Stop the oil and gas exploitation in Val di Noto, Sicily

We, the undersigned, oppose the Fiume Tellaro permit that allows oil and gas exploitation in Sicily.

The outstanding Val di Noto area of Sicily, its ecosystem, its inhabitants, its cultural heritage and landscape are at risk of being destroyed by an American oil and gas corporation (Panther Resources Corporation), who were awarded an exploration license on 747 square km named Fiume Tellaro by l'Assessore all'Industria della Regione, Marina Noe on March 22, 2004.

The area hosts the UNESCO classified World Heritage Late Baroque Towns of the Val di Noto: Caltagirone, Militello Val di Catania, Catania, Modica, Noto, Palazzolo, Ragusa and Scicli; and 3 Nature Reserves: Riserva Naturale Orientata di Vendicari, Riserva Naturale Orientata Macchia foresta del Fiume Irminio , Riserva Naturale Orientata Biviere di Gela.

Various simple reasons on why we, the undersigned, ask for a complete and immediate cancellation of the Fiume Tellaro permit and a definitive and clear stop to all plans and activities carried out by the Panther Co. in the Val di Noto area:

-no independent environmental impact assessment has been carried out for the area

-no infrastructures capable of supporting the proposed development are present in the area (there are no highways in the area as opposed to what the Panther Co. website states)

-there is not enough scientific certainty about the size of the oil and gas reserves in the area

-the proposed project will not economically benefit the area (the number of potential jobs offered by the oil and gas field project is lower than the number of jobs that would be lost in the tourism industry; the company exploiting the area is not local, but from Texas)

-the area is densely populated and the proposed project would directly affect thousands of people; locals have fiercely opposed the project for the last 2 years, but their struggle is being largely ignored

-the area is a significant and developed agricultural zone where important wines are produced (e.g. the internationally renowned D.O.C. Nero dAvola) and it is also where the majority of the islands dairy farms are based

-the area is seismically active (it reaches the slopes of the biggest active volcano in Europe) and, in the case of an earthquake, oil and gas fields in the area would be subject to high structural damage, with potential environmental damage

-investing in renewable energy sources such as solar panels (especially considering the Mediterranean climate) would provide a much more sustainable, efficient and long term energy source than oil and gas fields