The text concerning the Mediterranean storm Daniel is co-signed by the PFPO and the Initiative Group against extractions “Kazma birak”
Mediterranean storm “Daniel”: In the season of climate disaster our life is expendable!
The disastrous storm “Daniel” caused the death of 15 people in Greece, 7 in Turkey, and 4 in Bulgaria. On September the 12th it was announced that at least 5.000 died in Libya, while thousands more have gone missing. In all the abovementioned countries, critical infrastructures, streets, and thousands of homes have been destroyed. Thousands of animals drowned, while the land will be fertile after many years. The cost is unbearable with huge negative impacts on poor people, not only now but for many years after.
The Intergovernmental Committee for Climate Change, in its last report for the Mediterranean Region, has warned of extreme rainfall events including the possibility of flash floods. That warning, followed by floods in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, France, and Greece, makes precautions to deal with these phenomena even more necessary. However, yet to this day, nothing has happened. Capitalist states and companies have shut their ears even to their “greenwashing” institutions.
Like in our recent announcement on fires in Greece and Turkey, we mention the fact that there are three main reasons for these terrible losses: climate crisis, extensive and chaotic urbanization, and dismantling of public services. All of them are consequences of capitalism which gives priority to profit and not to the needs of living beings. In order to prevent loss of lives in the future, our first priority is the strengthening of infrastructure in cities with participatory and democratic procedures taking into account the needs of living beings. We join forces to demand direct protective measures to prevent the loss of lives and means of subsistence: flood-relief works based not on the profit of construction companies but the natural flow of water and nature protection, protection of natural reforestation or implementation of a series of reforestations, if necessary, etc.
Also, we must demand that evacuation plans are drawn up and the state mechanism is prepared for such disasters, which will be more frequent in coming years. Finally, international cooperation is necessary to mitigate the impact of climate change, stop petrol and gas extractions, phase out fossil fuels, change the method of production, etc. In order to protect their profit, industries of energy, plastics, automobiles, guns, and manufacturing will fight these measures. But if we want to preserve our lives and the environment, we must wipe out all capitalist powers that are obstacles to a decent and eco-conscious living.
We must be ready to do our part and we address a general appeal to citizens for participation in movements against climate change and environmental degradation to prevent the loss of lives in the future.
Kazma Birak – Don’t Dig
GREECE – TURKEY – CYPRUS: COOPERATION AGAINST WAR AND EXTRACTIONS