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SAVE TEGHUT' REDEFINES ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM IN ARMENIA
by Mary Matosian
Armenian Weekly
February 21, 2012
Young Armenians concerned with environmental threats in Armenia created
the Save Teghut civic initiative in Nov. 2007. Many participated
in successful actions to save Kacharan, in the Syunik region, from
harmful mining and Trchkan waterfall from destruction.
These activists are not affiliated with any organization or political
party and they insist on covering their expenses either through their
own means or donations from the general public. While they started
with about 20 activists, today Save Teghut has over 6,000 followers on
Facebook, and many more supporters in the regions of Armenia without
internet access. Groups who support the Save Teghut movement have so
far been established in Moscow, Germany, and Los Angeles.
Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in
Armenia. (Photo by Photolure) Save Teghut addresses the disastrous
environmental situation in Armenia. It aims to raise awareness among
Armenians of the environmental dangers looming over our country, as
well as the irresponsible, illegal, and secret activities of mining
companies in collaboration with the oligarchic system in Armenia. The
group works to protect the ecosystem and promote public health by
ensuring that Armenia's water, air, and land are clean. In the Teghut
forest, specifically, the civic initiative demands the end of the
mining project.
Unfortunately, environmental restrictions are not enforced in Armenia
for most of the major mining operations, which results in damages to
the ecosystem of the surrounding areas. Often corruption originates
at the stage of issuing licenses and acquiring permits. Corruption in
the forest sector is widely believed to be associated with businesses
sponsored by high-level government officials. The government's actions
have been insufficient to stop the destruction of Armenia's forests
as a result of illegal logging. In addition, the government has
recently reclassified many forest areas without due justification,
and has allocated them to local communities or private individuals.
The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), whose majority shareholder is
the Vallex F.M. corporation, has been awarded a 25-year exploitation
license by the Armenian government to extract the copper and molybdenum
ore buried in the Teghut mountains. ACP is in the process of developing
an open pit mine. The amount of forested land the company plans
to clear cut is around 1,500 hectares (approximately 650 football
fields). Several rivers will be polluted or dry up. It takes around
200 years for a forest to recover. Armenia has lost 7-12 percent of
its forests since 1998.
Furthermore, villagers relate that they received miserable
remuneration. One villager stated that he applied to the mining
company for a job and was offered a salary of 60,000 AMD ($155)
per month for very hard work, and had to decline the job offer. He
complained that parcels of lands were announced as eminent domain
and were bought by the mining company for 38 AMD ($0.9 cents) per 1
square meter. No effort has been made by the government to develop
agriculture or to invest in the area.
Since November 2007, environmentalists have tried to halt the further
development of copper and molybdenum processing near the village of
Teghut in the Lori province, which, they say, will irrevocably damage
the ecology and surrounding villages. Twenty-five years from now,
when the Vallex Corporation finishes mining in the region, the arable
and surrounding land will no longer be fertile or usable.
The health risks of mining are quite apparent, especially in
Armenia where no regulations, safety standards, and monitoring are
implemented. Irresponsible mining in Armenia has created devastating
health problems for the population, including unnaturally high rates
of birth defects, developmental defects, and chromosomal disorders
accompanied by increased respiratory diseases, allergies, and other
health problems.
Many environmental problems in Armenia-including those related to water
resources, mining, forests, and protected areas-are closely associated
with corruption. The exploitation of natural resources takes place
without due justification of decisions and with restricted public
access to information. Furthermore, decisions can typically be traced
to special interest groups and are made without due attention to the
declared long-term sustainable development goals of the government.
The Zhoghovurd Daily, for example, reported that a 148-hectare forest
was allocated to Arab Sheikh Mohammed Musallam by Armenian Nature
Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan, but in return for what, it asked.
The construction of the ore processing plant, as another example,
and the exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine in Teghut will
ostensibly result in a breach of 77 Armenian laws and a range of
international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of
Armenia, such as the UN Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. In
2009, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ACCC/C/2009/43) condemned
the decisions of the government of Armenia regarding its exploitation
of the mine in Teghut and adjacent territory since it does not comply
with the Aarhus Convention.
The 44 members of the UN Economic Commission for Europe have strongly
condemned Armenia's continuing violations of international obligations
and demand that all decisions regarding the Teghut mining exploitation
be considered invalid. On Jan. 25, 2012, the members also signed a
declaration condemning the flagrant human rights violations associated
with the exploitation, and demanded a stop to mining in Teghut forest.
