With a particular sensitivity and a call to all residents to express a thunderous no to the devaluation of their properties, a music evening was organized by the Committee Fight Against Quarry Areas in the municipalities of Gouves – Episkopi.

Held in Anopoli, the gala event featured food and drink, plus live music by Niko Iliaki’s traditional group, and songwriter-musicians Mano Papathaki and Antoni Tsikanthilaki.

All in attendance expressed their opposition for an extension of the 40-year devastation to the area by the quarry companies.

Mrs. Kiki Alexaki-Hronaki commented on the intense reactions from institutions and residents in region.

“Unfortunately, we are all witnesses of the incredible exploitation of space by the quarry’s activities, with incalculable and irreparable damage to the environment,” she said, referring to the destruction of the St. Anastasia gorge’s natural beauty and fossils. “In addition, the quarry has had horrendous effects to our health – from cancer to allergies.  

“The region is very near to the beach with prospects of tourist growth,” she added. “A school teachers’ cooperative is located near-by, while 12 other cooperative buildings are being developed in the area. The municipality is doing a study for a possible lake by the borders of the proposed quarry zone. There is intense building activity in the region and a potential characterization of ‘quarry zone’ will prevent people from building for a distance of 1000 metres, that is to say for 7,000 stremmata.”  

Iraklion PASOK MP Manolis Stratakis offered his support, as did Mr. Aristidis Papathakis from the Iraklion Ecological Intervention, and Mr. Dimitrios Fragoulakis, a Gournes resident.

Also, several Gouves council members supported the event with their presence: Mihalis Plevrakis, Manolis Plevrakis, Nikos Smyrnakis and Lefteris Zouros.

The Iraklion Ecological Intervention, notes: “In the quarry, the operation and the observance of environmental terms are not being checked and the area is not being environmentally re-established.

“Who watches this re-establishment that is supposed to finish in just a couple of months? Who can guarantee to the residents that their nightmare will end?

“We only ask that the responsible governmental agencies start to apply the legislation and make the necessary controls.”