River News international 2010

to the 2011 news

22.12.02 : Boues rouges en Hongrie : où en est-on ?

Le 4 octobre dernier, la rupture d’un réservoir dans une usine de bauxite-aluminium de la ville d'Ajka, à l'ouest de Budapest (Hongrie), a provoqué le déversement de 600.000 à 1 million de mètres cubes de boues toxiques sur 7 villages avoisinants, faisant 10 morts et 150 blessés
(dans le JDLE). Un mois et demi après le sinistre, deux experts de l’ONG Robin des bois sont allés sur place pour dresser un bilan des destructions, des pollutions, ainsi que des efforts pour restaurer l’environnement et faciliter le retour à la normale. Le compte rendu de cette mission
est publié dans un rapport de 46 pages intitulé « La catastrophe rouge ».

« Tous les Etats membres de l’Union européenne peuvent être victimes de catastrophes analogues après des ruptures de digue retenant des volumes importants de boues minières ou industrielles », avertit l’ONG. En Hongrie, le constat est sans appel : « L’environnement et
les esprits restent marqués. Les efforts déployés se font dans le désordre et le manque d’information », note le rapport.
Ses auteurs, Charlotte Nithart et Christine Bossard, dressent la liste des dégâts constatés sur l’aire de répartition des boues rouges déversées, qui concerne directement une population d’environ 8.500 personnes. « Des flux totaux de l’ordre de 70 tonnes d’arsenic, 70 t de
plomb, 130 t de nickel, 650 t de chrome, 700 t vanadium, 1.600 t de soufre, 114.000 t d’aluminium sont partis dans la nature. » Pour rappel, l’arsenic, le nickel, et le chrome VI sont cancérogènes (dans le JDLE). Et les effets délétères de l’aluminium sur la santé humaine
sont de plus en plus suspectés.

La rivière Torna, qui coule au pied du réservoir de boues rouges de la société MagyarAluminium (MAL), propriétaire de l'usine à l’origine de la catastrophe, a été dévastée. Sa vallée a servi de lit au fleuve de boues. « Les berges ont été brûlées par la soude, le lit recouvert de boues rouges et les animaux aquatiques qui n’ont pas pu fuir sont morts brûlés ou asphyxiés », raconte l’association. Deux sites Natura 2000 sont inclus dans le territoire
directement affecté et deux autres sites Natura 2000 sont situés en aval, aux abords de la Raba et du Danube qui ont reçu les eaux polluées de l’amont. Courant novembre, des scientifiques ukrainiens ont détecté des traces de la catastrophe hongroise dans les eaux du delta du
Danube, à 1.800 kilomètres de là.

Sur les terres, « les boues ne percoleront pas à plus de 10- 15 cm de profondeur », selon un expert de l’université de Sopron (Hongrie). Ce dernier écarte le risque de radioactivité et estime les taux de métaux lourds inférieurs aux seuils sanitaires. Il propose de planter sur les terrains contaminés des arbres qui seraient destinés à la filière Bois-énergie : saules, peupliers, acacias.

Les boues sont mêlées à tous types de déchets : chimiques (comme les produits d’entretien), phytosanitaires, mais également provenant d’équipements électriques et électroniques, déchets végétaux et déchets organiques (bétail ou poissons englués). « Les déchets organiques
exposent à des risques d’explosion dans les stockages de boues rouges après fermentation », rappelle le rapport.

Selon les maires de Kolontár et de Devecser, les déchets collectés doivent retourner à l’expéditeur, c’est-à-dire la société MAL. Mais ces déchets « sont provisoirement regroupés dans une enceinte de confinement de boues sèches vieille d’une trentaine d’années »,
s’inquiète Robin des bois.
La reconstruction n’a pas commencé. A Kolontár, les canalisations d’eau devaient être remises en état mi-décembre dans les zones à reconstruire, les autres services (gaz, électricité, téléphone) seront rétablis mi février 2011. A Devecser, aucune habitation ne sera reconstruite
sur la zone critique qui sera, peut-être, transformée en parc. Dans ses recommandations, Robin des bois appelle les autorités à « mettre en sécurité
définitive les boues collectées après la catastrophe, à prolonger les suivis de la qualité de l’air et des eaux et à mettre en place une commission d’information réactive et pluraliste ».

