Thousands of Romanians protest against illegal logging, attacks on forest workers
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS NOVEMBER 3, 2019 / 3:46 PM / UPDATED 3 HOURS AGO
Thousands of Romanians protest against illegal logging, attacks on forest workers
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Thousands of Romanians marched in the capital Bucharest and other cities on Sunday in protest against widespread illegal logging, which is believed to be behind the deaths of two forest workers in the past two months.
In downtown Bucharest, an estimated 4,000 people marched toward the water and forest ministry, according to local TV stations, banging drums and chanting “Our forest is not your commodity,” and “Thieves.”
The protests, organized by Greenpeace Romania and other environmental groups, demanded thorough criminal investigations into the deaths and attacks against forest workers, as well as immediate upgrades to the country’s automated logging tracking system and tighter legislation.
The Silva trade union federation says six foresters have been killed in recent years while another 650 forest workers were beaten, attacked with axes or knives or even shot at after catching illegal loggers in the act.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-protests-logging/thousands-of-romanians-protest-against-illegal-logging-attacks-on-forest-workers-idUSKBN1XD0HZ