Getting the refuge under control
Recycling at source
click the image or the link:
http://issuu.com/kepom/docs/_6_skoypidia_english
and read what we did and what we are going to do for recycling our refuge in Mykonos
-Water is wasted, and there is overconsumption by consumers.
-For the shortage of water, both the Municipality of Mykonos
and ΔΕΥΑΜ must be held jointly responsible.
4
WATER
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Water is a precious resource of the community.The low water reserves in the watertanks in the port require immediate action,since the Summer months are almost upon us.Since this situation was not foreseen as it should have been,there was no programme,and needless to say,no long term plan,and last but not least, lower rainfall,the island is in a state of emergency.
For the shortage of water,and the low standard of the infrastructure,both the Municipality of Mykonos and ΔΕΥΑΜ must be held jointly responsible.
Why were measures not taken earlier? Why was something not done in time?
The main problems are:
The Administration and facilities of ΔΕΥΑΜ are not being managed in a satisfactory manner.The bad management,reduction in salaries,wages and bonuses are the main factors responsible for the inefficient operation of the waterworks.
Water is wasted,and there is overconsumption by consumers.
PROPOSALS FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE
Water Conservation Campaign,immediately,using every possible form of media,including electronic.Projection of clever slogans which would emphasise the importance of water conservation.
Repair and expansion of the old desalination unit with a capacity of 2100 cubic metres/24 hours.
Control of the leakages,immediate repair of the existing transportation network[from desalination to tanks] and its extension so that it would transport the amount of water which could be processed by the desalination plants.
MAINTENANCE of the facilities and especially the water pump station in the Old Port,so that it could transport water from the boats to the water tanks.
LINKING UP of the water resevoirs in Marathi and Ano Mera.
SUPPLY of water by water trucks only from the desalination plants.
INFORM the public on how to reduce water consumption,and its importance.
PRICING SCALE,which would mean that the cost of water to the consumer,would increase as consumption increases,in an effort to curb excessive water consumption.
RECORD number of wells and reduce the number of new permits issued.
Action to be taken by the Municipality of Mykonos for the supply of water by special boats,even though it is not cost effective,it is absolutely essential.If steps had been taken in time,for the supply of the two portable units[which would cost 1,250,000 Euro plus VATfor both],we would have avoided the huge expense only for the transport of the water[e.g. 200,000 cubic metres of water at approximately 10Euro 2,000,000 Euro]Unfortunately,this is not expected to be in operation before September.
LONG TERM PROPOSALS
EXAMINE the possibility of using sea water.In Mykonos,there are 2000 swimming pools,with an average consumption of 80 cubic metres,that is 160,000 cubic metres.
AMENDMENT of the environmental terms,so that the hotels could use desalination plants,if ΔΕΗ could handle the increased workload effectively,and if an outlet for the excess salt could be found.
LISTING of the water resources according to area,and usage[agricultural,domestic,swimming pools]
EXAMINE the possibility of reusing the water,which has been used for washing the Sterilisation Filtering System for irrigation,so that it would not be wasted,by adding appropriate filters.
MODERNISATION of the Biological Waste Unit,and upgrading it to Γ level would provide the possibility[under certain conditions]of reusing this water for irrigation.This Biological Unit produces approximately 700,000 cubic metres of water annually.The unit carries out processing and partial sterilisation of the water,which makes it impossible to reuse the water,which has been processed in this way.
In conclusion,by reusing the water,produced by the Biological Unit and the conservation of water,it is estimated that the water shortage could be eliminated,and the required demand could be met.
~
4
WATER
COMMUNITY RESOURCE
Water is a precious resource of the community.The low water reserves in the watertanks in the port require immediate action,since the Summer months are almost upon us.Since this situation was not foreseen as it should have been,there was no programme,and needless to say,no long term plan,and last but not least, lower rainfall,the island is in a state of emergency.
For the shortage of water,and the low standard of the infrastructure,both the Municipality of Mykonos and ΔΕΥΑΜ must be held jointly responsible.
Why were measures not taken earlier? Why was something not done in time?
The main problems are:
The Administration and facilities of ΔΕΥΑΜ are not being managed in a satisfactory manner.The bad management,reduction in salaries,wages and bonuses are the main factors responsible for the inefficient operation of the waterworks.
Water is wasted,and there is overconsumption by consumers.
PROPOSALS FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE
Water Conservation Campaign,immediately,using every possible form of media,including electronic.Projection of clever slogans which would emphasise the importance of water conservation.
Repair and expansion of the old desalination unit with a capacity of 2100 cubic metres/24 hours.
