|
The Newsletter of
the
Socio-Ecological Union
A Center for Coordination
and Information
|
Moscow, Russia -- Issue N 12 (46),
May 7, 2003
SEU Times is a newsletter devoted to environmental news, events, NGO work
within former Soviet Union territory. Currently it is mailed out on special
occasions.
MORE NEWS IN ENGLISH FROM SEU-TERRITORY are available on Ecoport - green
news project English version at http://www.seu.ru/news_en/npa.php
IN THIS ISSUE:
KIEV 2003 - A LAST CHANCE TO SAVE DESPOILATION OF THE DANUBE DELTA?
HASTE IN CHEMICAL DISARMAMENT IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE
MARCH FOR PARKS - 2003
KIEV 2003 - A LAST CHANCE TO SAVE DESPOILATION OF THE DANUBE DELTA?
The Ukrainian Parliament's National Safety Committee meeting which is to
decide whether or not to route a deep water canal through the Danube Delta
biosphere reserve has been postponed to the end of May. This may be because
the 5th Pan-European Environment Ministers Meeting of the "Environment for
Europe" process is to be held in the capital of the Ukraine, Kiev, from 21.
- 23. May 2003.
This gives us all an opportunity to lobby European Union Environment
Ministers, the responsible Commissioner and national MEPs.
You can add your support by sending the draft
a draft text below, to the addresses of ministers which you will
find at the end of message. MEPs addresses are on site
http://www.proactnow.org/ppsi/id34.html
More publicity for the campaign with the background arguments will be
published shortly at http://www.surfbirds.com/cgi-bin/editornews/print.pl
Thank you,
Russian and Ukrainian campaigners and
David Conlin, Proact International
ALso more info is at www.seu.ru/projects/eng/dunay
___________________________
DRAFT LETTER TEXT
Dear Minister,
The news reaching us from scientists and conservationists in the Ukraine is
dismaying.
For a year and a half now the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences,
together with environmental NGOs, have been resisting the attempts of the
Ukrainian Ministry of Transport to construct a deep-water ship canal through
the Bystroe Estuary within the strictly protected zone of the Danube
Biosphere reserve. In December 2002, more than 300 organizations from 64
countries also sent letters of support to the Ukrainian President. Sadly it
appears as though this widespread and informed opposition is having little
effect on the transport planners and lobbyists even though an alternative,
environmentally more acceptable deep-water route is available.
The facts are that:
The canal construction will irreversibly change the hydrological regime of
the delta and threaten the habitat and survival of protected and endangered
species in the reserve
The deepening of one of the central branches of the Danube for shipping
lanes will irreversibly eliminate a total of 5.600 hectares of channel, lake
and coastal shallow waters. This will destroy the nesting and staging sites
of tens of thousands of birds including 5 species on the European Red List
and 31 in the Ukraine Red Book. The habitats of many rare and disappearing
species of mammals and insects are also threatened.
The proposed construction project breaches both national legislation and
Ukrainian international obligations in the field of conservation.
The latest information received from the Ukraine is that the Ukrainian
authorities plan to officially accept only a 3.000 hectare area as part of
the MAB Biosphere reserve; ignoring the facts that 3.570 hectare are
already recorded in UNESCO records with a further 38,779 hectare under
protection as an important buffer zone.
We urge you, as responsible commissioners and environmental ministers of the
European Union, to use the occasion of the fifth Pan-European Environment
Ministers' Meeting in Kiev at the end of May to raise this matter with your
Ukrainian hosts and persuade them to review their stance in this matter.
In the context of an ever-expanding politically unified Europe it is more
than ever important to use such windows of opportunity to rescues what
remains of our common but shrinking natural heritage.
We remain,
Yours sincerely,
Addresses
ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS OF EU STATES
Austria
Mag. Wilhelm Molterer
Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management
Stubenring 1
A-1012 Wien
Austria
Email: wilhelm.molterer@bmlfuw.gv.at
Belgium
M. Jef Tavernier
Minister for Consumer Protection, Public Health and the Environment
Kunstlaan 6-9
Avenue des Arts
B-1210 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: +32 2220 2067
E-mail:jef.tavernier@minsoc.fed.be
Denmark
Mr Hans Christian Schmidt
Minister for the Environment
Hojbro Plads 4
DK-1200 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Email: mim@mim.dk
Finland
Mr Satu Hassi
Minister for the Environment
P.O. Box 35
FIN-00023 Government
Finland
Fax: +358 9 1603 9545
Email: kirjaamo.ym@ymparisto.fi
France
Mme Roselyne BACHELOT-NARQUIN
Minister for Ecology and Sustainable Development
20 avenue de Segur
75302 Paris 07 SP
France
Email:ministere@environnement.gouv.fr
Germany
Mr Jurgen Trittin
Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Reactor Safety
Heinrich-v.-Stephan-Str. 1
53175 Bonn
Germany
Telefax: +49 1888 3053225
Email: service@bmu.de
Greece
Mr Vasso Papandreou
Minister for the Environment, Regional Planning and Public Works
17, Amaliados str.
