Resolution of the First Meeting in Panormos
Crete today is in danger of turning into an endless power plant of unlimited wattage, with industrial scale projects (wind power, solar cells, solar heating systems, pump storage systems) as other parts of Greece.
ItΆs about a complete, brutal and destructive invasion of large enterprises and energy groups, which will result in permanent and devastating consequences for the economy, the society, the natural environment and the cultural resources of the island.
This invasion, which is occurring at times of financial crisis, ignores local communities and threatens to completely overthrow the production model of the island.
The uncoordinated development, the degrading policies for the primary sector, the destruction of the natural and cultural resources as well as the productive potential of our country have for years been a threat and have weakened the model of production.
The energy projects that are currently being launched and planned have nothing to do with the true meaning and advantages of Renewable Sources of Energy (RSEs), advantages that can only be obtained with self-production, direct dissemination of benefits to the local community, support rather than substitution of productive activities, conservation of energy and natural resources.
A thorough legislation (Land-Planning RSEs, law for the acceleration of RSEs etc.) has already been approved that allows the uncontrolled installation of the projects virtually everywhere, at the load of all productive activities, in forests, on mountain tops, on high productivity land, in areas of the NATURA 2000 network, and in archaeological areas where there is no declaration of A zoning protection.
The essential prerequisite for their operation is the creation of undersea connectivity cables with the continental power system of Greece, a procedure which must be followed separately by each interested company and which has no limits besides those set by demand and profitability of business interests.
The designation of these projects as projects of “national benefit”, which allows their placement in forest areas, highlights the enormous issues of resolving land ownership matters, as in many cases the placement of these projects on private land without ownersΆ consent led to long court disputes where the owners try to prove that the land is theirs, while it has already been made available to a use they themselves did not choose.
WE DEMAND
- The immediate stop of everything planned without local communities being informed or involved.
- Withdrawal of all production permits and licenses that have been already provided for energy projects of industrial scale.
- Let no mayor be given the authority to indicate areas for the placement of photovoltaic stations for the program “HELIOS”, as was proposed by the Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change.
WE DECLARE OURSELVES DETERMINED
- To jointly prevent the establishment of power plant facilities of industrial scale.
To defend:
- The local productive activities and the producers of our land, who already survive under too much strain and obstacles
- Activities that reinvest the profits back to the community
And to strive for a model of production that suits Crete and respects its natural and cultural resources and the unique Cretan landscape.
Panormo, 14 November 2011
Groups that signed the Resolution in the meeting:
Network of Associations of Mesara
Struggle Committee of Kritsa, Ayios Nikolaos municipality
Struggle Committee of Kroustas, Ayios Nikolaos municipality
Citizens Action of Asimi
Citizens Action of Ethia Asterousion)
Citizens Action of Mesara for the Environment
Ecological Action of Mirabello
Ecological Intervention of Heraklion
Ecological Initiative of Chania
Solidarity Group for Cooperative Management, Heraklion)
"EcoCrete" Cretan Network of Environmental Groups
Environmental Association of Itanos
Cultural Club of Maroula, Rethimnon
Cultural Club of Meronas Amari
Environmental Club of Rethimnon
"Epimenides" Cultural Society of Panormo
Cultural Club of Thronos, Amari
Citizens Initiative of Sfakia
Citizens Initiative of Prases, Mousouroi municipality
Citizens Initiative of Spina, Floria, Palea Roumata and Sembronas
Citizens Initiative of Amari
Architects Association of Rethimnon
Professional Stockbreeders Association, Heraklion municipality
Friends of the Environment Association of Faragiana
“Phoenix” Non-Profit Organization for Sustainable Development
And many citizen from every part of Crete
Other groups that signed the Resolution:
Medical Association of Rethymno
Agronomists Association of Rethymno
Union of National Health System Hospital Doctors of Rethymno
Hospital Workers Association of Rethymno
Old City Residents Association of Rethymno
Cultural Club of Thronos-Klisidi, Amari municipality
Cultural Club of Neus Amari, Amari municipality
Cultural Club of Gerakari, Amari municipality
Cultural Club of Apodoylou, Amari municipality
Cultural Club of Koyroytes, Amari municipality
Cultural Club of Rethymno
Cultural Association of Maroulas, Rethymno municipality
Cultural Club of Zouridi, Rethymno municipality
Social Group of Amari Women
Citizens' Initiative of Rethymno municipality
Mountaineering Club of Rethymno
Cultural Club of Kroustas, Ayios Nikolaos municipality
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