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Archive: Letters and Discussions 2001

07.08.01, From Elizaveta Yurzditskaya (EEIU Fellow)
EEIU Article

17.07.01, From Dr. Vladimir Boreyko (Kyiv SC Chair), to Prof. Otto Kinne (EEIU President)
RE Chapter Report

16.05.01, From Tatiana Ostroushko (Sevastopol 2 Chair), to Prof. Otto Kinne (EEIU President)
RE Chapter Report (and Response)

17.04.01, From Okeyo Benards (Kenya Chair), to EEIU Headquarters
RE Chapter Report

02.04.01, From Prof. Gennady Polikarpov (EEIU Vice President), to Prof. Otto Kinne (EEIU President)
RE Conference Report

26.02.01, From Tatiana Ostroushko (Sevastopol 2 Chair), to Prof. Otto Kinne (EEIU President)
RE Chapter Report

28.11.01

From: Elizaveta Yurzditskaya, EEIU Fellow, Ecological-Naturalistic Center, Sevastopol, Ukraine
To: Nicola Barnfather, EEIU Coordinator, Headquarters, Germany

Dear Nicola Barnfather,

It is a great pleasure for me to receive your letter.

It is so nice that the International Union has been organized. And we are very grateful to be a part of it. As a journalist I continue to illuminate not only ecological problems of our region but also try to inform our readers about the introduction of ecoethics and its different areas of activity.

I shall send you copies of my published articles. Thank you so much for expressing your opinion.

It would be great and very useful to set up a meeting of EEIU members. The aim of such a meeting would be to exchange ideas and to get acquainted with the experience of our collegues. One more wish: I would like to meet the President of EEIU Prof Otto Kinne in order to interview him and to publish an article both in Ukrainian and Russian newspapers.

My future plan involves work connected with the organization a group of young journalists based at the Black Sea Branch of Moscow State University (which is situated in Sevastopol).

Respectfully,

Elizaveta Yurzditskaya

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Reply 01.12.01

From: Prof. Otto Kinne, EEIU President, Headquarters, Germany
To: Elizaveta Yurzditskaya, EEIU Fellow, Ecological-Naturalistic Center, Sevastopol, Ukraine

Dear Elizaveta Yurzditskaya,

I am pleased to learn about your achievements and your future plans.

It would certainly be great to arrange a meeting of EEIU Members. Unfortunately, at present, we do not have the necessary funds. There are almost half a thousand members and this number is steadily increasing!

I support the idea of your visit at EEIU Headqarters in Oldendorf/Luhe (Germany). It would be my pleasure to meet you in person, to be available for interview, and to discuss with you topics of mutual interest. However, first we must establish an idea of the traveling costs. In Germany you would be our guest. We would also offer you a comfortable apartment in our guest wing.

Can you provide info about traveling expenses and suggest a possible time plan?

Kind regards,

Otto Kinne

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07.08.01

Newspaper article by Elizaveta Yurditskaya, EEIU Fellow, Ecological-Naturalistic Center, Sevastopol, Ukraine

(Translated by EEIU Vice President Prof. Gennady Polikarpov)

EEIU Fellow Mrs Elizaveta Yurditskaya has recently published an article in the Sevastopol City Newspaper 'Slava Sevastopolya' (No. 7, 14.04.01; p2), of which we publish a shortened version.

The article is entitled 'Eco-Ethics opens the way for the survival of humanity'.

The Ecological-Naturalistic Center has completed the fourth All-Ukranian Independent Olympiad on Ecology and Eco-Ethics in the Children's Health Camp 'LASPI'.

'Why independent?' I asked the Director of the Ecological-Naturalistic Centre, the distinguished expert on education in the Ukraine, T. A. Ostroushko.

'Such an Olympiad is not a part of the school education plans or ministerial recommendations', replied Tatyana Alexandrovna. 'It is our own individual initiative. We elaborated the program ourselves, and invited the participants. The aim of the Olympiad is to spread ecological and eco-ethical knowledge, educate and support global ecological understanding and present modern approaches for an appropriate use of nature; select gifted, creative young people and support the advancement of their knowledge in biology, ecology, and eco-ethics.'

