Greece

Fair Trade European Parliament Breakfast

By Marina Sarli, Fair Trade Hellas

Fair Trade Hellas was one of several CSOs joining the annual Fair Trade European Breakfast with MEPs at the European Parliament. On 10 October, a group of Members of European Parliament (MEPs), members of civil society organisations and Fair Trade producer organisations and networks gathered in the Members Salon in the European Parliament for the annual Fair Trade breakfast. The breakfast was hosted by MEP Bernd Lange (Germany) from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and Chair of the International Trade Committee, and organised by the Fair Trade Advocacy Office. Over 140 participants attended.

Thanks to a subgrant from the project Trade Fair, Live Fair, we had the chance to meet our Greek MEP Stelios Koumporoupolos at the event, who showed strong interest in the concept of domestic fair trade and on the standardization of fairest productive processes.

MEP Bernd Lange said, “I am very happy to host the first fair trade breakfast of this term in the European Parliament. European trade policies should contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals worldwide and fair trade is an interesting tool to achieve those goals. It also helps to make people in Europe aware that what we consume here has an impact on the environment and the conditions in which goods are produced elsewhere. We as MEPs have the responsibility to make sure that human rights are protected throughout the whole supply-chain of goods that we import.”

Partners’ Meeting “Make Europe Sustainable for All” in Athens

By Evita Paraskevopoulou, Hellenic Platform for Development

The annual meeting of the Make Europe Sustainable for All (MESA) project took place 22-24 October 2019 in Greece.

The Hellenic Platform for Development represents Greece in this three-year project, which combines the experience of 25 partners from international and European networks, representing over 2,500 civil society organizations.

On the morning of Tuesday, 22 October, the partners gathered at the Environmental Education Center, nicknamed “The Earth Center.” We kicked off the meeting by planting seasonal vegetables and flowers as a welcome event.

In the afternoon, we organized a “Workshop on Sustainable Development Goals and Civil Society”. First, project partners from 3 countries (Austria, Greece, and Lithuania) presented successful local actions to build alliances of civil society organizations, practice advocacy, raise awareness and encourage citizen participation.

Then the project partners and the member organizations of the Hellenic Platform for Development jointly exchanged ideas on good practices in a fun, ‘speed dating’ format!

This was followed by a panel discussion, “Promoting Sustainable Development Goals as a Political Priority at European, National & Local Level,” with policy makers at the national and European level. Konstantinos Machairas, chair of the Board of the Hellenic Platform for Development and Director of the Organization Earth, facilitated the discussion. The panel included:

Mr. Konstantinos Aravosis – General Secretary for the Environment and Water of the Ministry of Environment and Energy
Ms. Eleni Nikolaidou – Director of YDAS-3 Directorate of Geographical Policy & Strategic Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Mr. Elias Savvakis – General Secretary of the Municipality of Agios Dimitrios
Mr. Pavlos Georgiadis – Member of the Board of Directors of the Alexandroupolis Municipal Community and representative of the Independent Community of Faros Alexandroupolis
Ms. Patrizia Heidegger – Director of International Policies on Sustainability at the European Environmental Bureau

On Wednesday, 23 October, the partners had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the “Fridays for Future” movement in Athens and Greenpeace Greece to discuss sustainable development and climate change. In addition, our guests got to take advantage of the Earth Center’s collective kitchen to prepare their own salads.

On Thursday morning, 24 October, we visited the Agora of Ancient Athens followed by a discussion, “Democracy in Today’s Europe and what the Future Will Bring”. The discussion was moderated by Marie-Luise Abshagen, Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung.

An open discussion on “Sustainable Development Goals & Common Agricultural Policy” took place in Tzafferi 16 in the afternoon. The event was part of MESA’s pan-European awareness campaign #GoodFood4All, implemented in 2018-19. The purpose of the discussion was to find solutions to how the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU can help to achieve the SDGs so that the food we produce ensures the well-being of farmers, the good health of consumers, protection of the planet and the preservation of Earth’s biodiversity. The speakers were:

Mr. Kokkalis – Greek Member of European Parliament – Member of ENVI (Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) – Substitute Member of AGRI (Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development)
Ms Minotou – Former President & Co-founder at IFOAM AgriBioMediterraneo (ABM), Former Consultant for Organic Agriculture and Sustainability at Piraeus Green BANKING, Project Leader at Zakynthos Program – WWF Greece, Former General Director at DIO Certification and Inspection Organization of Organic Products, Manager at Minotos Organic Farm
Mr. Stamatis – CEO at Stevia Hellas Cooperative
Mr. Figeczky – Head of Global Policy at IFOAM – Organics International

Free Meals on Wheels by Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki

By Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki

The Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki was founded in 1982 and is the oldest living ecological organization in Greece. Its ideological orientations are identified with the four ideological pillars of the international ecological movement: environmental protection, peace and non-violence, direct democracy, human rights and social solidarity. Through the project Free Meals on Wheels it has promoted the environmental protection and human rights and solidarity.

