Hypocrisy galore!

By Linda Leblanc

As a local councillor in Peyia, and a Green Party member, I am amazed at the hypocrisy of the government’s water conservation campaign and its dismal failure to tackle the real problems. As the Planning Department and local authorities continue to rubber stamp massive unsustainable and unsuitable developments, we are expected to be good citizens and collect water in buckets in our showers, let our gardens die, not flush toilets, etc. I’ve had people tell me they will not open their swimming pools because of the water crisis.

Admirable, yes, of course. But isn’t it time that other sectors of our society started to show some community spirit? Instead of everyone behaving selfishly scrambling to buy every last water tank on the island, isn’t it time we started to think a bit more honestly and clearly on this?

It’s obvious that any possible water savings the people can provide are wiped out by the new golf courses, marinas and, a good example in my opinion, the new city development at Yeroskipou. I’ve been surprised with the naive solution that is so easily proposed – desalination. Do a little research and one will find out that this is not so simple and has serious financial and environmental consequences that all of us, as consumers, will have to bear.

In Peyia, water extraction from our precious underground reserves quadrupled from 1990 to 2001. Sustainable? There has been a small reduction since that time, mostly due to the tourist areas, since 2004, supplied from Asproskremnos Dam, restrictions on agriculture and because the Municipality was forced to stop pumping from several boreholes last year because of saltwater intrusion.

But the building spree continues unquestioned by those in government. A recent example in Peyia illustrates my point: the approval of a new 200-unit complex in Coral Bay, in a river bed, in an area that used to be zoned for single plots. It’s no surprise that the building zones were quietly changed a few years ago and have now resulted in changing the character of a well-established, low-density neighbourhood, all without any public discussion or notification. Sustainable?

At the same time, we are all being encouraged to save water and told that if we all work together there will be no water cuts in Peyia. Yet, on the first hot day this week, we had areas with no water. What will happen in a few weeks when we have more tourists (maybe!) and the temperatures climb?

Personally, almost a year ago, as a protest against this unsustainable building spree, I refused and continue to refuse to sign these applications being rubber stamped through the system. Some of these planning permits are actually being challenged in court by concerned residents. Unfortunately, I am always out-voted 8 to 1 by the Mayor and my fellow councillors who dismiss my proposal for a moratorium on new building while this mess is sorted out.

I think it is time for the people of Cyprus to hit the streets and demand accountability, transparency and immediate action. Our future is at stake as our groundwater is squandered by corrupt officials in the pockets of developers. Let’s demand a stop to this looting and polluting of our common resources. Sustainable development is a European requirement in planning. Isn’t it time we accept that there are natural limits to growth, especially in a semi-arid island like Cyprus?
Linda Leblanc
Peyia Municipal Councillor
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/news/main.php?id=38919&cat_id=8

‘Give buses priority’ in new transport system

ANY new public transport system for Nicosia should give priority to buses as opposed to trams and shuttle trains.
This was the message from Nicosia Buses, who in particular criticised the possible introduction of a shuttle train along the Pedieos river as very expensive.
A shuttle train line from Lakatamia to the old Nicosia General Hospital would cost 200m euros, as much as it would cost to buy one thousand new buses," the announcement said. Asked by The Cyprus Weekly what prompted them to make the announcement, the Director General of Nicosia Buses, Costas Christodoulou, said that there have been various newspaper reports and public statements suggesting solutions to the traffic problem with which they did not agree.

Upgrading
"We are not against any other forms of public transport, but we firmly believe that it must start with the buses by upgrading both the vehicles as such and the services offered," he stressed.
To a remark what’s stopping Nicosia Buses from doing this by themselves, Christodoulou said that many things depended on the government setting out the technical specifications.
He recalled that the government had been working on public transport studies including the signing of what are called contract assignments with transport companies and added: "In the light of this, the Communications and Works Ministry of the new government has asked us not to make any new investments."

