PR:Drawing Nuclear Connection to Brown Bear, Wolf and Lynx

Press Release - Radiation Free Lakeland - 015395 63671 http://web.mac.com/mariannebirkby1/iWeb/Radiation%20Free%20Lakeland/REMEMBER%20CHERNOBYL-SEND%20YOUR%20DRAWINGS%20BEFORE%20APRIL%2020th.html

Chernobyl Day Remembered .....

Drawing Nuclear Connection to Brown Bear, Wolf and Lynx
To commemorate Chernobyl Day on April 26th Radiation Free Lakeland are asking children and adults  to send in their drawings of other creatures such as Brown Bear, Grey Owl, Reindeer, Wolf and Lynx found in Finnish Lapland. Finnish Lapland is often described as one of Europe’s last true wilderness areas – with a rich diversity of wildlife and land based culture of the indigenous Sami people. The drawings will then be sent to world leaders who are promoting new nuclear build, with a letter asking that uranium mining should not be allowed in the wilderness areas of Finnish Lapland – the taiga and tundra. This land, its wildlife and its people is just one of the areas worldwide now threatened as a direct result of the pronuclear lobbying of MPs such as Jamie Reed, government departments such as the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the industry. There are many new applications for vast uranium mines in Finnish Lapland which would destroy the taiga and the tundra. The taiga is a mosaic of woodlands and open water. The tundra consists of heathland, fells and rocks. Both contain important peat bogs – the destruction of which would release tens of millions of tonnes of CO2. Taiga and tundra are also home to a rich diversity of birdlife. Finnish Lapland is an important migratory and breeding ground for many of the waterfowl and waders that overwinter here such as the Bewick’s Swan.

Radiation Free Lakeland are opposing new nuclear developments to protect our climate, our wildlife and our own DNA.

Of special interest to schools: Offer by award winning wildlife artist Marianne Birkby to come along and work with students on drawing Finnish Lapland’s threatened wildlife in charcoal.

Please tel: 015395 63671 for more details or email drawings (with name and age) to: [mailto:raflATmariannebirkby.plus.com rafl AT mariannebirkby.plus.com]