April 23, 1999 * Volume 2 Number 1
CONTENTS:
B A L K A N C R I S I S
Bombing creates toxic cloud near Belgrade
A toxic cloud produced by bombing of a vinyl chloride monomer plant was one of the more serious reports of ecological damage caused by bombing and missile attacks in Yugoslavia. Intensive April 17 strikes by NATO forces at the Pancevo industrial complex, northeast of Belgrade, created a huge black cloud over the capital that was still visible on April 19 but had shown signs of thinning, according to several sources. On April 19, civil defence authorities said they had recommended that residents of two districts near the Pancevo complex should evacuate, and they had scheduled buses to take people from their homes to a nearby school, government building and sports hall at 8:30 p.m., before the raids usually start, Reuters said. Yugoslav Development, Science and Environment Minister Jagos Zelenovic said the repeated NATO attacks had heavily damaged Pancevo's refinery, petrochemical plant and fertiliser factory and were causing a cross-border environmental hazard, Reuters reported. Reports on developments in Yugoslavia can be monitored at many web sites, including: http://www.nato.int/latest/home.htm or http://www.beograd.com.
Other environmental threats reported in Yugoslavia
Aside from the bombing at Pancevo, there have been scores of reports about environmental threats caused by the bombing and missile attacks on Yugoslavia. Confirmation of these reports is very difficult, and the sources of some of the reports are not clear. For example, NATO officials declined to comment when asked by BBC Online Network whether depleted uranium -- a potentially dangerous substance -- was employed in some of the weapons being used in Yugoslavia. From Belgrade, there was an April 17 report of a 15-kilometre-long Danube oil spill, which was said to be heading towards the Black Sea, but as of April 19, there was no report from Bulgaria or Romania that the oil slick had floated into those countries. According to sources monitored in Belgrade, the spill was caused by the bombing of an oil refinery in Novi Sad. Another report from Belgrade said that bombing at the Zastava car factory in Kragujevac has allowed several tonnes of pyralene to leak into the Velika Morava river, one of the major tributaries of Danube in Serbia. According to the report, pyralene is a dangerous and carcinogenic material and only a small amount of this substance can poison one million litres of water. Other reports warn of chemical spills threatening the region's groundwater, poor waste disposal at NATO military bases and threats to migratory birds, whose habitats are being destroyed. Reports on developments in Yugoslavia can be monitored at many web sites, including: http://www.nato.int/latest/home.htm or http://www.beograd.com.
Aftermath of war: 'humanitarian aid' causes ecological problem
Among the social and environmental problems that may face Kosovo after the latest conflict cools down is an unusual one that groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina are grappling with now: too much bad aid. According to an April 7 press release, foreign experts estimate that 35,000 tonnes of medicine was imported as humanitarian aid during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina -- but only about 10 to 15 percent of this medicine was safe for use. Now there is a serious problem with disposal of the old drugs, according to the release, from the Ecological Movement BiH Zenica - Greens. The drugs can cause serious environmental hazards if it they are allowed to leach into the groundwater, or are burned incompletely, the release said. Ecological movements from around Bosnia and Herzegovina are currently working on a study about how best to solve this problem. Contact: Ecological Movement BiH Zenica - Greens, tel: (387-72) 22 017; e-mail: dbujak@iname.com; or Alida Covic, e-mail: alidica@yahoo.com.
WHO maintains web site on war-related activities
The WHO Europe web site now carries a regularly updated bulletin on World Health Organization's activities in the Kosovo crisis. According to an e-mail from WHO's European office, there are now WHO teams in action in Tirana, Kukes, Belgrade, Poidgorica and Skopje, focusing on such work as the prevention of epidemics, the proper use of drug donations, mental health, safe water and sanitation and the well-being of refugee children. For more information, contact Viv Taylor Gee, e-mail: vge@who.dk; tel: (45-39) 171-263.
Serbian ecological society circulating petition
The Serbian Ecological Society is circulating an e-mail petition to environmental groups that calls on world leaders to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the crisis in Kosovo. For a copy of the petition, or more information, contact: M. Sci. Dmitar Lakusic, president, Serbian Ecological Society, tel: (381-11) 767-988; e-mail: dlakusic@Eunet.yu.