For many years, the Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki has been organizing weekly social meals, but this is the first time that this action is directly linked to the ecological approach and sustainable use of food, while also enhancing cooperation between local and migrant volunteer groups and beneficiaries or other NGOs and Social Organizations.

The project Free Meals on Wheels, through the campaign Making Europe Sustainable for All, promotes recycling and transportation in a healthy, economical and environmentally responsible way.

The volunteers use bicycles to collect food weekly (mainly fruits and vegetables) that would be thrown away from the local-open market. Then they select the good food and fill the basket with food for needy families and individuals. Every Tuesday, volunteers cook and offer vegetarian meals to people who cannot cook and they distribute, again with bicycles, cooked meals that are prepared. Weekly meals aim to make sure that no meal is lost and to learn more about Non-Sustainable Food Production and Consumption.

All actions will have a direct impact on many Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda, in particular good food for all, sustainable consumption and production, combating inequality, aiming at zero hunger, sustainable cities and communities.

Each action is combined with an educational approach to raise awareness and to stimulate about the importance of a transition to a better lifestyle for all.

During the project, three workshops will be organized for locals and immigrants on recycling, food and waste management and sustainable development and consumption.

For more information you can visit: https://freemealsonwheels.net and https://www.facebook.com/freemealsonwheels/

17 Days 17 Sustainable Development Goals: 91 Institutions – 61 Actions – 30 Cities

By Vanessa Agapie, Hellenic Platform for Development

From 14 to 30 September 2019, the Hellenic Platform for Development coordinated for the 2nd year the largest raising awareness campaign in Greece and Cyprus for the Global Goals.

During the 17 days, 91 institutions, civil society organizations, schools, universities, municipalities, initiatives and structures implemented 61 actions, including festivals, children’s workshops, public events, informative workshops, discussions, exhibitions and services centers in 30 cities and villages of Greece and Cyprus. More than 1.7 million citizens were informed about the Global Goals by social media, while more than 39 thousand citizens participated in the actions and have learned solutions that can bring us closer to a sustainable, inclusive, fair and green future for all.

At the same time, in collaboration with the University of the Aegean, a survey was launched across the country to record measurable results for citizens’ perceptions of the Global Goals and the actions required to implement them nationally. It will remain open until the end of November.

The campaign #17days17goalsgr of the Hellenic Development Platform, within the framework of the project “Make Europe Sustainable for All” was also the largest part of actions in Greece in the context of the global campaigns #StandTogetherNow and #Act4SDGs culminating on 25 September on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

You can see some of our best moments in this photo album.

Partners at #17days17goalsgr 2019:

350 scouting systems, Academy of Entrepreneurship, Agrooikopolis, Art Thread, Ath Checkpoint – Positive Voice Prevention and Examination Center, Caritas Greece, Children’s Art Gallery of Greece, Connect Your City, dot2dot, Down Syndrome Association of Greece, Ecological Movement of Thessaloniki, ethelon, Fabric Republic, Fashion Revolution Greece, Greek Scouts, Hellenic Platform for Development, IASIS, Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, KINITRO, KMOP-Center for Social Action and Innovation, Kouklopaizoume, Labyrinth of Senses, Let’s do it Greece, National Observatory of Athens, Naturefriends, Olive Tree Routes, Orange Grove, Organization Earth, PALMI, Permaculture.School, Pharmacists of the World, Positive voice, PRAKSIS, PRAKSIS Homeless Daily Reception Center, PRAKSIS Mobile Medical Unit, Prasin Aloga, PRAXIS, Pressenza International Press Agency, Red Umbrella Ath – Sex Voice Support and Empowerment Center, Rural Cooperative of Kalamata, SCI Hellas, Serres for UNESCO, Service Design Network Greece, SOFFA, The Children of Spring, tree-challenge, UNESCO Youth Club of Thessaloniki, World Without Wars and Violence, Zero Waste Athens, Municipality of Agios Dimitrios, University of the Aegean

