CYPRUS needs to make better use of solar power, according to Green party leader George Perdikis last night.Perdikis was speaking at an event organised at the House of Representatives in anticipation of the European Solar Power Day which is tomorrow, Friday.“Although Cyprus has done well to make use of its 300 days of sunshine per year in heating water for home use,” it has failed to use solar energy to produce electrical energy, Perdikis argued.He went on to say that his party has, “asked, on more than one occasion, for the development of a rounded social dialogue which will lead to fundamental changes in energy policy.” He thought that, “the recent introduction of a compulsory energy plan in building design was a positive step.“However, the matter of saving energy in the transport sector remains. Any change in this sector goes hand-in-hand with deep-rooted changes in transport policy,” he added.He also expressed his party’s line on EU energy policy aims.The EU partially describes its energy policy via its ‘20-20-20’ slogan: the aim is to reduce energy consumption by 20 per cent and increase renewable energy use by 20 per cent by the year 2020.Perdikis was negative about this, saying that it does not go far enough, while he was aware that others thought that it is unachievable.
(Cyprus Mail 2008)
Friday, 23 May 2008
Greens blast plans for nuclear plant in Turkey
THE CYPRUS Green Party and the Commissioner for the Environment Charalambos Theopemtou are warning about the risks involved in the planned construction of five nuclear power stations and a nuclear technology centre in Turkey. The Greens are calling the state to intervene to prevent the operation of the nuclear plants, particularly at Akkuyu, which lies in a seismogenic area, as Cyprus would also be affected by a possible nuclear catastrophe.“The construction of a power plant at Akkuyu brings the nuclear nightmare to our doorstep,” said the Greens. “The exceptionally dangerous seismogenic area of southern Asia Minor, the problem of safety in the area, the lack of experience and expertise and more, make the plans for the construction of a nuclear power plant at Akkuyu the biggest threat to life and the safety of people in our area,” the statement continued.The Commissioner for the Environment Charalambos Theopemptou also pointed out the serious risks involved, including the lack of specialised personnel to staff the plants, the management of nuclear waste, the risk of leaks of nuclear waste, and the fact that the area where the plants will be built is seismogenic, which increases the risk of accidents.Theopemptou pointed out that plans for the construction of a nuclear technology centre were also alarming, as it could be used for the development of nuclear weapons. “It is well-known that countries with nuclear energy later get nuclear weapons with radioactive waste, particularly those countries with the type of plants Turkey is promoting. “The new trend is for low intensity nuclear weapons that destroy areas and not entire countries. So the decision to use them is easier! What will happen in our volatile oil-rich region with its chronic conflicts and guerrilla wars and the water shortage which could be a cause of war?” Theopemtou said.
(Cyprus Mail 2008)
(Cyprus Mail 2008)
Greens blast golf course ‘scandal’
THE GREEN Party condemned the supply of water for the maintenance of golf courses, calling on the government to stop granting licences to create more greens.
The Green Party called a news conference to continue “exposing the big scandal of the golf courses”, adding that “the creation of golf courses was the excuse that cunning developers used, in order to purchase rural land for ridiculously cheap prices with the intention of converting it into building plots with the excuse that tourism would benefit.” Green Party Leader George Perdikis described the issue as an “economic scandal”. “We are against the creation of golf courses because they destroy the natural environment and scenery while wasting public resources of water for the maintenance of these golf courses.”Perdikis asked the government “to stop granting and approving licences for golf courses and halt the water supply in the existing golf courses”. The Greens are calling on the government to stop procedures for handing out new golf course building licences and to limit the water supplied to the existing courses and facilities. According to Green Party leader George Perdikis, a total of 14 golf courses are on the cards for the island.“Nothing will stop us from telling the truth, as we have been doing for the last 20 years concerning the golf courses. “All these constitute an economic scandal, which proves that the entire golf courses issue serves the interest of certain people, who make millions and billions, with the water and the land of the people and this country.” Perdikis said he considered it a “scandal and mockery for the public to suffer from water restrictions and a travesty for our farmers that see their plantations get destroyed because of lack of water while the developers take comfort in acquiring their licences and build villas which have already being sold.”The golf courses were built for the purpose of extending the tourist season. Numerous developers have profited at the expense of this tourism proposal, with hundreds of villas, estates and land already sold to foreign investors. However, tourism has not improved, the Greens point out. “This has already happened in three cases in Paphos, while a fourth course is under development.”Perdikis said: “The argument that supposedly some of these golf courses are irrigated by bore holes and that the water resources are not influenced is ridiculous… The claim that some of these golf courses are privately irrigated by private dams is also ridiculous.”
