DistantNews
SEOS: Mineral Resources Strategy Continues the Sell-Off of Natural Assets

SEOS: Mineral Resources Strategy Continues the Sell-Off of Natural Assets

From N1 Serbia · (11m ago) Serbian Critical tone

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Alliance of Ecological Organizations of Serbia (SEOS) condemned the adoption of a new strategy for managing mineral and mining resources.
  • SEOS argues the strategy facilitates the sale of natural resources and endangers citizens' health by intensifying mining activities.
  • They criticized the process as undemocratic and non-transparent, with the involvement of companies like Ziđin.

The Alliance of Ecological Organizations of Serbia (SEOS) has voiced strong opposition to the recently adopted Strategy for the Management of Minerals and Mining Resources, denouncing it as a continuation of the sell-off of Serbia's natural wealth. From our perspective, this strategy prioritizes the interests of multinational corporations and their domestic facilitators over the well-being of Serbian citizens and the environment.

Ova strategija nije doneta u interesu naroda, već u interesu multinacionalnih korporacija i njihovih domaćih posrednika. Njome se predviđa intenziviranje rudarskih aktivnosti koje neminovno dovode do uništavanja plodnog zemljišta, zagađenja pijaćih voda i trajnog ugrožavanja zdravlja ljudi

— SEOSSEOS's statement on the strategy prioritizing corporate interests over public and environmental well-being.

SEOS rightly points out that the strategy's emphasis on intensifying mining activities will inevitably lead to the destruction of fertile land, the pollution of drinking water sources, and a permanent threat to public health. This approach, which elevates mining as Serbia's key development sector while disregarding its devastating environmental and health impacts, is alarming. The involvement of companies like Ziđin, which has already caused significant legal and ecological chaos in eastern Serbia, further fuels our concerns about the true beneficiaries of this strategy.

Glas struke i građana svesno je ignorisan. Bez učešća ljudi koji žive na teritorijama predviđenim za otvaranje rudnika, bez mišljenja nezavisnih stručnjaka i uprkos brojnim upozorenjima, odluke o sudbini Srbije donose korumpirani politički krugovi u sprezi sa lobistima koji se godinama provlače kroz različite vlasti. Ovo nije razvoj - ovo je sistematsko uništavanje

— SEOSSEOS's criticism of the undemocratic and non-transparent adoption process.

Furthermore, SEOS highlights the undemocratic and opaque nature of the strategy's adoption process. The exclusion of the public, local communities, and the academic sector from meaningful participation in public discussions is unacceptable. Decisions impacting Serbia's future are being made by corrupt political circles in collusion with lobbyists, ignoring the voices of those directly affected and independent experts. This is not development; it is systematic destruction, and SEOS's call to action for all citizens to defend our land, water, and lives is a crucial one.

Mi koji živimo na ugroženim područjima ćemo se boriti još snažnije i organizovanije protiv uništavanja i rasprodaje Srbije. Pridružite nam se. Stanimo na put daljem uništavanju Srbije. Ne damo zemlju. Ne damo vodu. Ne damo život

— SEOSSEOS's call to action for citizens to resist the destruction and sale of Serbia's resources.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.