Aligning
In its announcement, the company noted that bus services could improve by aligning and increasing bus routes, running more hours and more frequently, introducing the park-and-ride system and providing electronic information to the public. Asked if the park-and-ride system could work since it would not help out-of-town commuters save any money now that petrol was so expensive and whether they should not consider running regional bus services instead, Christodoulou noted that, unfortunately, there were serious problems in doing this. "In the past we had suggested that all buses coming into town from each region should belong to a single transport company but we met with strong opposition from local interests," he explained.
As it is, there is almost one bus for every big village which takes the children to school in the town and back and perhaps runs an extra route during the day.
Urban traffic congestion is to great extent caused by thousands of people bringing their private cars into town from the regions for lack of effective public transport. Christodoulou noted that there was no government timetable to introduce much-needed improvements in public transport.
(Cyprus Weekly 22/4/08)

Greek and Turkish Cypriots join up to save the Cyprus donkey

By Leo Leonidou

OVER 2,000 Greek and Turkish Cypriots have joined forces in order to protect a rare breed of feral donkey, once labelled by President Makarios as “the only true Cypriots on Cyprus”.

The animals could be under threat of extinction from reckless hunters, disgruntled farmers and drought, environmental activists have warned.
Using a Facebook group entitled ‘Save The Cyprus Donkey’, the people have come together after ten of the brown animals were found shot dead in Karpasia at the end of March.
They describe the donkey as the symbol of Cyprus and say that it is their responsibility to protect one of the world’s last wild colonies.
“The ones that belong to us are murdered by the ones who do not belong to us. If we stay silent, that makes us a part of this murder,” their message states.
A fortnight ago, members met at Monarga village from where they headed off to the Karpas peninsula’s ‘Golden Beach’ to commemorate the dead animals and discuss what to do.
“Hunters are shooting at them for fun, and farmers are killing them because they say they damage their crops,” the head of the Turkish Cypriot branch of the Green Action group, Dogan Sahir, told the Mail following the shootings.
“The enemy of nature is the enemy of humans,” read a banner unfurled by a small group of demonstrators at a sandy beach near Rizokarpaso village, that has for decades been a donkey sanctuary.
According to news agency Agence France Presse, a 20-year-old primary school employee who addressed the rally said the main suspects in the unsolved deaths were farmers angered by crop damage.
But fingers have also been pointed at hunters and developers eager to exploit the Karpas peninsula, one of the last unspoilt parts of the island.
Ironically, the Karpas donkey colony has been boosted by the 1974 Turkish invasion.
The vast majority of the area’s Greek Cypriot farmers fled south during the fighting, abandoning their animals.
And as agriculture declined amid the growing urbanisation, the ‘freed’ donkeys were replaced by tractors and pick-ups.
A 2003 study found that about 800 donkeys were roaming the olive orchards and wheat fields, and along the beaches of the relatively unspoilt Karpas landscape.
Sahir believes the number of the indigenous donkeys living there has been falling rapidly since the last census was carried out. The breed is believed to be unique because it has managed to survive unassisted by humans in the wild since escaping from its owners centuries ago.
“We cannot know how many are left, but we do know that many have been killed since the count,” Sahir said.
Commenting, a spokesman for the Veterinary Services described the shootings as “unacceptable”.
He called on various environmental groups to exert pressure on the authorities in order to protect the donkeys.
“It’s a real shame what’s happening,” he said, adding that the Services cannot intervene as they do not have any jurisdiction in the north.
Many years ago, the donkeys and mules of Cyprus were renowned throughout the Middle East for their size, strength and endurance.
They were also valuable to the island’s British colonial rulers during both world wars.
Cyprus donkeys were exported throughout the region for cross-breeding with horses to produce a mighty strain of mule.
According to the 1931 Handbook of Cyprus, “the Cyprus donkeys are of good quality being able to carry a load from 168 pounds (75 kilos) to 224 pounds and over.”

(Cyprus Mail 22/4/2008)

Water from Greece could flow as early as next month

By Marianna Pissa

WATER transport from Greece can begin as soon as next month, the Chairman and CEO of Ocean Tankers Company, Michalis Ioannides, said yesterday at the ceremony for the signing of the contract between the company and the Water Development Department.