Le rapport note par ailleurs que la Hongrie doit accomplir des progrès importants pour assurer une bonne gestion des déchets industriels en conformité avec les directives européennes. L’association demande à l’Union européenne de planifier une directive sur la gestion des
déchets après les catastrophes et encadrant le suivi sanitaire et environnemental.
A noter enfin que le parlement hongrois a autorisé le prolongement de l'état d'urgence dans trois départements jusqu'au 31 mars prochain. L'hiver très humide a ralenti les travaux de nettoyage, de reconstruction ainsi que les travaux de protection en cours pour protéger les
lieux d'autres catastrophes éventuelles.

source : Le JDLE - 22 décembre 2010 par Célia Fontaine

16.12.10 : Alstom to supply equipment to Guanyinyan hydroelectric dam in China

Paris, December 16, 2010 — Alstom has won a contract worth about $92.6 million for the supply of equipment to a new hydroelectric dam in China.

The contract, awarded to Alstom by the Datang Guanyinyan Hydropower Development Co. Ltd, involves the supply of three 600 MW Francis turbine generator units to the new Guanyinyan hydropower station on the Jinsha River in Yunnan province. The first unit is due to enter commercial operation in 2014.

DaTang Guanyinyan Hydropower Development Co. Ltd is a member of the China Datang Corp., one of China’s top five power generation groups.

This is Alstom’s second contract with the company following the PengShui hydropower project in 2004, for which Alstom supplied five 350 MW Francis turbine generator units.

Hydropower accounts for 22 percent of China’s electricity generation capacity and is expanding at a rate of 15 GW per year. Over 110 new hydro projects are currently in the planning stage, to be completed by 2020.

Key projects include Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest power plant, to which Alstom supplied 14 units of 700 MW each, XiaJiang (five 40 MW units), Li Yuan (four 600 MW units) and Xianjiaba (four 800 MW units). The 800 MW turbines designed, engineered and manufactured by Alstom for Xianjiaba are the world’s largest hydro turbines ever manufactured to date.

Source : http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display/9840657585/articles/electric-light-power/renewable-energy/hydro/2010/12/Alstom_to_supply_equipment_to_Guanyinyan_hydroelectric_dam_in_China.html
via International Rrivers

16.11.10 : China begins damming Brahmaputra river for hydropower project

China has started damming the middle reaches of the Brahmaputra river, or the Yarlung Tsangpo as it is known in Tibet, to begin construction on a 510 MW hydropower project that has raised concerns in India.
The government for the first time revealed that it has, since November 8, begun damming the Tsangpo's flow to allow work to begin on the hydropower project at Zangmu. This is the first major dam on the Brahmaputra and has been billed by the Chinese government as a landmark hydropower generation project for Tibet's development.
A news report on Monday said the “closure of the Yarlung Zangbo river on November 12 marked the beginning of construction.” Work is expected to continue beyond 2014, when the first set of generators will be put into operation. The total investment in the project is 7.9 billion yuan ($1.2 billion).
The Indian government has raised concerns about the possible downstream impact of this project during talks with China earlier this year. Chinese officials have assured their Indian counterparts that the project would be “run of the river,” having little impact downstream.
China has said that its projects were only for hydropower generation, and were neither storage projects nor designed to divert the water.
Officials at India's Ministry of External Affairs have, however, voiced frustration over China's general lack of willingness to share information regarding the Zangmu project, meaning they had little means to verify claims on the specific construction plans and impact on flows.
According to Ramaswamy R. Iyer, former Water Resources Secretary of the Government of India, for India “the point to examine would be the quantum of possible diversion and the impact it would have on the flows to India.”
Usually, to ensure that the flow downstream remains unaffected during the period of construction of a dam, the water is diverted through streams around the construction site and returned to the river.
“Since the flow of the water cannot be stopped, the water will be diverted so there will be no reduction of flow in this stage,” Mr. Iyer, who is an authority on dams and transboundary water issues, told The Hindu on Monday, speaking from New Delhi.
He stressed that he was speaking in general terms regarding any dam construction, and did not have specific details regarding how China was carrying out this particular project.
There is still some uncertainty on what China intends for the project, and whether or not a storage reservoir, which could affect downstream flows, will be built beyond the minimal “pondage” required to operate the turbines.
Chinese media reports indicated that the Zangmu project is unlikely to be the last on the Brahmaputra. A news report on the widely read portal Tencent said the Zangmu dam was “a landmark project” for Tibet's development, being the first major dam in Tibet, and “a project of priority in the Eleventh Five Year Plan.”
The report said that such projects would “greatly relieve the energy stress in the middle regions of Tibet” and upgrade power capacity from 100 MW to over 500 MW.
‘No treaty'
Mr. Iyer said a larger concern for India was the absence of a water-sharing treaty with China, which does not allow India to either qualify or address Chinese claims regarding specific projects.
“Between India and Pakistan, we have a treaty which specifies what we should do,” he said. “We're not supposed to retain a drop, and [even] during a stated period of construction, inflow is equal to outflow.”
“But with China,” he added, “we have no treaty. So what they will do, we have no idea.”

