We Lefkadas’ inhabitants are opposed to the hydrocarbon mining in the
Ionian Sea under any conditions, whether proposed or agreed. The above activity:
·
is highly polluting with disastrous
consequences for the environment,
the climate change, our health, our primary sector (fisheries and agriculture). It puts at risk areas protected by international conventions, with marine species
protected throughout the world.
The
high quality tourism product offered by our islands - sea tourism (sailing, windsurf, kite surf, diving,
cruises ...), alternative forms of tourism (hiking, cycling, paragliding,
agrotourism, ...), religious, cultural, gastronomic tourism, ... - is
incompatible with mining. So is fishing.
·
It involves the
risk of an accident due to factors related to each extraction, but also to the
high seismicity of the area. Most
Ionian tourist businesses are small
family units that will be unable
to cope with the consequences of an ecological
disaster, loss of income, and legal battles to obtain a hypothetical
compensation, while no compensation is
provided for in the event of a natural disaster (earthquake…).
·
Government revenue promised is poor: 0.3% for the region and only 6% for the country, from: planned
dividend - corporate income tax 25% on net profits (the state receives 4/5 and
the regions 1/5) - area compensation. While damage in the event of an accident in such a seismic area will be enormous and permanent, with immediate
loss up to 25,000 jobs. A major
leakage / pollution incident in the Ionian Sea could cause a loss of € 1.78 billion over a 25-year
horizon.
Indicatively, the tourism
industry contributed € 2.2 billion
to the Ionian economy (2017), or 73% of
the Region's GDP, with nearly 53,000
direct and
indirect jobs. The fishing
industry employs about 3800 workers,
and contributes € 73 million / year
to the Ionian economy.
•
Greece kicks off mining in its territory when the rest of Europe is withdrawing from these programs and
is focusing on renewable energy sources
(solar, wind, electricity and hydro): in the last 18 months Spain, Portugal,
France, Italy (2 months ago in an Ionian area), Denmark, and Ireland canceled their programs.
•
Mining involves the
risk of instability and war conflicts.
When the
stakes are a potential ecological and economic disaster we Citizens must do everything we can to protect the environment, we owe it to our
children. The richness of our
country is our clean seas, our fertile land, our sunlight, our landscape and
culture that we must save: leave the oil in the ground!
We ask from the City Council to request from the appropriate Ministries
1) the withdrawal of the signed contracts and the cessation of any exploration
and extraction process of hydrocarbons, 2) the development of energy saving
programs and financing of renewable energy sources.
We invite teachers, scientific and professional
bodies, Local Government officials and directly involved services to actively
engage and participate in this survival struggle.
Information/petition
in English:
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