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In reply to video reportage on Alaverdi's "Ankyun Plus" TV
http://hetq.am/eng/news/26442/in-reply-to-video-reportage-on-alaverdis-ankyun-plus-tv.html
23:58, May 13, 2013
In reply to video reportage on Alaverdi's "Ankyun Plus" TV Titled
"EcoLab participants in Teghut" Published on 8 May 2013
On behalf of the EcoLab project, its partner organisations and donors,
we would like to state, that we consider the above mentioned reportage
as a misuse and misrepresentation of the project, its partners and
donors' names in favour of Teghut (Lori region, Armenia)
copper-molybdenum mining project of Vallex F.M. Establishment.
We are grateful for the hosting of the study visit of the EcoLab
seminar's participants on Sustainable Development on 30 April 2013.
The study visit included an excursion on the site and a detailed
presentation about the mining project. However, we would like to
state, that the partners and donors of EcoLab are well aware of the
large civic opposition, in Armenia and in a number of diaspora
communities around the world, to the Teghut mining project. Moreover,
they are aware of the criticisms that have been made and the concerns
that have been raised by academics, think tanks, as well as NGOs in
Armenia and internationally, concerning the lack of sustainability of
the mine from an environmental, social, economic and cultural
perspective. In fact, three of the EcoLab partner organisations
(IDHR, Peace Dialogue and Journalists' Club `Asparez') have been
struggling for years against unsustainable mining projects in Armenia
and through their numerous statements and actions they aim to stop
mining in Teghut for the protection and development of human life and
environment in Armenia.
Sadly, however, the above mentioned news report, which portrays a
one-sided perspective about Teghut mine, misrepresents the views of
the EcoLab project, its partners and donors. We would like to confirm
that the participants of the seminar were provided with the
opportunity to learn about the `other side of the story' and that by
no means should it be assumed that the EcoLab partners and/or donors
are supporters of mining in Teghut or that they endorse the mining
project. The sole purpose of the visit organised by EcoLab was to
provide comprehensive information about the situation over the Teghut
issue to the young participants, so they would be able to develop
their approach and activism actions based on in-depth analysis of the
context. The mentioned video material contradicts to EcoLab's
intention; we perceive it as abuse of confidence and as an example of
the unethical and unprofessional corporate identity of Vallex, as well
as a harmful example for the young participants of the project.
The EcoLab project is the Armenian country program of the Joint Civic
Education programme. The Joint Civic Education programme empowers
social change through active citizenship education, by providing
capacity building for young people and facilitating cooperation among
civil society professionals. EcoLab is based on the idea of Education
for Sustainable Development for young environmental activists or those
who want to take the opportunity to enhance their skills and
capacities so as to contribute to the implementation of their own
project ideas.
EcoLab's partners are the MitOst Association (Germany), the Institute
for Democracy and Human Rights (Yerevan, Armenia), Peace Dialogue NGO
(Vanadzor, Armenia), Syunik NGO (Vayots Dzor, Armenia), and
Journalists' Club `Asparez' (Gyumri, Armenia). The project is funded
by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation (Portugal) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung (Germany).
From: A. Papazian
http://hetq.am/eng/news/26442/in-reply-to-video-reportage-on-alaverdis-ankyun-plus-tv.html
23:58, May 13, 2013
In reply to video reportage on Alaverdi's "Ankyun Plus" TV Titled
"EcoLab participants in Teghut" Published on 8 May 2013
On behalf of the EcoLab project, its partner organisations and donors,
we would like to state, that we consider the above mentioned reportage
as a misuse and misrepresentation of the project, its partners and
donors' names in favour of Teghut (Lori region, Armenia)
copper-molybdenum mining project of Vallex F.M. Establishment.
We are grateful for the hosting of the study visit of the EcoLab
seminar's participants on Sustainable Development on 30 April 2013.
The study visit included an excursion on the site and a detailed
presentation about the mining project. However, we would like to
state, that the partners and donors of EcoLab are well aware of the
large civic opposition, in Armenia and in a number of diaspora
communities around the world, to the Teghut mining project. Moreover,
they are aware of the criticisms that have been made and the concerns
that have been raised by academics, think tanks, as well as NGOs in
Armenia and internationally, concerning the lack of sustainability of
the mine from an environmental, social, economic and cultural
perspective. In fact, three of the EcoLab partner organisations
(IDHR, Peace Dialogue and Journalists' Club `Asparez') have been
struggling for years against unsustainable mining projects in Armenia
and through their numerous statements and actions they aim to stop
mining in Teghut for the protection and development of human life and
environment in Armenia.
Sadly, however, the above mentioned news report, which portrays a
one-sided perspective about Teghut mine, misrepresents the views of
the EcoLab project, its partners and donors. We would like to confirm
that the participants of the seminar were provided with the
opportunity to learn about the `other side of the story' and that by
no means should it be assumed that the EcoLab partners and/or donors
are supporters of mining in Teghut or that they endorse the mining
project. The sole purpose of the visit organised by EcoLab was to
provide comprehensive information about the situation over the Teghut
issue to the young participants, so they would be able to develop
their approach and activism actions based on in-depth analysis of the
context. The mentioned video material contradicts to EcoLab's
intention; we perceive it as abuse of confidence and as an example of
the unethical and unprofessional corporate identity of Vallex, as well
as a harmful example for the young participants of the project.
The EcoLab project is the Armenian country program of the Joint Civic
Education programme. The Joint Civic Education programme empowers
social change through active citizenship education, by providing
capacity building for young people and facilitating cooperation among
civil society professionals. EcoLab is based on the idea of Education
for Sustainable Development for young environmental activists or those
who want to take the opportunity to enhance their skills and
capacities so as to contribute to the implementation of their own
project ideas.
EcoLab's partners are the MitOst Association (Germany), the Institute
for Democracy and Human Rights (Yerevan, Armenia), Peace Dialogue NGO
(Vanadzor, Armenia), Syunik NGO (Vayots Dzor, Armenia), and
Journalists' Club `Asparez' (Gyumri, Armenia). The project is funded
by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Calouste Gulbenkian
Foundation (Portugal) and the Robert Bosch Stiftung (Germany).
From: A. Papazian