Armenia's laws do not allow the exploitation of areas populated by
endangered species, nor do they allow damage to archeological sites.
Teghut forest houses 19 animal and plant species that are part of
Armenia's Red Book of Endangered Species, and an archeological team
from Armenia's Academy of Sciences uncovered many artifacts dating
back to the Bronze Age and many other Christian-era monuments. If
mining continues, these will be completely lost.
Activists, energized by the results from Trchkan and Kacharan, have
undertaken the defense of the Teghut forest. On Jan. 15, around 250
people visited the area in a hiking action initiative to familiarize
people with the issue. Media coverage was significant, and the
Teghut issue was featured in articles, TV interviews, and YouTube
clips. The country has finally taken notice of the damage created by
the ACP/Vallex group and the environmental dangers awaiting us.
Irreversible environmental damage, unfortunately, has already resulted
from the lack of strict mining regulations, coupled with barbaric
exploitation and corruption, as government and interested parties
have proved they are only concerned with making a profit.
Activists were able to energize the Armenian youth in Moscow and many
have extended their support. The Save Teghut movement is proud of this
achievement and is in the process of involving diasporan youth into
the civic movement in Armenia. The "Shant" AYF Western U.S. region
has already been active in supporting the movement, raising awareness
among diasporans, and extending various skills to support the group.
Save Teghut activists have contacted German environmental activists and
groups and are working in unison to raise awareness in international
organizations about the ecological and environmental disasters
in Armenia.
The young activists ask that Armenians in the diaspora create support
groups and pressure the Armenian government to obey the laws and
environmental conventions it has signed, and to condemn its harmful
mining policy. Soon, Save Teghut will launch its website and an
online petition. Donations to the group are helpful to organize future
initiatives and disseminate information. The group is also appealing
to businesses in the diaspora to look into investment options in the
Teghut region, so that they can help protect the eco-system of the
forest and the fundamental rights of the local population to live in
a healthy and safe environment.
Information for this article was provided by Save Teghut, as well as
the Public Forum Armenia (PFA) Environmental Report.
by Mary Matosian
Armenian Weekly
February 21, 2012
Young Armenians concerned with environmental threats in Armenia created
the Save Teghut civic initiative in Nov. 2007. Many participated
in successful actions to save Kacharan, in the Syunik region, from
harmful mining and Trchkan waterfall from destruction.
These activists are not affiliated with any organization or political
party and they insist on covering their expenses either through their
own means or donations from the general public. While they started
with about 20 activists, today Save Teghut has over 6,000 followers on
Facebook, and many more supporters in the regions of Armenia without
internet access. Groups who support the Save Teghut movement have so
far been established in Moscow, Germany, and Los Angeles.
Save Teghut addresses the disastrous environmental situation in
Armenia. (Photo by Photolure) Save Teghut addresses the disastrous
environmental situation in Armenia. It aims to raise awareness among
Armenians of the environmental dangers looming over our country, as
well as the irresponsible, illegal, and secret activities of mining
companies in collaboration with the oligarchic system in Armenia. The
group works to protect the ecosystem and promote public health by
ensuring that Armenia's water, air, and land are clean. In the Teghut
forest, specifically, the civic initiative demands the end of the
mining project.
Unfortunately, environmental restrictions are not enforced in Armenia
for most of the major mining operations, which results in damages to
the ecosystem of the surrounding areas. Often corruption originates
at the stage of issuing licenses and acquiring permits. Corruption in
the forest sector is widely believed to be associated with businesses
sponsored by high-level government officials. The government's actions
have been insufficient to stop the destruction of Armenia's forests
as a result of illegal logging. In addition, the government has
recently reclassified many forest areas without due justification,
and has allocated them to local communities or private individuals.
The Armenian Copper Program (ACP), whose majority shareholder is
the Vallex F.M. corporation, has been awarded a 25-year exploitation
license by the Armenian government to extract the copper and molybdenum
ore buried in the Teghut mountains. ACP is in the process of developing
an open pit mine. The amount of forested land the company plans
to clear cut is around 1,500 hectares (approximately 650 football
fields). Several rivers will be polluted or dry up. It takes around
200 years for a forest to recover. Armenia has lost 7-12 percent of
its forests since 1998.
