Text :
29.08.01: The
" Blue Marche For a New Water Culture in Europe" (Spain-Brussels)
in Lyon and Paris
On August 10th begun the "Blue Marche" from
the Ebro delta in Spain , coordinated by COAGRET and ERN - European
Rivers Network and supported by numerous NGOs , academics, unions
and political parties aims at blocking the funding of the highly controversial
Spanish National Hydroelectric Plan (NHP) which plans the building
of 120 new dams as well as huge transfers from the Ebro river to the
south-east of Spain (1 thousand million m3 per year) and from the
Rhône river to Barcelona ( 657 million m3 per year).
In spite of its total contradiction with the European
Water Framework Directive, the project is to be funded by the Union.
The objectives of the Blue Marche are therefore not only Spanish but
European, it demands the enforcement of the principles adopted by
the Union as well as a more democratic and more rational management
of water.
Thousands participants joined the marche in Spain
and local population welcomed them everywhere. In Zaragoza they were
more than 2000 to join them. In this town 450000 people demonstrated
against the NHP last September. This generated a movement that gather
300 000 demonstrators in Madrid and 250.000 in Barcelona.
The Blue Marche then went up along the Ebro river,
and crossed the Pyrenees on August 20th. Then the Marche (100 persons)
made two first stops in the south-west of France : Eslourenties and
Charlas, two places where a big fight against a dam is taking place.
After Toulouse, they are this week-end in Larzac and at "Serre
de la Fare" in the upper Loire valley, two of the most famous
places of environmental fights in France. The Marche will then go
to Lyon (28-31.8) and Paris (31.8. evening- 4. September) !
The Blue Marche will end on September 9th in Brussel,
where a big demonstration will take place. A detailed and daily updated
programme as well as pictures of the Marche are available on our
web page on the Marche
27.08.01 : 1000 saumons en
Dordogne
Les migrateurs n'ont jamais totalement déserté
les bassins de la Garonne et de la Dordogne mais, la multiplication
des barrages leur a souvent interdit l'accès aux meilleures
zones de ponte. Créée il y a une quinzaine d'années,
l'association MIGADO visait à réunir les bonnes volontés
et les investisseurs pour favoriser la remontée des grands
migrateurs (aloses, lamproies, truite de mer et le mythique saumon).
Aujourd'hui, l'association prend de l'extension puisqu'elle réunit
10 fédérations de pêche et 3 associations de pêcheurs
professionnels. Elle trouve l'appui technique du Conseil supérieur
de la Pêche et du groupe hydraulique spécialisé
dans les passes à poissons. Elle reçoit des aides de
l'Union Européenne, de l'État, des Régions (Aquitaine,
Limousin), de l'Agence de l'Eau Adour-Garonne, d'Electricité
de France, du C.S.P, etc.
La restauration des populations de saumons a débuté
avec l'installation de dispositifs de franchissement sur les barrages.
Les saumons nés, ou ayant passé leur jeunesse, dans
la rivière sont piégés à la sortie de
la passe lors de leur montée. Hors les études réalisées
autour de ces poissons (âge, nombre de remontées, croissance,
etc.), les oeufs sont récupérés sur les géniteurs.
Les produits sont ensuite exploités en pisciculture, avant
d'être déversés en rivière. Les femelles
sont, après la ponte, soignées dans des bassins ("reconditionnées")
et vont ainsi pouvoir effectuer une ou plusieurs pontes par la suite.
Le stock de saumons adultes doit cependant être renouvelé
régulièrement afin d'éviter la production de
poissons qui vont remonter très jeunes.Le centre de reconditionnement
et de pisciculture de Bergerac produit ainsi un peu plus de 400 000
oeufs. Ceux-ci sont exploités (incubation et grossissement)
à la pisciculture de Pont Crouzet dans le Tarn. Ces poissons
sont ensuite introduits dans la Dordogne ou ses affluents. En 2000
ce sont plus de 1000 saumons qui ont été contrôlés
lors de leur montaison à Bergerac. Un peu plus à l'amont
au niveau du barrage du Sablier (entre Corrèze et Lot) plus
de 200 frayères ont été occupées sur la
Dordogne et ses affluents. Les lâchers d'eau des barrages ne
facilitent pas la survie des alevins nés naturellement.
