EU plans action over new hunting season

THE E.U. is planning measures against the Cypriot government for its decision last April to grant hunting licenses for crows, the Cyprus Green Party reported recently.
The announcement was made in a letter received by Greens leader George Perdikis from EU Environmental Commissioner, Stavros Dimas.

According to an announcement issued by the Greens yesterday, Dimas said that “the Commission has been informed about Cyprus’ decision to grant hunting licences for crows last spring, and based on evidence gathered it will put forward the case for violations”.
“The Commission is taking the appropriate measures to ensure that Cyprus is in full conformity with EU directives,” Dimas said.
The Greens said: “We hope that the granting of hunting licences for crows, which in essence are selected licences for turtledoves [and other migrating birds] will finally stop, following the EU’s reaction.”
Conservationists are opposed granting of such licenses. Executive Manager of Birdlife Cyprus, Martin Hellicar, said the Interior Minister decided to open a season for crows this spring. “But the actual reason was to allow hunters to shoot turtledoves, which is illegal and a violation of EU law,” he said.
Birdlife issued a complaint to the European Commission (EC) which is currently investigating the violation and is due to issue a warning.
“Authorities tried to open a hunting season for turtledoves in the spring of 2007, when again after a complaint the EC warned them not to do so. Now they are trying to do this through the back door, undercover,” Hellicar said.
EU Bird Directives prohibit hunting during spring season in order to protect wild birds during their migration, especially turtledoves which are a threatened species due to their declining numbers.

MOUNT PENTADAKTYLOS IS BEING DEMOLISHED

The Cyprus Green Party condemns Talat´s regime plans to grant more quarrying permits on the mount of Pentadaktylos, at the northern side of Cyprus.

Dozens of quarries are already uncontrollably destroying the mountain, without any consideration for the environmental impacts. It should be noted that in the occupied areas residents, as well as environmental organisations are protesting for the scandalous granting of permits.

The quarry products sustain the construction business in the occupied areas that is developing rapidly the last few years due to the construction of villas on Greek Cypriot lands.
The Cyprus Green Party believes that this issue needs to be added to the ongoing discussions for a solution to the Cyprus Problem.

THE CASE OF TRANSFERED WATER NEEDS TO BE EXAMINED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A request for an extraordinary meeting of the Committee on Institutions, Merit and the Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman) has been submitted by the MP of the Cyprus Green Party Mr. George Perdikes, in order to examine the reasons why 50.000 tons of clean and very high priced water that was imported from Greece was dumped in the underground water supplies of Limassol. The water of course will not be wasted but the republic of Cyprus did not pay an exorbitant price just to reinforce our underground water supplies but to channel it directly to the fresh water supply system.

The House of Representative also needs to examine the provisions of the contract which, at a first glance, seen to be contradicting and controversial. The Cyprus Green Party still demands full transparency on this issue and is restive about information it is receiving concerning the eligibility of the tankers to actually transport water in the first place. Unfortunately there is a lack of information on this subject since the responsible authorities have not made public the identity of the tankers that have undertaken the transport of water from Greece.

The Cyprus Green Party considers that, under the circumstances, the application of this extraordinary measure was necessary, but is needs to be protected through transparency and capable administration.

Archangelos Avenue: Do not harm the trees

The Cyprus Green Party condemns the Town Planning and Ministry of Communication plans for Archangelos Avenue, which include the cutting of 800 trees in order to widen it. The most disconcerting is the contemplation of the bodies in charge to cut 200 century-old cypresses.

We report that this project is taking place without a complete Environmental impact research concerning the environmental consequences it will cause and without the necessary public hearing.
We have long ago noted this issue to be discussed in the Parliamentary Environmental Committee, which unfortunately keeps delaying its debate. Also, there was a special meeting over this topic with the Minister of Transportation and Civil Works. Unfortunately, all of our attempts have been fruitless.
We consider it a governmental obligation to apply common principles of modern governance. A full research of the environmental consequences must be elaborated and public debate must be preceded. The rush shown by the bodies in charge is suspicious and condemnable. It expresses the usual authoritarianism of the bulldozer. It’s a shame. We expected a different approach from the government that promised a “fair society”.

