Text :
01.12.00: Ukrainian Rivers
Network created !
The Ukrainian Rivers Network was created during the
seminar "Public Participation in Conservation of Small Rivers
in Ukraine" which was held in Kyiv on 17th and 19th of November
2000.
Organised by the Black Sea Program of Wetlands International and National
Ecological Center of Ukraine, it gathered 74 representatives of environmental
NGOs, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine,
the State Committee of Ukraine on Water Industry, the State Environmental
Inspection of Ukraine and research institutions of Ukraine participated
in the seminar.
Forty one NGOs agreed on a common declaration, recognizing that the
decreasing quality and volumes of water resources in Ukraine is becoming
a real threat and that improvement of ecological state of rivers as
well as positive changes in the environmental policy of Ukraine should
be aimed at through cooperation between NGOS, citizens, local communities,
state central and
local authorities, international organisations, etc.
We wish this new organisation a long and efficient life !
To contact them: river@wetl.kiev.ua
You can read below the official press release as well as the text
of the declaration:
*
PRESS-RELEASE
Establishment of Ukrainian River Network
The All-Ukrainian Seminar "Public Participation
in Conservation of Small Rivers in Ukraine" organised by the
Black Sea Program of Wetlands International and National Ecological
Center of Ukraine, was held in Kyiv on 17th and 19th of November 2000.
74 representatives of environmental NGOs, the Ministry
of the Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine, the State Committee
of Ukraine on Water Industry, the State Environmental Inspection of
Ukraine and research institutions of Ukraine participated in the seminar.
The participants discussed such issues:
· modern state of small rivers in Ukraine and the main factors
of their degradation;
· national and international environmental legislation on small
river conservation;
· scientific support of public initiatives on small river conservation;
· experience of Ukrainian and international public organisations
in the field of small river conservation;
· perspectives of improvement of clearing house mechanism on
small river conservation and expansion of co-operation with mass media;
· principles of creation of National network of environmental
NGOs, dealing with small river conservation;
· proposals of participants for the Draft NGO Position Paper
on River Conservation and Restoration to be presented at the 5th Ministerial
Conference "Environment for Europe" in Kyiv, 2003; and
· NGO co-operation with state central and local authorities
on small river issues as well as strengthening of public influence
on environmental policy.
The participants discussed and approved such documents:
· Declaration on Ukrainian River Network Establishment;
· Regulations on Ukrainian River Network; and
· Strategic Environmental Action Plan of Ukrainian NGOs on
the issue of conservation and improvement of the state of rivers.
The participants of the seminar prepared their proposals
on informational activities, fundraising, organisation of general
meetings of the Network, project proposals elaboration and holding
training course on river conservation.
The participants of the Seminar decided to hold the
1st Meeting of Ukrainian River Network in the summer, 2001. The School
Geographical Society "Planet" (village Golovyne, Chernyakhiv
Rayon, Zhytomyr Oblast) was nominated as an organiser of the meeting.
Also, the Draft NGO Position Paper on River Conservation
and Restoration for the 5th Ministerial Conference "Environment
for Europe" (Kyiv - 2003) was discussed.
Contact:
Gennadiy Marushevsky
National Ecological Centre of Ukraine
Phone: +38 044 238 62 60
Fax: +38 044 238 62 59. Tel./fax: + 38 044 246 58 62
E-mail: river@wetl.kiev.ua
*
DECLARATION
of All-Ukrainian Seminar
"Public Participation in Conservation of Small Rivers in Ukraine"
Taking into consideration that a great number of water
streams in Ukraine have different levels of degradation as a result
of their industrial and household pollution, ploughing of erosion-threatening
lands (slopes), hydroengineering melioration of flood-lands, forest
cutting in river valleys etc,
Taking into account that decreasing of quality and
volumes of water resources in Ukraine becomes a real threat for health
and life of current and future generations,
Recognising the need of improvement of ecological
state of rivers in Ukraine,
Understanding that only co-operation of NGOs, local
communities, state central and local authorities, international environmental
organisations, scientific and educational institutions, and citizens
can lead to the development of sustainable land use in river basins
and correspondingly to the improvement of ecological state of rivers,
Recognising the need of raising public awareness of
Ukrainian people concerning river conservation,
We, the representatives of 41 NGOs, have agreed to
create the Ukrainian River Network as a volunteer association of citizens,
NGOs and local communities, aimed at the improvement of ecological
state of rivers as well as positive changes in the environmental policy
of Ukraine in the field of river conservation.
