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Environment Action Alerts for December 1999
from the Wilderness Society
Dec.1,' 99
Action Alert - NSW South Coast Forests threatened by
Regional Forest
Agreement
______________________________________________________________________
The South Coast Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) will be
decided very soon.
This will decide which areas of forest will be
protected on the south
coast of NSW, and which areas are handed over the
woodchipping industry
for the next 20 years.
Negotiations for the NSW South Coast Regional Forest
Agreement (RFA) have
largely been completed, and letters to NSW Premier Bob
Carr are urgently
needed to stop many icon forests being left open for
logging and
woodchipping over the next 20 years.
Many important 'icon' forest areas which have been
identified for
protection by the conservation movement have been left
out of options
prepared by the NSW Government.
It is particularly disturbing that all options for
reservation so far
developed rely on logging old-growth forests remaining
outside the reserve
system.
Please write to Bob Carr and tell him that these icon
forests must be
protected (see below). Tell him that the South Coast
must be a
woodchip-free zone, that there must be no "integrated
harvesting" (ie
intensive logging or clearfelling), and that there must
be no old-growth
forest or wilderness logging.
For details on the icon forests under threat, visit
http://www.wilderness.org.au/projects/Action_alerts/iconforest.html
For a full description of the South Coast forests and
Community Reserve
Proposals prepared by the conservation movement, visit
http://www.nccnsw.org.au/southernforests
Write to:
Premier Bob Carr
Level 40, Governor Macquarie Tower
Sydney NSW 2000
Fax: (02) 9228 3935
The Hon. Bob Debus
Minister for the Environment
GPO Box 31
Sydney NSW 2000
Fax: (02) 9281 1115
______________________________________________________________________
Buy online: give a Wilderness Society calendar for
Christmas
______________________________________________________________________
http://www.wilderness.org.au/shop
The Wilderness Society's award winning calendars, diary
and screen saver
can now be purchased securely online at
http://www.wilderness.org.au/shop
Calendars can be mailed anywhere in Australia or the
world.
Email info@wilderness.org.au to see if it's still
possible to mail
calendars to your destinations in time for Christmas.
______________________________________________________________________
Great Barrier Reef Prawn Trawling Campaign now online
______________________________________________________________________
http://www.wilderness.org.au/reef
Prawn trawling is an archaic, wasteful technology that
is one of the
greatest threats to biodiversity in the Great Barrier
Reef Region.
The Wilderness Society is pursuing the creation of a
new prawn industry in
Queensland; one that is ecologically sustainable as
well as socially and
economically viable.
______________________________________________________________________
Latest Media Releases
______________________________________________________________________
* Logging industry ignores Huon community concerns - 30
November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991130_mr.html
* Yumbarra - the Seven Deadly Sins - 26 November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991126_mr.html
* SA Government's Hidden Agenda Clearly Revealed - 22
November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991122_mr.html
* Community action against CALM's new regulations - 19
November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991119_calm_regs.html
* Government negotiations may see icon forests
woodchipped
- 18 November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991118_mr.html
* NSW Government proposes 200+% increase in South Coast
logging
- 18 November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991118_mr2.html
* The Wilderness Society will continue to speak out
- 11 November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991111_mr.html
* What does Keith Williams want now? - 02 November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991102_mr.html
* World Heritage proclamation for Hinchinbrook Channel
under threat by
developer - 02 November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991102_mr2.html
* Is your bluechip a woodchip? - 01 November 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/news/media/19991101_mr.html
______________________________________________________________________
Forthcoming Events
______________________________________________________________________
* Visit the Secret Giants of the Styx Valley (Tasmania)
- 05 December 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/calendar/19991205_ev.html
* Wilderness slideshow (Launceston) - 09 December 1999
http://www.wilderness.org.au/calendar/19991209_ev.html
* Moonlight Cinema (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide) - 24
January 2000
http://www.wilderness.org.au/calendar/20000124_ev.html
* Living Rivers Festival (Hobart) - 10 March 2000
http://www.wilderness.org.au/calendar/20000310_livers.html
______________________________________________________________________
Regional Forest Agreement Bill Update - 24 November
1999
______________________________________________________________________
http://www.wilderness.org.au/projects/Forests/rfabillupd.html
The crucial amendment that required RFA's signed since
March 1998 to be
subject to parliamentary scrutiny (i.e., all those
except in Tasmania and
Victoria) has again been passed. Thank you to everyone
who wrote, faxed
or emailed the ALP and urged them to stand firm on
this.
The amended Bill will return to the House in the near
future. If the Bill
is rejected by the House a third time it will provide a
double dissolution
trigger. It will be interesting to see whether the
Government willl risk
this, and whether Labor will continue to remain firm
now that the ante has
been upped another notch.
______________________________________________________________________
Exciting New Translation Feature
______________________________________________________________________
At the bottom of each page of The Wilderness Society's
website, you will
find a link called "Translate this page".
This exciting feature - provided by
babelfish.altavista.com - will
translate our webpages from English into French,
Spanish, Portugese,
Italian and German.
Hopefully, this will allow us to get the word our about
wilderness
protection even further. You can help by letting all
your friends and
relatives in Australia and overseas who don't use
English as their
primarly language know about this facility.
______________________________________________________________________
This message comes to you from The Wilderness Society
News List.
This is a free, low-volume, announcement-only email
list, so you won't get
bombarded by messages from other people on the list. We
expect to be
sending no more than 1 or 2 messages per month to this
list.
The Wilderness Society is a national, community-based,
environmental
advocacy organisation whose mission is to protect,
promote and secure the
future of wilderness and other high conservation areas.
Since its formation in 1976, The Wilderness Society has
protected over
five million hectares of wilderness in Australia,
including Kakadu, the
Daintree, Kangaroo Island, south west Tasmania,
Australia's sub-Antarctic
Islands and Shark Bay.
To take action on behalf of wilderness today, visit our
website at
http://www.wilderness.org.au/
from WWF
Dec. 2, '99
WHAT'S NEW AT WORLD WILDLIFE FUND ONLINE:
December 2, 1999
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Who can imagine a world without pandas? Who can imagine
telling our children and grandchildren that we failed to
save them?"
--Roger Sant, WWF Board Chairman, from 1998 WWF Annual Report
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CONTENTS:
-- Pandas
-- 10 Ways to Help Save the Planet
-- WWF and Britannica.com
-- Holiday Shopping
PANDAS:
The death of Hsing-Hsing at Washington, DC's National Zoo
has renewed everyone's interest in the plight of WWF's mascot,
the panda. Did you know that only 1,000 pandas likely remain
in the world? For over 20 years, WWF has been in the forefront of
panda conservation.
Explore our new panda pages to learn more about these
captivating and all too endangered animals, to see a listing of
WWF panda conservation projects over the past 20 years, and to
hear Ginette Hemley, talking to National Public Radio's Bob
Edwards about pandas, zoos, and conservation.
www.worldwildlife.org/species/species.cfm?sectionid=95&newspaperid=21
10 WAYS TO SAVE THE PLANET: FREE ACTION KIT:
Find out 10 easy ways you can help save the planet! Just go to the
address below to get WWF's Action Kit mailed to you today:
http://www.wwf.org/forms/actions/actionkit_order.cfm
from ZPG Dec.4,
'99
You can take action on this alert either on the web or by email.