(Cyprus Mail 2008)
The Green Party called a news conference to continue “exposing the big scandal of the golf courses”, adding that “the creation of golf courses was the excuse that cunning developers used, in order to purchase rural land for ridiculously cheap prices with the intention of converting it into building plots with the excuse that tourism would benefit.” Green Party Leader George Perdikis described the issue as an “economic scandal”. “We are against the creation of golf courses because they destroy the natural environment and scenery while wasting public resources of water for the maintenance of these golf courses.”Perdikis asked the government “to stop granting and approving licences for golf courses and halt the water supply in the existing golf courses”. The Greens are calling on the government to stop procedures for handing out new golf course building licences and to limit the water supplied to the existing courses and facilities. According to Green Party leader George Perdikis, a total of 14 golf courses are on the cards for the island.“Nothing will stop us from telling the truth, as we have been doing for the last 20 years concerning the golf courses. “All these constitute an economic scandal, which proves that the entire golf courses issue serves the interest of certain people, who make millions and billions, with the water and the land of the people and this country.” Perdikis said he considered it a “scandal and mockery for the public to suffer from water restrictions and a travesty for our farmers that see their plantations get destroyed because of lack of water while the developers take comfort in acquiring their licences and build villas which have already being sold.”The golf courses were built for the purpose of extending the tourist season. Numerous developers have profited at the expense of this tourism proposal, with hundreds of villas, estates and land already sold to foreign investors. However, tourism has not improved, the Greens point out. “This has already happened in three cases in Paphos, while a fourth course is under development.”Perdikis said: “The argument that supposedly some of these golf courses are irrigated by bore holes and that the water resources are not influenced is ridiculous… The claim that some of these golf courses are privately irrigated by private dams is also ridiculous.”
(Cyprus Mail 2008)
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Save a dog!!!
20 pure breed dogs are given away - boxers, labradors, colleys, poodles, puppies of all ages, at the Aradippou shelter.
They will have to be put down in a week.
Tel. 99023462 - Toula
They will have to be put down in a week.
Tel. 99023462 - Toula
Friday, 2 May 2008
BI-COMMUNAL EVENT ORGANISED BY THE PEACE PLATFORM ON MAY1st 2008
The Cyprus Green Party honour's the struggles of the working people over the years. We must remember that the rights of the working people enjoyed by us today are not to be taken for granted. Many people have lost their lives, for us to be able today to enjoy a better quality of life.
Rights are contested, earned and preserved with continuous fights and efforts. Like the workers in Chicago who gathered together to resolve the problems facing their lives and to organize their common struggle, so we should do the same today, following their example of unity, determination and dynamic fight.
The Cyprus Green Party together with other organizations and parties in Cyprus - Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot – honour's the sacrifice of those people who fought for the rights of the working people and sends the message that the struggle for freedom and justice can be supported once again from all of us, ordinary people, who care to achieve a better future and a better life.
Let us all be united, loving and strong for a better quality of life, for a better tomorrow, for a united home country.
Rights are contested, earned and preserved with continuous fights and efforts. Like the workers in Chicago who gathered together to resolve the problems facing their lives and to organize their common struggle, so we should do the same today, following their example of unity, determination and dynamic fight.
