BMF_TT__July2010_en.pdf - Bruno Manser Fonds

«Politics need people
like Bruno Manser»
Address by Guy Morin, President of the Government of the
Canton of Basel Stadt
For centures, people of the primeval forest such as the Penan
pursued their traditional way of life in the intact rain forest of
Sarawak. Bruno Manser lived together with the Penan for many
years – in search of the untouched – as explorer, poet, and
simply as one of them. It was there that he came into immediate
contact with the destructive potential of modern civilisation. The
enormous devestation caused by mankind in a short period of
time is almost unfathomable. Today more than 90 percent of
Sarawak’s forest has been destroyed, and clean drinking water
has become a rarity. The Penan and many other indigenous
peoples have been divested of their environement and their
livelihood. The destruction of the tropical forest has accelerated
global warming. Bruno became contender for the rights of the
Penan, for a sustainable development that would protect the
basis of their existence and the basis of existence for us all.
Ten years ago Bruno Manser disappeared without leaving a trace.
It was a loss for all of us, a loss for you our dear Penan friends.
And yet, we do not want to give in to sadness but rather to continue
the fight in memory of Bruno Manser and his achievements.
«You already know enough. I do as well. What is lacking is the
courage to want to understand what we know and then to act
accordingly.»
This quotation by Sven Lindquist can be found on the first page
of Ruedi Suter’s book «Bruno Manser, die Stimme des Waldes»
[Bruno Manser, the Voice of the Forest]. All of you are familiar
with it.
This statement is so direct, so blunt and clear that it brings each
of us back to the level of reality. At the first moment, however, its
effect is paralysing. Look at me, I am a politican and, indeed, I
know a lot. Just like all of you. But, where do we start? Where
and when do we begin to understand? Is it only then, when
necessity and environmental destruction become tangible?
At that moment it will be too late. Where do we get the courage
to implement the measures that are necessary?
There is so much to be done.
I am often expected to provide answers, solutions – and immediately,
if at all possible. However, that is difficult. They don’t
always materialise as quickly as we would like. Political processes
are frequently tenacious and slow because the government
must strive for a consensus, because we must convince a
majority.
Bruno Manser did not decide for the political approach, probably
for exactly that reason, because it seemed too slow and ponderous.
He went, and he acted. He made a decision for this way of