News

Paddling against the dam tsunami

++ Grand kayak tour to save the Balkan Rivers starts today ++  Today, about 150 paddler are opening the Balkan Rivers Tour on the Sava river in Slovenia. Led by former Slovenian Olympic athlete Rok Rozman, kayakers from all over Europe will paddle the most stunning and most threatened rivers in the Balkans over the next 35 days. This is without par in Europe. With this tour, they are taking a clear stance against the imminent dam tsunami.

European Parliament criticizes Albanian government for hydropower projects at the Vjosa and in protected areas

Tirana, Vienna, Radolfzell, April 15, 2016 Today, the European Parliament criticized the Albanian government for the planning of hydropower projects and called upon them to be more considerate of protected areas and other sensitive nature areas, especially national parks. In the current Enlargement Report that was adopted by the parliament in Brussel yesterday, the Vjosa river is specifically mentioned.

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Invitation: Opening event of the BALKAN RIVERS TOUR, April 16

We are happy to invite you to the opening event of an unusual international protest action: the opening event of the BALKAN RIVERS TOUR, April 16th 10:00 to 12:00, Bohinj Lake, Slovenia. For the first time, a group of kayakers from all over Europe will paddle rivers from Slovenia to Albania. With this tour they want to protest against the dam tsunami that is threatening Balkan rivers and to raise awareness about their beauty.

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Invitation: Balkan Rivers Tour, April 16 - May 20

We would like to invite to you to a very unusual protest action: led by former Slovenian Olympic athlete Rok Rozmankayakers from all over Europe will paddle the most stunning Balkan rivers between April 16 and May 20. The so-called “Balkan Rivers Tour” is an activity against the dam tsunami which is threatening to destroy the unique river landscape on the Balkan Peninsula.

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The Balkan River Story on Patagonia's blog

The famous outdoor outfitter Patagonia has just published an article about the Save the Blue Heart of Europe campaign on their global blog “The Cleanest Line”: 

Save the Blue Heart of Europe: The Balkan Rivers story

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Energy provider Verbund AG: Too much electricity in Europe – not the time for new hydropower plants

Europe’s biggest hydropower corporation, the Austrian Verbund AG, is complaining about too much electricity on the European market. Verbund Chairman Anzengruber says: “It is not the time for extensive new projects in the power plant sector over the next few years. That would not be clever in a time with too much energy”

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Petition: Stop HPPs on Valbona River!

Another Albanian river at risk: the beautiful Valbona river is facing the construction of several planned hydropower plants along its course, not stopping at national parks and other strictly protected area - as so often the case. Local communities are protesting and need your help: please sign and share the petition addressed to Prime Minister Edi Rama!

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Great cinema for wild rivers

For all river lovers: Between January 22 and 24, the first “River Film Festival Berlin” takes place in the Moviemento Cinema in the Kreuzberg district. Look forward to over 30 movies featuring breathtaking river landscapes as well as discussion forums with environmental activists who fight for the preservation of these valuable habitats. Dive in and discover the wonderful world of rivers!

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Film Screening: The Vjosa Story in Tirana

On January 22, the documentary “The Vjosa Story” by our river ambassadors from Leeway Collective will be screened in Tirana, Albania. It is an incredible documentary about kayaking the Vjosa - one of the last wild rivers in Europe - from its source in Greece to its mouth into the Adriatic Sea in AlbaniaDon’t miss this opportunity to watch this amazing film on a big screen!

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New hope for Balkan Rivers: World Bank drops funding for hydropower project in Mavrovo National Park in Macedonia

++ Other financiers must follow suit ++ The World Bank withdrew its funding for one of the two big hydropower projects inside MavrovoNational Park in Macedonia.

 

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