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Mazi Farm: Farming For The Future
Located on the island of Euboea in central Greece, Mazi Farm is a 5-hectare farm that produces fids, pomegranates, almonds, and pistachios. Unlike most farms in Greece and the Mediterranean, Mazi Farm is a farm of regenerative agriculture, a technique that strives to produce quality food whilst having a positive environmental impact, enriching our social context and being financially sustainable.
The team of farmers are applying agricultural techniques capable of building soil, protecting biodiversity, keeping rivers clean, and capturing carbon from the atmosphere while producing an abundance of healthy nutritious food. At the heart of their approach is agroforestry, the union of agriculture and forests. Forests are vital to the health of our ecosystems and provide numerous ecosystem services that we can include in our farming practices.
The Farmers
Back in 2017, the Tsitsos family took a leap, a very big leap… they decided to become agroforestry farmers. The family, which was spread out in different parts of the world, reunited to become full-time farmers, restore a rugged 5-hectare plot, regenerate the land, and manage to grow highly nutritious food.
Dimitri, Georges, Etienne, Christine, and Solene have put their previous lives behind and have committed to actively participate in the restoration of our ecosystem and to harvest nutrient-dense produce that’s healthy and wholesome.
Together, they are farming for the future and so far, have planted 8,000 fruit & wild trees.
ACS Athens And Hope Initiatives International Partnership
“The school’s dedication in Serving Humanity drives ACS Athens to seek strong partners who share the same vision for a better world,” said ACS Athens President Dr. Stefanos Gialamas. Such an opportunity presented itself at the World Human Forum Convergence at Delphi, when Dr. Gialamas, met Don Mullan, a renowned social entrepreneur and founder of the Hope Initiatives International project under the DonMullan Organization.
During his recent visit to ACS Athens, Mr. Mullan discussed with Dr. Gialamas the significant synergy potential between the two institutions and announced their partnership regarding Africa’s Great Green Wall, an initiative of the African Union, under the auspices of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
ACS Athens, through its civic responsibility and volunteer programs, that are embedded in its academic curriculum, will involve its community to become active supporters of this cause.
ACS Athens is the first school in the world to partner with the Great Green Wall initiative in order to develop a similar environmental project in Greece according to the needs and biodiversity specifications of its ecosystem.
“Through the collaboration and partnership with ACS Athens we hope that we can inspire schools, colleges and universities around the world to join with us in planting millions of trees worldwide and across the Sahel Region in Africa in an effort to halt desertification, grow food security, restore degraded lands and combat the threats posed by Global Warming.” Don Mullan noted on the foundation of this alliance.
African countries have taken the initiative to restore degraded land and thus prevent the estimated 60-million people fleeing sub-Saharan Africa due to desertification. The Great Green Wall is planned to span 13 countries with 8,000 kilometers from east to west and 15 kilometers in depth.
Inspired by this effort, Don Mullan has initiated a number of projects and has been instrumental in achieving a EUR 1.2 million contribution from the Irish Government for a transcontinental UNCCD inventory of the Great Green Wall with a view to a major upscaling of efforts to ensure this 21st Century New World Wonder is delivered by 2030.
Initiative To Clear Athens City Center From Graffiti Tags & Illegal Posters
Combating visual vandalism has always been a priority for our administration,” stated the Mayor of Athens Giorgos Kaminis. “In this context, 8,300 square meters of facades, some of which are architectural treasures of the city, have already been cleaned from tags and illegal posters in the context of the Commercial Triangle project, and covered with anti-tagging special protection material to ensure that with a little maintenance they will remain clean.”
Furthermore, more than 100 of the city’s outdoor telephone line distribution boxes will be converted into works of art by various Greek artists! Devoid of the unnecessary visual pollution, the city will reclaim some of its lost charm!
To read this article in full, please visit: Athens Partnership
Athens & Epidaurus Festival 2019 Ticket Pre-Sale Has Begun
More Specifically
Online Purchase: www.greekfestival.gr & www.ticketmaster.gr
For groups (20+ persons): 210 3222720 & tickets@greekfestival.gr
For persons with disabilities: 210 3221897 & tameia@greekfestival.gr
Athens & Epidaurus Festival Box Offices:
Panepistimiou 39 (Stoa Pesmazoglou) Monday to Friday 10:00-16:00, Saturday 10:00-15:00
Odeon of Herodes Atticus: Monday to Sunday 10:00-14:00 & 18:00-21:00 on performance days
Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus: Monday to Thursday 10:00-13:00 & Friday to Saturday 10:30-21:30
For more information about this year's events, please visit: Athens & Epidaurus Festival
Abandoned Bear Cubs Prepare For Life In The Wild
Bradley and Cooper, a pair of orphaned cubs that were rescued by ARCTUROS in Nymfaio, Greece, are being trained to learn how to survive alone in the wild. Even though the cubs are still only 4 months and still bottle-fed, they will soon have to hunt for food alone in the Greek forest. The cubs were found in a sheep pen in a village of Kozani; however, it was too late to reunite them with their mother.