Delegations came from Kyiv, Lugansk, Donetsk, Dniepropetrovsk, Udessa, Zaporozhie, Kharkov, Nikolaev, and included school children from 40 Sevastopol schools--a total of 160 children. More participants would have attended had there been sufficient space available. Scientists of the Institute of Biology of Southern Seas (NAS) presented the most interesting lectures and acquainted the participants with the ecological problems of the seashore. They went together, along with children, along ecological pathways of the Southern Shore, teaching about rare and disappearing plants listed in the 'Red Book'.

In parallel with the Olympiad, the third All-Ukrainian Conference 'XXI Century is the Age of Eco-Ethics' was held. Our Newspaper reported this event several times with the new turn in ecology, and stressed the importance of eco-ethics. The development of this new initiative was possible due to the role played by Sevastopol in the international movement, created by Professor Otto Kinne (Germany) and NAS Academician Professor Gennedy G. Polikarpov. Under the aegis of the Eco-Ethics International Union, the Youth Group of Action on Ecological Ethics was organized. The greetings from the EEIU leaders were read at the conference and success was wished by N. I. Cherbadzhy, Chair of the Council of Young Scientists of IBSS, NAS, Nelli Gavrilova; leader of the Youth Group of Action on Eco-Ethics from the School-Lyceum No. 8 Tatyana Gvozdareva.

The realization of the conference and the Olympiad became possible due the support of the Eco-Ethics International Union and the Corp. of Peace.

The number of young ecologists supporting eco-ethics is growing every year, and the city is becoming the center of attraction for pedagogic biologists as well as for school children. This is the basis for the proposition to make Sevastopol a methodological center for the implementation of eco-ethics in Ukraine. Representatives from Odessa, Dniepropetrovsk, Lugansk and Simferopol supported the proposition.

The following sections were covered at the conference: eco-ethics and ecological thinking (Chair: biology teacher of the School-Lyceum No. 8, L. P. Marchukova), hydroecology (PhD N. N. Tereschchenyo, IBSS), studies of the area (V. A. Yakovlev, Lugansk), microbiology (PhD C. I. Rubtsova), ecology of man and animals (PhD C. A. Shcherban), and ecological problems of regions (PhD O. I. Oskolskaya).

Diplomas of the Eco-Ethics International Union of grade I, II and III were handed over to the best speakers, and the winners at the Olympiad were honoured with valuable gifts and money premiums.

The conference is over, but the work continues. The children have understood that it is impossible to love and defend nature without knowledge.

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17.07.01

From: Dr Vladimir Boreyko, Chair, Kyiv Super Chapter, Kanewer NSG, Kyiv, Ukraine
To: Prof. Otto Kinne, EEIU President, Headquarters, Germany

Dear Professor Kinne,

I am writing to you to report news about the Eco-Ethics meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, held in the third week of May 2001. Over 30 participants attended from Ukraine, Russia and Azerbaijan. The main topics included the history of eco-ethics, relationship between eco-ethics and religion, culture, aesthetic, and local traditions.
There were discussions on nature protection, hunting and also the publications appearing in EEIU on humanitarian and environmental issues.
As far as I can see, everything was very interesting and useful,

Warm regards,

Dr. Vladimir Boreyko

(Sent via Dr. Vitaly Grishchenko)

Contents

16.05.01

From: Tatiana Ostroushko, Chair, Sevastopol Chapter 2, Sevastopol, Ukraine
To: Prof. Otto Kinne, EEIU President, Headquarters, Germany

Dear Otto Kinne,

I really appreciate your financial support received from you through Ludmila Marchukova on March 23rd, 2001.

I'm pleased to inform you about the eco-ethics activities we had: on March 26-March26 we had Ukrainian Ecology and Eco-Ethics Competition and "21st Century - Century of Eco-Ethics" Ukrainian conference. 160 participants (students and teachers) took part In these activite. We had participants from Lugansk, Zaporojye, Nikolaev, Kiev, Odessa, Harkov and best students from Sevastopol.