We will co-operate with all interested parties in
our future actions towards rehabilitation of the environment in Ukraine.
Kyiv, 19 November 2000
1. Black Sea Program of Wetlands International, Kyiv
2. National Ecological Center of Ukraine, Kyiv
3. Institute of Ecology (INECO) of the National Ecological Center
of Ukraine, Kyiv
4. "Shulyavka" Public Organization, Kyiv
5. Civil Committee for Conservation of Wild Nature of Bereznyaky,
Kyiv
6. "Alpiysky Rukh of Ukrainian Children" (Children Alps
Movement) Children Public Association, Kyiv
7. "Zeleny Svit" (Green World) Environmental Association,
Informational Center, Kyiv
8. "Eco-Hrunt" (Eco-Soil) Non-formal Ecological Club, Kyiv
9. "Kyiv Rus" Ukrainian Club of Travelers, Kyiv
10. "Spilka Druziv Pryrody" (Association of Friends of Nature)
Youth Environmental Organization, Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast
11. "Zeleny Svit" (Green World) Oblast Organization, Vinnytsya
12. "Malva" (Mallow) Children Non-Profit Environmental Public
Organization, Sosonka, Vinnystya Region, Vinnyatsya Oblast
13. School Association of Natural Sciences, Yampil', Vinnytsya Oblast
14. "Orlan" (Sea Eagle) Environmental Tourist Association,
Dniprodzerzhyns'k, Dnipropetrovs'k Oblast
15. "Bakhmat" Environmental and Cultural Center, Artemivs'k,
Donets'k Oblast
16. Kramators'k Municipal Organization of All-Ukrainian Children Union
"Ecologichna Varta" (Environmental Guard), Kramators'k,
Donets'k Oblast
17. "Planet" School Geographical Society, Golovyne, Chernyahiv
Region, Zhytomyr Oblast
18. "Ecocontrol" Youth Environmental League, Zhytomyr
19. "Rutheniya" Carpatian Ecological Club, Uzhgorod, Zakarpats'ka
Oblast
20. "Eco-Sphere" Regional Youth Environmental Association,
Uzhgorod, Zakarpats'ka Oblast
21. "Edelweiss" Public Environmental Organization, Kosiv,
Ivano-Frankivs'k Oblast
22. "Zeleny Svit" (Green World) Kolomyys'ka Territorial
Organization, Kolomyya, Ivano-Frankivs'k Oblast
23. "Flora" Children Environmental Public Organization,
Kirovograd
24. "Zeleny Svit" (Green World) Lugans'k Oblast Environmental
Organization, Lugans'k
25. "Kudesnik" (Magician) Club of Young Environmentalists,
Severodonets'k, Lugans'k Oblast
26. Western Ukrainian Charitable Fund of Environmental and Tourist-Educational
Information, L'viv
27. "EKO-Dovkillya" (Environment) Public Environmental Organization,
Zhydachiv, L'viv Oblast
28. Southern Branch of the Institute of Ecology (INECO), Mykolaiv
29. "Svit" (World) Pervomays'ka Children Public Organization,
Pervomays'k, Mykolaiv Oblast
30. "Kray" (Country) Environmental Club, Berezhany, Ternopil
Oblast
31. "Zeleny Svit" (Green World) Environmental Humanitarian
Association, Chortkiv, Ternopil Oblast
32. "Zeleny Vsesvit" (Green Universe) Public Environmental
Association, Kharkiv
33. "Ecocenter" Environmental Public Organization of Pupils,
Kharkiv
34. "Zeleny Gomin" (Green Hubbub) Goloprystans'ke Public
Environmental Children Association, Gola Prystan', Kherson Oblast
35. "Lytsars'kiy Club" (Knight Club) Public Association,
Stepanivka, Kherson
36. "Zeleny Svit" (Green World) Cherkas'ka Oblast Organization,
Cherkassy
37. "Vodogray" (Fountain) Bukovyns'ky Environmental and
Spiritual Center, Banyliv-Pidgirnyy, Storozhinets'ky Rayon, Chernivtsi
Oblast
38. NGO "Grono" (Cluster), Banyliv-Pidgirnyy, Storozhynets'ky
Rayon, Chernivtsi Oblast
39. Chernihiv Organization of All-Ukrainian Children Union "Ecologichna
Varta" (Environmental Guard), Chernihiv
40. "Dobry Svit" (Kind World) Environmental Nature-Conserving
Organization, Sevastopol
41. "Skyfiya" Environmental Regional Club, Sevastopol
23.11.00 : UK Rivers Network
created !
