More than 10,000 people have taken to the streets of Greece’s second largest city to protest a planned gold mine they see as an environmental risk.
Police blocked the crowd’s march to the Canadian Consulate in Thessaloniki, but Saturday’s protest took place and ended peacefully. Eldorado Gold Corp., based in Vancouver, Canada, has been granted the rights to the gold mine in Halkidiki peninsula, east of Thessaloniki.
The company has established a camp employing 1,200 people and plans to begin digging soon.
The issue has bitterly divided Halkidiki residents, with some claiming the mine will harm tourism and release toxic substances, and others denying that and saying new jobs are crucial during Greece’s severe economic crisis.
Last week, about 3,000 residents demonstrated in favour of the mine.
Courtesy: CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/03/09/wrd-greece-protest-canada-gold-mine-eldorado.html
Indus Asia Online Journal (Click here to go to home page)
I am wondering why the Greek government would sell the rights to this mine when they are supposedly trying to recover the Greek economy. It seems to me that they sold their Country out. Not only could they have recovered by the mineral itself, but they would be keeping jobs inside their own Country where people are hungry and losing homes and lives. I think the situation is evident of hypocrisy in government. I also think that it is not the right of a foreign country to do that kind of work. The respect for the land is not there. I am for the People of Greece not governments.