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ENVIRONMENTALISTS USE HUMOR TO PROTEST OUTSIDE ARMENIA GOVERNMENT BUILDING
epress.am
12.29.2011
More than 100 activists and members of several local environmental
organizations protested outside the Armenian government building
today. They were holding posters with inscriptions such as "Save
Syunik", "Not Another Mine", "Where a Mine, There We're Not"
(the original phrase in Armenian rhymes), "No to Carrying Out the
Turkish Plan".
Recall, activists are demanding the annulment of a government decision
that appropriated several communal lands in the province of Syunik
(including land adjacent to the village of Kajaran) and transfered
to Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine. They handed over a letter
addressed to the Government of Armenia with this request.
What made this particular protest different from others was the
inclusion of performances. Demonstrators were playing marbles -
alluding to government officials who, according to the activists, are
not doing their work. In particular, they were referring to RA Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsissyan, who was caught on
camera a month ago playing games on his iPad during a parliamentary
session. In fact, Movsissyan was playing a game involving marbles.
In addition, participants had blown up balloon with 10 and 20 dram
coins inside, which they then popped, with the coins falling outside
the entrance to the government building.
Following the protest, activists marched to the presidential palace
where they were likewise preparing to protest. Passing by Russian bank
VTB, activists urged customers to close their accounts because VTB
provides loans to Valex Group, a company exploiting the Teghut mine.
epress.am
12.29.2011
More than 100 activists and members of several local environmental
organizations protested outside the Armenian government building
today. They were holding posters with inscriptions such as "Save
Syunik", "Not Another Mine", "Where a Mine, There We're Not"
(the original phrase in Armenian rhymes), "No to Carrying Out the
Turkish Plan".
Recall, activists are demanding the annulment of a government decision
that appropriated several communal lands in the province of Syunik
(including land adjacent to the village of Kajaran) and transfered
to Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine. They handed over a letter
addressed to the Government of Armenia with this request.
What made this particular protest different from others was the
inclusion of performances. Demonstrators were playing marbles -
alluding to government officials who, according to the activists, are
not doing their work. In particular, they were referring to RA Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsissyan, who was caught on
camera a month ago playing games on his iPad during a parliamentary
session. In fact, Movsissyan was playing a game involving marbles.
In addition, participants had blown up balloon with 10 and 20 dram
coins inside, which they then popped, with the coins falling outside
the entrance to the government building.
Following the protest, activists marched to the presidential palace
where they were likewise preparing to protest. Passing by Russian bank
VTB, activists urged customers to close their accounts because VTB
provides loans to Valex Group, a company exploiting the Teghut mine.