FW: Keep Baikal Alive!

[Jane Costlow]

I think these comments miss the point of using language like "The 
Galapagos" - or what's driving the request for international attention 
to a local (or actually federal) action.  The point isn't, I don't 
think, whether it's an island or a lake - the point is that these are 
locations being claimed as world treasures, that is, their status - 
because of unique and vulnerable ecological conditions - are deserving 
of consideration beyond the merely local.  This is an important strategy 
that has driven numerous campaigns for protection and/or conservation:  
think of campaigns for the Amazonian Rain Forest, to cite perhaps the 
most famous example.

There are many Russians both in the Baikal region and throughout Russia 
who have taken up the cause of Baikal - so signing this petition, which 
asks UNESCO to express concern for this world treasure - is in a sense 
supporting particular Russians (and a remarkable natural site) rather 
than others.  I suppose whether or not one signs might depend, in part, 
on how you consider the seriousness of the situation of those who live 
in Baikalsk, a small city entirely dependent on the paper mill there.  
(I'm writing from Maine, so these are issues which in a sense translate 
into my own "home" world.)

For those interested, there is an excellent book that deals in detail 
with many of these issues (other than Doug Weiner's wonderful chapter in 
A Little Corner of Freedom, which discusses the fight over Baikal in the 
70's, and the original building of the plant):  Sacred Sea: A Journey to 
Baikal, by Peter Thompson - an environmental journalist who for years 
was the lead on NPR's Living on Earth.

Jane Costlow

Stephen Beet wrote:
> I suppose the Russians will do what they feel is right an it is not
> for us to suggest solutions!
>
> On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 7:59 PM, Robert Orr <colkitto at rogers.com> wrote:
>   
>> Actually, Baikal IS known for its biodiversity, although, like Madagascar,
>> it lacks the linguistic diversity which is supposed to be an accompaniment
>> ....
>>
>> "'we are going sailing on the Galapagos of Russia'?" - sounds like a good
>> promotional slogan - and it should be recalled that the world RUNS on
>> journalistic nonsense......
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "William Ryan" <wfr at SAS.AC.UK>
>> To: <SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu>
>> Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 6:05 AM
>> Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] FW: Keep Baikal Alive!
>>
>>
>>     
>>> I am sure that the petition forwarded by Robert is indeed important and
>>> worthy of support, but it does not help itself by starting with a bit of
>>> journalistic nonsense: 'Known as the "Galapagos of Russia," Lake Baikal ...
>>> etc.'. Who calls Baikal the 'Galapagos of Russia'? Has anyone ever said 'we
>>> are going sailing on the Galapagos of Russia'? Galapagos are islands, Baikal
>>> is a lake - sounds a bit like the Red Queen:' I could show you hills, in
>>> comparison with which you'd call that a valley'.
>>> Will Ryan
>>>
>>>
>>> Robert Chandler wrote:
>>>       
>>>> Dear all,
>>>>
>>>> I forward what seems like a worthwhile petition.  Please circulate it if
>>>> you
>>>> agree.
>>>>
>>>> Yours,
>>>>
>>>> Robert Chandler
>>>>
>>>> ------ Forwarded Message
>>>> From: Pnina Levermore <info at pacificenvironment.org>
>>>> Reply-To: <info at pacificenvironment.org>
>>>> Subject: Keep Baikal Alive!
>>>>
>>>> Lake Baikal is No Small Change to Throw Away
>>>> Known as the "Galapagos of Russia," Lake Baikal is located in southern
>>>> Siberia near the Russian-Mongolian border. The oldest and deepest lake in
>>>> the world, Baikal contains 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater
>>>> reserve.�
>>>> The Russian Government is treating Lake Baikal like small  change. Prime
>>>> Minister Putin's decision to re-start the Baikalsk Pulp  and Paper Mill
>>>> obstructs the  environmentally safe economic development  of the town of
>>>> Baikalsk and the  whole Baikal region. The governmental  decree, which
>>>> Prime
>>>> Minister Putin  signed on January 13, permitted the  mill to discharge
>>>> its
>>>> wastewater into the cleanest lake on the planet. �  This is a  violation
>>>> of
>>>> both Russian laws and an indicator of Russia's   unwillingness to deliver
>>>> on
>>>> its international obligations to keep  intact  Lake Baikal - a priceless
>>>> heritage site protected by  UNESCO. Sign the petition to UNESCO Director
>>>> General!  UNESCO  must address the Russian Government with a demand to
>>>> stop
>>>> pollution of  Lake Baikal.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> <http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/608/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=26
>>>> 83>
>>>> Pnina Levermore Russia Program Director
>>>>
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>
>
>
>   

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