Protests against Opening of Lithium Mine in 23 More Cities in Serbia

Opposition Representatives Rally against Rio Tinto Project (BetaPhoto)

Protests organized by environmental organizations against the announced opening of a lithium mine will take place in 23 more cities in Serbia by the end of the week.

Aug. 4 saw a protest in Osecina, while protests have been scheduled for Aug. 5 in Bor, Raca, Smederevo, Rekovac and Bresnica. A protest will be held in Indjija on Aug. 6. The inhabitants of Sremska Mitrovica have also called "a great people's rally against Rio Tinto" for Aug. 6. Denizens of the Morava River Basin are scheduled to assemble in Jagodina on Aug. 6. Their call to the protest reads, "If you are not a farmer, you will not dig here or bring in someone else's waste." The residents of Knic will also protest against the opening of the mine on the same day.

Protests have been called in four towns for Aug. 7. Protesters in Kragujevac will assemble in front of the Robna Kuca shopping center, and Novi Sad residents will convene at the monument to Svetozar Miletic. In Bajina Basta and Obrenovac, protests will be held in city squares. Gornji Milanovac will see a protest dubbed Stop Rio Tinto on Aug. 8, when people will also protest in Subotica, Smederevska Palanka and Krusevac, in the Heroes of Kosovo Square.

A protest in Cacak has been called for Aug. 9 under the slogan "Follow me, heroes." Protests will be held on the same day in Nis, Vranje and Lazarevac in front of the Miners' Fountain. Environmental organizations have also announced a major protest in Belgrade's downtown Terazije Street on Aug. 10 against the announced opening of the lithium mine.