Artists gather for eco-fundraiser
United under the slogan «Together We Sing for Nature, We Sing for Life,» Skai Radio, the Goulandris Natural History Museum and Melodia Radio are jointly organizing a big concert at the Panathenaic Stadium tonight. The night’s proceeds will go to the Forest Fund. Fifteen composers and singers, including Haris Alexiou, Stamatis Kraounakis, Dimitris Mitropanos, George Dalaras, Babis Stokas, Dionysis Savvopoulos, Vassilis Papaconstantinou, Nikos Portokaloglou, Eleni Tsaligopoulou and Maria Farantouri, all responded to the call and will be joining forces tonight. «The point of this concert is to change our mentality, to learn to love the environment and ourselves,» said singer Manolis Mitsias at a recent press conference. For his part, Giorgos Andreou pointed out that the environment is a political issue. «The question is whether we can manage to convince our fellow citizens to give up some of their personal comfort.» With a more aggressive stance, Dionysis Tsaknis spoke about «the big culprit, the state, which has shown criminally neglectful behavior.» Composer Thanos Mikroutsikos put emphasis on individual responsibility. «We were all indifferent and made fun of the pioneers who started the struggle to save the environment 40 years ago. Now we find ourselves already on the edge of a cliff. Daily struggle is needed. This is not about what will take place on the night of the concert, but from the next morning onward.» Niki Goulandris, the president of the Goulandris Museum of Natural History which for many years has been showcasing the importance of nature and wildlife to children and adults alike, was also present and called on people to support the cause. The Goulandris Museum of Natural History continues its program to restore the forests, with «A Tree for Greece,» an initiative launched in France in 2007 by acclaimed author Jacqueline de Romilly. The museum calls on all citizens, the media, businesses, organizations and banks to participate in a national fundraiser to support the regeneration of Greek forests. The contribution of Skai, which is known for its environmental stance and its ecological sensitivity, is substantial. The money raised from the concert proceeds as well as the radioathon that Skai is holding today to ask for «a little money from many people,» as Skai director Aris Portosalte has said, will go to the Forest Fund. The Goulandris Natural History Museum and the Ministry of Agricultural Development signed a special contract of collaboration for the management of the money that is to be raised. There will be a joint management committee which will hand over the money to the Forest Fund and will also oversee any work that is done. Shortly before the start of the concert, a recorded message by Patriarch Vartholomaios will be broadcast, which, according to sources, will deal with the need to save the forests and protect them from development. Tickets for the concert can be purchased at Metropolis music stores and on the website www.ticketservices.gr, for 10 euros.
