Pour sauver un lac en Russie

ACTION ALERT FORWARD WIDELY!

Save Russia's Lake Baikal: Oil Pipeline Threatens World's Largest
Freshwater Body

By Water Conserve, a project of Ecological Internet, Inc.
http://www.waterconserve.org/
April 17, 2006

TAKE ACTION
Let Russian government know oil and water do not mix

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A controversial Russian crude oil pipeline from eastern Siberia
to the Pacific coast threatens the world's largest freshwater
lake. The pipeline may pass within less than one kilometer of
Lake Baikal -- a UNESCO protected World Heritage site and home
to 20 percent of the world's fresh water. Lake Baikal, called
the "Jewel of Siberia", is the world's deepest and oldest lake
renowned for its water purity and home to tremendous amounts of
endemic species including a rare fresh water seal. It is feared
that an earthquake, forest fire or flood around Lake Baikal
could rupture the pipeline, sending 4,000 tons of crude oil into
the world's largest freshwater body in just 20 minutes. Experts,
including specialists from the Russian Academy of Sciences, have
said the oil pipeline should run as far as possible from the
coast of Baikal. Scientists who conducted the state assessment
of the plan found that in the event of an earthquake there is a
high likelihood that water quality would be severely diminished
and permanent damage to the unique wildlife would occur, and
thus recommended its construction near Baikal be stopped. There
has been strong local opposition to the project for years,
including recent protests by Russian environmentalists. Project
plans are continually changing, with important questions
including whether the pipeline route will fall within the Baikal
water catchment still unresolved. Please send an email
supporting local campaigns to ensure the final pipeline route
steers well clear of Lake Baikal and its watershed, and to
promote sustainable development in the Baikal region.

http://www.waterconserve.org/alerts/send.asp?id=baikal