Ocean Advocacy

Environmental cleaning and historical preservation of Kefalonia Greece

Environmental Advocacy Initiative

  • Why?

    Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world. (National Geographic, 2019).

    There is an urgent need for the research and development of alternatives to harmful plastics. Be the Change: Photo is using art and advocacy to facilitate change and engage people in creating a sustainable future for our planet.

  • Where?

    In collaboration with the Ionian Arts and Culture Center, Geopark of Kefalonia Ithaca, and the Aquatic Scuba Diving Club, I am learning the history of this amazing island while preserving and documenting its beauty. Cleaning toxic waste from Mounda Beach, Zarvarti Caves, coast, and other historic sites. "

    Zervati Caves are located in the southern part of Karavomilos village, at an altitude of about 15 m and at a distance of almost 250 m from the sea. It constitutes part of the wider karstic network of the Sami area and apart from its geological value, the cave is of particular ecological interest since cave lake habitats host rare aquatic plants, fish, and eels.

  • How?

    With the goodwill of the Greek Municipality and partnering with the Ionian Art and Cultural Center, Be The Change: Photo has been permitted to do an environmental art advocacy residency. This includes plastic removal from polluted beaches, natural cave “Geosite” clean-up, and documentation. The documentation of this is going to continue to be shared globally with the support of the Ionian Art and Cultural Center through gallery exhibitions, publications, and media outlets.

Mounda Beach

It is crucial to protect the environment and preserve aquatic life and beaches like Mounda Beach because they provide a range of important ecosystem services, including air and water purification, carbon sequestration, and climate regulation. Furthermore, these areas support a variety of plant and animal species, many of which are threatened or endangered.

Additionally, beaches like Mounda Beach are important recreational and cultural resources, providing opportunities for leisure, tourism, and community activities. Protecting these natural resources helps to ensure their continued availability for future generations to enjoy and benefit from. Therefore, it is important to promote sustainable practices and responsible behavior to preserve the beauty and health of our natural environments.

Overall, it is essential to properly dispose of plastic and toxic waste to protect the ocean and coastal towns from the damaging effects of pollution. Adopting sustainable practices, reducing waste generation, and implementing proper waste management systems can help mitigate the adverse effects of plastic and toxic waste pollution.

Zervarti Caves

It is crucial to protect the environment because it is the foundation of all life on Earth, providing us with clean air, water, and food. The destruction of the environment can have devastating consequences on our health and well-being, as well as on the planet's ecosystems.

Geo-Park Kefalonia, Ithaca

Elena Zoumpouli

Similarly, preserving the magic of Greek mythology and the history of the Zervarti caves is essential because they provide us with a glimpse into our cultural heritage and the rich history of our ancestors. These ancient stories and artifacts connect us to our past, allowing us to understand and appreciate the evolution of human civilization. By protecting the environment and preserving our cultural heritage, we can ensure a sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.

Words From

Elena Zoumpouli

of GeoPark Kefalonia Ithaca

IaSEAs

Makis Sotiropoulos

iaSEAs (ίαση Healing in Greek) is an environmental organization officially established in 2021 by a group of professional divers whose life course is closely related to the sea. For the last 30 years because of their professional activities, they have experienced changes in the marine environment as part of the underwater world.
The danger to sea and marine life is a reality. Observing the changes gradually, the motivation for the creation of iaSEAs was the Mediterranean hurricane Ianos in September 2020 which particularly hit Kefalonia. The destruction of the marine environment that we faced in some areas but also the significant changes in the coastline on the whole island, led us to the decision that what we did at an amateur level was no longer enough and for the common good we must react drastically and immediately.

The vision of the organization is to pass on to the next generations as a heritage the aquatic environment sustainable in a way that the management of the human footprint ensures its longevity. Our mission is the utilization of our professional experience, know-how, organization, and infrastructure in order το carry out large-scale projects that will have a real impact in the short run but also in the future on the restoration of the marine environment.

Axes of Action:
1. The creation of artificial reefs and protected Marine Areas in the region of Kefalonia
2. Large-Scale Underwater Cleanups: Our professional experience ensures the organization and execution of large projects with visible and immediate results in the environment and local communities.
3. Educational programs are experiential, interactive, and continuous. In order to protect the environment in the long run, today we must lay the foundations for the responsible citizens of tomorrow.