"They will combine long-term work on political,
educational, and community projects with short-term, rapid responses
to particular riverine threats".
To know more about this new organization, visit their
website : http://www.ukrivers.net
22.11.00 : URGENT CALL : demand world bank assume
responsibility for sardar sarovar project !
Endorsements Needed by Friday - December 1, 2000!
We urge you to endorse a letter demanding that the
World Bank assume responsibility for its role in the destructive Sardar
Sarovar Project in India. This project will displace at least 320,000
people and destroy the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands
more.
Find more information and the letter under www.irn.org
21.11.00 : Canadian aid agency
pays world's third largest engineering firm to justify dam construction
in Belize
The Canadian International Development Agency is payinga
Toronto-based engineering firm to justify construction of the Chalillo
hydro dam in Belize, according to documents obtained by Probe International
using Canada's Access to Information Act.
On June 12, 2000, CIDA agreed to pay Agra Inc. almost $250,000 to
produce a "project justification report" and additional
reports, aimed at identifying ways to mitigate threats to wildlife
and other environmental damages causedby the proposed dam in central
Belize.
Belize conservation groups are opposed to the $30-milliondam because
it would flood a remote river valley in thecentral Mayan mountains
which provides habitat for rare and endangered species, including
the Central American river otter, Morelet's crocodile, the Central
American spidermonkey, the tapir, jaguar, and Scarlet Macaw.
The Chalillo scheme has been on hold since late last yearafter Belize's
environmental department rejected theproponents' environmental impact
assessment and feasibility study as inadequate - reports that were
conducted by Agrasubsidiary, Agra CI Power, for Belize Electricity
Limited,which is majority-owned by Fortis Inc., a multi-billion-dollarcorporation
based in Newfoundland.
According to the CIDA-Agra contract, the final report isexpected to
summarize Agra's feasibility study for "comprehension" by
financiers such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development
Bank. It is also expected to come up with recommendations for mitigating
the dam'snegative impacts on wildlife.
But, a major new study by the World Commission on Dams- an independent
body financed by CIDA to review the global experience regarding large
dams - concludes that "it is not possible to mitigate many of
the impacts of reservoir creation on terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity."
Largedams, it says, have led to "significant and irreversible
loss of species and ecosystems."
"No matter how hard CIDA and Agra try to justify this damthere
is no disguising the fact that it's a rotten deal for the people and
economy of Belize," says Gráinne Ryder of Probe International.
"Belize has far better, cheaper generating options than a $30-million
dam that won't work half the year and will destroy wildlife habitat
forever."
The Macal River and its tributaries are the only knownnesting sites
for the largest kind of Scarlet Macaw, and alsoboasts part of Central
America's best remaining jaguar habitat. Many of the species threatened
by Chalillo are already extinct in other parts of Central America
where logging and other development has decimated tropical riverecosystems.
Critics also point out that Belize Electricity Limited couldbuy cheaper
gas-fired power from neighbouring countries,or encourage private investment
in high-efficiency cogeneration plants.
