INTERNATIONAL WATER BIOTOPES PROTECTION DAY

The 2nd of February of each year is dedicated to the Water Biotopes Protection.
On this day, back in 1971, the Convention of the Protection of Water Biotopes was signed, in Ramsar, a Persian city on the coasts of the Caspian Sea. The International Water Biotopes Day was celebrated for the first time in 1977, making thus an encouraging start.

This year’s celebrations motto is “Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People”.
The Cyprus Green Party, honouring the International Water Biotopes Day, organises a protest against the construction of a petrol station in the area of Oroklini Lake demanding at the same time the inclusion of the Lake in the protected area’s list, on Sunday February the 3rd, at 12:30 p.m.
The protest is aiming to send the message that the important biotopes of Cyprus, as the lake of Oroklini, constitute a national, ecological wealth and a precious heritage, and their protection constitutes an imperative need. We, the Cyprus Green Party, call the authorities to proceed to all necessary actions for the protection of the Lake and its inclusion in the European protected regions list.

We cannot, of course, forget the case of Akrotiri water biotope which has been included in the protected regions of the Ramsar Treaty, but unfortunately the antenna’s area is not included in the protected area. The Cyprus Government’s proposal was to include in the RamsarTreaty the entire area.
The British antennas are located at the western side of the Salt Lake, in a sensitive territory of the biotope’s system. This territory offers the hydrologic connection between the fresh water marsh from the Akrotiri Salt Lake.

Cyprus Green Party believes that resident’s health and the quality of their lives, as well as the protection of the entire area of the water biotope, will be established with the removal of the antennas and the abolition of the British Bases with all the catastrophic results of their action in the island.

Animal shelter faces closure

THE SHELTER of the Cyprus Society for "The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals" has announced that it will be closing on January 20.There are still 37 dogs and 23 cats remaining in the shelter, which has appealed to animal lovers to assist by adopting one of the animals, which they say are all healthy and good natured.According to a press release, the society will continue and intensify its campaign for the humane treatment of animals. Also, it will continue and strengthen its programme for the spaying of pets. “We consider that in this way we will be contributing more effectively to the protection of all animals,” the statement said.
The Green Party issued a statement condemning the recent dog poisonings by “unscrupulous criminals in Strovolos and Arakapas with vehemence. We call upon dog owners across the island to be alert and careful, especially during this period where dogs are restless and to not let them wonder around unaccompanied. “These criminals lay in wait to poison dogs with tainted bait. Dogs are easily attracted and face mortal danger. The Cyprus Green Party calls upon all local authorities to be alert and on the police to take precautionary measures in order to identify suspicious movements.”

Picturesque Polis Chrysochous

Yesterday evening I went for a drink on the square in Polis Chrysochous and came across another victim of the poisoning that is going on in this little town for months now.
Many locals have lost their dogs or where just in time to save them by rushing to the vet.
Almost all cats have disappeared (I was thinking of releasing 1000 mice so that people might start to understand their function in society...).
Do you have any suggestions what we can do about it?
If not, you may use this photograph in your efforts to ban the use of Lanate in Cyprus.

I wish you all the best for the coming elections. Unfortunately I cannot vote, otherwise you would have my support for sure.

Kind Regards,

Grietje Goedkoop
Polis Chrysochous

Foundations on unstable ground

Houses – moving due to expanding clay

By Vasos Vassiliou

Hundreds of houses in Cyprus are built on ‘sensitive’ geological areas, resulting in the need for frequent repairs, valuing thousands of pounds, or else these houses would have been dangerous to live in. The owners of these houses, which were built on clay ground, pay cumulatively tens of thousands of pounds patching up cracks on the walls, repairing broken tiles and appliances etc and not ever achieving a permanent restoration. Pentonite or clay is a soil type, which is abundant in Cyprus.

In the past, as geologist and ex-director of the Geological Department Mr. George Petrides told us, there was ignorance on the impacts of pentonite (during the preparation of the structural design). However, even today the problem has not vanished because houses continue to be built on pentonite without proper design. It becomes apparent that some housing developers do not seem to care much about future damages due to the ground characteristics.

Lately, buyers of houses, mostly foreigners, who bought houses built on expanding soils, very soon after they bought the houses noticed the appearance of cracks. They complained strongly and asked for solutions from the developers, but their problem was not solved. Some of them decided to take their cases to court.

A typical case is that of a woman from Britain who bought a house in a village in Paphos and when she returned from England in September, where she went for her vacations, discovered that the swimming pool of the house …..has moved.

