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