Control of the leakages,immediate repair of the existing transportation network[from desalination to tanks] and its extension so that it would transport the amount of water which could be processed by the desalination plants.
MAINTENANCE of the facilities and especially the water pump station in the Old Port,so that it could transport water from the boats to the water tanks.
LINKING UP of the water resevoirs in Marathi and Ano Mera.
SUPPLY of water by water trucks only from the desalination plants.
INFORM the public on how to reduce water consumption,and its importance.
PRICING SCALE,which would mean that the cost of water to the consumer,would increase as consumption increases,in an effort to curb excessive water consumption.
RECORD number of wells and reduce the number of new permits issued.
Action to be taken by the Municipality of Mykonos for the supply of water by special boats,even though it is not cost effective,it is absolutely essential.If steps had been taken in time,for the supply of the two portable units[which would cost 1,250,000 Euro plus VATfor both],we would have avoided the huge expense only for the transport of the water[e.g. 200,000 cubic metres of water at approximately 10Euro 2,000,000 Euro]Unfortunately,this is not expected to be in operation before September.
LONG TERM PROPOSALS
EXAMINE the possibility of using sea water.In Mykonos,there are 2000 swimming pools,with an average consumption of 80 cubic metres,that is 160,000 cubic metres.
AMENDMENT of the environmental terms,so that the hotels could use desalination plants,if ΔΕΗ could handle the increased workload effectively,and if an outlet for the excess salt could be found.
LISTING of the water resources according to area,and usage[agricultural,domestic,swimming pools]
EXAMINE the possibility of reusing the water,which has been used for washing the Sterilisation Filtering System for irrigation,so that it would not be wasted,by adding appropriate filters.
MODERNISATION of the Biological Waste Unit,and upgrading it to Γ level would provide the possibility[under certain conditions]of reusing this water for irrigation.This Biological Unit produces approximately 700,000 cubic metres of water annually.The unit carries out processing and partial sterilisation of the water,which makes it impossible to reuse the water,which has been processed in this way.
In conclusion,by reusing the water,produced by the Biological Unit and the conservation of water,it is estimated that the water shortage could be eliminated,and the required demand could be met.
~
~
KEPOM: A Look at the water situation in Mykonos
UPDATED in Epilogh with
FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR DEALING WITH THE SITUATION
A LOOK AT THE WATER SITUATION IN MYKONOS
PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
(translated in English by Geraldine Melvin-Μποζώνη)
Water is essential as a natural resource for all forms of life.As a social resource it is of paramount importance to the quality of human life.Therefore,its purpose must be to satisfy the needs of all the community.In Greece the administration of water is controlled either by government institutions or by regional/local businesses,which control the water networks of the town.
The excessive usage of water and the increase in the demand for water,on the one hand,the climatic change and the contamination of the water mains,on the other hand,account for the reduction in the quantity of water,and the deterioration in the quality of the water.
It would appear that the TROIKA would prefer to hand over the administration of the water network from being a government institution to being a private institution,on the grounds that the public administration is ineffective and totally inefficient,the same justification used to privatise any organisation,which is government owned and run.
The international experience has shown that whenever the administration of the water has been taken over by private enterprise,the result is the same,an increase in the price of water,deterioration in the quality of the water,and generally the standard of service provided is very low.Since the modernisation of the network is not a priority to the private investor,of course,the infrastructure for the provision of a sufficient water supply,is not modernised.In some countries,where the water network had been privatised,(e.g.France) this is exactly what happened.After a period of time,the administration of the water was handed back to the State,resulting in a reduction in the price of water,and an improvement in the quality of the water.Hence, it is in the best interests of the citizens of the community,for the administration and control of the water to remain under the control of the State and the local community.
In view of the trend towards privatisation,a serious arguement is the creation of an effecient network that would sustain both the sewerage and the water,as was created in Thessaloniki with the movement of 188.
ΔΕΥΑΜ has had control of the local waterworks and sewerage systems since 1988.Its privatisation has not yet been officially proposed.A likely scenario is that privatisation would happen indirectly,through a subcontract with ΕΥΔΑΠ,as is happening in other municipalities,by privatising ΕΥΔΑΠ this would have exactly the same effect.
Apart from privatisation, other problems are:
The facilities and the service provided are not satisfactory.
At an administrative level,it is understaffed.There has been a reduction in salaried and bonuses, to comply with the new national wage level,resulting in ΔΕΥΑΜ operating below a satisfactory level.
There is excessive wastage of water and overconsumption.
There is no Administration Plan,either short term or long term,for the optimal operation of the waterworks.All of the above,in conjunction with the continual reduction in rainfall are the factors which have brought about this situation.
