World Wetlands Day 2005 in Athens

A series of events aimed to raise awareness o­n the nature and benefits of wetlands were organized throughout February in Athens by MedWet together with the French Embassy in Athens for World Wetlands Day 2005.

Roundtable discussion, Saturday 5 February 2005

Events kicked off with a roundtable discussion with the participation of the Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, Mr Bridgewater, Head of Legal Affairs & Governance section of the Directorate General for the Environment of the European Commission, Mr Kremlis as well as a high rank representative of the Greek Ministry of the Environment, local authority representatives from the French region of Herault and of course the MedWet Coordinator. Former Euro MP and distinguished journalist Mr Roubatis was very successful in his role as a moderator of the discussion.

The roundtable discussion aimed to present the audience with an overview of international policy framework for the protection of water and wetlands. Among those attending were the Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme Mediterranean Action Plan, Mr Paul Mifsud, former deputy Minister for the Environment of Greece, Ms Rodoula Zisi, honorary member of the Mediterranean Wetlands Committee and director of Med-INA, Mr Thymios Papayannis and Executive Secretary of Global Water Partnership Mediterranean, Mr Vangelis Constantianos.

Topics presented by the speakers included an overview of the nature of wetland ecosystems and their multiple ecological, social and economic values as well as the role of the Ramsar Convention and of the EU Water Framework Directive in promoting sustainable use of water resources and protection of wetlands.

Special screening of films o­n Water and Wetlands, Saturday 19 February 2005

A series of films o­n water and wetlands were shown o­n 19 February, in a special ‘Tribute to World Wetlans Day’ as part of the Festival ‘Cinema et Realite’ organized by the French Institute.
Four directors from India, the Netherlands, Finland and the UK, scouted the issues, mysteries and charms of water in the man and animal world. Together they offered a remarkable look over the meaning of water and wetlands in different cultures.
All of the films were first screened in Greece at the Ecocinema Festivals and two, Sharma’s The Turtle People and van Fucht’s Life in Ebb and Flow came out as winners of the 2004 and 2002 Festivals.

Impact

The events attracted significant attendance and attention of the media. Press releases sent out were received with significant interest and both the roundtable discussion and the Film Festival featured in news broadcasted o­n national TV and were advertised through press, radio and electronic wires.

The roundtable discussion succeeded in raising the profile of wetlands.  Following the event a series of features o­n wetlands, Ramsar and MedWet appeared in main Greek as well as local English newspapers.

Moreover, the location of the venue right in the heart of the city, meant that the audience especially that of the film screening was composed of a wide variety of groups.

From Saturday afternoon shoppers who came into the screenings for a rest, to the regular crowd of the annual documentary Festival of the French Institute, the audience was a very mixed crowd. Among others for instance an artist showed up to watch the films o­n wetlands and water looking for inspiration for a future group show focusing o­n water.

World Wetlans Day, Ramsar and MedWet featured prominently in the information material of the five day festival ‘Cinema et Realite’.  Posters, a programme booklet and cards printed for the Festival all carried World Wetlands Day in a prominent place – in Greek – and were distributed widely.

Festival posters appeared in numerous downtown spots, in the heart of the Athens market district. About 800 booklets, carrying information o­n Ramsar, MedWet and World Wetlands day in a five page- section devoted to the screening o­n water and wetlands were distributed or sold. Small size post-cards also carrying a line o­n the Special Screening o­n World Wetlands Day, were also available freely around the space of the French Institute and were picked up by numerous students and passers by.

The main frame of the design appearing o­n these materials is attached to this message.

Trailer of the MedWet film o­n wetlands

The two events also provided an opportunity to offer a first glimpse of the MedWet film o­n wetlands, which is in its early stage of research shooting. The five minute trailer which was shot early in January in the Albanian and Greek sides of the international Ramsar site of Prespa was especially put together for this event in the week prior to World Wetlands Day.

Water in the spotlight

Throughout the month of February the French Institute created a space devoted to a touring exhibition o­n water, created with the support of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Prominently placed in the main entrance hall were several giant posters o­n the value of water in the South. Some of the main topics of sustainable development are covered including climate, health, geo-political issues, obtaining water daily and hydrology.