Demonstration against dam greenwashing in Paris

In the context of the World Hydropower Congress in Paris (14-15 May), Extinction Rebellion and Planète Amazone are calling to demonstrate in Paris
14 MAI 2019, 12h at the
ESPLANADE DE LA DÉFENSE – ESPACE GRANDE ARCHE 92800 PUTEAUX
in Paris.

NGOs statement – Paralell event to the World Hydropower Congress in Paris

On May 13, NGOS from the Civil Society organized a parallel event to this Wolrd hydro Congress, to press where it hurts by asking the question : ” Hydroelectric Dams : solution or obstacle for delivering the Paris climate agreement and sustainale development goals ?”.

 

 

 

 

Photo Hasankeyf

The World Hydropower Congress in Paris, 14-16 May continues to portray large hydroelectric dams as green

The World Hydropower Congress in Paris, 14-16 May continues to portray large hydroelectric dams as green and a clean source of energy . Organized by the industrial lobby of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) in partnership with UNESCO, the conference’s title reads, “Delivering the Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals”.
> more on the official site

Remember that 20 years ago, the World Commission on Dams had already published a framework document, advocating practices that respect human rights and ecology. It was the result of a international workgroup with representant of the Worldbank, Dambuilders, Environmental NGOs and dam affected people.

This text has unfortunately never been applied by hydropower industry who have chosen to redefine their own criteria and have blowen all the rest away in favour of their “Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol”, which itself is rarely applied …

“Artifishal” : Patagonia new documentary on rivers and future of wild fish

Patagonia’s new documentary “Artifishal” denounces intensive salmon farming in northern European aquaculture farms. It shows the consequences of these farms for our wild fish and our rivers.

Patagonia invite you to sign their online petition supported by North Atlantic Salmon Fund Iceland
Redd Villaksen – Norwegian Wild Salmon Alliance, Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland, Salmon Watch Ireland to call on decision-makers to ban fish farms in Europe and restore habitats.

More info : www.patagonia.com/artifishal.html

A preview screening of the film is scheduled April 24 at 7:30 pm at the Maison des Métallos in Paris.

Watch trailer :

 

Micro-hydropower plants are in the media ! Investigation of their impacts, by Lorène Lavocat, French journalist

Lorène Lavocat, reporter for Reporterre, carried out a survey on micro hydropower plants. At the beginning of March 2019, two interesting articles on the micro-hydropower plants that we invite you to read, as well as a passage in the show La Tête au Carré on the public radio France Inter!

> Listen to the radio show La Tête au Carré (March 8th, 19) by clicking HERE (french only)

> Article 1/1 : The multiplication of microbarrings threatens the last wild rivers , by Lorène Lavocat, (Reporterre, March 8, 2019) “Hydropower has been permanently installed in the French energy mix, but its promoters, touting” the most beautiful “electricities”, want to equip more rivers with micro-hydropower, much to the chagrin of associations for the defense of aquatic biodiversity. “ Read more (french only)

> Article 2/2 : In the Haute-Loire, the opposition goes up against projects of mini-hydroelectric plants,  by Lorène Lavocat, (Reporterre, March 9, 2019) “A storable energy, generated locally, without pollutant discharges … The micro-hydropower plants have serious assets. Which do not carry the adhesion of the associations of defense of the environment and the concerned inhabitants, as in Chamalières-sur-Loire or Chanteuges.” Read more (french only)

Gregor Subic

Vjosa : Albania fails to comply with Energy Community Law

Extract from Press release in common from Euronatur/ Ecoalbanian / Riverwatch

++ NGOs file complaint against Albania ++ Hydropower projects on Vjosa river clearly breach Energy Community rules ++

Tirana, Radolfzell, Vienna, February 26th, 2019.

Today, the Energy Community Secretariat received a complaint against the Albanian Government (find attached). EcoAlbania, Riverwatch and EuroNatur – the three organisations behind the campaign for the protection of the Vjosa River in Albania – have raised concerns about the procedures for the Kalivaç and Poçem hydropower projects (HPP) not being in line with Energy Community rules.

This is the first time a complaint has been filed with the Energy Community regarding hydropower developments in Albania… Read more

 

Logo ERN, petit format

Disaster Flood in the Tigris – Made by a Turkish Dam

+++ Mesopotamia Ecology Movement +++ Initiative to Keep Hasankeyf Alive +++ Disaster Flood in the Tigris – Made by a Turkish DamPress Release, 19.12.2018 On the evening of the 13th December 2018 one of the three spillway gates of the Dicle Dam at the Tigris River in Turkish-Kurdistan has broken. Since then the water level […]

Read more

Eco-Masterplan shows value of Balkan Rivers (PR EuroNatur)

