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GREECE:Disaster in the forests, after huge fires along with commercial interests

LA | 05.07.2007 01:19 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | World

Feature of Athens Indymedia on the causes and the consequences of the last week's fires, which destroyed some of the most precious forests of the country. For latest updates check  http://athens.indymedia.org/?lang=en

Parnitha in fire. Photo taken from Athens
Parnitha in fire. Photo taken from Athens


Forests all over Greece were set on fire; some of them by arsonists, tresspassers, construction companies and others by natural phenomena and/or accidents. The most disasterous were the ones in Ayia (Larissa) and in Parnitha. Report from the fire in Poros.

All of us lived and watched, breathless, the eco-system of Parnitha being ruined.

We have been angry with the fact that the state has completely abandoned, ignored and failed to protect the "Protected" Forest of Parnitha. As it happens to all the free green spaces and forest, attacked by the commercial interest of the construction companies, high-level businessmen, tresspassers etc.

We have been especially angry with the disrespectful statement of Polidoras, Minister of Civil Order, referring to the "success" and the hide-and-seek of the so-called responsible officers, while the most they seem to care about, so far, is beating up people in the police departments and during the demonstrations.

We have been angry with the elections-focused sensitivity of the politicians...

We have been angry as we learned who is looking forward to expand their properties on Parnitha mountain (Church, Casino, etc).

We have been angry, with the media, which instead of pointing out the lost eco-system, they kept shouting "fortunately, no homes were burnt down", the homes of the mountain tresspassers; or that "everything has been burnt, but luckily not the Casino".

We have been angry, as they decided to give the last biotope away, just in order to avoid a power black-out in Athens... Because the elections are close and the voters will remember the black-out but not the forest...

and the fire is still on

* Call for setting up an internet-based reforrestation team
* Hyatt Casino of Mont Parness refused to allow a protest concert to take place for the fire, in Parnitha. The concert will finally take place in Sytagma sq, in the centre of Athens, o Friday 13.07


Read more:
Reports and pictures rom Parnitha:  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=729011
Reports and pictures from Poros:  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=729557
Who is responsible for the terrible result  http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=en&article_id=730111

LA

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