A R O U N D T H E R E G I O N
Funded by European Commission's DG-XI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
REC awards nine NGO projects EUR 170,000 in grants
An expert panel met at the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe on March 8, 1999 and awarded almost EUR 170,000 to nine NGO projects in the CEE region, according to an April 15 statement from the REC. The winning projects are: Real Protection of the Eastern Carpathian Natural Forest, EUR 23,214; Nuclear Transport: Environmental and Democratic Aspects, EUR 20,000; Conservation Planning of Wolves in Estonian-Latvian Cross Border Region, EUR 20,000; Working for the Protection of the Mediterranean Monk Seal and its Habitats, EUR 22,500; Conservation and a Return of Large Predators to the West Carpathian Mountains, EUR 19,000; Education of Young People in Environmentally Responsible Behavior and Biodiversity Protection in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania, EUR 20,000; European Model Region for Cross Border Nature Conservation, EUR 15,000; The Challenge of Environmental Education: Global Crisis, EUR 10,000; and, Narva and Daugavpils Local Agenda 21: Implementation of the Baltic 21 through NGO Cooperation of Border Towns in Estonia and Latvia, EUR 20,000. Contact: Entela Pinguli, REC Grants Department, tel: (36-26) 504-000; fax (36-26) 311-294; e-mail: epinguli@rec.org.
Croatia plans three new thermoelectric plants
The Croatian Minister for Zoning, Construction and Housing has unveiled a national zoning programme that calls for the construction of three thermoelectric power plants -- in Zagreb, the Vukovar-Sirmium county and northern or central Dalmatia, according to the April 13 edition of the Croatian Foreign Press Bureau's "Daily Bulletin." Minister Mirko Sirac said the thermoelectric power plants will function on ecologically safe fuel, because in Croatia, there is no room for coal, or nuclear powered plants, the report said. The report said that the minister's plan also calls for the dumping of low-to-medium radioactive waste in the Moslavacka and Trgovska mountains in Sisak-Moslavina County. The zoning programme must be approved by the parliament -- and one Croatian parliamentarian, retired general Janko Bobetko, has already prepared an amendment that would prevent the proposal to use the Moslavacka mountain as a radioactive dumping ground, according to the "Daily Bulletin." Contact: Ministry for Zoning, Construction and Housing, tel: (385-1) 183-912; fax: (385-1) 183-901.
Nuclear workers march for Temelin, Austrian greens oppose it
The trade union of nuclear facility workers demonstrated in Prague in support of the completion of the nuclear power station at Temelin, in the Czech Republic, according to an April 22 report from Radio Prague. Industry and Trade Ministry Advisor Jiri Hanzlicek said that if work on Temelin was stopped, the Czech Republic would be dependent on electricity imports, and he described the ongoing public discussions about Temelin as an anti-nuclear campaign orchestrated from abroad, the report said. In Vienna, representatives of the Green Party have given Chancellor Viktor Klima a plane ticket to Prague, so that the Austrian Chancellor can travel there this month to discuss Temelin with the Czech government before a decision is made on whether to complete the plant or scrap it, Radio Prague reported. A study by an independent commission has determined that completion of the partially constructed plant in the South Bohemia region may not be cost effective. The Czech cabinet is to decide on the future of Temelin in May, based on alternative studies worked out by Trade and Industry Minister Miroslav Gregr and Environment Minister Milos Kuzvart, Radio Prague reported. Contact: minister Kuzvart, tel: (420-2) 6712-2719 or (420-2) 6712-1111; or Greenpeace Austria, tel: (43-1) 545-4580.
Hungary stops selling leaded petrol
Leaded petrol, which accounts for 28 percent of all petrol consumption in Hungary and is the source of 70 million tonnes of lead emission a year, has been taken off the market in the country as of April 1, according to MTI, the Hungarian news agency. The move, initiated by the Hungarian Mineral Oil Association, is in line with European Union plans to stop selling leaded fuel as of next year, MTI reported. Contact: Dr. Judit Moser of the Hungarian environment ministry's press office, tel: (36-1) 201-2619.
Croatians debate ministry for environmental affairs
Scientists, ecologists, lawyers, representatives of ministries and non-governmental organisations discussed the creation of a Croatian environment ministry at an April 12 round-table organised by the Journalists' Centre for the Environment, according to an April 13 "Daily Bulletin" from the Croatian government's Foreign Press Bureau, Zagreb. Croatia is one of the few European countries that does not address its environmental issues at a ministerial level, but attendees put forward a number of arguments in favour of establishing a ministry for the environment, the report said. Contact: Zoran Ostric of the Journalist's Centre for the Environment, e-mail: zoran.ostric@zamir.net.
Lithuania has new environment minister
Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus has signed a decree appointing Danius Lygis as environment minister, according to an April 9 report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE). Lygis, a member of the ruling Conservative Party, had served as deputy minister of the environment since 1996, RFE reported. Lygis replaces Algis Caplikas, a member of the Center Union, who resigned early last month, RFE reported. Contact: Lithuanian Ministry of Environmental Protection, tel: (370-2) 725-868; fax: (370-2) 728-020 or (370-2) 728-179.
