International Day of Action 2007: Europe

Germany | Netherlands | Portugal | Spain

Belgium

Blockading Government Buildings in Brussels

The international campaign Saving Iceland and the nature-activist network GroenFront!, built a dam out of cargo bags and signs blockading the entrance to the Icelandic Embassy in Brussels as part of its week-long campaign of actions in the Netherlands and Belgium. The mock dam was a statement of protest of dams in Iceland. The actions this week expressed growing international concern on the plans for expansion of the aluminum industry and megahydro in Iceland and other countries such as Trinidad and Brazil.

Contact

Jaap Krater
Saving Iceland
Email: jaap.krater@groenfront.nl
Web: www.savingiceland.org


Germany

Action Against the Ilisu Dam

A press conference and demonstration were held to oppose the controversial Ilisu Dam in Turkey. In anticipation of the forthcoming decision of the German Federal Government to support the disputed Ilisu Dam project, Bianca Jagger, Heie Drillisch (WEED) and Ercan Ayboga (Initiative zur Rettung von Hasankeyf) spoke out on March 14 at the Hotel Adlon.

Contact

Heike Drillish
WEED (World Economy, Ecology & Development)
Phone: 0177-345 26 11
Web: www.weed-online.org


Netherlands

Musical Blockade to Protest Dams in Iceland

The international campaign Saving Iceland and the nature-activist network GroenFront! blockaded the entrance to the Icelandic Consulate in Rotterdam on March 14th, an action mirrored in Belgium later in the week. Participants demonstrated to the Icelandic government that people in the Netherlands are concerned about the Icelandic heavy industry program and its effects on nature and the climate. Armand, a legendary Dutch singer known for his sharp, witty comments on current affairs and important issues in society, performed at the event. Armand has visited Iceland and his performance was full of impressions of the unique beauty of the country. The actions this week expressed growing international concern about plans for expansion of the aluminum industry and megahydro in Iceland and elsewhere.

Shutting Down Corporate Offices in Opposition to Heavy Industry

As part of the week of action in the Netherlands and Belgium, EarthFirst! closed down both ALCOA’s Dutch head office in Drunen and ALCOA’s largest Dutch factory in Kerkrade, the Netherlands in opposition to heavy industry. Entrance gates were locked with chains, preventing regular business from proceeding in those facilities. The actions this week expressed growing international concern on the plans for expansion of the aluminum industry and megahydro.

Contact

Jaap Krater
Saving Iceland
Email: jaap.krater@groenfront.nl
Web: www.savingiceland.org
OR
GroenFront!
PO Box 85069
3508 AB Utrecht
Netherlands
Phone: +31 84 8666018
Web: www.groenfront.nl, www.groenfront.be

Student Debate and Discussion Against Dams

The Environment Committee of the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague created an exciting academic forum to generate conversations on dam-related issues. They held presentations, discussions and debates on the Salween and Nam Theun 2 dams.

Contact

Yu Yin
Institute of Social Studies
Pigeon hole 100
Institute of Social Studies
P.O. Box 29776
2502 LT The Hague
The Netherlands
Email: yuyin98@yahoo.com


Portugal

II Encounter Along the Sabor River

This encounter involved several public canoe and kayak descents and thematic guided walks along the course of the Sabor River. The Sabor, located in Portugal’s ecologically sensitive and valuable Sabor Valley and one of the last rivers in the country without dams, is currently threatened by a government-proposed dam project. This event revealed the Sabor’s potential as a wild river, fast and natural. Participants appreciated the in-depth interpretation of natural local resources or enjoy a simple walk in nature. It took place March 10th and 11th, at Mogadouro/Alfandega da Fe in Tras os Montes, Portugal.

Contact

Bárbara Fráguas
Plataforma Sabor Livre (Free Sabor Movement)
Portugal
Phone: +351 960 173 863
Email: saborlivre@gmail.com
Web: www.saborlivre.org, www.aldeia.org


Spain

Film Screenings in Huesca

The organization Mirando al Sur (Watching the South) held documentary film screenings on March 14th in Huesca. The films shown included a short-length documentary produced by Frente Chiapaneco contra Represas (Chiapas Defense against Dams), entitled "Agua, Tierra, Maiz" ("Water, Land, Corn") and a full-length film entitled "Vajont, Presa Mortal" ("Vajont, Deadly Dam"), a reconstruction of the catastrophe in Vajont, Italy.

Contact

Pedro Luis Sáinz
Mirando al Sur
Spain
Email: pedros1963@latinmail.com

Conference Series in Caso on Dams and Affected Rivers

The City Council of Caso, Spain is organizing a conference series in response to growing concern for the Caleao River and the local community threatened by the construction of a proposed dam. The local municipality has promoted possible alternatives, such as the use of subterranean waters, as a way to avoid construction of the dam, but have not been successful.

Contact

Elías Rodríguez Lozano, Mayor/President
City Council of Caso (Ayuntamiento del Caso)
Caso, Spain
Phone: 985608002
Fax: 985608166
E-mail:info@ayto-caso.es
Web: www.caso.es

King Neptune’s Visit to the Rivers

Asociación Ebro Vivo (Coagret) invited King Neptune, the mythological God of the Sea visited Zaragoza, Spain to analyze the rivers and give an opinion of the status of the waters. Members of several cultural and activist groups welcomed the God of the Sea. King Neptune was nominated Honorable President of the Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro (Hydrographic Confederation of Ebro). Journalists also attended and reported on the event.

Contact

Victoria Trigo
Asociación Ebro Vivo (Coagret)
Spain
Email: victoriatrigo2@hotmail.com

First Ever Spanish River Reserve Declaration

Rios Con Vida Spain promoted the first ever declaration of a Spanish "wild & scenic" river, the Almonte River in Extremadura, Spain. Only two years ago, this 100 kilometer-long free-flowing river on the Tagus Basin was selected as a building site of a 40 hm3 reservoir to supply the city of Cáceres. After a two-year campaign, the river has been saved and named the first to be included as a "reserva ambiental hidrologica" ("hydrologic environmental reserve") under the Ministry of the Environment. After this nomination, other rivers, mainly in Andalusia, are now becoming candidates to receive the same legal protection.

Contact

AEMS -- Rios Con Vida
Phone: +34 91 8610395
Email: aems@riosconvida.es
Web: www.riosconvida.es


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