Resolution of the first meeting at Panormos

PAN CRETAN NETWORK AGAINST INDUSTRIAL RSE Resolution of the first meeting at 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. It’s about a complete, brutal and destructive invasion of large business companies and interests, which will result in permanent and devastating consequences for the economy, the society, the natural environment and cultural resources of the island. This invasion, occurring at times of financial crisis, ignores the local community and threatens to completely overthrow the production model of the island. Uncoordinated development, degrading policies for the primary sector, the destruction of the natural and cultural resources and productive forces of our country have for years been a threat and have weakened the model of production. The energy projects currently being launched and planned have nothing to do with the true meaning and advantages of Renewable Sources of Energy (RSE), advantages that can only be obtained with self-production, the direct dissemination of benefits to the local community, the support rather than the substitution of productive activities, the preservation of energy and natural resources. A thorough legislation (Land-Planning RSE , law for the acceleration of RSE etc) has passed that allows the uncontrolled installation of the projects virtually everywhere at the expense of all productive activities, in forests, on mountain tops, on high productivity land, in areas of the NATURA network, in archeological areas in cases where there is no declaration of A zoning protection. The essential prerequisite for their operation is the creation of submarine 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 definition of these projects as “national benefit” projects 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 owners’ consent led to long court disputes where the owners try to prove that the land is theirs, while it has been disposed to different use, not of their choice. WE DEMAND -To stop everything planned without local communities being informed or involved. -Withdrawal of all the production permits and licenses given for energy projects of industrial scale. -Let no mayor be given the authority to indicate areas for the placement of solar cell stations for the program “ILIOS”, as was proposed by the minister of development. WE DECLARE OURSELVES DETERMINED -To jointly prevent the establishment of power generation facilities of industrial scale. To defend: -The local productive activities and the producers of our land who survive under 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 Diktio Silogon Mesaras (Network of Associations of Mesara) Epitropi Agona Kritsas (Struggle Committee of Kritsa) Epitropi Agona Krousta (Struggle Committee of Krousta) Kinisi Politon Asimiou (Citizen Movement of Asimi) Kinisi Politon Ethias Asterousion (Citizen Movement of Ethia Asterousion) Kinisi Politon Mesaras gia to Perivalon (Citizen Movement of Mesara for the Environment) Oikologiki Kinisi Merabellou (Ecological Movement of Merabello) Oikologiki Paremvasi Irakliou (Ecological Intervention of Heraklion) Oikologiki Protovoulia Chanion (Ecological Initiative of Chania) Omada Allilegias Sinergatikis Diaxirisis Iraklio (Solidarity and Cooperative Management Group of Heraklion) Pankritio Diktio Perivalontikon Organoseon OikoKriti (Pan Cretan Network of Environmental Organisations EcoCrete) Perivalontikos Silogos Itanou (Environmental Association of Itanos) Politistikos Silogos Maroula Rethimnou (Cultural Association of Maroula Rethimnon) Politistikos Silogos Merona Amariou (Cultural Association of Merona Amariou) Peribalontikos Silogos Rethimnou (Environmental Association of Rethimnon) Politistiki Eteria Panormou o Epimenidis (Cultural Society of Panormos ‘Epimenides”) Protovoulia Dimoton Sfakion (Citizens Initiative of Sfakia) Protovoulia katikon Prase, D. Mousouron (Citizen Initiative of Prases, Municipality of Mousouroi) Protovoulia katikon Spinas, Florion, Paleon Roumaton kai Sembrona (Citizen Initiative of Spina, Floria, Palea Roumata and Sembronas) Protovoulia Politon Amariou (Citizen Initiative Municipality of Amari) Silogos Architektonon Rethimnou (Architects Association of Rethimnon) Silogos Epagelmation Ktinotrofon N. Irakliou (Association of Professional Stockbreeders, Heraklion Municipality) Silogos Filon Perivalontos Faraggianon (Friends of the Environment Association of Faragiana) Finix AMKE Efarmogon Biosimis Anaptiksis (“Phoenix” Non-Profit Organization of Sustainable Development) ..and a many of citizens from every part of Crete