Mikael Frödin Guideline Power Team member

Älvräddarna (The Swedish River Saver Group) is a voluntary, nonprofitable and politically independent organization, working for thefuture protection of still natural, not exploited rivers and streams inSweden. The group also works intensely to force existing water powerplants to provide efficient and fully workable fish ladders and passagesfor the native fish, so the ecological balance can be restored to its fullpotential in these waters.At Guideline, we think that Älvräddarna is conducting priceless work andthey really do stand on the barricades and in the front line to fight for somethingthat all of us who love fishing and the outdoors really stand for; cleaner,healthier rivers in ecological balance and nature that we can be proud toleave for our children to enjoy also in the future. This is why it seems totallynatural for us to be supporting Älvräddarna and their cause through sponsoring.With this information we hope to be able to spread the word and helpbringing both attention and more sponsors to this important organization sothey can continue to perform their great cause.Water power is the source of energy affecting biological diversity more thanany other. Its effect on whole eco-systems is devastating and often resultsin whole fish populations being destroyed or radically changed. All scientificresearch proves this clearly and that is why we should NOT have any morehydro water plants being built in Sweden. 75% of our large rivers and mostof the smaller ones as well, have been altered for the worse through the explorationof water as a power source.On the other hand, we rely on water as an important source for energy, butthat doesn’t mean that we cannot restore Swedish hydro water plants forthe better. Today, there is new technology that makes both upstream anddownstream fish migration possible with a survival rate of over 95%! Thisequals that of a natural river! The main problem though, is the ignorance tocontribute and invest money for this cause from the big corporations whoown these water plants. Only minor, partial efforts in isolated cases are beingmade and it is mainly only done if the company then gets subsidized by thegovernment or if they can gain more economical profit from doing it. Thisis all totally against the principle that says that anybody who damages theenvironment must also repair and pays for this through their own financing.Unfortunately the Swedish law system is not strong enough to enforce tupon the hydro electrical companies, while all other environmentally damagingactivities like Petroleum- and Paper mass-industries have to obey to thePPP (Polluter Pays Principle), meaning that they have to pay any damagescaused to the environment by themselves.Älvräddarna fight for Swedish law to be changed in a way that makes hydroelectrical companies liable for payment to damages to the environment justlike anybody else is. They perform this work by intense lobbying all the wayup into governmental level and through highlighting scandals and abuse onour waters with the help of all media including TV, magazines, newspapersand the internet. This may be lakes that are being drained, rivers where fishbecomes trapped when water levels are cut off or fish being cut to pieces inturbines on their way back to sea after their spawning runs. It may also beabout revealing scandals around smaller hydro schemes operating withoutany permition having been granted at all.Changing the laws in a positive way wouldn’t have any effect on theprice for electricity, as it would mean a good opportunity for the power plantowners to restore the energy producing part of the plant at the same timeas they make it more environmentally friendly.Surveys within the EU provethat in many cases there is a gain in energy, although more water is being ledthrough fish passages. If you want to contribute to the work being done byÄlvräddarna, you can become a supporting member in the organization. Theeasiest way to do this is by visiting their home page, where you find moreinformation about how you can contribute and become a member. The morepeople supporting this cause, the stronger and more powerful it becomesin its discussions and meetings with politicians and when writing articles toraise and create more debate about these important issues.If you feel like getting more involved, you can start a local “River Saver”group in your area. Then you can work for the restoration of existing waterplants in your home territories. You will get help and all support from verycompetent and educated staff within the main Älvräddarna organization. Doit like we do at Guideline, support Älvräddarna!53