source (via International Rivers)

03.11.10 : Scotland Aims for First Hydro-economy

The World's First ‘Hydro-economy'
As the European Union prepares to produce 20% of its energy from renewables by 2020, Scotland's first minister has said the principal energy goal of Scotland should be to generate 100% of its electricity with clean alternatives by 2025. The untapped hydropower potential is to be the focus of its transition to a stronger, cleaner economy.
read the complet articel (Water link international)

07.10.10 : Katastrophe in Ungarn: Verseuchtes Wasser in Donau gelangt ! (WWF)

WWF befürchtet katastrophale Auswirkungen - EU trägt Mitschuld
Die Giftschlamm-Katastrophe in Ungarn nimmt immer schlimmere Ausmaße an: Mittlerweile fließt verseuchtes Wasser in die Donau. Der WWF befürchtet durch das Unglück dramatische Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt und gibt der EU Mitschuld wegen viel zu lascher Sicherheitsstandards. Mensch und Natur werden an den Folgen dieser Katastrophe vermutlich noch viele Jahre zu leiden haben.
Nachdem am 4. Oktober in Westungarn der Speicher einer Aluminiumhütte der Ajka Aluminia Company geborsten und Bauxitschlamm ausgeflossen ist, hat das kontaminierte Wasser mittlerweile die Donau erreicht. "Zwar ist durch den Verdünnungseffekt der großen Wassermassen der Donau die Konzentration an Schadstoffen und Giften dann niedriger, doch das ändert nichts daran, dass das Ökosystem der Donau damit noch mehr belastet wird", so Martin Geiger vom WWF Deutschland. Gefährdet sind auch weite Teile eines Natura 2000-Reservats.

WWF: EU trägt Mitschuld
Schuld an der Katastrophe sei nach WWF-Einschätzung zunächst einmal der Betreiber, da der Damm für das Rückhaltebecken nicht sicher war und möglicherweise wesentlich mehr als die erlaubte Menge an Rotschlamm dort gelagert wurde. Nach Behördenangaben sind die, nach WWF-Ansicht ohnehin viel zu laschen, Sicherheitsvorschriften nicht eingehalten worden. "Auch die EU trägt eine Mitschuld, denn die Sicherheitsstandards für die Abfallentsorgung in der Bergbau-Industrie sind viel zu niedrig. Mit Erfolg hatte sich damals die Industrie hohen Sicherheitsstandards widersetzt", sagt Geiger.

Weitere Katastrophen möglich
Der WWF fordert die ungarische Regierung aber auch andere osteuropäische Länder mit ähnlichen Absetzbecken für Industrie-Schlämme auf, umgehend die Becken und Dämme zu prüfen und notwendige Maßnahmen für die Verbesserung der Sicherheit zu ergreifen. Die Unternehmen sollten stärker in die Pflicht genommen werden und in Entsorgung und sichere Dämme investieren. "Es ist ein Hohn, dass nach EU-Vorgaben der Rotschlamm als nicht hochgradig gefährlich eingestuft wird, wenn nicht gleichzeitig alle möglichen Risiken abgesichert sind", warnt Geiger. "Welche Katastrophen können wir noch erwarten, bei den vielen Haltebecken, in denen mitunter noch gefährlichere Giftcocktails schlummern?"

Nach dem Unfall könnten die landwirtschaftlichen Böden, Fauna und Flora über Jahre hinweg kontaminiert und damit auch für die Nutzung durch den Menschen unbrauchbar sein. Dementsprechend erklärten bereits viele Betroffene vor Ort, aus der Region flüchten und nicht mehr zurückkehren zu wollen. Auch der WWF befürchtet Langzeitfolgen für Natur und Mensch in einem bisher noch nicht abzuschätzenden Ausmaß.

Schutzgebiete bedroht
Mitarbeiter des WWF Ungarn befinden sich im Katastrophengebiet. Die Experten rund um Gábor Figeczky, stv. Geschäftsführer des WWF Ungarn, machen sich in Kolontar, einem der sechs betroffenen Dörfer, ein Bild vom Ausmaß der Katastrophe. "Vorerst ist es unmöglich, das genaue Ausmaß der Naturschäden abzuschätzen", so Figeczky. "Wir sind aber sicher, dass sich der rote Schlamm bis in nahe gelegene Natura 2000-Europaschutzgebiete ergießen wird. Die Naturschäden werden demnach auch von internationaler Bedeutung sein."

