campaigning for a river

8/3/2019 Campaigning for a river

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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.

campaigning for a river

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