Baltic Sea Info Tour/Vilnius

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Alternative Tour Stop in Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania. The country had the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in operation until December 31, 2009. As a precondition of joining the European Union this NPP had to be shut down. The government proposed a new (Visaginas) nuclear power plant in the site of Ignalina NPP and is currently (and unsuccessfully) looking for strategic investor for the plant. In addition, people living in the country have to deal with the impacts of the nuclear power developments in the countries around: the Belarusian government wants a nuclear power plant close to the border to Lithuania, appr. 50 kilometres to Vilnius; in Kaliningrad, at the border with Lithuania, the new so-called "Baltic NPP" is under construction; Poland has also proposed it's first nuclear reactor.

The Baltic Sea Info Tour stopped as an alternative for those participants who couldn't join the infotour stop in Belarus in Vilnius from July 15 - July 16. After these two days of activities the participants of the infotour had a few resting days in the region for recreation.

The Baltic Sea Info Tour had a press conference, several public street actions in Vilnius with focus on the NPP developments in Lithuania, Poland and those countries, whose reactors release most of radioactivity into the Baltic sea - Sweden and Finland, and we had the chance to connect to anti-nuclear activists from Lithuania.

Local contacts
Linas Laura
 * phone: +37067568116
 * phone: +37069010187


 * email: [mailto:vilnius.baltic-tourATnuclear-heritage.net vilnius.baltic-tour AT nuclear-heritage.net]

Travel Schedule of the Vilnius Stop

 * Wednesday (Jul 14): travelling from the previous stop in Riga to Vilnius
 * only those participants who don't join the stop in Belarus


 * Thursday - Friday (Jul 15-16): STOP in Vilnius
 * Sunday (Jul 18): travelling from the previous stop in Belarus to Vilnius
 * Sunday - Monday (Jul 17-19): resting days
 * Tuesday (Jul 20): travelling to the next stop in Jezioro Żarnowieckie

Report from the Vilnius stop
As expected, anti-nuclear activists gathered in Vilnius July 14th. The fact that this infotour stop should be successful, could be seen from the activist's enthusiasm – in the evening they were preparing speeches for the next day's press conference and leaflets for the pickets.

July 15 (Thursday)
10:00. There was a press in conference hall the news agency ELTA. Participants Linas Vainius, Laura Gintalaitė (environmental activists from Lithuania) and Leena Pukki from Finland presented their speeches, answered to the journalist questions. At the end the conference was attented by the public, who wanted to hear more information about this infotour, radioactive pollution of the Baltic Sea and it's impact to the human body. It was expected that the press conference takes only 40 min, but it lasted almost 1.5 hours.

12:00. The infotour activists held an picket at the Embassy of Finland (Kalinausko g. 24, Vilnius). In the time of picket, the participants raised a banner „Nuclear free region“, held a small play "I am a nuclear power victim". Darius and Linas spoke trough the loudspeaker to the Finnish embassy staff and the occasional public about Baltic Sea region problems, invited not to be indifferent and to engage in open debate, to express a clear position against Finnland's plans to build new nuclear reactors and the final repository of highly radioactive waste by our common sea. Staff of the Finish embassy also heard the speech in finnish, speaked by participant from Finland. A little bit active were the occasional members of the public (passers) who wanted to know why the picket is organized. Participants Darius and Linas handed information to the Finnish Embassy, what problems nuclear energy in Filland causes and might cause to all of us.

14:00. The infotour participants held a picket at the Swedish Embassy (Didžioji St. 16, Vilnius). Since the embassy is located in the Old Town, in an active touristic place, police came very fast.

The participants of the picket had to move from the Embassy at the silly permissable distance of 25 meters. As well as at the Finnish Embassy, they raised the banner, held a small play "I am a nuclear power victim", which gained the interest of the passers-by. Darius and Linas spoke trough the loudspeaker. Swedish embassy employee interested why the picket is held. Linas gave the information, had a small conversation. The members of the public also paid attention – there was made a few photos by the foreign tourists and passers, leaflets were distributed.

July 16, Friday
Dzień dobry, Polska. Picket at the Poland embassy, which is in the place where few people pass by. However, speeches from the loudspeaker are heard by policeman, embassy staff and people living nearby. Linas has urged Poland not to participate in Visaginas project (new power plant in Lithuania!) and not to build nuclear power plant by the Baltic Sea. Instead, to develop ecological projects.

The government of Lithuania is happy, while bigger half of population is pro-nuclear, but in the protest days we met just few people, who were for this dangerous power plants.

Policemen has noticed that there were not 9, but 10 protestors at the Polish embassy, so 1 of us had to move away. According to silly Lithuanian laws, 10 protestors, who did not ask for „permision“ to protest, are too many.

Elžbieta Kuzborska from the embassy got interested in the picket. She promised to bring our message to the ambassador.