AN EVALUATION OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE.Water shortages have always been a worry for the people of Mykonos.This is why our predeecessors tried to save this valuable resource in every possible way.They felt blessed,if the water from their water tanks and wells was sufficient to cover their needs for that particular year.The first salination plant was constructed in 1980.The rise in tourism during thid period,automatically meant an increase in the number of hotels built,which in turn gave way to increased demand for water,which was supplied by special boats which operated as water tankers,which met the demand for water with difficulty until the 1990′s.The construction of the two water resevoirs,in Marathi in 1992, and in Foko Ano Mera in 1997,was a stepping stone for Mykonos,it alleviated the problem and reduced the likelihood of water shortages.
With the passing of time,the demands of the island continually increased due to a huge increase in tourist development combined with an enormous wastage of water resources.The problem was exacerbated due to the fact that there was a total lack of information and no proposed plan of action.It is worth noting that there are over 2000 swimming pools and about the same number of wells,both leal and illegal.An insufficient supply of water is not a new problem to our island.The drought and lack of water led to water being brought onto the island by boats,once again.The water shortage of 2008,led to the construction of a new desalination plant in Korfos.
THE SITUATION AS OF NOW
The low watermark in the Marathi resevoir gives great cause for concern.If action is not taken immediately the water will have run out before the summer season even starts.Why take action now?Why has action not been taken before the levels fell so low?Why were the levels not measured and accessed by those in authority?The numbers would have spoken for themselves,instead of trying to solve the problem at the last minute.
Indeed,the water needs were forecast,but the construction of the necessary facilities,in itself,did not provide a solution to the problem.Over the years,these facilities have not been adequately maintained,the result being either malfunctioning of the plant or destruction of part of it. Moreover,the lack of political initiative,resulted in the huge wastage of the water resouces.
ΔΕΥΑΜ are mainly responsible for the disintegration of the water network,and of course,the present shortage of water for the following reasons:
When the capability existed, the necessary staff were not hired.Since the public cuts,hence no new staff being hired,this institutuin is facing the serious problem of being grossly understaffed.The functioning of ΔΕΥΑΜ lies in the hands of only 20 employees,who are conscientious and diligent,only to see ttheir dwindling salaries at the end of the month and bonuses which have been drastically cut,and last but not least,no payment for working overtime.
For political reasons money due from unpaid bills of individuals and private enterprises on the island,were not collected in time.Consequently,the maintainance of the facilities and new investments were neglected,due to their reduced budget.Despite not owing money to suppliers,and not having loans,the strategic policy was conservative,to say the least.
Care was not taken to forsee the excessice water consumption,therefore,no contingency plan existed,and now millions of cubic metres of water have not been accounted for,and so this subsequent income was lost to the detriment of ΔΕΥΑΜ,and to the financial benefit of thoe people who used the water,but did not pay for the service.
Moreover,the 1,000,000Euro which was and still is owed by the Municipality of Mykonos for work done and services rendered,has never been collected by ΔΕΥΑΜ.Action was confined to an exchange of signatures,and was never made public,in order to avoid exerting pressure for the debt to be paid.
Furthermore,for financial reasons,the infrastructure was not properly maintained,resulting in continous leakage of water,which has led to the loss of huge amounts of water,and to the current cost of maintainance being astronomical.
Moreover,again for political reasons,a greater quantity of water was used from the resevoir rather than from the desalination plants to cover the everyday needs of the consumer,as the cost of spare parts and services of the equipment and the electricity added to the cost of production of the water.Finally leaving it to the last minute to inform the public of the seriousness of the water shortage,which the island is facing at the moment,leaving it in the hands of God,and hoping that by the end of March,it would have rained sufficiently to save the day.That about sums up the water situation to date.Due to the fact that this grave situation cannot be dealt with by expectations,but by a specific strategic plan,in order to provide reserves,we hold the management of ΔΕΥΑΜ and the Municipality of Mykonos responsible for the current situation.The only solution to the problem is to accept the fact that there is permanent drought and to conserve water wisely.In addition,it would be prudent to legally restrict the usage of large amounts of water for swimming pools and lawns,which are not an inate part of the Cycladic islands,with its particular climatic conditions,low rainfall and high temperatures.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE SITUATION.
SHORT TERM-NOW
Inform the public in every possible way,about the conservation of water,More specifically,through the enterprises which are directly involved in tourism,and on the website of the Municipality of Mykonos,emphasising the overriding need to conserve water.
Repair of the old desalination plant 2100 cubic metres/24 hr.This decision was taken by the board of ΔΕΥΑΜ in February 2014.
