MONGOLIAN GREEN MOVEMENT (MGM)

Brief Introduction

Green Movement of Mongolia has been initiated and founded by Green Coalition on the date of December 1, 2006 as a civil protest against human healthy living environment rights violation, absence of the effective government ecological policies as well as widespread ecological terrorism imposed by corrupt government. Officially MGM got its certificate and stamp on February 7, 2007.

MGM Completed Projects

1. Air pollution as government policy
As a result of our struggle against air pollution in the Ulaanbaatar city the government finally recognized that “Air pollution reached the level of a disaster”. We have initiated a land-accommodation exchange program, which is now being discussed and is about to be implemented on the government level.
TV-25 channel has been broadcasting UB city air pollution constantly from January through March, 2007 at an initiative and order of the MGM. We are planning to introduce ‘Smog Alarm’ program. MGM has organized a number of peaceful protests against air pollution by distribution respiratory masks within the population. The actions caught an attention and support amongst the population.

2. ‘Khongor’ of a Fight against Irresponsible Mining “Gold” Program.
MGM was the first civil movement visited Khongor and announced an alarm to the society. We were the first to interview citizens of Khongor and the first to bring experts and doctors to survey people and animal victims of the chemical poisoning while documenting in the Khongor sum, Darkhan-uul aimag. MGM has organized 8 press-conferences and 5 demonstrations defending the interests and rights of the Khongor poisoning victims, requesting financial reimbursement for the Khongor victims as well as introducing local and international mass media about the Khongor disaster. MGM sent requests to Parliament, President and the Government of Mongolia a number of times. Ecological terrorism of Khongor has been named one of the top three disasters of Mongolia in 2007. Still, the government of Mongolia has not recognized the Khongor disaster until the moment.

The MGM has struggling against ‘Irresponsible Gold’ program. MGM in collaboration with Mongolian Democratic Movement (MDM) and Civil Justice Movement (CJM) has conducted 4 press-conferences, revealing serious facts and figures to the public.

There were many cases of mercury and other toxic chemicals discoveries in the Ulaanbaatar city lately, mainly related to Chinese nationals and Chinese businesses. In the protest of the abovementioned MGM has organized a petition signed by 256 citizens collected in two hours of protesting in front of the Chinese Embassy. The signed petition was officially handed to the Chinese Embassy. We have requested China to adopt a special act prohibiting toxic chemicals and other toxic materials export from China into Mongolia. MGM has expressed a position that Governments of the two countries are capable of cooperating in breaking down the secret network for smuggling toxic chemicals into Mongolia.

MGM has sent its delegates to the 2-nd Congress of the Global Greens and made a report about disastrous ecological consequences of “Gold” program in Mongolia as well as on Khongor disaster. MGM has joined global anti-gold network.

3. 75% of the green coverage of the UB city has been removed.
- The secret decision was made by the Parliament’s State Standing Committee for removal of the green garden on the north of the Government House for the purposes of building a New Parliament House. This decision was abolished as a result of uncovering and bringing up to the public as well as protests and demonstrations organized by MGM. The only city green garden with more than 60 year-history in the whole UB city was saved.

Another green garden was saved by MGM in the territory of the Khan-Uul district. The area was already occupied by the Altai construction Co, Ltd for the construction developments. MGM reached abolishing the decision by the Offcie of Major of the city.

MGM is struggling to stop developments planned by Puma construction on the banks of the Tuul River, unlawfully appropriated by Puma, in collaboration with the other ecological movements.

4. Fight for human rights and political rights
2008 parliamentarian election in Mongolia was widely fraudulent, the rulers have suppressed legal rights of the civilians and a totalitarian system is coming back. In opposition and in protest against the said Ms. A.Saruul, Leader of Mongolian Green Movement and Mr. G.Arslan, Head, Just Society Front has declared a Silent-strike for which they have been arrested by the government for two weeks.

5. “Green Activist of the Year” Prize Initiative
“Green Activist of the Year” Prize has been initiated by the MGM. The first prize-giving ceremony was held in 2007 and 5 politicians and 13 journalists were nominated.

Further plans.
To organize a NGO for the victims of the ‘Gold’ program
To form a Civil Rights Center for citizens, whose political rights were suppressed?

Name of the Center: Green SOS center for Human Rights

Leader, Mongolian National Green Movement

Agvaandorj SARUUL (Doctor Phil.)