The tide has turned in the Algarve’s anti-oil movement. From now on there will be “a much closer collaboration between councils, citizens movements and all the entities that have come to protest against the exploration of fossil fuels in the region, and the country”.
A protest last Friday – by a tiny group of people – brought new meaning to that legendary saying by American anthropologist Margaret Mead: “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.
MALP – one of the region’s very first groups to mobilise against the threat of drilling for oil and natural gas – called the demo which saw “various individual citizens and representatives of movements active in the struggle against gas and oil exploration invade Loulé Town Hall”.
It was clearly a very orderly invasion – met by the deputy mayor Pedro Pimpão, the mayor’s chief of staff Luís Monteiro, Municipal Director Júlio Sousa and councillor Abílio Sousa. Mayor Vítor Aleixo was apparently “away” at a conference on renewable energies.
The upshot was that invaders got what they wanted: much closer collaboration with official entities, and a promised update of the progress of legal action lodged by AMAL – the association of borough councils – in its attempt to block drilling set to start on the Algarve’s west coast in May.
Said the ensuing press statement released by west Algarve group Stop Petróleo Vila do Bispo: “The movements also asked for the council’s intervention alongside AMAL to call for a meeting with Prime Minister António Costa and President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa”.
Whether that happens as well has not been clarified, but protestors left this latest initiative feeling the door at last between the authorities and everyday people was well and truly “open”.
Various members of the group managed to relay messages, including Helena Rodrigues – described as a businesswoman in nautical tourism – who said the threat of drilling was already having a “negative impact on the French market”.
The youngest member of the group was a 13-year-old called Pedro who simply asked “the adults to protect the future for his generation”.
This latest round of pressure came just as Loulé’s administrative court hears witnesses in the “providência cautelar” lodged by anti-oil platform PALP (click here).
After this week’s session (on Friday) it will be the turn of the oil companies, on the following Wednesday February 28 at 9am, when anti-oil groups plan a vigil under the banner “Galp/ ENI Fora daqui” (loose translation: ‘oil companies, on yer bike’).
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
