Work in progress - Dans la vallée de Varvara
Etrange paradoxe : l'Europe n'a jamais autant consommé de charbon, et est aujourd'hui contrainte d'en importer de Russie ou de Colombie. Pourtant, elle prévoit de fermer définitivement ses mines. Les causes ? Le défi écologique, la baisse nécessaire des gaz à effets de serre, et le manque de rentabilité des mines que l'Europe subventionne partiellement. La Roumanie, le pays le plus pauvre d'Europe, n'échappe pas à la règle. Au centre du pays, le bassin minier de la vallée de Jiu**, vallée verdoyante recouvrant une terre creuse est la zone la plus défavorisée de Roumanie. La fermeture des mines sonne l'hallali pour les habitants. Il y a encore 20 ou 30 ans, la mine était tout pour ces Roumains. Les fermetures entamées depuis la fin des années 90 ne cessent d'accentuer la pauvreté. De cette caste de travailleurs adulée sous Ceausescu, il ne reste dans la vallée des larmes qu'un paysage de désolation : bâtiments crasseux et délabrés, cités exsangues où sévit le chômage qui atteint jusqu'à 70% dans certaines zones. Certains migrent vers d'autres régions du pays quand d'autres font le choix de s'installer à l'étranger.
Texte de Delphine Bauer
* la Sainte Varvara est la patronne des mineurs / Saint Varvara protects the minors.
** traduit la vallée des larmes / the valley of tears.
Work in progress - In Varvara's Valley
Europe has never consumed so much coal, and is today forced to import from Russia or Colombia. Nevertheless, Europe plans to close definitively every coal mines. The reasons? The ecological challenge, the necessary reduction in greenhouse gases, and the lack of profitability of the mines which Europe subsidizes partially. Romania, the poorest country of Europe, does not escape the rule. In the center of the country, the mineral field of the valley of Jiu** is the most poorest aera. The closure of the coal mines would be the end for the inhabitants. 20 or 30 years ago, the coal mines meant everything for these Romanians. With their closure came poverty. Of this worker?s caste adulated under Ceausescu, there is in the valley of the tears only a landscape of sadness: ruined and quoted buildings where rages the unemployment which achieves until 70 % in certain zones. Some migrate to other regions of the country when others choose to settle down abroad.
Writing Delphine Bauer
Work in progress - In Varvara's Valley
Europe has never consumed so much coal, and is today forced to import from Russia or Colombia. Nevertheless, Europe plans to close definitively every coal mines. The reasons? The ecological challenge, the necessary reduction in greenhouse gases, and the lack of profitability of the mines which Europe subsidizes partially. Romania, the poorest country of Europe, does not escape the rule. In the center of the country, the mineral field of the valley of Jiu** is the most poorest aera. The closure of the coal mines would be the end for the inhabitants. 20 or 30 years ago, the coal mines meant everything for these Romanians. With their closure came poverty. Of this worker?s caste adulated under Ceausescu, there is in the valley of the tears only a landscape of sadness: ruined and quoted buildings where rages the unemployment which achieves until 70 % in certain zones. Some migrate to other regions of the country when others choose to settle down abroad.
