The organizers of the Italian Baja motor rally today announced its cancellation because they could not obtain the neccesary permissions from the Prefect of the Province of Pordenone to run the rally within the IBA (Important Bird Area) nor (as I understand it) in the area outside the IBA because dumped asbestos, uncovered during floods last year has not been cleared up and would have been pulverized by the passing heavy vehicles and put into the air, representing a threat to the health of competitors, spectators and (most importantly) local people living nearby for years to come. The rally was already in bother with a lot of top names declining to take part and the adverse publicity can't have helped:

The organizers, through their spokesman Mauro Tavella, have threatened to sue the Regional government of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (which apparently gave permission for the rally without the neccessary Environmental Impact Assessments) for the losses incurred. I'd just like to thank everyone on Proact who signed the petitions or sent personal mails - along with mails from other lists we managed to successfully internationalise the issue which 'til then had been a strictly local affair. Thankyou everyone, on behalf of the Stone Curlews, Ortolans and Tawny Pipits.

Paul Tout (Duino, TS, ITaly)