| Subject: PROTEST NOTE AGAINST CUTTING TREES
IN DILI CITY Feb. 19, 2008
HABURAS FOUNDATION
Rua Celestino da Silva, Farol, Dili, Timor-Leste
P.O. Box 390, Telp: +670-3310103
PROTEST NOTE AGAINST CUTTING TREES IN DILI CITY
Once again, with grave concern, Haburas Foundation would like to
point out the preoccupation of many people about environmental
management in and around Dili which continues to disrespect the
principle of sustainable ecological development.
RDTL Government has not given importance and just lets continue the
pedestrian pavement project which cuts trees on the side of the road.
The protest conducted by civil society on 10 August 2007, and brought to
the National Parliament and RDTL Government has not been able to go
against the attitude of companies that violate the ecological principle.
A phenomenon like this, shows that companies do not respect the worries
expressed by members of Parliament (representatives of the people) about
stopping cutting trees in Dili.
We also hear from the small and powerless (people) about the situation
on side of the streets is becoming increasingly hot for them because
trees that used to give shade to them when conducting small business
activities or walking on the street have all gone. New trees recently
planted are [actually] not appropriate for planting on the sidewalks in
Timor-Leste’s tropical climate, because these planted trees are trees
with vertical canopies and do not give much shade for people. From an
ecological aspect it shows that trees with small canopies have
difficulty absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gasses
emitted by transport systems, thus what is emitted accumulates as
poisonous gas in Dili in the future. Once again, a green belt
system should develop not only from an esthetical aspect according to
human perspectives, but it is important that it follows ecological
principles.
Development processes like construction or rehabilitation of roads
should not only be viewed as the job of the Department of Public Works,
but also be viewed as an interconnected process with responsibility and
competence of other Departments [as well]. With good coordination we can
conduct integrated development, holistically and according to
sustainable ecological development principles.
The Government has recently signed up to the Kyoto Protocol which gives
the obligation to Timor-Leste to do development according to the
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Based on [this] principle there
are three conventions in connection to the environment that Timor-Leste
has ratified as well as the Kyoto Protocol, so we urgently ask once
again from the National Parliament, RDTL Government, and companies
the following:
To the Parliament:
1. Call upon the Minister of Public Works
to give an explanation about this problem in the National Parliament
2. Put priority on quickly putting in place
Timor-Leste’s environmental laws
To the RDTL Government:
1. Conduct an evaluation for
contracts with companies and give sanctions to companies that do not
follow regulations or their contract
2. Prioritize ecologic development
through the development of proposed laws that have a connection with
environment and also realize a practice of sustainable development
principles
3. Intensively monitor the development
processes in order to avoid steps that would result in negative impact
to the environment, like this pavement rehabilitation [will cause] in
the future
4. Conduct a judiciary process
(according to law) if there are indications of ecological crime
conducted by companies in this pavement rehabilitation process
To the companies
1. Also assume social and
ecological responsibility, from [besides] your economic interest
2. [You] should follow the principle
of the Clean Development Mechanism which Timor-Leste adheres to
Dili, 18 February 2008
Expressed by:
Hortencio Pedro Vieira
Manager Advocacy Division and
Environmental Campaign
Acknowledged by:
Demetrio do Amaral de Carvalho
Executive Director
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