"We teach them what they need to know; where to find food, what they should eat, how they will make their nest in the winter," said Melina Avgerinou, a caretaker at ARCTUROS. "According to the season, we try to teach them what their mother would have taught them in nature," she said.
It will take about a year to teach the bears basic survival mechanisms that will enable them to live alone in the forest. To do so, trainers hide food in the forest for the cubs to find and discourage them from having too much contact with humans.
The bears will hibernate in the sanctuary and will be moved into the forest before waking; to make sure that they can survive in the wild they will be tagged and tracked. Bears that do not manage to adapt to their natural habitat are returned to ARCTUROS.
ARCTUROS' communications officer, Panos Stefanou said he cannot say for sure whether the bear cubs were named after famous actor Bradley Cooper, but he said that they looked a bit "rough and cowboyish" when they were found in the sheep pen.
To read this article in full, please visit: ekathimerini
ARCTUROS is a non-profit, non-governmental, environmental organization (NGO) founded in 1992, focusing on the protection of wildlife fauna and natural habitat, in Greece and abroad.
The foundation of ARCTUROS was driven by the constant need to solve the problem of bear and wolf imprisonment; a common occurrence at the time. It was that need, which led to the creation of a complete action framework, under the umbrella of ARCTUROS.
Click here if you're interested in adopting a bear, a wolf, or a sheperd dog.
Athens-Thessaloniki Express Train Service To Be Launched On Monday
Christos Spirtzis, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, is expected to present the new 450km-long electrified double-track railway line, on Wednesday. The express electric train service will be incorporated into Trainose's daily schedule and will include two stops, one in Lianokladi and one in Larissa.
Initially, the service will be operated by 3 trains offering all necessary amenities for a comfortable trip, including WIFI while two modern trains similar to the Silver Arrow are expected to arrive from Italy shortly.
Article Source: AMNA
To book your train tickets online, please visit: www.trainose.gr
VAT Reduction Comes Into Effect
1. Bread, pitta bread, rusks, salted crackers
2. Salt, vinegar, lemon, and refrigerated bouillon
3. Salted & smoked fish and fish roe.
4. Biscuits, cookies, chocolate, spoon sweets, peanut butter, chocolate spreads, ice cream, and others.
5. Sweeteners
6. Cold deserts such as puddings, rice puddings, jellos and others.
7. Cereals (excluding oats)
8. Fresh and frozen dough & fyllo products
9. Coffee and teas
10. Jams and preserves
11. Tomato sauces and puree
12. Condiments
13. Fruits and vegetables
14. Dried fruits and nuts
15. Margarine and vegetable oils
16. Juice
17. Ready-made packaged meals
18. Frozen potatoes
Furthermore, VAT will be reduced to 6% from 13% on electricity and gas bills. Restaurant and cafeteria meals are also subject to VAT reduction from 24% to 13%, excluding drinks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo Offers To Fund Basketball Court in Fire-Struck Mati
Even though many people have made donations following the devastating wildfire in Mati that claimed the lives of at least 102 people last July, Antetokounmpo's really stands out.
On the occasion of the May 26 election the mayor of Pikermi-Rafina, Vangelis Bournous announced that the Milwaukee Bucks superstar has decided to finance the construction of a basketball court at a theme park of some 3,000 m2; the park will be established near Ble Limanaki and include numerous pioneering environmental activities!To read this article in full, please visit: Greece-is.com
How To Become A Trireme Rower For A Day
For the fourth consecutive year, the Hellenic Navy is planning a rowing trip that will allow people to discover what it was like to be a rower on this famous ship and sail in the waters of the Saronic Gulf on a 2-hour journey through time.
The navy will also be hosting a series of interactive tours of the trireme, where people of all ages can visit the vessel and learn all about its history. Furthermore, visitors will be able to sit in a rower's seat and row in a static mode.
Reservations for both activities can be made by phone on 6940471218 until Friday, July 19 (except Monday, June 17) and from Monday, September 2 to Wednesday, September 11 from 09:00 to 13:00. Rowers will additionally need to register online. Tickets cost 3 euros, with no discounts.
Summer 2019 Activities Schedule
The rowing trips will take place from 10:00 to 12:00 on the following Sundays: June 23, June 30, July 14, July 21, and September 8.
The interactive tours will take place from 17:00-19:00 on the following Wednesdays: June 19, June 26, July 3, July 17, September 4, and September 11.
For further information, please visit: Averof Floating Naval Museum
The Program Of The Summer Nostos Festival Has Been Announced
Every June, the week-long SNFestival invites us to travel back to our favorite summers, guided by music, dance and melodies, stories and laughter, exercise and play, and live yet another unforgettable beginning of summer!
The Summer Nostos Festival (SNFestival) is an international multifaceted arts, sports and education festival. Admission is free for all, and the festival is addressed to visitors of all age groups and interests, aspiring to become a friendly creative platform where people can get together, express themselves and exchange ideas.
The open events of the 2019 SNFestival will take place from June 23rd to June 30th, at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), with free admission to all. As every year, on June 23rd, on the occasion of World Olympic Day, the evening race SNF RUN: Running into the Future will be held.
Download the full program of events, here.
Source: www.snfestival.org