Thousands of Serbs blockade roads to stage protests at the lithium mine project | Natural Issues

Critics fear that mining operations by multinational corporations will seriously damage the environment.

Opponents of nature have blocked roads in Serbia for the third week in a row to oppose lithium mining plans, although the populist government wants to end the protests by endorsing the organizers’ demands.

Thousands of people protested against rain and cold Saturday to block traffic in the Belgrade capital, as well as in other Balkan cities and towns.

The protesters want the government to do everything possible to get the companies to start mining. Environmentalists have said that removing lithium, a major component of electric car batteries, is causing significant damage to mining areas.

Serbian officials have rescinded two important laws that freedom fighters say were designed to help mining company Rio Tinto open a mine in the west of the country.

Fewer people came to the show on Saturday compared to the previous two weeks, which shows the disagreement between the leaders of the demonstrations on how to do it.

“There will be no peace until the use of lithium is banned and Rio Tinto is expelled from Serbia,” said Aleksandar Jovanovic, one of the organizers.

“I think the demonstrations today are just one phase of change,” Ida Radovanovic, a protester, told The Associated Press.

“We can’t do anything but it’s important that we show that this is not what we agree with.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that protests will continue if the government does not “follow” the two laws, including the seizure of property and referendum rules.

Vucic said people will have a chance to express their views on the next election in April.

Serbia needs to address its environmental issues in order to advance its membership in the European Union. Vucic said he wanted the country to join the EU, but also strengthened close ties with Russia and China, including Chinese businesses in mining, industry and construction.

Natural disasters have recently begun to appear in Serbia and other Balkan countries as a result of the effects of air and water pollution. Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online.