Last Page - Issue 40 - Yemen Times

40 - Oct 2 thru Oct 8 2000, Vol X

Response of The Environment Protection Council to “Environmental Crisis in Yemen”
published on 4/8/2000 in the very page

The Editor
Yemen Times
Sana’a
Subj: Comment on the article “Environmental Crisis in Yemen”

Reference is made to the article titled “Environmental Crisis in Yemen” written by Mr. Abdulhakeem Hashem and published in the Yemen Times issue No. 33 dated 4/8/2000.
It seems that freedom of press and democracy that we are enjoying is mis-used without any consideration to negative impacts of articles published in the press.
Please note the following major comments:
1.The title of the article is misleading. It suggests as if Yemen is facing environmental crisis. This is not true. There are environmental problems, but are not at stages, that would be described as crisis.
2.The writer exaggerates in some cases in describing environmental problems e.g.
a) under item-2 “water pollution”, the writer mentioned that clean water is available in Yemen, which is not true.
bUnder item-4 “desertification”, the writer mentioned that indicators show that 97% of the Yemeni land suffer from desertification at various levels. The right description to this situation should have been ‘threaten’ instead of ‘suffer’.
Please take necessary actions to clarify the misunderstanding resulting from the article, and publish our concern.
We trust you will be more careful in the future to avoid such situations.

With best regards...
Environment Protection Council