Furthermore, villagers relate that they received miserable
remuneration. One villager stated that he applied to the mining
company for a job and was offered a salary of 60,000 AMD ($155)
per month for very hard work, and had to decline the job offer. He
complained that parcels of lands were announced as eminent domain
and were bought by the mining company for 38 AMD ($0.9 cents) per 1
square meter. No effort has been made by the government to develop
agriculture or to invest in the area.
Since November 2007, environmentalists have tried to halt the further
development of copper and molybdenum processing near the village of
Teghut in the Lori province, which, they say, will irrevocably damage
the ecology and surrounding villages. Twenty-five years from now,
when the Vallex Corporation finishes mining in the region, the arable
and surrounding land will no longer be fertile or usable.
The health risks of mining are quite apparent, especially in
Armenia where no regulations, safety standards, and monitoring are
implemented. Irresponsible mining in Armenia has created devastating
health problems for the population, including unnaturally high rates
of birth defects, developmental defects, and chromosomal disorders
accompanied by increased respiratory diseases, allergies, and other
health problems.
Many environmental problems in Armenia-including those related to water
resources, mining, forests, and protected areas-are closely associated
with corruption. The exploitation of natural resources takes place
without due justification of decisions and with restricted public
access to information. Furthermore, decisions can typically be traced
to special interest groups and are made without due attention to the
declared long-term sustainable development goals of the government.
The Zhoghovurd Daily, for example, reported that a 148-hectare forest
was allocated to Arab Sheikh Mohammed Musallam by Armenian Nature
Protection Minister Aram Harutyunyan, but in return for what, it asked.
The construction of the ore processing plant, as another example,
and the exploitation of the copper-molybdenum mine in Teghut will
ostensibly result in a breach of 77 Armenian laws and a range of
international conventions signed and ratified by the Republic of
Armenia, such as the UN Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee. In
2009, the UN Economic Commission for Europe (ACCC/C/2009/43) condemned
the decisions of the government of Armenia regarding its exploitation
of the mine in Teghut and adjacent territory since it does not comply
with the Aarhus Convention.
The 44 members of the UN Economic Commission for Europe have strongly
condemned Armenia's continuing violations of international obligations
and demand that all decisions regarding the Teghut mining exploitation
be considered invalid. On Jan. 25, 2012, the members also signed a
declaration condemning the flagrant human rights violations associated
with the exploitation, and demanded a stop to mining in Teghut forest.
Armenia's laws do not allow the exploitation of areas populated by
endangered species, nor do they allow damage to archeological sites.
Teghut forest houses 19 animal and plant species that are part of
Armenia's Red Book of Endangered Species, and an archeological team
from Armenia's Academy of Sciences uncovered many artifacts dating
back to the Bronze Age and many other Christian-era monuments. If
mining continues, these will be completely lost.
Activists, energized by the results from Trchkan and Kacharan, have
undertaken the defense of the Teghut forest. On Jan. 15, around 250
people visited the area in a hiking action initiative to familiarize
people with the issue. Media coverage was significant, and the
Teghut issue was featured in articles, TV interviews, and YouTube
clips. The country has finally taken notice of the damage created by
the ACP/Vallex group and the environmental dangers awaiting us.
Irreversible environmental damage, unfortunately, has already resulted
from the lack of strict mining regulations, coupled with barbaric
exploitation and corruption, as government and interested parties
have proved they are only concerned with making a profit.
Activists were able to energize the Armenian youth in Moscow and many
have extended their support. The Save Teghut movement is proud of this
achievement and is in the process of involving diasporan youth into
the civic movement in Armenia. The "Shant" AYF Western U.S. region
has already been active in supporting the movement, raising awareness
among diasporans, and extending various skills to support the group.
Save Teghut activists have contacted German environmental activists and
groups and are working in unison to raise awareness in international
organizations about the ecological and environmental disasters
in Armenia.
The young activists ask that Armenians in the diaspora create support
groups and pressure the Armenian government to obey the laws and
environmental conventions it has signed, and to condemn its harmful
mining policy. Soon, Save Teghut will launch its website and an
online petition. Donations to the group are helpful to organize future
initiatives and disseminate information. The group is also appealing
to businesses in the diaspora to look into investment options in the
Teghut region, so that they can help protect the eco-system of the
forest and the fundamental rights of the local population to live in
a healthy and safe environment.
Information for this article was provided by Save Teghut, as well as
the Public Forum Armenia (PFA) Environmental Report.