Dear supporters / Caros amigos A lot happened since our last email. We are now finalizing the second phase of our legal battle – which is to challenge in court the ENI public consultation process that closed on the 16 April if the Portuguese Environmental Agency disregards the need of an Environmental Impact Assessment. We believe that our legal efforts to date are being effective in preventing Galp/ENI from drilling in Aljezur, so far the Saipem 12000 is still in Marrocos. At the same time it appears that our actions may have truly upset some of the powers that be as we face a near total blackout by Portuguese mainstream media. We are not very surprised by the near blackout of our actions by the media, but we were not expecting it from other fronts. But, we find it very enlightening and informative. Guess they are all hoping the locals will not be aware of what is really happening. Concurrently, while we where busy with happenings in the south, the government threw another spanner in the wheel in central Portugal. They launched a public consultation process that closes on 11 May, to access if there should be an Environmental Impact Study done by Australis for drilling a fracking well in Aljubarrota. The Australis EIS makes for interesting reading, if the matter was not of such a serious nature, it would be an interesting dinner table topic. But we are talking fracking folks … this means that in the midst of all our other work, we have to also give attention to this very serious risk in central Portugal. This means that we are now also busy with our submission to this public consultation. In the interim we launched a new petition demanding a BAN on Fracking in Portugal and the cancellation of Australis fracking contracts. You’ll find the link below. Thank you to ALL THAT DONATED funds to assist us. We are over the 50% target as we move into phase II of legal process. With your help we have now raised 15, 745€. ONLY 14, 255€ to go … if you can, please continue to support our legal battle costs. By Friday the 4th we need to raise 825.15€ (we still owe one supplier 350€ for last month), and by Tuesday the 8th a further 1,200€, and by the 18th we will need to have in our bank account another 750€ so that we can pay the receiver of revenue (Finanças) for tax for some of our legal costs incurred (25% retention of taxes at source for professional fees on green receipts). DONATE TO HELP US HELP YOU AND ALL OF US ONCE again we ask that you be generous and DONATE to help us to carry on. You may use Paypal or do a direct bank transfer. Here's the details: 1. Via PayPal (incl. credit card payments) : info@asmaa-algarve.org ou through the donate button on our website: http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/donate 2. Via Bank Transfer (EFT) - BANK: SANTANDER TOTTA (LAGOS ALGARVE) ASMAA Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Association IBAN: PT50 0018 0008 02686698020 51 *************************************************************************** LINKS TO ARTICLES AND VIDEOS English Brave new bid to halt gas and oil exploration off Aljezur finally ‘acknowledged’ by mainstream http://portugalresident.com/brave-new-bid-to-halt-gas-and-oil-exploration-off-aljezur-finally-%E2%80%98acknowledged%E2%80%99-by-mainstream FRACKING: Global Timeline of Bans and Moratoria http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/fracking-global-timeline-of-bans-and-moratoria Oil and gas safety fears 'from quarter of senior managers' http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/research/socio-economic-impact-studies/workforce/oil-and-gas-safety-fears-from-quarter-of-senior-managers Opinion: Divestment is Not Just 'Pointless Posturing', It Will Save Taxpayers Cash https://www.desmog.co.uk/2018/04/30/opinion-why-fossil-fuel-divestment-will-save-taxpayers-cash *************************************************************************** PETITION: BAN fracking in Portugal. Revoke licenses granted to Australis Oil & Gas. https://www.change.org/p/assembleia-da-republica-portuguesa-stop-fracking-exploration-in-portugal-revoke-licenses-granted-to-australis-oil-gas A petição em Português estará online amanhã se tudo correr como planeado. *************************************************************************** Portuguese A ASMAA pondera vir a ter que impugnar o procedimento da Consulta Pública - Santola 1X http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/a-asmaa-pondera-vir-a-ter-que-impugnar-o-procedimento-da-consulta-publica-santola-1x O furo de petróleo na bacia do Alentejo volta a ser alvo de um processo na justiça. http://beachcam.meo.pt/newsroom/2018/04/acao-em-tribunal-para-parar-furo-da-galp/ Nova acção em tribunal contra furo de petróleo da Eni/Galp https://www.jornaldenegocios.pt/empresas/energia/detalhe/nova-accao-em-tribunal-contra-furo-de-petroleo-da-enigalp Exploração de petróleo na Alentejo tem cada vez mais reação contrária na sociedade portuguesa. https://petronoticias.com.br/archives/110974 Poluição resolve-se, escassez de matérias primas é que não tem ‘plano B’ https://observador.pt/2018/04/27/poluicao-resolve-se-escassez-de-materias-primas-e-que-nao-tem-plano-b/ *************************************************************************** VIDEO (19 minutes) Ainda é possivel parar o furo da Galp/ENI na Bacia do Alentejo? Can we still stop the drilling in the Bacia do Alentejo? http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/campaigns/videos/ainda-e-possivel-parar-o-furo-da-galp-eni-na-bacia-do-alentejo *************************************************************************** UPCOMING EVENTS – 10,11 & 12 May 2018 Let’s Talk About Fracking in Aljubarrota, and in the rest of Batalha & Pombal concession areas. The Australis saga. We will be in the Aljubarrota, Soure, Fatima, Santarem & possibly Porto (TBC) on above dates. More info shortly *************************************************************************** OUR CHARITHY SHOP IN PORTIMÃO WILL REOPEN TOMORROW FROM 11H30 | A NOSSA LOJA EM PORTIMÃO REABRE AMANHÃ A PARTIR DAS 11H30. https://www.facebook.com/groups/asmaacharityshop/ Thank you for all your support | Obrigada por todo o vosso apoio The ASMAA Team | A equipa da ASMAA 969 320 231 | 282 182 103 http://asmaa-algarve.org