AGRA CI Power provides engineering and management services to dam
operators mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Agra Inc. merged with Britain's Amec earlier this year tobecome the
world's third largest engineering, construction,and environmental
services company.
Probe International is a Toronto-based citizens' group investigating
the economic and environmental impact ofCanadian aid and companies
overseas.
CONTACT:Grainne Ryder, Policy Director
Probe International, 225 Brunswick Ave, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2M6
Canadatel: 1 (416) 964-9223 (ext 228), fax: (416) 964-8239
http://www.probeinternational.org
grainneryder@nextcity.com
20.11.00 : Greenpeace doubles
hopes for German green power sales
FRANKFURT - Germany's Greenpeace energy in its first
year of existence won twice the number of customers for its electricity
than it originally expected, spokesman Dirk Reinsberg said.
Greenpeace is a co-operative selling power from renewable
resources founded by the environmental group of the same name. "We
were aiming for 5,000 customers and now have around 10,000 signed
up," Reinsberg told Reuters from the company's base in Hamburg.
"Our next targets are to cover 100 percent of the grid and to
reach industrial buyers in addition to private households." "In
our view, the big wave of customers switching supplier has not even
started in Germany. AVOIDS COAL, NUCLEAR Greenpeace's vision was to
bring "green and clean" power to a large number of customers
to show it was possible to avoid nuclear power and to become independent
of coal, Reinsberg said. Greenpeace energy had hydropower, solar,
wind, biomass and combined heat and power (chp) plants under contract.
Customers could check the energy mix used at any given moment by looking
at the website greenpeace-energy.de. The process was being monitored
by independent auditors. The co-operatives 5,700 owners, who had provided
the capital for the operations, had stipulated that a minimum 50 percent
had to come from renewable fuel sources and a maximum of 50 percent
from CHP plants. The company needed 25,000 customers over three years
to reach break even. "We believe we offer the customer a unique
chance to influence the company's decisions, at a time when ever larger
power conglomerates emerge - contrary to the goals of liberalisation,"
Reinsberg said. A kilowatt hour of Greenpeace electricity cost 34.95
pfennigs when other suppliers were below 30 pfennigs, but "then
again, such prices were paid without protest prior to liberalisation,"
Reinsberg said.
Story by Vera Eckert
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
12.11.00 : Turkey : Publication
of a report on the GAP projects
A report from Swiss students of the Swiss Federal
Institute of Technology Zurich has just been released. It provides
a good summary of the problems of the GAP projects, one of the biggest
dam project in the world.
The complete text (430
Ko PDF file) is downloadable on our site.
11.11.00 : UK : NGO responses
to proposed ECGD "Business Principles"
In July 2000, the Export Credits Guarantee Department
(ECGD) published new "Business Principles" intended "to
govern its business practice in relation to matters such as openness,
debt sustainability, human rights, sustainable development, corporate
governance and business integrity."
The submissions from The Corner House and from Friends
of the Earth to the ECGD's consultation on the Principles are available
under www.cornerhouse.icaap.org.
(In case of problems contacte Nicholas Hildyard: nick@fifehead.demon.co.uk)
Both conclude that the new guidelines fail in almost
every respect to provide the rigorous framework for screening, implementing
and monitoring projects that the public has a right to expect.
Original Message received from THE CORNER HOUSE
Tel: 01258 473 795 Email: cornerhouse@gn.apc.org
Website: www.cornerhouse.icaap.org
11.11.00 : BBC broadcasting a debate on dams!
Contribute to World Service India Dams Debate !
The S. Asia section of the BBC World Services's website is running
a debate on SSP and dams in India. Most of the comments posted so
far are pro-dam. Its at:
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/debates/south_asian/newsid_1014000/1014940.stm
The World Today (BBC current affairs program) is broadcasting
a debate on dams on Thursday 16th November at 0045 and 0245 GMT (this
is day of the launch of the WCD report). A selection of the emails
will be read out during the debate and daily on the programme leading
up to the debate at 0040GMT and 0240 GMT.
The original message was transmitted by IRN
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 