"Der Schauplatz erinnert auf gespenstische Art und Weise an die Bergbau-Katastrophe von Baia Mare im Jahr 2000", so Figeczky vom WWF. Damals trat das kontaminierte Wasser aus dem Sammelbecken der Gold-Aufbereitungsanlage im Rumänischen Baia Mare aus. Der mit Schwermetallen versetzte Cyanid-Schlamm gelangte über in die Theiß in die Donau.

Jahrzehntelange Folgen
Cyanid und Schwermetalle haben unterschiedliche Wirkungen. Cyanid vernichtet alle Lebewesen, mit denen es in Kontakt gerät, sofort, und zieht anschließend zusammen mit der Flut weiter. Die Schwermetalle hingegen werden vom Boden und von den Pflanzen aufgenommen, weshalb ihre Wirkung längere Zeit nachweisbar bleibt. Die Auswirkungen sind jedoch nicht weniger schwerwiegend als jene von Cyanid. "Schwermetalle können noch jahrzehntelang im Boden bleiben, und auf Menschen und Tiere so schwerwiegende Folgen wie Wachstums- und Fortpflanzungsstörungen haben", erklärt Figeczky.

"Der Großteil der von der Katastrophe betroffenen Wasserlebewesen wird die Verschmutzung voraussichtlich nicht überleben", befürchtet Figeczky. "Das zeigt auch das Sterben des Fischbestandes des Marcal-Flusses, der ökologisch tot ist".

Laufend werden Haustiere eingesammelt. "Die rot gefärbten Tiere haben opal-artige Augen. Sie werden in Schubkarren transportiert, weil sie sich aufgrund ihrer Verletzungen nicht mehr selbst fortbewegen können. Die Situation der Nutztiere ist nicht besser. "Die Schäden in der wildlebenden Fauna können wir derzeit jedoch noch nicht einmal schätzen", so Figeczky

source : WWF http://www.wwf.at/de/menu45/subartikel1612/

30.09.10 : RIVERS IN CRISIS REPORT 2010 : Mapping dual threats to Human Water Security for Biodiversity and Humans

Global Threats to Human Water Security and River Biodiversity
Rivers maintain unique biotic resources and provide critical water supplies to people. The Earth's limited supplies of fresh water and irreplaceable biodiversity are vulnerable to human mismanagement of watersheds and waterways. Multiple environmental stressors, such as agricultural runoff, pollution and invasive species, threaten rivers that serve 80 percent of the world’s population. These same stressors endanger the biodiversity of 65 percent of the world’s river habitats putting thousands of aquatic wildlife species at risk. Efforts to abate fresh water degradation through highly engineered solutions are effective at reducing the impact of threats but at a cost that can be an economic burden and often out of reach for developing nations.

Our analysis, reported in the September 30 issue of “Nature” represents the first global-scale initiative to quantify the impact of these human-induced stressors on human water security and riverine biodiversity. Map figures below show global threats to River Biodiversity (BD) (map on the left) and global threats to Human Water Security (HWS) accounting for beneficial investments in infrastructure (map on the right).

read the complet articel on the "'Website Rivers in Crisis / Riverthreat"

02.08.10 : Chilean Patagonia is under attack by an international energy company building dams

that plans to build five massive hydroelectric dams on the Pasqua and Baker rivers. The dams would drown large swaths of wild land, industrialize a pastoral region with growing potential for ecotourism and require the clear-cutting of native forest to accommodate 1,500 miles of transmission lines.
Once the lines are constructed, no river in Chile will be safe from the threat of more dams. The people of southern Chile and their allies worldwide are fighting against determined corporate and political forces. Souece : 180° South more information

18.07.10 : Czech Republic : New Coalition for Rivers wants to achieve more effective and nature friendly flood prevention and protection measures

Environmental organisations dealing with protection of rivers and landscapes agreed on establishment of a new Coalition for Rivers. They want to arise whole-society ranged debate about several fundamental topics, which could help to improve water management and flood prevention and protection practices (1). "New Coalition allows to share skills and knowledge of different experts and use them for improvement of communication with water management institutions and broad public," said Ing. Jana Vitnerová from Arnika. Participating organizations means to achieve their goals by communication with river management institutions and politicians, encouraging of public participation, presenting best practices from other countries, promoting of concrete river restoration projects and changes in legislation and subsidy policies. Among establishing members of coalitions were Union for Morava River, Hnuti Duha (FoE) and Arnika - Nature Conservation programme. Also other organizations declared a will to join.

