Friday, 18 July to Sunday, 27 July 2008 / Olympos Karpathos / Greece

Summer volunteer program 2008 in Northern Karpathos & Saria Island.

Following the volunteer program in 2007, MEDITERRANEAN SOS Network (info: http://www.medsos.gr/ ) renewed the cooperation with the Management Agency of Karpathos & Saria* for the 2nd summer program.

For 8 day in total, two groups of volunteers [A΄ group (18/7/08 – 24/7/08): Victoria, Lia, Rika & Katerina / B΄ group (22/7/08 - 27/7/07): Theofilos (group leader), Valia, Chryssoula, Maria, Alkistis, Nikolaos, Klairi & Maria] worked in the pathways, cleaned beaches and organized on their own games in the afternoon for the children in the Management Agency Office in Diafani. The C΄ group has now taken over.

The A΄group had the chance to participate in the local fair of Saint Elias (20/7), with acknowledgements to Mr. George Zografidis, responsible for the small church on the top of Profitis Elias Mountain (719 m).

Both groups participated in the 1st workshop “The development prospects of the protected area of Karpathos – Saria and the significance of the Management Agency” (23/7), where MEDITERRANEAN SOS Network was invited to present last year’s volunteer work program.

I must thank the - partly new - human chain responsible for the protection of the area Eirini – Sisi – Thodoris & George – Ntinos – Manolis. People in Diafani were again more that great to us! Girls where dressed in traditional costumes with the precious help of Mrs Anna Nioti. Many thanks to Yiannis V. Hatzivassilis (http://www.hatzivasili.gr) for giving us the opportunity to learn more about Olympos tradition through his freshly opened museum. This year’s program was the reason I was looking for to go back…
What’s next?

* (Management Agency of the Northern Karpathos, Saria and the surrounding marine area / NATURA 2000 Network – code GR4210003)

Friday, 11 July 2008 & Saturday, 12 July 2008

MedSOS (http://www.medsos.gr) volunteer & group leaders’ seminar – summer volunteer programmes 2008

Seven (7) group leaders and six (6) volunteers gathered on Friday 11th afternoon at MedSOS office. Eirini, Anni and Nikos (the president) from MedSOS welcomed all of us making short remarks about the reasons in implementing the program as well as the expected outcomes. Following, an exercise named “What will I put inside my backpack” started in order for the participants to reveal what they plan to carry along. After filling a list, they were asked to join in groups according to the programme they will attend and proceed in comparing and maybe end up in sharing some items from their list. Information regarding the transportation mean, hour of departure and other info were also gathered in order for the group leaders to coordinate their group by best means. At the end a small white paper was given to everyone to write down, in anonymity, something that he/she would like or he/she is afraid of facing during the programme or whatever else he/she would like to say but not out loud! The papers were gathered, put in envelopes separately and were kept for Saturday’s seminar. The next thing to speak about was what MedSOS is? Participants expressed right and false ideas regarding MedSOS giving us the opportunity to explain thoroughly, among others, what is the relation between the volunteer of MedSOS and MedSOS itself.

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Seven (7) group leaders attended Saturday 12th morning the outdoor seminar. A quick name and ice-breaking game (stand in line according to the alphabetic order of names, height, experience in non-formal education, shoe size) and an energizer (mission impossible) was chosen for the start.

After that a line with a YES and a NO at each end was formed on the ground. The following questions were addressed and participants were asked to move on either side.
a) Everyone can be a good leader
b) The group leader should help volunteers reach the conclusion he/she wants to
c) The group leader should leave his/her personal values at home
d) Practise is the best school
e) The seminar has as a scope to transfer (and) knowledge
f) In a seminar there should be recipes given to leaders

The answers were as follows, giving us the opportunity to debate on the different opinions expressed regarding the role of a group leader.
a) 4 YES – 3 NO
b) 0 YES – 7 NO
c) 0 YES – 7 NO
d) 7 YES – 0 NO
e) 5 YES – 2 NO
f) 0 YES – 7 NO

Furthermore we discussed: Who is the best group leader? What is the role of the group leader? (friend, teacher, trainer, colleague, organizer, supervisor…why?) Does my answer suites my shelf? Why I filled up the application?

