More than 400 people of culture, letters and arts convey their common concern for the future of the Akamas Peninsula through a joint statement.
Among others, musicians from Alkino Ioannidis and Michalis Terlikkas to Anna Vissi, Michalis Hatzigiannis and Alexia, actors such as Popi Avraam, Varnavas Kyriazis and Prokopis Agathokleous, representatives of important cultural institutions such as Georgia Detzer, visual artists such as Maria Loizidou and choreographers such as Ariana Economou, the historian Anna Maragou, the former director of the Cultural Services Pavlos Paraskevas and the engraver Hampi Tsangaris are calling for the rejection of the Revised Local Plan of Akamas, as submitted by the Planning and Zoning Department.
They also express particular concern about recent developments, referring to lobbying and political interference in order to speed up the approval of the Plan as it stands. They stress that they are well aware that the Plan as proposed opens backdoors for developments within the Peninsula, and express fear that if it is approved it will open the appetite for all sorts of private interests wishing to turn Akamas into another resort with hotels, holiday homes and other related developments.
They also underline that Cypriot society is failing over time to protect the environment and conclude with the following message:
"Any indiscriminate development on the Akamas Peninsula will make our living conditions even worse, will cause enormous damage to the flora and fauna of our land and our cultural heritage and will make Cyprus even more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. We will not allow it!"
Joint Statement for the Protection of the Akamas Peninsula
We, the individuals who co-sign the below joint statement and come from the fields of culture, letters and arts, unite our voices and demand the rejection of the revised Akamas Local Plan, so that the Planning Board and the Department of Planning and Zoning proceed immediately to a complete review and radical amendment of several important proposed provisions, policies and zoning measures of the Plan.
It is with great concern that we have been following recent developments, lobbying and political interference with regard to expediting the Plan's adoption and publication process. The Plan should promote compact and compatible development, within existing development limits, for the benefit of local communities and not large private interests.
Cyprus is in an extremely vulnerable position in relation to climate change. Our coasts are eroding, average temperatures are rising, air quality is deteriorating. We have already poured a lot of cement on our land. We know very well that the Plan as proposed opens backdoors for developments within the Peninsula, and the appetite for all sorts of private interests who wish to turn Akamas into another resort with hotels, holiday homes and other related developments.
We have over time failed as a Cypriot society to protect our environment.
We have failed as a Cypriot society to protect our environment. Any indiscriminate development on the Akamas Peninsula will make our living conditions even worse, will cause enormous damage to the flora and fauna of our land and our cultural heritage and will make Cyprus even more
vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
We will not allow it!
1. Agamemnon Zakou - Film Technician
2. Angela Stavrou - theatrologist / performer
3. Angeliki Athanasiadis - Visual Communication Designer
4. Angelos Vlamis - Musician
5. Adonis Floridis - Director
6. Athena Ierodiaconou - Van Doghen - Ceramist
7. Athena Cassiou - Director
8. Athena Piki - Choreographer
9. Aimilios Koutsoftidis - Architect and Artist
10. Alexandros Genaris - Animator
11. Alexandros Kyriakidis - Visual Artist
12. Alexandros Makris - Musician
13. Alexandros Papageorgiou - Light Designer
14. Alexandros Parisation - Actor
15. Alexis Mavros - Architect
16. Alexis Papadopoulos - Architect
17. Alexia - Singer
18. Aliki Savva - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
19. Alkis Christoforou - Artist
20. Alkinoos Ioannidis - Songwriter
21. Anastasia Dimitriadou - Musician
22. Anastasia Demetriou - Fashion Designer/Artist
23. Anastasia Motiti - Musician
24. Andreas Daniel - Actor
25. Andreas Elesnitsalis - Musician
