Protests against lithium mining and Rio Tinto were continued on Monday in five cities: Arandjelovac, Šabac, Ljig, Barajevo and Kraljevo.
Numerous citizens gathered in Svuge, worried that the exploitation of lithium will tarnish their land and water.
Arandjelovac
Towards the end of the protest in Arandjelovac, a young woman tried to take the microphone from the lectern, but the attendees prevented her from doing so. It was the only incident at today's protests.
Photo: N1Arandjelovac today
Chemistry professor Karolina Aleksandrović told the gathered citizens that all multinational companies in the world have only one goal, and that is exclusively profit.
"Rio Tinto is a company that many world governments are chasing with judgments all over the world, from Chile, to Australia, to South Africa." And instead of setting borders, we ask for permits for them," said Aleksandrović.
It is even more absurd, he says, that one third of the fertile Serbian land "should be mined for three to five percent of the mineral rent."
"We are a poor country, but as long as we have this blue sky above us, as long as we breathe the air to the fullest, look at our vineyards, forests and meadows, we are happy because we are healthy, and only a healthy person is a happy person," said the professor.
And global polluters like Rio Tinto and Chinese companies see Serbia as a promised land "because there are no institutions here."
Slug
The citizens of Ljig also took part in a protest walk today, stressing that they protest on behalf of the whole of Serbia, whose "future is threatened".
Photo: N1Sabac
Sabac
The people of Šap are asking the authorities to pass a law against the mining of lithium and boron. Everyone must declare whether they are against lithium or not, including SANU, the church, and directors of schools or hospitals, is one of the messages of the protest in Šabac.
It was said, as reported by reporter N1, that in the Jadra valley there is a large reservoir of drinking water that must not be polluted.
Šapčani, like the people of Loznica, are asking for a law to be passed against the mining of lithium and boron. The 40-day deadline given to the authorities expires on August 10, and more radical measures have been announced for that time.
Royally
The protest in Kraljevo was one of the most massive. The crowd sent a message that they would "definitely need treatment" if the lithium mines were opened.
Dragan Simović, a farmer from Kraljevo, said that the government bit off a lot, as soon as it brought in "a Swaba".
"They will look for a way to call a referendum." He must not come to him, they stole the election," Simović said.
Barajevo
In Barajevo, citizens gathered in front of the municipal building, and then went on a protest walk.
Those gathered carry banners with the messages "It's happening to you people", "I want meadows, forests and paths, streams and rivers!", "You will not dig", "We do not want mines, we do not want Yunirisk".
Marko Popović from the "Eko Barajevo" Initiative told FoNet that the meeting is a support for people from the Jadra Valley.
"We, the citizens of Barajevo, express deep mistrust towards the company Rio Tinto, which has a plan to mine and exploit lithium in our country," Popović said.
And an additional problem on the premises is presented by the company Yunirisk, which submitted a request for the issuance of a new permit for the processing of hazardous industrial waste in Barajevo, which is the only remaining ecological municipality in Belgrade."
In all cities where protests were held and where protests will be organized, the Serbian Progressive Party confirmed its power in extraordinary local elections in December and regular elections in June.
Source: N1, FoNet