One of the hottest topics for Coalition members is te need of really effective flood and drought prevention measures. "We will strive for restoration of a space for rivers, where the water can flow to places, where it does not harm or even help. This can be achieved by restoration of floodplain forests and meadows," said David Pithart from Institute of Applied Ecology Daphne. "The vision of recovery of a space for river has not been applied in Czech Republic yet, unlike in other developer countries. The common practice is proposals of costly and often risk technical water constructions and hydrotechnical alternations of the water courses," said Michal Krej?í from Union for Morava River.

In Czech Republic, over million of hectares of wetlands, floodplain meadows and green belts between fields were turned into arable land (2), which caused soil erosion, water pollution and a fast outflow of water from landscape. "Even in forest management the principle of keeping water in landscape is not sufficiently implemented. At the same time, the potential of change of forest and agricultural land management for keeping water in landscape and improve its quality without big costs is huge," said Bohuslav Vtípil from Czech Nature Protection Association in Sázava.

The water courses were significantly shorten by hard engineering structures, in some cases even to one third, which results in more often, faster and more dramatic flood events, and also worse quality of water, especially in dry periods," warned Zden?k Poštulka from Hnutí Duha (FoE). The Czech Republic lacks e.g. modern flood prevention strategy, and anti-erosion measures are ineffective. "Our water management institutions our forced by legislation to keep walled riverbeds to protect agricultural land along the rivers instead of protecting cities and villages," said Ji?í Mejsnar from Daphne. The need for reasonable water management is getting more and more urgent due to climate changes, which tend to cause more extreme weather conditions.

The new Coalition applied on 17th June for status of a new citizen's association at Ministry of Internal Affairs. Other organizations (3) declared a will to become members. Their status is expected to be confirm on Annual Meeting, which is planned to the end of this summer.

Appendices and other information:

(1) Topics new Coalition means to deal with:

Restoration of agricultural landscape
Our agricultural landscape lost ability to keep water. Over million hectares of wetlands and meadows were drained and turned into arable land. Agricultural management in floodplains contributes to huge flood damages. Soil and nutrients are washed to rivers and vessels. Cleaning of vessels and water is then very costly. The catastrophic damages caused by floods in 2009 and 2010 were to high extent caused by misuse of agricultural land.

Restoration of water courses
During last 200 years, our water courses were significantly shortened by hard technical constructions, some of them even up to one third of original length. It makes the riverbeds steeper and rivers flowing quicker. Alterations of river cause fast coming of flood from mountain areas to cities in lowlands. In dry periods, rivers are facing lack of water and accumulated pollution. Maintenance of the redesigned riverbeds is financially very demanding. It is necessary to turn the rivers to their natural state, as far as it is still possible.

Space for rivers
Newly implemented Flood Directive recommends to give rivers more space to flow and thus slow down floods. At the same time, the rivers would be closer to their original state. In recent decades, this principle has been already implemented in Germany, France and Netherlands. Czech Republic is from this aspect behind.

Restoration of floodplain forests and meadows
In floodplains and formerly drained land it is necessary to restore meadows and forests. Only this way is possible to prevent flood costs. Furthermore, we can thus get sufficient sources of drinking water and rivers will become again available to swimming.

Elimination of pollution
It is necessary to fast and effectively eliminate chemical pollution of rivers, including pollutions from point industrial sources as well as areal washes of agricultural substances.

Rivers and water in cities
Rivers in cities do not have to be a inaccessible channels. It is possible to use them as parks and recreational zones. Water from roofs and built-up areas does not have to go directly to canalization - it can be used to irrigation and creation of ponds and little lakes in residential areas. These ponds and lakes can prevent fast floods in cities after heavy rains.

Rivers, fish and other organisms
Hard engineering alterations of rivers and their fragmentation by dams and sluices caused decrease of fish and other species population. At present, most of fish species has to be artificially bred and then reintroduced into rivers, which is very costly for fishermen. If the rivers are restored, they will again teem with wealth of living beings.