26. Andreas Constantinou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
27. Andreas Makris - Actor
28. Andreas Mallouris - Artist
29. Andreas Paraschos - Journalist
30. Andreas Stylianou - Composer
31. Andreas Tselepos - Actor
32. Andreas Fasoulides - Ceramist
33. Anthi Panagiotou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
34. Anna Vissi - Singer
35. Anna Maragou - Archaeologist
36. Anna Fotiadou - Director / video artist
37. Annie Siakalli - Visual artist / Architect
38. Annie Chouri, performing artist
39. Antis Parzilis - stage designer
40. Andis Skordis - Composer
41. Antia Georgiou - Architect/ Scenic Designer
42. Anthony Papamichael - Actor
43. Andre Zivanari - Director Point Centre for Contemporary Art
44. Andreas Splash Kyriakou - Director
45. Andreas Valanidis - Musician
46. Andreas Gerolatsitis - Musician
47. Andreas Koutsoftas - Actor
48. Andreas Neocleous - Musician / University student
49. Andreas Nicolaides - Writer / Actor
50. Andreas Onoufriou - Writer / Educator
51. Andreas Rodosthenous. Bassist/Composer
52. Andri Andreou - Visual artist
53. Andri Theofanous - Architect
54. Andri Spyridakis - Musician
55. Andri Tsihouti - Architect
56. Andria Zeniou - Actress
57. Andrea Kotsoni - dancer
58. Andrea Konstantinou - Dancer
59. Adria Meletiou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
60. Andrea Xenofontos - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
61. Andrea Purouti - Animator
62. Antonis Antoniou - Musician
63. Antonis Katsaris - Actor
64. Antonis Pittas - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
65. Antonia Charalambous - Actress
66. Aram Ahmed - Architect
67. Argyro Toumazou - Cultural Producer
68. Ariadni Papantoniou - Musician
69. Ariadni Paraskeva - Photographer
70. Ariana Alpha - Performer
71. Arianna Economou - Choreographer
72. Aristi Pavlou - Set Designer / Architect
73. Augustina Stylianou - Actress
74. Augustina Triarou - Dancer
75. Achilleas Theodosiou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
76. Achilleas Kentonis - Visual Artist/Cultural Producer Artos Foundation
77. Vangelis Angelidis - visual artist
78. Vakia Stavrou - Singer
79. Valentini Polykarpou - theatrologist
80. Valentinos Demetriou - musician
81. Valentinos Kokkinos - Actor / Director
82. Vanya Vu - Artist
83. Varvara Larmou - Actress
84. Barnavas Kyriazis - Actor / Director
85. Vasiliki Kypraiou - Actress
86. Veronika Aloneftou - Musician / Music teacher
87. Veronika Antoniou - Architect, urban planner
88. Gabriel Natalis - Architect
89. Gerasimos Papadopoulos - Musician
90. Georgia Ioannidou - Jewellery Designer
91. Georgia Kaiafa - Fashion Designer
92. Georgia Konstantinou Clark - Dancer
93. Georgia Nathaniel - Psychologist / Psychoanalyst
94. Georgia Decher - Cultural management
95. Georgia Charalambous - Fashion Designer
96. George Kyrou - Graphic Designer
97. Yagos Yagou - Musician
98. Gianna Tsolaki - Curator
99. Yannis Violaris - Archaeologist
100. Yannis Kolakidis (Architect and director of NeMe)
101. Yannis Koutis - Musician / Composer
102. Yannis Kyriakidis - Composer / Professor of Composition at the University of the Arts The Hague
103. Yannis Papadakis - Professor, University of Cyprus
104. Giannis Sakellis - visual artist
105. Yannis Christidis - Professor of TEPAK / Musician
106. Yannis Christofidis - Composer
107. Giannos Ioannou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
108. George Vlamis - Musician
109. George G Papageorgiou - Artistic Director of the Nicosia International Festival
110. George Evagorou - Actor
111. George Kalogerou - musician
112. George Kyriakides - Artist / Poet
113. George Kyriakou - Actor
114. George Pittas - Radio Producer
115. George Rallis - Administrator - FAR Dep CUT
116. George Sisamos - visual artist / composer
117. George Spyri - Director
118. George Stoyas - Writer / Educator
119. George Tsangaris - Animator, Director of Animafest Cyprus
120. George Hadjipieris - Composer
121. Danae Stylianou - Producer - Director
122. Danae Fragoudis - Artist
123. Despina Kannaurou - Graphic Designer
124. Despo Leontiou - Actress
125. Despo Pasia - Museologist / Museum Educator
126. Demetra Aristotelous - Archaeologist
127. Dimitra Grigoriou - Designer and painter
128. Dimitra Sokratous - Educator, Theatre Educator, Writer
129. Dimitris Karakashev - Artist
130. Dimitris Yasemidis - Musician
