ENVIRONMENT

CIVIL SOCIETY: 46 PRACTICES


TOPIC:

Initiative

"Think Global, Act Local"

"Think Global, Act Local"
SUBMITTED FROM:

Ecological Movement of Patras (OIKIPA)

Ecological Movement of Patras (OIKIPA) is a Greek NGO that was founded in April of 1986 after the CHERNOBYL accident. Our objective is to inform, to sensitize, to mobilize people in environmental and quality of life matters. Our principles of function are Political independence, Member of OIKIPA is everyone who agrees with its statues and acts for its objectives, The organization is open and democratic. Members are equal and there is a rotation in duties. Main decision making body is the weekly meeting of members. Our activities include: Seminars, informative speech events, participation in European projects, legal interventions, symbolic activism, nature interest excursions. The Ecological Movement of Patras collaborates with other environmental groups in regional and national level and also, participates in the managing boards of two protected areas in Achaia region.


Contact

Objective Action

The highlighting of ecological issues through their economic, social and political dimension

 

Target Audience

The public we are addressing are our fellow citizens, mainly of the Municipality of Patreon and more broadly of the Region of Western Greece.

In 1986, a group of young people decided to become active in the environmental issues of the city, none of them believed that they were starting a long-term journey, which was going to significantly influence the developments in our local society, at the same time marking their personal course and attitude.

In April 86, when with a modest notice in the local papers, we announced our existence and our intentions. Immediately after, our first event with a topical – due to Chernobyl – title: "Radioactivity and us". The anxiety of the hundreds of Patrinas who flooded the Municipal Theater and was manifested by the self-evident question "what to eat?", convinced us of the need to strengthen an ecological movement in our region with the aim of protecting the environment and the citizens themselves as subjects.

Thus, based on the principle "Think Globally, Act Locally", we began to highlight local environmental issues, connecting them to the general ones, which at the time certainly had not reached their current aggravation.

At the same time, we also dealt with social or cultural issues in the context of a holistic understanding of ecology, with the CIVIL SOCIETY as a point of reference, which remains in demand.

 

Duration

In 1986, a group of young people decided to become active in the environmental issues of the city, none of them believed that they were starting a long-term journey, which was going to significantly influence the developments in our local society, at the same time marking their personal course and attitude.

In April 86, when with a modest notice in the local papers, we announced our existence and our intentions. Immediately after, our first event with a topical – due to Chernobyl – title: "Radioactivity and us". The anxiety of the hundreds of Patrinas who flooded the Municipal Theater and was manifested by the self-evident question "what to eat?", convinced us of the need to strengthen an ecological movement in our region with the aim of protecting the environment and the citizens themselves as subjects.

Thus, based on the principle "Think Globally, Act Locally", we began to highlight local environmental issues, connecting them to the general ones, which at the time certainly had not reached their current aggravation.

At the same time, we also dealt with social or cultural issues in the context of a holistic understanding of ecology, with the CIVIL SOCIETY as a point of reference, which remains in demand.

On 12.6.1992 a private agreement was registered at the Court of First Instance of Patras and the Municipal Non-Profit Company EN ATHRIA was established and on 28-1-1998 its name was changed to OIKIPA with the name "En etria-Ecological Movement of Patras, Company-Environmental Information and Intervention ». This was last modified on 3-12-2017 as applicable.


Description

In our founding statutory declaration in 1986, we state that our goal is "the promotion of ecological issues through their economic, social and political dimension", as well as the protection of the natural ecosystems of our wider region

Relatively quickly, with our consistent presence and attitude, we managed to secure the presence and visibility of our positions in the social process, specifically:

"EN ETHRIA" MONTHLY ECOLOGICAL NEWSPAPER

A catalytic role in this was played by the publication, in April 1991, of our monthly ecological newspaper "EN ATHRIA", which essentially upgraded the penetration of our speech and opinions.

In addition to the promotion of the issues by our newspaper, but also by the local press, we organized dozens of events and workshops, participated in mobilizations with other organizations and proceeded with symbolic actions and activism in our city.

In order to process and highlight issues of pan-Hellenic interest, we joined forces with other ecological movements throughout Greece, within the framework of the Pan-Hellenic Network of Ecological Organizations.

