campaigning for a river
TRANSCRIPT
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Campaigning for the river
Potamos, Corfu island, Greece
Athanasios Kafkalidis
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What inspired me? The film ErinBrockovich
The long bike rides I used to do around theisland They enabled me to see with myown eyes the degradation of the islands
natural environment.
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Greek Youth Parliament
I was appointed to the Greek YouthParliament, on the basis of a project I didconcerning the river. I wrote about itshistory, interviewed neighbours and peoplewho had something to tell me about it
Then, I tried to pressurize local authorities(Municipality) so that they would organize aclean up of the particular river. It neverhappened!
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Articles in local and national newspapers
So.. This is how I started writing letters toministers and other high ranking officials of
the government asking them to intervene !
I also started writing articles in local andnational newspapers The press was very
supportive of my case ! They publishednearly everything I wrote about the riverPotamos
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UN magazine on the environment
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Surrounding environment
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Nonetheless, there was no reaction of the Mayor
and local authorities
Then I focused on the European level Icontacted the European Commission, Members of
the European Parliament. Some were very supportiveof my case (talked about it to their Greekcolleagues, sent letters to the Mayor..)
I also tabled a petition at the European Parliament(right of every EU citizen) which was accepted
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Th f di l b id ( t f th i
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The four medieval bridges (part of the riverPotamos.
I contacted the Ministry of Culture because the 4 bridges crossing
the river seemed to me quite old and in need of protection as well
They were indeed very old! (14th-15th Century)
Some good news: The Minister signed a decree protecting thebridges and characterising them as national heritage.
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Finally
Finally, after a lot of pressure from ministers and EUofficials, the Prefecture of Corfu realised environmentalcontrolsof the rivers waters which were polluted. Followingthe controls, the necessary measures were taken.
Nonetheless, the river is still pollutedin other parts A lotmore needs to be done!
Lessons to be learned: 1) Very difficult if you are campaigning
alone! 2) You have to persistin the end something alwayshappens! (It took me three years to achieve something little)3) Cities and Youth: We need a structure that gives youth avoice! + Local authorities should seriously consider the viewsand proposals of Youth.