Cyprus Greens going…up!

According to the most recent gallop done by GPO AE company, published in “Haravgi” newspaper on June 12th, 2008, Cyprus Green Party enjoys the preference of a 3,4% of the Cypriot voters. This is a considerably very high percentage, having in mind the actual size of the party which was officially measured in the elections of May 2006 at 2% and of course the “dry” period without campaigning, candidates, etc.

For the Cyprus Green Party, this 3,4% is an important step towards its future plans, with the European elections coming next year and of course the main target of the party to gain a second seat in the Cyprus Parliament during the next national elections in 2011.

On the same gallop, Secretary General of the Cyprus Green Party, George Perdikis is, once again among the most popular political party leaders of the island. Perdikis has been given positive popularity votes by the 57,5% of the voters.

Environmental problems concern Cypriots
A few years ago, environmental matters were not among the items that Cypriot voters considered being important for their living. This seems to change after all the environmental and ecological problems people are facing every day. During this gallop, environmental problem was rated number 4 among 14 different problems stated by the voters. The main problems appeared in the list are:

Increased prices (34,3%)
Water deficiency (27,1%)
Drugs (6,8%)
Environment (5,1%)
Education (4,2%)
Unemployment (3,7%)
Finance – Social Security (3,2%) , etc.

The gallop was done during the period of 5 to 9 June on a national basis, covering cities and country side. Sample consisted by 1600 voters on a telephone interview basis.

THE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF KARPASIA PENINSULA HAS BEEN DESTROYED

The Cyprus Green Party denounces the destruction of the forest and archaeological space in Saint Andronikos village on the Northern Cyprus, in the peninsula of Karpasia, occupied by the Turkish army since 1974.

According to journalistic information the “department” of forests of arrangement granted illegal authorisation in 36 scales of forest use, with the condition that that land be used for cultures.

However the businessman raised the area and proceeded in excavations in result to cause damages in ancient graves.

The Cyprus Green Party denounces the drawings of the occupied arrangement for destruction of virgin nature and ecotopes of the peninsula of Karpasia and asks from the Cyprus Government to proceed to the appropriate actions.

CANCER PATIENTS: THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD APPLY THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CANCER

The Cyprus Green Party Member of Parliament Mr. George Perdikes met last Tuesday with the President of the House of Representatives Mr. Marios Karogian, as he was accompanying the President of the Patients and Friends’ NGO movement of the Nicosia General Hospital Oncology Department (EL.A-ZO).

Mr. Perdikes asked that the Parliament insist on last Thursday’s plenum decision, which requested that the government adopts and directly applies the strategic plan for fighting cancer, which has been on the table of the Ministerial Council since January 2008.
It’s truly criminal to have cancer patients being disregarded from the state and the government. It’s absolutely outrageous to have waiting lists for radiotherapy due to the lack of the necessary linear accelerators and the lack of maintenance of the state hospitals’ radiotherapy machines.
The government ought to assume its responsibilities, and it is the Parliament’s responsibility to insist on this.

Greens accuse government over golf courses

THE GREEN Party yesterday accused the government of planning to bypass environmental and town-planning procedures for desalination units to ease the way for more golf courses in Cyprus.According to the party’s general secretary, George Perdikis, a bill submitted by the government to the House Environment Committee provided the cancellation of environmental studies and town-planning procedures for those interested in building desalination plants.But Perdikis said this was a back-handed way for the government to allow the operation of golf courses.“The government’s attempts to cancel all environmental and town-planning control over the creation of so-called small desalination units are scandalous,” said Perdikis. “The government is essentially offering natural resources to the capitals of private businessmen.“We say the control proceedings should be sped up and not cancelled.”Parliament has already told the government that this will lead to a huge environmental scandal, he explained.“Those whose applications for golf courses were rejected by the Exemptions Committee will, based on this bill, be able to go ahead and build them.”
(Cyprus Mail)

Say NO to the use of Lannate

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Demetris Christofias and Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Mr. Michalis Polynikis signing the petition against the use of Lannate.

