1. Send an Email to UNESCO
2. Send an Email to Chinese Officials
Distinguished Sirs,
I am very alarmed to learn that China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) plans to build a natural gas pipeline from Russia that could have very serious impacts on one of China's last remaining true wilderness areas.
Kanas National Park is treasured by the Chinese people and highly valued internationally for its protection of a unique mountain ecosystem including Kanas Lake, wetlands, permafrost landscapes, and endangered species. I would enthusiastically support Kanas being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But a UNESCO nomination is not likely to be successful if CNPC proceeds with pipeline construction through Kanas.
UNESCO has already warned Russia that this pipeline threatens the "outstanding universal value" of the Golden Mountains of Altai World Heritage Site, and that its construction would be cause for listing the site as "in danger." By collaborating in this pipeline construction, CNPC would violate Article 6 of the UNESCO Convention, by taking "deliberate actions which could cause expressly or by implication a damage to the cultural and natural heritage…located on territory of other states."
The Altai-Sayan Ecoregion is indivisible geologically and biologically, and its territory within Russia and China should be equally valued and protected. Pipeline construction poses very serious short and long-term risks to a region that is a global treasure. Please join with China National Petroleum Corporation to consider an alternate route that would not traverse this precious wilderness.
(translated)
尊敬的两位先生,
近期，得知中国石油天然气集团公司（CNPC）计划修建一条贯通中俄的天然气管道，我感到十分心焦，因为该天然气管道将经过中国仅存的自然保护地，极有可能造成严重的生态影响。
喀纳斯自然保护区向来为中国人民所珍视，并在国际上享有很高的声誉。长久以来，喀纳斯自然保护区保护了包括喀纳斯湖、湿地、冻土地貌以及濒危物种在内的独特山区生态系统。我非常支持喀纳斯保护区申请成为联合国教科文组织世界自然遗产保护区，但同时我也颇感担忧，因为如果中国石油天然气集团公司坚持其在喀纳斯保护区内建设天然气管道的计划，这项申请或许难以成功。
联合国科教文组织已经警告俄国，建设该天然气管道将会对阿尔泰世界自然遗产中"极为重要的"金色山脉构成威胁。中国石油天然气集团公司如若执意建设该管道，将会违反联合国教科文组织世界遗产公约第六项："本公约各缔约国不得故意采取任何可能直接或间接损害本公约其他缔约国领土的……文化和自然遗产的措施。"
不论在地理上还是生物多样性上，阿尔泰-萨彦生态区都是不可分割的一个整体，其位于中国和俄国境内的土地都应得到同等的重视和保护。天然气管道的建设将对这一被誉为全球财宝的地区带来极严重的短期和长期影响。我们恳请您与中国石油天然气集团公司共同寻找替代路线，使这片珍贵的保护地免遭破坏、世代相传。
此致，
Respectfully,
Your Name
3. Send an Email to Russian President
President Dmitry Medvedev
23, Ilyinka Street,
Moscow, 103132
RUSSIA
Fax: +7 (495) 910-2134
Re: Pipeline Across Ukok Plateau, Altai Republic
Dear President Medvedev,
I am very concerned that your government plans to build a pipeline across the Ukok Plateau, despite UNESCO’s warning that it threatens the “outstanding universal value” of the Golden Mountains of Altai World Heritage Site.
I applaud the steps Russia took earlier to protect the unique ecological and cultural values of the Ukok Plateau, by creating Nature Parks and requesting the World Heritage Site designation. It is also noteworthy that Altai Republic approved the establishment of the Ere-Chui Territory of Traditional Natural Resource Use in Kosh-Agach District, recognizing the Telengit People’s right to maintain and manage their traditional economic, cultural, and spiritual practices.
Construction of a pipeline across the Ukok Plateau would directly conflict with these government policies. It would also violate the widely accepted United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which recognizes Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior, and informed consent for projects that would affect their communities, lands, and natural resources.
The Ere-Chui Association of Obshchinas of the Telengit Small-Numbered Minority People opposes construction of the gas pipeline across the Ukok Plateau and the Chuya Valley, which are sacred to the Telengit people. I support their right to free, prior, and informed consent for construction of any kind on the Ukok Plateau and the Chuya Valley. I join UNESCO and the Save Ukok Coalition in urging you to prohibit pipeline construction through the Golden Mountains of Altai World Heritage Site, in order to protect the region’s unique and fragile ecosystems and endangered species.
