Catherine Amick
article published by "Il Manifesto"
The Black Sea viewed from the promenade of Burgas, the Bulgarian quiet town overlooking the homonymous bay, it seems a stretch of water as another. Intensive fishing and pollution of the Soviet era. The fishermen, however, say that until a few years ago nobody ate Zarganar, but now that marine biodiversity has been reduced from the mouth of these fish Whiskers needle are offered in restaurants as "fishing boat" local. The bay of Burgas has recently seen the birth of a thriving tourist industry which today has a turnover of about one and a half billion euro per year. However a new threat looms over the fragile ecosystem of the Black Sea, today's chess game between the U.S. and Russia for control of oil.
are even six pipeline projects in the coming years will start from the Eurasian coast to reach Italy, Greece, Albania and Turkey. The Bulgarian coast could soon become a huge oil terminal, through which to channel it to Europe million barrels.
The U.S. for many years supported the pipeline Ambo, which would connect Burgas to Vlore, currently in detention awaiting funding. Russia is playing on the offensive, using his influence is still very strong on Bulgaria and giving fresh impetus to the Burgas-Alexandropoulis pipeline, a pipeline over 400 km long that will reach the north-eastern Aegean. Top secret project. The Bulgarian government, which has already signed an agreement with Russia and Greece, there is unbuttoned. Even the location of the pipeline continues to be secret, although it has existed for an association of the eight municipalities involved. The first rumors say that the pipeline will pass through one or more sites protected under the EU Natura 2000 network. The south of the country is rich in forests and are 12 areas included in the list of EU protected areas. To avoid it would be a very circuitous route, which would cost 2 billion euro.
Environmental NGOs have already begun to fight. In addition to supporting the referendum last spring in the municipalities of Burgas and Sozopol, organized a series of meetings with citizens along the route of the pipeline, collecting signatures for a petition to be sent to the European Commission asking for an assessment of the basin ' cumulative environmental impact of the six projects. But municipalities have already resigned, convinced that their views will not be heard by the central government. The demagogic policy of the government, which promises health and work, is having the best, but civil society is determined not to give up. Not only has established alliances with the local committees in Greece, but also is appealing to international networks. The government propaganda insists on $ 30 million per year that Bulgaria will derive from transit fees, which amount, however, only 2% of the proceeds of the tourism sector, which could instead be a fatal blow. Russia is instead the main shareholder will receive 51% of revenues, while the Greek and Bulgarian companies will share equally the remaining share. If the six projects will be effectively implemented, the environmental risk is incalculable and life in the Black Sea in danger of disappearing forever. We will see what the response of Europe, despite the commitments on climate and the environment continues to support, through its financial institutions in the name of security and domestic energy, hazardous mining projects and distribution of fossil hydrocarbons.
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