We start off with some current pre-election information: Hello friends! 10 POINTS FOR ECOLOGICAL POLICY Happy blue summer and wishes for a beneficial and sunny June! After one-month work experts from the non-governmental or- ganizations in the Coalition made 10 points, which would guar- antee the protection of natural resources in the country and its sustainable development. The ten points are sent to all political organizations, who are nominated for the next elections. Each FOR THE NATURE COALITION developed European country has ecological policy – something INFORMATION NEWSLETTER that not only doesn't exist in Bulgaria, but at this stage is in- MAY 2009 comprehensible for the mind of the Bulgarian hereditary politi- cian. We hope these 10 points will stir up a little the political apathy in the country. You can see them here: http:// forthenature.org/documents/568/. Our idea and strategy for ac- tion is after sending the points to all candidate rulers to gather them on an open discussion on the identified problems and to trace what engagements will be taken by them. For detailed in- formation and results please visit http://forthenature.org, be- cause we won't allow political violations and empty pre-election promises. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION “FOR THE EARTH” (ZA ZEMIATA) ASKS THE CANDIDATES FOR MEPs We have also made a little experiment on the competence of Bulgarian politicians on globally significant problems. Until that This project is supported by a grant from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway moment only 9 from 215 candidates for the European Parlia- through the EEA Financial Mechanism. ment have found time to answer to a short questionnaire con- cerning some of the main challenges lying before the European Parliament during its next mandate – energy policy, climate, na- ture preservation, sustainable development and international trade. The consultation is made by Ecological Association Za Zemiata and is coordinated with the Coalition “For The Nature”. Details you can see here: http://www.bluelink.net/index.shtml? x=41291. After this pre-election and political information, which may not be very pleasant, but is quite necessary, we continue with more pleasant and interesting doings during this past month. EDUCATIONAL CAMP KARTALI 2009 We started May with the extremely interesting and funny camp Kartali 2009. From 1 to 6 May in the East Rhodopes region the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation organized a student camp for the fourth year in a row. Although it is aimed at students who study ecology, biology, environmental preservation and other similar specialities, with every year the interest in it is growing. This year the number of dentists, lawyers, accountants and many others, exceeded the number of “specialists”. During the camp the participants made observations and ground investigations of many interesting and unique species. More about the camp fun on http://forthenature.org/news/740/, http://forthenature.org/ gallery/150/, http://forthenature.org/gallery/151/. FESTIVAL OF PERIWINKLE IN STRANDZHA Another great feast with the participation of the Coalition during this month was the festival of periwinkle in Nature park Strandzha on 16-17 May. The Strandzha periwinkle is the symbol of the festival and Nature park Strandzha. It is an extremely beautiful plant that blossoms in the beginning of May and can be found only in Strandzha and Kavkaz. Full report of the event: http://forthenature.org/news/759/. Talking about Strandzha, we are still waiting for the Regional Di- rectorate of Construction Control to make its decision for putting Photos: Elitsa Stoyanova, Nikolay Niko- down the illegal complex Golden Pearl near Varvara. The volun- lov, Diana Pavlova, Boris Mihaylov teers for the demolition are here, now we need only the institu- tions to start doing their job. In a good spring-summer tradition May was full with clean-up ac- hours the volunteers gathered 500 kg garbage, over 600 car- tions – over 20 initiatives took place on different places in the tridge-cases from gun weapon. Except for the cleaning of the country, organized by active nature preservation organizations sand beach, the team of Green Balkans made a training on rec- and citizens. For some of them and the fun, read down. And for ognizing the wild birds and plants in the region of the lake. More all who want to take part or to organize similar initiatives, the on: http://forthenature.org/news/754/. blog Month of the Earth (Mesec na zemiata) is functioning and is waiting for you at http://mesecnazemiata.blogspot.com/! NATIONAL DAY OF NATURE PARKS HALF A TONE OF GARBAGE FROM A KILOMETER BEACH Over 2300 volunteers took pаrt in the initiative “National Day of STRIP Nature Parks” of the international nature preservation organiza- tion WWF, supported by GLOBUL and the administration of the On initiative of Green Balkans Federation, nature preservers 11 nature parks in Bulgaria. The participants gathered