However there is a correct way of constructing houses on pentonite, using the method of piles and deep foundations. With regards to existing houses, as Mr. Petrides explained, it is possible to stabilize the pentonite by mixing it with lime. After the mixing of the two soils these should then be compacted. However for the introduction of lime under an existing houses, test boreholes must first be drilled.

Regions of dangerous soils
District of Paphos
In these areas there is pure pentonite covering in total a surface area of a few square kilometres.
• Kathikas
• Pentalia
• Galataria
• Kelokedara
• Kidasi

District of Limassol
Expanding soils, with areas of pure pentonite are located in the district between Moni and Pentakomo

District of Nicosia
• Pallouriotisssa
• Kaimakli
• Area of Paedagogical Academy
In the above areas there is scattered pentonite

District of Famagusta
Expanding solis have been located around the Paralimni Lake

Mamouth damages
Damages caused internationally due to expanding soils are greater than those caused by earthquakes.

Expanding soils is the issue of a seminar, which will take place tomorrow Saturday during which experts, including university professors will explain their views.

What is clay
It is a soil material, which normally develops from the deposits of fine materials in water. These materials are a product of erosion of different rocks. Clay is a very plastic material and in the presence of water it becomes pliable and may keep any shape given to it. When dry it contracts and becomes harder and expands and softens again when wet. This process may be repeated continuously.

The island of pentonite
Cyprus is included in the countries with the largest (based on its surface area) presence of pentonite and clay soils in general. In the case of Cyprus, the soils are igneous and have an age of tens of millions of years, ie since the times the island rose from the sea.

Landslides and sensitive soils
Damages are caused in constructions (er. cracks) due to landslides which have been observed in 11 communities in Paphos. The Department of Geological Surveys has in the past located problematic soils. The department prepared geological studies and maps for each village separately and identified these problematic areas. These geological studies were sent to the Director of the Town Planning Department as well as the District Officer of Paphos. The common characteristic of the four villages is the identification of clay of the type ‘kannaviou’ or ‘malange’ of Mamonia. These soils present phenomena of expansion and contraction when their water content changes. Also landslides occur when the ground is inclined. According to a member of the Geological Department these soils are very vulnerable to instabilities especially under earthquakes or after heavy rainfalls. He added however that there are techniques to face these problems and this is the reason why it is not correct to forbid building development in these areas by proclaiming them as ‘White zones’.


Phileleftheros Newspaper
3/11/07

Did you really have to kill my dog?

An emotional and serious article - message by a dog owner in Cyprus Mail:

“She was my little, happy sister and all she wanted to do was spread joy! I feel blessed to know her and wish I could make it better for you both.”“What can one say to comfort you – we can not stop thinking about what you are going through. How wicked some people are. Our hearts and love go out to you.”“She only wanted to give joy to people”“She was full of joy and was the village character’“She always took the letters from me”All the above quotes are about my beloved Ellie who was cruelly poisoned on December 18 in our own garden – one minute a fit young joyous dog, a few minutes later found foaming at the mouth: another victim of Lanate deliberately given in her own garden.Ellie was full of life and a joy to everyone who met her. Boisterous, lively, wanting to help with everything and without a cruel bone in her body. Her life was short. I found this shivering scrap of a six-week-old puppy crying under the post boxes in the village. Riddled with fleas and ticks, she trustingly came to me – a black and white scrap of bones. She was so sick with malnutrition and pneumonia, the vet didn’t think she would live. With lots of TLC and the expertise of the vet, we found ourselves with a beautiful Cypriot hunting dog that no one wanted. What a joy she brought to our hearts – and with a heart as big as her long hind legs. No other dog had it made like her four paws had she found a loving home. She was always carrying something in her mouth and longed to help with everything – that was my Ellie. She had her own stuffed elephant which we called Ellie 2 as she loved to carry it everywhere with her. She would curl up on the couch with me and was a dog who thought she was human that was my beloved Ellie. Now our hearts are broken at Christmas because someone poisoned her with Lanate in our own garden. The tears anger, blame and hate are working through but nothing can replace my friend, with her joy of life and joy that she gave to everyone that met her.Christmas in our family hasn’t been joyful for us as we lost a baby over this period. As we have no children our dogs have been our family. I now feel I have lost another baby and my heart is broken.It is about time Lanate was banned and the sale of it forbidden totally.
A heart-broken dog owner

Study finds hours being wasted in traffic

PUBLIC WORKS delays in major towns means commuters are being forced to sit in traffic much longer and to cover more mileage than necessary.

