-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- ************************************************************************* *** The SEU TIMES *** *** Socio-Ecological Union Newsletter *** ************************************************************************* N 2(11) February 2000 Published by Socio - Ecological Union Center for Coordination and Information ************************************************************************ IN THE ISSUE ************************************************************************ ROSTOV NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - SPEEDING UP THE DISASTER GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS: ARE WE READY TO TAKE POSSIBLE RISKS? NO WATER WILL BE STOLEN FROM NOVGOROD FORESTS ARMENIAN FORESTS ARE AT STAKE SEU FOREST CAMPAIGN 10 YEARS OF ECODEFENSE THE KASIMOV ALTERNATIVE *********************************************************************** NUCLEAR SAFETY *********************************************************************** ROSTOV NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - SPEEDING UP THE DISASTER The results of both public and official reviews of the projected Ro- ots Nuclear Power Plant were publicized in January and February 2000. Despite the fact that both reviews commission worked with same docu- ments, the outcomes were quite different. The public review commission was set up of 44 experts, on the initiative of two Rostov region envi- ronmental organization - the Green Don movement and Rostov Public En- vironmental Center. In its work public commission had to overcome dif- ferent obstacles, created by official authorities. For example, accor- ding to the Russian legislation, public review has right to access all documentation concerning the project. In reality, review participants had to prove these rights almost every day of work. The public commis- sion came to conclusion that the NPP project had many mistakes, inner controversies and did not comply with the current requirements for NPP and environmental safety. The conclusions of the public review had be- en passed to the State environmental committee and to the official en- vironmental review commission and were to be taken in account while making decision on the project. However, the official commission deci- ded that the NPP project was safe. It is eve more surprising, as the project has not changed since year 1995, when first official environ- mental review for the Rostov NPP was held. Then the review decision carried the set of recommendations, which were to be fulfilled before the project could start. However, today Minatom - the Ministry for nuclear energy - need unconditionally positive decision, as it is in haste to stuff its new NPP with the plutonium fuel. It is the only re- ason for building this power plant, as today Rostov region has enough electricity meet its needs. The story of public resistance to Rostov NPP is already long, and it seems, that new chapters will be written in it very soon, as nobody is going to give in. *********************************************************************** BIOSAFETY *********************************************************************** GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS: ARE WE READY TO TAKE POSSIBLE RISKS? This question was in focus of attention of prominent Ukrainian scien- tists, representatives of Ministry of Environment and Natural Resour- ces, Ministry of Health Care, Ministry of Science and Education, bio- tech companies' PR managers as well as green NGOs activists who parti- cipated in a roundtable discussion that was devoted to the problem of GM foods and took place on February 15 in Kiev. The question turned out to be a difficult one: there were many contradictory answers. Eco- logists and some of the scientists don't think that possible effects of GM-products on the environment and human health are studied well enough to grow transgenics in large quantities in our gardens and then flood the market with altered organisms without even taking care to label them. "Each customer has a right to choose - whether he/she will consume transgenic or organic foods" - this is the viewpoint of the ecologists - "the constant opponents of such advanced companies as Monsanto, Novartis and Aventis" as they were called by Monsanto repre- sentatives. The transinternational producers of GM-foods as well as some scientists believe genetic engineering to be an epoch-making dis- covery. Referring to the experience of the United States and Canada, they insisted that Ukraine should smooth the way for biotech foods and approve their use in our country. Noteworthy that it is happening at the time when transgenics meet with growing resistance from European customers who insist on further testing (provided people are not trea- ted like guinea-pigs, as it may happen in Ukraine). The British go- vernment, for instance, requires special labelling on foods containing altered ingredients including those that are on restaurant menus. Con- cerning Ukraine, there is no law that would regulate the spread of transgenics on its territory. Ukrainian delegation participated in the international meeting in Montreal which resulted in drafting up the Biosafety Protocol that applies the precautions principle to the spre- ad and use of GMOs. Participants of the meeting - Andriy Ostapenko (Ministry of environment and Natural resources), Tetyana Topchiy ("Green Dossier") and Olga Berlova (Socio-ecological Union, Russia) - introduced