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The Newsletter of
the
Socio-Ecological Union
A Center for Coordination
and Information
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Moscow, Russia -- Issue 5 (39),
February, 2003
SEU Times is a newsletter devoted to environmental news, events, NGO work
within former Soviet Union territory. Currently it is mailed out on special
occasions.
MORE NEWS IN ENGLISH FROM SEU-TERRITORY are available on Ecoport - green
news project English version at http://www.seu.ru/news_en/npa.php
NEW!!!
CURRENT FOREST NEWS FROM SEU TERRITORY are now available at
www.forest.ru/eng/news
IN THIS ISSUE:
INTERNET FOR THE PROTECTION OF GRAY WHALES:
WRITE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT PUTIN - SAVE THE GRAY WHALES
SEAL SLAUGHTERY IMPENDS TO BE RESUMED IN MURMANSK REGION
INTERNET FOR THE PROTECTION OF GRAY WHALES:
WRITE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT PUTIN - SAVE THE GRAY WHALES
February 19 is the International Day of Whales. Before this festival
the environmental action "Internet In Protection of Gray Whales" have
started in Russia. "Living Sea", the Far East coalition of ecological
organizations by means of Internet-resources addresses to the Russian
people and asks them to send the letters to the President and
Government with the request to change conditions of the projects on
production of oil mining on the Sakhalin shelf, which threatens the
population of grey whales. The environmentalists also address to
webmasters of the websites with the request temporarily to place the
link to the Russian and English language sites of the action, in order
that maximum people learn the problem and take action.
The Unique Okhotsk and Korean population of grey whales lives in
Russia in waters of the Sea of Okhotsk (Pacific ocean), near the coast
of the Sakhalin island (Russian Far East). Population number is lesser
than 100 individuals. Every spring grey whales come to the coast of
north-east Sakhalin to fatten on their only pasture in the world. This
population of rare mammals is under threat of disappearance.
On the shelf of north-east Sakhalin the development of oil and gas
deposits by the foreign companies under the projects of "Sakhalin - 1"
and "Sakhalin - 2" has begun. For several years whales are compelled
to exist in conditions of constant noise from seismic works, intensive
navigation and flights of helicopters, pollution of water area by
dumps of drilling waste. But after all, any disturbance of animals has
immediate effect for their feed and reproduction. Some last years the
whales leave on wintering hungry - in 1999 scientists for the first
time have find out 10 unusually exhausted whales. In 2000 there were
already 27 emaciated whales. The and in 2001 and 2002 in the
population still were very exhausted specimens.
But that is not all. The Exxon company plans to construct two piers
for delivery of oil and gas equipment on the spit of Piltun gulf, at
the centre of feeding pasture of the whales, and also to build oil
pipeline through Piltun gulf, which supports and ensures the fodder
base of the whales. The "Sakhalin Energy" company intends lining of
oil and gas pipelines through southern natural habitat of grey whales
and installation of new oil-extracting platform much closer to fodder
area of whales than already existing platform "Molickpack".
For prevention of fatal danger for whales it is absolutely unnecessary
to close all oil mining at the coasts of Sakhalin - it is enough to
change the projects so that to make them more safe for unique mammals,
consider environmentalists. "Living Sea", the coalition of Far East
environmental organizations calls all people, who is not indifferent
to beautiful wild nature and whales, to write the letters to the
President, the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources of
Russian Federation, and also to the governor of Sakhalin region with
the demand to make several important changes in the shelf oil and gas
projects "Sakhalin-1" and "Sakhalin-2". That would be a good present
to the whales at the International Day of Whales - 19th February.
***
The oil mining projects, which threaten grey whales, can develop only
after positive conclusion of State Environmental Assessment of the
Ministry of Natural Resources of Russian Federation and after approval
by Government of Russia and the administration of Sakhalin region.
These bodies are included in managing bodies on the "Sakhalin - 1" and
"Sakhalin - 2" projects.
There is some period of time still, because the state environmental
assessment on both projects has not been held yet, and the Government
of Russia has not give the final sanction. If state bodies will
receive thousands of letters, it necessarily will influence their
decision on the sanction or prohibition of the works, which are
dangerous to whales, and on changing of the projects. Moreover there
are alternative variants of these projects.
More info is at:
http://www.seu.ru/projects/eng/whales/index.htm
The following information calls for full scale-campaign. Currnetly we
are developing strategies and will let you know what you can do to
stop the murders.
SEAL SLAUGHTERY IMPENDS TO BE RESUMED IN MURMANSK REGION
Recently news agencies have published the information about resuming
of slaughter of seal-calves of the Greenland seal in Murmansk region
(north-west of Russia), the process which was almost completely
stopped 3 years ago. After bankruptcy of fishing collective farm
"Volna", the former controller of the process of slaughter, newly
registered in Murmansk region fishing collective farm "Chapoma" have
decided to realize current quota of seal-fishery.
Fishing collective farm "Volna" was declared bankrupt by Arbitration
court of Murmansk region in July of 2002, and its property was sold on
open tenders. Before that external control was introduced on the farm
by court decision for the period of 12 months. By the moment of
introduction of external control the debts of the collective farm
taking into account default interest and fines it were about $750
thousands. Water crafts "Chapoma" and "Krukovo", which belonged to
fishing collective farm "Volna" were distrained by Norway for debts,
and Norwegian court imposed a penalty on these vessels. They were
handed over to other owners.