Les contrôles par pêche électrique montrent une
excellente réussite des déversements. Sur les secteurs,
où seuls existent les alevins issus de la reproduction naturelle,
on compte 3 sujets par mètre carré. Sur les secteurs
alevinés : entre 11 et 59. Les repeuplements ont donc du bon!
Ces résultats prouvent aussi que les soutiens de populations
seront nécessaires pendant encore un certain nombre d'années.
Source La Lettre de Sea-River n° 18
24.08.01:
USA: Farm pollution creating massive dead zones in estuaries
Throughout the nation agricultural fertilizers and farm chemicals
washing into estuaries are creating massive biological 'dead zones,'
according to scientists quoted in a 24 August Associated Press article,
which is why almost half of America's bays are too polluted to swim
or fish in. Only the worst example is the Mississippi River Delta
, but according to the story many of the nation's 138 bays are also
hard hit, including San Francisco and Newport Bays in California.
Meanwhile Congress has cut funding to or poorly funded such programs
as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, which provides money
to farmers to voluntarily reduce or eliminate their major sources
of farm pollution. For more see: http://www.registerguard.com/news/20010824/
3a.nat.farmpollution.0824.html.
20.08.01: VIETNAM 100,000
to be forced out as dam project floods land
South China Morning Post, Monday, August 20, 2001
MICHAEL MATHES in Hanoi
A river runs through the remote northwest province of Son La, where
lush valleys peppered with ethnic minority villages nestle between
rugged mountains.
The idyllic Da River slices through the quiet district of Muong La,
where farmers have tilled their rice fields for generations. But the
next generation may not be around to reap rewards from the soil.
Vietnam's largest infrastructure project, the massive Son La hydro-electric
dam, is expected to flood much of Muong La and several other districts
in Son La and neighbouring Lai Chau.
Amid concerns over safety, hand-wringing over money, and fierce debate
as to whether the dam is necessary, as many as 100,000 people, mainly
ethnic minorities, are likely to be displaced over the next few years
as their land is flooded.
A 265-metre-high dam at Son La would generate up to 4,000 megawatts
- 80 per cent of Vietnam's current capacity - and flood 44,700 hectares
of land by the time the turbines start churning a decade from now.
"We're pleased to accommodate," said Lo Ngoc On, the Black
Thai ethnic minority chairman of Muong La, spouting a well-worn party
line.
The mood may be different among the local hill tribes, but government
authorities expect a recently approved tranche of US$660 million (HK$5.1
billion) earmarked for resettlement will provide the incentive for
local residents to pull stakes and start a new life elsewhere. "I
think they'll accept whatever reality comes out of this," said
Son La provincial chairman Le Binh Thanh.
Son La is just the largest in a list of future power plans on the
drawing board as this rapidly growing nation struggles to quench its
thirst for energy.
Officials have long felt a huge complex in Son La would go far to
solve a pending energy crisis.
After more than a decade of study, experts came up with three options
- highland, lowland and small-scale - one of which is set to be chosen
by the National Assembly later this year.
But bigger is not better, according to Dr Tran Nhon, president of
the consultancy Vietnam Water Resources Development Association. "Small
is beautiful," he said. "And we oppose all the decisions
for high Son La as not scientific."
Safety is a major worry, as the Da River flows through the earthquake-prone
northwest towards Hanoi, which experts say would be virtually destroyed
in the event of a Son La dam disaster.
20.08.01: Sweden
tightens criteria for "green" power
STOCKHOLM - Sweden's Society for Nature's Conservation said last week
it will sharpen its criteria for green electricity from renewable
energy sources to boost environmental awareness and improve product
standard.
