By Carol Hiltner | President, Altai Mir University
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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