Here's what this alert is about:
Emergency Contraceptive Still Banned at all Wal-Mart Stores
----------------------
Emergency contraception is safe, effective and prohibited at all
Wal-Mart pharmacies. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer and
the fifth largest pharmacy chain in the country, has irresponsibly
decided to deprive millions of women access to PREVEN, an
FDA-approved emergency contraceptive kit. Last fall, Wal-Mart
sent a memo to all company pharmacists stating that they are not
to stock, order or dispense PREVEN as a matter of company policy.
PREVEN is a pre-packaged dose of combination hormonal pills
(regular birth control pills) which works to prevent pregnancy up
to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. It decreases a woman's
chance of getting pregnant by 75%. Researchers estimate that if
widely used, emergency contraception could prevent half of the
yearly estimated 3 million unintended pregnancies, and half of
all abortions in the United States!
As the fifth largest pharmacy in the nation, Wal-Mart has a
responsibility to provide its customers with basic medication and
with a full range of contraceptives. By refusing to provide the
one contraceptive needed in an emergency, Wal-Mart has shown complete
disregard for the health needs of the hundreds of thousands of women
who use their pharmacies every day. We need to let Wal-Mart and other
companies know that their denial of access to a safe and effective
contraceptive won't be tolerated. What will they ban next?
Please take a moment to contact David Glass, President of Wal-Mart,
letting him know that you find this decision outrageous and to urge
an immediate change in policy.
----------------------
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to a web browser, you can take action on this
alert by going to the following URL:
http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=419220A3948B944245717C83150
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
Responding via email to this alert is easy. Just choose the "reply to
sender" option on your email program, and edit the letter below as you
wish. If your email program does not have a "reply to sender" option,
you can copy and paste the letter below into a new email message and
mail it to alert-response-419220A3948B944245717C83150@actionnetwork.org.
You must include the whole letter in your response starting with
"-YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW-" and ending with "-END OF LETTER-".
We STRONGLY encourage you to make edits directly to our sample letter
below, and put the alert talking points into your own words. An
individualized letter is worth ten computer generated letters. Of
course, hundreds of unedited letters will still create a large impact,
so please reply even if you don't have time to personalize the letter.
Your letter will be addressed and sent to:
Mr. David Glass
-------YOU MAY EDIT THE LETTER BELOW---------
I am outraged at your policy to not stock or distribute PREVEN, an
FDA-approved emergency contraceptive, at any of your pharmacies.
You have a responsibility to provide your customers with access to all
basic medicines and to a full range of contraceptives.
Researchers report that PREVEN is an effective contraceptive that, if
used widely, could prevent half of the three million unintended pregnancies
that occur in the United States each year, and cut the number of abortions
in half. Emergency contraceptives are effective in preventing pregnancy
if used within 72 hours of sexual activity. Used properly, PREVEN can
decrease the chance of unintended pregnancy by 75%.
Doctors have been safely prescribing emergency contraception for decades,
and the FDA wouldn't approve its use without careful consideration of its
safety and effectiveness. By consciously refusing to provide contraceptives
that work in an emergency, you have shown contempt for the basic health needs
of the hundreds of thousands of women who use your pharmacies every day.
I am hesitant to shop at Wal-Mart until you reverse this misguided and
dangerous corporate policy.
-------END OF LETTER-------------------------
from WWF DEC.6,'99
Protect Wild Forests
Dear WWF Conservation Action Network Participant:
We need your help to push for strong and permanent
protection of
many of our country's last great wildlands - roadless
areas on our
national forest lands. These areas are among our
nation's most pristine
wild places. They provide essential habitat for fish
and wildlife and
clean drinking water for communities. The good news is
that in
October President Clinton announced his intent to
protect permanently
at least 40 million acres of federal forestland from
road building,
logging, and mining. If implemented properly, this
plan "will truly be
a historic legacy," according to Dr. Nick Brown, World
Wildlife
Fund's manager for U.S. forest conservation. The
president directed
the Forest Service to begin a year-long process of
soliciting public
comments on his proposal. The bad news is that the
timber industry
and its allies in Congress are fighting hard to weaken
the proposal.
December 20 is the deadline for the first set of
comments. Please send
the chief of the Forest Service a free message
endorsing a strong
roadless area protection policy. To take action, go to
http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org. Don't let this
chance to make
history slip by!
from Defenders of Wildlife Dec.7,'99
DEN ALERT:
PROTECT AMERICA'S LAST REMAINING FORESTS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT
Please take a minute and help protect our national forests and the
wildlife that live there. More than half of the National Forest
System has been impacted by logging, mining, oil and gas leasing,
and other industrial uses. Fortunately, 30% of national forest land
is still wild and without roads, which fragment wildlife habitat into
smaller, less useful sections. However, these roadless areas are
currently unprotected and subject to potentially damaging industrial
activities.
The U.S. Forest Service is currently accepting public comments by
e-mail from concerned citizens like you on how to best protect the
30% of our National Forests which are wild and roadless. With your
help, we can strike a balance of both protecting our last remaining
roadless forests and wildlife habitat while also continuing to allow
multiple use activities in our National Forest System.
The National Forest System provides a home to more than 3,000 wildlife
and fish species and 10,000 plant species. More than 350 forest-
dwelling species are listed as either threatened or endangered
under the Endangered Species Act.
Please take a minute to send a comment letter to the U.S. Forest
Service using the sample letter below. Your comments must be received
NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 20, 1999.
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA THE WEB:
If you have access to the web, simply click on the link below which
will take you to the DEN Action Center web site:
http://www.denaction.org/
INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPOND VIA EMAIL:
If you do not have web access, you can still respond to this alert.
Simply, choose the "reply to sender" option on your email program.
Be sure to include the original message in your reply. Then edit the
letter provided below as you wish and press SEND when you are ready.
We will make sure it is delivered correctly. You must include the
whole letter in your response starting with "==START OF LETTER=="
and ending with "==END OF LETTER==."
We strongly encourage you to personalize the letter provided below
by putting the letter in your own words or adding personal thoughts.
A personalized letter is viewed as more important than a computer
generated one. However, hundreds of unedited letters will still have
a large impact. Therefore, please reply even if you don't have time
to personalize the letter.
==== START OF LETTER - ALERT 2 ==== DO NOT REMOVE THIS MARKER
Dear Forest Service:
I applaud the recent announcement that you will be preparing a
roadless area protection policy. I urge you to protect the 60 million
acres of remaining roadless wild lands in our national forests, which
provide excellent recreational opportunities for millions of Americans,
habitat for wildlife, and clean water for communities.
Forests are extremely important for wildlife. Species like brown
bears, wolves, moose, bald eagles, otters, salmon and migratory
song birds all need wild and protected roadless areas to survive.
I urge you to adopt a policy that:
* Contains strong and effective protection for roadless areas from
all damaging activities, including logging, mining, and off-road
motorized vehicles,
* Provides immediate and permanent protection for ALL roadless areas
1000 acres and larger in all national forests, including the Tongass
National Forest in Alaska, and
* Does not defer protection of roadless areas to the forest planning
process.
We all have a responsibility to protect these roadless and wild
forests for the wildlife that depend on them and for future
generations of Americans. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.
Sincerely,
(Your name and signature will automatically be added here)
==== END OF LETTER - ALERT 2 ==== DO NOT REMOVE THIS MARKER
BACKGROUND
Recently, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it would begin a
comprehensive analysis, including extensive public comment, on how
best to protect 40 million acres of the largest roadless areas in
the National Forest System from damaging new road construction. The
announcement is one step closer to adopting a comprehensive roadless
areas protection policy next year. Conservationists hope the final
policy will permanently protect the remaining 60 million acres of
virgin forests from both roads and timber and oil and gas activities.
