What do you give to a region with no real resources that is rifled by pollution, unemployment and generators to fill the gaps in inconsistent and insufficient energy? You guessed it, a brand new, 8.5 million dollar Lignite Power Plant!
I'm no expert, but at first glance this seems like a tremendously short-sighted solution to the enviro-socio-cultural crisis in the Kosovo region. Sure, the power plant as envisioned by the less than visionary decision makers at the World Bank will give a greater population more reliable energy in the future, but what about the environmental and public health as a result?
Imagine that the World Bank invested in renewable energy sources rather than the dirty energy coming from coal. First of all, the sky would clear up. People would not only be in a better mood, but also in better health. As a result of this, they would feel more hopeful and more energized to create alternate means of economy. The World Bank could make Kosovo the first region in Europe to be run solely on renewables, stimulating a growth in eco-tourism, biological farming and renewable manufacturing (think: solar panel factories, wind energy compounds, etc) In 20 years, the region could not only boast the best public health record in Europe, but be self-sufficient with the eco-tourist and outdoor sports market and sales from their solar panels. This in turn would generate jobs to drop the sky-rocketing unemployment rate, enable short-sighted organizations like the World Bank to focus on other problems, like poor water quality. Oh wait, the water would be cleaner as a result of the lack of Lignite deposits into the atmosphere.
Think about it. What's not to lose?