Check for any possible leakage and immediate repair of the water transportation network from the desalination plants to water tanks,and to extend them,so that greater amounts of water can be transported to and from the desalination plants.
Maintainance of all the facilities and more particularly of the Water Station(pump) facility in the old port so that water could be transported by boats to the tanks.
The coordination of the water resevoirs in Marathi and Ano Mera,with a view to providing a more efficient water supply.
Strict prohibition of usage of water from the water resevoir by owners of the trucks,who transport water,and the imposition of fines where necessary.
Supply of water by trucks,to be allowed only from the tanks of the desalination plants.
Immediate payment of 1,000,000Euro by the Municipality of Mykonos to ΔΕΥΑΜ,which is owed for work done and sewerage facilities provided on behalf of the Municipality of Mykonos.
Create and enforce a strict penal code,to deal with consumers,either individuals or enterprises,who do not comply with the laws of the Municipality of Mykonos,with regard to water consumption.
Create a pricing scale, whereby the cost of water increases,in accordance with the amount of water consumed.in order to discourage excessive water consumption.It is noteworthy that the cost of water,to the consumer,has remained the same,since the setting up of ΔΕΥΑΜ and the 80% rate which was imposed after 2000,was done so with a view to maintaining the water network.
Record the number of wells(γεωτρήσεις) and reduce the number of new permits issued.
Action to be taken by the Municipality of Mykonos for the supply of water by special boats, so that there is an adequate water supply. Although it is not cost effective,it is absolutely essential.To transport 200,000 cubic metres of water would cost(without including the actualcost of buying the water) approximately 10Euro per cubic metre i.e.2,000,000Euro which is a lot more than the cost of supplying water from the resevoirs,which would cost 1,250,000Euro including VAT .
Some steps have been taken by the Municipality of Mykonos to cooperate with ΠΝΑΙ,,with a view to the provision of funding.This was initiated in February 2014,and a result is not expected until August 2014.Funding has been requested for the two mobile units,with a capability of 2000cubic metres/24 hrs,which have been incorporated into the National Investment Programme ΣΑΕΠ067 Public Investment.The facility will be housed in the old animal slaughtering house in Spitalia(old port) but the total completion is not expected before September 2014.
Employing more staff during the Summer months,would undoubtedly,ensure an improvement in the standard of service provided.
THE FUTURE
In Mykonos,there are approximately 2000 swimming pools with a consumption of 80 cubic metres of water on average,and a total consumption of 160,000 cubic metres of water.
The possibility of providing sea water to fill these pools,needs to be examined,especially pools which are located near the sea.In order for this capability to be feasible,ammendments to the environmental terms which apply to the hotels would have to be made,also if ΔΕΗ could handle the increased workload effectively,Moreover,an outlet for the excess salt would have to be found.
Detailed census of the water resources,by area,according to usage(agricultual,swimming pools,domestic)
The provision of an underground water network in Mykonos is ardous,due to the geological structure of the island,which consists of granite with low water content.
The annual underground water reserves,in the cracks of the Airport system,are estimated to be about 100,000 cubic metres,and 100,000 cubic metres in the Ano Mera system,according to research carried out by the Ano Mera system.
Examine the possibility of reusing the water used for washing the Sterilisation Filtering System,for irrigation,so that it would not be wasted,by adding appropriate filters.
At the moment,free water is provided by ΔΕΥΑΜ to all the schools on the island,regardless of the amount of water consumed,as there are no water meters.Consequently,it is not possible to measure the amount of water consumed.Hence,watermeters must be installed in all the schools,in order to measure water consumption.
The Biological Waste Water Unit produces about 700,000 cubic metres of water annually.
The unit carries out processing and partial sterilisation of the water at a secondary level,a fact which makes it impossible to reuse the water,which has been processed in this way.The modernisation of the unit and the upgrading to Γ level would provide the possibility (under certain conditions0of reusing this water for irrigation.In conclusion,by reusing the water produced by the Biological Unit and the conservation of water,it is estimated that the water shortage could be eliminated,and the required demand could be met.
For text in Greek: https://kepom.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/politiki_leipsydria/
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Exercising our voting right in Mykonos – (English)
KINHSH ENEGON POLITON MYKONOU K.E.Po.M.
“Mykonos Active Citizens’ Movement”
First thing for all is to be registered in the electoral registers. This right had a deadline on the 31.08.2010. You can check if you are registered in http://www.ypes.gr/Services/eea/eea.htm click on «Ευρωπαίοι πολίτες – European Citizens» give Surname, Name, Year of Birth, and you get info on the exact number and position in the electoral area in which you vote.
