Community groups protest biogas and infrastructure projects in Spain and Chile

Community groups in Spain and Chile are organizing to oppose large-scale infrastructure and energy projects in their regions.

In Alfambra, Spain, the association STOP Biogás Alfambra held a banner-making workshop to mobilize residents against a proposed biogas macro-plant. The group has collected over 600 signatures in opposition and is planning a march to the proposed site during the upcoming All Saints' Day holiday. The initiative involves participants of all ages, including local students, to increase visibility for their cause.

In San Pedro de la Paz, Chile, local residents and socio-environmental organizations submitted 460 observations to the Environmental Impact Assessment Service (SEIA) regarding the ‘Av. Costanera Ribera Sur del Río Biobío’ project. Driven by the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), the US$ 398.6 million project aims to connect the Bicentenario and Industrial bridges. Protesters are demanding that the 7-kilometer road be built on piles or strictly along the riverbank, rejecting plans that involve river filling or construction ‘inland’ within the river, citing concerns for biodiversity and local safety.