2008___________greece & cyprus

In 2008 ECOWEEK founder architect, urban planner and social entrepreneur Dr. Elias Messinas inspired by the newly released documentary The 11th Hour with Leonard DiCaprio, undertook again an extensive campaign, among other activities, to present the documentary to the general public, in public and private schools, fairs, trade fairs, in nearly 50 locations throughout Greece.

In April 10-13, 2008, ECOWEEK held its first conference on sustainable architecture, in collaboration with the American Institute of Architects European Chapter, to which Elias was a member. The high profile event took place at the Zappeion neoclassical venue in the center of Athens, with keynote speakers renowned architect Ken Yeang, award-winning landscape architect Julie Bargmann, Bioregional environmental consultant Benjamin Gill, premiere screening of documentary Last Call for Planet Earth with director Jacques Allard, and site visits to the newly opened Acropolis Museum with architect Michael Photiadis - the Greek partner to project architect Bernard Tschumi. The event included a half-day workshops, led by architects from Greece and abroad. The intensity of the workshop was such that it raised the need of a platform to divert the energy and ideas that are generated during the lectures and site visits. In effect, this was the birth of the ECOWEEK workshops idea.

In May 16-19, 2008 ECOWEEK was invited to organize an environmental week in Larnaca, Cyprus, by the Municipality of Larnaca and MKC City College. The event included documentary screenings in schools, and lectures open to the public.

The ECOWEEK events throughout Greece and Cyprus, which were open and free admission to the general public, were made possible thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of numerous volunteers, professionals and businesses, who enthusiastically led activities, supported and assisted in making the events possible and successful. ECOWEEK events in every corner of Greece, and in Larnaka, were attended by hundreds locally, and made a significant impact in raising environmental awareness in each location.

More at: CYPRUS 2008

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