115 23 Athens
Greece
e-mail: minister@minenv.gr
Ireland
Mr Martin Cullen
Minister for the Environment and Local Government
The Custom House
Dublin 1
Ireland
Fax: +353 1 888 2888
Email: press-office@environ.irlgov.ie
Italy
Mr Altero Matteoli
Minister for the Environment and Protection of Natural Resources
Email:segreteria.ministro@minambiente.it
Luxembourg
M. Charles Goerens
Minister for the Environment
18 Montee de la Petrusse
L - 2327
Luxembourg
Fax: +352 40 04 10
Email: info@sip.etat.lu
Portugal
Mr Isaltino MORAIS
Minister for Towns, Regional Planning and the Environment
Rua de O Seculo 51
1200-433 Lisboa
Portugal
Fax: +351 213 231 539
E-mail: gmcota@mcota.gov.pt
Spain
Sr. D. Jaume Matas Palou
Minister for the Environment
Pza. San Juan de la Cruz s/n,
28017 Madrid
Spain
Email: area.informacion@vgt.mma.es
Sweden
Lena Sommestad
Minister for the Environment
SE-103 33 Stockholm
Sweden
Fax: + 46 8 21 96 28
Email: registrator@environment.ministry.se
The Netherlands
Cees Veerman
Minister for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries
Email: Use the contact form at
http://www.minlnv.nl/international/feedback/
United Kingdom
Rt. Hon Margaret Beckett MP
Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Ergon House
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
United Kingdom
Fax: 020 7238 6591
Email: helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk
RESPONSIBLE EU COMMISSIONER
Margot Wallstrom
Commissioner for the Environment
B-1049 Brussels
Belgium
Fax: + 322 2981899
Email: Margot.Wallstrom@cec.eu.int
HASTE IN CHEMICAL DISARMAMENT IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE
ISEU and Union "For Chemical Safety" have sent the second appeal to the
President of Russia about fulfillment of international obligations on
elimination of chemical weapons in the end of April. First appeal to the
President was sent in November 2002.
On April 26 the authorities have declared their intention to destroy 1% of
inventory of mustard gas, which is now stored on the plant in Gorny
settlement (Saratov region). The chemical object was set in operation
without fulfillment of essential requirements provided by law. Even state
environmental assessment of the technology of toxic substance elimination
was not carried out.
In their letter the representatives of NGOs have emphasized that the process
for destruction of chemical weapon was started with many infringements of
legislation and procedures. The plant for processing of chemical weapons
originally was built for another technology of elimination of poisonous
substance than that have passed environmental assessment in 1999. The
minister of nature resources have approved the documents for building of the
object post factum, when the plant was built already, in November of 2002.
The object was set in operation without environmental assessment of the
technology of poisonous substance elimination. The capacity of the plant was
exceeded in 10 times. At the same time, there is no warehouse for a storage
of toxic reactionary substances, which are formed during processing of
mustard gas, Its construction is only planned, and design documents on its
environmental assessment were not submitted for consideration of the
Ministry of Nature Resources. Meanwhile these toxic substances were poured
in barrels and placed on territory of military chemical warehouse.
The environmentalists have called upon the President to remember the
consequences of soviet attempts on processing of chemical weapons. With
regard to the importance of chemical disarmament for Russia the
representatives of NGO take note to that it should not turn into disarmament
drive dangerous for people and nature. "Mr. President, don't put lives of
people on risk: elimination of chemical weapon should not be carried out at
any costs, in haste, in secrecy, and with violation of legislation,
infringements of regulations and procedures," - reads the letter.
