Photo by Ailish Morgan-Welden.
About 70 people came to a public forum this evening at the University of Toronto to hear Greek activists share their concerns about the mines being developed by Vancouver-based Eldorado Gold in the Halkidiki peninsula and the Thrace region of Greece.
Toronto’s alternative news-weekly NOW Magazine said this was a “can’t miss” event. They described it as follows: “Will Eldorado shaft Greece? Another Canuck mining company is making folks miserable outside our country – this time, Eldorado Gold and its proposed Skouries and Perama Hill projects in Greece. Mining Watch Canada, the Council of Canadians and others host Vaggelis Lampakis, mayor of the northeast city of Alexandroupoli, activist Tolis Papageorgiou and Hellenic Mining Watch’s Maria Kadoglou. They are telling our feds to stop promoting projects incompatible with the rich natural and cultural environment of the Halkidiki peninsula.”
Council of Canadians organizing assistant Ailish Morgan-Welden notes that Tolis Papageorgiou commented memorably on the lack of fresh water in Greece when he said, “We only have two streams, so those streams are the real gold.” And she adds that Mayor Lampakis had a memorable quote when he stated, “Should I let this Canadian company take my home so I can be a law-abiding citizen? I think not, so I declare myself illegal.” And she reports, “There was a very engaged discussion following the speakers.”
To hear Toronto-based rabble blogger John Bonnar’s interview with Maria Kadoglou, go to here.
The activists will be spending tomorrow in Vancouver before departing to Greece that evening.
For more, please see:
UPDATE: Greek activists highlight mining concerns in Montreal
UPDATE: Eldorado Gold turns up to hear Greek mine opponents in Ottawa