On 16 April 2015 a dynamic protest took place, despite the provocations of the Greek riot police operating under the left government of SYRIZA, in solidarity to the residents of Halkidiki in northern Greece fighting against the destruction of their homes, the environment and the pollution of drinking water in their area due to gold mining operations.

A few years ago the multinational gold mining company Eldorado Gold settled in Skouries and with the backing of powerful domestic private interests has begun large-scale mining activities. Thus, the irreversible destruction of the ecosystem of Skouries and the contamination of soil and groundwater with heavy metals throughout western Halkidiki has already started.