TURKMENISTAN: ENVIRONMENTAL NGOS TRYING TO SPREAD

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001417

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN; OES FOR MICHAEL SCHENA
ASTANA FOR BRUCE HUDSPETH

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV EAID OSCI SENV TSPL TX ZK
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: ENVIRONMENTAL NGOS TRYING TO SPREAD
INFORMATION

REF: STATE 71325

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Sylvia Reed Curran. Reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Two environmental NGOs in Turkmenistan are
attempting to educate the public about the environment, about
interactions with nature, and in general how to behave in
society. Their ability to operate is restricted by the
government's refusal to register NGOs. They also face a
language barrier because they rely mostly on Russian-speaking
experts and many children now speak only Turkmen. Despite
the obstacles, the groups are finding ways to get information
to the population, but they could use help to increase their
knowledge base. END SUMMARY.

SPREADING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES


2. (U) Poloff met with members of two environmental NGOs to
ascertain what their groups are currently doing, and what
they see as future needs (in response to Ref A). One group
runs a project for teenagers called "My Safe World" that
provides information about a wide range of topics, including
poisonous animals, the dangers of smoking, and how to be a
good host. This group also runs summer camps that teach the
children about the environment, including lessons and field
trips with a biologist.


3. (U) The other environmental NGO is called "Red Book,"
based on the name of the Soviet register of endangered
species. This group's programs focus exclusively on the
environment, but are aimed at adults and even soldiers, as
well as children. Tatyana Rotary, the group's leader, is a
nature preservationist and organizes programs that take
people outside of Ashgabat to learn about the plants and
animals of Turkmenistan, fire prevention, and how to keep the
environment clean.

RANGE OF OBSTACLES HAMPERS GROUPS' OUTREACH


4. (SBU) Both groups discussed the challenges they face,
beginning with the inability to register. The "My Safe
World" group runs under the auspices of an Aikido club. They
use the club's space and are considered a business
organization. "Red Book's" activities have more legitimacy
in the eyes of the government because nature preservationists
are respected by the government. The one group that united
many of the small environmental organizations and provided an
umbrella under which they could work, the Ecological Center
(EcoCenter),was closed in 2002 when former President Niyazov
passed a law that banned the registration of environmental
groups. This meant that EcoCenter could no longer register,
which meant it had trouble getting grants, and its experts
disbanded to work on other projects. Now there are small
environmental groups throughout Turkmenistan, but they do not
work together and struggle to get materials.


5. (SBU) Contacts from both NGOs emphasized that lack of
information is one of the most challenging problems. The "My
Safe World" group cannot even find copies of the red book
that the "Red Book" group works to update. Both groups are
struggling to get access to the Internet, in part because it
is expensive, and in part because of the amount of paperwork
needed to get an account.


6. (C) The groups also struggle with a language barrier.
Most of the experts on environmental issues, or anything
science related, are Russian speakers. There are a handful
of Turkmen speaking specialists, but to find a Turkmen
speaker who has both the knowledge and an interactive

ASHGABAT 00001417 002 OF 002


teaching style is difficult, according to the NGOs. The "My
Safe World" group tried using an interpreter at one program,
but the Russian speaking children were bored during the
Turkmen translation, and the Turkmen speaking children were
bored during the Russian sections. The groups run the
majority of their programs only in Russian, which limits
their audience.

MORE SOURCES OF INFORMATION ARE NEEDED


7. (C) The NGO representatives pointed out to Poloff that one
need only walk outside to see the environmental problems in
Turkmenistan and the lack of knowledge that the average
person has. One example they gave was of a cement factory
near the Kopet Dag stadium in downtown Ashgabat that belched
smoke, and even though the factory is now closed, no plants
or trees grow near it. Another example was the bad quality
drinking water outside of Ashgabat. They suggested that
anything to get more information to people would help
ameliorate these problems.


8. (SBU) Specifically, the NGOs proposed setting up a
resource center that teachers and students could access. It
could include books, videos, DVDs, and translated conference
materials on topics from environmental problems to
interactive teaching methods. They noted that having hard
copy materials was vital because Internet connectivity is
unreliable in Turkmenistan.


9. (SBU) "My Safe World" said that they would like to show
movies or videos on the weekends that children could discuss.
For example, they could show a movie like "Wall-e" that was
set in a world where trash became an overwhelming problem,
and then talk about problems in Turkmenistan, such as
littering. The program leaders also would like to set up a
winter camp, for the 10-day school break in January, that
would be similar to the summer camps that they conduct.


10. (SBU) The "Red Book" head suggested programs that would
help teachers and experts expand their knowledge. She said a
national parks exchange would be very useful, as would
conferences on topics such as botany or endangered species.
Anything that would allow Turkmen specialists to find out
what other experts were working on would be helpful, in
particular programs with a Central Asia regional focus.


11. (C) COMMENT: These two NGOs are trying to spread
information to create a more educated public, which in
Turkmenistan is no easy task. They are hampered not only by
government restrictions on their activity and the sense that
"ecology is a bad word," but by their own biases toward
working mostly with ethnic Russians. However, they are
creative in how they circumvent obstacles and willing to work
within the bounds allowed by the government. END COMMENT.
CURRAN