Members of the Association tell that through specifying all details with the director of the Regional library, they requested to use its hall on payment. However, on 30.01.2014, an email from the director is received, stating: “Stara Zaragora Municipality has expressed a position that the use of the hall for events with such purpose is not appropriate.”
In an open letter, For the Earth states that within a democratic society the local government should encourage and stimulate discussions among citizens and civil organizations, especially when the topic relates to important issues, as human health, economic development, environment and society.
With the open letter, the environmental organization insists to be informed whether the prohibition to use the hall is based on the official stand of the Municipality and the mayor. For the Earth invites Zhivko Todorov to a meeting during which to discuss the problems related to the coal industry and their possible resolutions.
Ivaylo Popov from For the Earth comments: “We were considering that the times when the government prohibits citizens to organise discussions related to important matters are gone. However, it turned out that in 21st century in a theoretically democratic country such censorship still exists. We sincerely hope, however, that at the end it will come out that this is not the official position of the Municipality or the mayor. Therefore, we found it proper to officially inform him in order to clarify the problem.”
Filka Sekulova from Greenpeace Bulgaria adds: “I remain with the feeling that in Stara Zagora region an information blackout is deliberately sustained when it comes to topics related to health and environmental risks caused by the coal industry. Our objective is to begin a broad public dialogue in order to discuss these problems and their resolutions.”
For the Earth reports that the film festival with a topic “The hidden price of energy” will be held on 11.02.2014 from 18:30 to 21:30 in Hall 2 of Vereya Hotel. All citizens are invited to participate.
[1"> Open letter to Zhivko Todorov – Mayor of Stara Zagora
Is Stara Zagora afraid to talk about coal industry issues?