The conference included sections on Eco-Ethics and Ecological thinking, Hydroecology, and Microbiology, Ecology of Animals and Humans, Ecological Problems of the Regions. Students gave reports on the conference, the best students were given Certificates of the International Eco-Ethics Union. The best participants were rewarded with presents. The conference and competition are completed and we continue our ecological work. I'm glad to tell you that we have more people (from Donetsk, Lugansk, Odessa, Dnepropetrovsk) who wish to work with us within the Eco-Ethics Union. I'm going to send you this information along with publications about our activities in the newspapers.

Sincerely,

Tatiana Ostroushko

Contents
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Reply 16.05.01

From: Prof. Otto Kinne, EEIU President, Headquarters, Germany
To: Tatiana Ostroushko, Chair, Sevastopol Chapter 2, Sevastopol, Ukraine

Dear Tatiana Ostroushko,

Thank you for informing me about your successful March meeting. It is good to know that additional people wish to join and to work within the Eco-Ethics International Union!

Best wishes,

Otto Kinne

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17.04.01

Report from Okeyo Bernards, Chair, Sare Chapter, Mombasa, Kenya

APPLICATION FOR FUNDING OF EEIU (ECO-ETHICS INTERNATIONAL UNION) SARE CHAPTER'S SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROJECT

History and location:

Eco-ethics International Union (EEIU) is an international body that attempts to address and respond to the increasing need for a balance between the resource base and human utilization. Leading research ecologists and natural scientists, in the forefront being Prof. Dr. Otto Kinne of Inter-Research first propagated this body.

EEIU advocates the application of ethics in the exploitation of natural resources. In the context of developing countries its main focus is on: persuasion of the people, community-based organizations and governmental structures to protect rapidly diminishing forest resources, water catchment areas and to prevent soil erosion and desertification. Within the mushrooming small towns, EEIU advocates proper sewage disposal, mainly as prevention against pollution and diseases. A case in point for the latter was the death of ~100 people in Kenya in March 2001 from an outbreak of typhoid. This was due to an overflow from a septic tank into a river whose waters are used directly for domestic purposes (www.nation.co.ke, 08/03/2001). Education, because of its formidable ability in helping overcome these struggles, is also a major concern of the EEIU policies.

Sare EEIU Chapter (Okeyo Benards)

The writer of this article is a Master of Science student at the University of Bremen (Germany), and is the current chairman of EEIU SARE Chapter, having founded this chapter in June 2000. After exposition to EEIU activities, policies, and advocacy, it became apparent that its formation in Kenya would not only help in directly eliminating some of the world's 19^th poorest country's problems but would immensely assist in laying a foundation for tackling these problems. It is with this background that EEIU headquarters was approached and agreements made that a chapter be formed in Kenya. This was established by Okeyo Benards and the EEIU vice president Prof. Gennady Polikarpov.

The writer of this article, was in Kenya from 02 Oct 2000 to 02 March 2001 to see the progress made on the ground and to enhance effective implementation of the chapter's activities. In recognition of the great mobilization work done against deforestation, and the use of simple technologies to develop tree nurseries, public education to schools and colleges, and public gatherings (commonly known as barazas), the chapter was allocated a total of 0.2 acres of land. This was for the development of office space and other utilities by the Awendo Town Council, the trustees of the land on behalf of the Kenyan government.

Sewage disposal project

Human waste is a normal phenomenon and is an indication of ecosystem function. In less densely populated areas of Africa, it poses no danger as the forces of nature rapidly break it down. In areas where human population density has increased, it poses a greater health hazard and if not checked can be a source of epidemics.

Awendo is a small town, that also happens to be the base of EEIU Sare Chapter; it has experienced a phenomenal rise in inhabitants since 1978. This has been occasioned by an establishment of a sugar factory, which acted as a pool for several people from other neighboring areas into the town. In turn, its ability to cope with the sewage menace has grown from bad to worse. While reluctance and poor planning on the part of the town council cannot escape blame, lack of cheap skills, technology, and motivation among the town's population are also contributing factors.

The need for and implementation of the sewage proposal project

To prevent an imminent outbreak of an epidemic in this small town, there is a need to put prevention structures on the ground. Already the EEIU Sare Chapter is preparing leaflets about this looming danger and how it can possibly be averted. It is my opinion that poverty makes people less innovative, less sensitive, and even worse, lazy. Within a frame of 2 months, EEIU Sare Chapter had mobilized an average of 10 households to dig pit latrines, which mainly required initiative, motivation, human labor and which will need some money for building facilities.

