FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM

FINROSFORUM  //  The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum strives to promote cooperation between the peoples of Finland and Russia by supporting civic initiatives for democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech.

Mar 2 / 12:51am

FINROSFORUM Appealed in Defence of Khimki Forest

Media_httpiimgurcom3l_jtwqq

FINROSFORUM board members Mikael Storsjö (left), Kerkko Paananen, and Ville Ropponen.
(Photo: Jouko Kämäräinen.)

The Finnish-Russian Civic Forum (FINROSFORUM) conveyed an appeal in support of the campaign to defend Khimki Forest, near Moscow, to the French Embassy in Helsinki on 1 March 2011. At the same time, the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest (EcoOborona) delivered its appeal to the office of the French construction group, Vinci, in Moscow. Below, the text of FINROSFORUM's appeal to the French Ambassador in Finland:

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  CSR   Environment   FINROSFORUM   France   Helsinki   Khimki   Moscow   Russia   Vinci  
Feb 28 / 4:13pm

Vetoomus Himkin metsän puolesta

Media_httpwwwgztrufup_abidb

Moskovan lähellä sijaitseva Himkin metsä uhkaa jäädä rakenteilla olevan moottoritien alle. Himkin metsä on tuhannen hehtaarin suuruinen suojeltu tammimetsä, joka on moskovalaisten suosittu virkistysalue. Sen läpi on linjattu kulkevaksi uusi Moskova-Pietari-moottoritie.

Rakennustyöt ovat olleet laajan kiistan ja protestiliikkeen aihe jo vuosia. 26. elokuuta 2010 presidentti Medvedev määräsi rakennustyöt keskeytettäväksi kiistojen takia, mutta 14. joulukuuta 2010 Venäjän hallitus päätti sittenkin rakentaa moottoritien metsän läpi.

Himkin metsäkampanja vetoaa nyt moottoritiehankkeeseen osallistuvaan ranskalaiseen Vinci-konserniin, jotta tämä vetäytyisi projektista. Vetoomuksessa kiinnitetään huomiota mm. hankkeeseen liittyviin laittomuuksiin ja kansalaismielipiteen tukahduttamiseen.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  CSR   Himki   Moskova   Pietari   Ranska   Venäjä   Vinci   Ympäristö  
Feb 23 / 6:10pm

Russian Forest Coalition Appeals to EU

Media_httpphotosdzkic_hkibn

A coalition of Russian environmental organisations has appealed to José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, to halt the participation of European financial institutions, including the EBRD and EIB, in motorway projects in Russia.

The coalition in defence of the forests of Moscow region called on the EU to withdraw its support for the projects until the rights of local residents were taken into account. The forest coalition includes WWF Russia, Greenpeace Russia, the Biodiversity Conservation Center, the Russian Birds Conservation Union, the Social-Ecological Union, and the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest.

The coalition pointed out that almost all major motorway projects currently under construction or planned in the near future in Russia have been "carried out without taking into account the principles of sustainable development, conservation of biodiversity, or public opinion." The coalition noted the continued violations of human rights that environmental campaigners have been subjected to in connection with the motorway projects.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  Avtodor   Barroso   Corruption   EBRD   EIB   EU   Environment   Greenpeace   Human Rights   Khimki   Medvedev   Moscow   Putin   Russia   VINCI   WWF  
Dec 9 / 6:34am

Death knell for Khimki forest


The battle for Khimki forest seems to have been lost with the controversial highway set to get the green light to slice through the green oasis. A formal announcement giving the go-ahead to the Moscow-St Petersburg toll road is expected later on Thursday when President Dmitry Medvedev meets French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

Read the rest of this post »

Filed under  //  France   Khimki   Medvedev   Moscow   Russia   Vinci