Anti-oil groups have called on everyone who opposes the Algarve’s oil and gas exploration plans to take a stand at a meeting between national fuel entity ENMC and the Algarve municipalities association AMAL taking place on Friday (December 18) in Faro. The meeting will be held at AMAL’s HQ at 10.30am.
“This is an excellent opportunity to show our deep displeasure with the way this process has been handled, as well show the mayors of the Algarve’s 16 councils that they should use all means at their disposal to stop this problem,” anti-oil platform PALP said in a statement.
Plans to search for fossil fuels are part of an “old-fashioned” way of looking at energy production, claims the group, especially at a time when “alternative energies are being sought all over the world”.
PALP adds that fossil fuels are “responsible for a significant part of global warming and the destruction of habitats”.
The stand has been equally backed by ASMAA, the Lagos-based organisation that has been sounding the exploration alert for over four years, as well as the movement ‘Tavira em Transição’.
“We invite all of you to be present in a manifestation of support for Jorge Botelho (Mayor of Tavira and President of AMAL) as well as a show of support of all the mayors of all the councils in Algarve. They are fighting for you. Let’s support them,” the groups have stated.
The appeals come not even a week after AMAL released a hard-hitting statement saying it will harness “all legal means possible” to see the Algarve’s oil deals reversed, as they pose “serious consequences” for the region, “putting people’s lives and the future of a local economy, especially reliant on tourism,” at risk (see Algarve councils declare war on region’s oil exploration deals)