Of the 192 million acres managed by the U.S. Forest Service, 52% of
that acreage has been impacted by decades of timber cutting, other
industrial uses and extensive road building. Another 18% is permanently
protected as federally designated wilderness. The remaining 30% of
public forest lands, or about 60 million acres, are currently wild
but unprotected. These forestlands make up "America's Heritage
Forests" and the National Forest System's last untouched scenic
wilderness. Conservation organizations, including Defenders of
Wildlife, are working to protect our remaining forested roadless
areas because they provide fish and wildlife habitat vital to
endangered species and to maintaining our nation's biological
diversity, our cleanest drinking water and outstanding recreation
opportunities.
For the past few years, the effect of national forest roads on
wildlife and scenic areas have been heatedly debated in Congress. In
total, 377,810 miles of official roads criss-cross our National
Forest System – enough to circle the earth 15 times and eight times
the combined length of the U.S. interstate highway system. Dirt
logging roads, carved through forested wilderness, fragment habitat
for endangered wildlife such as grizzly bears and lynx, introduce
damaging exotic pests and plants and erode causing landslides and
sediment to fill streams, choking fish and aquatic species like
salmon.
from Global Response
Dec.9,'99
Earlier this year we issued two Emergency Actions concerning the abduction
and murder of people in the Embera Katio indigenous community in Colombia.
Embera Katio leaders were killed by paramilitary forces because of the
community's opposition to construction of a dam on the Sinu river.
In November we circulated another call for emails and faxes (reproduced
below).
Here is an update, showing again how urgently the Embera Katio people
need international support.
Please respond to the call for faxes and emails if you can.
DECEMBER 5, 1999
COLOMBIA: INDIGENOUS TRIBE MARCHES, OCCUPIES FLOOD PLAIN
Several dozen indigenous Colombians from the Embera Katio tribe
have begun a 700-kilometer march on foot to Bogota from their
Alto Sinu reservation in Tierralta municipality, Cordoba
department, to demand the suspension of a hydroelectric project
that will flood their lands, and to protest the threats made
against them by armed groups. The Embera Katio leaders said they
have been declared "military targets" by groups angered over
their opposition to the hydroelectric project. [Vientos del Sur
12/4/99] The paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia
(AUC) are headquartered in Tierralta [see Update #466].
On Nov. 29, another group of 40 Embera Katio families from the
Alto Sinu--some 200 women, men and children in all--moved to an
area facing imminent flooding by the Urra 1 hydroelectric dam and
began settling in for a long-term occupation to accompany the 20
families who normally live at the site [see Update #513]. Another
50 families are expected to join them; the Embera Katio are also
asking supporters from outside their community to participate in
the occupation. [Statement 11/29/99 by Embera Katio tribal
authorities <camaemka@col3.telecom.com.co>]
******************************************************
Distribuido por: Distributed by:
'AMAZON ALLIANCE' FOR INDIGENOUS AND
TRADITIONAL PEOPLES OF THE AMAZON BASIN
1367 Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036-1860
tel (202)785-3334
fax (202)785-3335
amazoncoal@igc.org
http://www.amazoncoalition.org
Disclaimer: All copyrights belong to original publisher.
The Amazon Alliance has not verified the accuracy of the forwarded
message. Forwarding this message does not necessarily connote agreement
with the positions stated there-in.
WEEKLY NEWS UPDATE ON THE AMERICAS
November 28, 1999
COLOMBIA: COMPANY STARTS FLOODING INDIGENOUS LANDS
On Nov. 18, the Urra S.A. company began filling its dam on the
Sinu river in Colombian department of Cordoba, with authorization
from the Environment Ministry. Indigenous leaders of the Embera
Katio community of the Alto Sinu region charge that this action
has been taken without consulting with the communities, without
relocating local residents who will be flooded out of their
homes, and without indigenous authorization for use of the
territory.
The filling of the dam will directly affect indigenous
homes and crops and will flood various sacred sites, causing
destruction of the social, economic and cultural life of the
Doza, Beguido and Amborromia communities, home to 24 families.
CALL FOR EMAILS AND FAXES FROM INTERNATIONAL SUPPORTERS:
Indigenous leaders are asking supporters to send urgent messages
to President Andres Pastrana Arango (by fax to +571-284-2186,
289-3377 or 286-7434 or by email to pastrana@presidencia.gov.co)
and Environment Minister Juan Mayr Maldonado (fax +571-288-9788 or 288-9892
or by email to jmayr@minamb.gov.co)
demanding that the filling of the dam be called off pending true
consultation with the communities.
[Urgent Action from Embera Katio community 11/18/99]
--------------------------------------
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace
and
justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops
"Actions"
that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each
"Action"
asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to
educate and
motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.
P.O. Box 7490 Phone: 303/444-0306
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490 Fax: 303/449-9794
To receive Global Response "Actions" and "Emergency Actions"
by email:
Send a blank message to: globresmembers-subscribe@igc.topica.com
Visit our website at: http://www.globalresponse.org
--------------------------------------
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace
and
justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops
"Actions"
that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each
"Action"
asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to
educate and
motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.
P.O. Box 7490 Phone: 303/444-0306
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490 Fax: 303/449-9794
To receive Global Response "Actions" and "Emergency Actions"
by email:
Send a blank message to: globresmembers-subscribe@igc.topica.com
Visit our website at: http://www.globalresponse.org
from Global Response Dec.10,
'99
Dear Members of the Global Response
"Quick Response Network:"
Please take a few minutes to send a letter or fax to Indian authorities,
expressing your concern about violent attacks on the office and staff of
the Save the Narmada River Movement (Narmada Bachao Andolan). For
details
about the Save the Narmada River Movement, please read the current Global
Response Action Alert on our website: www.globalresponse.org.
This Action Alert was issued by Friends of Narmada and International
Rivers Network.
----
ACTION ALERT - Dec. 9, 1999
SPEAK OUT TO DENOUNCE VIOLENT ATTACK ON NARMADA BACHAO ANDOLAN OFFICE
Dear Friends,
Last night, six people armed with knives and guns broke into the office of
the Narmada Bachao Andolan in Baroda and ransacked the office, destroying
files and assaulting an activist. The intruders threatened that they will
not hesitate to kill if the NBA does not leave the state of Gujarat
immediately. We urge you to speak out against the attacks on the offices of
the NBA and the Gujarat state government's tacit support of these actions.
Please read below for more info and press releases from the NBA on the
attacks.
Sincerely,
Shripad Dharmadhikary
Narmada Bachao Andolan
Patrick McCully
International Rivers Network
*************************************
ACTION ALERT
**ARMED THUGS ATTACK NBA OFFICE : OFFICE RANSACKED, DOCUMENTS DESTROYED
Early today morning (9 December 1999), at about 2:20 AM (i.e. the night of
8 December), some 6 miscreants carrying knives and revolver got into the
NBA office in Baroda and burnt a few files, threw some out of the window
and stole Rs. 20,000. This happened when activist Raghu was alone in the
office. Hearing a knock, thinking that it is already morning, he opened the
door and he was pushed to a corner and the intruders and covered him with a
few blankets and razzaiies - mildly assaulting him and asked him not to
move. Then they went in the inside room and ransacked the place. The actual
loss of documents is being assessed. As per message last received from
Baroda, Nandini and Sukumar had reached there. The police too had reached
and were investigating.
