Via Baltica and Via Carpatia expressways, Poland
February 18, 2011
Expressway developments in north-east Poland could have devastating ramifications on the Knyszyn and Augustow Primeval Forests and the Biebrza Marshes – areas of extraordinary beauty that are home to unique wildelife.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline, Caucasus
February 18, 2011
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Export Oil Pipeline (BTC), a key component of US Energy Security strategy, is being hailed as a model of development and poverty alleviation by the involved international financial institutions. But their involvement has once again revealed the distance between the theory and rhetoric of the development banks on the one hand and their influence on the ground on the other.
The ‘Second Backbone Corridor’ – High voltage electricity transmission lines, Ukraine
February 18, 2011
In its drive for ‘energy security’, the EU is looking to its eastern neighbour for cheap energy. But using a series of high-voltage transmission lines to import dirty energy supplies like nuclear and coal power from Ukraine will not make the EU safer, and it will lock both into an unstable and environmentally unsound energy mix.
Vienna-Brno motorway, Austria-Czech Republic
February 18, 2011
The currently proposed route for the new Brno-Vienna motorway via Mikulov and Drasenhofen, promoted by the Austrian and Czech governments, could become the most expensive and environmentally destructive way to link these two central European cities.
Krakow waste incinerator, Poland
February 18, 2011
Poland is hoping to use EU funds to construct municipal waste incinerators in 12 cities – this figure is up from the 9 that were planned in 2008. The total cost of the proposed incinerators will consume around 66% of Poland’s Cohesion Funds money for waste management for the 2007-2013 period. Moreover, as potentially only half of the 12 planned incinerators will be ready to apply for EU funding within the present financial period 2007-2013, available waste funding will be blocked for developing alternatives such as separate collection and recycling schemes.
ARCHIVED: Kumtor Gold Mine, Kyrgyzstan
February 18, 2011
The Kumtor open pit gold mine is located in a majestic surrounding in the Kyrgyzstan mountains. It receives continued support by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, despite several accidents in the past and ongoing environmental damages from the mining operations.
Chelopech cyanide gold project, Bulgaria
February 18, 2011
The Chelopech cyanide mining project was proposed by the Canadian company Dundee Precious Metals (DPM) and its Bulgarian branch Chelopech Mining. It would have expanded metal extraction in the Chelopech gold and copper mine in Central Bulgaria through the introduction of cyanide leaching.
Moscow – St.Petersburg motorway PPP, Russian Federation
February 18, 2011
The 43-km section of the Moscow – St. Petersburg motorway near Moscow has triggered massive opposition in Russia and abroad. The section is slated to pass through Khimki Forest Park, a protected natural area with rich wildlife and of great importance to local people living in this polluted and densely populated region.
Belene nuclear power plant, Bulgaria
February 18, 2009
Following more than ten years of campaigning in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Government finally decided to drop plans for the Belene nuclear power plant that was slated for construction along a seismic fault line.