Next thing to do was to speak about the “best volunteer”. In a big carton, the group leaders were asked to write down the characteristics - according to their view – of the best volunteer. At the end, one by one, gave a short description of the best volunteer.

A team building activity, well known as “Sinking sand” was the next thing to do. Although participants didn’t obey fully the rules and weren’t quiet as they were passing the sinking sand they did a good job.

Each leader got by e-mail the previous week a hypothetical exercise that included a short note about the program, a question regarding possible misunderstandings and 2 or 3 risk management cases (all of them have happened in the past in similar experiences). After finishing “Sinking sand” each leader expressed what would be his/her reaction to the risks given and debate started. Two more possible risks were given and each group leader was asked to make a draft program taking into consideration all the above as well as the notes the volunteers made the previous day. Two people referred to the privilege a group leader has to set out of the group a volunteer...

At the end a small talk was made regarding the value of … evaluating a program not only to MedSOS but for ourselves primarily. Maybe at the end of the summer an evaluation of all the summer volunteer programmes would be a nice idea…

I hope this short seminar provided experience hints and most of all … precious time for the group leaders to prepare for the summer volunteer programme they were chosen for.

I would like to thank Pepi & Sofia, Fania & John, Mariantina & Konstantinos and Theofilos for attending the seminar.

Wednesday, 11 June 2008 / Greece

The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Greek Parliament

The results…

The Treaty of Lisbon was signed by the Heads of State or Government of the 27 Member States in Lisbon on 13 December 2007. The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing them. It will provide the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands. After the official signing on 13 December 2007, the treaty will still not apply until and unless it is ratified by each of the European Union's 27 member states. It is up to each country to choose the procedure for ratification, in line with its own national constitution. The target date for ratification set by member governments is 1 January 2009 — a few months before the elections to the European Parliament.

In Greece, New Democracy (Conservative Right) & Panhellenic Socialist Movement - PASOK (Socialist) voted in favor, while the Communist Party of Greece - KKE (Communist), the Coalition of the Radical Left - SYRIZA (Leftist) and the Popular Orthodox Rally - LAOS (Far Right) voted against. In detail, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement - PA.SO.K (Socialist) declared the wish for a referendum. Former Prime Minister and current PASOK MP Costas Simitis said that George Papandreou (current leader of PASOK) decision is not in keeping with the policy of the governments of his father, Andreas, and Simitis himself, which had always opted for the ratification of treaties to take place in Parliament. As a response, George Papandreou no longer considers Costas Simitis as a deputy of the Socialist party. What would happen if there was a referendum and the Greeks voted against the treaty of Lisbon? The Coalition of the Radical Left - SYRIZA (Leftist) declared that Greeks should vote in favor or against the treaty and that the government is afraid of the people and has fear for democracy. The Communist Party of Greece - KKE (Communist) is against EU and against everything it represents. The Popular Orthodox Rally - LAOS (Far Right) claimed that with the treaty, many decisions will be taken in Brusseles.

Members of the European parliament…

In 2004, 63,11% of the population voted in Greece while the mean rate of participation for the rest European Union member states was 44,6%. Following the results of the elections, Greece has 24 members in the European Parliament. Out of the 24, 11 are members of the European People’s Party, 8 are members of the Party of European Socialists, 4 are members of the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left and 1 is member of the Independence/Democracy Group. It’s worth noting that the 3 out of 4 members of the Confederal Group of the European United Left / Nordic Green Left are members of the Communist Party of Greece – KKE.

As a conclusion…

The ratification of the Lisbon Treaty didn’t receive the proper attention in Greece. Media gave more attention to the disagreement between Simitis and Papandreou than to the treaty itself. If a referendum was organized, who would (+could) explain to Greeks that the European Union is based on the rule of law and everything derives from treaties, which are agreed on voluntarily and democratically by all Member States? The treaty of Lisbon follows the Treaty of Nice, which follows the Treaty Amsterdam, which follows the Treaty of Maastricht and so on and so on…

Coalition of the Radical Left – SYRIZA: “No to EuroTreaty – Referendum now!”