It should be noted that the NBA has been receiving several threats in the
last few months. These have been reported to the police but they have
failed to take any action. In the first week of November an anonymous
caller called twice and asked that the Baroda office be immediately
vacated, else it would be "destroyed". A compliant was made to the
police
but no action has been taken. Earlier, a well known religious leader Swami
Satchidanand had called on the police to kill NBA activists in
"encounters"
. This was done at a public function - the inauguration of the boiler of a
sugar factory in the SSP command. A complaint has been filed with the
police but no action is seen.
It is clearly the lack of any action by Gujarat Government that has
emboldened the thugs to carry out their attack in such a blatant manner.
Indeed, the way those involved in the earlier attack on NBA office (in
1994) were allowed to go scotfree by the Gujarat Government, it is a signal
that the Gujarat Government is sending that it will look the other way and
allow such things to continue. The miscreants have clearly assumed that the
tacit support of the Gujarat Government will back them up and given the
past events, it is not an incorrect conclusion.
It may be recalled that earlier this year, when noted writer Arundhati
Roy's book on the Narmada, "The Greater Common Good" was published,
certain
political organisations had burnt copies of it in Gujarat, and then
threatened bookstores not to stock it or face arson. The Gujarat Government
took no action against this public threat.
Yesterday's incident of attack on the office once again highlights the
attempts by certain elements in Gujarat to use terror tactics to suppress
any open discussion and debate on Narmada. These handful of people can get
away with such actions only because of clear if tacit support from the
Gujarat Government and police. They have been further emboldened by the
clear signals given by the Gujarat Government in the last few months as is
seen from the above discussed events.
REQUEST FOR ACTION
--------------------------------------
We request all those who are concerned about the lack of democratic space
in Gujarat to write immediately to the CHIEF MINISTER Gujarat Government
condemning the incident as also the inaction of Gujarat Government in the
previous incidents, taking serious note of its tacit support to such
actions, and demanding prompt, effective, and exemplary action against the
attackers. You should also ask that the Government ensure safety of the NBA
office in Baroda as also of the activists and to take steps to ensure such
incidents are not repeated.
Please Also write to the PRIME MINSTER, condemning the incident and
demanding immediate action, and to ensure safety of the NBA office and
activists.
For more info, you can contact the Narmada Bachao Andolan's Bombay office
at 91-22-557 4895 (Joe / Sanjay).
FAXES/ADDRESSES TO SEND LETTERS TO
----------------------------
*Mr Keshubhai Patel
Chief Minister of Gujarat
Nava Sachivalaya
Gandhinagar
Gujarat, 382 010
India
Fax: +91 (2712) 22101
Mr A.B. Vajpayee
Prime Minister of India
South Block, New Delhi 110 004
INDIA
Fax: +91 (11) 301 6857/301 9817
************************
Narmada Bachao Andolan
B-13, Shivam Flats, Ellora Park, Baroda
Mumbai contacts: Parvin Jehangir 2184779, 2185832, Mahendra Singh,
Amrita,
Joe - 5574895
PRESS RELEASE/ 9.12.99
NBA activist attacked: NBA Baroda office cum residence ransacked, documents
torn and burnt, Computer damaged, money stolen. NBA asked to leave Gujarat
or face dire consequences.
Last night at 2 am, 6 unidentified men barged into NBA office in Baroda and
attacked NBA activist Raghu Raghuvanshi and ransacked the office causing
severe damage to documents, computer, documents were set on fire and
they
made away with Rs 20,000/- cash.The six men also threatened that they have
been repeatedly telling the NBA to leave Gujarat and if now their warning
is not taken seriously, they would even kill.
On barging into the office two of the six men, caught NBA activist Raghu
and pinned him down after beating him up. He was made to shut his mouth at
a Gun and Knife point by two of the six persons, while Raghu was being
pinned down and manhandled he received minor knife wound and his shirt
torn. The remaining four completely ransacked and damaged the office. All
this lasted for half an hour and than the unidentified youth left taking
away Rs.20,000. These attackers were continuously threatening and warning
that the NBA must leave Gujarat immediately or else they will even not
hesitate in killing.
It is important to point that NBA has been receiving anonymous threatening
calls since October this year. A written complaint to the Commissioner of
the Police, Baroda was made on 16-10-99 to take immediate action. There was
an inquiry in response to this complaint on 21-10-99 by PSI of Ellora
Park
Police Station. Also a complaint was made in writing to the DSP against a
highly provocative public statement by Swami Sachidanand which was printed
in Gujarat Mitra a local leading News Paper on 17-9-99. Acknowledgements of
this complaint received on 11-10-99. A formal complaint against the
statement of Swami Sachidanand was also made to the PUCL. In spite of these
complaints anonymous threatening calls had continued ultimately resulting
into the attack on 9-12-99 early morning at 2.00 am.
One may recall that a similar attack and ransacking of the NBA baroda
office had taken place in March 1994 by leading Politicians of Gujarat
belonging to both, BJP and the Congress. This attack took place in full
view of press photographers present on the sight and the press had
extensively covered the photographs of attackers while they were attacking
and sabotaging the office.The photographs of MR Nalin Bhatt of BJP (Ex
health and Education Minister, present chairman of GEB), Dr Rajendra
Rathore the Ex Mayor of Baroda, Mr Yogesh Akolkar of Congress were printed
while they were ransacking the office. While they were burning the
documents, even the Police were present. A judicial inquiry was also
initiated. In spite of nationwide protests, documentary evidence and a
Judicial probe, nothing has come of it even after 5 years. Similar attack
also took place in May 1993 on a conference of Water organised in Ahmedabad
in which leading writer of Gujarat Ashwini Bhatt, a senior Gandhian Raju
Purohit and others were beaten up as they were supporters of NBA. This
whole event too was recorded on Vedio and submitted to the Police. Many
such Attacks have taken place on NBA activists during public Meetings at
Bhavnagar, Bhuj, Ghandhidham and Navsari in full view of Public and strong
eye witnesses. On none of this occasions any action was taken by the state
or Police as each time these attacks were politically motivated.
It is indeed sad commentary on the political state of affairs of Gujarat as
not just the NBA has been attacked and targeted but even official
committees of the Central Government have not been allowed to carry out
their official function of investigating the displacement and
Environment
issues concerning the Sardar Sarovar Project in Gujarat. For example, in
June 1994 Mr Ramdhan, the Commissioner of Schedule caste and Tribe ,
Government of India was manhandled and prevented from executing his duty of
investigating the state of rehabilitation in Gujarat. A committee appointed
by the Ministry of Environment to investigate the impact on environment was
not allowed to set foot in Gujarat in the year 1994. Even the Jayant Patil
Committee, appointed by the ministry of water resources could not undertake
any field visits during their tenure of review of the Sardar Sarovar
Project. The World Commission on Dams too was prevented from coming to
Gujarat and ultimately India due to the opposition of the Government
of
Gujarat.
This shows a complete breakdown of the State Machinery in protecting the
democratic rights of the people in the State, out right violation of Human
rights by the political parties and the Government and complete
lawlessness.
Meanwhile protest statements are pouring in from all over the country,
demanding action against the culprits and protection of the Narmada Bachao
Andolan, a peaceful-non violent struggle of not just the oustees but a
popular movement in the country today. Those who have condemned the attack
are the organizations like Delhi Forum, Vadodra Kamdar Union, National
alliance of people's movements, etc. Tomorrow protest actions against this
attack will be organised at Delhi, Malegaon, Bombay- on the human rights
day.
Rehmat M
K Sukamar
Nandini Oza.