Thank you for considering the views of the international community, recognizing our common commitment to environmental protection and human rights.
Respectfully,
YOUR NAME (REQUIRED)
YOUR PHONE (REQUIRED)
(translated)
Тема: Газопровод через плоскогорье Укок, Республика Алтай
Уважаемый господин Президент!
Я очень обеспокоен планами Вашего правительства проложить газопровод через плоскогорье Укок несмотря на предупреждение ЮНЕСКО о том, что проект несет угрозу «выдающейся всемирной ценности» объекта мирового наследия «Золотые горы Алтая».
Я высоко ценю предпринятые ранее Россией шаги для защиты уникальной экологической и культурной ценности плоскогорья Укок: создание природных парков, включение плоскогорья Укок в номинацию объектов мирового наследия. Важно также, что республика Алтай поддержала учреждение территории традиционного природопользования Эре-Чуй в Кош-Агачском районе, признавая право коренного народа теленгитов применять веками наработанные экономические, культурные и духовные методы в управлении своими исконными землями.
Строительство газопровода через плоскогорье Укок будет резко противоречить этим мерам государственной политики. Более того, оно нарушит широко принятую Декларацию ООН о правах коренных народов, утверждающую право коренных народов на их добровольное, предварительное и информированное согласие на осуществление проектов, затрагивающих их общины, земли и природные ресурсы.
Ассоциация общин коренного малочисленного народа Теленгитов «Эре-Чуй» выступает против строительства газопровода через плоскогорье Укок и Чуйскую долину, которые для теленгитов являются священными территориями. Я поддерживаю их право на добровольное, предварительное и информированное согласие на строительство каких-либо объектов на плоскогорье Укок и в Чуйской долине. Я присоединяюсь к ЮНЕСКО и коалиции «Сохраним Укок» в их настоятельной просьбе к Вам запретить строительство газопровода через объект мирового наследия «Золотые горы Алтая» и тем самым сохранить уникальную и хрупкую экосистему и виды дикой природы, находящиеся под угрозой исчезновения.
Благодарю Вас за принятие во внимание мнения международной общественности, признавая нашу общую заинтересованность в защите окружающей среды и прав
человека.
С уважением,
ФИО (ОБЯЗАТЕЛЬНО)
ТЕЛЕФОН (ОБЯЗАТЕЛЬНО)
Send Email Now!
5. Write a letter
Personal, mailed letters have the most impact. Write your own letter using out tips below, or download the following files to print and mail. Postage to Russia and China from the US is 98 cents.
MODEL LETTER to Chinese officials in English.doc
MODEL LETTER to Chinese officials in Chinese.doc
MODEL LETTER to Russian Officials in Russian.doc
MODEL LETTER to Russian Officals in English.doc
Express deep concern that the proposed Altai Gas Pipeline from Russia to China would bisect the Ukok Plateau, the Chuya Valley, the Golden Mountains of Altai UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a Nature Park in Russia, and the Kanas National Park in China. Pipeline construction threatens critical habitat of many endangered species, pristine rivers, permafrost wetlands, mountain wilderness, and archaeological treasures.
Urge Russia’s president to respect the rights of the Telengit people, who are recognized as a “small-numbered minority people” with legal rights, and for whom the Ukok Plateau is a sacred place for burials and religious ceremonies. Construction of the pipeline would violate their rights and threaten their livelihoods based on free-range livestock herding, hunting, and fishing.
Commend China for nominating Kanas National Park as an extension of the Altai UNESCO World Heritage Site, and remind them that UNESCO opposes pipeline construction through the World Heritage Site. Urge China not to put the pristine Kanas wilderness at risk of contamination and degradation.
Send letters to:
President Dmitry Medvedev
23, Ilyinka Street,
Moscow, 103132
RUSSIA
Fax: +7 (495) 910-2134
Send email via: http://eng.letters.kremlin.ru/
on Twitter: @MedvedevRussiaE
Li Baodong, Ambassador to the United Nations
People’s Republic of China
350 East 35th Street
New York, NY 10016
Fax: 212-634-0042
E-mail: ChinaMissionUN@Gmail.com
Premier Wen Jiabao
General Office of the State Council
People's Republic of China
No.2 Fu You Street, Xicheng District
Beijing 100017 Peoples Republic of China
E-mail: cnzongli@126.com
