Now the mobilization is mass. For the Pratobello Law and against the ongoing wind attack against Sardinia, associations, professionals and unions are also involved. From many quarters there is a willingness to collect signatures also through the setting up of stalls in the busiest points of the Sardinian cities.
The objective is to reach ten thousand signatures by 16 September, but in the expectations the real goal of the promoters - led by the mayor of Orgosolo Pasquale Mereu, the first to push for the popular initiative law proposal - is to reach fifty thousand.
The standard
The exact name of the initiative is: "Proposal for urban planning law of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia - Urban planning regulations in application of article 3, letter f, of the Autonomous Statute of Sardinia (Constitutional Law 3 of 26 February 1948) - urban planning regulatory provisions relating to the installation of ground-based industrial photovoltaic and terrestrial wind systems with the implementation of principles and obligations of protection and valorisation contained in supranational, national and regional programmes”. And it uses article 3 of the Sardinian Urban Planning and Landscape Statute to claim the Region has primary responsibility in the matter. After obtaining the necessary signatures, the Pratobello Law will be discussed and possibly approved in the Regional Council, while almost all Sardinian municipalities will make collection offices available the associations. Thus, by 16 September, interested citizens will be able to sign the form by going, with an identification document, to the electoral office of their city.
The union
Among the first associations to mobilize in favor of the law is Giacomo Meloni's Sardinian Trade Union Confederation (Css). For now, Meloni is launching an appeal: «We invite Sardinians to go and sign the popular initiative law called “Pratobello '24” against criminal energy speculation in Sardinia at their municipality of residence. The Sardinian Trade Union Confederation is present with its members and militants in all the territorial committees and has been part of the coordination of the committees since the beginning in support of all the struggles against the criminal assault of Terna and the multinationals which, betraying the same principle shared by us of the "energy and ecological transition", impose colonial measures and conditions on Sardinia. The Sardinian people, by signing the popular bill en masse, demonstrate a strong will and finally affirm their sovereignty."
The associations
Banquets in the central points of Cagliari, perhaps in Piazza Galilei, would like to install Asel, the Sardinian association of local authorities. Thus the president, Rodolfo Cancedda: «The so-called Pratobello Law, regardless of how this battle ends up, is the only and last chance available to avoid this reckless assault on Sardinia», says Cancedda. «We are mobilized, making all our strength available, to support the popular initiative law proposal and guarantee the success of the collection of signatures».
Other reactions
Now, therefore, the die has been cast. The battle against wind power comes to the heart, moving on to the decisive step . Even civil society is shaken: «Everything is happening quickly, but unfortunately we are very aware of what is happening», says Edoardo De Pau, a doctor and trade unionist from Cagliari. «I don't know what the legal key against the assault could be, but we must certainly stop by any means what is scarring the island and harming the Sardinians. The Pratobello Law could make a strong contribution to doing so." Giacomo Meloni, leader of Confartigianato Imprese Sardegna, also maintains that a solution needs to be found: «This popular initiative law proposal is welcome if it serves to preserve the territory, without prejudice to the fact that we must live on energy. But here, without the involvement of the populations, the multinationals want to take everything. We need to sit around a table at a political level, also to establish rules and possible compensations." To say no to energy speculation, the Nuoro traders "Cuori della città" have mobilized, displaying posters in their windows in support of the ongoing revolt. A heartfelt appeal also from the world of sport. Gianni Cadoni, national vice-president and regional president of the Football Federation, speaks in favor of the Pratobello Law: «If it serves to preserve the territory, any initiative is welcome, even legislative», concludes Giancarlo Abete's deputy to the National Amateur League. «The beauty of Sardinia cannot be undermined by choices made far from here».
Lorenzo Piras