Project Report
| Aug 30, 2012
Lots of action behind the scenes
By Carol Hiltner | President, Altai Mir University
![Svetlana offers a blessing during sacred ceremony]()
Svetlana offers a blessing during sacred ceremony
Our on-the-ground project manager, Svetlana Katynova, is steadfastly continuing her efforts to protect traditional Altai lands and sacred sites.
Svetlana is now focusing on preventing the desecration of Altai lands by strengthening of the cultural infrastructure through support of indigenous entrepreneurship. The development and incubation of micro-enterprises will eventually produce the financial resources for the Altai people to be self-sustaining in their protection of their lands.
We continue to explore funding through local governmental agencies and through grant proposals. However, your donation and the donations of hundreds of others to this project are actually what has sustained it.
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May 29, 2012
A David & Goliath story: stand with the Altai people
By Carol Hiltner | President, Altai Mir University
![Carol above the Ukok Plateau last summer]()
Carol above the Ukok Plateau last summer
The Russian mega-business Gazprom is outside the law. Even without permits, it proceeded last summer with development of its boondoggle gas pipeline right straight through the pristine Ukok Plateau -- a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is sacred to the Altai people.
When our international expedition stayed in a little hotel near the plateau last summer, we shared it with five Gazprom geologists -- nice guys, but clueless. They reveled in their home-made videos of huge earth-moving machines trashing perma-frost tundra (which is what the Ukok Plateau is). Not exactly respectful behavior.
Facing down this "Goliath" mixture of greed and environmental recklessness are the villagers of Kosh Agach, using every possible resource to protect this sacred place. The only reason they are still in the game is because China and Russia can't agree on a price for gas. So, they are still plugging away, hoping that the world will shift to prevent this desecration.
All funds we receive for this project go straight through to the local Altai people working to protect this primeval sanctuary. You donation, whatever size, not only helps defray their costs; it also gives them hope. Thank you!
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Mar 9, 2012
Gas Pipeline Across Ukok Once Again Underway
By Carol Hiltner | President, Altai Mir University
![An Altai guide on the Ukok Plateau]()
An Altai guide on the Ukok Plateau
Like a bad dream, this horrific boondoggle pipeline project directly through the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the ecologically fragile Ukok Plateau has risen again.
We had such hope last fall, when it was revealed that there was about a 25% difference between what China was willing to pay, and what Russian wanted to receive.
But Gazprom has now stated its intention to move forward with the pipeline construction, even though there is no agreement with China on price, even though the costs will outweigh the projected profits, even though it is a gross violation of Russia's commitment to protect world heritage sites, even though it is in violation of Russian environmental laws.
The only winner will be the huge construction companies that build the pipeline. Your donation will directly support the Altai activists resisting this travesty on behalf of their people, but also on behalf the the world.
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