Dear Supporters, September was a watershed month for ASMAA and probably the most challenging month that we have experienced since 2012. We believe that there was really serious political interference in an endeavour to stop us running the planed “election trail campaign”. And although they managed to seriously affect us, we did indeed run the campaign although in a form different from what was originally planned. To give you an idea, our actions resulted that just in the past 3 days motivated another 8 candidates to sign an undertake that they will do all in their power to prevent oil and gas exploration taking place in the future. Currently in the Algarve (including Odemira and Sines in Alentejo) there are 95 candidates for the top job in 18 councils. Out of these we now have commitments from 43 candidates (just over 50%). But the actions against our association have placed a tremendous financial burden on us. As a result we are appealing that you be generous and donate. We have deadlines for payments that need to be met by no later than Wednesday the 4 October and we are 1,880€ short. In fact on Friday past our balance in the bank was down to 4€. DONATE VIA PAYPAL OR BANK TRANSFER SANTANDER TOTTA (LAGOS ALGARVE) ASMAA Algarve Surf and Marine Activities Association IBAN: PT50 0018 0008 02686698020 51 REF: Say NO to Oil Via PayPal: info@asmaa-algarve.org Or via the link on this page: http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/donate This is a good time to remind you of all that ASMAA has achieved in the past 5 years. a. We have got 6 oil exploration contracts in the Algarve cancelled, including 2 for fracking on land. b. We have managed through our actions to force postponements on drilling attempts in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in the Algarve and Alentejo basins, and we believe that we will STOP their attempt in 2018 (Galp/ENI in Aljezur offshore) too with your support. c. We have placed the oil fight in the political arena successfully. We have succeeded in getting the support of some political parties who has taken up the banner against oil exploration in the Portuguese Parliament. We also managed to encourage local council association (AMAL) and Odemira council to support the anti-oil campaigns and to take the appropriate legal action. d. We have managed to raise awareness about the risks facing our communities from oil and gas exploration using fracking onshore and offshore, not only across the entire Portuguese territory but also in Europe as well as other countries outside Europe. (42,000 people signed an objection petition against Galp/ENI that is still to be finally debated in Parliament). And was instrumental in the creation of various anti-oil community driven groups in Algarve, Alentejo, Lisbon, Porto & Açores and entered into various collaboration agreements across the planet. IN SPITE OF THE CHALLENGES in September ... The fact is that we got more than 50% of political candidates for the mayor’s positions in the Algarve to DISCLOSE their status on issues relating to oil exploration and to commit themselves in writing. So we would really appreciate your donation NOW as it will allow us to continue this valuable work. Help us to help keep the Portuguese Atlantic Sea rig free and the country fracking free. Thank you for your continuing support, Laurinda, Cat, Susanna, Claudia and the rest of the ASMAA team. http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/what-s-new/attack-averted-asmaa-s-internal-controls-prove-to-be-robust http://asmaa-algarve.org/en/news/noticias/a-asmaa-ultrapassa-mais-um-ataque