For further information please contact Alok or Silvy, 011-6221703 or Joe
Athialy -022-5574895 as our Baroda office phone is out of order.
******************************
PRESS RELEASE
December 9, 1999
PeopleIs Movements and other Organisations in Mumbai
Strongly Condemn the attack on Narmada Bachao Andolan
We strongly condemn the barbaric act of a few miscreants, who attacked the
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) office at Baroda last night.
We are clear that the hysterical atmosphere created in the state by the
Government and other politicians have incited these few to take law into
their hands. Instead of having a meaningful dialogue with NBA with facts
and figures, turning to violence is a cowardly act. Forcefully entering the
office with lethal weapons like knives and revolver, injuring an activist
and burning valuable documents is no way to deal with a non-violent
movement like NBA.
We wonder, is this the real Kar Seva which the likes of Sharad Joshi wanted
to perform? This is the continuation of earlier attack on NBA office
on
March 21, 1994, where MLA, Mayor and others of both BJP and Congress burned
valuable files and destroyed materials.
We mince no words to condemn this fascist action, overtly or covertly
scripted and performed by the State and a few politicians, in this eve of
Human Rights Day.
1. Mihir Desai Indian Centre for Human
Rights and Law
2. Deepak Mepani Kutch Development
Forum
3. Deepika - Indian PeopleIs Tribunal on
Environment and Human Rights
4. Adv.Collin Gonsalvis Human
Right Law Network
5. Mahendra Singh National
Alliance of People's Movements
6. Rajan Singh Adivasi Rights Law
Network
7. Rajendra Sail INSAF
8. Hasina Khan Awaz-E-Niswan
9. Ashok Kumar - Save Western Ghats Movement
10. Bharat Mansatta Earthcare Books
11. Kavita YUVA
12. Shanawas Pathan Manav Mukthi Morcha,
Maharashtra
13. Vasudev Juvatkar Footpathwasi
Nagarik Sangathan
14. Sandeep Yeole Ferrywalla Vikas
Mahasangh
15. Vineeta Mansatta Intranet
16. Ulka Mahajan Soshit Jan Andolan
17. Bhavani Sashtri Students Action
Committee
18. Jagdeesh Khairalia Samajwadi Jan
Parishad
19. Aravinda / Ravi AID, India
20. Kiran Prerana
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--------------------------------------
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace
and
justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops
"Actions"
that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each
"Action"
asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to
educate and
motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.
P.O. Box 7490 Phone: 303/444-0306
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490 Fax: 303/449-9794
To receive Global Response "Actions" and "Emergency Actions"
by email:
Send a blank message to: globresmembers-subscribe@igc.topica.com
Visit our website at: http://www.globalresponse.org
from WWF Dec.16,'99
Fish
Habitat Protection Rules At Risk
We need your help to fend off a serious threat to regulations that
protect marine habitat throughout U.S waters. The National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) is accepting public comments until
December 23 on regulations to protect ocean habitat. WWF worked
hard to ensure that the Sustainable Fisheries Act of 1996 included
important mandates to protect habitat that fish need for spawning,
breeding, feeding, and growth. Getting regulations in place to
implement these mandates has been a long process. And now NMFS
is under tremendous pressure to weaken the currently strong rules.
Please send Jon Kurland, Essential Fish Habitat Coordinator of NMFS,
a free fax urging NMFS to keep the regulations strong and not to delay
their implementation any further. To take action, go to
http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org.
The Bering Sea is one example of a region at risk if the regulations are
weakened. WWF has identified the Bering Sea as one of the world's
most productive and biologically diverse marine ecosystems. Home to
more than 400 species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks, this
ecoregion is also the source of approximately half of the U.S. fish
catch. Protecting essential fish habitat is critical to maintaining the
health of the Bering Sea and all other marine systems.
WWF is issuing this alert in collaboration with the Alaska Marine
Conservation Council (www.akmarine.org),
a community-based
organization working to protect and restore our marine environment.
The Conservation Action Network works! Please visit the
"Results"
section of the Conservation Action Network Web site
(http://takeaction.worldwildlife.org/action.htm)
to learn about recent
victories, including increased funding for land protection, tigers,
rhinos, right whales, and snow leopards! Thanks to everyone who
took these actions.
from Defenders of Wildlife Dec.16,'99
DENLINES
Issue #5
Defenders Electronic Network (DEN)
Friday, December 17, 1999
1. ACTION: Defenders Launches New DEN Action
Center
2. BISON: Yellowstone Bison Vulnerable to
Slaughter As Winter Nears
3. WILD CATS: Endangered Border Cats Struggle
To Survive in SW
4. DID YOU KNOW?: Brown Pelican
5. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Peter Matthiessen
==================================================
1. ACTION: Defenders Launches New DEN Action
Center
Using new internet based technology, Defenders Electronic Network
(DEN) has established a new web-based Action Center designed to make
weighing in with your members of Congress and other government
officials on critical conservation issues as easy as just a few
clicks of your mouse. Many of you have already used the new DEN
Action Center to respond to our recent alert on protecting forest
roadless areas.
Simply go to the site and login using your e-mail address. Inside
the DEN Action site, you'll find action alerts on important issues
complete with pictures, background information and a sample letter
which can be edited or sent as is. New technology allows us to make
sure your message is correctly sent to the targeted recipient almost
instantaneously whether by e-mail or fax. We plan to add letter and
phone capacity in the coming months. Past alerts that are no longer
active can also be viewed and status information is available
explaining what happened on each issue. Another feature allows you
to send an introductory e-mail message about DEN in a matter of
seconds to as many as five of your online friends who care about
conservation. Take a look for yourself by visiting the site at
http://www.denaction.org
For our JUNO e-mail susbscribers, Defenders is currently working
with JUNO Online Services to allow special web access to the DEN
Action Center site even if you do not currently have general web
access. Stay tuned for more on this exciting development which
should be available in the new year.
2. BISON: Yellowstone Bison Vulnerable to
Slaughter As Winter Nears
Each winter, bison leave Yellowstone National Park in search of food
on lower elevation lands. Inside the park bison are protected by
federal law but when they exit the park, management authority is
transferred to the states. In Montana, the State's Department of
Livestock (DOL) rather than its wildlife agency currently is
responsible for managing bison because of ranchers' concerns that
bison could transmit the disease brucellosis to their cattle.
Brucellosis can cause pregnant cows to abort their calves. Such
fear has led to the killing of approximately 3,100 bison since 1985,
with nearly 1,100 killed during the winter of 1996/97, even though
there has never been a documented case of transmission of
brucellosis from wild bison to cattle. The park's herd has dwindled
to about 2,500 bison.
Last year more than 67,000 people submitted comments on a long-term
Yellowstone bison management plan. The vast majority wanted stronger
protections for the nation's last free-ranging bison herd. This week,
after many months of negotiations between the federal agencies and
the State of Montana to work out a final plan, the federal government
notified Montana Governor Marc Racicot that an impasse had been
reached because Montana continued to present unreasonable objections
to the modified federal proposal. While not a perfect plan, this
modified proposal would protect Montana's cattle industry and
maintain a wild, free-roaming bison herd. According to the federal
agencies, Montana's plan would result in "unnecessary killing" and
was therefore unacceptable. The failure to agree on a unified plan
will likely result in more needless killing of bison in winter as
they leave the park and venture onto state lands and surrounding
federal forests.
