[WSMDiscuss] Greek protesters accuse government of using coronavirus as cover to pass anti-environmental law

[Jai Sen]

Monday, May 11, 2020

Viruses in movement…, Politics in movement…, Greece in movement…; so-called ‘Civilisation’ in movement…, Resistance in movement...

·      Greek protesters accuse government of using coronavirus as cover to pass anti-environmental law

·      Greek lawmakers approve controversial environmental bill

[Here, now, and from the depths of European ‘civilisation’ and of the crisis that Greece is facing – health, economic, and social -, its government has found time and space to ram through some more legislation to legitimise its even deeper violation of Mother Earth…  learning nothing from science, from the epidemic, from the virus… nothing.  The things that happen – that continue to happen - under the covers… :

Greek protesters accuse government of using coronavirus as cover to pass anti-environmental law

The bill, which passed parliament on Tuesday, opens up protected nature sites to oil exploration and construction projects, writes Anastasia Miari <https://www.independent.co.uk/author/anastasia-miari-0> in Athens

https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/world/greece-protest-coronavirus-environmental-bill-covid-19-a9503966.html <https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium/world/greece-protest-coronavirus-environmental-bill-covid-19-a9503966.html>
(but be aware, you have to be a subscriber to open this – which I’m not, and where I therefore can't share the full text with you…)

Since the easing of Greece’s lockdown began on 4 May, protesters have descended upon parliament in Athens’s Syntagma Square to demand the withdrawal of a new environmental bill, accusing the government of rushing the law through parliament while the country has been on lockdown and citizens unable to gather and rally against it.

The bill was put forward by prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis – widely praised both for his environmental credentials and for his stringent measures in keeping Covid-19 at bay in Greece. To date, there have been… [that’s all i could copy paste ! – does anyone have more on the resistance ?]


Greek lawmakers approve controversial environmental bill

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/greek-lawmakers-approve-controversial-environmental-bill <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/greek-lawmakers-approve-controversial-environmental-bill>
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek lawmakers approved a controversial environmental bill Tuesday that the opposition and environmental groups slammed for opening the door to exploratory oil and gas drilling in protected areas.

Lawmakers voted 158 -56 for the bill, with 214 of parliament’s 300 members voting. Most cast their ballots by mail due to social distancing measures that limit the number of people in the plenary hall.

The center-right government has argued the proposed legislation, which covers a wide array of subjects in its 130 articles, will help protect the environment while also ensuring sustainable development and help Greece end its dependency on coal.

WATCH: As the world stays home, will the environment improve? <https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/as-the-world-stays-home-will-the-environment-improve>
“The new environmental regulations finally set clear rules for (environmental) protection, but at the same time they are the drivers behind a quick and, above all, sustainable development,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in his speech, adding that much of the criticism directed at the government was unjustified.

On the eve of the vote, Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund said they had collected 30,000 signatures in an online petition against the legislation, which they say will remove vital safeguards for environmental protection.

“Beyond the drilling, this legislation is deeply problematic in many areas, as has already been established by dozens of agencies and organizations,” WWF Greece head Demetris Karavellas said in a statement Monday. “A government that respected scientists’ positions on the issue of the coronavirus now appears to ignore them in this crucial legislation.”


____________________________

Jai Sen

Independent researcher, editor; Senior Fellow at the School of International Development and Globalisation Studies at the University of Ottawa

jai.sen at cacim.net <mailto:jai.sen at cacim.net>
Now based in New Delhi, India (+91-98189 11325) and in Ottawa, Canada, on unceded and unsurrendered Anishinaabe territory (+1-613-282 2900) 

CURRENT / RECENT publications :

Jai Sen, ed, 2018a – The Movements of Movements, Part 2 : Rethinking Our Dance. Ebook and hard copy available at PM Press <http://www.pmpress.org/>
Jai Sen, ed, 2018b – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ? (Indian edition). New Delhi : AuthorsUpfront, in collaboration with OpenWord and PM Press.  Hard copy available at MOM1AmazonIN <https://www.amazon.in/dp/9387280101/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1522884070&sr=8-2&keywords=movements+of+movements+jai+sen>, MOM1Flipkart <https://www.flipkart.com/the-movements-of-movements/p/itmf3zg7h79ecpgj?pid=9789387280106&lid=LSTBOK9789387280106NBA1CH&marketplace=FLIPKART&srno=s_1_1&otracker=search&fm=SEARCH&iid=ff35b702-e6a8-4423-b014-16c84f6f0092.9789387280106.SEARCH&ppt=Search%20Page>, and MOM1AUpFront <http://www.authorsupfront.com/movements.htm>
Jai Sen, ed, 2017 – The Movements of Movements, Part 1 : What Makes Us Move ?.  New Delhi : OpenWord and Oakland, CA : PM Press.  Ebook and hard copy available at PM Press <http://www.pmpress.org/>
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