Protest Against Drilling for Hydrocarbons in the Ionian. Friday 15th March 2019

Despite the Greek government's assurances that "Natura sites will remain intact", exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons is permitted even in these protected areas, risking not only the natural beauty of these areas and the fragile habitats, including here in the Ionian of which Ithaca is it's Gem, but also the livelyhood of these very economically fragile areas.

Tourists will not holiday in oil fields, nor will they holiday amongst oil tankers and drilling equipment. With so much already taken from Greece, is there nothing that is not to be offered up for short term gains? You don't need to be a scientist to know what this will mean for the environment. Concerned citizens of Ithaca came out to hear the facts. The only protection against hydrocarbon drilling is a 1 km exclusion zone. In a country where seismic activity is part of life it's completely insane to disrupt the earth with deep sea drilling. We live in a pristine environment which the Greek Government has now offered up to pollution and an uncertain future for the inhabitants of the Ionian. If you want the Ionian and it's close to 200 protected areas to remain intact and without threat, then please let your voices be heard loudly against this. With renewable energies being invested in all over the world, this outdated and pulluting means should be stopped.

There are petitions and websites if you want to get involved. https://www.wwf.gr/crisis-watch/crisis-watch/biodiversity-natural-resources/biodiversity/hydrocarbon-frenzy-in-greece