ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF VERIA (RECYCLING)ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF VERIA (RECYCLING)

REGION CENTRAL MAKEDONIA

Prefecture IMATHIA

ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF VERIA (RECYCLING)

Date of Initial Completion: 30/7/1996 1st Update: 25/10/1997 2nd Update (CHAP.I): 27/11/1999

Date of Last Update: 15/3/2001

e_mail: noik@otenet.gr

I. Identity of Organisation

The Organisation is a member of the: Pan-Hellenic Network of Ecological Organizations

Address

VERIA Postal Code 591 00 Street: 17, FLEMING STR.

Tel. 23310-24975, 23310-25433, 23310-61007 Fax 23310-25433

Contact Persons: NIKOS ASLANOGLOU Tel. 6946 381707

Legal Status

Today the Organisation is Civic non Profit Organisation since 1995

Initially the Organisation was Non Typical Collaboration since 1989

Aims

Citizens are being informed about the ecological crisis and take part in the procedure of dealing with it. / Studies

for liquid and solid wastes problems / promotion of recycling materials / promotion of ideas for historical and

cultural improvement of the environment /

Researches are being conducted and information is being given on the reduction of wastes and promotion of

alternative environmental friendly solutions.

Members and Friends

With voting right: 4 Without voting right: 15 of whom have paid their membership fee: 15

Material Substructure

Office: Rented, Operating days: Daily, Operating hours: Constantly(it is possible to communicate directly with

the organization members by mobile phone)

There are databases in Paper its morph and structure is Thematic / file of activities / file of press publications

Activities Hall: Almost 100 individuals

Performance material: Video, TV, camera, projector which are provided from members, 3VHF for communication

and fire protection / equipment for climbing mountains

Vehicles: 1 truck for recycling (it is provided to the organization from the municipality of Veria, after ensuring it will

be bought by the public, exclusively depending on the organizations’ activities)

For the organisation are working with fee: 4 persons.

For the organisation are offering voluntary work: 2 persons.

Remarks: The Ecological group of Veria continues to operate as an informal group

Also the Ecological group of Veria is a non-profit organization and is dealing with

Recycling in a professional level.

Administrative board

Aslanoglou Nikos President

Simeonidis Kostas Secretary

Kousidou Efi Treasurer

Mouratidis Giorgos Member

Temas Lazaros Member

Asikidis Michalis Member

II. Activities

General Issue: Conservation of the natural environment

Issue-Topic: Forest protection - Forest fighting

The activity took place in 1997 Range: National

Activities - Results:

Constant participation of volunteers of the organisation to forest fire extinguishing activities.

Participation in the putting out of forest fires.

General Issue: co-operation in environmental issues

Issue-Topic: Participation in conferences - various events

From: 1989 To: 1996 Range: National

Activities - Results:

Most frequent participation in conferences concerning the environment and quality of life, all around Greece.

Active participation of the organisation in all 6 national meetings of environmental NGOs organised by EKVI.

Participation of a member of our organisation to the seven-member Secretariat of the National Network of

Environmental NGOs - organisation and co-ordination of the activist presence of our organisation at Chalkida's bridge

and at the Ministry of the Environment regarding the quality of the inland waters.

Two climbers from SPELEO participated in the activist activity. Members of our organisation constructed a 20Χ60

metres poster which was suspended from the bridge. Result: A number of contacts were made with the Minister of

the Environment officials for the effective tackling of the issue.

General Issue: Co-operations on environmental issues

Issue-Topic: Pan-Hellenic Network of Environmental NGOs

The activity took place in 1997 Range: National

Activities - Results:

Participation in the organisation and execution of an activist action at University of Thessalia with the view of

protecting Mpoumpoulithras estuary. A poster was hung up by climbers at the University's building (1997).

Participation in the organisation and execution of a protest action with the view of tackling the environmental

problems caused by the operation of the Chemical Fertiliser Company of Nea Karvali.

