SalvaEco

Stimata Doamna Ministru Sulfina Barbu,

Ne aratam profund ingrijorati de dezinvoltura cu care Ministerul Mediului si Gospodaririi Apelor din Romania, prin intermediul dumneavoastra, isi da acceptul in cazul unui proiect atat de controversat precum centrala nuclear?electrica de la Belene.

Nu se cunoaste concret nici macar tipul de tehnologie ce va folosit in aceasta centrala, de aceea ne uimeste increderea pe care o acordati omologului bulgar, Ministrul Mediului Dzhavedet Chakarov, afirmand ?Daca bulgarii vor aduce la Belene cea mai noua tehnologie in materie de centrale nucleare nu cred ca vor fi probleme?. Exista in acest sens un acord scris
intre parti prin care vecinii nostri se angajeaza la o asemenea investitie costisitoare?

Organizatia noastra monitorizeaza de multa vreme acest proiect si dorim sa va aducem la cunostinta ca societatea civila din Bulgaria si Romania se opune constructiei acestui nou Cernobil.

In acest sens, va prezentam motivele furnizate de ONG-urile din Bulgaria pentru abandonarea proiectului Belene la re-punerea pe tapet a acestui proiect:

1. Centrala Belene nu este necesara ? eficienta energetica in Bulgaria poate acoperi usor si mult mai economic necesarul pe care se spune ca centrala Belene trebuie sa-l satisfaca, si chiar cererea externa. Belene nu functioneaza drept inlocuitor pentru reactoarele Kozloduy 3 si 4. Aceasta capacitate este deja inlocuita de alte unitati, non-nucleare.

2. Belene este scumpa ? cele 3 miliarde de euro ar putea fi investite mult mai bine in dezvoltarea eficientei energetice si a capacitatilor de productie din surse regenerabile in Bulgaria.

3. Belene este periculoasa ? modelul de reactor VVER 1000 are probleme de siguranta. Germania nu ar acorda niciodata licenta de functionare acestui model.

4. Belene are o locatie necorespunzatoare ? este situata intr-o zona seismica activa, unde cutremurul din 1977 a facut victime umane.

5. Belene, ca orice unitate nucleara, este o posibila tinta a unui atac terorist.

6. Belene va produce deseuri radioactive, o problema nerezolvata, care va constitui o povara extraordinara pentru generatiile viitoare.

7. Belene va pune in pericol dezvoltarea activitatilor agricole, turistice si ale intreprinderilor mici in nordul Bulgariei.

Va aducem la cunostinta ca in data de 8 septembrie 2004 a avut loc la Turnu Magurele o runda de consultari publice privind proiectul Belene si ca populatia locala s-a opus vehement acestei constructii, iar Presedintele Consiliului Judetean Teleorman, dl. Nicolae Dragnea, a difuzat un apel public privind oprirea construirii centralei. (Va putem pune la dispozitie materiale pentru documentare.)

In data de 29 noiembrie 2004, prin adresa 60073 a MMGA, ni se raspunde la o cerere de informatii privind pozitia ministerului cu privire la centrala de la Belene ?Pozitia MMGA si a Guvernului Romaniei se va definitiva o data cu terminarea procedurii de evaluare a impactului asupra mediului in context transfrontier.? Cu aceasta ocazie dorim sa va intrebam: A fost definitivat Studiul de Evaluare a Impactului asupra Mediului pentru centrala nucleara de
la Belene? Care sunt rezultatele acestui studiu?

Suntem absolut contrariati de mesajele confuze ale MMGA si va supunem atentiei declaratia facuta in februarie 2005 de dl. Secretar de Stat Constantin Popescu ? expert in probleme de energie nucleara, asa cum am gasit-o noi pe site-ul [url=http://www.test1.ru/rom/more/801_0_3_0_M78:]http://www.test1.ru/rom/more/801_0_3_0_M78:[/url] ?Secretarul de stat, Constantin Popescu a declarat ca proiectul Belene este
unul din cele patru amenintari majore de mediu pentru Romania, printre care se numara constructia canalului Bistroe si proiectul minelor de aur de la Rosia Montana. La finele lui 2004, cand Bulgaria semna ultimele acorduri cu compania Parsons E&C Europe Ltd. pentru constructia celei de-a doua centrale nucleare din Bulgaria, Romania a prezentat un raport asupra problemelor de mediu ridicate de acest proiect, in care se preciza ca portul Belene este situat la 13 kilometri de Zimnicea si la mai putin de 100 de kilometri de Bucuresti. /ROMPRES/ 10 feb 2005/www.newsnow.co.uk?

