Police and dumpsters out of Lefkimmi and

Everyone join the demonstrations of solidarity in Athens and in Corfu on Thursday 26th of July at 19.30.

We protest at the same time in Corfu (Giorgaki Square to Town Hall Square-San Giacomo) and in Athens (Monastiraki Square to Syntagma Square by Ermou Street)

Police forces continue the blockade of Lefkimmi for the 27th day, in order to continue the illegal, irrational and destructive dumping of mixed garbage in the dumpster of Lefkimmi, which leads to the uncontrollable pollution and economic disaster of the region.

Residents and visitors of Lefkimmi are not permitted to get about freely, they suffer humiliation from police forces, they are inspected in their everyday movements, they are forced to sign statements for them to be allowed to reach their fields around the guarded area of the dumpster, in order to bend their spirit and their resistance.

In addition to this repression the residents are brutally insulted by the false statements of Prime Minister Tsipras (“not even a papertowel will be thrown in Lefkimmi”), of Mayor Nikolouzos (“Nobody is beaten in Lefkimmi”), of Regional Governor Galiatsatos (for “supposed movements”)

To impose the deadly operation of the dumpster, amidst olive fields and cultivations and in breathing distance of inhabited areas, every article of national and European environmental laws has been violated, while over 5 million euros have been spent, and neither the State nor Justice have intervened.

Greece remains last in line in integrated waste management with less than 15% in recycling, due to strong enterprising interests which gain profit from mixed waste. Central and local Government serve these interests over time and they do not hesitate, in touristic areas like Corfu, to sacrifice and destroy poor and degraded villages like Lefkimmi, so as not to harm the profits of contractors and big hotel owners.

But the residents, with their everyday struggle prove to the Government that these calculations were wrong. The poor, agricultural South of Corfu will never accept this triple environmental, social and economic crime and will struggle until victory having solidarity that is spreading throughout the whole of .

We demand that the police armed forces leave occupated Lefkimmi now. To shut down dumpsters in Lefkimmi, Temploni and not build another dumpster in Corfu. We demand complete restructuring of legislation for packaging, integrated waste management from the State, integrated management of sewage and the construction of a decent water supply network to reduce the use of plastic bottles of water. We demand from hotels and restaurants to deliver their waste separated according to the material. We demand from Supermarkets to accept the return of packaging. We denounce the Government of contractors and privatization as the instigator of the repression and environmental disaster that is taking place and we ask for the resignation of the Regional Governor and the Mayor who are directly responsible.

Initiative for Struggle and Solidarity for Lefkimmi