Management of the new fishing collective farm "Chapoma", which bought
the property of bankrupt collective farm, now says of their "grandiose
plans" of resuming of seal-fishery, and it seems to be that it will be
resumed with even more cruel methods.
"Chapoma" going to hunt for seals using not helicopters, but sealers.
Also they intend to sale fur of suint: catching whitecoats and keeping
them in enclosure for some time till they turn into suint.
The management of "Chapoma" plans also to extend their consumers
market for account of consumers in Leningrad region and Kareliya, and
intends to establish long-term co-operation with Norwegian company
"Riber Skin". They prospect also to get the grant of TACIS for develop
their activity.
The head of "Chapoma" B.Gofman said in interview to Regnum.RU news
agency that there management of "Chapoma" plans also to set
pre-processing of skins: pickling in tanning vats, degreasing of skins
and separation of fat; they offer to use all the products of
processing including especially thymus.
It is necessary to note that in the spring of 2002 at Tersky coast
near Umba settlement (Murmansk region, in the neighbourhood of
Chapoma) about a hundred of beheaded Greenland seals were found. The
experts from environmental organizations suppose, that that was made
to withdrawal of thymus from their intervertebral opening. Thymus is
endocrine gland, and it is located exactly in that part of backbone of
seal, which have disappeared together with heads of killed animals.
From thymys valuable medicines are made: hormonal preparations, which
is in demand on Russian and world markets of pharmaceutics.
Comment of Maria Vorontsova, the head of Russian representative office
of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW):
"I regret for a fact I found out recently that fishery of seal-calves
to be resumed. Unfortunately, Russian representative office of the
International Fund for Animal Welfare is not engaged in solving of the
problem of seal-fishery on White Sea for 3 years already. We were
actively engaged in this problem in 1994-1999. More than once I've
been to villages of coast-dwellers during the time of seal-fishery,
and I have to say that that is sorrowful and nasty sight.
It is a pity for people, who compelled to go to seal-fishery by the
management of fishing collective farms, which explains that they
cannot earn money other way. And of course, I feel sorry for
whitecoats. This business is cruel, unprofitable and it is related to
money-laundering.
It is a remarkable fact that collective farm "Volna" was collapsed,
and its bankruptcy is valued at about $750 thousands. In practice that
means that creation of the new collective farm Chapoma (named after
the village where fishery was conducted and the collective
farm-bankrupt "Volna" was situated) enabled to write down the debt. I
wonder, what for these money were spent?
I don't want to accuse anybody without proof, but maybe it is
necessary to remember some facts concerning Mr.Yov, the former head of
the collective farm "Volna". In the end of 1990-s he lived in Murmansk
about half a year spending in Norway, and once a year vizited Chapoma
for two days. His daughter had had fish-processing plant.
Quota of seal-fishery increases. I do not know exact figures for this
year - they are about 60-80 thousands of calves of Greenland seal (to
compare in 1990-s combined quota for Russia and Norway was 40 thousand
of seals). The Norwegians are ready to subsidize seal-fishery (the
Riber company for decades stands behind commercial hunting for
Greenland seal, buying skins from Canada and Russia).
About the Fund's activity during the campaign on stoppage of
seal-fishery. Russian representative of IFAW made and showed 3
two-hours films about seal-fishery and its economy, developed economic
alternatives to fishery (we purchased the equipment for processing and
packing of mushrooms, berries and fish and handed it over to 3
coast-dwellers' families, who refused to be engaged in seal-fishery).
We also financed 2-years' research by MSU biologists of the economy of
the villages of coast-dwellers of White Sea and proposals of economic
alternatives to seal-fishery.
One of these alternatives actively supported by IFAW was development
of ecological tourism on observation of whitecoats of the Greenland
seal. The similar form of tourism prospers in Canada where it brings
for a short season (10 days in March) about $1 million. Besides we
actively co-operated with the State Duma and promoted the law "On
Protection Of Animals From Brutal Treatment". One of the articles of
the law completely banned seal-fishery for whitecoats. Unfortunately
this law was vetoed by the President Putin January 3, 2000.
We gave up the campaign because of incredible inactivity of the
population of Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, who are unable to
choose the way of development and wholly rely on authorities. But the
authorities are corrupt and derives personal benefits from their posts
and not takes into consideration distress of the people who live in
coast-dwellers villages. So the disgrace things are continue and until
the local population understand how much depends on their activity, it
is hardly possible to change the situation.
Now as a result of the active campaign on promotion of the products
from furs of suint (the campaign was subsidized by Canada and Norway)
these furs has become fashionable. That is why coast-dwellers'
collective farms want redirect and to create keeping farms. That is
extremely cruel and inhumane production: whitecoats are collected on
ice seal-rookery, taking them away from mothers and thousands of them
are taken by helicopters in lairs on the coast. In these lairs
whitecoats are held without care for about 2 weeks. For this time
whitecoats cast the coat and their fur becomes short and grey -
typical seal. They turn in suints that are slaughtered for fur".
With use of information of Regnum.RU news agency
Back to SEU Times home page
This issue was written and complied by
Sviatoslav Zabelin - the SEU Council Co-Chair, svet@seu.ru
Olga Berlova, Alla Kapoustina seupress@seu.ru
Previous Issues of The SEU Times may be found at www.seu.ru/seu-news/eng
"The Online Gadfly" at www.igc.org/gadfly
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