The sea in Greece is more than just water and beach. It is part of their heritage and economy. Slowly the people realize: This resource needs to be protected.
It is one of the first warm days of spring in Epanomi, a coastal town in the near of Thessaloniki. Still, swimmers are only a few of the four-and-a-Kilometer-long sandy beach of Potamos. In the summer thousands of visitors gather here and leave their trash. Not only here but on many other beaches in Greece, plastic bags, coffee cups, beer cans and cigarette butts pose a serious Problem. “Now it’s halfway,” says a fisherman who comes on a regular basis. “But you come in the summer. Then you can save yourself from the garbage.”
Many people in Greece do not want to accept it. Everywhere in the country people actions Beach clean-organize private, even here in Potamos. About 50 people have been found together at the weekend to rid the coast of the unpleasant legacies. “The state and the municipalities do not take care of the garbage problem. There are far too few rubbish bins, and often these will not be emptied,” complains a mother who came with their children.
Patriotism with a sustainability factor
More and more people in Greece intend to actively participate in the preservation of nature. In order to support a new Trend that is currently on the Social Media channels economy. Under Hashtags like #beach cleanup, or #trashtag people make their bet against the littering of the environment public. They also include Mario and Kristina Bacharis. They are the organizers of the so-called beach cleanings in Epanomi. Marios was born in Berlin as child of Greek parents. For two years he lives with his wife and children in Thessaloniki. He likes to be in the home of his parents. However, it is precisely the lack of environmental awareness, head is giving him a break: “a Lot of people here are very comfortable. I think people expect a lot from the state and is not ready to do something. You want, that your environment is beautiful. What happens beyond, is for many here simply a matter for the municipality.”
The Initiative, iSea Thessaloniki sensitized the company for a better interaction with the sea.
For Marios and his wife, this mentality is difficult with the native pride of the Greeks compatible. They also love the country and the unique nature. But the fact that hundreds of thousands against the agreement reached in the name dispute with the neighboring country of North-Macedonia on the road to the beach cleaning but only 100, is a mystery. That’s why they are happy that more and more people to follow your call and your free day with the Entmüllung of the local beaches.
Environmental protection and democracy
Ioannis Giovos, the staff of the ocean protection initiative, iSea, in Thessaloniki, is happy about such actions. “It is not only environmental protection, but also to take responsibility as a citizen. In Greece we are by our history, per se, against the state, or the state. But this has to stop, in order for things to improve.”
This mentality is reflected also in their dealings with the sea. Although it is culturally a high priority. But it was a balancing act between love and habit, especially when it comes to environmental protection, says his colleague Nikos Doumpas: “The Greeks love the sea, but it is a matter of course. They consider it given that you can swim in clean waters.” But your garbage still on the beach. Out of sight, out of mind? In order for this mentality to counter, organized by iSea education programs, with whom you want to raise the awareness of especially young people for active environmental protection.
Because, despite the also high in international comparison and water quality in Greece, are just plastic waste and waste water is a massive Problem for Greek waters. European laws have brought little improvement, says Giovos. The disposable mentality is to pass through laws only conditionally control. Especially since the personal responsibility to be asked. “In Greece, the prevailing opinion of many that the little bit of waste accounts for nothing. You push the responsibility of large companies or the policy.” A change of Mentality but need time.
The sea as economic space
Also Stella Kyvelou wants a more careful use of the sea. The Professor of Economics at the Panteion University of Athens has worked for many years with the sea as a resource. It supports the Initiative of ‘Blue growth’ , which was launched in 2012 by the European Commission to use the European seas as an opportunity for growth and employment. Over 16,000 km of coastline in Greece. Actually, the country would have to be a pioneer in the development of sustainable strategies for the development of this resource, calls Kyvelou.
In Greece, there are always more citizens that clean, even the beaches.
“For the Greek economy, maritime spatial planning is becoming increasingly important, since it is directly associated with the development and competitiveness of important sectors: through the use of energy sources, underwater cables and Pipelines for the supply of energy not only Greece but the whole of the EU.” It would add to the Expansion of coastal cities as production sites, the development of tourism and promotion of valuable natural resources, such as natural gas, it is assumed in masses in front of the coast of Cyprus. “A Pipeline from the Cypriot coast through the Ionian sea to continental Europe would be the end of the dependence on Gas from Russia,” explains Kyvelou.
To take advantage of all these resources, but efficient management, in the Form of “Maritime spatial planning”. This is a fail, but often the lack of cooperation of the competent authorities. Ministries and interest groups were in conflict with each other. The sea is a challenge, which go far beyond the country’s interests, especially with regard to the ongoing conflict with Turkey. It is a matter of shared responsibility – politically, economically and environmentally: “The sea unites and separates us at the same time. Synergies and conflicts it creates.”