly provides that, “The banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes throughout their entire length and within a zone of three (3) meters in urban areas, twenty (20) meters in agricultural areas and forty (40) meters in forest areas, along their margins, are subject to the easement of public use in the interest of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage.
No person shall be allowed to stay in this zone longer than what is necessary for recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing or salvage or to build structures of any kind.”
Tarragona is a city which genuinely prioritizes its people, environment and culture and the sustainable future. It is definitely a sustainability exemplar which we can emulate.
We long for the day when our government and citizens join hands in ensuring the delivery of essential basic services to the constituents and engage in long-term planning, including climate change response, for the benefit not just of this generation, but for the generations to come.