The group sells the label "Bra Miljoval" to companies which
aim to ensure customers that products - ranging from electricity to
washing powder - have been produced with methods that harm nature
as little as possible.
"Bra Miljoval" is together with the U.S. label "Green-e"
one of the oldest tags for renewable energy such as solar, wind, biomass
and hydropower.
The new restrictions hone in on hydropower and stipulate that producers
invest money in a fund to choose from a list of measures to protect
the environment for animals and plants near hydropower stations.
"The criteria for hydropower were not tough enough so there was
room to make changes as part of our perpetual work to boost environment
awareness," Fredrik Lindberg, spokesman at the society, told
Reuters.
Some of the alternatives involved regulation of the water stream at
water reservoirs. Power producers would no longer be allowed to cut
the water flow entirely to get the maximum price, Lindberg said.
"It is very harmful to nature if you cut the stream totally as
it dries out the groove," he said.
Lindberg said it was still unclear how costly the new restrictions
would be to companies but argued that there was leverage to increase
the fees on green hydropower which is a relatively cheap energy source.
"Companies make large profits from green hydropower and therefore
I don't think it's more than right that nature should gain something
out of that," he said.
Biomass and windpower criteria also became tougher as the agency sought
to curb harmful tree felling and forbid the construction of wind turbines
in nature reserves.
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
Source : Planetark
18.08.01: LA MARCHE BLEUE
VA ARRIVER EN FRANCE !
Com. de presse de ERN - European
Rivers Network, 18.08.01
Une Marche Bleue pour une nouvelle culture de l'Eau
en Europe à démarré le 10 août dernier,
du delta de l'Ebre en Espagne. Cette action a pour but de bloquer
le financement du très controversé Plan Hydrologique
National espagnol qui prévoit la construction de 120 nouveaux
grands barrages et de gigantesques détournements de l'Ebre
vers le sud-est de l'Espagne (1milliard de m3 /an) et du Rhône
vers Barcelone (657 million de m3 /an). Elle revendique une application
des principes votés par l'Union européenne ainsi qu'une
gestion plus démocratique et plus rationnelle de l'eau.
Apres avoir longé l'Ebre, elle passera en France
lundi pour une série d'étapes ponctuées d'animations
et de manifestations. Ses premières étapes françaises
seront Eslourenties et Charlas (sud-ouest), 2 lieux de combat anti-barrage.
Cette action, soutenue par de nombreuses associations,
universitaires, partis politiques et syndicats, a longé l'Ebre
et traversé village après village. Rejointe quotidiennement
par de nouveaux participants, elle en compte aujourd'hui des centaines.
A Saragosse, 2000 personnes ont accueilli la marche. Rappelons que
déjà, en septembre dernier, plus de 300 000 personnes
s'étaient rassemblées dans cette ville pour protester
contre le Plan Hydrologique National. Ce mouvement avait été
suivi de manifestations à Madrid et à Barcelone qui
avaient regroupé près d'un demi-million de personnes.
La Marche Bleue va traverser les Pyrénées
et passer la frontière française le 20 août par
le col du Somport. Une fois en territoire français, le premier
temps fort sera le passage à Garderes-Eslourenties, lieu de
grande opposition à un projet de barrage (200 MF, 27 m de haut,
20 millions de m3, destiné au soutien d'étiage de l'Adour
et l'irrigation des monocultures de maïs). Deux manifestation
sont prévues dans le sud-ouest : à Pau contre Eslourenties
le 21 et à St-Gaudens (Haute-Garonne) contre le projet de barrage
de Charlas (110 millions de m3 !) le 22.
Puis la marche partira pour Toulouse pour rejoindre
ensuite d'autres lieu de combats gagnés : le Larzac et le Puy-en-Velay
(Serre de la Fare).
