Welcome to Greece!

Themis VeleniThemis VeleniRiis Academy Riis Academy

WaterWater

ΓΕΙΑ, TΙ ΛΕΕΙ ; (pronounced YA, ΤΙ LEI?) = Hey, what’s up?

TA ΛΕΜΕ (pronounced TA LEME) = See you around

It is all Greek to me

Introductory game:Telephone!

• We all sit in a circle

• I am going to whisper a Greek word into one’s student ear

• He/she has to do the same with the person sitting next to him

Oceanus in the Trevi Fountain in Rome

Genealogy of Greek mythology

Oceanids: sea nymphsPotamoi: the river-gods

Who is that Greek God?

Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, ca 440 BC

Amphitrite

The Triumph of Poseidon and Amphitrite

Tritons, the satyrs of the seas

The Little Mermaid is actually 2,500 years old

The battle of Athena and Poseidon over Athens

Hades and Poseidon

Kerkini lake

Pozar falls

Edessa falls

Greece is widely known for its beautiful islands

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The Greek sea has always been an essential part of our economy

Playing with safe blue Greek seas

The Knossos palace at Crete, 2500 BC

Thera, wall decorations and mosaics, 1500 BC

Trireme, a revolutionary ship

Inscription with the oarsmen in action

Why is water important to us?

Without water, life wouldn’t exist!

By 2030, in some developing regions of the world, water demand will exceed supply by 50%

What is happening with the Greek water?

Greek Water Game

Each student can buy a cup of clear fresh water for 1 bean

75% of students will be given 1 bean

25% of students will have 10 beans

3 of the cups will be “contaminated” with black dye

The contaminated water will not be replaced because “it costs too much”

Problems with the Privatization of Water

Privatization Leads to Rate Increases

The bottom line for private companies is profit which translates into higher prices and inferior service for consumers

Privatization can leave the poor with no access to clean water

For instance, Bolivia’s public water system was recently privatized as a condition for a World Bank loan. The private water company, Aguas del Tunari, immediately doubled water prices. For thousands of families, their water bills accounted for a fourth of their monthly budgets, while other families had their water turned off completely. Hundreds of thousands of Bolivians protested and were met by their government with violence.

Privatization Leads to Job Losses

Privatization often leads to massive layoffs, at times putting service and water quality at risk due to understaffing. Layoffs are commonly used to reduce costs and increase profits. Such layoffs are not only devastating to workers, but also to consumers.

Privatization is making companies accountable to Shareholders not Consumers

In many cases, the deals that water companies make with government agencies include exclusive access to distribution for 25 or 30 years, effectively sanctioning a monopoly. These private monopolies tend to undermine accountability and result in poor customer service. The company is under little pressure to respond to consumer concerns, especially when the product in question is necessary to the lives of consumers.

Privatization Fosters Corruption

Privatization is Difficult to Reverse

Once a municipality signs over part or all of its water system to a private water company, withdrawing from the agreement borders on the impossible.

Privatization is Difficult to Reverse

Once a municipality signs over part or all of its water system to a private water company, withdrawing from the agreement borders on the impossible.

What can we do to save water?

SAVEGREEKWATER.org

SAVEGREEKWATER is a Greek citizens’ initiative that opposes

corporate privatization of our water resources and its distribution.

Clean affordable water is a human right and must remain a public

commons. Our initiative wants to inform all concerned on the

implications of allowing corporations to commodity and profit from

our limited water resources. The privatization of water is first a

question of democracy. If we cannot control our supply of water do we

really control anything at all? Our campaign wants to use this

opportunity to sensitize the public on the larger issue of careful water

management for private and agricultural use. Join the SAVE GREEK

WATER initiative against water privatization.