In statements following the ceremony of the contract signing, Agriculture Minister Michalis Polynikis hinted there may be a possibility of increasing the quantity of 8 million cubic metres of water that was agreed. "Our shortage is of 16 million cubic metres of water up to the end of year. The Greek government committed to grant us 8 million cubic metres. However, the prospect to increase the sum exists. This depends on the good will of the Greek government but also the needs that potentially come to the surface," Polynikis said.

Referring to the contract with Ocean Tankers, Polynikis declared that "we signed the contract that gives us the possibility of beginning the transport of the quantity of water that we agreed from Greece, the 8 million cubic metres, within the timeframe that we set, that is to say by June".

Asked if the government was also considering water transport from other neighbouring countries, the minister said: “he Ministry of Agriculture is determined to solve the water problem… All the possibilities are open to bring an end to the water problem."

Ioannides declared that the company would honour the contract and make every possible effort so that the water from Greece "is here on time". He added that, "provided the Port Authorities and the Water Development Department work together closely, there exists a possibility that the transport may begin in May”.

Regarding technical details for the procedure, Ioannides said that once the water reaches Limassol port, it will be transported via pipes to water-tanks in Yermasoyia and from there to the consumers without further treatment/processing, as the water which will be transported is potable.

"The tankers will transport 50,000 cubic metres of water daily and the entire procedure will last 160 days," he added, concluding that "the commitment based on the agreement is that the water transport will be completed by November".

(Cyprus Mail 22/4/2008)

Empty all swimming pools, first!

By Philip Beardwood

Our biggest store of water seems to be swimming pools, so instead of paying to charter tankers to bring water from Greece, why don't we use our "road" tankers to empty all the pools, initially that are within an easy walk to the sea, and re process the water for domestic and agricultural use.
If anyone refills their pool, before any permitted date, the "Hong Kong Police" approach would be good, smash a hole in the side of the pool. They did it with truncheons for not having a road tax disk displayed on the windscreen of the car, but it seems to work well for other things too!!!

REAL MEASURES FOR CONFIDENCE CONSTRUCTION

The Turkish Cypriot politician Albay Durduran presented yesterday in the meeting of Cypriot parties at the Ledra Palace a frame of eight proposals of real measures for the creation of confidence. The measures were agreed at the last meeting of the Secretary General of the Cyprus Green Party Mr. George Perdikes and the Secretary General of the Tourkish Cypriot Party “New Cyprus” Mr. Murat Kanatli at 31st March 2008.

The measures are:
1) Demilitarisation of within the walled Nicosia immediately, the entire Nicosia as soon as possible.

2) To stop the entry of new weapons to the island and enable its active control.

3) The distancing of military forces (de confrontation) in the buffer zone from each other, as a main aim pulling the forces in the north at a distance equivalent to the forces in the south.

4) Demilitarisation of Varosha immediately and its allocation to housing the legitimated owners.

5) Making necessary arrangements so that Maronites return their prior to 1974 settlements and demilitarisation of these settlements.

6) Initiation of the required operations to dissolve the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot Armies.

7) Making an agenda for withdrawal of the foreign armed forces and immediately starting the necessary work for its implementation.

8) Immediate opening of all crossing points (like Lefka, Famagusta Gate (Nicosia), Athienou) especially those of Tylliria area.

Mr. Perdikes suggested the adoption of Durdurans proposals and their submission to the two leaders and the technical committees. Unfortunately the meeting did not lead to the unanimous support of the eight proposals that Mr. Durduran presented.

Animal lovers celebrate Lannate ban

By Paul Wood 08.APR.08

Animal rights campaigners are celebrating the news that the deadly Lannate poison will cease to be sold in Cyprus from early next year. EU lawmakers have decided that Lannate must be taken off shop shelves by March 2009.

