Yaron J. Balslev

I just received some photos of my talk at the University of Nicosia a week or so ago. Thanks to the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Cyprus for organizing the occasion! We had a good discussion, and I hope to stay in touch with some of the people I met there.

Speaking of history: Ottoman, British, Greek, Turkish, Muslim, Christian Orthodox, conflict - you name it. In one word: Cyprus

Today I had my first talk on Cyprus' waste history. The best thing was that it was in Cyprus! It was a good panel, followed by a long discussion. It feels good to see how long days of collecting and reading archival documents turn into a historical story that is new to a Cypriot audience.

It appears that hundred years ago, the urban waste was sorted for producing compost. For some years they even kept a herd of pigs on the dumpsite, for “improving the compost”. That’s hilarious!
/YJB

For those of us #envhum who do archival work but are lazy in filing – file it fast! If you'll keep saying, ”I’ll soon do it”, time will quickly pass, and you’ll stay with a pile of hundreds of photos without a clue how to refer them in your writing. So now I file... ☹ /YJB

Two more days of a Greenhouse spotlight on my @yaronbalslev.bsky.social waste history research for the #envhum community. Today I had great success in the Cyprus State Archives. Out of this pile of files I found some important documents on Nicosia’s waste treatment in colonial times.

After a long walk, I could relax in a tavern with good Musaka, local beer and a book on Colonial Cyprus. It is so different to read it in the main street of Nicosia, a few steps from the checkpoint between the two parts of the city. /YJB @yaronbalslev.bsky.social

At the #greenhouse, we have takeover weeks of the Greenhouse Bluesky. This week I do it. I will repost it here for those who are not following the GH.

It's all part of a research trip to Cyprus. Working on waste history in Colonial Cyprus

The sidewalk ends here. Please step down to the road. Nicosia.

Hello Cyprus! Just on time for a beautiful sunset

If you're into VR, there's a new place in Finnøy. The opening party is on Saturday!

For #envhum #envhist early career scholars: I would be open to hosting a MSCA Postdoctoral fellowship application with @greenhouseuis.net @unistavanger.bsky.social this year. We have a very good track record with these grants. Our uni arranges applicant courses.

It was massive! In the early 20th Century, they killed over 2,000,000 rats, spending thousands of pounds on it.

I just wonder what the British did with all the tails they collected… perhaps soup??

But not this time. It appears that in Colonial Cyprus, rats were an agricultural threat to trees, particulary the carob tree. So, the British officers decided to eliminate the rats. The campaign was simple: The farmers were offered money for catching rats and bringing their tails as proof.

But not this time. It appears that in Colonial Cyprus, rats were an agricultural threat to trees, particulary the carob tree. So, the British officers decided to eliminate the rats. The campaign was simple: The farmers were offered money for catching rats and bringing their tails as proof.

We Pay by the Tail!
Things you can find in archives:

I recently returned from research travel in Kew, London, seeking historical documents on waste in Cyprus. I was curious about a file titled “Destruction of Rats”. After all, rats are often associated with garbage…

If you're interested in how modern waste treatment started in Israel/Palestine and in Cyprus, follow my project!