Click for more: http://www.defenders.org/den/dl00005.html#bison
3. WILD CATS: Endangered Border Cats Struggle
To Survive in SW
The U.S. Border Patrol is currently moving forward with a controversial
proposal to resurface roads, clear vegetation, construct fences and
install high-powered lights along roughly 50 miles of the Rio Grande
River in south Texas. Conservation groups, including Defenders, have
filed a law suit claiming that these activities will ruin some of
the last remaining habitat for ocelots and jaguarundis and violate
the federal Endangered Species Act.
The ocelot and jaguarundi are two of America's most critically
endangered species. A third is the extremely rare jaguar. All three
of the species' populations are estimated at less than a hundred
individuals in the U.S. while a larger population exist in Mexico.
Driven to the brink of extinction, primarily due to habitat loss,
these rarely-seen border cats struggle to survive in isolated pockets
of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and areas across the Mexican border.
In the fall of 1998, Defenders of Wildlife established the Bordercats
Working Group (BWG), a committee of scientists charged with
coordinating recovery efforts for the three endangered cat species.
To date, the BWG has organized state recovery meetings, conducted
field studies to determine the location and size of remaining
populations, and begun work using state-of-the-art satellite mapping
data to determine where suitable habitat exists for a potential
future. Because much of the cat's remaining habitat lies in private
hands, the group plans to work with private landowners to develop
conservation incentives for each species.
4. DID YOU KNOW? Brown Pelican
While pelicans are among the largest of all living birds, the brown
pelican is the smallest of the seven pelican species. It measures
about three feet and boasts a seven foot wingspan. The brown pelican
feeds almost exclusively on fish, which it catches by diving head
first into the water from as high as 65 feet. The sound of a pelican
hitting the water can be heard a half mile away. A series of air
pockets in its chest cushions the impact and protects it from injury.
Once in the water the pelican scoops up fish in its elastic throat
pouch, which can hold up to two gallons of water. Before swallowing
the fish, the pelican must drain the water from its bill, which
often allows a daring gull, hovering above or even perched on its
bill, to steal a fish or two. In 1970, brown pelicans were listed as
an endangered species due to the deadly effects of pesticides like
DDT. Today, the magnificent bird is making a comeback along the
Atlantic coast, including all of Florida and Alabama where it is no
longer listed. However the Pacific, Gulf coast and South American
populations are still listed as endangered.
5. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Peter Matthiessen
"The variety of life in nature can be compared to a vast library of
unread books, and the plundering of nature is comparable to the
random discarding of whole volumes without having opened them, and
learned from them. Our critical dependence on the great variety of
nature for the progress we have already made has been amply
documented. Indifference to the loss of species is, in effect,
indifference to the future, and therefore a shameful carelessness
about our future, and therefore a shameful carelessness about our
children."
–
Peter Matthiessen, 1986, from his book
"The
Spirit of Crazy Horse"
* FORWARD THIS ISSUE
ON TO A FRIEND WHO CARES
ABOUT
WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION *
==================================================
To subscribe, visit Defenders website located at
http://www.defenders.org/den/deninfo.html
or send an email to
denlines@defenders.org and put the word SUBSCRIBE in the
subject line.
==================================================
To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to denlines@defenders.org and put
the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
==================================================
DENLINES is a bi-weekly publication of Defenders of Wildlife, a
leading national conservation organization recognized as one of the
nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat.
Known for its effective leadership on endangered species issues,
particularly predators like brown bears and gray wolves, Defenders
also advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that protect
species before they become endangered. Founded in 1947,
Defenders is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with more than
380,000 members and supporters.
Defenders
of Wildlife
1101
14th Street, NW, Suite 1400
Washington,
DC 20005
(c) Defenders of Wildlife,
1999.
from Global Response Dec.20,'99
Global
Response joins Amnesty International in this Urgent Action campaign.
Please send a fax this week if you can. Thanks. --
Paula
-----Original Message-----
From: Amazon Alliance [SMTP:amazoncoal@igc.org]
Sent: Saturday, December 18, 1999 2:29 PM
To: amazoncoal@igc.org
Subject: Brazil: URGENT-Indigenous leader arrested
(From: Amnesty International
U R G E N T A C T I O N A P P E A L
---------------------------------------------------
16 December 1999
UA 321/99 Fear for safety / Arbitrary arrest
BRAZIL Gerson de Souza Melo, Indigenous leader
Members of the
Pataxo Ha Ha Hai indigenous group
Amnesty International is concerned for the safety of Gerson de Souza Melo,
a leader of the Pataxo Ha Ha Hai indigenous group, after he was arrested on
15 December 1999 in the state of Bahia. The concern follows the alleged
ill-treatment in custody of other members of the Pataxo Ha Ha Hai arrested
in recent weeks during a time of extreme tension over conflicting land
claims in the Pau Brasil area of Bahia.
According to witnesses Gerson de Souza was arrested without a
warrant at gun-point at a police road-block as he was returning, at dawn,
from a special session of the Bahian Legislative Assembly's Human Rights
Commission during which he had denounced the current conflict between the
Pataxo and military police. The arresting police allegedly threatened him
and told him that they were avenging the deaths of two colleagues, killed
during an eviction operation of Pataxo and Pataxo Ha Ha Hai, on 17
November. Two indigenous women arrested with him have been released.
On 16 November, around 1200 Pataxo and Pataxo Ha Ha Hai
occupied nine estates on demarcated indigenous territory. The
Pataxo deny any involvement in the killings of the two policemen who were
shot dead when around 300 military police stormed the Pataxo encampments
the next day, ostensibly looking for arms (none were discovered). Several
Pataxo were beaten during the operation and twelve Pataxo, including women,
were detained and ill-treated for three days.
During the eviction the Pataxo withdrew from eight of the farms and now
occupy the Milagrosa estate. A large contingent of military police remains
in the area, ostensibly to protect other farms on demarcated Pataxo
territory. In recent weeks a mini-bus used to transport Pataxo children to
school was burned, and a bus carrying Pataxo was stoned by local residents,
injuring those inside.
According to indigenous rights organizations, the presence of state
military police in the area contravenes the Brazilian Federal Constitution,
which places responsibility for all matters relating to disputes over
indigenous territory with the Federal authorities.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Amnesty International has repeatedly expressed its concern over the level
of human rights violations against indigenous people in Brazil in the
context of disputes over land rights, which include assaults, targeted
killings and massacres. The organization believes that the authorities'
failure to arbitrate promptly in disputes between the indigenous and
non-indigenous community leaves the indigenous groups vulnerable to
violence against them.
Despite a stipulation in the 1988 Constitution that all indigenous lands
should be demarcated by 1993, only half of the 555 identified indigenous
territories have been demarcated. In January 1996, this process was slowed
down further with the introduction of Decree 1775/96, which altered
administrative procedures for demarcation of indigenous reserves. The
Decree introduced procedures for administrative challenges by
non-indigenous claimants to indigenous areas already demarcated and
ratified by presidential decree.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send faxes/express/airmail
letters:
- expressing concern at the apparent arbitrary arrest of Gerson de
Souza Melo;
- expressing concern that he may be at risk of torture and ill-treatment in
detention;
- expressing the view that Gerson de Souza Melo has been arrested
solely as a result of his indigenous rights activities;
- calling for his immediate release;
- calling for a prompt, full and independent investigation into
allegations that members of the Pataxo Ha Ha Hai were attacked and
beaten by military police during an eviction operation on 17
November 1999;
- calling for a prompt, full and independent investigation into
allegations that 12 members of the Pataxo Ha Ha Hai were ill-treated in
detention following the eviction operation;
- expressing concern that the Pataxo communities continue to be at
risk of violence;
- calling for federal police to be dispatched to the area in order to
prevent further conflict between Pataxo communities and state police;
- noting that indigenous groups are particularly vulnerable to violent
attacks where there is uncertainty regarding the legal status of their
territory;
- calling upon the authorities to end this uncertainty by completing the
legalisation of the Pataxo territory without further delay.
