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Hi,

this is Heiko Bleher and I want to make a few comments;

1. I surely thank Husky Jim and all the Greec fantastic guys: Thank you for what you did (and are still doing) and naturally all the people who have signed the pedition (and are still doing it). I want to thank Dougall for is nice (and very correct) words, and also Larry, thank you for your wise words. But I must add, sidguppy (or whatever your name is) did hit it 100% correct - you must know Brazil well and what is going on here... or did you read my book?
I also appreciate everyone else and for Janne: I think she should read what Dougall wrote (and also some others).
And Nidal we will talk in Duisburg, but send me the invitation for my Greec conferences in December to: [email protected]
We still have not our cell. phones returned.

2. I did no wrong to Brazi´s law of environment - preserved fishes are NOT prohibited under o "Lei Ambiental". They also did NOT imprison me on Bio-Pirataria, as the news said, and there are many other errors in the news, like we borded in Belem (is not true, we borded in Manaus), like that we had genetic material (which is not true, just conserved fishes for identification), like there are new species envolved (which they have not even looked at but claim it already), or like they were chaseing me for over a year (a lie, just to make it more interesting for the media, as I have been here several times in between and they all knew, and came to the Amazon more than 300 times, dined several times with the president of IBAMA, flew with him to Barcelos and much more, he has my book on Amazonia, etc.,etc.). Or that from the genetic material can be extract a lot of money... what a choke, from dead small fishes? In addition: IBAMA WAS NOT involved, someone who is (very) jeaulous of my work, has adviced the Federal Police (the power of this country, they can do what they want and through anyone in prison whithout asking, without giving them the right to call an attorney, family, without any cloth hygiene, not even a pencil, or food, nor drink NOTHING). IBAMA was only informed later (actually yesterday).
And now the dead fishes are at INPA to be classified...

3. Anhow, we are still in Manaus for a few days until all is settled and I get my materials (cameras, laptop, cell-phones, etc) back. There is no hearing by the judge (if it ever will be, probably take 5 to 15 years, as ususal) and I have to be at the judges disposal at some time in the future, but that is no problem as I come so often to Brazil and can arrange it accordingly. If I do 2,3 or 10 expeditions, that is no hinder, almost better.

So my work will continue as usual and I will record as much or our global aquatic environment as long as I can and I am sure until my last day, and always (and hopefully) not before it is to late in each place (that is why I go so far and Nidal you do not believ how far I went this time up the Araca...). No one can stiop my work, as I do NOT do anything illigal, although some people want to place me in such a category, of smuggeling, bio piracy, etc. just becaus they are jeaulous, do not like me or are unable to do the same what I do and therefore want to harm me (it seems to be their only satisfaction). And there are some who want to get a rise, a medal also because they are unable to get the real criminals.... (look at sidguppy...)

Nidal and Doufgal wriote me an e-mail, and who everyone else wants,

thanks again you fantastic guys, you are real friends and fish lovers, like me...

Heiko
PS also from Natasha

I had read that article this morning or yesterday in practical fishkeeping. Incredible!

Good luck to you Mr. Bleher!

Good to hear you're alive and well, Heiko!

actually, no I haven't been to Brasil yet, been to other Latin American countries neighbouring Brasil, but I know how politics work.
boy, do i know....
I'm a bad tempered cynical old fart and thoroughly disappointed in my fellow man when it comes to money, power, politics or all 3 mixed up.
some folks here must have noticed this already the past few years

I hate to be right about stuff like this, but unfortunately I'm right too often for my or anyone else's taste.
wich makes me even more cynical, bad tempered etc
damn damn damn

but it's really good to hear you managed to survive all this hopefully in good health and in 1 piece.

heads up!

Alex aka SG

great to hear you're both ok - good news indeed.

Heiko wrote:I also appreciate everyone else and for Janne: I think she should read what Dougall wrote (and also some others).

I dont regret any of the words I wrote, my point was that no one should be judged before all the facts was on the table, nor Brazil nor you. So, before the debate would turned to judgements and bad politics I thought it would be better to make people think. There are no difference between famous people and common people in my view so if there are no facts backing up either part I cant take anyones positition, so if you want all of us to feel sorry for you before we knew if you break any law...I have no words?? If everything is like you said I feel sorry this happened to you and Natasha, I hope you will be compensated in some way even if that is a long shot.

If I would let the discussion continue without interference, how do you think it would develope?

And last we met I was a he and not a she

Janne

Hi folks

I just want to announce, that on October, 4th, AquaNet.tv invited Heiko and several editors of german fish magazines to a discussion, which will be streamed live at 2 pm German time (CET). The live stream will be in German of couse, two or three days later we will have a repition with english subtitles.

You need not to register (but can if you want to get a reminder), its completely free.

Installation of MS Silverlight is necessary for the subtitles, we are working on it to have them on MS Mediaplayer also.

More information on www.aquanet.tv on TV-Guide / October

regards
Lutz
Editor AquaNet

Heiko,
Glad to see all is well that ends well. This entire discussion reminds of a thread I posted to in 2005.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... ber#p70347

Never underestimate many Brazilian's fear (unfounded or not) that wily foreigners are out to steal the next big thing to come out of Amazonas. I am sure Heiko is well aware of this sensitivity. Given this widespread feeling, I can see how a few well placed whispers could lead to this situation and be rapidly taken on board by the press.

-Shane

The sensitivity is understandable, and it might be very easy to smuggle a tiny piece of a plant out of Brasil

Plants, crustacea (shell fish), bacteria, these species might be very valuable. But is anyone aware of fish helping research?

Swordtails have been used, I admit, because their black spots are quite alike to melanoma. In fact this resaerch has developed into a cure for (guess what) prostate cancer - but not melanomas

This is a whole other matter than a toxin form a so and so plant which is a antibioticum - but can be improved. That is where the real money is, and that is where Brasil is, rightfully afraid of

I think they could spend their money better than bothering research after innocent, but interesting, fish

Bas Pels wrote:But is anyone aware of fish helping research?

They breed them and use some sort of "Gland" from the fish that they sell to a company that extract something from the gland used in some sort of medication for humans. I have no further information about this more then I know the breeder.

Janne

But is anyone aware of fish helping research?

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/p ... p?news=483

Any poisonous organism is potentially interesting to pharmaceutical companies. Medicines are, after all, simply poisons which are less poisonous to you than they are to the parasite or bacterium it's supposed to combat. So, I would assume there are catfish which might be of interest to the bioprospectors of pharmaceutical companies.

Mostly, though, they're not interested in vertebrates, as vertebrates are a fairly uniform bunch without many interesting chemicals, but mainly in "lower" forms of life, especially plants and bacteria, loaded as they are with exotic toxins.
The biopiracy laws of most developing countries are however designed to cover all bases, so vertebrates, e.g. fish, are not exempt - and it is, like I said, not inconceivable that there may be catfish with toxins which could be turned into a massively profitable medication.