Greek NGO raises environmental consciousness by concluding trip along the ancient Silk Road using low CO₂ emission vehicles

The Green Project (GP) launched by a Greek N.G.O. (with the support of EU and Greek governmental institutions) concluded last week in Beijing after a GP car-crew team of 8 Greeks covered successfully 11,121 km in 31 days, using low CO₂ emission vehicles! The team traveled through Greece – Turkey – Georgia – Azerbaijan – Turkmenistan – Uzbekistan – Kazakhstan and China with the dual aim of promoting the use of alternate energy sources in transportation on one hand, and materializing a new cultural bridge along the famous Silk Road linking Greece and China on the other. The theme of the unprecedented journey (that started on August 1 2008) of a group of 73 scientists and artists -brought together by the purpose of forging environmental conscience through artistic creation along the famed ancient route-  was “Green Journey: Athens-Beijing 2008 from the Silk Roads to the Energy Roads”!!

The crew embarked on a symbolic quest on the one-time “Silk Roads” itinerary which is now defined by the energy trade, with the purpose of promoting bioclimatic architecture and renewable energy sources, though the use of the artistic media of photography, video art, documentary film, sound installations, painting and architecture.

The scientific-artistic endeavor of the Greek participants was carried out in the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, and drew its inspiration from the ongoing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and the Cultural Year of Greece in China.

Relevant presentations took place in Ankara (Turkish Ministry of Energy 4/8/2008), T’blisi (Caucasus University 7/8/2008), Bacu (Greek Embassy in Bacu 11/8/2008), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 15/8/2008), Tashkent (Uzbekistan Ministry of Environment 19/8/2008), Almaty (Greek Embassy in Almaty 26/8/2008) and Beijing (Hellenic House 2/9/2008), along the countries of the “Energy Roads”. The active involvement and participation of the local authorities and the media, as well as the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in all these presentations contributed immensely in passing on the GP message, successfully.

The GP crew team consisted of scientists and artists. For them, the main challenge of the journey has not been the final destination, since it changed daily during the stops of the itinerary. It was mostly the expression of each participant’s search for ideas and visual perceptions in order to promote the application of renewable energy sources. Yet, the GP’s Green Journey represented much more than a “green” dedicated science and art activity: according to the organizers, it was a journey, during which art and science turn a new hope by suggested concrete ideas and ways to improve our relationship with the natural environment.

Excerpt from a Press Release of the Organizers (Sep 7, 2008):

The Coordination Committee of the Green Project

Thodoris Anagnostopoulos, Dr Biologist, Researcher DEMOCRITUS INSTITUTE

Eleni Kanetaki, Dr Architect, Professor TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITY PIRAEUS

Maria Pesli, Director-Artist SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS, ATHENS

Penny Soteres, Economist EUROBANK

Yannis Tzortzis, Dr Attorney at Law at the Supreme Court Regulatory Authority for Energy ; photographer, Royal Photographic Society of great Britain.

The GP’s Green Journey is held under the auspices of the Greek Ministry of Culture and the City of Athens. It is amiably supported by the European Parliament Office in Greece, the President of the Hellenic Parliament and the Regulatory Authority for Energy of Greece. Its sponsors are the National Bank of Greece and the Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator S.A. It’s supporters include the European Public Law Organization, the Regional Energy Agency of Crete, the Centre of Renewable Energy Sources, the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies, the Hellenic Wind Energy Association, the Touring and Automobile Club of Greece, the Hellenic Institute of Electric Vehicles, the BP Solar S.A., the E-Shop.gr and the Hellenic Alumni Associations of London School of Economics and Political Science, and Columbia University, New York. The communication sponsors include the TV channel MEGA, the radio stations "Athens 9,84" of the Municipality of Athens, and SKAI 100,3 with the "Iron Horses" programme, the "Eleftherotypia" newspaper with "Geotropio" magazine, the newspaper website www.naftemporiki.gr, the free press "Metro", the scientific magazine "Science Illustrated", the car magazines "4 Wheel Drive" and "Autocar", and the energy magazines "Anemologia" and "Energy Point".

Interest Media may contact "Green Project" @

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Tel.: +30-210-6981108

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E-mail: information@greenproject2008.com

Web:  www.greenproject2008.com