The petition
Petition to call for a thirty year moratorium on oil related activity in the region of Abruzzo and for the benefit of its future generations.
To the Minister of Economic Development
To the Minister of the Environment, Land and Sea Preservation
To the Prime Minister
To the President of Abruzzo
To The European Parliament
The undersigned citizens have learnt of the new destination of Abruzzo as an oil and gas drilling district. Over 49% of its territory (including national parks) - 221 townships out of 305 - and approximately 5600 square kilometers of coastal waters, are covered by exploration permits for the production of sour, highly corrosive and low quality oil and gas. These activities will be accompanied by the creation of pipelines, refineries (so called “oil centers”) and desulphurization plants.
We are very worried about this proposal and we strongly ask for an immediate thirty year moratorium on all exploration leases and production permits both on and offshore Abruzzo for the following reasons:
1. Abruzzo is known as the “green heart of Europe”. Oil related activities are incompatible with its extraordinary biodiversity, which has been preserved through many years of hard work and committment.
2. A study by The Italian National Institute of Geophysics and Vulcanology concerning the Val D'Agri, in Sounthern Italy, whose territory is as earthquake-prone as ours, clearly explains how drilling related research and oil production will increase seismic risks.
3. The proposed royalties and overall returns to Abruzzo for extracting hydrocarbons are absolutely insignificant both in terms of employment and economic terms. On the other hand, the damage to our health, our environment, our agriculture, our wine production and our tourism, at the basis of our economy, would be devastating, as the extensive bibliography on petroleum districts in Italy and abroad amply show.
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