Festivals:

1st Zero Waste Music Festival, Connected We Stand, Greenwave festival, the Yellow Days

Schools:

1st Kindergarten of Parga, 2nd Primary School of Grevena, 2nd Primary School of Orchomenos, 2nd Primary School of Skala Oropos, 2nd Primary School of Igoumenitsa, 2nd Experimental Primary School of Ioannina, 3rd Primary School of Limassol Cyprus, 4th Primary School of Petersburg, 5th Kindergarten of Naxos Chora, 7th Kindergarten of Ioannina, 9th General High School of Ioannina Kardamitsia, 10th Elementary School of Aigaleo, 21st Primary School of Ioannina, Eleousa General High School “Konstantinos Asopios”, General Church High School of Vellas, High School of Eleousa, High school of Parakalamou, Elementary School of Giannitsochori Ilia, Primary School of Eleousa Arta, Primary School of Stavraki Ioannina, Primary School of Kofinos Cyprus, Elementary School of Mileas Metsovo, Primary School of Parakalamou, Special Vocational High School and High School of Ioannina, Nursery School of Damarion Naxos, Kindergarten of Katakolo, Kindergarten of Klimatia Ioannina, Kindergarten Paralimni Serres, Preschool of Havari Amaliada, Second Chance School of Ioannina.

Cities:

Agios Dimitrios, Athens, Aigaleo, Amaliada, Chios, Eleousa, Giannitsochori, Grevena, Igoumenitsa, Ioannina, Kalamata, Katakolo, Kofinou (Cyprus), Lesvos, Limassol (Cyprus), Limnos, Metsovo, Naxos, Orchomenos, Oropos, Parakalamos, Parga, Petroupoli, Rhodes, Samos, Serres, Syros, Thessaloniki, Vella, Veria

The Hellenic Platform for Development coordinates Greek Non-governmental Organizations in the fields of international development cooperation, humanitarian aid and development education. It currently represents different NGOs supported by a large segment of the Greek society with a significant activity nationwide and in many developing countries.

Act4SDGs in Greece – #17days17goalsgr

From September 14th to 30th September, the Hellenic Platform for Development coordinated the largest raising awareness campaign in Greece for the Global Goals, on the occasion of the completion of the three years since their adoption and within the framework of the project Make Europe Sustainable for All.

More than 360,000 citizens were informed about the Global Goals through the campaign #17days17goalsgr, involving 41 civil society organizations, institutions and schools, that implemented 34 actions, among others: children’s workshops, theatrical events, public events, cinema nights, informative workshops, discussions and exhibitions, promoting ideas to integrate the Goals into our everyday lives and local changes in 9 cities in Greece: Athens, Veria, Thessaloniki, Kalamata, Katerini, Larissa, Rhodes, Serres and Chalkidiki.

The campaign #17days17goalsgr of the Hellenic Platform was also the largest part of actions in Greece in the context of the global campaign #Act4SDGs culminating on 25 September at GA of UN in New York.

You can see some of our best moments in this video.

Hellenic Platform for Development coordinates Greek Non-governmental Organizations performing in the fields of international development cooperation, humanitarian aid and development education. It currently represents different NGOs supported by a large segment of the Greek society and with a significant activity nationwide and in many developing countries.

Photo exhibition “African Friends” in Greece

By Vanessa Agapie, Hellenic Platform for Development

International Organization “World Without Wars and Violence” presented the photo exhibition “African Friends” at the Cosmopolis 2018 cultural festival in Kavala (19-22/7), with photos from the missions of members in Africa.

Members of the “World Without Wars and Violence” realized missions to Africa from 2001 to 2008. They created networks of volunteers to prevent and treat illnesses such as malaria, dysentery, and HIV, access to clean, drinking water as well as the promotion of active non-violence, as a methodology for tackling inequalities and poverty.

The exhibition consists of 40 color photographs, capturing the energy and environment of people living in Africa. Participating with their photos: Olga Pateraki, Angeliki Fragaki, Fai Giannarou, Nikos Stergiou and Evita Paraskevopoulou. More than 1000 people, both minors and adults, visited the exhibition and took part in the interactive game.