The deadly substance, which is freely available in Cyprus, has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of domestic pets and wild animals over the past few years.
Lannate poison was introduced to American farmers in 1970 and was quickly exported worldwide due to the fact that it had a "90% kill rate" (compared with 50% to DDT).
It quickly became a restricted chemical in most parts of the world because of its high oral toxicity. Most animals that lick or eat food tainted with the drug die an agonizing death which can last from a few minutes up to five hours.
Last month a man in Trinidad killed his son by giving him a drink laced with Lannate. Local media wrote that the victim suffered "a death too painful to describe".
From “Famagusta Gazette” 2008

Five Myths About Plastic Bags

By Anna Shepard
When I posted about my disappointment with Alastair Darling’s plans for a plastic bag tax, all sorts of responses came in arguing that this was an excuse to introduce a tax; that plastic bags should be celebrated for their lightweight durability and that they are a necessary part of modern life.

I’m afraid I don’t agree.It’s easy to recycle themThat’s rubbish. Rarely collected by local authority kerbside collections (tell me if yours does, I’d love to know what it does with them), your best chance is to find a supermarket with a recycling bank for bags. But this is far from ideal. The UK lacks its own developed plastic recycling facilities so, like most of Europe, sends the majority of its plastics to China to be recycled over there, an arrangement which lead to a BBC Real Story scandal two years ago. It uncovered our plastic being piled into Chinese landfill rather than being recycled. The problem with the plastic used in bags is that it is low quality: cheap to make from new, but tricky and energy intensive to recycle. Look at most plastic items and you’ll see a triangle containing a number; the higher that number the harder the product is to recycle. PET, numbered one, is the best sort for recycling. Decent carrier bags are numbered four. The more lightweight variety can be as high as seven. For more info on these codes, see here. They only take up a tiny proportion of landfillTaking up landfill space has never been one of the main accusations levelled at plastic bags. That they are made from a non-renewable resource, yes. That each of us in the UK uses an average of 290 of them every year, definitely. Not to mention the impact they are having on the natural world - see here. But taking up landfill space is only a small concern. In fact, it is worrying itself that only an estimated third of the bags we use end up in landfill when we are getting through so many - 145 billion last time I looked here. Where are they if they’re not in landfill? As they can’t all be in your special plastic bag holder. Many seem to find their way to the sea. There has been debate recently about the extent to which plastic bags cause marine deaths. The plastic industry points out that many of the numbers quoted are based on estimates with little scientific support. What has clearly emerged from this debate is that plastic bags are only one kind of plastic that threatens animals, and probably not the worst. Damage done by solid lumps of plastic is even more serious. Reports suggest that many birds can die because they ingest enough small lumps of plastic that their stomachs are filled with nothing else and they starve to death.
They don’t take long to breakdown The fact is that no one knows precisely how long a plastic bag takes to disappear without digging one up every decade to see how it’s getting on. Few scientists have given a figure of less than 100 years; most estimate between 200 and 1,000 years, depending on whether the bag finds itself buried in a light and air deprived landfill site or up a tree, where sunlight will help to break it down.

A few weeks ago, the Association of Plastic Manufacturers at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, claimed that: "They decompose within one and a half to two years because of ultravioletsunlight." I would love to know where that figure came from. They require less energy to manufacture than paper bagsIn part this is true, but paper bags are not the only alternative to plastic bags, and while they require more energy, they also come from a renewable resource. Paper bags made from fibres from sustainably managed forests, or even better, recycled paper are environmentally superior to an oil based product.

It takes 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million plastic bags, according to Worldwatch Institute. In short, paper may consume more resources to produce, but it is more recyclable than plastic, breaks down more easily and does not come from oil, a resource that we should be decreasing our reliance upon.They are durable and reusable True, it has been claimed by the plastic industry that a bag can be used 15 times to carry shopping before it falls apart. This is the theory, but how many of us do this? They have become a one-use disposable item because we know the shop will hand out more for free, next time we go. The ten billion bags handed out to British shoppers are used for an average of 12 minutes before they are discarded. A material bag that you paid for is more likely to accompany you to the shops countless times. In the wake of I’m Not a Plastic Bag fever, scores of bags have followed, made from every imaginable material – from jute, hemp and bamboo to corn starch, string, recycled paper and even banana leaves.
Yes, there is an energy cost in the production of these, but the idea is that this is negated if you use them enough times. And of course, the habit of using something time and time again - whether this is a bag, a cloth in the kitchen or an item of clothing - is simply good environmental practice.
TIMESONLINE

"Artist" starves a dog to death as a work of art

An "artist" from Costa Rica - Guillermo Habacuc Vargas - as an installation piece took a dog from the street and caused it to suffer and starve to death in the name of Art.