The 7th of November 2010, we vote for:
Α. The Municipality of Mykonos and the two municipal communities
1. Municipal Community of Ano Mera
2. Municipal Community of the Municipality of Mykonians
Β. ThePrefectureoftheSouthAegean
Polling booths open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
In Mykonos there are two main locations where polling takes place:
a) in the district of Lakka in Chora (at the primary school and kindergarten)
b) at the primary school of Ano Mera
COMPULSORYDOCUMENTS: a valid form of identification (ID card or Passport)
At the Election Centre you will be given a small envelope, 5 voting papers, one for each of the four candidate combinations and one blank one. You should move behind the screen and place beside each name in blue or black pen, 0-3 crosses for the first group of candidates for the Municipal Council and 0-2 crosses in the second group of candidates for the Municipal Community. No other mark or colour should be used as it may result in an invalid vote.
Regarding the distribution of seats: on the first Sunday the first 11 seats are distributed between all on a pro rata basis, whilst on the second Sunday the first candidate takes from the remaining 10 seats however many he/she is entitled to until the total number of 13 seats. The rest go to the second candidate. In this way we always have a Municipal Council which is elected on the first Sunday’s votes composed thus: 13 for the ruling group/party and 8 seats in total for all of the Opposition.
After this the same process is repeated for the District elections where we may select the ballot paper of our choice and place 0-1 crosses.
IMPORTANT NOTE: It is possible that we do not have a Mayor on Sunday 7/11/10 if no candidate achieves more than 50%. This means that the Elections will be repeated on Sunday 14/11/10 in which only the first two teams take part. This has the following advantage: given that the Councillors are elected based on the number of crosses they receive on the first Sunday, we have the capability to vote for the best councillors on the first Sunday and on the second Sunday for the Mayor who will have to implement the decisions of the Municipal Council anyway! Significant innovation is the fact that Municipal and Prefectural Elections will, henceforth, be repeated every 5 years and will coincide with the Elections for the European Parliament. The exception is the current term of the Municipal and District Authorities which will be three and a half years until the European elections in the summer of 2014. This means that, for us, it is very important to see more of you active in the affairs of Local Government, so that we may have citizens elected to represent you. Long before it was mandated by law we, as active citizens were always open in our relations and cooperation with all those who have chosen Mykonos as their new home either for reasons of employment, family or simply by choice. Mykonos is a meeting place of cultures, in which one deserves to live and, moreover, it is place in which one’s contribution and voluntary work for the common benefit of all and the communication between us, is well placed.
For additional help and info, contact our e-mail kepomyk@gmail.com or tel. +30 6944393323. You are also welcome in our office in Fabrica Square at the Bus Station. https://kepom.wordpress.com/
FOR MAYOR:ELVIS PRESLEY (No Cross)
CANDIDATES FOR MUNICIPALITY OF MYKONOS (Up to 3 Crosses)
AMY WINEHOUSE
BOB DYLAN
BONO
BON SCOTT
BOY GEORGE
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
CHER
DIANNA ROSS
EMINEM
+ FRANK SINATRA
JIM MORRISON
JOHN BON JOVI
+ JOHN LENNON
KURT COBAIN
LADY GAGA
LUCIANO PAVAROTTI
MADONNA
+ MARIA CALLAS
MICHAEL JACKSON
MICK JAGGER
MILES DAVIS
PRINCE
SAKIS ROUVAS
STEVIE WONDER
CANDIDATES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY (Up to 2 Crosses)
+ ARETHA FRANKLIN
+ DAVID BOWIE
JANIS JOPLIN
JOHNNY CASH
Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the group. They are published in the context of healthy and transparent dialogue and responsibility remains with the authors.
One doesn’t drink the sea, one tastes it!
contemporised interview* of Dimitris Rousounelos from Scala Gallery
(candidate for local councillor with KEPOM)
-Born or naturalised Mykonian?
-Born here, in this very neighbourhood, in the bedroom of my paternal home.
-Do you have a nickname? What is it and how did you get it?
-Everyone in Mykonos has one. Carbonis is my grandfather’s nickname from the time he worked in America as a boilerman. It comes from the Italian ‘carbone’ which means coal. My father, as the younger child of the family, became the carbonaki (little coal), accordingly. This name is our family nickname.
-Your first memory of the island?
-A woman (my grandmother Katerno) cooking on a wood fire at the top of Kounoumba.
-Who was your role model as a child?
-Misokolaki, the hero of a Mykonian fairy tale.
-Who are your heroes in real life?
