Corfu Environmental Protection Association on the Hadjidakis Bill
environment
02 May 2020
/ 13:03
CORFU. "Attracting investors whatever the human, environmental and social cost".
It is at the very least a tragic irony that in the midst of this unprecedented health crisis that humanity is facing and, according to scientists and researchers, has been caused by the reckless criminal management of the environment, the Government is bring an anti-environmental Bill to Parliament. A Bill which contravenes even the existing timid and incomplete legislation which puts a token brake on the frenetic greed of private interests.
Where should we begin -
The legalisation of illegal buildings in forest land?
Outsourcing the Environmental Impact Assessments to private companies?
Hydrocarbon mining and construction of hotels and quarries in NATURA areas?
Uncontrolled dumping of sewage in streams and damn the consequences?
The uncontrolled extension of the industrial wind parks which energy consumers are already paying for?
The abolishment of the Protected Areas Management Organisations and merging them with local bodies following decisions from Athens?
The violation of even constitutional regulations, international conventions and Community guidelines? Examples of this include Article 24 of the Constitution, European Guidelines for the Protection of Habitats and for the protection of wild birds, the Strategy for the Mediterranean Sea, the Ramsar International Convention for Wetlands, the Barcelona Treaty for the protection of the Mediterranean.
The title of the Bill is misleading - there is no modernisation of environmental legislation. It is trying to attract investors whatever the human, environmental and social cost and the Bill should be called 'Destruction of the Environment'. It was with both sadness and indignation that we heard that the majority of the Ionian Islands Regional Council voting against the proposal not to accept the Bill. We call on the local authority to take responsibility for the islands' social and natural environment to take action and prevent the future environmental, health and social disaster.
Vera Koronaki - President
Voula Bouka - Secretary
Where should we begin -
The legalisation of illegal buildings in forest land?
Outsourcing the Environmental Impact Assessments to private companies?
Hydrocarbon mining and construction of hotels and quarries in NATURA areas?
Uncontrolled dumping of sewage in streams and damn the consequences?
The uncontrolled extension of the industrial wind parks which energy consumers are already paying for?
The abolishment of the Protected Areas Management Organisations and merging them with local bodies following decisions from Athens?
The violation of even constitutional regulations, international conventions and Community guidelines? Examples of this include Article 24 of the Constitution, European Guidelines for the Protection of Habitats and for the protection of wild birds, the Strategy for the Mediterranean Sea, the Ramsar International Convention for Wetlands, the Barcelona Treaty for the protection of the Mediterranean.
The title of the Bill is misleading - there is no modernisation of environmental legislation. It is trying to attract investors whatever the human, environmental and social cost and the Bill should be called 'Destruction of the Environment'. It was with both sadness and indignation that we heard that the majority of the Ionian Islands Regional Council voting against the proposal not to accept the Bill. We call on the local authority to take responsibility for the islands' social and natural environment to take action and prevent the future environmental, health and social disaster.
Vera Koronaki - President
Voula Bouka - Secretary
