Several platforms advocating for the defense of Araba's land have urged participation in the demonstration scheduled for May 23rd in Gasteiz under the banner 'No to Macro-projects!'. This call has garnered support from over 75 administrative boards and municipalities in Araba, as well as nearly 90 collectives and social actors from Euskal Herria. The organizers have stated that "the large scale of these macro-projects does not seek to meet societal needs, but rather to offer significant profitability to the project proponents".
The platforms have publicly denounced that the continuous emergence of industrial macro-projects in the territory responds to a logic of "pure business and speculation, completely disregarding citizens' needs". They have highlighted the accumulation of large-scale industrial projects in Araba recently: the High-Speed Train; wind and photovoltaic macro-farms; high and very high voltage lines; macro data centers; macro biomethanization plants; the expansion of logistics and industrial centers; quarries, dams, and airport expansion; projects to increase road freight transport... All these projects share the same characteristics, according to the organizers: "They are large-scale projects, and their construction necessitates the destruction of our rural areas and natural environments".
They have recalled that this situation is also occurring in other territories of Euskal Herria, "with macro-projects similar to those we are experiencing in Araba, the same proponents, and the same negligence and concealment of information from interested public institutions". They have also criticized institutional policy, believing that the current model promotes territorial industrialization and uses Araba as a "speculation board". "This plundering damages the landscape, privatizes natural resources, dispossesses us of communal lands and mountains, disrupts rural life projects, and drives our communities towards abandonment".
Within this context, they have mentioned the current Territorial Sectoral Plan (LPS) for Renewable Energies of the Basque Government, which "functions as a tool subject to financial interests and has become a red carpet for energy multinationals". They have also censured the acceleration policies promoted by the Basque Energy Agency (EEE), accusing it of attracting private investors with 80 million euros of public money to facilitate the installation of macro-projects in the "sacrifice zones" designated in the LPS.
The demonstration on May 23rd to defend the land and "reject the speculation of macro-projects" will depart from Gasteiz's Bilbao Plaza at 6:00 PM. Some of the Araba agents driving this mobilization include AHTrik Ez Arabako Haranak, AHTrik Ez Lautada, Aiaraldeko Mendiak Bizirik, Araba Bizirik, Arabako Errioxa Bizirik, Arabako Mendiak Aske, Aramaixo Bizirik, ATACA, Biharko Lautada, Dikerik Ez, Horrela Ez Argantzun, Horrela Ez Badaiotz, Horrela Ez Iruña Oka, Horrela Ez Kuartango, Horrela Ez Lautada, Horrela Ez Valles Alaveses, Legutio Borrokan, Por Trespuentes, Proiektu Honi Ez! (Arratzua-Ubarrundia), SOS Margarita, UAGA, Urkabustaiz Babestuz, Zigoitia Bai, and Zuia Bidean.
