"Ukraine has a big potential for alternative energy, like solar energy
or wind energy, and EBRD could be involved in projects to improve
energy efficiency," Fanija Blume, member of Green Liberty, said.
According to the NGO's issue paper on the EBRD meeting, Ukraine is to
complete K2/R4 neither on its own nor with financial support from
Russia and has been seeking the necessary $1.72 billion from other
sources to complete the plants. Project sponsors have approached the
European Bank of Reconstruction and Development for a loan of $190
million.
"We are going to inform the Latvian society about this particular bank,
about projects they are financing and their policies," Blume said.
There was a lot of commotion in the Environment Protection Club's
office in Riga's Old Town the day before the opening of the EBRD
meeting. People were making Xerox copies of material to be handed out
for public use. A woman mentioned words like "permission", "denied" and
"war" in the same sentence.
EPC had some difficulties getting permission to stage their picket
outside the Congress Center in Riga, where the meetings were held.
"We were denied permission to demonstrate with the motivation that they
thought it would be a shame for our country and we don't need Latvia to
be a place for lobbying," Ieva Zalite, member of Green Liberty, said.
However, EPC had no second thoughts about calling the farmers for
support and manure.
"If it is done in a civilized way, we will go to the park peacefully.
If we are denied entrance we may be forced to use alternative methods,
like calling upon the farmers," Ulme said.
EPC members were at first reluctant to reveal the purpose of the
manure. After a brief session Ulme said they would probably going to
park the manure tractors outside the Congress Center's air-conditioning
system.
"For a good discussion you need good fertilizer and farmers feel
strongly against globalization," Ulme said.
The EPC has 3000 members throughout Latvia, many of them farmers who
feel strongly against K2/R4.
"Since this is only to inform the public, we don't need all 3,000
members. This is a picket, and I think 50 will be enough. This is not
meant to be a show of strength," Arvids Ulme, EPC president said.
Latvian Green Party co-chairman Valdis Felsbergs told BNS the party
would not stage protests during the EBRD meeting. Felsbergs, however,
did not rule out some members of the party could join the action by the
EPC.
"The party decided to let the meeting of the EBRD pass as festivities.
Protests during major international forums is one way informal
movements of greens are voicing their attitudes," Felsbergs told BNS.
Riga city director, Andris Grinbergs, told BNS the greens are staging
protests during major events in the entire world and the Latvian
legislation too guarantees free manifestation of will to the people.
"At first we were immediately denied permission and warned not to go
there," Ulme said.
Arvids Ulme's son was also taking part in the picket, holding a placard
where it said "Stop K2/R4."
"He was put in a car by some security persons and was made to sign a
paper where it said that he had been informed about the risks of
entering the park and that something bad could happen if he did," Janis
Ulme said.
There were no incidents during the small picket. Still police were
keeping a close eye on the protesters. Bankers outside the Congress
Center didn't seem to notice what was going on.
The President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, was let out of her gray
Mercedes and walked straight into the Center without glancing down
towards the park.
"We hope the K2/R4 won't be financed. If it is, it will go against
EBRD's environment policy and nuclear policy. I really think they must
take it to account. I know that EBRD organized several independent
panels to evaluate the environment and economic impacts of the possible
loan for the K2/R4. The panels concluded it would be better to look for
alternative solutions, still the EBRD ignores it," Janis Ulme said.
Janis Ulme then added it would be a turning point for nuclear policy in
Europe, should Ukraine's request for $190 million go through.
"It seems as if the political situation is not in favor of this
project. Germany is against it. These are Chernobyl type reactors and I
hope it will have an impact," Janis Ulme said.
On, May 22, the municipal police of Riga arrested four Greenpeace
activists near the Congress Center, three from Germany and one from the
United States. They were holding a poster saying "No to new
Chernobyl."
Sanita Brakanska, police spokeswoman, told BNS the activists were taken
to the municipal police station of the Riga Center District where they
were expected to explain the matter.
Brakanska added that the detained would not be punished.
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