With an open letter, the Mayor of Athens Haris Doukas and PASOK candidate for president appeals to everyone to save Attica.
“Initiative for the development of a plan to Save Attica – I invite you to join forces to defend the inalienable right of citizens to live with their families in a safe and healthy environment” the Mayor of Athens points out first.
As he says after the last catastrophic fire “definitively enters the high-risk zone for its sustainability”.
He notes that already “in the last eight years it has lost 37% of its peri-urban forests and 60% is covered by residential tissue”.
Referring to the experts, he adds that “water resources are almost exhausted and the risk of desertification of the Attica land is almost visible”.
As he specifically notes“the Mitsotakis government does not want and cannot stop this destructive course”, noting that the “staff state” of Mr. Mitsotakis, “proved in Thessaly, Evia, Evros, that it cannot.” (Haris Doukas’ entire letter follows)
At the same time, he suggests:
・The creation of a task force that will begin the preparation of this plan.
・This group should be made up of members of the scientific community, civil society and officials of the Local Government, and commit to submitting its conclusions to us, in 90 days from today.
・The coordination of the group should be undertaken by PASOK’s Secretary of the Environment Department, Professor Panagiotis Dimopoulos, one of the most recognized environmental scientists in Greece and Europe, who I know enjoys the recognition and respect of all of us.
The entire letter of Harry Doukas:
dear ones,
Anna, Giannis, Michalis, Nadia, Nikos, Pavlos.
Attica, after the last catastrophic fire, is definitively entering the high risk zone for its sustainability.
It has lost 37% of its peri-urban forests in the last eight years alone, according to Copernicus data.
Its underground water resources are almost exhausted according to Professor Ev. Lekka.
60% of its territory is covered by residential fabric.
The risk of desertification of the land of Attica is almost visible, according to Professor Christos Zerefos, National representative for climate change.
The people of Attica are already paying a heavy price. More than 3,000 deaths per year, in Athens alone, are linked to poor air quality, according to a 2021 study published in “The Lancet Planetary Health”.
The Mitsotakis government does not want and cannot stop this destructive course.
Despite the well-documented proposals of the competent bodies, just a year ago, he legislated a new forest protection plan, keeping the forest services in a comparasive role. It managed to absorb only 1% of the – anyway – very low funds from the Civil Protection Recovery Fund. He incompletely legislated for prevention, with the result that the familiar images of masses of dry branches, which citizens hastened to collect from plots and houses, remain on the streets of dangerous areas.
Despite the reactions of the municipalities, he legislated the New Building Regulation, which adds volumes of cement to the already densely built cities.
He is preparing to bring to the Parliament a new law that will allow unconditional building in the non-planned areas.
He responds with aspirins to the problem of water shortage, at a time when the reservoirs of Attica are dangerously empty.
The anti-flood protection of Attica with the creation of a single anti-flood network remains on paper.
It is clear that Attica needs an Immediate Rescue Plan.
A Plan that will contribute to the reconstruction of the affected areas and will shield the entire Basin against the serious threats arising from the climate crisis.
The “staff state” of Mr. Mitsotakis proved in Thessaly, Evia, Evros, that it cannot.
PASOK now needs to undertake a major initiative aimed at defending the right of all citizens to live in a safe, healthy environment.
We know and we can. We already did, when our evidence-based proposals became the basis of the country’s first climate law.
I invite you to take the initiative to draw up a Rescue Plan for Attica, utilizing European resources, the modern tools of science, scientific bodies, civil society and the Local Government. A Plan that will include comprehensive and modern solutions for prevention, will restore the affected areas and above all will implement the resilient future of Attica.
Recommend:
・The creation of a task force that will begin the preparation of this plan.
・This group should be made up of members of the scientific community, civil society and officials of the Local Government, and commit to submitting its conclusions to us, in 90 days from today.
・The coordination of the group should be undertaken by PASOK’s Secretary of the Environment Department, Professor Panagiotis Dimopoulos, one of the most recognized environmental scientists in Greece and Europe, who I know enjoys the recognition and respect of all of us.
I recommend that this Plan, regardless of the results of the October 6 elections, be presented to the citizens and become the road map that PASOK will claim for its implementation, inside and outside Parliament.
This goal, which essentially concerns the survival of 40% of Greek men and women living in Attica, needs to unite us all to be able to put it into practice.
PASOK knows how to fight difficult battles.
The battle for the survival of Attica and its inhabitants is one of the most difficult, the most complicated, but also the most imperative.
Faced with this challenge, I invite you to join forces and defend the inalienable right of citizens to live with their families in a safe and healthy environment.
There is no luxury of time.
With friendly greetings
Harry Doukas
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