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[Get Involved] Save Rospuda Valley -- Precious Polish wetlands must not become badlands!
(July 20, 2006)
 © Wlodzimierz Lapinski |
Earlier this week, Poland's environment minister Jan Szyszko agreed to the routing of the Augustow city bypass through the wetlands in the stunning Rospuda Valley which lies in the Augustow Primeval Forest. A Polish natural treasure, Rospuda is a refuge for a number of extremely rare species of animals, some on the brink of extinction, and plants as well as habitats. What's more, as part of the European Natura 2000 Network, the Rospuda Valley is a protected area.
The Augustow city bypass is part of the Via Baltica transport corridor, an EU instigated road project running the length of Poland to improve transport connections between the Baltic countries and the rest of Europe. An alternative route for the bypass, conceived by independent road designers, which is a less harmful and less expensive option exists but has been completely ignored by Polish decision-makers. You can view a map of the proposed alternative route here.
Rospuda Valley is our European natural heritage! Bankwatch, as well as many other NGOs such as Greenpeace, Birdlife and WWF believe that this highly controversial decision has to be reconsidered by the Polish government.
We will be pulling out all the stops in the coming months to ensure that no tarmac enters Rospuda, and you can help today by contacting Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski at the following address: listy@prezydent.pl , cirinfo@kprm.gov.pl
Feel free to write to them in your own words (we strongly recommend that you maintain a polite and non-aggressive tone) or alternatively you can use the suggested text which follows below.
Please copy all emails you send to:
main AT bankwatch.org
Thank you, the Bankwatch team.
====================
Sample letter:
Dear Mr President
Dear Mr Prime Minister
I would like to express my concerns to you about the potential construction of an expressway through Rospuda Valley in north-east Poland that is set to start in autumn this year. Such a routing of the Augustow city bypass as proposed this week by your government's environment minister is not acceptable, especially when there is another less harmful and more financially sound alternative already available.
Rospuda Valley is our common European natural heritage, a treasure that Poland has brought to the European Community. It is a unique site, a habitat for many rare species of animals, some on the brink of extinction. Rospuda Valley is also part of the European Natura 2000 Network and therefore should be protected, not devastated.
I believe that your government now has a duty to rethink the Augustow city bypass plan in order to find a solution that benefits people and the environment. I expect you to take my appeal into account and stop the construction of the proposed route through Rospuda Valley before it's too late.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxx
The Augustow city bypass is part of the Via Baltica transport corridor, an EU instigated road project running the length of Poland to improve transport connections between the Baltic countries and the rest of Europe. An alternative route for the bypass, conceived by independent road designers, which is a less harmful and less expensive option exists but has been completely ignored by Polish decision-makers. You can view a map of the proposed alternative route here.
Rospuda Valley is our European natural heritage! Bankwatch, as well as many other NGOs such as Greenpeace, Birdlife and WWF believe that this highly controversial decision has to be reconsidered by the Polish government.
We will be pulling out all the stops in the coming months to ensure that no tarmac enters Rospuda, and you can help today by contacting Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski at the following address: listy@prezydent.pl , cirinfo@kprm.gov.pl
Feel free to write to them in your own words (we strongly recommend that you maintain a polite and non-aggressive tone) or alternatively you can use the suggested text which follows below.
Please copy all emails you send to:
main AT bankwatch.org
Thank you, the Bankwatch team.
====================
Sample letter:
Dear Mr President
Dear Mr Prime Minister
I would like to express my concerns to you about the potential construction of an expressway through Rospuda Valley in north-east Poland that is set to start in autumn this year. Such a routing of the Augustow city bypass as proposed this week by your government's environment minister is not acceptable, especially when there is another less harmful and more financially sound alternative already available.
Rospuda Valley is our common European natural heritage, a treasure that Poland has brought to the European Community. It is a unique site, a habitat for many rare species of animals, some on the brink of extinction. Rospuda Valley is also part of the European Natura 2000 Network and therefore should be protected, not devastated.
I believe that your government now has a duty to rethink the Augustow city bypass plan in order to find a solution that benefits people and the environment. I expect you to take my appeal into account and stop the construction of the proposed route through Rospuda Valley before it's too late.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxx
CEE Bankwatch Network gratefully acknowledges EU funding support.
