tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626409544734615928.post-90856949383168097852008-03-17T09:53:00.000-07:002008-03-18T03:46:37.109-07:002008-03-18T03:46:37.109-07:00The Schinias National Park is a unique ecosystem in Attica, and one of the few left in Greece. It comprises a wetland, a forest area, and a beach/coastal dune system together with an marine area. <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96jKAIe5VI/AAAAAAAAAaE/YtzxhwsFMKY/s1600-h/Schinias+View+from+Pendeli.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96jKAIe5VI/AAAAAAAAAaE/YtzxhwsFMKY/s400/Schinias+View+from+Pendeli.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178756013752247634" /></a> Schinias Forest & Beach - the View from Pendeli Mountain <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96j2QIe5WI/AAAAAAAAAaM/FqflyBH2WHE/s1600-h/Schinias+Beach.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96j2QIe5WI/AAAAAAAAAaM/FqflyBH2WHE/s400/Schinias+Beach.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178756773961459042" /></a> At Schinias, the pine trees grow right on the shore. This ecosystem must resemble what Greece looked like in antiquity, before forest fires, over-grazing and urbanisation. Over 1 million people visit Schinias each year, creating incredible stress on the ecosystem. <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96y0AIe5XI/AAAAAAAAAaU/7M1hu1fGBUc/s1600-h/Schinias+Fire+Tower.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96y0AIe5XI/AAAAAAAAAaU/7M1hu1fGBUc/s400/Schinias+Fire+Tower.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178773227981170034" /></a> An automated fire fighting system has been installed. But due to lack of funding and technical incompatibilities, the system is not connected to the water mains. In the case of a fire, this system will not work. <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96zqwIe5YI/AAAAAAAAAac/ECGoIS_OlTY/s1600-h/Schinias+Garbage+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R96zqwIe5YI/AAAAAAAAAac/ECGoIS_OlTY/s400/Schinias+Garbage+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178774168579007874" /></a> Garbage is strewn throughout the Park. This is mostly food packaging: plastic bottles, tin cans, paper, plastic containers, etc. <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-CqgIe5ZI/AAAAAAAAAak/DZGrnO6-qWQ/s1600-h/Clean-up+Teams.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-CqgIe5ZI/AAAAAAAAAak/DZGrnO6-qWQ/s400/Clean-up+Teams.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179001763190990226" /></a> On March 16th, 150 volunteers met to clean the forest and beach of Schinias. <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-MlAIe5aI/AAAAAAAAAas/JUjSV_T16Jo/s1600-h/Sanitas+Volunteers.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-MlAIe5aI/AAAAAAAAAas/JUjSV_T16Jo/s400/Sanitas+Volunteers.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179012663817987490" /></a> All ages were represented. Greeks, Americans, French, British, Australians, Dutch, Belgians, Canadians, Brazilians, Israelis, Palestinians, Chinese, Moldovans, Serbians, Koreans and Germans all participated. All shared one common goal: to clean and remove as much garbage as possible, restoring the forest and beach to its native state. <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-NmAIe5bI/AAAAAAAAAa0/DYOnIJ44E5Y/s1600-h/Volunteers+Cleaning+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-NmAIe5bI/AAAAAAAAAa0/DYOnIJ44E5Y/s400/Volunteers+Cleaning+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179013780509484466" /></a> The event drew the support of the private and public sectors, as well as civil society. from left: Christina Gavrili, Gr. Sarantis SA; Athan Vellanites, HELADA; Scott Hathaway, HELADA; Manolis Sideris, Municipality of Marathon <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-OkgIe5cI/AAAAAAAAAa8/ejY7QqZ9IV4/s1600-h/Volunteer+Cleaning.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-OkgIe5cI/AAAAAAAAAa8/ejY7QqZ9IV4/s400/Volunteer+Cleaning.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179014854251308482" /></a> Over 300 bags of garbage were collected and placed in the blue recycling bins for selection and recycling. <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-YzwIe5jI/AAAAAAAAAb0/1VJUkDs-dPY/s1600-h/Theochari+-+Ammerman.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-YzwIe5jI/AAAAAAAAAb0/1VJUkDs-dPY/s400/Theochari+-+Ammerman.