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This morning, I saw news of the construction of Europe’s largest solar farm — a sprawling 1,260-hectare installation in Santiago de Cacém, Portugal — with the consequent destruction of 1.5 million trees.
The first thing that came to mind was the phrase made famous by Brazilian journalist Nelson Rodrigues in the 60s: “All unanimity is stupid.”
We’re expected to applaud this project, as it appears to align with the present-day notion of ‘unanimity.’ However, when we take a step back to consider the potential environmental and social implications of this move, we must ask ourselves: is this the right direction to go?
Trees play a significant role in climate control. The destruction of these forests will undoubtedly have an impact beyond the immediate borders of the solar farm, affecting the many species of flora and fauna, as well as rivers, rain and the local population. Are the benefits of generated “clean” electricity worth the destruction?
I am not trying to influence your opinion about this or any other topic. Anybody is entitled to their own opinion. But, we must remember that with every choice come innumerable and often unforeseen consequences. This is why we must always maintain the freedom of speech to support or oppose any concept or action that affects us in any way.
