The United States Peace Corps (PC) has decided to pull out
of Argentina, putting an end to a short, but very productive
environmental program. The program was initiated in July of 1992
with volunteers involved in numerous sectors of the national and
provincial governments, working with environmental development
projects in forestry, wildlife, and ecosystems management. This
included, to name a few, projects dealing from the basic level of
training managers and biologists in data collection techniques
and analysis to involvement in development of management plans,
such as for protected areas, introduced pest species, endangered
species, and pollution threats. Programs were being developed to
assist newly organized environmental NGOs in improving their
communication and strategic skills. An environmental training
program was also begun in the public and private educational
systems.
The progress of this program became severely impaired after
the unfortunate and unexpected firing of the organizer and first
PC country director of the Argentine program, which coincided
with the short-term stint of a sit-in PC Director during the
change of presidencies in 1992. Due to subsequent administrative
problems, including 2 additional country directors, the program
has never had an opportunity to function efficiently. Despite all
the obstacles, PC volunteers have made significant advances in
their work. After having reached an increasing number of host
agencies and counterparts and elevated their enthusiasm in
cooperative projects, PC Argentine staff and volunteers are now
instructed to cancel all initiatives and pull out in a few
months. There is no way to justify to the counterparts this final
act by the U.S. government.
Many counterparts experienced the ups and downs as the
program's directors came and left. This final move will leave
many with the impression that Peace Corps is neither very
interested in environmental problems of Argentina, nor possesses
the competence to manage such an enterprise, and lacks a certain
level of business skill. Understandably, for some 2 years there
was a lot of talk to initiate all these great ventures and
development aids for Argentine counterparts, which are now being
cut off cold turkey.
One reason brought forth for the shutdown was that Argentina
has too high of a GNP, apparently the highest of all countries in
which PC is involved. First, there will always be one such
country which has the highest GNP. Second, the GNP in Argentina
was not different 2 years ago from today. And most importantly,
GNP alone gives no indication whatsoever about how a country
functions, especially as far as environmental or educational
issues are concerned. Ask an average Argentinean how he has come
along during the last few years, and it becomes apparent that the
trend is downhill, economically speaking. Ask any person
knowledgeable in ecological and environmental issues of this
country, and it leaves no doubt that there are major gaps in
basic knowledge, management strategies, inventories, monitoring,
legislation, etc.
Some examples of how mismanagement of the environment is not
represented by the GNP are for instance, the rate of forest
destruction in the chaco which has been compared to the scale of
tropical forest destruction; or, Argentina is a major exporter of
wildlife products, most illegal; or, grand scale desertification
in progress. Meanwhile, Chile has a booming economy with double
digit growth rate. The best indicator that Chile is currently at
least a step ahead economically than Argentina is the fact that
Chileans who years ago came into Argentina for work, are now
packing up and heading back to Chile. However, Peace Corps is
firmly established in Chile and staying, but claims that
Argentina is too far advanced for needing assistance.
In short, what seems to be another political decision behind
the face of PC will ultimately have major effects and adverse
ramifications. Argentinean counterparts will have learned that
some major US governmental agency is incapable of solving basic
managerial problems, lacks minimal business manners, and talks a
lot about their interest and priority in environmental issues,
but then drops relationships and commitments on short notice for
incomprehensible reasons.
This is very unfortunate not only for subsequent Argentine-
USA relations, but for the barely existing environmental
awareness which needs to be guided and reinforced immediately.
Moreover, for the same reasons that Americans ought to be
interested in preserving tracks of tropical forest in Brazil
(global nutrient balance, biodiversity, etc), or in reducing
poverty in Africa (war prevention, humanitarianism, population
control, etc), they should maintain an interest in Argentina as
it is one of the few potential bread baskets remaining and is the
8th largest territory in the world.
If this decision of PC, to drop out of Argentina with
its associated consequences, or the expense of some 3 million
dolars
to reach this conclusion, is of concern to you, we urge you to
contact your representative (or senator), or any other
influential person you may know, to request a reevaluation of the
impact of departing Argentina.
Here are some suggestions:
Ms. Carol Bellamy
Director of Peace Corps, Washington DC
Tel. 800-424-8580
Mr. Al Gore
Vice President, U.S. Government
e-mail: vice-president@whitehouse.gov
Mr. Bill Clinton
President, U.S. Government
e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
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