APPEALS TO:
Minister of Justice:
Exmo. Sr. Ministro da Justica do Brasil
Dr. Jose Carlos Dias
Ministerio da Justica
Esplanada dos Ministerios, Bloco 23
CEP 70064-900 Brasilia - DF Brazil
Telegrams: Minister Justice, Brasilia, Brazil
Faxes: 011 55 61 224 2448 /
322 6817 (if voice answers, say
'Fax, por favor' and wait for the tone)
Salutation: Vossa Excelencia / Your Excellency
Bahia State Governor:
Exmo Sr Governador do Estado da Bahia
Sr Cesar Augusto Rabelo Borges
Predio Governadoria
3a Avenida, 390
41750-300 Salvador - BA Brazil
Faxes: 011 55 71 371 0610 /
1905
Salutation: Vossa Excelencia / Your Excellency
Bahia Public Security Secretary:
Exma. Sra. Secretaria de Seguranca Publica do Estado da Bahia
Dra. Maria Katia Alves
Centro Administrativo da Bahia
4a Avenida 430, 30 andar
41750-300 Salvador - BA Brazil
Salutation: Exma. Sra. Secretaria / Dear Secretary
Faxes: 011 55 71 370 1823 /
1815
COPIES TO:
President, FUNAI (Fundacao Nacional do Indio - National Indian
Foundation)
Exmo. Sr. Presidente da FUNAI
Dr. Carlos Frederico Mares de Souza Filho
SETS Quadra 702/902
Edificio LEX, 3 andar, Bloco A
70340-904 - Brasilia - DF - Brazil
Faxes: 011 55 61 226 8782
Indigenous Rights Organization:
Conselho Indigenista Misionario (CIMI) - Secretariado Nacional
SDS Ed. Venancio III salas 309 a 314
70393-900 Brasilia - DF - Brazil
Faxes: 011 61 2259401
Ambassador Rubens Barbosa
Brazilian Embassy
3006 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 202 238 2827
Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office
between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if
sending appeals after January 27, 2000.
This information is from Amnesty International's research
headquarters in London, England. A.I. is an independent worldwide
movement working for the international protection of human rights. It
seeks the release of people detained because of their beliefs, color,
sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not
used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of
conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political
prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without
charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions
(political killings), 'disappearances' and torture or other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners
without reservation. Amnesty International promotes awareness of
and adherance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and
other internationally recognized human rights instruments, the
values enshrined in them and the indivisibility and interdependence
of all human rights and freedoms.
Please do not repost this appeal to any part of the Internet
without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for
your help with this appeal.
Please read the monthly Urgent Action Network Newsletter posted on
the web at: http://www.amnesty-USA.org/urgact/newslett.html
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: sharriso@aiusa.org
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgact/
Phone: 303 258 1170
Fax: 303 258 7881
--------------------------------------
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace
and
justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops
"Actions"
that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each
"Action"
asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to
educate and
motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.
P.O. Box 7490 Phone: 303/444-0306
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490 Fax: 303/449-9794
To receive Global Response "Actions" and "Emergency Actions"
by email:
Send a blank message to: globresmembers-subscribe@igc.topica.com
Visit our website at: http://www.globalresponse.org
from Global Response Dec.20,'99
Please take a moment to help our friends in Poland protect the last
primeval forest in the lowlands of Central Europe. A model letter is
included in this Action Alert from the Society for Bialowieza Forest
Protection (see below). Our faxes are needed before the end of the
year.
Thanks. -- Paula
-----Original Message-----
From: Philipp Kuechler [SMTP:pkuechl@gwdg.de]
Sent: Thursday, December 16, 1999 4:26 PM
To: rags-rap@igc.topica.com; globresponse@igc.apc.org
Subject: Bialowieza forest threatened - SEND A FAX !
URGENT FAX AND LETTER WRITING ACTION - PLEASE
DISTRIBUTE WIDELY
ENLARGEMENT OF BIALOWIEZA NATIONAL PARK (POLAND)
IN DANGER - THE LAST PRIMEVAL FOREST IN THE CENTRAL
EUROPEAN LOWLANDS NEEDS YOUR HELP!
The proposed enlargement of the world famous Bialowieza
Forest National Park from 105 to 600 square kilometers is
seriously threatened:
The National Forest around the current National Park just
obtained the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificate.
This could mean that the Polish Ministry of Environment
and Forests plans to continue timber use in this forest. Two
years ago the same Ministry promised to declare the entire
forest as National Park and thus protect the ancient trees
and stands of primeval forest in the woods around the
current National Park.
The decision-making for or against the National Park
enlargement might take place very soon. It is expected
that Parliament will follow the proposal of the Ministry of
Environment and Forests.
Your opinion could be critcal. Please fax and write to Poland
this Millenium! Tell them, that you and your organization
want a National Park in the ENTIRE Bialowieza Forest and
not just sustainable forestry!
____________________________________________
CALL FOR ACTION: PLEASE SEND FAXES AND LETTERS
Please send a polite letter and fax to the adress in the
letter sample below. Until now the fax works night and day,
but we do not know when it will run out of paper. It might
be a good idea to send a copy of your fax as letter.
Letterheads and signatures of environmental organizations,
scientific institutes or touristic groups could help to
emphasize the importance of your letter/fax.
Please send a copy of your letter or a short e-mail notice
as reference to:
Society for Bialowieza Forest
Protection (TOPB)
ul. Waszkiewicza 1b
PL-17-230 Bialowieza
e-mail: office@topb.most.org.pl
Don't forget to forward this call for action to friends,
environmental groups, mailing lists, and newsgroups you
know. Thanks!
Mark, copy, and paste the sample letter text into your
letterhead, if you don't want to formulate your own letter.
A letter sample as MS-rich-text document will be provided
as attachment in a separate e-mail.
____________________________________________
LETTER SAMPLE
Mr Marian Cieslak
Director of Department of Forestry, Nature Protection and
Landscape (DLOPiK)
Ministry of Environmental Protection
ul. Wawelska 52/54
PL-00-922 WARSZAWA
Fax. +48-22-8254705
Dear Mr. Cieslak,
We would like to express our deep concern about the fate
of Bialowieza Forest. We are impatiently waiting for the
National Park to be enlarged to cover the whole forest
complex.
The entity of Bialowieza Forest represents the last large
complex of natural and seminatural forests of the Central
European lowland. Its extremly high conservation value and
importance is internationally well known. Already two years
ago, the Polish Minister for Environment, Resource
Management and Forestry declared officially, that the
National Park enlargement to the whole Bialowieza Forest
is the goal of the Ministry?s policy. National and
international organisations and institutions, such as the
Polish National Council for Nature Conservation, the Polish
Academy of Sciences PAN, the Coalition for Bialowieza
Forest Protection, WWF and IUCN gave their opinions in
favour of a National Park enlargement.
According to our information by the Society for Bialowieza
Forest Protection (TOPB), the Regional Forestry
Department of Bialystok (RDLP Bialystok), that is
responsible for Bialowieza Forest, is actually granted the
Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) certificat. Although we
hereby congratulate to this decision for sustainable timber
production in the exploited forests of Bialystok region, we
are very concerned about the possible negative effect on
National Park enlargement. We are irritated about the
information, that the FSC argument was misused to fight
the National Park idea, even more than two weeks before
FSC certificat really was granted.
