From: Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara [mailto:disciara@tin.it]
Sent: Monday, September 26, 2005 5:21 AM
To: disciara@tin.it
Subject: emergency in the Eastern Aegean Sea
Importance: High

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I received a piece of quite alarming news from my colleague Anastasia Miliou, scientific director of "Archipelagos Aigaiou", and NGO from Greece (see attachment).

The Greek Armed Forces are apparently planning to conduct tomorrow military excercises, involving explosions, within two protected islands of the Aegean Sea which are extremely valuable from the natural point of view, but also quite vulnerable. These unhinabited islands contain critical habitat for monk seals (one was sighted only a few days ago in Petrokaravo) and Eleonora's falcons, among many other protected species. At a minimum, these planned activities will result in the dislodgment of these rare and endangered species from what little has remained of their habitat, although direct killing may also not be discounted.

It is astonishing to discover that military institutions of an European Member State may so blatantly plan to flout national, European and international regulations. I find it equally astonishing that such level of disregard for the Mediterranean natural heritage, which so many institutions and individuals have been painstakingly tried to preserve for future generations, can be allowed. Nobody challenges the military's need to practice their job. However, this must be done in full respect of existing rules.

Unless the manoeuvers will be called off, tomorrow a vessel parade of protesters including local fishermen and islanders, led by Archipelagos Aigaiou, will sail to Anhydro and Petrokaravo to discourage the military from perpetrating their illegal operations, at the risk of their life.

Your help and support in this dramatic circumstance is very important. If you think, as I am sure you do, that the Mediterranean natural heritage cannot be jeopardized by careless and reckless mismanegement, please express your concern to:

Minister of National Defence Spilios Spiliotopoulos: minister@mod.mil.gr

Undersecretary Vasilis Michaloliakos: dmod_michaloliakos@mod.mil.gr

Undersecretary Ioannis Lampropoulos: dmod_lampropoulos@mod.mil.gr

Information address: journalists@mod.mil.gr

Information: info@mod.mil.gr

Prefectorial Self-government of Dodecanese: email: kep@nad.gr

Hellenic Ministry for the Enviroment, Physical Planning & Public Works: service@dorg.minenv.gr

General Secretariat Of Public Works: dplir@ggde.gr

Minister of Rural Growth and Foods : Evaggelos Mpasiakos: ax2u077@minagric.gr

Undersecretary of Rural Growth and Foods: Alexandros Kontos: ax2u050@minagric.gr

Ministry of Aegean: Info@Ypai.gr

Office of General Secretary email: gg@ypai.gr

Press Office & Public Relations: email: typos@ypai.gr

Thank you for your attention and support.

Yours sincerely,

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara

Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara, Tethys Research Institute
Via Benedetto Marcello 43 - 20124 Milano, ITALY

tel. +39 335 6376035, +39 02 29402867; fax +39 02 700518468

email: disciara@tin.it
http://www.disciara.net
http://www.tethys.org

Jennifer L. Palmer, M.S., Conservation Scientist

Marine Conservation Biology Institute

14301 Arnold Dr. Suite 25

Glen Ellen, CA 95442

Ph. 707. 938. 3214 Fax 707. 996. 4842

jen.palmer@mcbi.org www.mcbi.org

Marine Conservation Biology Institute

Protecting Ocean Life through Science and Conservation Advocacy