ECOLOGICAL MOVEMENT OF KOZANI

REGION WESTERN MAKEDONIA

Prefecture KOZANI

ECOLOGICAL MOVEMENT OF KOZANI

Date of Initial Completion: 17/7/1996 1st Update: 7/2/1998 2nd Update (CHAP.I): 15/12/1999

Date of Last Update: 14/3/2001

webpage: www.teikoz.gr/eco/starteco.htm

e_mail: elsa@kozani.teikoz.gr

I. Identity of Organisation

Address

KOZANI Postal Code 501 00 Street: 2, PANDORAS STR.

Tel. 24610-23113 Fax 24610-23113, 24610-28311

Contact Persons: LAZAROS TZIKRITZIS Tel. 24610-25512, 24610-40162, 24610-40161 (ext. 148)

Legal Status

Today the Organisation is Civic non Profit Organisation since 1999

Initially the Organisation was Association - Union since 1988

Aims

Environmental protection and life quality improvement / social claims (right to health, to education, equality

between the sexes ) / minorities (respect to variety)

Promote ecological awareness (getting rid of the false dilemma “development or environment”

Members and Friends

With voting right: 257 Without voting right: 1300 of whom have paid their membership fee: 170

Material Substructure

Office: Rented, Operating days: Every Thursday, Operating hours: 19.00-22.00

There are databases in Paper its morph and structure is Thematic / photographic file(regional problems,Public

Enterpize for electricity D.E.I., ecological disaster)

Activities Hall: 150 individuals(it is provided from the church

Administrative board

Tsiritzis Lazaros President

Pagarliota Elsa Secretary

Theofilaktou Eleni Member

Batianis Efthimios Member

Litsiou Pelagia Member

Tselekidou Eleni Member

Dimopoulos Vaggelis Member

Koukoubesis Athanasios Member

II. Activities

General Issue: Conservation of cultural heritage

Issue-Topic: Restoration of monuments

From: 1990 To: 1996 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Interventions made to the municipality for the restoration and maintenance of old building such as churches and

water fountains (negative result).

Interventions made to the municipality for the paving of certain streets (negative result).

General Issue: Environmental protection

Issue-Topic: Industrial pollution

From: 1988 To: 1998 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Information of the citizens (through the media) about the dramatic environmental degradation caused by the lawless,

excessive and accelerating exploitation of the area's lignite by the Public Electricity Company without taking any

measures for the restoration of the natural environment.

There are some issues regarding human health: 1) Inappropriate operation of filters 2) Operation standards that are

dictated by EU and national legislation are not been met.

There are further issues regarding underground water courses and soil pollution which in turn may have fatal impacts

to the factory's employees and the residents of the surrounding area.

Issue-Topic: Industrial pollution

From: 1988 To: 1998 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Elaboration of visits, lectures and open debates at the Public Electricity Company's premises, the surrounding areas,

schools and Technical Institutions.

Demonstrating in the streets with various agencies and organisations in favour of taking the appropriate measures

towards the lawful operation of the Public Electricity Company's factory.

Issue-Topic: Industrial pollution

From: 1992 To: 1995 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Bringing a charge against the excessive use of CLOFEN, in collaboration with the Public Electricity Company's

employers (some protective measures were taken).

Information of citizens and agencies, interventions made to public agencies, lodging of an appeal to the Greek Courts

and the European Union.

The purpose of the above action taken was the cancellation of the location of the 5th Unit of Public Electricity

Company's installations at Agios Dimitrios.

The fate of those actions was negative: The Greek courts rejected the appeals and the EU decided after 10 years of

reviewing the case that the positive assurance given by the Greek government about the elaboration of an

Environmental Impact Assessment for the project, were satisfactory. An Environmental Impact Statement, however,

was never produced and the project (Unit) is currently (1995) under construction.

Issue-Topic: Industrial pollution

The activity took place in 1997 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Expression of concern in relation to the relationship between Polifitos lake and the proposed Ilarionas dam, and the

area's seismic activity. Action taken: Submission of an open letter to the representatives of the State in relation to

the continuation of the construction works at Ilarionas; contacts with representatives from the surrounding villages;

submission of a justified report against the Environmental Impact Statement published.

Issue-Topic: Protection of earthquakes.

The activity took place in 1997 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Entering a protest against the development of the areas hit by the earthquake and in favour of creating squares.

General Issue: Health - Information of the public

Issue-Topic: Consumer protection

The activity took place in 1997 Range: National

Activities - Results:

Co-operation with the Consumers' Union called 'The quality of life'.

General Issue: Information - Sensitisation of the public

Issue-Topic: Burning of agricultural waste.

From: 1992 To: 1996 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Information through the media, posters of the producers for the negative impacts stemming form the burning of

agricultural waste.

Interventions made to the prefecture, the Forest Inspection in relation to the same issue (no result).

Issue-Topic: Clean town - Environmental protection

The activity took place in 1997 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Organisation of an environment week that included a) bicycle racing that had no competitive character, with the

overwhelming participation of the town's youth b) lecture entitled: 'Biodiversity', c) cleaning the parks form litter by

volunteers, d) tree-planting along the suburban zone of Kozani

Issue-Topic: Events - Excursions

From: 1990 To: 1996 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Organisation of excursions at areas of ecological significance. Organisation of festivals-balls which aim at bringing

together members and friends of the organisation.

General Issue: Natural resources management

Issue-Topic: Agriculture

From: 1995 To: 1996 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Elaboration of two lectures by distinguished speakers. The subject was the excessive use of pesticides-fertilizers in

Issue-Topic: Pumping water out of lakes

From: 1993 To: 1994 Range: Prefectural

Activities - Results:

Lodging complaints to the media against the irrational drawing of water from the Polifitos man-made and the

Issue-Topic: Quality of life - Public health

From: 1991 To: 1996 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Provision of information through the media, lectures, field trips and visiting local people in relation to the dangers to

human health from the operation of an amiantus mining factory in the area (toxicity, cancer, lounge diseases).

It is characteristic that the amiantus reserves in Kozani are the largest in Greece an one of the most significant in

General Issue: Political action

Issue-Topic: Municipality environment - Illegal building activities on land owned by the municipality

The activity took place in 1997 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Lodging of complaints against the aesthetically inappropriate construction in town. Collection of signatures. Petition

to the municipal council against the Illegal building activities on land owned by the municipality. Bringing charges

against tree-cutting activities outside churches.

Issue-Topic: Participation in the municipal council

From: To: Range: Local

Activities - Results:

A member of our organisation was voted municipal councillor throughout the last two elections.

Issue-Topic: Speech

From: 1997 To: 1998 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Criticism exercised in relation to the diversion of the initial meaning of the term

'development' which meant the protection and the promotion of the prefecture's environment. In that respect, a

speech is scheduled.

General Issue: Protection of wild flora

Issue-Topic: Hunting

From: 1990 To: 1998 Range: Local

Activities - Results:

Launching a campaign against hunting through the distribution of brochures, bringing charges.

General Issue: Protection of wild flora.

Issue-Topic: Injured birds.

The activity took place in 1997 Range: National

Activities - Results:

Transportation of injured birds at the Greek Care Centre for the Wild Animals and Birds' (EKPAZP).

III. Source of Information

Members who work in the Public Power Corporation (DEI)

IV. Relations with the Press

Title: CHRONOS