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179026111360591410" /></a> The garbage was trapped (or deposited) in the schinias bushes, from which the Park gets its name. This was time-consuming to find and remove. Here, Madeleine Theochari and Alexander Ammerman celebrate the removal of a bottle. <a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-aewIe5kI/AAAAAAAAAb8/O4z05rRS5C4/s1600-h/Stephen+Ammerman+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-aewIe5kI/AAAAAAAAAb8/O4z05rRS5C4/s400/Stephen+Ammerman+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179027949606594114" /></a> The young were no less valiant than the old. <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-btAIe5lI/AAAAAAAAAcE/SvNFv12SJVA/s1600-h/Registration+Desk.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-btAIe5lI/AAAAAAAAAcE/SvNFv12SJVA/s400/Registration+Desk.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179029293931357778" /></a> Henske and Lieke Defize, long-time inhabitants of Nea Makri, ran the registration desk. <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-PyQIe5dI/AAAAAAAAAbE/6hnIJaX83K4/s1600-h/Garbage+Loading+3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-PyQIe5dI/AAAAAAAAAbE/6hnIJaX83K4/s400/Garbage+Loading+3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179016189986137554" /></a> The Municipality of Marathon supported the event. Despite the fact that there was a national strike of sanitation unions, the Municipality's work crews and truck worked with the volunteers through the morning. <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-RPQIe5eI/AAAAAAAAAbM/ozhDJUNcqis/s1600-h/Agripan+Tractor.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-RPQIe5eI/AAAAAAAAAbM/ozhDJUNcqis/s400/Agripan+Tractor.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179017787713971682" /></a> Agripan SA donated the use of a beach-cleaning tractor and crew. Sarantis SA donated the garbage bags used in the clean-up. The Athens News, Kathimerini and Skai 100.3 FM promoted the event. <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-U8gIe5fI/AAAAAAAAAbU/CF44ioEoRvo/s1600-h/Mayor+of+Marathon+Briefing.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-U8gIe5fI/AAAAAAAAAbU/CF44ioEoRvo/s400/Mayor+of+Marathon+Briefing.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179021863637935602" /></a> The Mayor of Marathon explained the difficulties faced by the Municipality in caring for the Park. From left: Dr. Elias Carayiannis, Philip Dragoumis, Jimmie Katsinis, Mayor Spyridon Zagaris, Minos Kok. <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-W3AIe5hI/AAAAAAAAAbk/izHJzBNdyoU/s1600-h/Hadjibiros+4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-W3AIe5hI/AAAAAAAAAbk/izHJzBNdyoU/s400/Hadjibiros+4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179023968171910674" /></a> After the clean-up, Dr. Kimon Hadjibiros, President of the Managing Body of the National Park of Marathon-Schinias, gave a short presentation on the park and its objectives. Although the Park has been established by the government, resources have not been allocated for its proper operation. <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-V6QIe5gI/AAAAAAAAAbc/rHEYOtmggBg/s1600-h/Hadjiburos+-+Carayiannis+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-V6QIe5gI/AAAAAAAAAbc/rHEYOtmggBg/s400/Hadjiburos+-+Carayiannis+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179022924494857730" /></a> Dr. Elias Carayiannis, Evan Matiatos and Dr. Kimon Hadjibiros discussing the Park. <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-YFQIe5iI/AAAAAAAAAbs/b8MY4IOI7hQ/s1600-h/Picnic+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-YFQIe5iI/AAAAAAAAAbs/b8MY4IOI7hQ/s400/Picnic+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179025312496674338" /></a> After the clean-up, a picnic was held on the beach, coordinated by Regina Tassitano. <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-c0gIe5mI/AAAAAAAAAcM/jnKphpRZ8O8/s1600-h/Volunteers+Cleaning.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_dla3rdZv8fM/R9-c0gIe5mI/AAAAAAAAAcM/jnKphpRZ8O8/s400/Volunteers+Cleaning.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179030522292004450" /></a> In all, an area approximately 200 m x 100 m was cleaned. Although small compared with the total area of the Park, it was a good start to what many hope will be a recurring event.Philiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04706813821954088317noreply@blogger.com0