Welcome to our homepage
The Penguin Petition has been handed over to the Bachelet Government
Rainforest Rescue collects over 219.000 signatures to protect the Humboldt Penguin. Sphenisco hands the signatures over to the Chilean Environmental Minister Pablo Badenier, in Santiago.
Santiago de Chile/Landau, June 7, 2016.
On June 2nd, a delegation organized by Sphenisco presented Environmental Minister Pablo Badenier 219.143 signatures that were collected from 190 countries. The delegation consisted of the Coquimbo Region Senator Adriana Muñoz (1); Josue Ramos, the spokesman for the coastal fishers from Los Choros (2); Isabella Monso from the citizens movement group MODEMA; Raimundo Gòmez Vergara from Chao Pescao, a group of artists that campaign for environmental issues; Sphenisco's representative in Chile, Nancy Duman; as well as a volunteer from Sphenisco, Laura Schuler.
The delegation's goal was, through the signatures collected by Rainforest Rescue, as well as through the “La Higuera-Isla Chañaral Declaration”, to point out to the Chilean government the dangers to the survival of 13,000 breeding pairs of Humboldt Penguins as well as to the regional environment as a whole, which would result from the planned building of two industrial ports. The Environmental Minister appeared surprised about Senator Muñoz's involvement, as well as the references to irregularities that occurred during the environmental impact assessment of the mines and ports projects.
Mrs. Muñoz thanked the Environmental Minister for taking the documents and requested that he support solutions that would conserve the environment. This request is ímportant because the port projects are linked with the planned bio-oceanic corridor (3). The danger exists that through hasty decisions, the repercussions on the environment would not be sufficiently taken into consideration, and particularly important ecological zones such as the Elqui Valley and the marine region before the coast of La Higuera would be massively damaged.
Mr. Ramos noted as well that the planned projects would damage the environment irreversibly, and also harm the coastal fisheries. He mentioned that the corporation Andes Iron was dividing the populace. Through disinformation and bribery, Andes Iron has been attempting to court acceptance for their “Dominga” project. He asked the Enviornmental Minister if it is possible that a project from a corporation would be acceptable to the Chilean government, whose owners were known to be corrupt. Minister Pablo Badenier then stated that he would speak with the politically responsible parties in the Coquimbo Region.
The Campaign “Save 26,000 Penguins” follows two objectives. First: to inform authorities and the Chilean public about the problems with the environmental review of the port projects in a marine area of global importance, and Second: to obtain an appropriate factual review of the mines and ports projects.
Through the phenomenal feedback of the signature campaign – over 219,000 signatures – and the handoff of the petitions to the Bachelet government, the Chilean Senate, the Chilean Diplomat in Berlin, as well as the regional government, we have reached our goal of informing the “potentially responsible parties”. The goal of informing the public could, so far, only be partially reached. Even when in the meantime, an entire array of media have reported on the issue, the battle against environmental destruction and corruption in the community of La Higuera is not adequately known. We have also not yet been able to reach the second goal of an appropriate factual review. Through the support of politicians such as Minister Marcelo Diaz, the Assemblymen Raũl Saldivar and Daniel Melo, and Senators Adriana Muñoz and Antonio Horvat, we have nevertheless gotten somewhat closer.
W.K.
translated by Erich Greiner
(1) Directly-elected Senator of the Coquimbo Region.
(2) President of the Fishery Cooperative of Los Choros and the Vice President of the Fishery Consortium of Los Choros (Presidente de la Cooperativa Pesquera de Los Choros y Vicepresidente del Gremio de Pescadores de Los Choros).
(3) Transportation link via a tunnel from the Pacific to the Atlantic, through the Andes Mountains, is currently being discussed and planned in Chile.
Penguin Petitions in the Chilean National Congress
Rainforest Rescue collects 216,000 signatures for the protection of the Humboldt Penguin. Sphenisco hands off to senators in Valparaiso.
Valparaiso/Landau, 12 May 2016.
With a petition of 216,505 signatures, Nancy Duman of Sphenisco went to the National Congress in Valparaiso, and visited Senators Adriana Muñoz (Coquimbo Region) (1) and Antonio Horvath (Aysén Region) (2). She informed both senators about the special meaning of the marine region in northern Chile, and mentioned the dangers to the 13,000 breeding pairs of Humboldt Penguins in the affected area, as well as to the environment in general, which would result from the planned building of two industrial ports. She again described the inconsistencies and irregularities in the environmental impact assessment, performed by the Chilean government. Senators Muñoz and Horvath welcomed the signature campaign from Rainforest Rescue and the „La Higuera-Isla Chañaral Declaration”, that was signed by over 500 organisations.
Both senators spontaneously agreed to sign the declaration, 
and to forward it to the Senate Environmental Committee. Just as Minister Marcelo Diaz as well as Assemblymen Raúl Saldivar and Daniel Melo, both these Senators want to support the campaign, and ensure that the signatures from all over the world will be presented personally to President Bachelet. Both Senators want to be personally involved in the delivery. Further, Senator Horvath offered to legally support the plaintiffs who are against the Port Cruz Grande Project, and to have the plans affecting the development of the community of La Higuera checked by attorneys for irregularities. Senator Muñoz is ready to take part in work groups and commissions, that deal with the problems in the community of La Higuera.
After these meetings, Nancy Duman was very tired, but satisfied. The battle against environmental destruction and corruption in the Coquimbo Region is not only being noticed locally, but also nationally. More and more politicians are supporting the campaign, and are helping to overcome the resistance to protect the area. If everything works out, Nancy Duman will soon return to Valparaiso, in order to report about the problems in northern Chile to the Cultural Center of the National Congress.
W.K.
translated by Erich Greiner
NOTES:
(1) Senator of the Coquimbo Region, through direct ballot
(2) known, independent politician, who for many years has fought for environmental protection in Chile.
No english translation available.
No english translation available.
For a Proper Review of Environmental Compatibility
La Serena, 25. January, 2016.
Chilean scientists and professionals have requested short-term assistance from Sphenisco, because they fear that through the construction of three ports, that the marine area of La Higuera and the Island of Chañaral in northern Chile will be irreversibly destroyed, an area that is one of the 35 most-important hotspots of biodiversity on the planet. The realization of these projects would mean the end for the Humboldt Penguin. A port in an ecosystem of global importance has already been approved, because the environmental compatibility was only reviewed for the sake of appearance (see also this internet site, Letter to President Bachelet, 12. Feb. 2015). There is currently a court case in process that was brought against the decision to approve this port project. Currently, the environmental compatibility review for the second port is in a crucial phase. With the “La Higuera-Chañaral Island Declaration” and the signature petition from 
“Save the Rainforest” (https://www.rainforest-rescue.org), Sphenisco is turning to the Chilean and international public, da zu befürchten ist, because it is feared that also this second compatibility process will not be done in a proper manner.
Sphenisco appeals to nature and species-protection organizations, as well as friends of nature throughout the entire world, to sign the petition and to support its declaration, in order to bring attention to the threatening loss of this meaningful ecosystem. Sphenisco's chairman requests that all of its members and member-organisations utilize their connections to the media, or to mention them to Chairwoman Gabriele Knauf.
In the coming weeks Sphenisco will personally inform parliamentarians, senators, and 
representatives of the media, in order to prompt parliamentary enquiries and investigations into the environmental compatibility review in the Coquimbo Region.
W.K.