Questionnaire for our politicians.

1

Do you believe human activities affect

climate changes? Politicians Agree:• Human activities are directly connected with

climate changes, having the overconsumption of everything, among these are exhaust gases, spray, electric energy, wood and others.

• As a result the ozone hole is growing, allowing the sun's ultraviolet rays to pass causing gradual increase in temperature, melting ice, sea level rise and at the same time drought, water shortages and floods.

Cypriot Commissioner for the Environment Charalambos Theopemptou says:There is no doubt now that human activities are related to the increase quantities of greenhouse gases. And it is precisely for this reason that the United Nations and particularly the European Union began to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It should be noted here that at some point, humanity would anyway obligated to do so because the energy resources are not inexhaustible.

2

Politicians say: Appropriate ideas and measures for development of existing state and practices exist, but are not applied rightly. We may use the brilliant examples of other European countries and add the use of public transportation and bicycles in order to avoid further pollution to our planet. •

Do you believe that government policy on the environment

is satisfactory?

We may also take advantage of the continuous sunshine we have in Cyprus to be able to convert it to solar power, greatly reducing the electricity dependence produce from petrol  which contributes 

negatively to global warming but also to our lifestyle.

3

The Cypriot Environmental Commissioner says: The Mediterranean countries are not known for their environmental policy and we are no exception. However, because of EU directives and the fact that people make decisions (politicians and officials) were sensitized to seeing a slow but steady improvement, of the environmental problems of our country. On the other hand as Commissioner I would like to see more quick improvements. Another problem is that our environmental laws have stiff penalties, but even worse not apply.

4+

What further measures would you impose to reduce the growth rate of global warming?

Politicians say: As mentioned above, all countries should mainly resort to other

alternative energy sources such as :

Solar energy Wind energy

Hydro energy Geothermal energy

5

The Cypriot Environmental Commissioner says: The first and most important is to save energy through the purchase of equipment is more efficient, better designed and insulated buildings, using alternative sources for heating and cooling such as geothermal, reducing the use of private vehicles, public transport, bicycles and walking, producing energy from alternative renewable energy sources and more trees that remove carbon dioxide is responsible for climate change.

6

After the earthquake in Japan do you think that countries that produce nuclear energy for peaceful purposes should review

their energy policies? What do you suggest to being done?

Politicians say:

Recent events in Japan are by themselves an example to prevent countries that have, or are going to built nuclear power plants, like that which is to be built in Akkuyu in Turkey, on a seismic area, right opposite Cyprus.

Therefore, these countries need to review their energy policies and target other alternative energy policies, because not only the recent example in Japan, but also the nuclear accident that happened in Chernobyl in 1986, have given us huge lessons to change our development policies.

The party of environmentalists of Cyprus demands from the Government to bring the issue of the construction of nuclear station in Akkuyu in Turkey to the European Union in order to prevent the construction of this nuclear area because is a threat both to the surrounding countries and for Europe itself 7

The Cypriot Environmental Commissioner says:

I've always been against nuclear energy and when they had arguments about nuclear power in Cyprus public I strongly reacted against the proposal. Also, the environmental movement in Cyprus was placed together with other movements in Greece and Turkey against the listening and the other stations are planned in the region. The risks are too great and the fact that most developed country in the world is facing both big and insurmountable problems should make everyone to think seriously of abandoning nuclear energy in the form it is today.

8+

Is there a real risk to our region, since many neighbor countries have nuclear power plants?

What do you suggest? Politicians say. The risk of a nuclear explosion or a possible use of nuclear

energy for purposes of war is always on our doorstep, the risk to Cyprus and the countries themselves that have these nuclear plants is big.

Regarding the building of a nuclear power plant on a seismic area in Akkuyu, Turkey, just 60 kilometers from the north coast of Cyprus, the minister of commerce industry and tourism, Mr. Antonis Paschalidis, presented to the council of energy ministers of the European Union intense worries from Cyprus but also the international community over the nuclear program of Turkey, but without having the desired response from the European Union.

Cyprus, Greece and other neighboring countries must continue the intense and persistent efforts, to achieve the denuclearization of the eastern Mediterranean and the abandonment of nuclear projects in Turkey.

9

The Cypriot Environmental Commissioner says:

The risk is too great for Cyprus. It is not simply a matter of technology is also a matter of people working there, so far as applying security systems, levels of education and construction provisions. Therefore we should be all very demanding on our neighbors to the strict application of rules, the date of closure of the station and make known our opposition for the construction of new plants. Here we stress that the leadership in other countries have people who in their pressure on politicians and governments have achieved a lot.

10

Do you think the problem of air pollution will increase especially if humanity bases its energy needs in oil?

What do you suggest?

Politicians say. The extraction of oil reserves should seriously trouble us since it contains the risk of irreversible damage to the sea ecosystem, to biodiversity and even to tourism.

Based solely on the use of oil, we irreparably pollute the atmosphere and make the ozone hole grow and will reach a point where our options will eventually wear out and wont have time to implement the appropriate infrastructures for the proper handling and use of other energy sources .

11

Do you think the problem of air pollution will increase especially if humanity bases its energy needs in oil?

What do you suggest?

The Cypriot Environmental Commissioner says:

I do not expect that mankind will be able to take measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions. We have to take such measures that implies increased temperature and reduced rainfall. The measures we should implement are too many and cover all our building planning regulations, transport, buildings, green / forest, energy, recycling, water management, sanitation systems, crops, grants us and many others.

12

Our neighboring country Israel announsed that by the year 2030 their entire energy dependence will come from the sun. Do you believe that this is possible in

Cyprus?

Politician say: In this case, Israel is an example to follow, as Cyprus with its unlimited sunshine available all year round, can entirely rely on its solar power.

Of course this implies that the Cypriot government gives over due consideration in this area, thereby devoting a significant proportion of annual government budgets to the aid of solar energy in our country.

The Cypriot Environmental Commissioner says:In Cyprus is even more feasible because Israel face security problems. If we gradually install photovoltaic and small wind turbines to all buildings , and if all the building msinimize their energy needs, whether promoting energy efficient products so it is feasible and can be implemented with existing technology.

13