D'autres étapes (Lyon, Paris) suivront (voir programme) et
la marche quittera la France autour du 4 septembre date du passage
en Allemagne qu'elle quittera ensuite pour les Pays Bas. Tout au long
de son trajet, des rencontres et de nombreuses animations des conférences
de presse, des débats seront organisées avec les associations,
collectivités locales, etc.
La Marche atteindra son point culminant à Bruxelles,
le 9 septembre où 10 000 manifestants sont déjà
attendus.
Pour toute information détaillée sur
le programme, consultez notre serveur : http://www.rivernet.org/marchebleu/index_f.htm
Contacts :
ERN European Rivers Network - SOS Loire vivante
8 Rue Crozatier, 43000 Le Puy, France
Phone +33 4 71 02 08 14 Fax +33 471 02 60 99 email: go to www.ern.org (contact)
Roberto Epple : 06.08.62.12.67
COAGRET Coordinadora de Afectad@s por Grandes Embalses
y Trasvases
-Zaragoza: C/ Santa Cruz 7, Oficina 3 - 50003 ZARAGOZA Teléfono
/ Fax
+34-976-392004 / 619. 56. 81. 33 e-mail: coagret@jet.es
-Tortosa (Ebro Delta) +34-977. 51.10.66 / 605.81.90.29, email:
coorbre@binet.fut.es
Web : www.marchabruselas.com
16.08.01: A virtual discussion
for the Bonn Freshwater Conference
A virtual discussion of the Conference Documents has
now started on the website www.water-2001.de/discuss/
and will be online until mid September.
The aim of this discussion forum is to collect constructive comments
andnew aspects regarding the theme and sub-themes of the conference.
I would like to invite you to contribute to this discussion forum.
Yourviews, perceptions and opinions are most welcome and essential
for thethematic preparation.
Your comments will be shown on the web page. The contributions will
besummarised and considered by the authors of the Papers for finalrevision.
For more information please access the website
I am looking forward to your comments.
Kind regards,
Franz-J. Batz
16.08.01: RADIOACTIVE RUSSIAN
WATERS WORRY CHELYABINSK GOVERNOR MOSCOW
Russia, August 16, 2001 (ENS)- The governor
of Russia's Chelyabinsk region, Petr Sumin, has warned that water
in his district is contaminated with radioactivity from the Mayak
nuclear reprocessing plant.
For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-16-02.html
14.08.01:
PRESSURE RISING ON WORLD'S FRESH WATER SUPPLY
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, August 14, 2001 (ENS) - All of
the more than 1,000 water experts meeting here at the 2001 Stockholm
Water Symposium and World Water Week are focused on the fact that
the world population will increase by up to three billion in the next
25 years, and each person will need a daily supply of fresh water.
For full text and graphics visit:
http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2001/2001L-08-14-02.html
14.08.01: UN: 2003 will be
the International Year of Fresh Water
Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[on the report of the Second Committee (A/55/582/Add.8)]
55/196. International Year of Freshwater, 2003
The General Assembly,
Recalling the provisions of Agenda 21, 1 the Programme for the Further
Implementation of Agenda 21 adopted at its nineteenth special session
2 and decisions of the Economic and Social Council and those of the
Commission on Sustainable Development at its sixth session,3 relating
to freshwater, Recalling also Economic and Social Council resolution
1980/67 of 25 July 1980 on international years and anniversaries,
in which the Council recognized the contribution that the celebration
of international years could make to the furtherance of international
cooperation and understanding, Recalling further its resolution 53/199
of 15 December 1998 on the proclamation of international years, Noting
the ongoing work in the United Nations system and the work of other
intergovernmental organizations on freshwater, 1. Proclaims the year
2003 as the International Year of Freshwater; 2. Invites the Subcommittee
on Water Resources of the Administrative Committee on Coordination
to serve as the coordinating entity for the Year and to develop relevant
preliminary proposals for consideration by the General Assembly at
its fifty-sixth session on possible activities, including possible
sources of funding, that could take place at all levels, as appropriate;
3. Calls upon Member States, national and international organizations,
major groups and the private sector to make voluntary contributions
in accordance with the guidelines for international years and anniversaries;
4. Encourages all Member States, the United Nations system and all
other actors to take advantage of the Year to increase awareness of
the importance of freshwater and to promote action at the local, national,
regional and international levels; 5. Requests the Secretary-General
to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-seventh session a progress
report on the preparations for the International Year of Freshwater.