131. Dimitris Ktoridis - Architect
132. Dimitris Mesimeris - Singer, Songwriter
133. Dimitris Nikolaou - Director of the State Library
134. Dimitris Pitsillides - Dancer
135. Dimitris Polykarpou - Musician
136. Dimitris Siammas, Architect
137. Dimitris Suroullas - musician
138. Dimitris Spyrou - Musician / Actor
139. Dimitris Fyrios - Musician / Radio Producer
140. Dimitrios Minas - ambrotypist
141. Diomidis Kufteros - Actor
142. Dr. Antonis Hatzikyriakos - Assistant Professor of Ottoman and Turkish History, Department of Political Science and History, Panteion University
143. Dr. Venetia Papa, Lecturer, Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Cyprus
144. Dr George Hadjichristou - Architect / Academician
145. Dr Grigoris Ioannou - Academic
146. Dr Evi Margariti - Associate professor- The Cyprus Institute
147. Dr. Efrosini Rizopoulou Igoumenidou - Professor Emeritus, University of Cyprus
148. Dr. Zelia Grigoriou - Associate Professor, University of Cyprus
149. Dr Magda Igoumenidou - Academic
150. Dr Marina Neofytou, Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus
151. Dr Nicoletta Demetriou - Ethnomusicologist / Academician
152. Dr. Popi Iakovou - Architect / Academic
153. Dr Stavros Karagiannis - Professor of English Literature, European University of Nicosia
154. Dr Socrates Stratis Architect - Urban Architect - Academic, University of Cyprus
155. Dr Teresa Turva - Architect
156. Dr Christos Hatziiiannou - Doctor of Philosophy
157. Drosostalis Moraitis - Musician
158. Dora Georgiou - Researcher, Sociologist and Clinical Psychologist
159. Doros Demosthenous - Singer
160. Evita Michailidou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
161. Irini Kogorozi - actress
162. Irini Konikkou - Special Education Teacher
163. Irene Konikkou - Dance teacher
164. Irene Kythrayotou - Architect
165. Irini Panagi, Civil Engineer, Circular Fashion Designer, Activist
166. Eleana Charalambous, dancer - choreographer
167. Elena Agathokleous - Director
168. Elena Alonefti - Director, President of the Cyprus Directors' Association
169. Elena Daniil - Visual Artist and Educator
170. Elena Ioannidou - Associate Professor, University of Cyprus
171. Elena Kallinikou - Actress
172. Elena Katsouri - Stage Designer
173. Elena Konstantinidou - architect, academic
174. Elena Christodoulides - Cultural Services Officer Cinema
175. Helen Aneesha Michael - Choreographer
176. Eleni Anastasiou - theatrologist / director
177. Eleni Anastasiou - theatrologist/director
178. Eleni Ioannou - stage designer
179. Eleni Kynegou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
180. Helen Xenofontos - Architect
181. Eleni Petrou - Dance teacher and choreographer
182. Eleni Sidera - Actress
183. Eleni Skarpari - Singer
184. Eleni Smyrneiou - Actress
185. Eleni Chandriotou - Animator
186. Eleonora Roussou - Musician / Music Educator
187. Eleftherios Nikolaou - Architect
188. Eliza Christoforou - Writer / Journalist
189. Elizabeth Stefani - Archaeologist
190. Greece Evangelou - Artistic Director, Buffer Fringe OK Festival
191. Elli Aloneftou - Lyric singer
192. Elmos Neocleous - Director / Producer
193. Emily Millett - travel writer and article writer
194. Erika Fotiou - dancer
195. Erika Charalambous - Choreographer
196. Ermina Emmanuel - Illustrator - Graphic designer
197. Hermione Hadjidimitri - Educator
198. Evagoras Karagiorgis - Composer / Musician
199. Evi Karsera - Kinesiologist
200. Euthymia Alpha - Archaeologist
201. Euclid Papadopoulos - Engraver - Artist
202. Euripides Dikaios - Theatre director / Musician
203. Evros Voscaridis - Musician
204. Evroula Demetriou - Musician
205. Eftychia Zachariou - Archaeologist
206. Zoe Giannousi - Professor
207. Zoe Giorgalli - Choreographer
208. Iliana Kakura - Actress
209. Thalia Agrotis - Interactive visual artist
210. Thekla Flouri - Actress
211. Thekla Papantoniou - National Commission for UNESCO
212. Thelma Christofidi - Photographer
213. Theodora Demetriou - Archaeologist
214. Theopisti Stylianou-Labert - Visual artist, academic
215. Julius Orphanides - Graphic artist
216. Julieta Toumazi, art theorist
217. Isadora Abraham music/artistic producer
218. Ioanna Kordatou - Actress
219. Ioanna Papamichalopoulou - Actress
220. Ioanna Philippou - Artist
221. Ioannis Ioannou - Musician
222. Ioannis Tsartsidis - Artist