In data de 8 martie 2005 se anunta faptul ca Albena Simeonova, o cunoscuta opozanta a proiectului, este amenintata cu moartea. Albena Simeonova detine una din cele mai mari ferme organice din Bulgaria, iar terenurile sale sunt in zona de 30 km din jurul centralei proiectate la Belene. Este un critic cunoscut al proiectului iar pentru eforturile sale si activitatile remarcabile in domeniul protectiei mediului, a primit in 1996 prestigiosul Goldman Environmental Prize.

Incheind in acelasi spirit, dorim sa va spunem ca sunt oameni atat in Romania cat si in Bulgaria care isi risca pana si viata pentru a apara dreptul la un mediu curat, garantat prin constitutie. Dumneavoastra ce faceti, doamna ministru?

An Infotag correspondent from Tiraspol quoted Denisenko as saying that the Dniester region’s legislation does not provide for participation in elections in Moldova. "Polling stations will not be set up on the territory of our region for one more reason we have not received any official requests from the Moldovan authorities in this regard.

However, if we receive requests by Dniester region people who have Moldovan passports and wish to vote, we will provide them with vehicles to deliver them to polling stations on the territory of Moldova," Denisenko said.

[Passage omitted: Terry Davis said the council of Europe will not monitor the parliamentary elections in the Dniester region as it stands for territorial integrity of Moldova – see report by ProTV, Chisinau, in Moldovan 1730 gmt 17 Jan 05. The Dniester region is to hold its own local elections on 27 March.

Jurnalistii interesati sunt rugati sa trimita cele mai bune trei articole de mediu publicate in presa locala sau centrala in anul 2005, prin posta electronica (mare-nostrum@cier.ro), prin fax (0241 612.422) sau prin posta (OP3, CP308, Constanta) pana la data de 17 Octombrie 2005 cu mentiunea ?Pentru Concursul Premiile Mare Nostrum pentru Presa Scrisa de Mediu?.

Prin acest concurs dorim sa promovam jurnalistii care, prin articolele lor, au contribuit la constientizarea publicului privind problemele de mediu actuale.

Decernarea ?Premiilor Mare Nostrum pentru Presa Scrisa de Mediu? va avea loc in data de 30 octombrie 2005, la Muzeul de Arta din Constanta, in cadrul unei conferinte de presa.
Asteptam cu interes articolele voastre si va uram mult succes!

Programul este finantat de Asociatia Ecumenica a Bisericilor din Romania – AIDRom, si sustinut cu expertiza Fundatiei Parteneri pentru Dezvoltare Locala (FPDL).

Contactati-ne si veti primi detalii despre program si formularele necesare inscrierii. In urma aplicarii criteriilor de selectie [echilibrul reprezentarii institutionale, echilibrul de gen, acoperirea regionala, nondiscriminarea etnica si confesionala] se vor selecta 16 participanti.

Va rugam sa desemnati persoana cea mai potrivita, care are nevoie de instruire in Scrierea si Managementul Proiectelor si sa diseminati in reteaua dumneavoastra acest anunt.

The EYFA Wintermeeting is the annual general meeting of the EYFA network, and the venue changes each year, from country to country. Gluaiseacht are hosting and organising the meeting this year in Ireland. Every Wintermeeting has a theme and as hosts, we have chosen ‘Anti-war Activism’ as the theme for this meeting.

The meeting will be in 2 parts with EYFA working days from Sun 3rd – Wed 6th, and Gluaiseacht Anti-war Meeting days from Thur 7th – S?n 10th.

The first part of the week will be devoted to EYFA content, discussing EYFA structure and strategy with regard to their role in the European environmental and social movement, examining ways to work more effectively for the protection of our environment and a just society.