More info:
EUROPA – Treaty of Lisbon http://europa.eu/lisbon_treaty/
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT http://www.europarl.europa.eu/

Thursday, 5 June 2008 - World Environment Day*

World Environment Day is celebrated on 5 June each year to increase environmental awareness and action. This year’s focus is on climate change, with the theme “CO2 – Kick the Habit! (Towards a Low Carbon Economy)”.

Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General, said - among others - on his message for World Environment Day 2008: Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions. Our world is in the grip of a dangerous carbon habit. The message of World Environment Day 2008 is that we are all part of the solution. Whether you are an individual, an organization, a business or a government, there are many steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. It is message we all must take to heart.

In Thessaloniki, no-one focused on carbon dioxide but most env authorities, locals, citizens and the private sector participated in the celebration of world environment day 2008.

What about organizing GREEN WEEK 2009 all together?

* World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Another resolution, adopted by the General Assembly the same day, led to the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Monday, 26 May to Friday, 30 May 2008 / Strasbourg - France

More than 100 youth adopted the idea of “Join (together) or die” and Model European Union 2008 was realized in the European Parliament in Strasbourg – France…

Monday, 26th of May 2008 Mr Evangelos Gintersos welcomed us on behalf of the European Parliament in Strasbourg and immediately after the Council started the discussion on the first proposal, e.g. ‘Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the advertising and sponsorship of alcoholic products’. Mr Philipp Otmar, head of the administration of the European Paliament in Strasbourg closed the first day.

Tuesday, 27th of May 2008 the council debated and finally voted on the amendments of the first proposal while few hours later the second proposal was presented in the Council: ‘Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on compulsory licensing of patents relating to the manufacture of pharmaceutical products for export to countries with public health problems’.

Wednesday, 28th of May 2008 the Council and the Parliament agreed only on the second proposal and the proposal about the advertising and sponsorship of the alcoholic products was left aside for the next presidency to bring the subject in discussion.

Thursday, 29th of May 2008 Mr Tim Goosmann made an introduction on the subject ‘Do we need a Common European Foreign Policy’ and after that most youth participants from the Balkan or South Eastern Europe region joined the debate on ‘Peace through enlargement’ run by Mr Alexandre Hamzavi. It was one of the most intresting debates during the week…

Final day, Friday, 30th of May 2008 Youth in Action – were there are money - was presented by Helena Schmiemann. Mr Rainer Wieland (EPP-ED MEP) closed the week in European Parliament in Strasbourg with a thorough conversation on different subjects, regarding our simulation in the procedures of the European Parliament, the profession on an europarliamentalist and the peace through enlargement issue along with the candidate member countries of South East Europe.

Malte Lindenthal & Louisa Lösing (JEF-Osnabrück), Ines Verspohl (AEGEE Osnabrück), Sandra Hohlfeld, Kathrin Steinweg, Nora Ratzmann & Hanno Woelm Danielle Gluns (JEF-Osnabrück), Kristina Schroelkamp (AEGEE Tübingen), Helena Maria Schmiemann (AEGEE Augsburg), Amelian Pastor (AEGEE Timisoara) THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

left: with Mr Rainer Wieland (photo courtesy of Lenne Rahn) &

right: most of us ... (photo courtesy of Bogdan Vasilescu)

‘An excursion to the GR wetlands’

A very well known journalist (also known from ERT 3 - national TV channel) wrote an article in yesterdays Sunday edition of Makedonia newspaper (03/02/2008) under the title ‘An excursion to the wetland’. The article includes statements from the official press announcement of a member of the Euro parliament.

As a reply & in addition to the previous post on Worlds Wetland Day…

‘An excursion to the GR wetlands’

Greece signed the Ramsar Convention on 21/12/1975 including ten (10) sites with total area 163.501 hectares.