-Those who look forward, who have vision, who don’t back down, and who everyone acknowledges thirty years later. Antiheroes, basically. Dinos Tsakos, the archaeologist of the 60s, is one of those people. We owe him the uncontaminated image of Mykonos, its protection from excess and greed.
-Which Mykonian custom is your favourite?
-The one where the boys steal mayflowers and place them in the gardens of the girls they like.
-How has living in Mykonos influenced you?
-I have the sense that everything ends somewhere and then the sea begins.
-What is your greatest contribution to the island?
-I think it is the publication of the newspaper “Mykoniatiki”. For thirteen years I rang alarm bells, now the prophetic words of the newspaper have been confirmed. Unfortunately, other agendas and interests prevailed, which push things in other directions.
-Do you believe your presence played or plays a role in the development or the history of the island?
-At one time our participation in a group of young people with common goals set down the foundations of another way of thinking about the development of the island. Back then we had the strength and the vitality to open new paths. We became tired, however, because of the constant antagonism with systems and people who were motivated by personal agendas, and by a world which is indifferent to the future. The shock from the unjust death of Doujon Zammit, the resignation of Veronis, the huge scandal and the exposure of the conflicts of interest in the Municipality, the Police, Urban Planning reactivated the conscience of Mykonians.
What are you most regretful about?
I studied economics, although I should have studied cooking.
What would you like to do for Mykonos in the future?
To give her back the image of an island with calm people, with a normal everyday life, with open squares and beaches devoid of the forest of umbrellas that reach all the way to the water’s edge and injure the fragile harmony of the landscape.
What do people here not know about you?
In small communities you can’t hide anything, especially when your life is a public one. For thirty years I have written and spoken publicly about the island, so it goes without saying that everyone knows my views and beliefs. But, if you insist, I don’t think anyone knows that yesterday I counted 380 books in my library on general culinary topics. Even I didn’t know that.
What makes you proud here in Mykonos?
The fact that Mykonians, in spite of the assaults they have endured, remain largely people who care for their island.
Which fellow countryman do you admire most and why?
He is no longer alive. On the eve of the 1998 local council elections, he went to my home one afternoon and waited for me until late into the night, to confide in me personally and sobbing, that he would not vote for me. He said he was voting for the candidate who gave him firecrackers at Easter. I knew he meant the current mayor, Mr Thanasis Kousathanas-Mega. I embraced him and advised him to do what his heart told him. Yiannis Rousounelos was his name and he was my beloved first cousin. He was a Down’s Syndrome sufferer. That evening he gave me a rare lesson in honesty and bravery. I dedicate my truth to his sacred memory.
Who has been the most influential person in your life until now?
I won’t speak about individuals, but about a period. I left home at 11 years of age. I lived alone until the age of 26… Anargyreion High School in Spetses, University, the Navy. This influenced my life completely. Firstly, I did not have the adolescent problems with my parents, and then I had to solve my own problems. I learnt to gain support from my social relationships and the well-structured friendships around me.
What advice would you give a young person growing up in Mykonos?
To get up and leave and return here again some day.
What do you admire most in Mykonians?
The same as I admire in the people of Amorgos, they have drunk a lot of sea until they grow up.
What do you dislike most?
When I hear people talk about the uniqueness of the place, about the umbilical chord of the universe which surrounds them.
What has disappointed you most?
The perennial fear of most of my fellow citizens is that, if they call a spade a spade and demand the obvious, they will cause damage to … tourism. They easily inhale the dioxins from burning rubbish, cutting days and years from their lives. They make a colander out of the island because of all the boring for water. They overlook the quality of the water they drink and the products they consume. Most people are indifferent to the quality of life, to tomorrow, to the alcohol addicted children, to the social consequences of a physically exhausting work timetable.
What is the greatest fear for the island?
That all this will end ingloriously. The peak is achieved with difficulty. Nadir, ‘ground zero’, the razing to ground level, the bottom of the barrel, the complete acculturation of the island and its people, lurks just around the corner. You know, tourism has the capacity to corrupt consciences and beautiful places…
What is the greatest problem or biggest shortcoming here?
That nobody comes out to support the rights of Mykonos and that way it looks like we are hiding all our sewage under the carpet.
The non observance of the hours of common peace (siesta time).
The absence of free, living public spaces. Everything is consumed by the flora of tables and chairs, and chaise longues.
The misfortune of being a parent with a wheelchair-bound child and wanting to enter the town and walk around Megali Ammos. Menouhin sold his house because he could no longer walk a distance of 200 metres.
If you were mayor of Mykonos for a day, what would you do or change on the island?
