Română
Just weeks before elections, the action We want a cyanide-free vote! brings to the attention of the general public the imminent dangers that threaten the environment in Romania, as well as the duplicity and lies of the Government, of Romanian politicians,.
In order to warn about these dangers, thousands of MindBomb posters have been lining the streets of towns and villages in Romania, since the night of October 30th 2012.Among them are : Arad, Abrud, Alba-Iulia, Baia Mare, Bucuresti, Brasov, Bacau, Bistrita, Braila, Campeni, Constanta, Cluj, Craiova, Dej, Deva, Focsani, Huedin, Iasi, Ludus, Medgidia, Medias, Oradea, Ploiesti, Pitesti, Ramnicu Valcea, Resita, Rosia Montana, Sibiu, Suceava, Targu Mures, Targoviste, Timisoara, Turda, Satu Mare, Valea Ariesului.
The post-1989 Romanian society has rarely seen its citizens engaging, bravely and tenaciously, into a fight against injustice. Rosia Montana represents a prominent exception. The campaign for the protection and defense of the environment, of the cultural heritage and of human rights in Rosia Montana has propelled the name of this village prominently into the consciousness of a whole nation.
But there is more to this campaign! The Save Rosia Montana campaign has made the public aware of two other important matters that concern all citizens of Romania: the use of cyanide in mining and the self-servinginterests of a political class supposed to look after the public’ interests.
In the last 12 years, Rosia Montana has been an issue the presidents, governments, MPs and local authorities, irrespective of their political affiliation have had to grapple. All of them, without any exception, either ignored the matter, becoming an accomplice to the mining companies; or aggressively lobbied for those companies, who intend to use cyanide to mine for gold. In spite of the ecological disaster at Baia Mare, in spite of constant opposition from the general public, political parties have continued to back a cyanide-based extraction process in a private project which would only bring destruction to Rosia Montana and to the Apuseni Mountains. The lack of interest and the incompentece are now unparalleled, with the Ministry of Environment in the Ponta Government learning from the media that an environmental licence had been granted to a new cyanide-base mine in Certej, Hunedoara County. Meanwhile, 13 other mines are planned in Transylvania and are in line to receive the requisite licenses from state authorities.
Intending to use Rosia Montana as an electoral card, Victor Ponta has stated he is against cyanide mining ahead of the local elections. Now, however, Victoria Palace is silent. This silence is as complicit as Traian Băsescu’s aggressive lobby for cyanide mining. Meanwhile, the leaders of PNL (the National Liberal Party) and PPDD (the Popular Party Dan Diaconescu) are openly supporting cyanide mining. PDL (the Liberal Democrat Party) and UDMR (The Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania), on the other hand, seem intimidated by of the strong opposition of ordinary Romanians to cyanide mining which came to a head in January-February 2012. They are therefore, at this point, avoiding to discuss this problem altogether.
It is high time for a simple, honest answer from the Romanian Government! This answer can no longer be ambiguous; it will have to be either YES or NO! All responsible citizens of Romania believe that the answer can only be NO – and the politicians should listen to the voices of the people whose votes they are courting.
We have only one message for all political parties: it is time to own up to your responsibility! We are watching you – no electoral promise will be forgotten, no pro-cyanide and pro-destruction discourse will be forgiven, no negotiation with the mining companies, no matter how closely-guarded, will remain undisclosed! Cyanide-based gold mines, massive deforestation, dubious privatisations, shale gas fracking and irresponsible construction of hydroelectric power stations are only some of the problems on which we expect a clear and firm attitude. If you do not take a strong stand on this, we will!
Your deadline for coming clean is 9 December,the night of the elections.
Petition addressed to Victor Ponta Government: www.rosiamontana.net
For further information: contact@mindbomb.ro
facebook.com/MindBombProject
The MindBomb Project was initiated in 2002 by a group of artists, architects, journalists and writers, being the first to use art as a means of protest. The group introduced the independent socio-political poster in contemporary Romanian culture with the purpose of debunking the dominant discourse of politicians, mass-media and the advertising industry.
The main purpose of these actions is to transform the public space into a free space for dialogue and debate on the most urgent problems of contemporary Romanian society, through the use of art as a means for social change.
There are five poster designs in this campaign:
1. Off with your mask!
After Băsescu’s lobby, here comes Ponta’s duplicity.
Publicly, Victor Ponta poses as an environmentalist while secretly negotiating with mining companies.
A man is worth more than the gold that he wears. A country as well.
2. Transylvania, a minefield. Romania is next.
Small steps, big disasters.
The authorities have given their approval for the use of cyanide in Certej. Another 20 more big mining projects are in line for development. Massive deforestation and irresponsible construction of hydroelectric power stations are in the pipeline. Shale gas fracking is on the way.
A man is worth more than the gold that he wears. A country as well.
3. Political leaders come and go, cyanide is indelible
Your democratic role is not limited to voting. Always keep an eye on them; not only once every four years.
A man is worth more than the gold that he wears. A country as wel
4. All for gold, cyanide for all
Behind party logos, fleeting coalitions and media scandals, political leaders look after their own interests.
We demand that political parties unambiguously state their position on cyanide mining. How we cast our votes hinges on their stance.
A man is worth more than the gold that he wears. A country as well.
5. High treason has a price in gold.
3 presidents, 8 prime ministers, hundreds of MPs and local authorities have acted in the best interest of a private company, instead of protecting your property rights, the environment and our cultural heritage.
We demand that political parties unambiguously state their position on cyanide mining. How we cast our vote hinges on their stance.
A man is worth more than the gold that he wears. A country as well.