It looked like this (click on link and scroll down):
http://elperritovive.blogspot.com/

While I do not believe in censorship, I do believe that a line must be drawn when it involves taking an unwilling model and using them against their wishes. Maybe it is not very humane of me, but I strongly believe that people who use and abuse animals, or people for that matter, for any reason, deserve to have the same thing happen to them. It may be an old cliché that many artists suffer in various ways for their work, but causing another being to suffer is another story.

I did not compose the following letter. I believe it was composed by a British artist. I am reposting it and encourage you to examine it and do something about it. Read on, as more information follows the letter.

EXHIBITION IS TAKING PLACE AT:

info@madc.ac.cr

Centro Nacional de la Cultura
Antigua Fábrica Nacional de Licores.
Avenida 3, calle 15/17. San José, Costa Rica.
Teléfono: (506) 257 7202 / 257 9370
Fax: (506) 257 8702

SAMPLE LETTER TO SEND THE GALLERY:

I am writing regarding the horrifying actions of Guillermo Habacuc Vargas, who paid local children to catch a dog on the street and then confined, starved and publicly displayed the dog as an "art" exhibit until the innocent animal died of starvation.

I, along with many people worldwide, am outraged that Guillermo Habacuc Vargas has been selected to represent Costa Rica in "Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008.” This man is by no definition of the word an artist. He is a criminally insane sadist and enjoys inflicting prolonged suffering upon his innocent victims. He is a danger to all of society, as it is well-documented that those with the capacity to intentionally cause harm to an animal have the same capacity to harm humans. To state that this animal would have died eventually of natural causes is unjustifiable and defies logical, rational thought.

To allow Guillermo Habacuc Vargas to represent Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 will in no way benefit Costa Rica. The world is watching, and the actions of this so-called artist have brought many negative assumptions as to the humanity of the people of Costa Rica. The fact that many witnesses of this animal’s suffering did nothing, and that the organizers of this event allowed this to happen, rather than taking action to see that Guillermo Vargas be criminally charged with animal abuse, is sending the world a message that Costa Rica is a cruel, uncivilized society that has no regard for life, but enjoys viewing and contributing to the loss of life.

Each and every person who knew of and witnessed the suffering of this innocent dog is guilty of causing its unnecessary death. To let this crime go unpunished, and instead to reward Guillermo Vargas by choosing him to represent Costa Rica in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008 is unacceptable and shameful, not only to Costa Rica but to all participants in this event.

I urge you, do not condone the heinous actions of Guillermo Vargas by allowing him to participation in Bienal Centroamericana Honduras 2008. He should be jailed and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law for this animal’s death, and should not be allowed to represent Costa Rica as an artist, for to refer to him as such is an insult to all true artists.

Sincerely,

Your Name

ANOTHER GALLERY SHOWING HIS WORK:
This is the email address to a gallery which currently holds some of Vargas' work for display and sale. If anyone would like to ask the gallery to drop him from their list of artists the email address is below.

Email address: info@jacobkarpio-galeria.com

INFORMATION ABOUT EXHIBIT
What he says on his blog (translated):

I knew the dog died on the following day from lack of food. During the inauguration, I knew that the dog was persecuted in the evening between the houses of aluminum and cardboard in a district of Managua. 5 children who helped to capture the dog received 10 bonds of córdobas for their assistance. During the exhibition some people requested the freedom of the small dog, which the artist refused. The name of the dog was Natividad, and I let him die of hunger in the sight of everyone, as if the death of a poor dog was a shameless media show in which nobody does anything but to applaud or to watch disturbed. In the place that the dog was exposed remain a metal cable and a cord. The dog was extremely ill and did not want to eat, so in natural surroundings it would have died anyway; thus they are all poor dogs: sooner or later they die or are killed.

