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>From: "Gruff Dodd" <>
>To: <>, "Oriental Birding" <>,
> "African Birding" <>,
> "SABIRDNET" <>,
> "EBN" <>,
> "Ukbirdnet" <>
>Cc: <>
>Subject: [UKBN] OIL PIPELINE IN ECUADOR
>Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2001 23:16:49 -0000
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>
>I have been asked to forward this very important message to the above
>newsgroups. Yet another environmental disaster waiting to happen -
>please read on and take five minutes to send a protest e-mail to the
>relevant people as set out in the message.
>
>I'm not a member of Birding Aus, so if anyone could forward it there
>and anywhere else you think it might be of use, I'd be very grateful
>(it's already gone out on Birdchat).
>
>Thanks.
>
>GRUFF DODD
>2 Clos Tawe, Barri, Cymru / Wales
>
>
>From: Stephen Greenfield <>
>Subject: [BIRDCHAT] your help urgently needed re: oil pipeline in
>Ecuador
>To:
>
>There have been several announcements in BirdChat over the last year
>about
>plans for a new oil pipeline in Ecuador, and its impact on birds and
>the
>environment. This is an update and an urgent appeal for your help in
>stopping construction of the destructive new "northern route."
>
>SUMMARY
>The government of Ecuador seems intent on signing a contract with a
>multinational consortium (OCP, Ltd.) that wants to put the new Heavy
>Crude
>Oil Pipeline (OCP) through the Mindo area northwest of Quito, an area
>of
>pristine cloud forest, wintering North American migrants, endangered
>and
>endemic species. A far better alternative is to follow normal industry
>practice and put the new pipeline along the route of the existing
>pipeline. The path of the proposed route, much of which already has
>been
>cut illegally by the consortium's surveyors, traverses pristine cloud
>forest and lengthy stretches of narrow, steep ridges; construction (or
>an
>oil spill) will cause catastrophic environmental damage.
>
>BIRD LIFE IN THE AREA
>BirdChat members will appreciate that the area contains spectacular
>and
>local species like Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan,
>Tanager
>Finch, and Giant and Moustached Antpittas; there are extremely rare
>and
>endangered species like Black-breasted Puffleg. Migrants using the
>valley
>include Blackburnian and Canada Warblers, Broad-winged Hawk, Summer
>Tanager, and many others. The Christmas Count just conducted there
>recorded more than 340 species and is in the running for #1 in the
>world.
>The area has been declared the first IBA (Important Bird Area) in
>South
>America by Birdlife International.
>
>More information is available at the following Web sites.
>http://www.wing-wbsj.or.jp/birdlife/mindo.htm
>http://worldtwitch.virtualave.net/ecuador_pipeline.htm
>http://www.sur.iucn.org/ (Español)
>If you want any other information, write to me or to the Committee at
>
>
>CURRENT STATUS, JANUARY 2001
>Local land owners, over 60 NGOs, and other environmentalists and
>professionals have formed a "Comite Pro Ruta Menor Impacto" (Committee
>for
>the Route of Least Impact) to fight against the northern route and
>push for
>the pipeline to be built instead near the existing pipeline. The
>Ecuadorian Congress has scheduled impeachment hearings against Energy
>Minister Pablo Teran, to start on January 23, on charges related to
>his
>approval of the consortium proposal. Nonetheless, it appears no
>longer
>likely that the northern route can be stopped within Ecuador, so
>pressure
>is urgently needed on the foreign members of the consortium, which
>include
>Alberta Energy (Canada), Occidental and Kerr MacGee (USA), AGIP
>(Italy) and
>Repsol/YPF (Spain), and also Chase Manhattan, which is funding the
>project.
>
>WHAT YOU CAN DO
>A. Directions are given below to easily send a message to the
>consortium
>members.
>B. If you have time, it will be more effective to modify or
>supplement the
>message with your own words (especially the opening sentence they see
>first).
>C. Better yet is a paper letter to the companies. Addresses include
>the
>following.
>
> William B. Harrison, Jr., Chairman & CEO
> The Chase Manhattan Corporation
> 270 Park Avenue
> New York, NY 10017
>
> Gwyn Morgan, President & CEO
> Alberta Energy Company Ltd.
> #3900, 421 - 7 Avenue S.W.
> Calgary, Alberta T2P 4K9
>
>TO QUICKLY SEND E-MAIL TO THE CONSORTIUM MEMBERS
>
>1) In your e-mail program, start a new blank message
>2) Copy and paste the following addresses in the "To" line.
>
>
>
>
>Put the following on the "BCC:" (blind-copy) line, so the committee
>will be
>aware of your e-mail.
>
>
>3) Write a "subject" line something like:
>Against the northern route for the Ecuador oil pipeline
>
>4) Copy and paste the message text that follows, and/or your own
>comments
>5) Send your e-mail
>6) PLEASE DISTRIBUTE THIS MESSAGE TO OTHER PEOPLE (to avoid lots of
>arrows
>in messages that are forwarded repeatedly we suggest that you copy and
>paste the text instead of just hitting "forward").
>
>Stephen Greenfield
>Minneapolis
>
>
>SAMPLE E-MAIL FOLLOWS
>
>I am writing to express my concern regarding your proposal to
>construct the
>new Ecuadorian oil pipeline through protected forest areas in the
>Mindo
>region of northwestern Ecuador.
>
>Instead of following normal industry practice and constructing the new
>pipeline along the "southern route" close to the existing pipeline,
>your
>consortium has proposed a new northern route, which will pass through
>pristine cloud forest and rain forest, much of it in protected
>reserves, in
>violation of Ecuador's environmental law. In the last decade, a
>flourishing ecotourism industry has developed in this area, drawing
>visitors from around the world and providing long-term livelihoods for
>many
>local residents. The alternative southern route would have far less
>impact
>since it mostly follows the existing pipeline through an area that has
>little intact forest.
>
>Although much can be done to reduce impacts in pipeline construction
>and
>operation, the area that will be affected by your proposal is both
>biologically unique and enormously fragile. The actions carried out by
>Techint have done nothing to encourage confidence. They have
>trespassed on
>public reserves and private lands and cleared forests to conduct
>preliminary surveys without permission. Under these conditions and
>with
>these precedents, severe and irreversible impacts are assured if the
>northern route is followed.
>
>I urge you to insist on following a law-abiding and less destructive
>route,
>or withdraw your participation. A new pipeline is important for the
>economic development of Ecuador, but the same objectives can be met
>with
>far less environmental damage if the right route is chosen and proper
>safeguards established from the very outset. You should act quickly
>to
>make sure that this project does not tarnish your environmental record
>or
>involve you in costly lawsuits.
>
>Sincerely yours,
>
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