Post extract from the web site of Riverwatch

++ 80,000 kilometers of rivers in the Balkans scientifically assessed ++ 76 percent thereof identified as no-go zones for hydropower development ++ Switch in energy policy is necessary and possible ++

Vienna, Radolfzell, November 27, 2018 – Three quarters of the rivers in the Balkans are ecologically so valuable, that they should be completely off limits for hydropower development. This is the conclusion of the Eco-Masterplan, which was published today by the NGOs Riverwatch and EuroNatur within the context of the “Save the Blue Heart of Europe” campaign. The Eco-Master Plan is a kind of spatial plan for the watercourses between Slovenia and Greece, indicating No-go zones for new hydropower plants. For this purpose, a river network of over 80,000 kilometers in length was scientifically assessed. The result: about 61,000 kilometers of river (76 percent) are of high ecological quality and therefore designated as No-go zones for hydropower expansion (click here for visual story-map). “We call upon investors and decision-makers in the Balkans and in the EU to refrain from approving hydropower plants in these No-go areas in the future. The protection of Balkan Rivers is a pan-European task and the Eco-Masterplan is a tool for all those in charge in order to preserve this treasure,”… read the complet Pressrelease and download the report  

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Vehicle tyres and synthetic clothes are two of the leading causes of household microplastic pollution (FoE)

Vehicle tyres and synthetic clothes are two of the leading causes of household microplastic pollution, a report from Friends of the Earth UK has found. 

The UK study estimated that just four main sources delivered between 9,000 and 32,000 tonnes of microplastics into waterways every year.

The two worst causes were tyre abrasion and the washing of synthetic clothes, such as fleeces.

When people wash clothes made from synthetic material it passes through the sewage system because there are no systems to recover these tiny plastic fibres. They eventually end up in rivers or the marine environment. In parts of Europe it is estimated that two-thirds of clothing are made from synthetic materials.

Recent studies have shown that plastic ends up in the human body. 

This study, which was carried out by Eunomia for Friends of the Earth UK, reveals that household plastic waste is roughly on par with large plastic waste, such as bottles, as around 26,000 tonnes of that also enters UK waterways each year.

The four main sources of microplastic waste, according to the report which was reported on today in the Guardian, were as follows:

  • Vehicle tyres: plastic microfibers are created when abrasion on the road surface creates tiny fragments which wash into streams and rivers;
  • Clothing: the washing of synthetic clothing separates tiny specs of plastic which make their way through the water treatment system;
  • Plastic pellets used to manufacture plastic items: These tiny cast off from manifactured items make their way to waterways;
  • Paints on buildings and road markings: Weather and flake-off results in tonnes of these tiny fragments ending up in surface water every year.

Earlier this year Eunomia also produced a report for the European Commission on microplastics, particularly those created by wear and tear.

They concluded that the largest reductions could be made at source. They called for new measures to limit the release of manufacturing pellets, to remove the worst performing tyres from the market and to analyse the synthetic clothing that emits the most microfibers when washed and take measures to limit their access to the market.

Netherlands : Gateway to the Rhine open for salmon

Photo Guy Warzée

November the 15 the Netherlands were celebrating the opening of the storm surge barrier on the Haringvliet, exactly 47 years after the Haringvliet sluices were rendered operative. That is where one of the three branches of the Rhine flows out into the North Sea. Until now, the storm surge barrier was a major obstacle to the passage of salmon and sea trout into the Rhine delta. Its partial opening greatly increases the chance that salmon and other “long distance migratory fish” will gain access to the Rhine catchment area. In addition, letting in saline water will improve the biodiversity of Haringvliet water.

Because of the drought that has affected the Netherlands over the past few months and the low river discharge, the sluices still remain closed on 15 November, only the decree has been officially adopted. They will from now operate in a fish friendly way in a “learning by doing” approach. As soon as sufficient fresh river water is entering into the Haringvliet Lake they partially open the sluices (maybe this week). If too much saline water is entering, the sluices will be closed. 

The partial opening of the Haringvliet barriers has figured on the long list of measures advocated by environmental associations and the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) for decades. Tenacity and commitment to conservation of nature and the environment has been effective.

Now the Rhine goes open until France and Rhinau hydropower plant. But France and EDF are still making no real progress with the construction of fish ladders at their 3 hydropower plants to enabling migratory fish to make their way up the Upper Rhine at long last. More than ever, effort has to be continued and it is up to France to respond to the great challenges on the Upper Rhine.   

The lack of action on the part of EDF might lead to a situation in which the statutory requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) are missed by a wide margin.  

The environmental associations in the Rhine catchment area have therefore registered an appeal seeking to oblige the EU Commission to open proceedings against the French Republic for breach of treaty obligations because of failure to comply with the WFD. We hope that France will at last put this topic on the top of his priority list !! 

 More info :

Read more : www.salmoncomeback.org and last press release from salmon comeback 

© 2018 | European Rivers Network