those present at the round table discussion to the history of this international document, its positive and negative points. Ne- vertheless most contributors to the discussion focused on the main qu- estion of the press-club and the debates at times almost lead to di- rect confrontation. The biotech companies' PR managers could neither agree with the ecologists nor refute their data that proved the unsa- fety of GM-products. The question of possible risks associated with the use of biotech foods still remains vexing. Probably the organizers of the press-club, journalists of the Charity Informational Centre "Green Dossier", will come back to this topic more than once. But how can one objectively cover all aspects of the problem and introduce all the interested parts, when the very next day you appear behind the do- or of your cordial guest? Monsanto, apparently having no need for al- ternative opinions and unexpected questions on behalf of journalists, conducted its own press-briefing the day before the press-club discus- sion. The "Green Dossier" that invited Monsanto representatives to ta- ke part in the discussion did not receive invitation to Monsanto's press briefing. Though, it may have been only a coincidence. It just happened so that Monsanto PR department decided to conduct its press-briefing in the framework of their advertising campaign a day earlier than the press-club discussion that raised the question of possible risks associated with GMOs and where Monsanto PR men had to work hard once again. EcoWeek Bulletin of Green Dossier *********************************************************************** JUSTICE *********************************************************************** NO WATER WILL BE STOLEN FROM NOVGOROD FORESTS December, 1999. Moscow water state enterprise lost the case against Valday National Park lo- cated in Novgorod region in Northern part of Russia. State bodies were sued by the Park because of the illegal construction and using of the dam on the biggest lake of the famous park. All the project activities should have passed state environmental impact assessment, but it was not done and dam was built to pump drinking water for Moscow. Accor- ding to the experts the water of the lake is clear enough to drink it without purification. The regional court decision was to stop using the facility destroying the unique natural complex of the river Yavon' which sprang from the lake, and its surroundings. *********************************************************************** FOREST *********************************************************************** ARMENIAN FORESTS ARE AT STAKE Joint session of Ministry of Nature Conservation of Armenia (former USSR republic in Transcaucasia) and Armenian Academy of Science was held in February in Erevan, capital of the country. Ministry of Nature Conservation reported on the results of the project they launched in one of forest holdings to restore the forest complex destroyed by the war with neighboring Azerbaijan and energy crisis of 1990-ies. Illegal logging in the country resulted in an elimination of over than 300 thousand cubic meters of forests. It will be no exaggeration in saying that this sunny and very dry land is facing catastrophe now. To grow a tree here is harder than wherever else at the European continent beca- use ancient and beautiful Armenian land is as droughtier as stony. Ar- menian NGOs are planing workshop on the issue at the end of May. Goal of the seminar will be to work out a project aimed at restoration and development of Armenian forest complex. They are asking for help: - they are looking for independent experts from public organizations who might come to Armenia and take part in the workshop which will include discussions in the office and field trips; - they also will appreciate any financial support of the workshop. Armenian nature will reward you! - Grant Sargsyan, Eco-Club "Tapan" Contact: e-mail: grant@ta- pan.infocom.amilink.net *********************************************************************** SEU FOREST CAMPAIGN On February 10 the SEU Council has adopted the SEU Forest Campaign. The main goals are to promote the conservation of the unique forest ecosystems and to promote the transfer of the forestry and the forest industry to sustainable development. In reality, the SEU Forest Campa- ign has been active and has achieved a lot long before it was adopted officially. Among the achievements one should mention well-known cam- paign for the Karelian old-growth forest protection. As the result, logging in the most valuable areas was stopped and now the establish- ment of the nature reserves in the most valuable areas is in process. In the Far East in 1992-93 we managed to stop the logging at the futu- re Botchinsky reserve, and since 1998 the work aimed to save the Cent- ral Sikhote - Alin forests were started. In 1994 - 95 the World Bank funding of 4.7 mln $US for Siberian moth outbreak suppression shifting from chemical to biological methods was raised; The Forest bulletin on forest issues for NGO representatives and people involved in Russian forestry is published quarterly in hard copies. Information exchange and contacts with national and international colleagues, continues are two of the most important tools for increasing the abilities of former Soviet Union organizations to participate in and have an influence on decision making processes within their countries. The situation of Russian forestry, including the presence