Our proposal as a chapter is then to solicit for funds or materials that could be used to finally finish the construction of the pit latrines and to make them durable. The completion of such pit latrines would involve the use of iron sheets, timber, cement, sand and some skilled labor.

For one such unit our cost estimate is as below:

Thus the total cost of putting up a well-constructed pit latrine for a household of 6 people for a period of about 5 years would be 547 DM.)

Our target is to start with 20 households, which would be a good number and one from which the impact can easily be quantified statistically. This would require 11.940 DM.

Vocational training project:

Our second major task is to afford the children of this small town some basic skills not only for their personal gain but also for the economic development of this town. With an income of less than 1$ per day (UN statistics) most of the inhabitants of this small town are not able to offer even basic education to their children. The Kenyan government, in appreciation of the great role played by education for its citizens, waived all costs in basic education for the first 8 years. The graduates of this basic learning are a little versed in mathematics, English, Kiswahili (the national language), basic science, agriculture, geography, history, and cultural studies. The majority of them finish at around 14-17 years, too young to do much and with no job orientation. The situation is made even worse by lack of job openings and no skills for either formal or informal employment.

Offering some vocational training which are also market-tailored, such as sewing, carpentry, metal craftsmanship, pottery, and weaving for exports, are thought to be some of the best activities that our EEIU Sare Chapter could ever offer to the inhabitants of this town, and in general to the country and humanity.

Implementation

With 8 people as the steering committee of EEIU Sare chapter, and proper supervision of implementation by the current chair and officials from the EEIU headquarters, it is hoped that this task can be achieved.

Part of the 0.2 acres of land already allocated could be portioned for the development of a vocational training center and some skilled personnel recruited for teaching positions.

The steering committee is diligently working on the costs of this project and they would be more than willing to furnish a copy once their cost estimates are finished.

Okeyo Benards, Chair Sare-EEIU Chapter
Email: okeyob@yahoo.com

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02.04.01

From: Prof. Gennady Polikarpov, EEIU Vice President, General Office, Ukraine
To: Prof. Otto Kinne, EEIU President, Headquarters, Germany

Dear Otto,

The 'XXI centenary is the age of Eco-Ethics' Conference at Laspi (near Sevastopol): information from Natalia Tereshchenko, our EEIU representative-coordinator at the Conference which had been held under the aegis of EEIU.

'Your financial support of the Conference was the principal help. (We only received some additional modest sponsoring). Some organizations had promised but failed to deliver.'

Natalia spoke and greeted the conference participants on behalf of the EEIU President Prof. Otto Kinne (EEIU Headquarters and the General Office). She distributed 50 copies of the books published in Sept. 2000 under the aegis of EEIU 'Readings in memory of Nikolai W. Timofeeff-Ressovsky' (together with EEIU materials).

The presentations and discussions were followed by the Eco-Ethics Olympiad; both our EEIU Chairs of the Sevastopol Chapters, organizers of the EEIU Conference, Ludmilla Marchukova and Tatyana Ostroushko awarded the winners (schoolchildren from different schools and regions) the EEIU Diplomas signed by you.

You will receive more detailed reports in the near future.

Warm regards!

Gennady Polikarpov

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26.02.01

From: Tatiana Ostroushko, Chair, Sevastopol Chapter 2, Sevastopol, Ukraine
To: Prof. Otto Kinne, EEIU President, Headquarters, Germany

Dear Professor Kinne,

Re: Conference - "21 century- Eco-Ethics Century" and competition on Eco-ethics and Ecology.

The conference will be conducted from March 26 to March 29, 2001, in Crimea, Ukraine. The Ecology and Nature Center initiated this project. We also work with the media. Participants will be invited from all over Ukraine and Moscow, Russia. We also cooperate actively with the Ukrainian academician Grigoriy Policarpove in this initiative. The project proceeds swiftly. It is intended to provide knowledge of Eco-ethics and Ecology, especially to the young generation in Ukraine and Russia.

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We invite further contributions, which should be addressed
to the Coordinator at Headquarters.

This page was last updated on 2 April 2003.