This is not exactly the most important or awe inspiring news going on right now, but it is somewhat interesting. In lieu of its growing population, Russia is selling off its land to the highest bidding developer. Okay, sure, that's fine, nothing wrong going on here in terms of the law. However, at a morality standpoint, Russia might be destroying a piece of great historical importance pertaining to its past, and its future.
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Roll back to World War II. German forces are "blocking food and supplies to the Russian city of St. Petersburg", aka today's Leningrad. People are starving. At the same time, a cache of rare plant seeds and potatoes are being kept and maintained by Russian scientists. They guarded this rare collection in fear that "years of research into food would be ruined". This collection of assorted fruits was being studied because it had properties that allowed it to survive in warmer or harsher climates.Well, these scientists, and the rest of Russia for that matter, were starving. So, they had two choices: eat the very thing that they put years of research in, or starve to death in hopes that future generations could continue their research. The scientists decided to starve to death to protect what they worked so hard for.
Their research has survived to this day and is still being studied at Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry in Russia. Unfortunately, parts of this land, land that contains plants that are grown absolutely nowhere else, are up for sale by the government and will be demolished so that homes can be placed there.
Now, I like to think with a level head. Legally, there is nothing going wrong in the eyes of the (Russian) law. This land 'belongs' to the State and may do what it pleases with it. Land is something that is not exactly easy to come by and people DO need a place to live after all. And parts of the land appear to be rundown and might be considered an eyesore to many. The Institute could probably still continue its research without this land. The morality of the situation needs to be considered, though. Twelve scientists did give their lives in hopes of their research surviving, so that what they were doing decades ago would make an impact on the future. Also, these particular plants contain strands that allow them to survive in rather harsh climates. With global warming, an apparently large and alive issue in the foreseeable future, this research is exactly what the world needs. The thought of moving the entire collection was considered, but it would be impossible to do.
Both sides of the issue need to be observed, really. It's merely a matter of perspective and how far down the line you want to look at. Homes for the now, or fruits for the future? I'm sure that many (including myself) see the obvious and best action to be taken, but which is it?
What do you think?
SOURCES:
Greene, D. (2010). Researchers Fight to Save Fruits of Their Labor. NPR.
Moskvitch, K. (2010). Houses May Replace Europe's Largest Collection of Crops. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science- environment-10899318.