Participation in the organisation and execution of protest in favour of the protection of Nea Fokaia Chalkidikis estuary,

in collaboration with Nea Fokaia commune.

Participation in the organisation and execution of a demonstration in front of the Forest Secretariat offices with the

view of sensitising the public on forest fire issues (5/6/1997). Participation in the organisation and execution of a

protest in front of the Ministry of Agriculture regarding forest fires and the forthcoming law regarding forests.

General Issue: Co-operations with environmental issues

Issue-Topic: Organisation of conferences - various events

From: 1989 To: 1996 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Organisation of local ecological organisations meetings with the view of co-ordinating their avidities.

Organisation of the 3rd Pan-Hellenic conference of ecological organisations in Veria in collaboration with EKBY (12/91).

Organisation of an event- presentation of a book entitled 'The planet's condition -1995' in Veria in collaboration with

Nea-Oikologia (12/95).

General Issue: Ecosystems protection

Issue-Topic: Estuaries

From: 1989 To: 1996 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

In order that Imathia's rivers are enriched, spawn was transported from the Louros fishing farm in Ioannina to

various rivers of Imathia prefecture in collaboration with the prefecture.

Constant monitoring through photographing and video recording, of the surface waters of Imathia prefecture.

General Issue: Environmental protection

Issue-Topic: Forests - rubbish dumps

The activity took place in 1994 Range: Regional

Activities - Results:

Activist action: Four members of our organisation marched from Veria to Athens and hold a meeting with the Minister

of the Environment Mr. K. Laliotis..

Result: Provision of a EUROS 14,673 fund for the purchase of wireless communication system that was utilised for

fire-protection purposes.

Also the provision of a EUROS 293,470 fund for the creation of a fruit dumping place.

Issue-Topic: Water pollution

The activity took place in 1989 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Occupation of two bridges along the national road at the draining ditch 'T66'. This initiative was organised by our

organisation and people from 16 surrounding municipalities participated. Information material was distributed to the

Informational visits to various villages and organisation of public meetings in relation to the 'draining ditch T66' issue

and the issue of the pollution of Loudias river by waste discharged by industries.

A proposal made to the prefectural council in relation to industrial pollution. The issue was discussed

TEDK held a debate at Agios Georgios municipality. The subject of the debate was 'industrial pollution and our

organisation's activities'.

Issue-Topic: Water pollution

From: 1989 To: 1990 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Interventions made to the organisation with the view of preventing the removing of Imathias area stalls to an

ecologically sensitive area (26.9.89, positive result).

Holding a meeting at a prefectural level of government in relation to the necessary measures need to be taken for

tackling industrial pollution. The issue has been brought forwards by our organisation.

Intervention made by our organisation in relation to deposition areas of household refuse (15/3/90).

Issue-Topic: Water pollution

The activity took place in 1993 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Occupation of a bridge at Louloura municipality. Information material was distributed to the passing bys.

Activist action: Three members of out organisation remained 'suspended' from the 6th floor of the Imathia prefecture

buildings for 32 hours, after they hung up a 15x5 meters poster (30/8/93).

Demands: The effective fire protection and the protection of underground and surface water resources of the area.

Result: Realisation of a meeting - The prefect committed to the carrying out of a study for the examination of quality

water. The prefecture was enriched with the purchase of further three fore tenders within three months.

Issue-Topic: Water pollution

From: 1993 To: 1996 Range: Regional

Activities - Results:

The activist action was extensively covered by the local and Athenian press.

Lodging written complaints against specific industrial pollution cases which resulted in the public prosecutor's

intervention and the enforcement of EUROS 20,000-30,000 fines to polluting industries of the area (7/94).

Activist action against industrial pollution: Two members of our organisation 'suspended themselves' from Edessa's

waterfall for 10 hours after they hung up a gigantic poster (4/9/94).

This activist action was extensively covered by the media on a national scale.