HASTE IN CHEMICAL DISARMAMENT IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE AND NATURE
MARCH FOR PARKS - 2003
NIZHNY NOVGOROD: STUDENTS PLANT NEW FOREST
Action of trees planting was held in Nizhny Novgorod April 26within the
international campaign "March for Parks". Students' Nature Guard from Nizhny
Novgorod State University and Service for Nature Protection have organized
the action.
The Oksky slope near Malitovsky bridge is the place practically bare of
trees. In 19 century there was broad-leaved forest, which was later
clear-cut for building. Every spring this place is burned out, is exposed to
wind and water erosion. As a result, soil layers slip downwards and are
washed off by spring water to the river, exposing natural rock, on which
trees could not grow.
About 50 volunteers from Nizhny Novgorod State University and other colleges
of the city took part in the action. They have planted saplings of pine,
linden, maple, buckthorn, rowan, dog-rose. The plants were given by Nizhny
Novgorod forestry. Planting of trees and bushed is essential for
strengthening of the slope edge.
The students plan to look after condition of young trees and bushes, water
them in case of dry summer, and in autumn they going to plant new trees if
necessary.
For further information:
Students' Nature Guard of Nizhny Novgorod State University
e-mail: ponim@dront.ru
MARCH FOR PARKS IN AMUR REGION
The action dedicated to the March for Parks was held in the end of April in
Blagoveshchensk (Amur region, Russian Far East). It was carried out within
the Year of Reserves in the region.
More than 300 students from 30 schools of Blagoveshchensk and various
districts of Amur region and members of 3 Students' Nature Guards of Far
East - "Berkout" ("Golden Eagle") from Biribidzhan, Nizhneamur environmental
inspection from Komsomolsk-on-Amur, and "Ussuriysky Bear" from Ussuriysk
took part in the action. It was organized and supported by the members of
Amur branch of ISEU and "Bars" Nature Guard.
The participants of the action have passed with environment conservation
transparencies and slogans by the central street of Blagoveschensk. In front
of the building of regional government students have told to the
participants about their nature conservation work. In April school students
in all the region planted trees, cleaned rivers and lakes, put performances
about nature on the stage, published newspapers about the problems of the
reserves of Amur region. Schoolchildren have drawn posters about most urgent
problems of Amur region.
For further information:
Amur branch of ISEU, Blagoveschensk
Yuriy Gafarov
phone: (4162) 53-44-79;
e-mail: ygafarov@mail.ru
MARCH FOR PARKS IN CRIMEA
The exhibition of artworks of artists and children of Crimea dedicated to
the festival of reserves and national parks "March for Parks - 2003" is held
in museum of local lore of Crimea is held since the April 25 till May 17. In
addition the lectures for the students of schools were given in dendro and
zoo park and in the museum of Crimea nature reserve, were also the children
drawings were exhibited.
Within the March for Parks in Ukraine the participants conduct exhibitions,
plant trees, clean small rivers and springs, help to reserves, game reserves
and zoos. And all these actions are aimed to draw attention of many people -
and first of all of young people and of authority - to the problems of
protection of nature, including reserves and national parks.
The employees of Crimea Association "Ecology and World" took part in
cleaning of Alma river from garbage and branches - the action, which was
also carried out within the march for parks. The river Alma is one of the
purest rivers of Crimea. Branches which were gathered on flood-lands of the
river, will be taken out outside the reserve. This action is necessary also
to save the forest from fires, because there is a road along the river, and
dry branches can instantly catch fire from stub casually thrown out.
This year the March For Parks has coincided with another environmental
festival in Ukraine - the Day for Environment Conservation, April 19. This
day the employees of "Ecology and World " have carried out the action on
clearing of the part of bank of Maly Salgir river from garbage. On the
action the inhabitants of houses near Gagarinsky park where the river flows.
The inhabitants have helped the ecologists to clear the river.
Ukraine takes part in the March for Parks since 1996. Since 1998 this action
is carried out in Crimea every year, and the number of participants of the
action grows.
For further information:
"Ecology and World", Simferopol, Crimea
http://www.ekomir.crimea.ua
Back to SEU Times home page
This issue was written and complied by
Sviatoslav Zabelin - the SEU Council Co-Chair, svet@seu.ru
Olga Berlova, Victoria Kolesnikova seupress@seu.ru, translated by Alla
Kapoustina
Previous Issues of The SEU Times may be found at www.seu.ru/seu-news/eng
"The Online Gadfly" at www.igc.org/gadfly
|