FSC is meant as a label for "sustainable timpber
production" to minimise environmental damages by
destructive forestry methods. As such, FSC focuses on
exploited forests with the purpose of economic benefit by
timber production. The FSC certificat can by no means
replace a National Park! Bialowieza Forest as a precious
natural world heritage should not be regarded as a timber
production site. It has to be maintained with the focus on
ancient forest conservation, including acceptance of natural
processes, and hence deserves the status of a National
Park.
Please make sure that all of the Bialowieza Forest obtains
protection as a National Park this year.
We would greatly appreciate to be informed about your
further activities in this matter.
Yours sincerely
YOUR NAME AND ORGANISATION
_________________________________________
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Please contact Sabine Stosiek in Germany if you have
further questions:
sstosiek@rz.uni-osnabrueck.de
********************************************************
Koordinationszentrum Natur und Umwelt e.V.
KNU
Coordination Center for Nature and Environment
c/o Philipp Kuechler,
Petrikirchstrasse 22, D-37077 Goettingen, Germany
Phone/Fax +551-35217 e-mail: pkuechl@gwdg.de
********************************************************
--------------------------------------
GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of environmental
activists. In partnership with indigenous, environmentalist and peace
and
justice organizations around the world, GLOBAL RESPONSE develops
"Actions"
that describe specific, urgent threats to the environment; each
"Action"
asks members to write personal letters to individuals in the corporations,
governments or international organizations that have the power and
responsibility to take corrective action. GR also issues "Young
Environmentalists' Actions" and "Eco-Club Actions" designed to
educate and
motivate elementary and high school students to practice earth stewardship.
P.O. Box 7490 Phone: 303/444-0306
Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490 Fax: 303/449-9794
To receive Global Response "Actions" and "Emergency Actions"
by email:
Send a blank message to: globresmembers-subscribe@igc.topica.com
Visit our website at: http://www.globalresponse.org
from Greenpeace Dec.21,99
Urgent alert to all
cyberactivists:
BP Amoco is seeking an "incidental harassment" permit from the
U.S. federal government that could result in the deaths of more
than 100 polar bears. We need your help to stop this.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently taking comment on
proposed regulations that would allow incidental take (harassment
or death) from BP's risky Northstar sub-sea oil pipeline in the
Beaufort Sea and other oil operations in Alaska's arctic until
January 2003.
YOU HAVE UNTIL JANUARY 10, 2000 TO RESPOND.
We have set up a new action alert web site on the Arctic Action
site (link at the end of this message). Click "Help Us" in the top
right corner of the home page, and then scroll down and click on
the "Cyberalerts" option. This is a simple web form that will
automatically fax and email your response to the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service.
PLEASE ACT NOW!
The oil industry has a special loophole that protects them from
being in violation of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act when
their so-called unintentional activities harm polar bears - so long as
they get advance approval under regulations and impacts are found
to be "negligible."
In the past five years, industry's self-reporting showed over 150
encounters between polar bears and their cubs with the oil industry
in Alaska, including being shot at with firecrackers and rubber
bullets, and being herded with trucks, snow machines, helicopters
and vehicle sirens.
Amazingly, the draft regulations claim there would be "negligible"
impacts despite conclusions that a large oil spill from the Northstar
subsea pipeline during broken-ice could have significant impact to
polar bears. The results of new oil spill trajectories and polar bear
modeling show that up to 108 polar bears could die from an oil spill
during broken ice conditions. This risk of severe harm to the
Beaufort Sea polar bear population in the event of a major oil spill
justifies rejecting the regulations.
The draft regulations embrace BP's claims that the risks of a major
spill are low and therefore the impacts can be ignored. U.S.
government agencies have concluded that there would be an 11-
24% probability of a major oil spill during the 15 years of production.
New studies on thinning sea ice show that polar bear habitats are
already threatened by global climate change. We shouldn't add to
this by risking devastating oil spills and degradation of habitats
caused by Northstar and other offshore oil development in the
Arctic Ocean.
Kevin Jardine
Climate Campaign
Greenpeace International
----------------------------------------------
Greenpeace Arctic Activists List
NO NEW OIL
http://greenpeace.org/arctic
from Greenpeace Dec.21,'99
The Arctic Action list has now reached
2800 subscribers. It's time
for another update.
BP Amoco is busy getting its final round of permits in preparation
for its winter construction season, when it hopes to reinforce its
artificial gravel drilling island, called "Seal Island", in the
Beaufort
Sea north of Alaska, and perhaps to begin laying pipeline
underneath the seabed of the Arctic Ocean.
Our team in Anchorage, Alaska - two campaigners and several
lawyers - has been busy trying to block BP Amoco at every turn.
About 225 of you helped by participating in the "spill drill" action
last month. I've appended a "non-response" letter from the Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation. We are disappointed
by this non-response. We will continue to track this process
closely. Since the Department has not yet published its list of
corrective actions, we have left the "spill drill" action alert up at
the
Arctic Action site. If you have not yet sent in your "spill drill"
letter,
I encourage you to do so by going to the Arctic Action site (link at
the end of this message), clicking on "Help Us", and scrolling down
to choose the "Cyberalerts" option. The "spill drill" alert
is second
from the top once you get to the Cyberalerts page. It's important to
remind the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation that
activists all around the world are watching it closely.
I encourage you to participate in all four of the action alerts
currently up on the Arctic Action website. We have just added a
new action alert on a permit BP Amoco is seeking to
"unintentionally" kill potentially over 100 polar bears. See my next
message for more information.
Yours,
Kevin
Kevin Jardine
Climate Change Campaign
Greenpeace International
***
December 2, 1999
Melanie Duchin
Greenpeace
125 Christensen Dr., Suite 2
Anchorage, AK 99501
Dear Ms. Duchin:
DEC is closely monitoring the conditions of approval on
BP/Amoco's Oil Spill Prevention and Discharge Contingency Plan
for the Northstar offshore oil development project. The Department
is currently working with the plan holders to resolve the outstanding
compliance issues. As discussed at your November 5, 1999
meeting with Larry Dietrick (Spill Prevention and Response
Director) and Susan Harvey (Industry Preparedness and Pipeline
Program manager), we have recently sent several letters to the
North Slope Contingency plan holders outlining issues and actions
needed to comply with DEC's conditional approval. Per your
request, copies of these letters have been made available to your
organization.
As you observed, there were a number of offshore spill response
issues identified during the fall '99 broken ice drills and exercises.
We are currently drafting a summary report of the fall '99 drills and
exercises and plan to issue a final copy of the report along with a
list of specific corrective actions in December. We will ensure that
the plan holders take immediate corrective measures based on our
conclusions. If they fail to do so, that would be the time to think
about amending or revoking the contingency plan approval.
Thank you for your interest and input to the Northstar contingency
planning issues. I was pleased that Greenpeace was able to
participate in the North Slope offshore response drills and tests this
fall and I look forward to further work with you on this important
issue.
Sincerely,
Michelle Brown
Commissioner
cc:
Larry Dietrick, SPAR Director, Juneau
Susan Harvey, IPPP Manager, Anchorage
Joe Sautner, EP&R Section Manager, Anchorage
----------------------------------------------
Greenpeace Arctic Activists List
NO NEW OIL
http://greenpeace.org/arctic
