FWD: Please help us save the Judean Desert

 Dear Friend,

We are a group of Israeli scientists studying many aspects of desert
environments (Anthropology, History, Archeology, Geology, Geomorphology,
Hydrology, Zoology, Botany, and Ecology). We have decided to join the Society
for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) and other groups in their efforts
at protesting and fighting the planned highway in the Judean Desert. A few of
our respective Israeli professional societies have already agreed to join in
this important effort. Among us are individuals who represent opposing political
views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and other central issues in the
Israeli politics. However, we share the view that the unique and fragile Judean
Desert should not be another victim of this conflict.

With a highway cutting through its heart this sensitive environment will be
totally damaged and we will lose one of the Middle East's most fascinating
areas. Two examples: a) The water pools in the deep and steep bedrock canyons
downstream of the road will fill with sediments, destroying the only water
source for the local ecosystems that host ibises, gazelles, and a host of other
fauna and flora, and b) The road has been outrageously planned to approach near
(less than 100 m) deliberately isolated, centuries-old monasteries.

The planning of the road is carried out in the area without an environmental
impact assessments. Furthermore, the areas in question lack all necessary
hydrologic and geomorphologic data that are needed for reasonable planning.
Therefore, we really do not know what will be the values for planning
(discharge, frequency, sediment etc.) and on what they will be based.

We need your help, Please e-mail a brief protest letter (and ask your friends
and colleagues to do the same). Address your letter to "The Minister" (since
there will soon be a new government and we still don't know who the ministers
will be), and send it to Ms. Ruth Brandt ([log in to unmask]), of the SPNI,
who coordinates our activities.

Thank you very much for helping us save what little natural land we have left.

 Dr. Yehouda Enzel
 Institute of Earth Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
 [log in to unmask]

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End of AIA LIST DIGEST International Preservation l 98-99-s-288


geoff carver
http://home.t-online.de/home/gcarver/
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