Press-announcement
(Press-conference and action in Lviv)
The press-conference devoted to the problem of massive construction of mini hydro power plants in the Carpathian region will be held in Lviv on March 14, 2012 at 12.15 in the premises of Press-club (Taras Shevchenko Ave. 11, Lviv).
What awaits the Carpathian nature in case the planned network of hydro power stations is constructed? How will this impact the tourist attractiveness of the Carpathians and quality of life of mountains dwellers? How can local residents of the Carpathians handle the situation of their disagreement with the construction of mini hydro power plants when authorities and business obstinately ignore their opinion?
These and other questions will be answered by organizers of the press-conference. Also, a video clip on the construction in the Carpathians will be shown and foto exhibition will be organized, which will illustrate the critical situation in our Western pearl – the Carpathians.
Participants of the press-conference are:
Nataliya Shpeh – lawyer of International public interest environmental law organization Environment-People-Law (EPL)
Anatoliy Pavelko – lawyer of the Bureau of Environmental Investigations NGO;
Ihor Horban’ – candidate of Biology, WWF Danube-Carpathian Program.
Taras Biloshytskyi – president of tourist sport club NGO “Manivtsi”
Fridrikh Efimovskyi – head of Lviv city NGO “Chystym playem”
Yaroslav Ilchyshyn – representative of environmental NGO “Ecopostup”.
On 14 March 2012 at 13.15 near the premises of Lviv regional state administration (Vynnychenko St. 18) there will be held the action organized by participants of public campaign “Let’s save the Carpathians from construction of mini hydro power plants”, tourists, environmentalists and all people concerned. During the action Lviv citizens and journalists will be informed about the problem. Guests of the action will be able to try to go down the river in a boat if there is no rover any more.
14 March – International day of action against dams, for rivers, water and life. On that day various actions, press-conferences and other events aimed at attracting attention to the problem and searching for ways of saving the Carpathians will be organized all over Ukraine (in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ternopil’, Uzhhorod, Verkhovyna, Chernivtsi) and even in Russia (Moscow) and Poland.
Join us! Don’t be indifferent! Let’s together save the Carpathians from construction of mini hydro power plants! Let’s save the Carpathians for our children!
For further information concerning the press-conference please contact Nataliya Shpeh (EPL) at (032) 225-76-82; (067) 679-02-44.
For further information concerning the action please contact Taras Biloshytskyi, “Manivtsi” club at (097) 918-51-32.
Reference: March 14 is the day of action against dams on rivers. This day was initiated in 1997 with the aim to join efforts of people from all over the world in fight against dams and to perform awareness-raising activities concerning the impact of dams on river ecosystems. On March 11-14, 1997, the 1st International meeting of people suffering from dams was held in Curitiba (Brazil). It was aimed at strengthening international movement against dams.
Events on March 14 will become a solemn opening of all-Ukrainian public campaign against construction of 550 mini hydropower plants in the Carpathians. According to activists and scientists, construction of such a number of hydro power plants poses a serious threat that may cause extinction of many rare species of plants and animals (primarily fish) in the Carpathians, ruin mountainous landscapes, forever ruin unique tourist attraction of the whole Carpathian region and deteriorate life of local population. Despite protests of mountains dwellers, the idea of construction of mini hydro power plants is promoted on a high level. Organizers of the actions on March 14 call this threat “Environmental problem #1”.
For further information on the campaign “Let’s save the Carpathians from construction of mini hydro power plants” please visit www.pryroda.in.ua/miniges