Mountain forest management
Mountains areas have highest precipitation. Mountain forest and network of water courses are however in dismal condition today. So called calamity harvests are practiced in many cases, with complete deforestation on areas of many hectares, with high soil erosion. High percentage of forests is renewed by artificial planting with spruces as dominant species. Forest roads are wrongly planned and constructed. Drainage of wetlands and damage of forest water network occurred. The source of flood problems can be found at springs of the rivers.

Subsidies
Agricultural and forest subsidies supports ill management, turning floodplain areas to arable land and maintenance of huge monoculture fields or unseemly reforestation measures. It has to be changed soon.

Legislation
It is necessary to promote changes of legislation supporting rivers, wetlands, spring areas, floodplain forests and meadows restoration, reclaiming of space for rivers, and sound agricultural and forest management practices.

(2) See: http://www.hydromeliorace.cz/drenaz/vh.html

(3 Establishing members: Arnika - Nature Conservation Programme, Hnutí Duha (FoE), Union for Morava river
Others: Calla, Institute for Eco-policy, Czech Foundation for Otter, Czech Ornitological Association, CSOP Sazava, Vodomil Praha, ENKI Trebon, Institute of Applied Ecology Daphne CR, Ametyst, Greenpeace, CSOP Jaro Jaoromer, ZO CSOP Troja, Cmelák - SPP, People in Need, Ekocentrum Skritek Policka, Fontes, Veronica, Hamerský potok, Sagittaria, Jihomoravská komunitní nadace, Ochrana vod, Green Circle and 16 individual members.

source: Arnika

30.05.10 : 30th May 2010, huge protest march in Barcelona to protect the river Ebro and its eco-systems, and to demand the Spanish government respect European legislation on environmental questions.

The Plataforma en Defensa de l’Ebre organised demonstrations of tens of thousands of people in Barcelona in 2001, 2002, and 2003 in favour of the river Ebro and against the plans the Spanish government had for it. This month the PDE and many other social and environmental groups demonstrate once more to insist that EU rules must be respected on this question for the environmental and socio-economic future of the Ebro and its surroundings. For more information contact the PDE at plataformadefensaebre@gmail.com

Here is a short list of the reasons behind this protest:

1. The Spanish government has to draw up a new Hydrological Plan for the Ebro basin, following EU legislation as laid down in the Water Framework Directive, to bring water and river management into the 21st century. They are currently 18 months behind schedule with this Plan.

2. One of the chief aims of this Plan is to allocate a “minimum” environmental flow for the Ebro. Technicians and scientists have calculated this flow but it seems like the political authorities are not taking their figures into account, and seem set on agreeing a “political” flow. This would have no scientific reasoning but would instead allow for the Ebro’s water to be shared out among its different users, leading to a precarious future for the river and its delta.

3. While we await this new Plan, 300,000 new hectares of irrigation projects are underway along the Ebro basin, alongside other irrational uses which will have devastating effects on the river.

4. Two major works being carried out are the so-called “irrigation canals”, Segarra/Garrigues and Xerta/Senia, which are nothing more than the means to transfer water to the urban areas of Barcelona and Valencia.

5. If these actions are allowed to continue, it will be impossible to correctly apply the Water Framework Directive in the Ebro basin. The protection and future of the Ebro and its Delta will be at risk.

6. Behind these activities there is an underlying policy of promoting the growth of huge urban areas, and using rural areas, like the Ebro, as stores of natural resources to be used when necessary, but with obvious limitations and restrictions on their development. This leads to an imbalance in the socio-economic situation of Catalonia and Spain.

7. This problem is not merely local. The river Ebro forms part of Catalonia and the European Union, and negative effects on the river are negative for Europe’s environment and natural heritage. We need European citizens and political institutions to insist on protection measures for the Ebro, starting with a respectful river flow of both water and sediments, essential for the future of the delta. The EU must insist its nature Directives are applied correctly.

8.To fight against the powerful political-economic interests which are responsible for the current problem we need European citizens to make themselves heard. For this reason tens of thousands of people will march in Barcelona on 30th May. Join us!

http://tempsdeparaules.blogspot.com/

Tortosa, Terres de l'Ebre Catalonia.
bloc personal http://briancutts.blogspot.com

bloc de la Plataforma en Defensa de l'Ebre http://ebre.net/bloc/
Lo Riu és Vida !

06.04.10 : Second call : BIG JUMP 2010, July 11, 3pm Participate, Sign in !

04.04.10 : Montenegro : Moraca River endangered by 4 dams projects (WWF) ! Sign !

