Callisto’s 20th anniversary was celebrated with a successful two-day programme of events held on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 October at Thessaloniki City Hall, marking two decades of the organisation’s work for wildlife and nature conservation.
The celebration brought together dozens of people who have worked alongside Callisto over the years, including representatives of public institutions, universities, environmental organisations, and grassroots environmental movements. It was also attended by many supporters who have followed and supported Callisto’s journey throughout the past twenty years.
The first day began with an educational activity for children entitled “Learning about Greece’s Wildlife”, organised by Callisto’s staff with the support of the organisation’s volunteers. This was followed by the panel discussion “Environmental Movements in Greece – The Contribution of Environmental Organisations”, moderated by journalist Stavroula Poulimeni.
During the discussion, Callisto’s Scientific Director, Yorgos Mertzanis, presented the organisation’s interventions and advocacy work concerning the impacts of renewable energy developments on biodiversity. Lawyer Tryfon Kollias discussed the legal actions undertaken to challenge renewable energy projects that threaten protected areas. Christos Fasoulas, representing the Citizens’ Network for the Protection of Agrafa, spoke about the successful grassroots movement opposing large-scale renewable energy developments in the Agrafa Mountains. Lefteris Ioannidis, President of the Ecological Movement of Kozani and former Mayor of Kozani, addressed the broader issues of the energy transition and hydrocarbon extraction, while Giannis Deligiovas, representing the Megali Panagia Citizens’ Committee, presented the campaign against gold mining in Halkidiki. Finally, Yorgos Archontopoulos, President of the EYATH Employees’ Union, discussed the movement defending public ownership of water.
Greetings and anniversary wishes were also delivered by Giannis Mitsopoulos, representing the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), and Alexandros Karamanlidis, General Director of Arcturos.
The second day of celebrations opened with a symbolic public awareness event centred around the public drinking fountain installed in the courtyard of Thessaloniki City Hall. The fountain is one of the first ten installed by the Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYATH) and the Municipality of Thessaloniki in accordance with the relevant European Directive. For years, the movement defending water as a public good has advocated for the installation of public drinking fountains throughout public spaces, recognising access to safe, free drinking water as a fundamental right.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Thessaloniki, Stelios Angeloudis; EYATH Vice President Grigoris Penelis; EYATH Employees’ Union President Yorgos Archontopoulos; Greenpeace Greece Executive Director Nikos Haralambidis; Callisto Board President Vaios Koutis; and Callisto General Director Spyros Psaroudas.
The children’s educational activity on the second day, entitled “Our Place and Us”, was organised by Callisto’s staff together with volunteers from the organisation.
The central anniversary event, dedicated to Callisto’s history and achievements over the past twenty years, featured contributions from numerous representatives of organisations and institutions that have collaborated with Callisto throughout its journey. The event was presented and moderated by Loukia Argyriadou.
Welcome addresses were delivered by Kalomoira Agapitou, representing the Secretary General for Forests of the Ministry of Environment and Energy; Yorgos Protopapas, Director of the Green Fund; Paraskevi Christopoulou, Head of the European Programmes Department of the Region of Western Macedonia; and Panagiotis Paraschou, Organisational Secretary of the Geotechnical Chamber of Greece. Dimitris Chatzopoulos, Assistant Professor at the University of Thessaly, represented his university, while Professor Giannis Ziogas represented the University of Western Macedonia.
International partners also shared their experiences of collaborating with Callisto. Katrina Marsden, from the German consultancy adelphi, and Giovanna Di Domenico, representing Italy’s Majella National Park, spoke about their organisations’ partnerships with Callisto. Video messages celebrating Callisto’s twentieth anniversary were sent by Bledi Hoxha (PPNEA, Albania), Luciano Sammarone (Abruzzo National Park, Italy), Angela Tavone (Rewilding Apennines, Italy), and Maria Parraga (Fundación Oso Pardo, Spain).
Representatives of leading Greek environmental organisations also addressed the audience, including Nikos Haralambidis (Greenpeace Greece), Konstantinos Liarikos (WWF Greece), Sofia Prousali (Action for Wildlife), Miltos Gletsos (Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature), Nadia Andreanidou (MEDASSET), Eugenia Roidou (ARCHELON), Despina Michelaki (Friends of Nature Greece), Giannis Giovos (iSea), Alexandra Demertzi (Society for the Protection of Prespa), and Fanoikos Sakellarakis (medINA). Ioli Christopoulou (The Green Tank) contributed a video message, while Konstantina Demiri, Director of the Hellenic Ornithological Society, sent a written greeting.
A special tribute was paid during the event to two people who played an important role in Callisto’s history and are no longer with us: our co-founder Konstantinos Godis and our dear colleague Lazaros Chatzinakos.
The event concluded with reflections on Callisto’s twenty-year journey by Vaios Koutis, President of the Board of Directors, followed by closing remarks from Spyros Psaroudas, General Director of Callisto.
The two-day anniversary celebration ended with a live performance by Selanik Turbo Bend, whose repertoire celebrates the musical traditions of the Roma communities of Thessaloniki and the neighbouring Balkan countries that have shaped the region’s rich cultural heritage.
Wine and beer served during the celebrations were generously provided by the event sponsors, Siris Craft Brewery (Voreia Beer) and Kir-Yianni Estate. In line with Callisto’s environmental values, only reusable drinking cups were used throughout the event, helping to minimise the environmental footprint of the celebration.