The second part of the week, and the focus of this letter, will be devoted to anti-war activism with a view to establishing a European network of activists.

Gluaiseacht has been very involved in anti-war activism during the past 2 years. Shannon Airport, Co Clare, Ireland, a civilian airport in a neutral country, has been used for many years as a refuelling base for the American military. ‘Prisoners of war’, ‘suspected terrorists’ and illegal detainees continue to be transported through Shannon en route to Guantanamo Bay. American use of Shannon continues as does the war in Iraq. Many anti-war actions have focused on this. Anti-war activism was strong in the lead up to and during the first months of the war. There were huge marches, public debate, a peace camp at Shannon airport, civil disobedience protests, ploughshare actions and many police arrests and court appearances.

Recently though, anti-war activity has died down and focus has been blurred due to a certain amount of unwillingness and inability of different anti-war groups to work together. We feel the time has come to rectify this situation by putting aside our differences, reviving common purpose and establishing a European network of anti-war and peace activists, who will pledge to take an active stand against the ‘war machine’ in their own countries in all it’s shapes and forms, i.e. direct involvement in war, weapons and components production, or, as in Ireland’s case, offering the use of a civilian public airport for the purposes of war.

We are deeply inspired by the pledge to action of the UK Trident Ploughsares, check out [url=http://www.tridentploughshares.org]www.tridentploughshares.org[/url] for more details. We would like to set up a network similar to theirs, where all people despite age, politics, religion and differences can work together for peace.

And to prevent larger groups overshadowing others, we are inviting people to join this network as individuals.

If you or members of your group/organisation, or if you know people who would be interested in coming to the meeting, please write to Gluaiseacht, c/o Tracey Ryan, Cromogue, Bog Cross, Dromcollogher, Co Limerick, Ireland. You can phone Tracey at +353 (0)87 6543425 or Niall at +353 (0)86 8444966, or email us at [email]europe_antiwar_info@gluaiseacht.net[/email]

Please tell us a little bit about yourself, what group, if any, you’re involved with, what YOU would like to get from this conference, what skills/experience/information you can share and what kind of network you envisage, or if you think this is what is needed. The meeting is open to anyone who believes in taking non-violent direct action, it it symbolic, by civil disobedience, or in solidarity with others.

We are currently working on the programme schedule outlined below and we welcome any ideas or suggestions you may have.

Thu 7th Presentations and Press Conference.

Fri 8th Skill and Information sharing.

Sat 9th Setting up the network. A pledge to action. Party.

Sun 10th Action at Shannon Airport.

Accommodation and food are available at low cost at the venue, which is in a beautiful part of the country, close to the sea and ‘The Burren’, an area of outstanding natural beauty. More information on accommodation when you apply, but space is limited so apply soon. Deadline for applications is February 28th.

If you work with groups or projects on social, environmental or justice issues and would like to be involved in the EYFA decision-making processes and would like to come to both the EYFA and anti-war parts, and for the whole week, please see [url=http://www.eyfa.benn.org/wiki/Wintermeeting2005]www.eyfa.be?n.org/wiki/Wintermeeting2005[/url] for application details or write to EYFA, Postbus 94115, 1090 GC Amsterdam, Netherlands. Phone +31 (0)20 6657743 or email [email]Wintermeeting@eyfa.org[/email]

Financial help in the form of Travel Reimbursement and accommodation expenses, is available if you come for the full week. If you can afford to pay for yourself, please do, and you’ll be freeing up funds for those who can’t. Fundraising is ongoing if you feel inclined to help with the event.

VISAS : If you are a non-EU citizen you will require a visa to come to Ireland. If you’re not sure of your visa status, the list of countries who need visas can be seen at: [url=http://www.oasis.gov.ie/moving_country/passports_and_visas/visas_for_tourists_visiting_ireland]www.oasis.gov.ie/moving_country/passports_and_visas/visas_for_tourists_visiting_ireland[/url]

Don’t worry, we will help you and send all the documentation you need to apply successfully for a TOURIST VISA which is what you need. But you must apply very soon because your visa application needs to be back by the end of January as it takes up to 8 weeks to process your visa application. The application form will be available online from Monday, 17th January.