VIEW AND SIGN THIS PETITION: http://www.petitiononline.com/13031953/petition.html

HERE IS HIS MYSPACE PAGE (Guillermo Habacuc Vargas): http://www.myspace.com/casitadetentaciones

STOP THE USE OF LANATE NOW!

The House of Representatives may have failed to vote in the first time and has been endlessly postponing the discussion of the subject the second time the Green’s draft bill of law for banning products that contain methomyl was submitted, but the European Commission’s decision No 670/2007 justifies their concerns and efforts.

The European Commission on the 19th of September 2007 decided to not register the substance methomyl in appendix 1 of the 91/414/ΕEC Directive of the Council and the recall of the previous approvals for phytoprotection products that contain it.
In its decision (2007/628/ΕΚ) it mentions that during the evaluation of this potent substance many reasons for concern surfaced. In particular, based on available information, the exposure of the user exceeded the ΑOEL (Acceptable Operator Exposure Level) standards and has not proven to be acceptable. Furthermore, concerning eco-toxicology, there are concerns due to the high danger that birds, mammals, water organisms, bees and not targeted creatures face.

It is also mentioned that:
· The authorisations of phytoprotection products that contain methomyl are to be recalled by the 19th of March 2008.
· From the date of the publication of this decision no authorisations are to be issued or renewed for such products.
· Any potential grace period offered by the member-states according to article 4, paragraph 6 or the Directive 91/414/EEC should be as short as possible and expire the latest by the 19th of March 2009.

Today lanate, as well as all the chemical concoctions used in agriculture are sold to anybody that asks for them, resulting in their use to poison animals but also people (we have had suicide cases in Cyprus), or for any other malign or ill use other than its specifications. The legal banning of lanate and the legal regulation of the distribution of these products should have been dealt with a long time ago.
Originally in 2004 George Perdikes, the Green Party’s MP had submitted a draft bill of law to this aim, called “For the Protection of Domestic Animals Law (poisons)” that outlawed the use of products containing methomyl, commonly called lanate, but it was voted out by all the other political parties. When he was re-elected in 2006 he resubmitted the draft bill and it has been pending ever since. Hundreds of citizens have supported our efforts with their signature.
With recent developments the Cyprus Green Party announces today (four years after the first failed attempt to vote the legislation into the House of Representatives) to withdraw its draft bill stating their disappointment because four years of avoiding the poisoning of animals (mainly dogs and birds) by lanate have been lost, as well as preventing health disorders of its users.
We ask that pesticides that contain methomyl are immediately withdrawn from the market.
4 years have been lost with the responsibility of the other political parties, let’s not loose another year with the excuse of exhausting merchants stock of such products.
This substance has been proven highly toxic and its use should be halted immediately!

Easter bonfire tree felling incenses Cyprus greens

NICOSIA (Reuters Life!)
Cyprus conservationists are on the warpath over the felling of protected trees used in bonfires to celebrate the sentencing of Judas Iscariot to eternal damnation as part of Easter celebrations.
Hundreds of trees face the chop for the pyre in an age-old tradition symbolising the burning of Judas, the wayward disciple Christians believe betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas is represented by a stuffed dummy on the top of the pile, known in the Cypriot dialect as a "lambrajia".
Bonfires used to be held in church courtyards. But the tradition has evolved into one big all-night rave in some cases replete with barbeques and beer and, if in a residential area, an army of angry neighbours.
"It mostly involves young people, who compete with each other on who will have the bigger bonfire," said Ioanna Panayiotou, spokeswoman for the Cyprus Greens Party.
The party recently got word of eucalyptus trees being felled, and of trees disappearing in a park, she said.
Greek Cypriots, who in their majority are members of the Orthodox Church, celebrate Easter, which is the most important day in their religious calendar, on April 27.