Khimki Forest movement leader violently detained in Moscow
Press release | 4 August, 2010Yevgenia Chirikova, the leader of the Movement to Defend Khimki Forest, has today been forcibly detained by police in Moscow immediately after a press conference on the persecution of activists opposing the construction of a motorway through the Khimki Forest just outside Moscow. [1] At the time of writing she has been released after several hours of interrogation, but urged to come to Khimki’s police station tomorrow for another round of questioning.
Read moreGroups blast veiled decision-making at European Commission as mining industry revels in rejection of crucial Parliamentary resolution
Press release | 7 July, 2010Environmental organisations have today criticised Commissioner Janez Potocnik for heeding mining industry lobbyists over a democratically elected European Parliament, in failing to open public discussions and rejecting a resolution to ban the use of cyanide in mining processes throughout the European Union.
Read moreSounding the potential of a European budget “for the people and the climate”
Blog entry | 29 June, 2010After six months of preparations and more than 50 interviews with decision makers and experts, Bankwatch has met with representatives from the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to discuss how the next EU budget for the 2014-2020 period can effectively support a low-carbon economy with benefits for people and nature.
Read moreChelopech gold mine plans frozen, campaigners call for cyanide leaching to be binned
Press release | 26 January, 2010An announcement from Dundee Precious Metals that it is freezing plans on its investment at the Chelopech gold and copper mine in central Bulgaria because of ongoing legal challenges has been welcomed by the Cyanide-free Bulgaria coalition.
Read moreBulgarian parliament hears the anti-cyanide concerns of thousands
Press release | 21 January, 2010Today at the Bulgarian parliament’s Petitions Committee three public petitions related to controversial mining initiatives were heard, in a process described by ‘Cyanide Free Bulgaria’ campaigners as encouraging and not before time.
Read moreNew ban on cyanide mining in Hungary gives hope across the region
Blog entry | 22 December, 2009A ban on all cyanide-based mining technologies on Hungarian territory that was passed by 356 votes in favour to one vote against in Hungary’s parliament earlier this month has strengthened hopes of other national bans – even a Europe-wide ban – ahead of the tenth anniversary of the Baia Mare disaster next month.
Read moreConcerns mount over cyanide rush in Bulgarian mining projects, European Commission urged to intervene
Press release | 1 December, 2009Two Bankwatch groups and the members of the Cyanide Free Bulgaria coalition outlined today at a press conference in Sofia the ongoing problematic issues hanging over the proposed introduction of controversial cyanide leaching at the Chelopech mining project and with the Bulgarian government’s handling of the environmental procedures for wider use of cyanide in mining projects across the country.
Read moreViolations at EBRD power lines project spark clashes between police and villagers in Ukraine
Press release | 18 November, 2009A project financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the Odessa region of Ukraine has this week been the scene of clashes between 300 police officers and villagers resisting the routing of high voltage power lines through their village. The EUR 25.8 million Odessa High Voltage Grid Upgrade project is being implemented by Ukraine’s national electricity company Ukrenergo in violation of agreements with the EBRD, the international public development bank and backer of the project.
Read moreNew ‘homes’ in Serbian temporary settlements are still far from acceptable
Blog entry | 20 October, 2009On 31 August 2009 the inhabitants of the Gazela informal settlement in Belgrade were resettled to temporary accommodation at four sites outside of Belgrade. After a visit conducted by partner group CEKOR in September which found a number of important issues needing to be addressed, Bankwatch carried out a follow-up fact-finding mission on 6-8 October 2009.
Read morePublic consultations short-circuited for major Ukrainian power project, EBRD urged to stand up for communities and the environment
Press release | 13 October, 2009A major power transmission project in Ukraine that seeks a EUR 175 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to facilitate the export of electricity from Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant across protected nature sites in the south of Ukraine is violating the EBRD’s procedures on public consultations, according to Bankwatch member group National Ecological Centre of Ukraine (NECU).
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