9 – 17 June 2006
Following the success of the Week of Ecology in Aegina, October
2005, the second EcoWeek will be held 9 – 17 June 2006,
on the International Environment Day.
Click
here for the EcoWeek program
2006 in English (PDF)
Click
here for the EcoWeek program 2006 in Greek (PDF)
The Week of Ecology in Aegina is
an institution that was initiated in October 2005 and was organized
by architect Elias Messinas. Among others, participated in the events,
the Center for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES), the Greek Society for
Recycling, the Folklore Museum of Aegina, and the Association for Holistic
Architecture and Ecological Building.
The goal of the events was to inform and “educate” people,
to guide them in adopting some simple daily habits, different, perhaps
from what they are used to, which can affect in a positive way our
daily life, the way we affect the environment and our health.
The Week
of Ecology in Aegina in October 2005 focused
on the trilogy: Recycling – Composting – Ecological
Building. The exhibition, at the Folklore Museum of Aegina - located
prominently at the historic port of Aegina - attracted visitors from
the island, from Athens and abroad.
The program included among others lectures by
architects of bioclimatic architecture such as Kostas Tsipiras (author
of the book “Ecological Architecture” Kedros Publishing
House) (photo left and Alexandros Tombazis, screening of exhibition of
bioclimatic architecture and recycling in
Aegina, film screeing on bioclimatic architecture
in Greece, activity for children, such as ecological
games, (photo right) puppet show, and building of simple devices
that use the sun and wind to operate.
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The events also included a visit
to a bioclimatic residence in Perdika, Aegina, guided by the architect
Alexandros Tombazis. Two PC
stations allowed visitors to search for information concerning
ecological materials and ecological design (DIPE). During the Week we
held a lottery for residential organic waste bins
(composters) and
solar cellular phone chargers (Vodafone), while during the events
we collected batteries (Germanos) and printer ink cartridges (Microtech)
for recycling. Finally, the exhibit and events were “decorated” by
the installation Plastic Bottles which
was created with the participation of the Secondary School students
of Aegina.
The Week of Ecology in Aegina organized for June
2006, will take place the first weekend after the International Day
for the Environment. The central theme is: Earth – Water – Air.
The theme is general enough to allow for many different aspects of
ecology to be included and also many different ways of expression
to be employed. For example, there will be theater, cinema, arts,
technology, scientific lectures and agricultural advice. There will
be games and events for children and teenagers. The goal is to approach
as many people as possible, in a form that each one can feel comfortable
and can identify with.
The timing of the event is also critical: it is not only connected
to the Day for the Environment, but it is a long weekend as well,
meaning many visitors from Metropolitan Athens, less than an hour
away from Aegina.
The Week of Ecology is organized by architect Elias
Messinas and the following have been invited to participate (many of
whom have already accepted the invitation): The Municipality of Aegina, the
Folklore Museum, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment
and the Cultural Heritage, The Ecological Society for Recycling, the Center
for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES), the National Technical University of Athens
(NTUA), the Association for Holistic Architecture and Ecological Building,
the Association of Active Citizens of Aegina, and others.
The
events will be hosted in a number of different venues
throughout the port town of Aegina. The prospective venues
include the following: Folklore Museum (1), the bay (2), the art
gallery Egina-Aegina and Titina movie theater (3), Markelos Tower
and courtyard (4), and the municipal theater (5).
The goal is to attract different social, professional, and age groups,
in order for the information to reach as many people as possible.
Scattering the events throughout the port town will ensure the maximum
exposure of people to the events and available information. The events’ moto
is “we bring information to your doorstep”.
The Week of Ecology in Aegina will be covered among
others by Greek National Television (ET1), radio stations, local and
national press, magazines and newsletter that cover environmental issues.
The children where instrumental in the recycling
of batteries during the Week of Ecology in Aegina – here
depositing used batteries for recycling at the recycling point
at the Folklore Museum in Aegina.
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General view (right picture) of the Folklore
Museum during the Week of
Ecology in
Ocotber 2005. In the foreground the solar cellular phone chargers that were
distributed in the lottery (courtesy of Vodafone) and in the background the “plastic
bottles” installation.
Few words about the organizer:
Elias Messinas is a practicing architect, a graduate of Yale University
and NTUA. He has organized exhibitions, lectured and authored articles
and a book in Greece, Europe, and the US.
Elias resides permanently in Aegina and is active in the life of
the island: he assists and consults the local Mayor and Municipality in
dealing with the environmental problems of the island – mostly
to do with waste. He writes on a regular basis in the local press
on environmental issues and is actively involved in local and national
associations towards informing people about environmental issues
and ecological building. In parallel to his professional practice,
Elias is attending this year the interdisciplinary Masters program
at the NTUA (M.Sc.) “Environment and Development”. The Week
of Ecology is an institution that was created and initiated
by Elias and was organized for the first time in October 2005.
Click
here for the EcoWeek program 2006 in English (PDF)
Click
here for the EcoWeek program 2006 in Greek (PDF)
