Sofia, 29 June 2009 – on its annual meeting at the end of the previous week UNESCO’s world natural and cultural heritage Convention gave Bulgaria one last chance to solve the problem regarding the destruction of Pirin National Park. This was announced from for the nature.org- a coalition consisting of 30 non-governmental organizations, whose representative attended the forum.

With touching photos and few words this brochure illustrates what happened to Bansko in Pirin and what awaits Rila (the symptoms are identical) and leaves it up to the reader to make the choice about the adequate direction of development - preserved nature and beauty or ploughed up, eroding slopes, illegal lifts and a smoke-screen from SUVs, motorbikes, and ATVs in the high parts of the mountains.

A broshure presenting the value of the natural treasures in Rila Mountain, the threats from the illegal construction of new ski resorts, and the landmark successes of the civil campaign for preserving Rila Mountain from unauthorized development of such illegal projects.

After more than a year of absence from the square in front of the Bulgarian Council of Ministers the citizens who support the Natura 2000 network in Bulgaria decided to knock on the doors of The Realm Of The Unrestricted Power and to remind that the problems surrounding the implementation of the European environmental network in Bulgaria are not only unsolved but become even worse. The event had to bring in the focus of the public attention the hearing that takes place today between the Petitions Committee by the European Parliament and citizens who have brought in petitions on the violations of the European environmental legislation in Bulgaria. Vera Petkanchin from Citizens for Rila, Andrey Kovachev from Balkani Wildlife Society and Nelly Arabadzhieva from Green Balkans have the mission to trigger accelerated procedures against these violations and against the insufficiency of the Natura 2000 network, that still does not include valuable zones like Rila Buffer and parts of Irkakli wild beach. The discussion will include also the scandalous cases like Kaliakra, Kamchiiiski pyasatsi and Strandzha.

A tree was planted today by the enthusiastic citizens who supported the European Environmental network in 2007 by protesting in front of the Council of Ministers in Sofia, Bulgaria for nine months, using artistic meanings to remind the Bulgarian minsters that they have to work urgently on the approval of Natura 2000. The tree lived in a pot for almost two years waiting for the entire range of the network to be approved by the ministers but as this did not happen so far the concerns for it's comfort in the pot grew larger and the environmentalists decided to gift it as a mascot to the European Commission Representative office in Bulgaria.

Celebrating The day of the Earth on Sofia, Bulgaria