E U A C C E S S I O NEU regulators appraise CEE nuclear plants
A new report concludes that nuclear power plants in Lithuania and Bulgaria fail to meet Western safety standards and planned improvements are insufficient to bridge the gap, according to the April 12 edition of the ENDS Environment Daily. The report was prepared by the Western European Nuclear Regulators' Association (Wenra) and analyses nuclear safety in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Slovak Republic and Slovenia, according to ENDS. Overall, Wenra concluded that staff numbers, conditions and salaries should be improved in all CEE countries for regulatory authorities to retain staff competent enough to ensure adequate safety standards, ENDS reported, adding that future reports will also review radioactive waste management and radiological protection. Contact: Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate, tel: (46-8) 698-8400; web: http://www.ski.se. To subscribe to ENDS Environment Daily, e-mail: envdaily@ends.co.uk.
OECD report praises Czech environmental gains
An OECD report praises the Czech Republic for improvements to the environment over the last 10 years, according to an April 15 report from Radio Prague. The cleaner environment is partly the result of a decline in industry and agriculture, but the report also points to successful changes in Czech legislation and institutions, according to Radio Prague. Still, the report warns that pollution levels remain far higher than the average for OECD member countries, Radio Prague said. The report calls on the Czech Republic to increase its efforts to include environmental issues in economic decisions and to adopt a new ecological political strategy that will take into consideration European Union requirements and lay down concrete goals and timetables, Radio Prague said. Contact: Czech Environment Minister Milos Kuzvart, tel: (420-2) 6712-2719 or (420-2) 6712-1111.
Pace of Polish EU environmental accession slows
Poland will not be ready to submit its proposals for detailed negotiations on the environmental aspects of its EU membership bid until at least September, according to one of the leaders of recent talks with the European Commission to assess progress so far, an April 9 report by ENDS Environment Daily said. The news will probably disappoint other aspirant countries, which had been hoping that the six "first wave" states could present their position paper to the commission en masse well before the summer, ENDS said. According to ENDS, most nations want to begin political negotiations under the Finnish presidency of the EU, which runs from July to December, because Finland is thought to be more sympathetic to EU enlargement than Portugal, which takes over the presidency at the beginning of next year. Contact: Polish permanent representation to the EU, tel: (32-2) 777-7720; or the Polish environment ministry, tel: (48-22) 825-0001. To subscribe to ENDS Environment Daily, e-mail: envdaily@ends.co.uk.
Sweden to support Latvian effort to join EU
Sweden plans to help its neighbour Latvia on the road to EU membership in one of the first "twinning" projects aimed at improving candidate countries' approximation to the EU's environmental acquis, according to an April 16 report by ENDS Environment Daily. The Swedish environmental protection agency will receive EUR 350,000 from the EU to help Latvia replace its legislation and administrative structures with models more closely aligned with those in the EU, the ENDS report said. Contact: Swedish EPA, tel: (460-8) 698-1000; or European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, tel: (44-171) 338-6000; web: http://www.ebrd.com. To subscribe to ENDS Environment Daily, e-mail: envdaily@ends.co.uk.
Estonia will push for EU nature law amendment
Estonia plans to ask the EU to amend the 1992 habitats directive to take account of the country's need to control wild populations of some protected animal species, according to an April 7 report by ENDS Environment Daily. Talking to ENDS after recent screening talks, accession negotiator Allan Gromov of the Estonian environment ministry said that hunting of wolves, lynx, bears and beavers was necessary to reduce the damage these animals do to agriculture and the potential threat to human life. He reportedly said that he believed the necessary amendments would not raise opposition from existing EU members. Contact: Estonian environment ministry, tel: (372) 626-2800, web: http://www.envir.ee. To subscribe to ENDS Environment Daily, e-mail: envdaily@ends.co.uk.
J O U R N A L I S M R E S O U R C E SIssue 6 of 'Environment and Health News' online
"Environment and Health News" a preparatory newsletter for participation in the Healthy Planet Forum and the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, announced in April that its latest edition is online. The edition contains briefings on the conference issues, articles on related issues, as well as information on the draft ministerial declaration for the Third Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, the announcement said. For more information, contact Richard Grahn, environment and health project officer, e-mail: EnvironmentandHealth@compuserve.com.
WWF launches Amazon web site
The World Wildlife Fund just launched a Web site detailing their efforts to preserve the biodiversity of the Amazon River Basin, according to an e-mail announcement received on April 13. The site contains resources and information, cool sounds and activities, and ways the public can help, according to the annoucnemt. Check it out at: http://worldwildlife.org/amazon/.
W H O W E A R EAbout Green Horizon
Green Horizon is a free newsletter designed to help journalists stay ahead of environmental news in Central and Eastern Europe. Twice a month, we'll offer tips on upcoming stories to watch for, as well as information and ideas to help you develop in-depth pieces about the region's environment. Green Horizon is produced by the Media Information Service (MIS) of the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe. The goal of the MIS is to assist the media in covering environmental issues. It is funded by the European Commission's DG-XI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
For a free subscription, research assistance or to find a source: Send e-mail to: GreenHorizon@rec.org, or call Tom Popper at (36-26) 504-000, fax (36-26) 311-294.
Copyright 1998 by the Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe
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