Help Save Teghut's Forest From Mining

It's not often that I ask readers to do something for the greater good, especially since a very small percentage of people would even consider spending a minute or two to help save a forest in their homeland. However, I urge you to do just that.

Armenian Copper Program (ACP), with approval from Armenia’s Ministry of Nature Protection, plans to clear-cut over 1,500 acres of Teghut's forest in order to establish an open pit strip mining operation for copper and molybdenum ore.

In addition, ACP plans to create a "tailing dump" in a nearby pristine gorge, where heavy metals and other toxins from mining waste will leach into the ground and into the river flowing through the gorge, ultimately contaminating the local water supply.

I don't think any of you want to see a forest cut down and the environment polluted. Even if you don't care about the animals, trees, and so on, you almost certainly care about the people there who would have a higher risk of disease, birth defects, and so on.

And if you think your voice won't matter, you're wrong: over two years ago, Armenia Tree Project and many other NGOS and international organizations came together to save the Shikahogh Nature Reserve from sure destruction! If it was done before, it can be done again.

I'm starting to sound like a PBS Pledge Drive, so I'll just give you the link: Save Teghut's Forest

The Armenia Tree Project!

The Armenia Tree Project was founded in 1994 by Carolyn Mugar with the primary goal of reforestation. Put simply, they plant lots of trees! How many? In 2005 alone they planted over 170,000 of them!

But it gets better than that. You see, the Armenia Tree Project also benefits local populations. One way they do it is with the help of villagers and families, who grow seeds in their backyards. Once they are ready to be planted outside of these mini-nurseries, the Armenia Tree Project buys the seedlings and tress and hires local workers to help plant them. So you see, this charity benefits hundreds upon hundreds of people, dozens of communities, and Mother Armenia and all of its present and future children!

I should also mention that they are now creating a memorial forest to remember the late Hrant Dink. 53,000 trees are to be planted, 1,000 for each of his 53 years.

Here's the website: Armenia Tree Project

Azeri Loggers Set Free - Without Punishment!

Remember a couple of days back, when three Azerbaijanis were arrested for attempting to steal timber from Armenia? Well, they've been released - without paying the $2,000 fine!

The three Azeri citizens of Georgia who were arrested five days ago in the territory of Armenia have been set free and sent to their home in Sadakhlo. Nevertheless, the Azeris have been set free without paying the sum, due to an agreement reached between the Armenian and Georgian border keepers.

One of the Azeris, Hussein Mamedov, informed agency "Trend" that the attitude of the Armenians towards them was good. "We spent three days in the detachment 'Stepanavan' where we were taken. And I cannot complain of any case of bad treatment".

Hmmm. What could be the political motivation for releasing criminals without any punishment?

Source: A1+

Three Azeris Caught Attempting to Insult Treeness!

A more horrific crime I cannot imagine!

Armenian Border Guard caught three Azeris having Georgian citizenship. They were trying to pass the Armenian-Georgian borderline to realize deforesting.

The frontiers caught the third Azeri in the neutral zone between the Armenian-Georgian borderline the boundaries of which are not decided by the two sides yet.

The third arrestee was also heading to Armenia after timber.

We have enough people cutting down trees illegally as it is: we don't need any outside help. But thanks!

Source: A1+

90% of Yerevan's Pollution Due to Cars

Cars and trucks, I suppose. Incredible figure, isn't it?

The air in Yerevan is polluted by transport by 90 percent. Expert alarm that clouds of dust have been formed because of air pollution. German experts say in case of planting enough trees air pollution may be down by 40 percent.

Armen Saghatelyan, ecolosphere research center head, said several factors must be considered while planting green zones, including esthetic requirements, climate, sustainability of plants and the qualities to absorb hazardous materials.

Planting trees in Yerevan? For one, it sounds like a lost cause, and for another, they wont last very long. Oh, and did I mention that commercial interests will get there before the previous two?

Source: Panorama