news

8th December
Finally lost

The signatures for written declaration Nr.66 were not enough to let it pass. We got 140 signatures so it lapsed, because 393 would have been the minimum for a success.

(click on graphic to load large version in separate window)

Looking back

• it was not possible to support the declaration from its beginning of the signing period on 1st September (information about it was at the End of August)
• the time to organise the whole public campaign was extremely short (only 6 weeks)
• too less time to involve all European Speleo Federations deeply in this project before (!) it was brought up
• it was not possible to win big supporters from other NGOs

Good news

• many speleo clubs, speleologists and federations took part in this campaign -Thanks a lot!
• the information stand in the parliament was great success too, many interrested people who wanted to know more about the underground. These can be used for future projects.
• in the meeting with Mr.Miko from the European Commission asked for cooperation in a GIS project and workshop
• the declaration got 140 signatures- so there are many people who support the idea of cave protection in the Parliament and we have a good starting point to continue our lobby work on a long-term basis

Next steps

• for the European Parliament: deputies of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (from different countries and parties) can be found who support cave protection for a new round table or working group
• for the European Commission: GIS project with karst areas of each country in Europe and the protection status, to show the Commission that more work on that should be done and planing of a workshop for the new elected Commission in September 2009 about how cave protection in Europe can work
• for speleology: speleological federations should strengthen their bands towards Europe and work together in an easy way
• for speleologists: show up with new ideas and help to protect caves and karst in Europe - just send an e-mail

28th November
Already 112 deputies have signed the WD66 declaration!
We want to thank all these deputies and all the people and organisation supporting us!

List of countries with the number of signatures and percentage to the total number of deputies (ordered by descending percentage):

20th November
Postcards of the campain are now available!
Let us know how many you need (up to 10 per subject for speleo-clubs or 50 per subject for federations) by sending an email to and advise a donation to bank account of *Bärbel Vogel*: VB RB Oberbayern Südost, BLZ *710 900 00*, Kto-Nr. *340517600*; Reason of payment: EU postcards, IBAN DE78 7109 0000 0003 4051 76, BIC GENODEF 1BGL. The money will be used for the "save the hole world" campaign and the postage.

19th November
See photos of the speleo event in the parliament: http://picasaweb.google.com/christianegrebe. In two days 2000 postcards with the declaration text, 1000 flyers and 1000 packs of maccaroni were distributed!

18th November
We proudly present our Brussel Speleo Team:
Many thanks to Prof. Paolo Forti and Ferdinando Didonna (Italy), Herman de Swart and Wietske van der Berge (Netherlands), Pierrot Clemens, Dirk van Daerme and Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns (Belgium), Kasia Biernacka (Poland), Rainer Fohlert, Bärbel Vogel and Christiane Grebe (Germany), Ioana Meleg and Viorel Lascu (Romania), Alexey Zhalov (Bularia), for their help at the information stand, the meeting with the European Commission, for visiting the deputies, pack 1000 packs of maccaroni and for their good vibrations at the European Parliament!

11th November
Our press conference held today at the European Parliament was a great success and our stand was visited by a huge number of interested deputees, officials, journalists and other interested people.

7th November
We present our campaign presentation and our new capaign trailer! (Thanks to our Italian friends!)

5th November
A press release has been officially launched to announce the two day campaign and press conference at the European Parliament on November 11th. >read more on media page<

4th November
What has been done so far for WD 66! European Speleologists are working hand in hand for cave protection in Europe.

• AT: Is contacting their EU deputies at the moment.
• BE: Contacted their EU deputies already. Will provide information material and personal help.
• BG: Contacted their EU deputies already. Will provide information material and personal help.
• DE: Is contacting their EU deputies at the moment and will provide information material and personal help. German Cave Museum Iserlohn and Show Cave Dechenhoehle will lend a stalagmite with datings for the stand.
• GR: Contacted their EU deputies already. Will provide information material.
• IT: Is contacting their EU deputies at the moment. Will provide information material and movies.
• LU: Is contacting their EU deputies at the moment.
• NL: Contacted their EU deputies already. Will provide personal help at the stand in Brussels
• PL: Is contacting their EU deputies at the moment. Will provide personal help for the campaign.
• PT: Is contacting their EU deputies at the moment.
• RO: Contacted their EU deputies already. Will provide information material and personal help.
• SI: Contacted their EU deputies already.

11th November
This is our team for Brussels!

The following people will attend the meeting with the European commission on November 10th:

• Christiane Grebe, Germany
• Ioana Meleg, Romania
• Alexey Zhalov, Bulgaria
• Paolo Forti, Italy

The following people will attend the press conference on November 11th:

• Christiane Grebe, Germany
• Iona Meleg, Romania
• Alexey Zhalov, Bulgaria
• Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns, Belgium
• Kasia Biernacka, Poland

The following people will mainly help at the information stand from November 11th-12th:

• Viorel Lascu and Iona Meleg, Romania
• Herman de Swart and Wietzke van de Berge, Netherlands
• Pierrot Clemens, Georges Michel, Jean-Pierre Bartholeyns, Belgium,
• Bärbel Vogel, Christiane Grebe and Rainer Fohlert, Germany
• Kasia Biernacka, Poland
• Alexey Zhalov, Bulgaria

28th October
We need 6-8 speleologists from 10th to 13th November to help at the stand and a professional photographer to take pictures at the stand, at the conferences, etc.
If you are interested please contact .
Concerning information material from spleological federations to hand out at the stand, please contact .

28th October
Untill 20th of October 53 deputies already signed the declaration.

28th October
→ Question of Mikel Irujo MEP about the trade of speleothemes.

16th October
The translation office has corrected the texts for WD 66 today. In every language the missing word" speleologists" was filled in.

12th October
Due to a translation mistake in the parliamentary translation office, the word "speleologist" is the missing in paragraph 2 (c) in the current version, which you can download from the parliament. The translation office will change this as soon as possible. Please excuse this.

9th October
On 11th November 2008 we are organising a press conference in the EU parliament. More information soon here !

9th October
On 11th and 12th November 2008 our information stand is located in front of the plenar hall in the EU parliament !