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World to Dilma: Save the Amazon

The Amazon is in serious danger: Brazil is on the verge of gutting its forest protection laws -- unless we act now, vast tracts of our planet_Ž“s lungs could be opened up to clear-cutting devastation.
This threat to the Amazon has sparked widespread anger and protests across the country and tensions are rising. In an effort to stifle criticism, armed thugs, allegedly hired by loggers, have murdered environmental advocates. But the movement is fighting back -- this weekend, brave indigenous people are leading massive marches across Brazil to demand action and inside sources say President Dilma is considering vetoing the changes.
79% of Brazilians support a veto of the forest law changes and this internal pressure is leading some in Dilma's administration to back a veto. Avaaz promoted a global cry of solidarity with the Brazilian people to really force Dilma's hand.

To President Dilma Rousseff: We call on you to take immediate action to save Brazil's precious forests by vetoing the changes to the forest law. We also urge you to prevent further murders of environmental activists and workers by increasing law enforcement against illegal loggers and ramping up protection for people at risk from violence or death. The world needs Brazil to be an international leader on the environment. Your strong action now will safeguard the planet for future generations. Firma_____ Invia!

 

 

 

Bolivia: TIPNIS rainforest national park at risk

In Bolivia, the construction of a road cutting straight through the TIPNIS rainforest national park and Indian reservation has begun. The goal is to connect the Amazonian region with the ports of the Pacific Ocean via the new traffic route to facilitate the export of raw materials. The road will destroy the forest and the TIPNIS area that is home to indigenous peoples. The Indians are seeking to stop the project by marching to the capital city of Bolivia, La Paz.Three different tribes will be protesting the route, which will cut through their territory or "big house" as they refer to it.

 

To Mr. Evo Morales, President of Bolivia This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Dr. Mr. President Evo Morales, I'm very concerned about the construction of the road between Villa Tunari and San Ignacio de Moxos. This will cut across the Territorio Indgena Parque Nacional Isiboro S‚cure (TIPNIS) reserve and destroy the livelihoods of its residents. The people living in the TIPNIS have reported that the rights of the indigenous peoples, the conservation of biodiversity and the environment, and international contracts and agreements have been disregarded by their government. For these reasons, I support the campaign to defend TIPNIS and declare my solidarity with the march of the indigenous peoples to La Paz to protest against the road. Together with the indigenous peoples, I request you immediately halt construction of the road. I implore you to obey the law and protect TIPNIS. I furthermore request you take urgent action against the invasion of illegal coca plantations within the region. The resolution issued by the indigenous peoples during their 29th conference on May 18th must be adhered to. This resolution "overwhelmingly and non-negotiably rejects" the plan to build the road. Please also stop the environmental evaluation of TIPNIS by the National Service for Protected Areas that is occurring without consulting the indigenous peoples. Please hear out the legitimate concerns of the indigenous peoples and look for an alternative route outside of TIPNIS. Mr. President, please help save Mother Earth. You have the authority and the understanding to do so. Have no part in current and future generations of Bolivians being forced to explain how Brazilian interests and limitless greed caused unique plant and animal species to be extinguished for eternity. Respectfully, Signature_____ Invia!

 

 

 

 

Jatropha: save the Dakatcha forest

Dakatcha is located in southeastern Kenya and it hosts tropical dry forests, grasslands and farmlands. The region is rich of biodiversity, and it represent a corridor for elephant. Besides the Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew, in the area live 11 other endangered species live in the forest area. In addition, the Dakatcha forest home to many rare bird species. For this reason, Dakatcha was declared in 2001as "Important Bird Area".

Amazon beefsteack

Increased export of Brazilian beef indirectly leads to deforestation in the Amazon. New research from Chalmers and SIK in Sweden that was published in Environmental Science & Technology shows that impact on the climate is much greater than current estimates indicate. The researchers are now demanding that indirect effect on land be included when determining a product's carbon footprint.

Save the Khimki forest!

Peaceful activists trying to protect forests in Russian get beaten up by thugs and police forces. Khimki Forest Park is unique eco-system in the area of Moscow with centuries-old oak forests, elks, boars and many species of birds. The planned Moscow-St. Petersburg motorway. This is scheduled to divide the Khimki Forest Park in half in the section from the Moscow ring road to Sheremetevo airport. The project is planned as the first large-scale public-private partnership with the involvement of western investors _éç the EBRD and European Investment Bank. The intermediary link will be the North-West Investment Company, backed by the French firms Vinci and Eurovia. The project is managed by company, Avtodor, which combines the functions of a government agency and a business. Riot police and private security forces detained and beat up the peaceful activists trying to protect the forest.
Sign the petition to save the Khimki forest!

 

 

Vinci 1, cours Ferdinand de Lesseps F-92851 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex France Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to express my extreme disappointment with Vinci for its involvement in destroying Russia's Khimki Forest. We are asking Vinci to live up to its UN Global Compact commitments. By joining the Compact Vinci's has committed to "support and respect internationally proclaimed human rights" and to make sure it is not "complicit in human rights abuses." One glance at the list of human rights abuses against Khimki Forest activists, and it is clear that Vinci is violating its compact with its involvement in the project. Ecological nihilism and human rights abuses, including beatings, attacts on the forest defenders by people wearing Nazi symbolics, who were officially hired by the construction company, unlawful arrests and intimidation, have occurred against activists who are protesting the plans. As the only Western company involved in the highway building, I ask that you pull out of the project or refuse to begin construction until the Russian government chooses an alternative route that spares the Khimki Forest and addresses the human rights abuses that have occurred. Sincerely, ____________ --> Send!