The goal was to gain insight into the reality of the African continent through snapshots of their everyday life, linked to the SDGs. The interactive game that helped familiarize visitors with SDGs, asked them to place a sticker with one of the 8 selected SDGs in their preferred photo and link each photo with at least one Sustainable Development Goal. This action will help in a next step understanding any relationships that SDGs have with the realities of the country, by comparing images that we may already see in our own urban centers. This action was linked to the SDGs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 16.

Greece is committed to promoting the 17 Global Goals and has recently officially presented the progress report on their implementation at the HLPF in New York. The Organization “World Without Wars and Violence”, as well as all the members of the Hellenic Platform for Development, are following developments to intervene, where necessary, for to ensure their better and more effective implementation.

The action is being implemented in co-operation with the Hellenic Platform for Development under the project “Make Europe Sustainable for All” with the financial support of the EU.

Hellenic Platform for Development coordinates Greek Non-governmental Organisations performing in the fields of international development cooperation, humanitarian aid and development education. It currently represents different NGOs supported by a large segment of the Greek society and with a significant activity nationwide and in many developing countries.

HOPE 2030 – Greece

By Vanessa Agapie, Hellenic Platform for Development

On 22/4/2018, the Hellenic Platform implemented its first major public event on Global Goals and launched the campaign “Fight Inequalities” in Greece.

The first idea of the event was coordinated by 4 organizations: the Hellenic Platform for Development, ActionAid Hellas, Victoria Square Project and the World Human Forum. We took the name and the idea of Agenda 2030 and we placed it in the most central square of Athens, Victoria Square and specifically on Hope street. Victoria Square was chosen as it hosts groups from different countries, religions, homeless people and many other sub groups that have no connection between them. So the name of the event came up to “HOPE 2030”. Hope for the Agenda 2030, hope for the people who face inequalities, hope for a better future, leaving no one behind.

Exhibitions, workshops, cultural events, even planting for minors and adults were included in the all-day program, aimed at creating a major social alliance to implement the Agenda 2030 and bring people together to fight inequalities.

On Hope Street, the Hellenic Platform set up 17 Stations, one for each Global Goal, where there were organizations that informed passers-by for the Goal, through games and activities and through their work. All activities and presentations were focused on inequalities and the interlinkages of the Goals. All games, presentations, workshops, activities, even music concerts were not only in Greek, but also in English and in some cases in more languages, so that everyone can participate, get informed and enjoy.

More than 40 organizations took part with more than 120 volunteers and representatives, who informed more than 1500 people. The organizations were from different sectors, including businesses, projects, and universities. Politicians, actors and famous journalists also passed by to get informed and talked with the organizations about their action.

Mediterranean SOS Network & Cosmote United for 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

By Christina Kontaxi, MEDITERRANEAN SOS Network (MedSOS)

MEDITERRANEAN SOS Network (MedSOS) along with COSMOTE, member of OTE Group, leading telecommunication & pay TV provider in Greece, have initiated and are implementing a pioneer educational programme entitled “Ctrl Shift Save the Climate – Information and Communication Technologies as allies in climate protection”, an initiative which supports Indicator 13.3.1 of the SDG Goal 13. The educational package is licensed by the Greek Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs. Under the UN Global Compact, in which COSMOTE participates, the aim is to mobilise a global movement of sustainable companies and stakeholders in order to create the world we want.

The programme’s objective is to educate and train students and educators, respectively, on the ways in which ICTs could contribute to energy saving and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The programme consists of interactive environmental education presentations to primary and secondary education students and training seminars to educators, aiming at familiarising them with climate change and effective methods and techniques for environmental education programmes. Moreover, awareness raising activities are organised for COSMOTE employees and families and the programme is disseminated in student festivals and related events and workshops. Future actions to be implemented under this cooperation include the identification of SDG Target 13 related actors and development of synergies at national and European level and promotion of the programme through participation in SDG Target 13 good practices events.

MEDITERRANEAN SOS Network (MedSOS) is a Greek non-profit, non-governmental organization active since 1990, that comprises of 120 Full Members who form its annual General Assembly and approximately 3000 Supporting Members. It aims are: 1) Public awareness raising and encouraging changes in citizens’ -especially youth- everyday behavior that impact on the environment, 2) Advocating, lobbying and promoting cooperation among social partners, stakeholders and policy-makers at local, national, regional level, 3) Promoting active public participation in sustainable development strategies and demonstrating alternative solutions in local communities, and 4) Promoting intercultural exchanges and balanced international cooperation among European – Mediterranean partners.