The bill on the sea shore is a time bomb

The Pan-Hellenic Network "seashore 0 hour" has started a campaign to raise awareness and mobilize citizens and agencies in the draft law on the foreshore and beaches, that threatens to destroy the seaside, the cultural and natural environment.

From the first moment Newsbomb.gr highlighted the issue and supported the efforts of social and environmental organizations for the withdrawal the bill, so it could not be absent from the press conference by the Network "seashore 0 hour", last Thursday, on the 26th / 07.

The Pan-Hellenic Network "seashore 0 hour" expresses its opposition to the bill "Delimitation, Management and Protection of coastline and Beach", and urges people to spread the word and sign the resolution that drew 130 institutions and have already signed up 147,500 people.

This bill has caused a massive unprecedented reaction, both in Greece and abroad, said Maria Karamanof, State Council and board member of the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability.
The settings affect directly and irreparably the core of the natural and cultural capital of the country, coasts, lakeside areas, wetlands, fragile ecosystems, underwater and coastal archaeological sites, landscape and natural formations, stressed Mrs. Karamanof.

She also added, that for the first time in history the coasts lose their communal character and the citizens' free access to, and once more are rewarded the trespassers against the rule of law.

The implementation of the bill, even if it is evaluated in brutal economic logic, will deprive the country of its greatest comparative advantage: seas, beaches and, in many places, still unspoiled nature.

The application of the bill will cause a huge blow in the archaeological wealth of Greece, argued Despina Koutsouba board member of the Association of Greek Archaeologists and archaeologist with the Tax Office of Underwater Antiquities.

Mrs. Koutsouba stressed that underwater antiquities, as in Elaphonissos Laconia and Argolis, sunken harbors, which are located near the modern ones, (as in Lesbos, Thasos, Aegina and elsewhere), will become inaccessible after the coastal zone and ports will go to HRADF and thence to entrepreneurs.

Terrestrial archaeological sites at beaches, such as the temple of Apollo Zoster in Kavouri Attica or the ancient city of Itanos in Lassithi Crete, historical places, such as the bay of Navarino, where the famous battle took place, or whole islands like Gaidouronisi in Crete and Alimnia in Dodecanese, which are labeled as protected archaeological sites, are at risk of becoming inaccessible to the public, warned Mrs. Koutsouba.

Threat to Greece

As a "ticking time bomb" described the bill Mr. Karabetsos of the National Network of Ecological Organizations, involving 80 organizations. "If not retire as a whole, not just some individual details, will be lost the most important pieces of what we know as" Greece"," stressed Mr. Karabetsos.

Already in Hellinikon, the privatization of 1.265 acres and 3.5 km beach (that includes two free beaches, a sports center and a port), are disposed for uses that society does not need, such as casinos, shopping malls etc., pointed Panos Totsikas, from the Committee in favor Metropolitan Park in Hellinikon.

Helen Camberi, member of Greek Centre for Marine Research (HCMR), focused on the impending environmental disaster of the specific nature and balance of the coastal zone. She also complained that the Centre has not been asked to file its scientific experience.

Marathon 240 km to the foreshore

One of the protest actions that have been launched is the Super-Marathon "240 kilometers of coastline" which is an initiative of the marathon runner Agis Emmanuel. Starting in Kechries near Isthmia on July 8, runners will pass by Eleusis, Hellinikon, Anavyssos, Lavrio, Loytsa and will end on July 12 in Sxinias. On the same time, will take place a relay race by citizens, whose participation is growing in mathematical progress, as said Mr. Emmanuel.

Citizens and organizations are invited to:

To unite their voices with the reaction voices of operators and citizens, who already number more than 143,730 and requested the withdrawal of the bill, by signing HERE

To sign and spread the attached Resolution of 15/5/2014, in which already subscribe 97 institutions and organizations.

You can sign the resolution of 15/5/2014, on email: info@environ-sustain.gr, while you can find it on facebook