Please pass this call out to all interested parties, circulate it among your group members, email lists, other anti-war and peace activists etc. Then it’s up to each individual to contact us. So, write to us along the guidelines above, we’ll send you your visa information and documents, if you need them, then you send back your visa application by the end of January, other applications by Feb 28th, and hopefully we’ll see you in April.

On behalf of Gluaiseacht,

Yours sincerely,

Tracey Ryan and Niall Harnett.

Bucuresti, 26 septembrie 2005 – Greenpeace a descoperit experimente ilegale cu pruni modificati genetic (MG) la Statiunea pentru Cercetare si Dezvoltare pentru Pomicultura Bistrita. Aceste experimente fac parte dintr-un proiect international si au fost descoperite in luna august in timpul unor activitati de documentare a Greenpeace. Prunii MG care se gasesc in Bistrita nu detin autorizatie din partea Ministerului Mediului. Dupa ce saptamana trecuta, un reprezentant al Ministerului Agriculturii a declarat ca experimentele genetice cu cartofi MG erau singurele cercetari de acest fel, prezenta prunilor MG in mediul inconjurator demonstreaza exact contrariul si faptul ca organismele modificate genetic (OMG) sunt scapate de sub control in Romania, iar statiunile de cercetare reprezinta locuri de joaca pentru industria OMG, a declarat Gabriel Paun, coordonator campanii Greenpeace.

Prunii MG prezinta riscuri serioase pentru sanatatea oamenilor deoarece contin o gena care ofera rezistenta la antibiotice, cum ar fi Kanamicina. Directiva Uniunii Europene asupra eliberarii intentionate a OMG in mediu cere ca toate plantele MG cu gene care dau rezistenta la antibiotice si care pot avea efecte adverse asupra sanatatii sa fi fost deja eliminate pana in anul 2004. Aderarea Romaniei la UE fiind planificata pentru 2007, guvernul pune in pericol procesul aderarii, nereusind sa puna in aplicare legislatia precara care ar trebui sa controleze OMG-urile.

Conform unui membru al echipei de cercetare din Bistrita, prunii MG sunt in pamant din anul 1996 si nu exista segregare pentru a fi siguri ca acestia sunt separati de prunii traditionali. Prin polenizare, acesti pruni MG pot contamina usor speciile inrudite care nu sunt modificate genetic. Dupa recoltare, prunele nu sunt distruse, asa ca este posibil ca fructele sa ajunga pe piata. Aceste prune pot ajunge pe piata pentru a fi consumate, sau chiar in gem sau traditionala tuica. Aceasta inseamna ca sanatatea oamenilor este pusa in pericol. in loc sa ameninte Greenpeace, Ministerul Agriculturii ar trebui sa isi faca datoria de a prelua controlul asupra ceea ce se intampla la statiunile de cercetare, aparent fara stiinta lor, sa ia masuri imediate si sa se asigure ca acest lucru nu se va mai intampla, a mai declarat Gabriel Paun. Greenpeace cere Ministerului Agriculturii, Padurilor si Dezvoltarii Rurale sa opreasca cultivarea ilegala a prunilor MG, sa preia controlul situatiei in toate centrele de cercetare din Romania si sa isi faca publica pozitia oficiala asupra organismelor MG.

Pentru mai multe informatii puteti contacta:
Gabriel Paun, coordonator campanii OMG Greenpeace, tel. 0744 351977
Anamaria Bogdan, ofiter de presa Greenpeace, tel. 0721 632396

Motivul refuzului a fost faptul ca terenul preconizat face parte din categoria spatiilor verzi (parcul ?Riscani?). In baza celor expuse in actul de control nr.004479 din 28.09.05 si luand in consideratie ca terenul dat este un spatiu verde, cererea urmeaza de a fi inainta la comisia specializata a Ministerului Ecologiei si Resurselor Naturale.

"There are issues of water, land, fisheries, and they are all of concern right now," says Susie Ellis, vice president of Indonesia and Philippine programs for Conservation International. "Long-term, the damage to these areas is going to have significant socio-economic impact on the local livelihoods and the local fishermen in particular."

Despite efforts by local agencies and international relief organizations to help survivors, experts say there are critical, immediate ecological problems that are having a direct impact on human health.