The campaign by the Cyprus Green Party is still on and we would be greatfull if YOU fill the following petition form and send it back to us at greenparty@cytanet.com.cy or post it to:

Cyprus Green Party
P.O. Box 29682,
1722 Nicosia

NAME: .......................................................................

ADDRESS: ..................................................................

Tel. No: ..................................................................

and send it to email

COME AND ENJOY A MEAL COOKED WITH SOLAR ENERGY!

The Cyprus Green Party’s Limassol District Committee is organising the following activities at Gregoris Auxentiou Square (Dioikitirio) to celebrate the World Environment Day:

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.: Display of the mechanism of solar furnaces

Andreas Fasoulides and Kyriakos Antoniou from the Techonology Workshop Re-New will present furnaces that operate with sunlight to bake food.

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m: Workshop with recycling material and children’s painting workshop. Sun will be the day's theme.

In the afternoon children of all ages will have the possibility to draw pictures inspired by the sun or to work together to create a recycling bin with recycled material!

Journalists are invited by the Limassol District Committee to lunch with them. At 12:00 p.m. we will serve “sun” roast chicken, potatoes and vegetables.

Intense concern on the developments on the Cyprus problem

The political committee of Cyprus Green Party having studied the latest developments occurred from the meeting of President Christofias with Mr. Talat and their common announcement and having in mind the briefing of the party’s Secretary General, Mr. George Perdikis, expresses its intense concern for the future of the Cyprus issue.

The intense concern was created due to the inclusion of different terms and statements in the common announcement. These terms are considered very risky as we are certain that they will be used by the permanently deceitful Turkish side and the well known involved countries which are always supporting Turkey despite the honest willingness of President Christofias.

Besides all above, we consider that the non inclusion of statements concerning the important facts of the Cyprus problem, such as the settlers, properties, security and guarantees and focusing on every day matters, are creating a negative environment for the negotiations which cannot allow us to be optimistic.

The Cyprus Green Party calls President Christofias to continue the resistance to the unacceptable demands of Mr. Talat and to avoid direct negotiations before real progress is obtained by the committees and especially by the working groups. We also ask President Christofias to insist on the principles of the solution of the Cyprus problem as they have been expressed by him during the pre-election period.

In this difficult attempt, the Cyprus Green Party will stand and support President Christofias in an effort to obtain a just, right and viable solution for the Cyprus problem.

Informative campaign and signature raising against the construction of nuclear stations

Recently, we had a great number of discussions regarding the construction of nuclear stations in Greece and Cyprus. One of the basic arguments presented, was that, since a lot of neighbor countries have announced their intension to built a nuclear stations, and since we will be in danger anyway, why not building one of our own? The absolute insanity! Should we put a bomb in our house, if our neighbor is willing to do so and we will have the consequences, anyway? Of course not. We shall try to obstruct him in every possible way. In this respect we ask for political initiatives on an International level to block the nuclear threat.

The International Network, Mediterranean No Nuclear Neighborhood-ΜΝ3, is organizing a campaign for raising signatures under an article which you can find on the following addresses: www.mn3network.org and www.manw.org. You can also find a form which you can print and raise signatures. On the form you can find the address to which you should send the forms.

The Greek effort is supported by the Mediterranean No Nuclear Neighborhood, the Greek office of Greenpeace, WWF (Hellas), SOS Mediterranean Network and the Greek network of Ecological Organizations (Pandoiko). In Cyprus, the campaign was undertaken by the Cyprus Green Party and the Ecological Movement.

We need your participation. We need your support. It’s the only certain way to avoid the construction and settlement of new nuclear stations.

NUCLEAR ENERGY IS NOT A SOLUTION. IT IS JUST ANOTHER PROBLEM!
Active citizens against radioactivity!
Sign NOW and promote this campaign…