According to an article in yesterday’s Phileleftheros, traffic congestion is costing towns £25 million on an annual basis, which will only worsen if works are not carried out to help alleviate the heavy vehicular flow.
Drivers are forced to travel longer distances and to go through town centres due to the lack of ring roads. This not only wastes energy and burdens the environment but also forces commuters to spend thousands of productive hours behind the wheel.
According to Public Works department data dating back to 2005, the total distance travelled in three central urban areas (Nicosia, Limassol and Paphos) is over six million car kilometres. Specifically three million kilometres in Nicosia, 2.7 kilometres in Limassol and 540,000 kilometres in Paphos, the local daily said.
As for actual time spent on roads in car hours per day, drivers were spending thousands of wasted hours. Specifically 130,000 drivers in Nicosia, 90,000 in Limassol and 20,000 in Paphos.
Nicosia would benefit greatly from two ring roads that would connect the east and West sides of the city. The projects, included in the Local Plan for Nicosia, are expected to greatly benefit drivers and passengers by reducing travel time, saving fuel and reducing car operation costs.
From the construction of a ring road in the north and south side of the capital 150,000 car hours in travel time will be reduced, equating to £15 million in productivity time.
A further £1 million will be saved in the reduction of movement by 35,000 kilometres, and travel times between east and west Nicosia will be reduced by 35 to 50 per cent, the paper said.

(Cyprus Mail)

Cypriots among EU’s top waste producers

PER capita production of urban solid waste in Cyprus reached 741kg and is one of the highest in Europe, the statistics service said yesterday.Overall, Cyprus produced 571,000 tonnes of solid wasted last year – a 3.2 per cent increase compared with 2005.Around 87 per cent ended up in landfills while the rest was collected for recycling.
Cypriots produced 741 kilograms of urban waste each, one of the highest in Europe where the annual average is 517 kilograms per resident.Cyprus was up there with Ireland, 815 kilograms, Denmark, 737 kilograms and Luxemburg, 702 kilograms.

(Cyprus Mail 2007)

Cypriots urged to switch to euro early

Cypriots are being urged to hand in Cyprus pounds and change them for euros in time for the changeover on January 1.
Government departments and public offices will be closed on December 31 in preparation for the euro transfer while banks will only accept cash deposits between 10.00 to 13.00 on that day.
On New Year's Day, key bank branches in town centres will open to the public from 11.00 to 14.00 to enable the exchange of pounds for euros.
Small retailers are also being advised to put in their euro orders early to avoid a crush at the banks and being left without the new currency come έ-Day.
Some businesses have been slow to get euros as they are concerned about having two sets of currency floating around due to security factors.
There is also a question of not having enough liquidity to keep enough stock of both currencies.
The Central Bank also urges the public to deposit any extra cash lying around before the end of the year to avoid a logjam. Banks are also accepting the old coins for the new.
All accounts will automatically switch to euros at the turn of the year, as will ATMS.
The Cyprus pound will remain legal tender until the end of January but all change will be given in euro when paying with the old currency.
And banks are obliged to exchange pounds for euros free of charge until June 30, although the Central Bank will accept Cyprus pound notes until 2017 and coins until the end of 2009.
It is estimated that most Cyprus pounds will be out of circulation within the first 15 days of the euros introduction. The old notes will be shredded while the coins will be melted for scrap metal.
Meanwhile, the dual pricing of goods will continue until September 30, 2008, to ensure the public gets used to the conversion rate.
Cheques denominated in Cyprus pounds and dated January 1, 2008 and after, will not be valid, so the public is advised to avoid accepting cheques in Cyprus pounds dated after December 31, 2007.
However, cheques in Cyprus pounds issued prior to January 1, 2008 will continue to be valid, for a period of six months from the date of their issue and will on presentation be paid in euro.
As the euro is an international currency and more inclined to be counterfeited, the authorities advise the public to make themselves familiar with the various notes to avoid being hoodwinked.
(Cyprus Weekly)

THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAVE LIVED THE POSSESSION OF CYPRUS

The Cyprus Green Party condemns the provocative refusal of the Turkish occupying authorities to allow entry into the ghost city of Famagusta to MEPs, members of the Report Committee of the European Parliament.

The occupation authorities have banned the MEPs’ visit to the area of the city of Famagusta, which since the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, has been kept closed without residents, blocked by heavily armed Turkish soldiers.
The Greek Cypriot refugees, residents in the occupied town of Famagusta sent to the European Parliament thousands of signatures calling for the Parliament’s intervention to allow for the return of the city to its rightful inhabitants. The Cyprus Green Party practically supported the efforts of Famagusta Municipality for the collection of the signatures.
The European Union must demand from, as an indication of goodwill, to allow the resettlement of the legitimate inhabitants of Famagusta in their beloved city.

