Life of lignite & cinder
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While most European countries are getting closer to alternative sources of energy, to sun and wind,
in Northern Western Greece according to WWF is the most pollutive power station of Europe,
causing the same problem as if 3,3 million cars were passing by per year.
Greece is the second country of Europe in lignite production and sixth in the world.
An irony for a country that the sun shines the most days of the year and the wind blows generously.
People in the villages around the area suffer from untimely deaths and those who have the ability abandon
the area for clear air and better life quality. Children are diagnosed with serious diseases of the respiratory
system like bronchitis, rhinitis and asthma in their early years. The requests of the civilians for closing the
lignite mine and the power station are vein. Unemployment in the region reaches 18%, aquifer has dropped
from 50 to 500 meters and soon their land will be unsuitable for agriculture. The fines that the electric
company pays from time to time for exceeding the pollution limits certainly do not solve the problem.
Photographs: © Stelios Mytilineos / Invision Images ***TEXT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST*** More