FeaturedThe HomelandCommentary
Midlife in Armenia (This might be a crisis)
I turned 37 this year and, according to Armenia’s life expectancy tables, that places me on the wrong side of midlife.
I knew moving here would change my life; I did not think it would redefine its timeline. Of course, I say this half jokingly. Statistics are messy, and no single chart can account for where I grew up, how I eat, how much alcohol I consume, whether I smoke, how much I walk the dog or the family health history that quietly shadows any actuarial guess. But jokes aside, there
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Excellent article! So unfortunate that the government is taking this very important health hazard lightly. Hopefully with all the rallies and articles written, they will take the right action and start cleaning up the air🦋🌲🌞
When I visited Yerevan (and Armenia) for the first time in 2004 – in November, one of the first things I noticed was the smog and the constant smell of wood and coal burning, which even drowned out the smell of exhaust fumes. People I spoke to about this, said it’s always like this in the late autumn, winter and until mid spring. They said that air pollution is less bad further away and in smaller cities, but a problem nevertheless. I could barely see Mount Ararat, which I imagined would be clearly visible, despite the often cloudless days during this visit. When I visited Yerevan for the second time in May 2005, the smog was less noticeable and the air pollution less smellable, except for the exhaust fumes from older vehicles and chain-smokers (cigarette smoke is air pollution too). Snow-capped Mount Ararat was also much more visible in all its glory. I chose to visit Armenia, in these months in order to avoid the winter cold and the summer heat for a comfortable sight-seeing. As a non-smoker and as an asthmatic, I am more sensitive to air pollution, including cigarette smoke, and they occasionally cause me coughing fits. Such an episode happened to me during my first ever visit to Yerevan. Another unfortunate thing apart from the air pollution caused by cars and heating, is the high number of chain-smokers in Armenia. I could never avoid them on the pavement and at bus stops as a pedestrian, nor at that time in restaurants, when smoking was still allowed. I hope that these protests and rallies don’t stop and that they force the government to prioritize and tackle this scourge, and to invest in clean air, clean energy and health. Clean air, clean energy, a clean environment and reducing smoking, are possible and doable, not only in rich countries, but also in Armenia. Clean air, clean energy, a clean environment and health are also human rights.
Yerevan is estimated to occupy 230 square km and is estimated to house 1.1 million of Armenia’s 3 million population. That means 1/3 of the country’s population lives in less than 1% of the country. Thw thought is suffocating. But, surprisingly the life expectancy in Armenia, estimated to be 77 years, is not that far from the life expectancy of U.S., estimated to be 78 years and few more months. Maybe it’s not the years, whether mid-life or full life, but the quality of life in those years. It may be time to move away from Yerevan. Recently a young repatriated friend of mine, moved from Yerevan to Massis, a border town, with a majestic view of Mount Ararat.
So Vahé, am I not a friend of yours? :)
I moved from Yerevan to the top of our mountain in Yeghegnadzor in 2003.
Sadly, air pollution problems are also found in Yeghegnadzor, although to a lesser degree, especially in late autumn and winter: Our poor people burn anything they can find to shove in their stoves (including car tires). Heating with natural gaz would be much cleaner, but even with the special deal Gazprom gives Armenia, gaz is not affordable to our poor rural folks.
Add to this, in late fall and early spring, our people keep their street clean by sweeping the leaves into piles and burning them (though it is now forbidden by the municipality). In the past the swept leaves also contained plastic bottles etc.. but now our folks know how harmful burning plastic is and they take them out before setting the fire.
Let me add that Armenia has made considerable advances in the problem areas raised by Roupen Janbazian. Smoking has been banned in many public areas, as has burning leaves. But we have to keep on campaigning for improvements.
Thank you for this article! It’s a real relief to see that there are other people who see that this is not normal.
Armenia is not a club that one can join or cancel membership at a whim. There is no other place to go to after Armenia. Expats should look at their move to Armenia as the final move, whatever happens it must happen there, no more leaving. That’s our last stand.