Issue-Topic: Water pollution

From: 1994 To: 1995 Range: Regional

Activities - Results:

Disclosure, following a search by the organisation, of an illegal pesticides dump and notification of the competent

authorities (11/94).

Intervention made by the organisation in relation to the Agios Georgios scrapheap which resulted in the immediate

interference of the prefectural services in order to restore the area (5/4/95).

Activist action: Members of our organisation climbed up a high voltage electricity tower at KONEX's can-making factory

with the purpose of exerting pressure to the competent authorities and sensitising the general public (3/7/95) -

Meetings were held with the prefect.

Lodging a complaint to the EU against polluting industries of Pella and Imathias prefectures as well as of those

marble processing factories that have no operation licence.

Issue-Topic: Water pollution

The activity took place in 1996 Range: Regional

Activities - Results:

Dispatch to the Supreme Court of Appeal of a file with information about the polluting industries that operate illegally

in Pella and Imathia prefectures, following a meeting with the president and the prosecutor.

Result: Dispatch of a document (28.6.96) from the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal of Veria, the Ministry of

Public Order and the Ministry of the Environment, concerning their intervention to the case.

Also: Dispatch of a document (17.7.96) from the Ministry of Public Order's office to the Police Department of Imathia

demanding the implementation of all legal measures. In parallel, the Ministry of Development, and the Veria Ecological

General Issue: Information - Sensitisation of the public

Issue-Topic: Environmental education

From: 1989 To: 1996 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Provision of guided tours to pupils from Imathia prefecture and the rest of Greece, visiting areas of environmental and

cultural interest.

Undertaking environmental education activities that are of informational and practical nature throughout the school

period at primary schools, lyceums and high-schools of Imathia prefecture.

Utilisation of the 'informational packet' (documentaries, transparencies, photographic exhibition) on environmental

education activities.

Issue-Topic: Participation in various events

The activity took place in 1995 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Participation in cultural events called Imathiotika. Operation of a exhibition stand with music back-up and screening of

45 minutes documentaries produced by the organisation on the natural and cultural environment of the prefecture.

The screening was on a daily basis from 18.00 to 24.00 at the central squares of Veria, Naousa, Alexandria and many

other municipalities of the prefecture / Distribution of printed material concerning refuse management and recycling.

Photographic exhibition at Imathia prefecture of environmental and cultural references from the antiquity until today.

Result: Thousands of visitors flooded the stand of the exhibition and 2,500 signatures against nuclear testing were

collected (GREENPEACE's campaign).

Issue-Topic: Production of a radio programme - Organisation of various events

From: 1994 To: 1996 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Production of an hourly programme in the supra-municipal radio station of Imathia prefecture on environmental and

quality of life issues.

Organisation of an event at the organisation's offices for honouring Imathia's prefect who revealed an extraordinary

interest and contributed towards the protection of the area's environment (2/95).

General Issue: Protection and conservation of cultural heritage

Issue-Topic: Antiquities

The activity took place in 1995 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Road closing and forcing the then Minister of Culture to talk with the organisation for 15 minutes about the antiquities

of Naousa area.

Result: Provision of a ECU 2,641,232 from the Ministry of Culture for the protection, conservation and promotion of

General Issue: Protection, conservation and restoration of forests

Issue-Topic: Voluntary forest protection and forest fire extinguishing

From: 1993 To: 1996 Range: Regional

Activities - Results:

Listening of the forest inspection communication frequencies on 24 hours a day basis and participation in many forest

fire extinguishing cases.

Active participation of our organisation in the putting out of distractive forest fires at Vermio (7/93).

Pilling logs from burned forest wood at the central of Veria as a protest against the ineffective forest protection.

Activist action (see above).

General Issue: Protection, conservation, restoration of forests

Issue-Topic: Seedbed of forest species

From: 1994 To: 1996 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Setting up and maintenance of forest species seedbed for sub-urban and urban tree-planting purposes. The area for

the cultivation of saplings was provided by the Farming Associations Union of Veria.

