Fellowships at the National Endowment for Democracy

09.10.07

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invites applications to its Reagan- Fascell Democracy Fellows Program. Established in 2001 to enable democracy practitioners and scholars from around the world to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change, the program is based at NED's International Forum for Democratic Studies, in Washington, D.C.

Complaint to the Ombudsman

of the International Finance Corporation

17.08.07

On July 25, 2007, Green Salvation received letter from CAO. Ombudsman office suggested to close the complaint of organization. Green Salvation has rejected this suggestion and required to investigate the complaint (to Russian Main page). On April 11, 2007, Green Salvation submitted a complaint to IFC Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman office. The complaint was filed in defense of the residents of Berezovka village (Burlinsky Raion, Western Kazakhstan Oblast).

Call to block Westinghouse Kazatomprom deal

14.08.07

On July 17, 2007, four groups, including KEI, have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS"), asking that it block a proposed sale of 10 percent of Westinghouse, the US nuclear energy firm, to KazAtomProm, a nuclear energy firm owned by the government of Kazakhstan. The groups signing the letter are Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Essential Action and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, and Greenpeace (http://www.keionline.org/). Additional information: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/c66e3fca-3873-11dc-bca9-0000779fd2ac.html.

appeal of Kazakhstani and American NGOs

to the World Bank

20.06.07

Last week several Kazakhstani and American NGOs sent an appeal to the World Bank’s Department of Institutional Integrity. The appeal addressed the fact that the US government found the company Baker Hughes guilty of bribing Kazakhstani bureaucrats in order to secure a profitable contract to participate in the development of the Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field.

On June 15, 2007, the World Bank’s Department of Institutional Integrity confirmed receipt of the appeal and stated it would investigate the claims.

The organizations below signed the appeal and request that rights-protecting bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan join the investigation undertaken in the US by stopping the guilty parties from the Kazakhstani side.

This corruption scandal is destroying the image of the republic on the international level and is decreasing the investment attractiveness of the country in the eyes of foreign investors (Details).

Complaint to the Ombudsman

of the International Finance Corporation

20.05.07

On April 11, 2007, the Ecological Society “Green Salvation” submitted a complaint to the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman office. The complaint was filed in defense of the residents of Berezovka village (Burlinsky Raion, Western Kazakhstan Oblast). Their rights are being violated by the company “Lukoil Overseas Karachaganak B.V.”, which received a loan from the IFC for the development of the Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field. On May 2, 2007, the IFC officially confirmed that the complaint is eligible for further assessment (Details).

The 2006 Green Salvation Herald is now available in English

25.12.06

The latest issue contains information regarding the Republic of Kazakhstan’s compliance with the Aarhus Convention, and the influence of transnational corporations and international financial institutions on the development of the country’s environmental situation. All of the articles are original works written by colleagues and friends of Green Salvation.

The Aarhus Compliance Committee Acknowledges the Kazakhstan's Failure to Comply with the Aarhus Convention for the Third Time

23.11.06

The Aarhus Compliance Committee has taken a decision concerning the communication of citizens of Almaty city, L. Gatina, A. Gatin, L. Konyshkova. In 2004, they submitted a claim to the Compliance Committee that their right to access to justice on environmental matters had been violated. The Compliance Committee’s decision on this matter states that the Republic of Kazakhstan failed to uphold paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 9 of the Aarhus Convention. Thus, the Compliance Committee has acknowledged Kazakhstan’s failure to comply with the Aarhus Convention for the third time since the beginning of 2005.

(ACCC/C/2004/06) http://www.unece.org/env/documents/2006/pp/ece.mp.pp.c.1.2006.4.e.pdf )

In Recognition of the Fifth Anniversary of the Date on which the Aarhus Convention Entered into Force

21.11.06

The Republic of Kazakhstan (RK) ratified the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention) on October 23, 2000. The Convention came into force on the 30th of October, 2001.

On the 21rd of November, the environmental NGO «Green Salvation» held a press conference dedicated to the level of compliance with the Aarhus Convention in Kazakhstan at the Kazakhstan Press Club. Specifically, the press conference focused on Decision II/5a Compliance by Kazakhstan with its Obligations under the Aarhus Convention, which was approved at the Second Meeting of the Parties, May 25-27 2005, Almaty. More Information...

The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee sent their commentary and suggestions

29.06.06

At the beginning of February of this year, the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan sent the Compliance Committee its Strategy for Implementation of the Recommendations of Decision II/5a, Second Meeting of the Parties of the Aarhus Convention which took place 25-27 May 2005 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Under the terms of Decision II/5a Compliance by Kazakhstan with Its Obligations Under the Aarhus Convention, Kazakhstan should have sent this strategy to the Compliance Committee no later than by the end of 2005.

On June 29, the Compliance Committee sent the RK Ministry of Environment their commentary and suggestions on the strategy.

Trouble In The Suburbs
The Dark Side of Post-Soviet Development in Kazakhstan

28.06.06

Almaty, KAZAKHSTAN—The sounds of construction are ubiquitous in Almaty. Pounding jackhammers, whining saws and lumbering bulldozers are at work on almost every block of this green, mountain-rimmed Central Asian city. This breakneck development takes place alongside the expensive bistros and Mercedes dealerships that cater to a new generation reveling in the riches of recently discovered oil and gas reserves, giving this city—once considered a sleepy Soviet outpost—a powerfully wealthy and cosmopolitan veneer.

But all is not well in this city lauded as an economic giant in the region, a model of expedient privatization and post-Soviet development. Kazakhstan’s reality check lies only a few miles outside the city center where a growing movement of discontent among those left behind by the recent boom tells a very different story and reveals a country developing on the shaky foundations of corruption and disparity.

The Committee made its final decision

16.06.06

At its 12th meeting on June 14-16, the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee made its final decision on communication (ACCC/C/2004/06), finding the Republic of Kazakhstan to be not in compliance with the requirements of Article 9, Points 3 and 4 of the Convention (more details later).

The Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee has considered a new appeal from the citizens of Kazakhstan

18.04.06

On March 29, 2006, in Geneva, the Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee continued its examination of an appeal from citizens L. Gatina, A. Gatin, and L. Konyshkova (АССС/С/2004/06, Kazakhstan). The cause of this third appeal from the citizens of Kazakhstan was the violation of their right of access to justice with regard to environmental concerns. The Committee is expected to issue its final conclusions and recommendations at its twelfth meeting, planned for June 12-15.

The Bulletin of Green Salvation – 10 years on

24.03.06

On March 24, 2006, a round table entitled “Literature on Ecology and the Ecology of Literature”, devoted to the tenth anniversary of the Bulletin of Green Salvation, was held in the conference hall of the National Library. Participants were shown video films created by the organization’s members. The editorial staff of the Bulletin prepared an exhibit revealing the painstaking work spent on the publication, including manuscripts and proofs for individual issues, and the work of the photographers and illustrators. The exhibit remained in place until the end of April.

Ile-Alatau National Nature Park: 10 Years

22.02.06

The Ile-Alatau National Nature Park—one of two thousand parks worldwide—is quite young. The park is turning ten years old in February of this year. The park is located on the northern slopes of the Zailiisky Alatau and is a favorite relaxation spot for Almaty residents and guests of the southern capital.