223. Katerina Attalidou - Visual artist
224. Katerina Papageorgiou - Dancer
225. Kizas Petros - Professor of Music
226. Klitos Komodikis - actor
227. Cleo Alpha - Designer
228. Kyriaki Kostas - Artist / Researcher
229. Konstantina Zanou - Assistant Professor of History, Columbia University, New York
230. Konstantina Kyriakou - Artist
231. Konstantina Xenophontos - Singer and actress
232. Konstantina Petrou - Musician
233. Konstantina Peter - Theatrologist
234. Konstantinos Kyprianou - Architect / visual artist
235. Konstantinos Hatzidimitri - (illustrator & animator)
236. Kostas Vichas - actor
237. Kostas Kakoyannis - Composer
238. Kostas Silvestros - Director
239. Lakis Karapatakis - Musician
240. Lara Alfas - Designer
241. Lea Maleni - Director, Actress
242. Leaki Neocleous - Artist
243. Lefteris Mumtzis - Musician
244. Lia Haraki - Choreographer
245. Leah Hartoutsiou - Architect
246. Lisa Artemis - Graphic Designer
247. Loizos Loizou - Painter
248. Loukas Stavrou - Director
249. Luli Michaelidou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
250. Magdalena Zira - Director, Academic
251. Manos Mathioudakis - Musician
252. Martha Georgiou - Architect
253. Maria Aloneftou - painter - ceramist
254. Maria Georgakis - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
255. Maria Thomas - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
256. Maria Kaberi - Choreographer
257. Maria Karsera - Director
258. Maria Kramvi - Musician
259. Maria Kyriakou - Director
260. Maria Constantinou - Actress
261. Maria Loizidou - Artist
262. Maria Makri - Archaeologist
263. Maria Savva - Animator
264. Maria Spivak - Musician, composer
265. Maria Tsangari - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
266. Maria Philippou - Actress
267. Maria Hadjisotiriou - architect, academic
268. Maria Christodoulou - actress
269. Maria Chrysostomou - Dancer
270. Marileni Stavrou - Actress
271. Marilia Paraskeva - Applied and Visual Arts
272. Marilou Demetriou - Designer
273. Marina Vronti - Director / Actress
274. Marina Ieridou - visual artist
275. Marina Maleni - Development Officer of ThOC
276. Marina Mandri - Actress
277. Marina Neophytou - Director of Operations and International Relations, Visual Voices
278. Marina Simeonidou - Musician and Co-owner of Technopolis20 Cultural Centre
279. Marina Hatziluka - Stage Designer
280. Marinos Houtris - visual artist
281. Marios Ioannou - Actor
282. Marios Lizidis - Director
283. Marios Panagios - Musician
284. Marios Takousis - Musician / Composer
285. Markella Neocleous - Musician and Co-owner of Technopolis20 Cultural Centre
286. Markos Kallis - actor
287. Markos Sukiuroglou - Composer
288. Melani Stelios Ioannou - Actress
289. Melita Kuta - Artist
290. Mikaella Tigiridou - psychotherapist
291. Michalis Assikas - Director
292. Michalis Dimitriadis - Photographer
293. Michalis Kazakas - actor
294. Michalis Karakatsanis - Musician
295. Michalis Pavlidis - Architect
296. Michalis Sofokleous - Actor
297. Michalis Terlikkas - Singer / Researcher
298. Michalis Hatzigiannis - Singer
299. Monica Nikolaidou - Film producer
300. Monica Hadjivassiliou - Director
301. Belinda Papavasiliou - movement and performance artist
302. Myria Connari - graphic designer
303. Myrto Economidis - director
304. Naya Anastasiadou - actress
305. Naya T. Karakosta - Actress, performer, theatre educator
306. Nancy Thomaidou - Candlestick maker
307. Nadia Georgiadou - Dancer
308. Natalie Hatziadamu - Music Artist and Performer
309. Natalie Yaxi - Visual Artist
310. Natasha Georgiou - Choreographer and Dance Education Consultant
311. Natasha Hatziandreou - Musician
312. Nedi Antoniadis - Actress
313. Nektarios Theodorou - Actor
314. Niki Kyriakou - Program Officer
315. Nicole Kantri Mylonas - Artist
316. Nicolas Iordanou - Photographer and Director
317. Nicolas Kyriakou - Lawyer / Writer
318. Nikoleta Kalatha - Director / Educator
319. Nikos Dukas - Musician
320. Nikos Nikolaou - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
321. Nikos Stefu - visual artist - composer
322. Nikos Filippou - Photographer, Academician
323. Nikos Christofis - academic (Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China)
324. Daniella Pistenti - Environmental Scientist
325. Odysseas Vlamis - Musician
326. Orestis Kalvaris - Photographer
