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The four conventions for research and exploitation of hydrocarbons voted on in Parliament.
The Draft Law.
The draft law “Ratification of the Lease Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the company” Hellenic Petroleum Societe Anonyme “for the grant of the right to research and exploit hydrocarbons in the Maritime Area 10, Ionian Sea, Greece, received a total of 180 votes” , 27 “against” and 75 classed as “present”.
The draft law “Ratification of the Lease Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the companies” Repsol Exploration SA “and” Hellenic Petroleum SA “for the grant of the right to research and exploit hydrocarbons in the marine area” Ionian “, Western Greece, 181 votes in favour, 27 against and 74 for.
As far as the draft law “Ratification of the Lease Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the companies” Total E&P Greece B.V “,” Exxon Mobil Exploration and Production Greece (Crete) B.V, Greek Petroleum SA “for the grant of the right to research and exploit hydrocarbons within the sea. The area “Southwest Crete”, Greece “, received a total of 172” in favour “, 36” against “and 74” present “.
The draft law “Ratification of the Lease Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the companies” Total E&P Greece B.V,” ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Greece (Crete) BV “and” Hellenic Petroleum Societe Anonyme “to confer the right to research and exploit hydrocarbons in Greece’s Marine Area “Western Crete”, Greece “, received a total of 172” in favour “, 36” against “and 74” present “.
The contracts signed by the SYRIZA government and submitted to the House as such by the present government. SYRIZA declared “present” only in their votes.
However, the Communist Party KKE also voted against the move. They oppose to all drilling by foreign multinationals.
MeRA25 take the lead against drilling.
Along with the Communist Party KKE , the political party MeRA25 voted against drilling at all levels. In a comment by Naomi Klein from the party “Democracy in Europe Movement 2025”, known as DiEM25 stated. “ We would be thrilled if other parties joined us in condemning drilling for oil and gas and in supporting the green transition that humanity so desperately needs, rather than pretending to be ecologically minded while supporting new fossil fuels. Alas, they refuse to do so.
She also sends a message to Greece. https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu
“Greece is on the front lines of accelerating climate breakdown. Your farmers are suffering under prolonged drought and you have lost too many lives to wildfires. As a coastal nation, you are also coping with the reality that more and more people beyond your borders have been forced to abandon their beloved homelands because those lands have been made unliveable by drought and conflicts intensified by water scarcity.
In this context of rapidly escalating suffering, it is beyond madness for you to literally pour fuel on these planetary flames by ratifying contracts with four oil companies to extract yet more fossil fuels from your beautiful seas, endangering fragile ecosystems on both a local and planetary scale.
I stand with MeRA25 as the only party forcefully opposing this reckless legislation. I urge all legislators of good conscience to listen to the science — and listen to the children around the world striking for their futures – and join MeRA25 in drawing the line. Because our house is on fire and we have a very small window to put out the flames.”
We say No!
In a speech in Parliament on the day of signing the conventions, MP Kriton Arsenis from the political party MeRA25 commented on the serious issue of Climate Change and the reasons as to why drilling should not go ahead.
“ Our home is burning due to climate change! We were told, by the President of Greece and Vice President of the department OE. Greece will be protected against climate change. How can you drill?
I will talk with one number. If we burnt oil and gas today from the older mines we already have, not the new ones. We would reach a temperature rise above 3 ° C. That is, according to scientists, double the amount where mankind could survive. For this reason, we would inevitably be issued with a global environmental taxes. Thus making new and old mines damaging.
By then, however, damage would have already been done. Seismic research within the Hellenic Trench, south of Crete, will have begun. This inturn will mean the displacement and possibly extinction of the endemic Mediterranean whales that feed and give birth exclusively there. It is like bombarding every nesting areas of the sea turtle every day. Whoever is interested in climate change, the environment and our economy they would vote against today’s proposal.”
Video in Greek :- Kriton Arsenis
photo https://www.wwf.gr