Aid agencies such as CARE report that fresh water remains scarce across the region because reservoirs were either damaged during the earthquake that preceded the tsunamis, or were contaminated by ocean water, dead bodies and debris. Many survivors are at risk of dying from diseases unless they get access to clean water.

Wood to shelter millions of homeless survivors throughout Asia and to rebuild entire towns is in short supply because many coastal forests lay in ruin. Farmlands and rice paddies have been inundated with salty seawater, and it could be years before the soil can again sustain crops.

A recent statement from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, said indirect impacts to the natural environment includes "hazardous chemicals, oils, paints, Freons, cleansers," and other toxins that were washed out to sea as the water retreated.

The destruction to the fisheries, agricultural land, and beaches has devastated the economies of local communities dependent on natural resources and tourism. Those are top concerns for environmental experts as well.

"One of the most immediate impacts has to do with food security," says Ian Dutton, director of conservation measures at The Nature Conservancy. "Something like 53 percent of all of the protein for Indonesians comes from fish, and if those coral reefs are badly affected, the fish have no habitat to live in, and there is no food security there for the people,"

Bill Eichbaum with World Wi<img src="%%dir[1]%%storyoctopus.gif" border="0" alt="image" name="image" hspace="5" vspace="5" align="left" width="220" height="168" />ldlife Fund’s endangered species program agrees that the damage to fisheries and agriculture could be severe.

"The long-term damage is hard to speculate about at this point," Eichbaum says. "The environment is in trouble, there’s no question."
Assessing the toll

The U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently announced that the tsunamis destroyed much of the fishing infrastructure in communities along the Indian Ocean. Coastal villages in the Maldives, Sumatra and other countries are all but obliterated as fishing vessels and equipment were washed out to sea.

Environmental groups told CNN that initial inspections show many coastal mangroves and sensitive coral reefs could be in trouble.

"Some reports I’ve received from colleagues in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and around the Sumatra area ?uggest that there’s been extensive physical damage to the coral reefs, and some of the low-lying coastal areas including wetlands and beaches," Dutton says.

Healthy mangrove forests provide natural barriers that help minimize the effects of tidal waves and storms. Mangroves, along with coral reefs, are nursery areas for fish and shrimp vital to the health of marine ecosystems. Besides their ecological importance, Asia’s coral reefs are also a top tourist attraction and shelter numerous fish species found nowhere else in the world.

Several endangered sea turtles were harmed by the tsunamis. Biologists report that many were found either dead or injured. Due to extensive damage to nesting areas, prospects for some species’ survival are unknown.

Two rare Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in Thailand were washed about a half-mile inland into a lagoon. Although a female dolphin was freed, rescuers could not locate her calf.
Seeking higher ground

Terrestrial animals are also struggling. Preliminary reports from local wildlife officials throughout Asia indicate that many wild animals survived the tsunamis, but pets and domesticated animals like dogs, goats, cows and chickens were not as lucky.

The Humane Society International reported that many of the displaced animals are roaming streets in Thailand, Sri Lanka and other stricken countries. They are reportedly scavenging for food, surviving on the bodies of tsunami victims, both animal and human.

The dire conditions have caused some dogs to reportedly become more aggressive, and several have been rounded up by local foundations eager to protect the safety of the animals and people.

"We are conducting an initial assessment, and beginning to treat any injured animals there," says HSI Director Neil Trent. "Then we want to lay out a game plan to see how we can best help the local veterinary and agricultural community get back up and running again."

With $1 million already set aside to begin assessing the environmental aftermath of the tsunamis, U.N. officials estimate that rebuilding agriculture could take years and cost billions of dollars in international aid.

Aid organizations and local officials admit the human toll from the tsunamis may never be fully known, and a clear picture of their effects on the natural environment is a long way off.

Environment organizations and the international community have pledged to help restore both the people and their environment to health. Experts say that the restoration plan should embrace a mission to build an even stronger and more resilient ecosystem than before.

"We have to approach their environment as a triage-level medical condition," Eichbaum says. "You have to maintain what exists, plan for the most effective way to approach the rehabilitation process, then begin the steps to help the region to recover."

Gary Strieker contributed to this report