Result: Provision of mainly climbing plants to schools to be planted in the school-yards, and forest species to be used

in reforestation schemes.

Co-organisation with scouts, the 1st Army Corps and school communities in reforestation activities (4.2.90, 3,000

trees were planted, 600 individuals participated).

Participation in the tree-planting activities of the areas along Aliakmonas river organised by Imathia prefecture (2/96).

General Issue: Refuse management

Issue-Topic: Recycling

From: 1993 To: 1996 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Undertaking of a seven-month research-study on the collection of information about refuse management and

recycling in Greece and internationally.

The Veria Farmers' Co-operatives Union offered an area for the storage of recycling materials, the Veria municipality

offered 100 recycling bins and another environmental NGO 400 bins

Issue-Topic: Recycling

The activity took place in 1997 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Continuation of paper and aluminium recycling action at Imathia prefecture.

Co-operation with the Environmental Initiative of Magnisia in order to collect paper from the prefectural schools for

Cleaning Laiko area from litter with the participation of campers and recycling.

General Issue: Social action

Issue-Topic: Expression of solidarity to the Greek communities of Bulgaria

The activity took place in 1997 Range: International

Activities - Results:

Despatch of humanistic aid and transportation of 5 Yonnes of food, medicine, cloths and school material-books to the

Greek communities of Bulgaria.

Issue-Topic: Setting up of a blood bank - lending library

From: 1994 To: 1996 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Setting up of a voluntary blood bank provided by members of the organisation. Operation of a lending library at our

offices for pupils, students and the general public.

Setting up of a lending library with books found during recycling. Dispatch of books to mountain area communities of

Imathia prefecture and to Greek schools of Northern Hyperus using the organisation's van.

Delivery of magazines to the organisation 'Onisimos' with the final destination being the Koridalos prisons.

Delivery of various magazines collected during recycling at various camps of Imathia prefecture.

Future Plans

General Issue: Information - sensitization of the public

Issue - Topic: Participation in demonstrations

The action has been programmed for the year 1998 Range National

Future Activities:

Participating on environmental content demonstrations in the frame of: “Thessaloniki – cultural capital of Europe”. Giving

environmental education courses on teams of visitors – students (May’97) in collaboration with the “New Ecology”, the

Environmental Initiative of Magnesia and The Ecological Movement of Drama.

Participation in the Book exhibition (May’97) at the place: “Pedion tou Areos” by collecting the recycling materials, placing

recycling glass and aluminum buckets in the area of the exhibition in collaboration with the “New Ecology”

III. Source of Information

Source of information: Informal Network of Citizens

Subject: Denunciations for local environmental issues.

Time period Frequency Initiative Satisfaction level

1/1989-8/1996 Daily Theirs Perfect

Source of information: Greek Biotope/ Wetland Center (EKVY)

Subject: Press Material on Wetlands.

Time period Frequency Initiative Satisfaction level

1/1992-8/1996 Once a month. Common Perfect

Source of information: Prefecture of Imathia

Subject: Wetlands/ Forests/Quarry/ Pollution-contamination of the environment

Time period Frequency Initiative Satisfaction level

1/1994-8/1996 Once a week. Ours Moderate

Delivery of selective information due to interests of petty politics

Source of information: Forest Inspection

Subject: Quarry/ prevention of forest fires/ hunting

Time period Frequency Initiative Satisfaction level

1/1990-8/1996 Once every 2 months. Ours Very Low

Total insufficiency of manpower. Inexistant infrastructure. Indifference.

Source of information: Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.

Subject: Recycling/ Pollution/ Proposals on environmental programmes.

Time period Frequency Initiative Satisfaction level

6/1992-8/1996 Once a month. Ours Moderate

Communicative difficulties due to distance.

IV. Relations with the Press

There are still many publications in the local and national press concerning the NGO’s activities that are not found

in the NGO’s archive.

Title: IMERISIA VEROIAS

Subject: Local environmental-cultural issues