Another picket was held at European Commision representative. Banner „Nuclear Free Region“, leaflets gives the message. We urge EU not to finance electricity grids from the Baltic power plant in Kaliningrad and any nuclear projects within EU. Media spokesman gets the wider explanation, why it is harmful.

After the pickets the participants distributed leaflets to people at the center of Vilnius.

Resting Days
On Saturday July 17, Sunday July 18 and Monday July 19 the participants of the infotour had two resting days in Vilnius to relax and recreate. They explored the city and went to nature areas nearby. During those days accommodation and cooking possibilities were still provided in Vilnius, but the participants entertained themselves - no programme was provided by the local activists.

Info on what to see in Vilnius can be found here:
 * http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/presentation/site.html
 * http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/

We recommend to see Republic of Uzupis in Vilnius: http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/topic.php?tid=64&sid=94&aid=537&more=y

Variuos kinds of events in Lithuania can be found there: http://www.eb.lt/en.php3

Other Information about the Vilnius Stop

 * accommodation in the apartment of local people - bring a sleeping bag and foam mattress with you!
 * cooking possibilities for everyone in the place; a little amount of food can be dumpster dived and cheap food is also available in shops(expenses have to be covered by participants themselves)
 * there will be Wifi Internet in the place, but computer will not be available all the time. So if you think you will need to use Internet much, bring your laptop.
 * For participants traveling from Riga: best way to get to Vilnius is by bus. Two operating companies: http://www.eurolines.com and http://www.ecolines.net/index.php?l=2 You can buy tickets in their ticket selling agencies in Riga bus station or via the Internet.
 * If you have ISIC card, use it for buying bus or trolleybus tickets in Vilnius and trains around Lithuania. Public transport schedules in Vilnius: http://www.marsrutai.info/vilnius/?a=p.routes&transport_id=bus&t=xhtml&l=en Trains in Lithuania: http://www.litrail.lt
 * Currency in Lithuania is Litas. 1 EUR = 3,4 Lt.
 * Media Coverage:
 * Finland risks digging itself into a nuclear grave as it moves ahead with plans for more reactors, new deep undeground repository for nuclear waste - August 2, 2010 English
 * Anti-nuclear Stop in Lithuania - Indymedia Linksunten, July 30, 2010 English
 * Baltijos jūros radiacinė tarša kelia pavojų ir poilsiautojams - Other media took the message from the news agency, July 30, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Anti-Atom Stop in Lithuania - contrAtom coverage of the indymedia report, July 28, 2010 English
 * No More Nuclear Pollution - Tour Stop in Lithuania - Indymedia International, July 28, 2010 English
 * Anti-nuclear tour: Stop in Lithuania - Indymedia Germany, July 28, 2010 English
 * Antroji Baltijos antibranduolinio infoturo diena: „Prieš branduolinį monkės biznį!“ - Infotour activities were reflected in a number of eco-blogs and other activist's media, July 17, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Baltijos antibranduolinis infoturas - Infotour activities were reflected in a number of eco-blogs and other activist's media, July 17, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Pirmoji Baltijos antibranduolinio infoturo diena: „Baltijos jūra – ne pamazgų duobė!” - Infotour activities were reflected in a number of eco-blogs and other activist's media, July 17, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Anti-nuclear protests in Vilnius, July 16, 2010 - YouTube film, July 16, 2010
 * Anti-nuclear protests in Vilnius, July 16, 2010 (Polish embassy, European Commission) - Photos, July 16, 2010 English
 * Pirmoji Baltijos antibranduolinio infoturo diena: „Baltijos jūra – ne pamazgų duobė!” (foto, video) - Infotour activities were reflected in a number of eco-blogs and other activist's media, July 16, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Lithuanian national radio "Ziniu radijas" had a report on the tour.
 * Baltijos jūros radiacinė tarša kelia pavojų ir poilsiautojams - News agency report, July 15, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Baltijos jūros radiacinė tarša kelia pavojų ir poilsiautojams - Other media took the message from the news agency, July 15, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Baltijos jūroje - didžiausia radiacinė tarša - Other media took the message from the news agency, July 15, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Anti-nuclear protest near Finish Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania July 15, 2010 - YouTube film, July 15, 2010
 * Anti-nuclear protest near Finish Embassy in Vilnius, Lithuania July 15, 2010 - Photos, July 15, 2010 English
 * Anti-nuclear protest near Swedish Embassy in Vilnius July 15, 2010 - YouTube film, July 15, 2010
 * Anti-nuclear protest near Swedish Embassy in Vilnius July 15, 2010 - Photos, July 15, 2010 English
 * Kvietimas į spaudos konferenciją „Baltijos jūra - radioaktyviausia pasaulyje" - Invitation to the press conference, July 14, 2010 Lithuanian
 * „Baltijos jūros infoturas” kviečia į akcijas prieš radioaktyvią Baltijos taršą - July 14, 2010 Lithuanian
 * Atominė energetika teršia Baltijos jūrą - tour promotion and baltic sea radioactivity covering in political weekly, July 10-15, 2010 Lithuanian