327. Orestis Kargotis - Education and Research Officer, Terra Cypria
328. Pambos Kuzalis - Writer
329. Panagiota Nikolaou - Dancer
330. Panagiota Finini - Actress
331. Panayiotis Kyriakou - Actor / Radio Producer
332. Panayiotis Larkou - Director, Actor
333. Panagiotis Tofi - Choreographer
334. Pantelitsa Sokratous - Musician / Music Educator
335. Paris Paraschos - Musician
336. Paris Erotokritou - Director
337. Pascal Caron - Choreographer / Dancer
338. Pavlina Konstantopoulou - Musician
339. Pavlos Michaelides - Musician and Project Support Specialist - University of Cyprus
340. Pavlos Paraskevas - former Director of Cultural Services of the Ministry of Culture
341. Petros Yiorkatzis - Actor / Musician
342. Petros Dymiotis - Cultural Services, Ministry of Culture
343. Petros Konaris - Artistic Director of the Nicosia Dance House
344. Petros Solomou - Director of Photography
345. Petros Stavrakis - Architect
346. Penelope Vassiliou - actress
347. Peter Eramian, visual artist
348. Poppy Abraham - Actress
349. Poppy Pissouriou - Graphic Designer
350. Prokopis Agathokleous - Actor
351. Prokopis Lenas - Architect
352. Paulina Ioannou - dancer
353. Raphael Ioannou - Architect
354. Rebecca Katsari - Designer of Environmental Educational Programmes
355. Rena Choplarou - Columnist 'Politi' / Educator
356. Renos Christou - Musician
357. Savvas Vladimirou - Writer
358. Savvas Thomas - Graphic Designer
359. Savvas Kazantzis - Fashion Designer
360. Savvas Chrysostomou - Musician
361. Sara Patsalidou - performing arts producer
362. Sevastianos Kalotheou - Photographer
363. Sergis Hatziadamu - visual artist
364. Simoni Philippou - Visual Artist
365. Skye Farazi - Architect
366. Skye Christodoulou - Archaeologist, President of the Association of Cyprus Archaeologists
367. Sophia Irakleous - Dancer
368. Sophia Theologou - Architect
369. Suzana Fiala - Choreographer
370. Spyros Stavrinidis - Actor
371. Spyros Christofi - photographer and videographer
372. Stelios Kallinikou/ Artist
373. Stelios Keryneiotis - Radio Producer
374. Stelios Papageorgiou - Illustrator - Graphic Designer
375. Stella Karagiorgis - Visual Artist
376. Stella Fyrogeni - Actress
377. Stephanie Papalla - Architect
378. Stephanie Drakou - Photographer
379. Stefanos Africanos - Graphic Designer
380. Stefanos Theodorou - Architect
381. Styliana Christodoulou - Fashion Designer
382. Sylvia Nicolaides - Director, film production, Co-organizer Paphos International Film Festival
383. Sofronis Sofroniou - Writer
384. Tasos Stylianou Gallery owner
385. Teresa Evripidou - Actress
386. Joylia Bertino - Architect
387. Georgina Tatsis - Actress
388. Philip Sarris - Historian
389. Frederiki Tombazou - Musician
390. Fryni Georgiou - Dancer
391. Fotini Giorgiadis - actress
392. Fotiou Fotis - actor
393. Hambis Tsangaris - Engraver
394. Hara Kolesidou - Teacher - Archive artspase
395. Hara Lambrianidou - Theatrologist
396. Charalambos Giorkas - Musician
397. Charalambos Damianou - Actor
398. Charalambos Panteli - Musician
399. Harris Aristideou - Actor / Presenter Radio Producer
400. Haris Kafkaridis - Stage designer
401. Haritini Kyriakou - Painter
402. Christa Antoniou - Historian
403. Christiana Cyprus - State Library
404. Christiana Mouzouri - Handicraftsman
405. Christina Andreou - Architect
406. Christina Zachariou - Educator and Director
407. Christina Kazafa - Educator
408. Christina Papadopoulou - Actress
409. Christina Polykarpou - Musician
410. Christina Skarpari - Artist
411. Christina Spyrou - Cultural Services Officer
412. Christina Simeou - Graphic Designer
413. Christina Christofia - Actress
414. Christos Gerolatsitis - Composer
415. Christos Gogakis - Theatre Lighting Designer
416. Chrysavgi Stavrou - Musician
417. Chrysoula Vassiliou - Dancer
418. Aalten Jacobs - Program Development Manager, Visual Voices
419. Alexia Roider - Director
420. Claudio Saghbini - Event Organiser
421. Dora Schabel - Graphic Designer
422. Eleni Athanasiou - Professor
423. Julia Georgiadou - Visual Artist
424. Lara sophie Benjamin - visual artist
425. Natalie Charalambous - singer
431. Rene Carraz - professor
432. Ronja Burve - musician
433. Stephen Nugent - Filmmaker / cinematographer
An action of the Save Akamas / Save Cyprus Initiative & Movement
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
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