[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Protests outside Xiomeran embassy over Manauia Island development plans
28th August 2019

Environmental protestors gathered outside the Xiomeran Embassy in Buttercity today to protest plans by the Xiomeran government to open Manauia Island, a protected nature reserve, to development. Until now, development on the island has been forbidden and the number of visitors to the island per year limited to 2000. The Xiomeran government recently announced plans to change this.

Approximately 200 people gathered today outside the Xiomeran Embassy in Lauchenoiria to protest the decision, claiming it would lead to an unacceptable level of biodiversity loss and have a detrimental impact on the environment, as well as harming the native inhabitants of the island. Organisers of the protest have said they will return “weekly” until the Xiomeran government reverses their decision.

Opponents of development on the island say it is home to a “pristine” environment, and has an incredible biodiversity which would be put at risk with development. They worry that development would lead to massive forest fires and the mass extinction of species only found on the island. They also worry that the culture of the indigenous Teyatia people would be put at risk with the influx of visitors.

When contacted for comment, the Xiomeran Secretariat of International Affairs told the Lauchenoirian Guardian: "The Manauia Island Project will benefit both the residents of the island and the greater international community by bringing infrastructure and development, and increasing economic opportunity. We believe these protests are meant to hold Xiomera back under the guise of 'environmentalism'. Furthermore, as Manauia Island is sovereign Xiomeran territory, we do not recognize or accept foreign interference in what is an internal Xiomeran matter."

Green Party leader Lucie Scott was not present at the protests, however has voiced her support of them, calling on the Xiomeran government to rethink the decision. “At a time when the environment is in such great danger globally, it is important for every government to consider the environmental impact of their policies. The economic opportunities this development would create are not worth the damage that could be done.”