This question is not relevant to me. Inform Mr Kousathana-Mega, Mr Kousathana-Aniksi and Mr Fiorentino so that they relax and sleep peacefully tonight. In the municipal elections in November I am a candidate for local councillor with KEPOM, headed by Despina Nazou, a dynamic woman, a time honoured old friend and fellow wayfarer in common struggles. Her professional background, her passion and decisiveness are guarantees of an outlet from the crisis which plagues the island, and is a hope for a functioning and democratic administration.
What is your favourite expression?
One cannot drink the sea but one can taste it!
*The interview was originally edited to Mykonos Cofidential -summer 2007 edition.
Link of the original Greek text: http://olastakarvouna.blogspot.com/2007/07/blog-post_12.html
Translated thanks to Maria Lomis
We don’t exist!
(to use this disliked fashionable expression…)
Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the group. They are published in the context of healthy and transparent dialogue and responsibility remains with the authors.
By Vanessa Zouganeli, KEPOM candidate in the municipal elections
My name is Vanessa Zouganeli.
Whose daughter am I?
Maki’s (Remetzo) and Paola’s.
And although I declare my background with pride and joy, I am usually met with a little smile – in the best instance – which stretches into a mischievous conspiratorial laugh. This has been happening for years now, and is not a result of our current economic scandals.
When you tell people you are from Mykonos they immediately think of lawlessness, all manner of anarchy, they imagine the island as a paradise for exploiters and a place of opportunities for suspicious types.
Recently, however, something different happened to me. Speaking with a friend, a Greek academic in a Scandinavian university, about the coming elections, he asked me the following shocking question:
– But are there permanent residents in Mykonos? Aren’t they all foreign investors and business people?
I was speechless, upset, angry, offended and I decided to take part in the elections representing the non-existent residents of Mykonos.
I wondered whether there were people who imagine Mykonos as a cinema stage in the Cinecitta mould, with extras playing the role of residents that, at the end of the fiesta season, disappear. I was shocked that as Mykonians, in the eyes of others, we descend the stairs of depreciation, reaching the depths of non-existence.
As I was thinking about all these things and I was in despair, I was saved by Karagatsis! By chance, I came upon an excerpt from one of his books, where he describes Mykonians as living beings!
“The most interesting animate resource is the locals, the permanent residents of the island, these sweetest of people with the kindest soul, cheerful spirit, sharp mind, who live simply in their tasteful, spotless and neat homes…”
What a relief! Phew… Do you think my Italian mother was right, when she said that when she first came to Mykonos in the 60s, she was impressed with the beauty of the place, and she was moved by the locals, who were hospitable, polite, open-minded people with a vibrant personality and although often uneducated, were wise and had a keen sense of humour. Perfect, I thought, all these people cannot have disappeared in such a short space of time… They must be somewhere, surely, even though they cannot be seen by the naked eye. They are probably the secret residents of Mykonos, they remain hidden and without voice in the face of all the frightful occurrences on their island.
As a participant in this category I declare that I suffer from what I see today around me and I search for those who are like me, so that we may exist again…
Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the group. They are published in the context of healthy and transparent dialogue and responsibility remains with the authors.
Let’s choose how we want to be governed and not by whom.
At some point, the time for me to write something would inevitably come. I greet all those whom I know and know me and all those with whom I exchange a quick, but always heartfelt, hello.
Many of you may have been surprised by my recent choices: to actively support KEPOM (“Mykonos Active Citizens’ Movement”), and to the extent that my ability allows. As other people also read this, I would like to humbly introduce myself.
I was born and raised in Mykonos and went to school here. I have always lived here except for periods of study, military service and vocational training. My dream is to become a proud old timer who will take walks up and down the seashore without whinging about the misery of our island and about the things I didn’t do whilst I was still young.
After a winter where we were not proud of the political happenings of our island, and although summer was on its way, and with €888.956 and some small change, and nothing happening, a feeling overcame me like it did with Doujon. What’s going on, isn’t anything going to give? Breakaways from the majority groups, announcements, false bravado and in the end, local council chaos. An atmosphere where innocent people have a lack of trust. An atmosphere that serves only the purpose of those who are guilty.
Why KEPOM (“Mykonos Active Citizens’ Movement?)
Due to my life choices I don’t have much in common with the other three groups. That is, the model: the Mayor tends towards a political party, one of the councillors has connections with government ministers, another has connections with a couple of members of parliament, a third has people in the prefecture and someone else has someone in urban planning, does not suit me.
I am sorry!
Anyway the island needs nothing more than the dignified and complete functioning of the structure already in existence and for some people to work in an organised manner.
