|
寫信給參與大型水力電力工程的政府官員與政客們可以是一個非常有效的策略，而且如果一大群人或很多組織連名寫信，就更有效了。寫信是激發社區參與此事的有效方法。這是一封Okavango三角洲社區居民寫給納米比亞、安哥拉、波茨瓦納政府和 OKACOM的公開信，內容是對計劃建造的水管道工程的意見，他們擔心三角洲和他們的生活會受到損害；由於當地的社運聯盟向新聞界致信，講述了該社區的努力活動，大家才開始注意到此事。
關於三角洲社區的活動，欲知詳情，請與我們聯繫。
致相關人士：
我們居住在波茲瓦納 Okavango三角洲內部及周邊地區，我們想就從Okavango河抽水發表一下自己的看法。我們的用水、捕魚、獲得其他食物、房屋建築材料和我們的生活都得依靠 Okavango河和 Okavango三角洲。最近20年中，這條河流和三角洲已經大量缺水，使得我們生活困難。我們覺得沒有多餘的水可以與其他人分享了。
我們知道，Okavango 河流經三國，每個國家都需要用水。然而，我們非常擔心，從Okavango河抽水會對我們的社區、野生生物、漁業、農田耕種、牲畜和旅遊業造成損失。因此，我們請求，只要還有其他的選擇，就不要從Okavango河抽水。
如果沒有了其他可用的水資源，我們力請波茲瓦納、納米比亞、安哥拉的政府以及 OKACOM對此河及三角洲作些研究，然後再決定應該從河中抽取多少水而有不傷害三角洲和我們的社區。還沒有建設任何抽水工程之前就應該先進行此項研究。
如果必須建造抽水工程，我們力請波茲瓦納、納米比亞和安哥拉的政府保證抽取的水僅限於所決定的不危及 Okavango三角洲和我們社區安全的限度，並允許對任何抽水工程進行監督，以確保此保證負諸實際。
不僅如此，我們還要求，任何水利開發計劃在專案建設前，都應當徵求我們社區的意見，告訴我們所提議的工程究竟是怎樣的，還要講述它對我們的影響，並聽取我們所關心的問題。最後，我們請求參與 Okavango河及三角洲將來的規劃和管理。
如能予以考慮，我等萬分感謝。
Okavango三角洲多個社區3000多名居民連名上書
版權歸屬 國際河網IRN， 環境信託基金會（陶俊 譯，李傑 陳維立 審校）
中英對照全文：http://news.ngo.org.tw/issue/water/2001/issue-water-irn01042301.htm |
|
Writing letters to top officials or politicians involved in planning large water or power projects can be a very effective tactic, especially if a large number of people or groups sign on. A letter-writing campaign can be an effective way to galvanize a community to get involved in an issue. This is an open letter from Okavango Delta Communities to the Governments of Namibia, Angola and Botswana, and OKACOM about a proposed water pipeline that they fear would harm the delta and their livelihoods; it brought widespread public attention to the issue, thanks to an effort by a local NCO coalition to write press releases and articles about the communities' efforts.
For more information on Delta communities' campaign, see Contacts.
To whom it may concern:
We, the communities living in and around the Okavango Delta in Botswana, would like to voice our concerns about planned water extractions from the Okavango River. We depend on the Okavango River and Delta for water, fish and other foods, housing material and our livelihood. The river and delta have already dried considerably in the last 20 years, causing hardship to us. We feel we do not have any extra water to spare.
We understand that the Okavango River is shared by three countries, and that each country needs water. However, we are very concerned that extracting water form the Okavango River will hurt our communities, wildlife, fisheries, farming, cattle and tourism. Therefore, we request that no water be extracted from the Okavango River unless there is no alternative.
If there is no other water source available, we urge the governments of Botswana, Namibia and Angola, and OKACOM, to study the river and delta and determine how much welter can be taken out with out hurting the delta and our communities. This should be done before any water extraction project is constructed.
If an extraction must be built, we urge the governments of Botswana, Namibia and Angola to commit to extracting no more water than is determined to be safe for the Okavango Delta and our communities, and to allow monitoring of any extraction project to ensure compliance.
Furthermore, we request that any proponent of a water development scheme consult with our communities to describe the proposed project and its impact on us, and to listen to our concerns before the project is constructed. Finally, we request to be involved in planning and managing the future of the Okavango River and Delta.
Thank you for your consideration,
Signed by more than 3,000 people in Okavango Delta Communities
|
