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The nuclear company Fennovoima (biggest shareholder is the German nuclear company EON) wants to build a new nuclear power plant in Finland – probably in Simo or in Pyhäjoki.
Basic Information
Hanhikivi is a cape which is located in municipality of Pyhäjoki, at North Ostrobothnia, on the coast of Bothnian Bay. Minor piece of the capes end belongs to town of Raahe. The cape is about 5 kilometers long.[1] Hanhikivi means “Goose rock” in English. The name of the area comes from a relic: an erratic block which is located at the capes end.[2]
Hanhikivi area is a significant conservation entity of land uplift coasts. There are none exactly as large unitary forest areas of this kind of coast at North Ostrobothnia. Hanhikivi area includes coast biodiversity, quite representative herb-rich forests of land uplift area, small flood meadows and hardwood-spruce swamps. In addition, the area includes other statutory preserved objects such as sea-shore meadows and gloe lakes. The area of Hanhikivi has been noted in North Ostrobothnia county planning as a nature multipurpose area. There are, also, nationally significant relics and scenically valuable rocky area. Hanhikivi area is partially limited to Parhalahti-Syölätinlahti-Heinikarinlampi-Natura area.[3]
About 63 % of Hanhikivi area has been preserved. About 170 hectares were preserved in Merestä metsäksi project (forest programme) during 2005–2006 by natural values trading, subsidy for preserving ecological values and by buying land to state. There are, also, about 110 hectares preserved in other ways.[3]
Hanhikivi is a very valuable bird migration area. Hietakarinlahti-Takaranta area has been qualified as a nationally important bird area, FINIBA area (Finnish Important Bird Areas). FINIBA areas are remarkable areas for nature conservation. They are nesting and gathering places for threatened species and species for international special responsibility.[4]
Parhalahti-Syölätinlahti and Heinikarinlampi are Natura 2000 area (code FI110420). It is defined as an nationally valuable bird water area. Also, the sea-shore meadows of Maunus are qualified as a regionally valuable traditional landscape and as the last clear-preserved sea-shore meadows. The surface area is about 275 hectares.[4]
Hanhikivi is also the name of a fixed relic, the delimeter from historical age. It has been qualified as a nationally valuable object and protected by the Antiquities Act (295/63). The Treaty of Nöteborg (Pähkinäsaaren rauha), also known as Treaty of Oreshek, is the peace treaty that set the first east border concerning Finland. The treaty was the first settlement between Sweden and Novgorod Republik regulating their border. The border began at Rajajoki, went to northwest across the Karelian Isthmus and ended to coast of Bothnian Bay. Hanhikivi is found as the delimiter of the Treaty of Nöteborg.[5]
Links
Photos
The images give an impression about the area affected by these nuclear developments.
- Sample gallery
Nuclear signs by the road to the area hint at the radioactive threat of the proposed NPP
Cabins and other small wooden buildings are spread over the peninsula
The area Fennovoima wants to occupy for their nuclear business is a peninsula called Hanhiviki
They want to take cooling water from the sea, but would have to use long tubes as the sea close to the shores is shallow
Some of the land is owned by people, much is common land of the residents and can only be given to Fennovoima with their agreement
Fennovoima not only needs the land rights in the sea for the cooling water pipes, but also for the area where they want to build the NPP harbour
Fennovoima is offering incredible amounts of money for getting the local people's land
Those who refuse to give up their lands are strongly advised to do so, otherwise they may be dispossessed without compensation
But this is – according to local activists – legally not possible as the dispossession would be carried out in favour for a private company
However, dispossessions seem only to be legal in favour for state projects
Signs on the rocks mark the border between private land and public beach
In public advertising events for their NPP plans Fennovoima claimed to have already taken over all land they need
This is a lie – several residents refused to give them their lands
The owners of these houses won't agree on handing over their property to the nuclear industry, as well as others that refuse to do so.
On the other hand unfortunately some people already have been pushed by lies and money to give Fennovoima the right to use their lands for the nuclear project
A beautiful landscape providing several valuable protected natural or cultural important areas is threatened by the proposed NPP
The nuclear facility would not only pollute the area radioactively...
...and there is not only the risk of hazardous accidents...
...additionally the long-term radioactive waste would have to be stored somewhere safely (and that's not possible).
The hot cooling water the NPP is supposed to send back to the sea would heat the shallow areas close to the coast and threaten the ecosystems
Ice floes stacked up by the elements
To construct the NPP on this peninsula Fennovoima would need to throw up several meters of soil because of the high sea level
Many people don't want to sacrifice this beautiful area to the nuclear industry
The Hanhikivi peninsula is covered by a number of specially protected ecological areas
Some two thirds of the region are preserved for nature protection reasons
There are Natura 2000 areas protected under international regulations
Some parts are also preserved being nationally important bird areas
The local organization "Pro Hanhikivi" is taking care of the conservation of the area and organizing the resistance against the NPP plans
Beautiful mosses and lichens covering large areas of the forest ground
"Hanhikivi" is also the name of a huge rock that was in former centuries used as a border mark and these days a viewpoint and tourist attraction
Fennovoima suggested to move away the rock as it is interfering with their NPP plans
View from the platform on the Hanhikivi rock
Simple tracks open up the temporary wet area for tourists and visitors
Spread over the area signs and symbols remind to the threats that a nuclear facility would mean for the region
Pro Hanhikivi is educating visitors and tourists about the ecological and historical importance of this area
This board informs about the important birdlife areas of the region
A box supplies visitors with information materials about the nature and importance of the area and about the impacts of the proposed NPP
Of course, Fennovoima is not happy about this information work...
The proposal to construct a nuclear power plant in this area is unreasonable – also under energetic and economic points of view
Renewable energies provide the cabins of this remote area with electricity – nuclear power is no good to anyone living here
Some dozen kilometers away this panorama shows as well wind powered stations as the biggest energy consumer, a factory close to Raahe
There is no need for huge amounts of electricity in this weakly populated area; the nuclear power would be sent hundreds or thousands of kilometers in Southern Finland or even for the European electricity market
Pyhäjoki on the Nuclear Baltic Map: nr. 34