While I ve been working on this issue of the magazine, the horrors of war and genocide have been ravaging the Balkans. In such a climate, producing an NI on Green cities has at times seemed irrelevant. It s certainly not top of the list of priorities for the people of Pristina or Belgrade, or even a very high one for those of us living in countries which have become embroiled in the war. For most of us, watching the daily events unfold, the effects of armed conflict are horribly obvious. But there are many hidden, psychological effects too.
Instant reactions are what counts.
Thinking about the long term gets put on the back burner. Or is forgotten altogether. The colourful complexity of life, and its more subtle shades, gets blasted out. In time, when the carnage is over and the people of the Balkans start to rebuild their devastated cities, towns and villages, colour, including greenery, will creep back into the picture. Sustainability, in every sense, will be a priority.