of foreign industry, is chan- ging and developing at such a rapid rate that it is essential that in- formation is made available not only to foreign colleagues but also within Russia to the public at large. Several of the organizations which have been most actively working on forest issues are now in a position to share their expertise and assist other local groups in ta- king part in the work. Due to the increasing involvement of foreign activity in Russia, the demand for regular information updates from Russian NGOs on current forestry practices and developments has incre- ased correspondingly. In response, an electronic "Forest Update" is now sent out bimonthly on mailing list. It allows different groups within Russian and foreign groups working on Russian forest issues to receive quick information on decisions made on different official le- vels, planned decisions, different forest related activities by go- vernment, business and NGOs, initiatives etc. The English version tends to focus on all FSU countries serve for closer cooperation on Russian forest issues. Through the years 1997 - 99 The Russian Forest Update Russian and English version has gained a significant number of interested recipients. To quote one of the constant users of both ver- sions from Scandinavia- "it is extremely useful as gives quick and exact picture of what is going on the vast area to the East". This electronic publication allowed keeping an eye of different processes going in Russia and CIS both Russian and foreign interested auditori- um. Together with other NGOs the voluntary certification process ac- cording to Forest Stewardship Council system has been started. The SEU members are participating in the national workgroup on Russian certi- fication criteria development. The SEU Forest Campaign aims on development of the full scale SEU Fo- rest Program. According to one of the SEU Forest Campaign initiators, Vladimir Zakharov, the full scale Program will become a reality, when all SEU members and allies, dealing with forest problems, will be in- terested in joint activities. The discussion of such program activiti- es has already started within SEU community. One of the activities currently planned by the SEU Forest Campaign is work on conservation of the mountain old-growth forest in Armenia, in collaboration with ecoclub Tapan. In year 1999 we started work on the identification and collection of the "positive initiatives" in forestry. Unfortunately, we don't have too much of the positive examples yet, but some of the positive elements we managed to discover are really valuable. These practices may give the start to sustainability in forestry. Many of the SEU members and other organizations are interested in forest plan- ting, and this is the initiative that must be supported by all means. The Forest Campaign works to connect these groups and to facilitate the networking among them. Many of the groups still lack the experien- ce needed, and we are working on a special handbook for those, ho want to plant their own forest. To learn more about SEU forest activities, you may visit the www.forest.ru site. *********************************************************************** COMMUNITY MEMBERS *********************************************************************** 10 YEARS OF ECODEFENSE ECODEFENSE! is an international, non-governmental, non-profit, envi- ronmental organization founded in 1990 in Kaliningrad (former Koenigs- berg), Russia; a member of the Social Ecological Union. ECODEFENSE! stands on principles of deep ecology, biocentrism, and non-violence combined with social responsibility and justice. ECODEFENSE! works to inform and involve more ordinary citizens to environmental and social activity through the organizing of educational events, environmental campaigns, non-violent direct actions and the spreading environmental information, co-operation with the legislative authorities. ECODEFEN- SE! is working to stop violations over human rights and insists that the rights for a healthy environment and information are fundamental rights must be available for every single person. ECODEFENSE! urge: We have no right for any compromises in the defense of our Mother-Earth, at least because this is only Earth we can live on! ECODEFENSE! branc- hes exist in Moscow, Voronezh and Sophia WHAT WE DO ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (SINCE 1993) - Organizing various events (exhibitions, concerts, and video-shows, clean-ups) aimed to bring the public attention to different environ- mental problems; - - Annual youth environmental summer camp (together with Kaliningrad youth environmental organization OZON); - - Teacher's training, developing the methodical materials and curriculum; PUBLIC COUNCIL ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION In October, 1998, given the experience accumulated, the favorable re- lationship and cooperation with the local parliament (Kaliningrad Du- ma) Committee on environment and natural sources, ECODEFENSE came up with the suggestion to establish the Public Council on Environmental Education attached to the local parliament. This structure united te- achers of kindergartens, schools, universities, activists of non-go- vernmental organizations, employees of libraries, museums, the natio- nal park - representatives of the education system who are able to contribute to establishment and development of effective system of en- vironmental education as one of necessary conditions for