World Media on Greece - Science and the Environment
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Conference on climate change concludes with Athens Declaration (Xinhua, 04.06.09) |
The adoption of the Athens Declaration on Vulnerable Children and Climate Change was the conclusion of the two-day conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations."
The conference took place in the Athens Concert Hall under the patronage of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO ) and in collaboration with the World Sustainable Development Forum.
Delegates from all over the world discussed topics focusing on the repercussions of climate change on more vulnerable social groups, investment issues and funding aimed at limiting the emissions of "greenhouse" effect gases and the adjustment to climate change.
Keynote speakers included Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, UN Intergovernmental Committee on Climatic Change (IPCC) President, Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rajendra Pachauri, UN Secretary General Envoy on Climatic Change and former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and cardiac surgery professor at the Imperial College in London, Sir Maghdi Yacoub. Read more…
See also:
Climate Change Conference (GreekNewsAgenda, 03.06.09)UNESCO Website
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“Aristotle Onassis Prize for the Protection of the Environment" --International Environmental Prize to be Awarded in Future in Hamburg (cnbc.com, 29.05.09) |
A new International Onassis award has been established and announced in Hamburg by the City Mayor Ole von Beust, City Senator for the Environment Anja Hajduk and Onassis Foundation President Anthony S. Papadimitriou.
The "Aristotle Onassis Award for the Protection of the Environment" will be handed out every two years by the City of Hamburg, accompanied by a cash prize amounting to 250,000 euros.
The prize is endowed by the Alexander S. Onassis Public Benefit Foundation and is to be awarded for “outstanding contributions towards protecting and improving the environment, including the long-term economical use of energy”, according to the Foundation’s press release. The first award will be in autumn 2010. Read more…
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Greek kiwi tree variety wins int'l recognition (EMPortal, 08.05.09) |
The Greek name "Tsechelidis" is slowly becoming well known in Europe, the United States, Latin America and even New Zealand. The "Tsechelidis" kiwi is a new and improved tree variety characterized by higher yield and fruit weight, fruit uniformity and low percentage of 'double', 'triple' and 'flat' fruits.
A company based in the village of Episkopi, near the town of Naoussa, on northern Greece owns the exclusive plant breeder's rights of this new variety.
The first application for the recognition of the new variety was submitted to the EU Community Plant Variety Office in France in December 2003. The same process was followed through the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) in the countries of its jurisdiction interested in kiwi cultivation. Read more…
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Greece to build its first "green isle" (Xinhua, 20.03.09) |
A small island in the northern Aegean Sea included in the European Union's Natura 2000 network of nature protected areas, Agios Efstratios or Ai Stratis, will become Greece’s first "green energy" community entirely powered by renewable energy sources.
"The purpose of the project is to create an island whose needs will be 100 percent covered by renewable energy sources" stated Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis.
Agios Efstratios currently has fewer than 250 inhabitants and "controllable" energy requirements of 1,500 megawatt-hours per year. Solar and wind energy and biomass fuel infrastructure will be introduced by the end of the year.
The pilot project in Agios Efstratios will serve as an international model. Residents on the islands of Nisiros and Tilos have also expressed interest in being powered by renewable energy. Read more…
See also:
Greek exile island to turn 'green': minister (AFP, 20.03.09)Greece unveils first 'green' island (TheEarthTimes, 19.03.09)Greece's First 'Green' Island (GreekNewsAgenda, 18.03.09)Centre for Renewable Energy Sources
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Greece has an exceptionally rich nature (Xpatathens.com,17.03.2009) |
Greece is known for its varying landscape and many natural beauties. Both the mainland and the islands boast natural habitats, indigenous flora species, fauna, vegetation, high mountains, ravines, gorges, valleys, rivers, lakes, lagoons, rocky and sandy beaches, river deltas and coastal wetlands, all set in a most favourable climate.
To protect these treasures and the endangered species in particular, many national parks were created, the first ones being the National Parks on Mt. Olympus and Mt. Parnassos in 1938. Other places of interest include Mt. Oiti, Laganas Bay in Zakynthos, the Marine Park at Sporades islands, the Samaria gorge in Crete, and the National Park at Evros. Read more…
See also:
Greek nature - EcotourismNational Parks of Greece at Wikipedia
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Sound of long-lost Ancient Greek instruments recreated by computer experts (The Times, 09.03.09) |
A network of computers called the Grid is used to resurrect the musical sounds of Ancient Greece.
The researchers first worked on re-creating a monochord, an instrument played by Pythagoras. Its successful remodelling led to the resurrection of the sound of the epigonion as part of a project to conjure up an orchestra of long-lost instruments. The ultimate aim is a concert played on instruments that have not been heard for more than 2,000 years. Next on their list are the salpinx and the kithara.
The revival of the sound of ancient instruments is done through data collected by archaeologists, engineers and historians, who help to describe the materials and shape of the ancient instruments. This is all translated into a computer program that is run on hundreds of computers in Europe that make up the Grid. The process takes four hours to produce just 30 seconds of music. Read more…
Ancient Greek vessel docks for Pompey refit (The Independent, 18.01.09)
The ship was discovered in 1988 about 800 metres from the coastline off the city of Gela in Sicily. It was found in several layers of silt at a depth of five metres (16 feet), but wasn't excavated until summer 2004. The 700 sodden timbers of the vessel, which is believed to be around 2,500 years old, are now ready to be reassembled, after being submerged in water-soluble wax for four years and then freeze-dried in a huge vacuum chamber. Archaeologists believe the vessel was sailing to the ancient Greek colony of Gela, got caught in a storm and sank with its cargo. Read more… See also :
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The most complete ancient Greek ship ever found has arrived at the Mary Rose Centre in Portsmouth Harbour.
Renewable Energy Sources in Greece
Meanwhile, the Greek government announced last week changes to its solar feed-in tariff program, which is one of the most generous in Europe. The new tariffs will start at 400 euros per megawatt-hour (MWh) in February for 100 kilowatt peak systems and 450 euros per MWh for systems less and equal to 100 kilowatt peak on the mainland. The new law also separates a program for rooftop photovoltaics with different feed-in-tariffs (FIT) guaranteed for 20 years. The government promised to raise the hurdles that block the growth of the renewable energy sources by setting new rules on application approval. In that way, Greece will be able to take advantage of its tremendous solar potential. Greece has about 24 megawatts of solar power installed while the government’s goal is 700 megawatts under the feed-in tariff program. For more information :
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A new survey by