The sites are:
Evros Delta (code: 3GR001 – area: 9,267 ha)
Lake Vistonis, Porto Lagos, Lake Ismaris & adjoining lagoons (code: 3GR002 - 24,396 ha)
Nestos delta & adjoining lagoons (code: 3GR004 – area: 21,930 ha)
Lakes Volvi & Koronia (code: 3GR005 – area: 16,388 ha)
Artificial Lake Kerkini (code: 3GR006 – area: 10,996 ha
Axios, Loudias, Aliakmon Delta (code: 3GR007 – area: 11,808 ha)
Lake Mikri Prespa (code: 3GR008 – area: 5,078 ha)
Amvrakikos gulf (code: 3GR009 – area: 23,649 ha)
Messolonghi lagoons (code: 3GR010 – area: 33,687 ha)
Kotychi lagoons (code: 3GR011 – area: 6,302 ha)

In 1990 ten (10) out of ten (10) (!) wetlands joined the Montreux Record (‘a record of Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur’). In 1999 three (3) wetlands were removed from the Record. Till 2008 the situation is as follows:

Evros delta / Montreux Record since 07/04/90, removed 18/05/99
Artificial Lake Kerkini / Montreux Record since 07/04/90, removed 18/05/99
Lake Mikri Prespa / Montreux Record since 07/04/90, removed 18/05/99
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Lake Vistonis, Porto Lagos, Lake Ismaris & adjoining lagoons / Montreux Record since 04/07/90
Nestos delta & adjoining lagoons / Montreux Record since 04/07/90
Lakes Volvi & Koronia / Montreux Record since 04/07/90
Axios, Loudias, Aliakmon delta / Montreux Record since 04/07/90
Amvrakikos gulf / Montreux Record since 04/07/90
Messolonghi lagoons / Montreux Record since 04/07/90
Kotychi lagoons / Montreux Record since 04/07/90

The Birds Directive (79/403/EEC) is a Directive ‘on the conservation of wild birds‘ for member states of the E.U. To begin with, the Ramsar convention is a convention with a worldwide importance and these two shouldn’t be mixed.

In conclusion:
- We never actually did anything to protect our wetlands from 1975 till now, over thirty years time….

- Even after so many years, articles in the newspapers luck on basic knowledge (as the one stated above) regarding the Ramsar List and the Worlds Wetland Day.

Special thanks to my friend Eleni Tzortaki for the good and fast work regarding the picture posted herein

Saturday, 2 February 2008 - World Wetlands Day

2 February each year is World Wetlands Day. It marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands* on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. Each year since 1997, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular. The Convention's suggested theme for World Wetlands Day, 2 February 2008, is Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People.

On the basis of this theme, after the invitation from the Management Agency and with the support of local committees and NGO’s, we gathered all in the Centre of Culture & Environment of Malgara village. Key notes:

1. ‘The protection of the area is a personal matter’ - Mayor of Axios Municipality
2. ‘The measures taken for the protection of the area are not so effective, but the base for the creation of the Management Agency is co-operation, and that is what we must accomplish. – Head of the Management Agency
3. ‘Every evolution has its victims’ referring to the problems farmers have working inside the protected area in comparison with the farmers outside the area - Head of the Management Agency

I disagree on the last one. Every evolution has victims those that don’t want to go aboard train, the train of evolution. People should feel lucky for being born and live in the area and not unlucky for being “captured” inside it, as it was stated by one of the farmers of the region.

Recently a group of volunteers established a group named ‘Team Nature Delta’ for those who want to volunteer for the protection of the area.

*The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), signed in Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are presently 158 Contracting Parties to the Convention, with 1717 wetland sites, (total area: 159 million hectares), designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Greece was the 7th country to sign the convention. In 1974 a Greek law established the Convention and 10 sites (total area: 163501 hectares) where included in the ‘Ramsar list’, among them site ‘Axios, Loudias, Aliakmon Delta ‘(code: 3GR007). The area is also listed in the Natura 2000 network.

More info:

Management Agency - http://axiosdelta.blogspot.com/ (in Greek)
the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands - http://www.ramsar.org/ the Mediterranean Initiative of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (MedWet) - http://www.medwet.org/