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- Ελληνικά
A press conference was held today at the amphitheatre of the Press and Information Office in view of the pan-Cypriot clean-up campaign "Let's Do It! Cyprus 2023", organised by the environmental and voluntary network Together Cyprus, on 23-29 October with the support of the Environment Commissioner's Office.
The press conference was held on behalf of the Environment Commissioner Dr. Maria Panayiotou by the Environment Commissioner's Office Officer Mr. Haris Nicolaides, the Deputy Director of the Environment Department Mr. Lakis Mesimeris, the President of Together Cyprus Mr. Andreas Angelis and the Communication and Corporate Responsibility Manager of Lidl Cyprus Mr. Georgios Dimitroulakis. The press conference was also attended by the Mayor of Strovolos Mr. Andreas Papacharalambous.
Mr. Nicolaides, speaking on behalf of the Environment Commissioner, said that two of the most pressing challenges of our time are the climate crisis and environmental degradation and that if humanity does not rationally manage the ever-increasing volume of waste, this can have disastrous consequences for human health, climate and ecosystems. "The waste piles we see in many areas are just a symptom of a much bigger problem, the rampant consumer mentality, a mentality that needs to change," he noted, among other things.
He added that the Environment Commissioner's Office accepted the invitation of "Let's Do It! Cyprus 2023" to contribute to the annual clean-up campaign, as it has been doing for years. "To help with the campaign we have co-sponsored with the Fisheries and Marine Research Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, to co-organise the clean-up of the fishing shelter and Zygios beach on Sunday 22 October at 11.00am," he said. The President of the Republic Mr. Nikos Christodoulides will also participate in the action and will kick off the weekly clean-up campaign, he said, stressing that "the participation of the President of the Republic himself in this action has its own symbolism as it shows in the most practical way the commitment of the Presidency to protect the environment". The aim of the action, he noted, is to raise awareness of environmental challenges and to promote the cultivation of environmental awareness and action in every corner of Cyprus.E.B.A.K., the Port Police, the Larnaca Hippocampus Submarine Activities Group, as well as the President Mrs. Georgia Michael and the members of the Zygios Community Council for their support in this effort.
Finally, he invited all citizens, institutions and organizations to participate in the clean-up campaign in Zygi, showing that "when we act as a whole we can make a difference".
Mr. Mesimeris in his address described the effort as a happy event that highlights the importance of volunteerism and the development of social actions focused on the protection of the environment. "With sensitized citizens like you, with targeted actions and empathy, we can hope for a brighter future and a cleaner environment for us and our children," he said.
He added that environmental protection is an end in itself and one of the priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and is promoted with a focus on ensuring a unified policy and legislation, as well as the sustainability of resources. He then referred to the various projects, projects, programmes and actions implemented by the Environment Department, such as the Municipal Waste Management Plan 2022-2028, the "THALEIA 2021-2027" Programme, the LIFE IP CY Zero Waste project and the European Week of Waste Prevention.
Mr. Angelis in his address thanked the Environment Commissioner's Office for its continuous support over the past years and mentioned that Let's Do It! The event is supported by the Municipalities of Nicosia, Strovolos and Lakatameia who will unite to clean up the entire linear park for the first time in Cyprus at the same time by making a public appeal to the citizens and schools of the Nicosia district, he said.
He explained that "Let's do it! Cyprus" is part of the "Let's do it! World" and "World Cleanup Day" action and that in Cyprus it has been active since 2012 and has more than 230 thousand volunteers.
He explained that "Let's do it! Cyprus" is part of the "Let's do it! World" and "World Cleanup Day" action and that in Cyprus it has been active since 2012 and has more than 230 thousand volunteers. Lidl, Hellenic Tzilalis, CYTA, Hellenic Bank, OPAP, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Mr. Bin, Petrolina, Cyprus Youth Organization, Gap-Akis Express, Vasilikos Cement Factory, Gap-Akis Express, Toyota, McDonalds, National Betting Authority, National Betting Authority, Deputy Ministry of Tourism, Cyprus Electricity Authority, Forestry Department, Phileleftheros, Sfera 96,8, Kiss FM 89, Kiss FM 89.0, Active 107.4 and RIK.
For his part, the Mayor of Strovolos stressed that Strovolos Municipality has adopted an active environmental policy in recent years, which is why he is proud to support as a local authority a voluntary movement involving millions of volunteers. He expressed the hope that this year the public participation in the campaign will be even greater and congratulated the organisers of the campaign, as well as the other contributors.
(EN/NG)
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