12.08.01: 2001 World Water
Week in Stockholm and Stockholm Water Symposium have begun
http://www.siwi.org/news/news.html
Stockholm Symposium and World Water Week Draw Attention
to Critical Issues, Solutions
In August, Stockholm will be the meeting point for
more than 1,000 leading actors in the water field from over 100 countries.
The weeklong series of events will focus attention on key global water
issues, facilitate dialogue, seek constructive solutions, highlight
outstanding achievements and inspire future water leaders.
The new millennium has brought with it a rapid global
population growth and industrialization that places tremendous pressure
on water for ecosystems, food availability and people. Some 30 major
national and international organizations, together representing hundreds
of thousands of people and all regions of the world, are involved
in the World Water Week and will attempt to clarify what drives people's
behavior and expectations, resource demands and the resulting resource
problems.
11th Stockholm Water Symposium: Water Security for the 21st Century
- Building Bridges Through Dialogue
The Stockholm Water Symposium, August 13-16, will build linkages between
stakeholders involved in societal planning and economic decision making
with experts involved in water resources development and management,
food production and protection of ecological services. In addition
to expert speakers in the opening, general, and closing sessions,
specific workshops will focus on:
Relation Between Industry and Other Water Interests
in a Catchment Context
Driving Forces and Incentives for Change Towards Sustainable Water
Development
Catchment-based Governance - Compromise Building and Institutional
Arrangements
Bridge Building Between Water and Energy
Dams, Environment and Regional Development
Linkages between Flood Risks and Land-Use Change
Trade-offs in Water for Food and Environment Security
Challenges of Expanding Ecological Sanitation into Urban Areas
How to Increase the Status of Water Issues in Governance and in Public
Perception
15.08.01: Johannesburg 2002:
The World Summit on Sustainable Development (also known as Rio + 10)
Announcement by Zehra Aydin-Sipos, Coordinator, Major
Groups Relationships Johannesburg Summit Secretariat, United Nations.
Dear friends and colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the launching of the major groups accreditation
and pre-registration for Johannesburg 2002: The World Summit on Sustainable
Development and its Preparatory Committee (Prepcom) meetings. Forms
and facts related to major group participation in the Johannesburg
2002 process can be found on the Summit web site (www.johannesburgsummit.org),
or by going directly to the following web address: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/web_pages/participation/summit_registratio
n_and_accreditation.htm
NGOs already in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), including those on the CSD List, can pre-register directly
from the web site. Information on how to pre-register online has been
mailed to all ECOSOC - accredited NGOs (including those on the CSD
List). Please give some time for this mail to reach you before you
try to pre-register online.
Questions regarding participation in the Johannesburg 2002 process
can be addressed to the following:
By Email: 2002participation@un.org(for
general inquiries) summitregister@un.org(for
registration - related inquiries) summitaccredit@un.org(for
accreditation - related inquiries)
By Phone: +1-212-963-8811, or +1-212-963-7255, or +1-212-963-8429
By Fax: +1-917-367-2341 or +1-917-367-2342
By mail/in person: Ms. Zehra Aydin-Sipos, Coordinator, Major Group
Relationships, or Ms. Sangeeta Sharma, Major Group Relationships,
or Ms. Maria Theresa Olvida, Major Group Relationships
Johannesburg Summit Secretariat, United Nations Major Group Relationships
2 United Nations Plaza, 22nd Floor New York, NY, 10017
Best regards,
Zehra Aydin-Sipos Coordinator, Major Groups Relationships Johannesburg
Summit Secretariat United Nations