TEAM ACTIONS

In the last 5 years we have carried out the following actions:

Collection of electrical-electronic devices, twice a year in collaboration with KOINSEP "Recycling at the source", to raise public awareness of their recycling

Organization of "Repair café" twice a year, at the premises of OKIPA in collaboration with KOINSEP "Recycling at the source", to raise awareness among citizens to repair by themselves and with the help of special electrical appliances of all types

Organization of speech events at least twice a year with topics related to topical and not only local and global environmental problems

Tree planting at least twice a year, where necessary in collaboration with the Forestry Department and/or local authorities

Organization of a photo exhibition every May Day Eve in Psilalonia of Patras with topics related to the natural and man-made environment, to highlight their beauty and/or problems

Cleaning and beautification actions of selected public areas of our area every year both in the context of the pan-Hellenic campaign Let's do it Greece, and when there is a need

Joint actions every year with local and pan-Hellenic associations of organizations related to the protection of the environment in which OIKIPA participates, such as SPOEPP (Association of Environmental Organizations of the Greater Patras Area), "NIREAS", the "Network for the Protection of Citizens from Noise Pollution", the "Climate Alliance" etc.

Continuation (for the 31st year) of the magazine (every 2 months) ecological local paper "en etria" with the aim of spreading the ideas of sustainability and highlighting local environmental problems.

Participation in environmental education programs carried out in primary and secondary schools of the prefecture of Achaia, as external partners.

Carrying out information and awareness workshops for preschool and school age children.

Screenings of selected films in our hangout.

Cooperation within the framework of a relevant signed memorandum with the University of Patras, with the aim of promoting environmental goals through Science. The cooperation includes the holding of scientific and popular conferences on environmental issues and other joint actions.

Participation of our representatives in the management of the Management Bodies of the protected areas of the prefecture (Chelmos-Vouraikos and Kotychi-Strofilia).

Voluntary guarding of protected areas (Strofilya) as well as wetlands in the urban fabric of Patras (Elos Agyia, Platanodasos Proasteiou-Ekvolis Haradros)

Carrying out eco-tourism visits to protected areas in Greece and abroad, in collaboration with local citizen movements and environmental organizations.

Maintaining an active website https://www.oikipa.eu


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Impact on Society

Taking stock of our action to date, we can say that in some cases we have managed to prevent anti-environmental choices for places and issues of vital importance.

Let us mention, for example, the prevention of the construction of the medical village in 1993 in the Black Mountains of Strofilia, when with our documented opinions we convinced the local public opinion and then the initiators of the project to withdraw their plans at the expense of this protected area.

It is also worth pointing out the change in planning of the old Prefecture regarding waste management, when, with evidence and arguments, we imposed the exclusion of burning as a treatment method for obvious environmental reasons, a choice that is also valid in the current planning.

In some other issues, we contributed together with other bodies to their solution, such as the water of Patras in 1988, or to the strengthening of institutions such as Environmental Education.

Of course, there are also problems which, despite our continuous interventions, continue to remain unresolved, to the glory of the oligarchy of those in charge and those in custody. Let us mention here also the case of the long-suffering Strofylia, which, despite the judicial or political decisions, continues to be encroached upon, as well as the liberation of the coastal zone, a demand that OIKIPA has been pushing for years as a sovereign for the city.

What, then, is the "secret" for this longevity of OIKIPA, perhaps a unique phenomenon in the Greek area?

It is the fact that all these years we functioned as a big company, with the only instrument being our deuterial meetings, always open to those who want to participate.

It is our choice to operate outside of party or factional formations thus preserving the autonomy of speech and the selflessness of our intentions.

It is our position to approach problems with responsibility and as comprehensive knowledge as possible, avoiding exaggerations, risk theories and populism.

It is, after all, our will to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life in our region, which, unfortunately, despite any positive steps taken over the years, remains in demand and necessary.



Initiative Location

The Municipality of Patreon and the wider region of Western Greece


Working with Organization

We have worked with the following times:

1. UNIVERSITY OF PATRAS has signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2021

2. WETLAND MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES OF KOTYCHIO STROFYLIA AND HELMOS VOURAIKO participation of our representatives in the Boards of Directors

3. DIRECTORATE OF A GRADE AND B GRADE EDUCATION OF THE PRESENCE OF ACHAIA within the framework of implementing environmental education programs

4. Association for the protection of the natural and cultural environment of the Gulf of Corinth - Patra "NIREAS"

5. ORGANIZATIONS OF THE SOCIETY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE PREMIUM OF ACHAIA such as Pedestrians of Patras, Association for the Protection of Health and Environment of the Health Center of Chalandritsa, KOINO_TOPIA, Association for the Protection of the Environment of Rio, PROPOSAL Movement


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Workers Participation

Our Organization employs one worker and its action is supported by a group of 30 volunteers


Photos Videos

Benefits for Οrganization

With our 36-year activity, we managed to establish ourselves as an important ecological information and awareness-raising agency in our local society and we managed to present our positions and our opinions in the social process.




Connection with Global Goals






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