over 15 cleaned the dirtiest part of the sand beach that divides Pomorie tones of garbage and repaired the places for rest and pathways Lake and the sea. The sand stripe is in the protected area Po- for disabled people. In Nature Park “Shumensko Plateau” were morie Lake, but unfortunately, every year more irresponsible gathered over 10 tones of garbage from a non-regulated dun- tourists pile the beautiful dunes with garbage. Only for a few hill. Famous people from show business, sports and media also supported the National day of Nature parks. Details on: http:// www.panda.org/bg/get_involvedd/ campaign_parks/23mayparks/ . SPELEOLOGISTS CLUBS ORGANIZED CAVE CLEANING ON MAY 30 AND 31 The Association of Speleologists in Sofia invited all speleologists, friends and enthusiasts to take part in the spring cleaning of the territory near and in the caves Duhlata and Pepelianka, the Dzeranica countryside, the adjoining meadows and the river bed of Struma river – http://forthenature.org/news/768/. WWF and Globul’s initiative to clean up nature parks was one of the nu- merous spring initiatives of taking personal responsibility toward the en- vironment we live in. OVER 300 VOLUNTEERS OF “LET’S SAVE IRAKLI” TRANS- “Let’s Save Irakli” (Da spasim Irakli) continues to insist for recul- PORTED TWO TRUCKS OF GARBAGE FROM THE BEACH tivation of the mouth of Vaya river, which was firmly interned into a concrete trough by the investor Swiss Properties, so as not to impede the construction of the vacation village. Let us remind The wild beach managed to withstand the threats of systematic that in January 2009, despite the lack of permission, the offshore violation of the laws in the country, corruption, apathy and inso- firm which is registered in Switzerland tried to continue the build- lence, thanks to scores of young Bulgarians, who didn't save ing works yet another time and the municipality didn't find a fetches during last three years, protecting the beach with all law- mechanism to stop the violators before “Da spasim Irakli” inter- ful resources. One thousand sacks of garbage brought from the vened. sea and from unscrupulous visitors, were filled and transported from Irakli beach on 22-24 May. We want to say big thanks to The action was organised by the civil group “Da spasim Irakli” Obzor municipality, which is the only one that supports the clean- with the cooperation of volunteers and experts from the Coalition up action, ensuring transport for the garbage, despite the fact “For The Nature” and with materials, provided from project of Irakli is closer to Nesebar municipality. There was positive spirit Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation, financed by a grant from Ice- during the cleaning, because for the first time the protected area land, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA Financial Mecha- in the Southern part of the beach was also included in the initia- nism. tive. More at: http://forthenature.org/news/763/ and http:// forthenature.org/gallery/161. SEMINARS, DISCUSSIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND MORE FESTIVALS In the spirit of good traditions during this month many informa- tion tours, education seminars and discussions and some artistic festivals and events took place. Here are some links to some of them, they were very interesting and we hope to see you on the events planned for June. Please, follow our webpage www.forthenature.org for details. ⇒ Travelling exhibition presents: the cost of nuclear energy in Bulgaria 15.05 – 07.06: http://forthenature.org/news/744/. ⇒ Music festival near Maritsa river, 22-24 May: http:// forthenature.org/news/760/. ⇒ A new initiative for ecological education and Natura 2000 took And a couple of final points for you to think about and fol- off successfully: http://forthenature.org/news/771/. low the development of problems: ⇒ On 15 May Kyustendil hosted a discussion on the problems of ⇒ Protest letter against the planned killing of over 6 000 foxes: protected areas and zones in Bulgaria. There was great interest http://forthenature.org/news/755/. by many citizens who visited the discussion. The media atten- tion was incredible. ⇒ The Law for encouraging the investments makes it easier to overbuild the protected nature of Bulgaria – position of the ⇒ On 17 May in Varna a discussion entitled “The ordinary citizen Coalition: http://forthenature.org/news/779/. and the local authorities – how we can change the municipal actions and politics” took part. It was part of the project of En- ⇒ Mistakes during the construction of the lift near Blagoevgrad – vironmental Association Za Zemiata and Citizens for Rila for from «Standart” newspaper empowerment of citizens through exchanging experience and strengthening the campaign for the protection of wild nature in ⇒ Standpoint of the Association of the parks in Bulgaria on the Bulgaria. There were over 30 citizens from Varna, Burgas, Sofia general spatial plan of the “Iskrovete” ski resort in Rila, near and Dobrich.