News

In Filoti, the pastoral heart of Naxos, nestled at the foot of Mount Zas, the highest peak in the Cyclades (also known as the “Mountain of Zeus”), people are struggling to keep centuries-old traditions alive. Shepherding, the traditional mitata (stone shepherd huts), cheesemaking, farming, and the deep bond between people, nature, and their animals have always been a way of life, tying the community to its land and to each other. ...

Journalism Initiative is participating, within the framework of a cross-border investigation funded by Journalismfund, in an international project that examines the phenomenon of marine mucilage in the Mediterranean. The investigation focuses on the environmental and socio-economic impacts of the spread of the phenomenon in three vulnerable regions: the Sea of Marmara in Turkey, the Northern Aegean in Greece, and the Adriatic in Italy. At the same time, it highlights the solutions being proposed or implemented for the restoration of marine ecosystems, such as the protection of seagrass meadows and the reintroduction of the nearly extinct species Pinna nobilis. ...

Journalism Initiative, as part of its activities in the framework of the “Sustainable Cyclades” programme, has undertaken the creation of four short, stand-alone documentaries with the aim of highlighting some of the major problems created by the unchecked touristic development in the Cyclades and contribute to capturing the uniqueness of Cycladic life. The topics of the documentaries have been selected to address issues that can foster a conversation about the sustainability of the islands and give a voice to the lead “actors” and the local community, providing them with a platform to present their views. The topics include sustainable fishing, cheesemaking and tourism, as well as what life is like on the islands after the end of the tourist season. ...

(Press Release - excerpts) Can the Cyclades combine prosperity with the preservation of the traditions that make them unique? How can the infrastructure on the islands cope with the increased demand for services - and at what point should a limit be placed on this demand? What regulations will allow for a balanced development of construction in respect of the natural environment and Cycladic architecture? These and other questions will be addressed by the “Sustainable Cyclades” programme of the “Journalism Initiative”. It is a new journalistic project with an 18-month horizon that focuses on critical aspects of sustainable development, environmental protection and carrying capacity in the South Aegean island cluster under the pressure of over-tourism. ...

The urgent importance of coordinated actions by governments, businesses and citizens in addressing environmental challenges is well recognised by the international community [1] [2] [3]. A better future for humanity requires profound changes in our attitudes and behaviour. Especially in Greece, due to both its geographical location and its development model, there is an increased urgency to highlight and address the multi-modal issues that arise. Choices made now affect the medium- to long-term sustainability of the country both as a cohesive society and as a healthy economy. ...