In 12-14 April 2016, Thalassa Foundation represented by Mr. Costas Apodiacos, President and Mrs. Vera Alexandropoulou, Vice President, participated in the European Environmental Funders Group (EEFG) Spring Meeting in France hosted by Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le progrès de l’homme (FPH).
The meeting, including the presentations and the funders’ workshops presented a unique opportunity for fruitful cooperation and discussion, as well as identification of important issues and solutions that would make institutions working for the environment attain more and sooner.
Under the “Funders’ Only Exchange” section of the Conference, the representatives of each foundation shared with the group a successful story and Thalassa had the opportunity to speak about the “Plastic Bag Free Alonissos” initiative, which falls under the Foundation’s “Blue Islands” aim.
This project, has so far been indeed very successful. Alonissos is the first Greek island that has voluntarily banished the one-use plastic bags and it has done so with the avid participation of all stakeholders, the municipality, shopkeepers, consumers, students of all ages, fishermen, everybody, and with the help of the Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal (MOm) and the Mediterranean SOS Network (MedSOS).
“Alonissos is a superb example of a small island with very determined people who saw the good in protecting their environment” said Mrs. Alexandropoulou. The project’s potential for “self-replicability” and scalability is very significant, as, by providing support to local communities which ask for help, it promotes the effectiveness of the bottom-up approach.