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Topic1: ON THE MOVE • The conflict between Gazprom, a natural gas extraction company- therefore of Russia- and the indigenous Nenets, a migratory tribe wishing to continue their nomadic life in a clean environment without interferences from the company workers (poachers etc) and its installations. Along with the tribe stand the organizations for the conservation of the Natural Environment Solution.
The Nenets tribe – Environmental Organizations The Gazprom Company Russian Government The various factors: The aim of this project: To suggest solutions regarding: -Conflicts of various organizations -Environmental contamination (gas) – Climate change – Ice melting -Workers of the company (poachers) -Noise pollution – Crowdedness -Difficult for Nenets to survive due to the destruction of migratory paths, animal death, tradition alteration -Consequences to the environment (fauna, flora, etc)
NENETS: • The Nenets is a migratory tribe in Russia • Its population is around 42000 people • Spoken languages are the Russian language and the “nenet”. • They breed reindeers and they use them for nutrition, clothing, transportation and as their main occupation. For example men are dressed with jackets made of the skin of four reindeers. • Their droves consist up to 700 reindeers and they migrate with the Nenets during the migration.
This tribe teaches the respect of the land and its resources • Children have learned how to survive through adverse conditions since they are young. Handicraft, hunting. fishing, etc are the main occupations of the boys while the girls stay near the tent, helping their mother, cooking etc.
Their economy is based on the sale of reindeer meat in other areas of Russia or other countries like China. • During the communism and the Stalin dominance, they were forced to abandon their itinerant way of life and to settle into villages in order to breed reindeers in the farms and to be controlled. As a result, their tradition and language were threatened and assimilated • After returning to their traditional way of life, they now face similar threats due to other circumstances.
NENETS’ COMPLAINS • Despite the fact that Gazprom has taken some actions by providing transportation, building schools for their children and bridges on the pipes, they helped them economically for something they were doing it for free, for example looking after their children. Nenets are not satisfied and their needs are not fulfilled. What they seek is to ensure the conservation of Tundra which means a non-polluted area so that their migratory paths will not be destroyed by the company´s activities or the area they settle due to climate change. They desire in general to conserve their way of life as well as to remain the only residents of Yamal Peninsula wherever they are.
Gazprom: • Gazprom is the main company exporting natural gas and oil in the world, since the reserves supply the entire Europe. • The geologic survey, production, transportation, storage, processing and trading of electronically and thermal energy are some of its important business´ activities. • Its aim is to ensure the safe, effective and balanced supply of natural gas and other energy sources to the consumers.
SUGGESTIONS TO GAZPROM : • Must conserve the resources in order to reduce environmental consequences and conserve the climate levels. • Must conserve energy and use natural gas electrical and thermal energy, oil and the boiler effectively during its activities. • Cooperation with other companies exporting natural gas and oil in order to obtain coordinated group actions for the protection of the environment. • Some research foundations intensify their efforts to introduce efficient and environmentally beneficial technologies. • Developing mutual international cooperation in order to reduce the industrial consequences to the environment and preparing projects about the climate changes they cause. • There is a variety of suggestions and measures that could be taken to project the environment. But are they applied at all?
Ways to face the problem: • Personally, I think that since the problem already exists , we must find ways to restrict it. Therefore, Russia must impose some laws to protect the Nenets tribe as well as the environment because it consists not only a local but a global environmental problem as well. Due to climate changes the melting of ice and the rise of sea levels many countries all over the planet are in danger.
First of all Russia needs to raise concern, realize the seriousness of the problem, and identify it as a priority. The government needs to know that besides the disorder caused by the Nenets who complain constantly, the company is partly responsible for the climate change because of the environmental pollution. This may cause some severe consequences, for example the risk of the railway destruction due to the permafrost melt down or the concern that part of Russia will turn into an impenetrable swap.
The GAZPROM company owns a lot of units extracting oil all functioning at the same time. The Russian government can set some limits to the company concerning the pollution caused by its activities. In this way, the company will be forced to reduce the number of units functioning and will use them gradually when the stock of the units functioning will be used up. For example if there are ten units, only half of them would function. Consequently, the pollution will be less and eventually, it might not be necessary to use the whole stock since efforts have been undertaken to find renewable energy sources.
At the end of the year the government must appoint ecology qualified individuals to examine the levels of pollution caused by the company. In case it´s over the limit will be imposed fines accordingly.
Suggested Actions • The company could organize seminars to improve awareness to the employees for the tribe. Meanwhile if the company workers would continue poaching, then the company could fire them.
Also, GAZPROM in the case of implementation of law mentioned above would be forced to implement the suggestions concerning the protection of the environment in order to avoid the fines. Such suggestions would be the use of alternative energy sources or the capturing and storage of CO2 “constantly and safely" aiming the reduce of facto0ry emissions.
Since the Νenets are facing some difficulties conserving their land and culture, they could move temporarily in the area of Tunguska Basin where the conditions are similar to the ones in the area of Yamal Peninsula until the stock of oil will be exhausted or even the conditions would be improved.
I assume that ignorance is also the cause of disputes. The company ignores the tragic consequences of the gas and pollution on the environment. Nevertheless, the Nenets ignore the significance and the necessity of the oil and natural gas exported by Gazprom for the entire Europe. The company would help them to realise the use of oil, being a raw material by supplying them a small quantity and explaining them how it is used and how useful it is. They will then realise the European way of life and will be more open- minded. Their demands will be reduced and they could end up in a fair agreement with the company.
Moreover, if the Nenets were given certain areas with the aid and consent of the government and the entrance of foreigners wasn't allowed they would conserve their tranquillity and solitary life. They would be then protected from the alteration of their cultural identity. They can move and settle to these areas during the migratory periods.
Members of all countries should strive to use renewable energy. The oil will not be as necessary as it is today and will not be used as the main source of energy. As a result, the pollution will be a lot less and Gazprom will not have to extract all the oil reserves. Gazprom could start investing in renewable energy sources which are the energy of the future.
CONCLUSION These are my personal views and perceptions on how to resolve the problem. If each side behaves based on mutual aid and respect, then the solution will serve everyone. The need, therefore, of implementing these measures SOON is significant; otherwise the consequences will be terrible for the environment and the coexistence between Gazprom and the Nenets will be a constant problem in the area of Yamal peninsula. This problem does not concern just Russia but it is extended to the entire humanity. When ignoring the protection of the environment and its unlimited destruction, the consequences will be essential and will probably cause the end of the world. Let' s not think about the present, we must think about the future and the generations following. There is hope only if each one of us changes their way of thinking and improve awareness and every day practice regarding environmental issues.