Traffic chaos created by the construction of the Malls

The Green Party’s protest against the mall’s opening was so low-key it was barely noticed. Holding up two banners saying: “STOP the illegalities” and “Promises will not solve the traffic problem”, a number protesters stood opposite the mall during its opening and handed out leaflets on the environmental impact the new building will have on the area. “The Engomi area cannot handle the traffic shock and the congestion it will suffer will be worse than the one created in Strovolos Municipality and the new Nicosia General Hospital area,” read the flier, referring to the traffic chaos created by the construction of the Mall of Cyprus near the new hospital. “The Green Party is expressing its intense concern and opposition over the positioning of such huge trade developments in lived-in areas, which create undoubtedly serious consequences on the residents’ quality of life,” it added.

"NO" to illegal advertising boards

Demonstration against the installation of illegal advertising boards, on Sunday, December 9th, at Athalassas Avenue, Strovolos. The Cyprus Green Party will continue its struggle against this illegality, until all city councils decide to remove them from their council territories.

THE GREEN Party has criticised the springing up of billboards featuring the main Presidential candidates.In an announcement, the Party stated that the billboards, “are in violation of municipal regulations”, implying that the contenders’ campaign teams are getting round the law by exerting their political influence.Party leader George Perdikis yesterday told the Mail: “The question is, if a candidate is breaking the law from now, what guarantee is there that he will not do exactly the same, if elected President?”He added that the candidates “should publicly come out and admit they’ve made a mistake and stop using billboards, as well as numerous illegal banners that have been seen in the streets. They should instead concentrate on advertising through the traditional channels of the media.”Perdikis also explained that his party has been running a campaign to put an end to the billboards since September.“We’ve personally met with Demetris Christofias, Ioannis Kasoulides and representatives of President Tassos Papadopoulos. Their response was to blame the municipalities, saying it was their responsibility for putting them up.”He added: “Of course, the candidates want to advertise themselves as much as they possible can, but the law must be respected in the process. We don’t want our public areas polluted.”
(Cyprus Mail)

‘Engomi mall another traffic disaster in the making’

(By Elias Hazou - Cyprus Mail)

THE NEW mall in Engomi is a traffic disaster waiting to happen and will be a repeat of the nightmare with the Mall of Cyprus, experts have warned.
During a stormy session at the House this week, Technical Chamber ETEK claimed that area planning in Engomi did not allow for such a grand scale project.
ETEK director Linos Chrysostomou went on to slam the Town Planning Department for interpreting the law arbitrarily.
He said that having a mall in Engomi would necessitate tampering with the road grid, resulting in construction works costing millions, with taxpayers picking up the tab.
He also referred to the location of the Mall of Cyprus and IKEA next to the Nicosia General Hospital, which has worsened traffic congestion in the area, with authorities now rushing plans for an overpass to ease the situation.
“If a permit had not been issued, there would be no need now to build a bridge…I for one am not prepared to pay for this project because of the mistakes of others,” said Chrysostomou.
Town Planning head Yiannis Papadopoulos defended his department against accusations that they changed the designated use of the real estate for IKEA, which was originally slated for a hotel.
He argued this was justified because the change was not deemed “essential” in town planning terms.
Responding, Chrysostomou wondered how Papadopoulos interpreted town planning regulations, pointing out that the issue was straightforward: commercial development was barred in the area in question.
And he mentioned a host of other examples of irregular construction, including the Jumbo stores in Limassol and Nicosia and the Chris Cash & Carry hypermarket in Limassol.
For her part, Communications & Works Minister Maria Malaktou-Pamballi said the government would estimate the cost of the overpass and demand that the Shacolas Group “contribute” to the expenses resulting from the existence of the mall.
Papadopoulos agreed, threatening to revoke the building permit and shut down the mall unless the Shacolas Group paid its share of the infrastructure costs.
The dramatic statement provoked an equally theatrical riposte from Greens leader George Perdikis who, in flawless Cypriot dialect, asked Papadopoulos:
“Are you serious? Do you think that this is some kiosk you’re going to close?”
Perdikis went on to allege that the Shacolas Group was planning two more buildings adjacent to the general hospital which similarly lacked the proper permits.
DISY deputy Lefteris Christoforou said the way Town Planning operated reminded him of a spider’s nest “which large and powerful bugs are able to penetrate, but small bugs get entangled in.”
While it takes years for the average Joe to get a straightforward house extension approved, the bigwigs get permits for massive projects in the blink of an eye, he said.