The Moraca river provides approximately 60 per cent of water to the Lake Skadar, the biggest lake in the Balkans and a wetland of global importance under the Ramsar Convention. The lake hosts one of the most important bird and fish habitats in the Mediterranean region, providing more than 90 per cent of freshwater fish consumed in Montenegro and a winter home to some 150,000 migratory birds.

If the construction of these dams goes ahead as currently planned, the biodiversity of the Moraca River ecosystem – not to mention hundreds of local jobs and livelihoods – would suffer a serious blow. Very rare endemic species of trout could disappear, and the fishery of Lake Skadar could shrink by 30 per cent – with a loss of some €1.5 million in annual fishing revenues.

Montenegro does suffer an energy deficit. However, huge losses in the electrical power network could be reduced by fixing old infrastructure. Furthermore, the main consumer of electricity in the country, an aluminum plant that currently uses almost 60 per cent of the nation’s power, is going through serious difficulties and may close. These two facts alone warrant a review of the dam proposal.

Finally, the cost of the project is extremely high; without government intervention, no investor will be interested. Taxpayers will bear the cost.

Before sacrificing the pristine canyon of the Moraca River, together with arable land, forests, people's homes, and sites of historic and cultural significance, we need to know that hydropower is actually the right solution for Montenegro. If it is, then every effort must be made to minimize its impact on the environment.

Please sign the petition "Rethink the dam plan. There’s still time to get it right! "
The Desired Outcome of this Petition:
The solution is to revise the plan and ensure that the following questions are answered:
* Is this project a viable economic choice?
* Will the displaced people be resettled properly? How much will that cost and who will pay?
Is there really no alternative the comes at a lower financial and environmental cost?
* Is it possible to mitigate the high impacts to the environment? Can the risk of a landslide be removed at a reasonable cost? What will become of… (read more)
The solution is to revise the plan and ensure that the following questions are answered:
* Is this project a viable economic choice?
* Will the displaced people be resettled properly? How much will that cost and who will pay?
Is there really no alternative the comes at a lower financial and environmental cost?
* Is it possible to mitigate the high impacts to the environment? Can the risk of a landslide be removed at a reasonable cost? What will become of historic and cultural sites?
* What is the real benefit to the citizens of Montenegro? Will they really get cheaper electricity

source : WWF, FAntonelli at wwfmedpo.org

15.03.10 : Turkey : Many thousands people demonstrated against dam projects in the whole country (International day of rivers)

Summary of the Celebrations in Turkey
In several cities of Turkey many thousands people participated to the activities because of the International Action Day of Rivers. It is the first time in Turkey that this action day has been celebrated in such a dimension. Totally 20 dam crictical movements from all over the country have prepared for this action day a common press declaration. Here is short summary about the different activities:

Tigris River/Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive:
On the 14th March International Day of Action for Rivers, the members of the Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive organizied an activity in the Oymatas village linked to Batman city. At this location the Batman Rivers join the Tigris River. The Deputy Mayor of Batman, Serhat Temel, and many other representative of NGOs from Batman participated to the activity and supported the initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive. The common press declaration was read by the rank of Tigris and then flowers were thrown into the waters. Resting a longer time at this location the participants celebrated the International Rivers Day.

Izmir
In Izmir - the third large city of Turkey - more than 1200 people have demostrated in the city. The demonstration was organized by the Allianoi Initiative Group and Munzur Conservation Council.

Coruh River / Artvin province:
In Artvin at the historical Berta bridge over teh Coruh River several thousands people came together to protest dozen of large dams and hundreds of Hyroelectric Power Plants in the Coruh Basin. People from the whole province participated with banners and their all colours. At the bridge the danced their traditional "Horon" dances and then they throw flower into the river. The activity was organized by around 10 associations and initiatives.

Dersim (Tunceli) - Munzur River
In Dersim around 300 people gathered to protest the recent flooded Uzuncayir dam and other planned dams in the province of Dersim. The demonstration war organized by the Dersim Environmental Initiative which has been founded 2 weeks ago.

Istanbul
In Istanbul up to 1000 people participated in the activities of the different dam critical movements (Munzur Conservation Council, Coruh/Artvin Basin Initiative, Senoz Valley Conservation Platform, Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive). The meeting was in front of the AKP Istanbul center. The ruling party AKP was protested because of its water, energy and development policy. With the reading of the common declaration the demonstration has been finished.

Mugla
In the Mugla province at the Yuvarlakcay River The "Yuvarlakcay Conservation Platform" did a protest due to the Intl Action Day of Rivers. Because the construction for several HEPPs has started there are weekly protests by affected people and organizations from the provinvial capital Mugla.