The island does not need any more help from “outside”! Especially now with Kallikratis[1], egalitarianism, good housekeeping and transparency are required from the “inside”.
These are concepts the 300 members of parliament are allergic to, which means they cannot do anything, no matter what their origin.
I have no vengeful tendency towards my friends or acquaintances who embrace this model of government, which on a national and local level is gradually beginning to demonstrate its irrelevance. I believe, however, that this way of solving one’s problems is in decline.
That’s what I have to say about my mobilisation.
AIM: To have ears that listen, eyes that see and mouths that speak in these local government committees.
ABOUT TOURISM: Why is our priority excessive advertising and not the return of the satisfied tourist?
ABOUT ECOLOGY: Even though we have XYTA (sanitary landfill), we have bins and people cooperate as much as possible even without instruction, why is there no recycling?
ABOUT SPORT: Although I have become used to the idea that, for the 5th four-term office, nothing has materialised with respect to a gymnasium, must I become accustomed to the notion that my children won’t see it either? I won’t make the mistake of mentioning a swimming pool. I haven’t heard anything about that since 1998.
ABOUT THE USE OF THE EARTH: Instead of helping young people carry on the traditional uses of the land from their elders through agricultural tourism and traditional products, why do we charge prohibitive taxes, rendering them professionally almost useless? Not to mention that, in this way, we have contributed to the disappearance of traditional products such as home made sausages, louza[2], trovolia[3] and xynotyra[4].
ABOUT EDUCATION: Why is it that in order to enrol their child in the child care centre, one must first pay a visit to the mayor’s office?
ABOUT HEALTH:
Finally good luck to all the “healthy cells” of the island, in whichever faction they belong and I close in the hope that in June 2014 Mykonos will have fewer and more serious proposals in terms of other candidates.
We must choose how we want to be governed and not by whom.
I thank and congratulate Despina Nazou who, from within a family life and a university career, has accepted to lead the dreams of KEPOM.
With respect, Kammis Theod. Grigoris
[1] The new local administration structure, which includes the unification of Councils and the elimination of Prefectures, and takes effect from the coming elections.
[2] Traditional pork ‘meze’, in the style of prosciutto
[3] Local unsalted fresh cheese
[4] Sour cheeses
I am an anonymous citizen
I am an eponymous, anonymous citizen. Eponymous for my family and few friends. Anonymous for all others but mostly for the authorities of my region. I try to walk with my head bent so that they do not see my face, so as not to remember me. You see, I built a small storeroom without a building permit to keep by barrel of wine and I am afraid they may find it. Perhaps they even know but don’t bother me as I don’t bother them about their illegalities. The bad thing is that theirs have become so huge that they have suffocated the region.
I am an anonymous citizen who becomes eponymous at funerals, weddings and all social events. They are always near me in my grief and in my joys, always there for the handshake. Thankfully, their only concern is how to greet as many people as possible and, in that way, I am overlooked again. When the elections approach their presence is more intense but it doesn’t bother me, my neighbours and I always gain something. There will be a little cement left over for our road which resembles a goat path. I am an anonymous citizen who loves art, history, tradition, the civilised societies of all the world and that is why they call me a culture lover in a derogatory tone. I am disillusioned not because they devalue me, but because it seems they have forgotten what civilisation and culture mean. How else can I explain the inappropriateness of the word?
Yiannis Mavrogiannopoulos writes: “Culture means cultivation, it means development, it means a knowledge of the subject. Greeks always had culture. They are and must remain proud of their heritage and culture. There cannot be a people, on the face of the earth, who can ignore or not admit to the colossus of the Greek spirit! And even not be jealous! The regret however is the indifference which Greeks have shown and show, from time to time, towards our cultural heritage throughout the ages and, even more so, the Greeks of today.”
I think that regressive might suit me better.
I am therefore an anonymous regressive citizen and I never understood the fanaticism of groups and political parties. Blue, green, red people revile each other, not seeing anything behind the flag they are holding or not holding in their hands. However, no colour would be what it is if it didn’t have all the others next to it. That is why the rainbow causes such elation and moves us, because it has all seven colours tied so closely, that one penetrates almost to the centre of the other.
I am an anonymous and disillusioned citizen because I see, hear and above all feel anonymous citizens around me who are afraid, who are deluded by the fake and full of promises smiles, who don’t believe in culture anymore, the main characteristic of a blossoming society and the worst of all is that they can’t see the rainbow which has already installed itself in their sky.
In spite of all this I continue to hope!
M.K.
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Κίνηση Ενεργών Πολιτών Μυκόνου* ΚΕΠοΜ
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