Rubber bullets shot at protesters in Skouries, Greece
Since mid-June 2012 the Canadian Eldorado Gold, along with AKTOR of Bobolas and the blessings of the State are cutting of the primeval forest of Skouries to make it a huge surface mine. The pharaonic “investment” will dry up Chalkidiki and will drain every drop of water.
Clashes occurred in Skouries, Chalkidiki between local residents and police during a demonstration against the establishment of gold mines by Canadian Eldorado Gold. The police forces made extensive use of chemicals, and plastic bullets. Note that logging has started for the creation of the mines by Eldorado Gold and AKTOR.
The march started from Ierrisos with the protesters shouting slogans such as “they talk about profits and losses, we are talking about human lives.”
Call of Ierissos committees of struggle against gold mines
Call to defend the forest of Skouries, address to the people the committees of struggle of Ierissos against the gold mines. The committees, in their great popular assembly on Thursday, decided to act on Sunday August 5, to defend the public wealth from the catastrophic interests of the Canadian gold diggers, and of the local elites.
“We will defend the forest, water and our lives, as defined by the Greek Constitution in Article 24 § 1:
The protection of the natural and cultural environment constitutes a duty of the State. The State is bound to adopt special preventive or repressive measures for the preservation of the environment. Matters pertaining to the protection of forests and forest expanses in general shall be regulated by law.
Alteration of the use of state forests and state forest expanses is prohibited, except where agricultural development or other uses imposed for the public interest prevail for the benefit of the national economy.
The interests of the Canadian gold diggers, and of the local elites do not represent the public interest; neither is the selling off of our land a simple change of use. It is a disaster,” states the resolution of the residents.
source: eagainst
