Dear friends / Caros Amigos First, we want to thank you for all your support and a especial thanks to all that made the effort to attend the meeting held by the ENMC and the oil companies on the 12 Jan in Faro. You gave a RED card to them. We believe that for the first time they may have come to the realisation that the people of the Algarve will not just lay down and allow them “cart blanche” to destroy our way of life, our nature and our economy. Out of 252 people sitting – we handed out 100 red cards to people. It was not sufficient for all of you that were there – but it did indeed help to make this bunch realise that the locals are uniting as one voice. ASMAA is now going national with the anti-oil and gas campaign with an alliance program “Dar Voz ao Povo” – “Giving Voice to the People”, under which the campaign “Not ONE Well – Not Now … Not in the Future” will be run. But we desperately need your help. Although we have achieved a lot with all our campaigns, we have ONLY won the first serious battle, the war is now on. But to fight this war against an oil and gas lobby with very deep pockets we have to raise funds if we are to continue to gain ground in this effort. We are very short of funds to cover the rising costs that we are experiencing. We have to raise 3000€ by month end just to cover the expected costs in the Algarve. What will this pay for? - Setting up and training local groups across the Algarve to start with. This means organising starter kits for these small groups – to enable them to start and to run smoothly – included in the kits will be an initial pack of posters, flyers, stickers, banners, presentations, petition forms, T-shirts, etc and of course training of local coordinators. - Organising and run more information sessions across the Algarve. This month there are already 5 sessions planned for the 20, 21, 22 and 23 January in Odeceixe, Carrapateira, Rogil and Monchique and on the 4 February in Lagos. (More information to follow) There’s lots more we want to do, but without funds it is difficult to do it. So, please be generous and DONATE now 25€, 50€, 100€, 250€, 500€ ... or any amount you would like to give. Via PAYPAL to info@asmaa-algarve.org Or via a Donate Button on our site: http://asmaa-algarve.org/index.php/en/campaigns/campanha-contra-o-petroleo/o-que-podes-fazer/faz-um-donativo Via BANK TRANSFER / DIRECT DEPOSIT Bank: BANIF Account holder: ASMAA Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Association NIB (Portugal): 0038 0000 4030968177132 IBAN (International): PT50 0038 0000 4030968177132 SWIFT: BNIFPTPL REF: Say NO to Oil Here’s some articles about what took place on the 12 Jan in Faro including a list of the 55 questions that ASMAA handed to ENMC and to the representatives of the oil companies: http://www.algarvedailynews.com/news/7692-the-day-the-algarve-said-no-to-oil http://portugalresident.com/algarve-mayors-reiterate-united-opposition-to-oil-exploration For a SIC Noticias report on the public meeting, in Portuguese http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/economia/2016-01-13-Exploracao-de-petroleo-no-Algarve-pode-comecar-em-2021-apesar-da-contestacao and on RTP http://www.rtp.pt/noticias/economia/prospecao-de-petroleo-no-algarve-suscita-movimento-de-oposicao_v887672 Sul Informacao http://www.sulinformacao.pt/2016/01/nao-esta-nao-e-uma-oportunidade-dourada-para-o-algarve/ Diario Online http://www.diarionline.pt/noticia.php?refnoticia=157647 And if you haven’t joined us yet on Facebook, then join us now to keep up to date with what is happening. https://www.facebook.com/groups/asmaaalgarve/ Final word. Do DONATE and please be generous, so as to enable us to keep on giving voice to the people of the Algarve. Thank you Laurinda, Cat, Filipe, Manuela, Joe, Gary, Petra, Susie, Roger, Nori and the rest of the team. 282 789 888 / 969 320 231 info@asmaa-algarve.org http://asmaa-algarve.org