[Gocamino] Fw: Noticias desde Santiago

Tue Dec 28 19:23:14 PST 2010

When you buy bread and cheese in Spain, that also helps the local economy.  In 
some of the small towns, the stores and cafes need business just as the 
restaurants do.  There are enough pilgrims to use all of the modest amenities 
the Camino has.  Don't feel guilty.  It is always nice to travel, no matter how 
it is done.
Bridget

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Glenn Jilek <guha2005 at hotmail.com>
To: ayoung2001 at yahoo.com; gocamino at oakapple.net
Sent: Tue, December 28, 2010 10:28:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Noticias desde Santiago

A couple of related thoughts...

    As Ana wrote, most of us, the pilgrims, are indeed the privileged, and I am 
sure that many Spaniards consider us so.  But I also know that many of us on the 
Camino have made real sacrifices to be there.  Even though I, like many others, 
am on a very tight budget when walking the Camino, I still have the feeling that 
many Spaniards think of me as a "Rich American".  A person I met in Fisterra 
once told me that she didn't think it right when she saw peregrinos buy some 
cheese, bread, and other food and sit out on the beach or a bench and eat 
because they should be spending money in the local restaurants.  I did not 
mention that I was one of those types because I could not afford to eat very 
many times in a restaurant, and even then it was the typical "menu del dia".  
But privilege is relative, and we do, after all,  have enough resources and time 
to travel to that beautiful foreign land and walk the Camino.

The Economic Development thing is a different issue.

    The graffiti that I saw on the Camino Aragon was spray painted on the walls 
by and for the local consumption, not the pilgrims.  I or other pilgrims did not 
know what it meant when we saw "NO YESA" scribbled and splashed about.  I only 
found out a week or two later when I saw the petition that was for the pilgrims 
to sign.
    I worked for many years as a transportation planner and economic development 
is used as a prime reason for construction of infrastructure, but does not 
always lead to long term employment gains.  There is a real boost during actual 
construction sure, but then, many times the unemployment problem just shifts 
from one area to another.  There are a lot of "It depends" factors, and it is 
(at least here in the USA) far from being a sure fire solution to prosperity... 
although a very few people will get very wealthy from these types of projects.
    It should also be understood that constructing an industrial park or major 
transportation facility permanently changes the area.  So if you destroy areas 
of historical significance that are centuries or millennium old, you have to 
consider that you will never get it back again.  When I was walking on that long 
stretch of Roman road between Carrion de los Condes and Sahagun, I wondered what 
have we constructed that will still be around and functional 2000 years from 
now?  Modern economic development construction is by nature "short term".  Look 
at the ruins of the once great industrial city of Detroit, Michigan compared to 
what it was just 50 years ago.  I recall reading that around the time of World 
War One, when airplanes were increasing in importance, the British government 
considered dismantling Stone Henge because it was interfering with some air 
field.  The question for Spain and us, in general, is what significance, what 
importance, is historic preservation to all!
  of us as a species.

Happy New Year to you all  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glenn

> Date: Mon, 27 Dec 2010 11:13:04 -0800
> From: ayoung2001 at yahoo.com
> To: gocamino at oakapple.net
> Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Noticias desde Santiago
> 
> Indeed it is sad news, but (yes, there is a "but"), I'm afraid that according 
>to every expert opinion, the particular economic news we hear now is not going 
>to be quite as short-term as previous ones. I will miss the unsurpassed beauty 
>of everything I saw as well as anyone, but the concerns of millions -- and 
>eventually billions -- of unemployed and desperate people will surpass those of 
>pilgrims -- now the privileged among us.
> 
> Bless all this special season.
> 
> Ana
> 
> --- On Sun, 12/26/10, Glenn Jilek <guha2005 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> > From: Glenn Jilek <guha2005 at hotmail.com>
> > Subject: Re: [Gocamino] Noticias desde Santiago
> > To: "GASpangler at hotmail.com" <gaspangler at hotmail.com>, 
>"saintjames at yahoogroups.com" <saintjames at yahoogroups.com>, gocamino at oakapple.net
> > Date: Sunday, December 26, 2010, 8:15 AM
> > 
> > While walking the Camino Aragone in 2009 I saw a lot of
> > graffiti condemning the expansion of the Yesa Reservoir, and
> > later signed a petition about it that was circulating
> > through some refugios.  Wasn't the construction of that
> > industrial park around O Pino halted a couple of years ago
> > because of the uproar of Pro Camino people?
> >  
> > With the bad economic times facing Spain, it will be a
> > battle of money and employment vs historical
> > treasures.  I hope and pray that this organization of
> > Camino advocates can succeed because the short term concerns
> > about the economy usually wins those battles. 
> >  
> > I will be on the Camino again for almost 7 weeks starting
> > in late April, and I will appreciate every step through this
> > beautiful land more than ever now that I know how threatened
> > it is.
> >  
> > Glenn
> > 
> > 
> >    
> >        
> >          
> >  
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> > 
> 
> 
>      
> 
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