Κυριακή 1 Δεκεμβρίου 2019

LEFKADA CITIZENS' INITIATIVE AGAINST HYDROCARBONS EXTRACTS


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:
SAVE GREEK SEAS  www.savegreekseas.com

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