The Cyprus Green Party together with other organizations and parties in Cyprus - Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot – honour's the sacrifice of those people who fought for the rights of the working people and sends the message that the struggle for freedom and justice can be supported once again from all of us, ordinary people, who care to achieve a better future and a better life.
Let us all be united, loving and strong for a better quality of life, for a better tomorrow, for a united home country.
Fruit bats at risk of extinction
By Leo Leonidou
THE FRUIT BAT is under threat of extinction on the island, the Forestry Department said yesterday.Forestry Officer Harris Nicolaou told the Mail that numbers have been rapidly declining, with only an estimated 3,500 remaining.“We can say that numbers were far greater in the past and it is now an endangered species,” he said.“They are under threat from pesticides, hunters, farmers and general development, which forces them to try and set up other colonies elsewhere, which are less safe and suitable.”The fruit bat is mainly found in the Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol districts, with colonies ranging in size from 50 to 1,000.Bats are associated with superstition in other cultures, but in Cyprus they are considered more as pests that destroy crops.“That perception is actually wrong,” said Nicolaou. “The fruit bat, as its name suggests, eats fruit, which is not suitable for commercial sale or human consumption. It also actually protects crops by controlling numbers of the destructive Mediterranean fruit fly, which causes a great deal of damage.”The population of the once plentiful fruit bat has declined rapidly in the past century because of officially-sanctioned extermination programmes under British colonial rule before independence in 1960, which continued until 1993.Cyprus has 16 species of bat, and is the only EU country to have the Egyptian fruit bat. All bat species are strictly protected by both European and national legislation.The punishment for killing a bat on the island is a €17,000 fine and/or three years’ imprisonment.“People need to be educated about bats’ importance. If we lose the fruit bat, it would be a major loss,” stated Nicolaou.“If somebody has a problem, we urge them not to take the law into their own hands but to contact the Forestry Department for help.”Back in November, a protected colony of fruit bats was almost wiped out by unidentified gunmen using them for target practice, conservation groups and authorities said.Dozens of the mammals were killed in a shooting spree in the fenced-off Vretsia cave, next
Cyprus Mail 2008
THE FRUIT BAT is under threat of extinction on the island, the Forestry Department said yesterday.Forestry Officer Harris Nicolaou told the Mail that numbers have been rapidly declining, with only an estimated 3,500 remaining.“We can say that numbers were far greater in the past and it is now an endangered species,” he said.“They are under threat from pesticides, hunters, farmers and general development, which forces them to try and set up other colonies elsewhere, which are less safe and suitable.”The fruit bat is mainly found in the Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol districts, with colonies ranging in size from 50 to 1,000.Bats are associated with superstition in other cultures, but in Cyprus they are considered more as pests that destroy crops.“That perception is actually wrong,” said Nicolaou. “The fruit bat, as its name suggests, eats fruit, which is not suitable for commercial sale or human consumption. It also actually protects crops by controlling numbers of the destructive Mediterranean fruit fly, which causes a great deal of damage.”The population of the once plentiful fruit bat has declined rapidly in the past century because of officially-sanctioned extermination programmes under British colonial rule before independence in 1960, which continued until 1993.Cyprus has 16 species of bat, and is the only EU country to have the Egyptian fruit bat. All bat species are strictly protected by both European and national legislation.The punishment for killing a bat on the island is a €17,000 fine and/or three years’ imprisonment.“People need to be educated about bats’ importance. If we lose the fruit bat, it would be a major loss,” stated Nicolaou.“If somebody has a problem, we urge them not to take the law into their own hands but to contact the Forestry Department for help.”Back in November, a protected colony of fruit bats was almost wiped out by unidentified gunmen using them for target practice, conservation groups and authorities said.Dozens of the mammals were killed in a shooting spree in the fenced-off Vretsia cave, next
Cyprus Mail 2008
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