sustainable development of Kaliningrad region. The Council is aimed to assist in development and implementation of the common policy in the field of environmental education in the region. "IGORNY DOM" INFORMATION AND METHODICAL MAGAZINE ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDU- CATION Games as methods of environmental education Published quarterly since 1996, in Russian, 500-700 copies of an issue, 15 issues are ava- ilable to date. In Russia distributed for free. Addressed to kinder- gartens and schools teachers, colleges and universities teachers, children's and youth environmental camp organizers, clubs leaders, students of pedagogical faculties, libraries, museums, national parks and preserves staff, activists of non-governmental organizations, - in a word, to everyone involved into endless scopes of environmental edu- cation. Objectives of the magazine: - accumulating and broad disseminating of best examples of Russian and foreign experiences in the field of EE; - - uniting like-minded enthu- siasts; - - supporting creative initiatives in the field of EE; - - developing and forming new models of teaching, which facilitate buil- ding of environmental culture. The world is changing so quickly that human beings do not have time to adapt the changes caused by them themselves. New dangers and threats arise, the total risk is growing. In order to decrease it, it is nee- ded to understand and take into consideration the total combination of risk factors. What is needed in the education is shifting from teac- hing "facts" to learning sense of events, developing ecological huma- nistic worldview, mastering skills to use knowledge learnt. For that active methods of educating should be used. COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION (SINCE 1990) - "Ecodefense!", the only in the region alternative environmental ma- gazine; - Public environmental library (archive materials, documents, periodicals, books, video); - - Co-operation with the local media (preparation of environ-mental materials, the specialized public awa- reness and comprehension increasing heading in one of the Kaliningrad newspaper, press-conferences); - Publication of brochures ("Report on the energy situation in Kaliningrad region", 1997; "Report on possibi- lities for alternative energy sources in Kaliningrad region", 1998; "Nuclear Energy. Questions and answers", 1996; "Antinuke Book for very beginners", 1998; "Multinational Corporations. Questions and answers. A brief guide", 1998), postcards, leaflets. "ECODEFENSE" MAGAZINE "Ecozashita" ("Ecodefense") magazine is published in Kaliningrad by ECODEFENSEinform agency. The agency was formed in 1993 when it became clear in accordance with the strategy of ECODEFENSE that one of the main objectives of the group is gathering and spreading of reliable environmental information. Today ECODEFENSEinform is: - "Ecodefense" magazine, radical environmental publication, ideally 4 issues a year, in Russian, distributed via post and at meetings with Ecodefensers; - "Igorny Dom", specialized information methodical magazine on environ- mental education, 4 issues a year, in Russian, distributed via post and at meetings with Ecodefensers; - electronic weekly information bulletin "Anti-Atom Press", in Russian; - electronic information bulletin "ex-USSR Nuke News", in English; - - weekly program "Environmental Comments" on Kaliningrad radio; - - Information bulletin on nuclear energy WISE News Communique - Rus- sian version, monthly. ECODEFENSE! has accumulated an experience of information gathering, preparing and distributing: publishing its own printed and electronic editions, preparations of the materials for the official mass media. Such editions are an effective means of ecological information sprea- ding, they are also able to help in environmental campaign organizing and to promote environmetally friendly projects. "Ecozashita" ("Ecode- fense") magazine published since spring 1994 (there are 17 issues ava- ilable at the moment) and distributed for free (and in exchange to ot- her publications, information and articles for the magazine or for further distribution) in Russia and the CIS The main themes discovered in the magazine are the environmental movement in Russia and abroad, protest actions, conferences, projects, global processes, nuclear po- wer and alternative energy sources, anarchy movement, sustainable way of living and alternative culture. Being the only specialized environ- mental periodical edition in the region, the magazine publishes not only environmental news. This is a magazine of social-cultural focus promoting the values alternative to the consumer society ones, and in the first instance, trying to foster the environmental responsibility for the human deeds. We give a reader a choice which might help him to resist to the mass culture mainstream that falls upon him from the of- ficial mass media nowadays. ANTINUCLEAR CAMPAIGN (since 1990) - Organizing various projects and actions against Russian and foreign nuclear industry (NPPs, nuclear waste, transportations, MOX-fuel, and other nuclear energy problems); - - The "AntiAtom-Press" electronic bulletin, in Russian; - - The "NukeNews in ex-USSR" electronic bulle- tin, in English; - - Russian version of the WISE (the World Informati- on Service on Energy) News Communique bulletin; - - Annual antinuclear summer camp. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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