When the Civil Society’s power is demonstrated in practice

Our fourth activity in Zakynthos was definitely special. Although the initiative outcomes were quite successful and had a great impact on the local community, our organization received a complaint for carrying out the harbor clean-ups. We have been confronted with private interests and personal motives, which, however, have not stood long enough to deter us and change our plans and our diverse activities.

During our fourth visit to our beloved Zakynthos, we completed our underwater and coastal clean-ups in the highly congested parts of the island and proceeded to an extended consultation with the local community, the business world of the island, the local and regional administration as well as a member of the Parliament, focusing on the successful operation of our Marine Litter Collection Station in the Alykanas area. A Marine Litter Collection Station which is a guide for the whole country, given the activation of the local community and local authorities for its proper functioning. Finally, due to the strong winds, we returned two weeks later to fully complete our original plan, retrieving a significant amount of abandoned nets from a reef, in a very demanding operation that lasted several hours.

In our efforts, our good partners from the “Ecological Awakening Natura DI ZANTE”, the Community of Alykanas and the Municipality of Zakynthos, always help and accompany us.

Overall, this activity and the developments that followed were yet another tangible proof that civil society is much stronger than the meanness and private interests of any individual whose “vision” extends to their personal profit.