Round Table "Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The Role of the Educator"
Presentation of the book
"The Land of Two Suns"
The need for maintaining and protecting the cultural heritage, which is threatened by the natural destructions as well as the consequences of the climate change, the need for protecting the environment and educating the new generation, were the topics of the Round Table organised by the "Marianna V. Vardinoyannis Foundation" at the Athens College Theatre in Psychico, on the occasion of the World Meteorological Day, on March 23, 2011.
"What will tomorrow's world be as the present one is already in danger? On which values will the future societies be based? And what about yesterday, which includes all the historical values as well as the eternal culture; how could it be saved and survive in a tomorrow's world?" These were the 3 vital questions posed by Mrs Vardinoyannis in the inaugural speech pointing out that: "The importance of cultural heritage and the ways with which we owe to maintain and protect it are a particularly important issue, especially for us, the Greek people, whose cultural heritage is our identity, our wealth and our contribution to the world culture…"
Following these important questions, the keynote speakers gave their own answers.
The opening speech was given by Dr Mounir Bouchenaki, Doctor of Archaeology and Ancient History, Director-General of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) since 2005, with a long service in UNESCO as a Deputy Director-General for Culture as well as Director of the World Heritage Centre. Dr Bouchenaki came from Rome specifically to speak in this event; he had also played a leading role at the International Seminar of UNESCO on the protection of monuments from natural disasters that took place in Ancient Olympia, a year after the devastating fires of 2007. The Seminar was organised with the support of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis. In his speech, Dr Bouchenaki extensively referred to the research and the related programmes elaborated as well as the measures taken by ICCROM in the past few years for the protection of the monuments, before, during and after the sudden and severe natural phenomena occurred, such as earthquakes and tsunamis. He pointed out: "…we are not property holders. On this Earth, we are passerbies. Consequently, we are responsible for leaving the Earth in a condition that our children can handle. So, we should be very careful with the programmes, the management and the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage".
The speech by the Academic Professor Christos Zerefos was next, who pointed out the danger that the monuments of coastal regions are in, due to the rise of sea level, underlining that this is not a natural phenomenon but one of the devastating consequences of the climate change and stated: "The effects of human beings on the cultural heritage can be worse than the ones resulting from natural destructions, as the extreme meteorological phenomena - floods, droughts- are increased and intensified due to climate change. In order to protect the environment and our cultural heritage, it is necessary to improve education". Β
The speech of Mr Loukas Zachos, Principal of the Athens College Elementary School: followed. He said, inter alia "… First of all, teachers ought to provide the children with knowledge, information and education. It is their obvious work to let them know our home, i.e. our world; to provide them with the tools so that they can read it, understand it and take it into account; then, to teach them our history, the Greek as well as the international intellectual heritage; to introduce our monuments to them and make them love them as they love a precious gift by their grandfather and grandmother; to make them noble with ideals and values. Through such an education, the teacher will have provided them with the appropriate tools with which they will always be able to use the benefits of knowledge for the benefit and protection of humanity. Beyond the teaching syllabus which satisfactorily provides with the material for all the above and along with their own diligence and humanity, the teacher can and, at the same time, should use every practical means and opportunity in order to show children that the change can happen. The various Environmental Education programmes constitute such activities…"
Mrs Elena Korka, Archaeologist, Doctor of the University of Athens, Head of the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Objects of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and author of the book "The Land of Two Suns" which was presented during the event, stepped up. "…The awareness that one of the more effective methods for the prevention and confrontation of the hazards emanating from the natural destructions, Mrs Korka said, is the information, sensitisation and education of the new generation, became the spark for the creation of "The Land of Two Suns". "The Land of Two Suns" is a fairy tale that, in a comprehensible way, attempts to inform and sensitise the students of the elementary school as well as the first classes of high school concerning the impacts of the natural destruction phenomena and climate change on the natural and cultural environment and to demonstrate the need of collective action for their prompt and appropriate confrontation…"
It is worth noting that the idea of this book was born after the fires of 2007 in Greece, which threatened a very important for the cultural heritage area Ancient Olympia. Therefore following an initiative of Mrs Vardinoyannis, "Motor Oil" was the sponsor of the first publication of the book with sensitivity in cultural, educational and environmental issues.
Mr George Anastassopoulos, as a member and former President of the Board of Trustees of the Hellenic-American Educational Foundation (Athens College – Psychico College), addressed a greeting which praised Mrs Vardinoyannis' initiative "to introduce us with the cultural heritage, the climate change and education" while the Deputy Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs, Mrs Fofi Gennimata, sent a written greeting. The event was coordinated by the journalist Mrs Demie Hadji.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference Β«Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the WorldΒ» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The �Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies� in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the �End Human Trafficking Now� global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre �Athina� in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference �Women in the Service of Peace� in Paris.
- International Conference �Women defending Peace� in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition �The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon�, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference �Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century� in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference �Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet�.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference �Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe�.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.