About two hundred people demonstrated this Saturday in Lix, Felgueiras, against lithium exploration in the Seixuso area due to the impact on nature and the economy, organizers said.
Mario Teixeira of Movimento Seixoso – Litio Não, which organized the protest, told reporters the goal was to prevent the area from being left open for lithium exploitation.
“We are here, on the street, and we will fight to the end, to the last consequences,” he commented to reporters.
As for the activist, he does not understand how in such an industrialized region with such a large population, as Vale do Sousa in the Porto region, there can be “mineral exploration with strong consequences.”
He also recalled fears that several plots of land would be expropriated if lithium was found, which would be detrimental to their owners.
In addition, he added, the operation would be “extremely severe” given the “very severe environmental impacts” on flora, fauna and noise pollution.
The movement is collecting signatures for a petition that, as activists promise, will be submitted to the Assembly of the Republic.
If the people’s will is not implemented, the movement promises to “recourse to all means, including the courts.”
For Mario Teixeira, there was not enough information about this process, he recalled that it was only in 2022 that it became known that intelligence would move forward.
On the other hand, he criticized city and parish councils for “not holding explanatory meetings on this issue”, although the municipalities, he admitted, “can do little”.
“The government is throwing the region into this big mess,” he stressed.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.