Migratory creatures, humans and birds

About fifty people participated in the activities, 35 among them took part in both Vikos’ Crossings held this summer, while 19 managed to realize the special path to Drakolimni with sleeping over at the Astraka refuge 2.000m high in the mountain. The participants followed an informative session at the Info point of the National Park of Northern Pindos. Some participants enjoyed rafting down the river Voidomatis.

During the meeting the following original speeches were delivered: 

Morning: 

Dr Viktor Sukup-«Greeks in Latin America», 

Dionysia Rigatou-«The Iliade of a Greek working in Turkey, 2011-2013», 

Dr Diamantis Basantis, author, «Andros –an island aboard (α) sailormen – the eternal migrants of the oceans (b) migrant flows from Andros during the 20th century», 

Christos Bezirtzoglou, European Commission, «Homo greco-bruxellus: quis est iste?» 

Afternoon: 

«Greeks in the East: portraits and moments», Dr Νikos Mavrides, PhD MIT, Interactive Robots and Media Lab and Ass. Professor of Intelligent Systems, United Arab Emirates University, 

«Mountain people in Thibet and Zagori villages, differences and ressemblences », Tassos Anestis, substitute co-ordinator in Geitona Schools, 

«Immigrants from Epirus and education in 18οand 19ο centuries», Maria Giannakou, teacher, Phd candidate in Education and Psychology Katholieke Universiteit Leuven of Belgium, 

«"The sea I crossed, the land I did not forget...", stories for migrating birds and humans», Kalliopi Stara PhD Laography, MSc Ecology, and Rigas Tsiakiris, ornithologist. 

On the 12th of August the group attended a spectacular liberation of a female hawk in coordination with theΑΝΙΜΑ organization. All participants had beforehand been told about its habitat, the conditions of its trauma as well as its recovery and also its importance for the life chain. Poetry about immigration was performed under the moonlight, the certificates of successful crosing were distributed, while Damianos and Lysimachos played beautifully in their guitars songs related to migration. The yellow T-shirt of the event managed to bring money to the bank but also to become a trademark!