Common web site
One week ago a common web site of 20 dam critical dam movements has been established. The movements call the new network "Akarsu Hareketleri" which means Movements of Flowing Waters (better: River Movements): www.akarsuhareketleri.org

Ercan Ayboga
Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive
www.hasankeyfgirisimi.com www.akarsuhareketleri.org

23.01.10 : Turquey negociate water export to Syria, Israel and Libya (f)

Le ministre turc de l'Environnement et des Forêts, Veysel Eroglu a dit le 8 Décembre dernier que la Syrie était prête à tirer 1,2 milliards de mètres cubes d'eau du Tigre par an. «Pourquoi ne devrions-nous pas donner s'il y a de l'eau. Les études auront lieu cependant, nous allons essayer de faire de notre mieux pour libérer le présent volume," Veysel Eroglu a déclaré lors d'un point de presse conjoint avec le ministre syrien de l'irrigation Nadir Al-Buni à Ankara. Veysel Eroglu et Nadir Al-Buni ont eu une rencontre de cinq heures pour examiner les préparatifs de dernière minute pour un certain nombre de protocoles de coopération sur l'eau et l'irrigation dans le cadre d'un accord de coopération stratégique signé plus tôt cette année. Les protocoles ont été signés durant une réunion tenue en Décembre 22-25 dans la capitale syrienne, Damas. Veysel Eroglu a dit que la Turquie désire renforcer la coopération avec la Syrie. La rivière Asi coule en provenance de la Syrie à travers la province Hatay de la Turquie avant de se jeter dans la Méditerranée. Au cours de la dernière visite du Premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan à la Syrie en Décembre, plusieurs protocoles et accords ont été signés sur l'eau (voir les protocoles de coopération sur l'eau et l'irrigation qui ont été préparés auparavant à Ankara le 8 Décembre dernier), la santé, les transports, l'industrie, la politique étrangère et l'enseignement supérieur. Visiter le site web du SEMIDE pour en savoir plus.

Une délégation du gouvernement libyen est récemment arrivée en Turquie pour des discussions sur l'importation de 100 millions de mètres cubes d'eau par an vers le pays nord-africain. Des sources au ministère turc de l'Energie ont dit que si un accord sur l'exportation d'eau turc vers la Libye est conclu, il empêchera la possibilité d'exporter l'eau en même temps à Israël. Selon les rapports, la Libye envisage d'acheter de grandes quantités d'eau provenant du projet mis en place par les Turcs sur la rivière Manavgat. L'équipement existant sur le chantier est en mesure de ne charger que 100 millions de mètres cubes par an et l'investissement dans du matériel supplémentaire serait extrêmement coûteux. Au cours de la dernière décennie, les entreprises turques et hommes d'affaires ont investi quelques 150 millions de dollars dans le projet qui n'a pas encore été mis en service. Les gouvernements des deux pays devaient chercher ensemble des compagnies de navigation qui pourraient transporter l'eau à Israël. L'Autorité de l'eau est censée être en faveur de l'importation d'eau en provenance de la Turquie, comme une mesure complémentaire au dessalement de l'eau, malgré les coûts élevés encourus. Toutefois, le ministère des Finances dit être opposé puisque le prix de l'eau importée serait d'environ 80 cents par mètre cube, contre 50 cents pour l'eau dessalée. Un responsable du ministère des Affaires étrangères à Jérusalem a dit que les deux parties avaient fait des progrès dans les négociations, et travaillent actuellement sur deux contrats, l'un entre les gouvernements et l'autre avec le porteur d'eau. Visiter le site web du SEMIDE pour en savoir plus.

source: semide.net / worldbulletin.net

21.01.2010 Three Gorges Dam forces relocations of 300,000 more

After the government had repeatedly denied this, the China Daily today reported that an additional 300,000 people will have to be displaced to
mitigate the severe environmental and geological impacts of the Three Gorges Dam. This confirms warnings by Chinese experts and international
environmental organizations.

It is important that the previous errors be avoided in this new phase of
resettlement: Compensation must be sufficient for affected people to buy
their new homes and invest in a new economic future. Affected people must
be allowed to protest abuses, and corrupt officials must be systematically
held to account. Future dam projects must be evaluated more thoroughly,
and the capacity of the Ministry of Environmental Protection to do so must
be strengthened.

For more information about the Three Gorges Dam, see International River's
recent factsheet at www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/4740.

Source: International Rivers, peter@internationalrivers.org
(in Beijing)

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