Saturday, June 7, heralds an anti-oil drilling protest all along Portugal’s coastline, from the Algarve to Aguçadoura beach to the north of Porto.
The action is focused on the Galp-ENI concession that aims to start with a test well 46 kilometres off the Aljezur coastline but also expresses public opinion against government plans to turn Portugal into an oil and gas producer.
The demonstrations, arranged through social media, all are scheduled for 3pm on Saturday on the beaches listed below:
South
Aljezur – Praia de Monte Clérigo
Almograve – Praia do Almograve
Albufeira – Praia dos Pescadores
Grândola – Praia da Aberta Nova
Odeceixe – Praia de Odeceixe Mar
Lagos – Meia Praia
Faro – Praia de Faro
Tavira – Praia das Cabanas
Sagres – Praia do Tonel
Central
Almada – Praia de São João da Caparica
Almada – Praia da Rainha
Caldas da Rainha – Praia da Foz do Arelho
Cascais – Praia de Carcavelos
Cascais – Praia de São Pedro do Estoril
Ericeira – Praia da Ribeira de Ilhas
Peniche – Praia do Baleal
Figueira da Foz – Praia do Cabedelo
Sintra – Praia Grande
Santa Cruz – Praia da Física
Setúbal – Praia de Albarquel
North
Aguçadoura – Praia da Barranha
Aveiro – Praia do Furadouro
Esposende – Praia de Ofir
Porto – Praia de Matosinhos
Islands
Faial – Praia do Porto Pim
Any beach can be used if people are willing to come together against oil exploration and extraction in Portugal.
"We have called up a human cordon of surfers, body boarders and swimmers on July 7th at 3pm on all the beaches of mainland Portugal, to claim the sea as a public space for all and to contest the exploration of hydrocarbons promoted by the Portuguese Government, which nonsensically goes ahead without environmental studies against public opinion," reads the call on Facebook.
The 'Petróleo é má onda! Protesto no mar,' protest details can be found on social networks with the hashtag #PetróleoÉMáOnda
https://www.facebook.com/events/219629998827191/
"For a future without oil wells and for the protection of the ecosystem shared by all, we are in favour of a transition to renewable energy and the decarbonisation of the country, especially taking into account the amazing natural resources we have, such as waves, wind and sun," added the organisers who can be contacted at petroleoemaonda@gmail.com
