Our heroes

Alexandros is a smart and humorous peacock. He is made of re-used paper. When he flies, he cleans dirty areas below him. When he swims, the water becomes crystal clear. When he moves his special tail, he makes everything beautiful again.

Ana Scalabitana, Portuguese environmentalist and great defender of human rights, she has a special gift, as well as a huge heart. Her gift is being able to travel through time and fly.

Our heroes

Rini  is a handmade traditional girl who likes the environment being clean and healthy. When she dances a folk dance, she makes a pocket park. She is smart with a super vision to identify and solve problems.  

Nameless the robot, he is a very clever and persuasive robot, he has a lot of superpowers: extra strenght, super speedy, very clever and persuasive, immortal.

Our heroes

Recy is an environmentally friendly  robot, always ready to help the people. With its keen eyesight it flies over the city and finds the places where there is a problem to be solved.

Athena, the owl, is the coordinator of European team of mascots. She is a gifted owl. She can absorb the rubbish.

She can fly and tele-transport from place to place. With one touch, she can recycle. Her big eyes can transfer the rubbish to the bins. By moving her wings, she can clean the air.

 She can see far away in great detail. She lives on the olive tree of goddess Athena on the hill of the Acropolis, next to the Parthenon, in Athens.

Introduction

Somewhere, in a city in Europe, the world meeting of ambassadors from the various European countries is taking place, responsible for monitoring whether in their country they are developing actions within the scope of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is important to involve all children and young people to promote active global citizenship and greater awareness of the role of each one in building a safer, healthier and more sustainable world.

Hi Ambassadors, here we are to listen to all the stories about the Eu  environmental issues, and suggest solutions for a common goal!

Story of

Γεια σου, Αθηνά! 

Hello, Athena!

Γεια σου Αλέξανδρε! 

Hello, Alexadros!

I live in Salamis, a Greek island near the capital, Athens. I really like this island. There are beautiful beaches, interesting sights to visit and delicious food! I love walking around when the sun rises, to admire the beauty of the sea and nature.

I am so happy that you are here in Salamis. 

But, these days I'm very sad and I would like to tell you why..

I know, Athena, that you are very smart and wise and that is why I called you to be here to find solutions to some problems together.

One day I went out for my walk. Suddenly, I stepped on something. "Can my little black eyes see well?", I said.

I looked down and saw a pack of cigarettes on the road. 

At the same time, I smelt something horrible. 

"Can my little nose smell well?", I wondered. It was a cigarette beside the dry grass. 

"Oh my God! This can be so dangerous! It can cause a fire so easily!", I thought. 

I looked at the mountain and remembered the fire last summer. I felt scared again. Many of my animal friends are homeless right now. They are hungry and thirsty in the burnt forest. You know how I feel, Athena...

Suddenly, I saw a cat tearing up a bag full of garbage outside a house. Then all the garbage started flying because of the wind and it polluted the air!

"Oh no! Something smells terrible again. 

It's dog droppings next to fishermen's nets!" 

I also saw old clothes lying on the grass. 

"I'm wondering why people don't reuse or recycle them in the Green City van!"

A little further on, a 10-year-old child kicked a can of soda towards the sea. 

"Doesn't she know it harms the environment?? Fortunately, none of the kids at my school would do that. That's hopeful!"

Later, I noticed a man throwing his mask and his empty sanitizer on the ground. 

"I hate these new types of Covid-19 garbage!"

All this garbage can reach the beach and pollute it. Instead of seeing sand, shiny stones and shells, you see plastic bottles, soda cans and cigarette butts.. 

Where does it all go sooner or later? 

To the beach and to the sea!

50% of the waste found in Greek seas is plastic bags, plastic water bottles and aluminum soda cans.

Water pollution is dangerous for everyone. 

Boat engines can be damaged because of plastic bags. 

Sea turtles can confuse plastic bags with jelly fish, eat them and die. 

Fish eat plastic and become unhealthy food for people.

Swimmers don’t enjoy the sea.

In the program of HELMEPA (Hellenic Association for the Protection of the Marine Environment) on shores and seabeds, in 2017, a total of 6.8 tons of garbage was collected. About 17,000 pieces of waste, 355 batteries, 164 used diapers, 1,006 meters of rope, 43,339 cigarette butts, plastic caps, car tires and mattresses were found!

Do you know, Athena?

Data source: https://www.e-mama.gr/skoupidia-se-paralies-kai-thalasses/

So, Athena, our main problems are land pollution and water pollution. I am very worried about littering on beaches. Salamina has  a lot of beautiful beaches and it is so sad to see so much rubbish on them.

We must do something to change this as soon as possible!

Story of

Olá Athena, bom dia. Prazer em conhecer-te.

Hi Athena, good day. Nice to meet you.

Olá, Ana Scalabitana.

Hi!

Story of D. João II School, Santarém | Portugal

Hi Athena, I'm Ana and I live in a beautiful city in Ribatejo, Santarém, Portugal. Next to this city we have the Tagus River, an important river that rises in Spain and flows into the Atlantic Ocean, after bathing Lisbon. From the Tagus estuary, the ships and caravels of the Portuguese discoveries departed.  

Ana Scalabitana

Story D. João II School, Santarém | Portugal

Currently, the pollution of the Tagus River and the drought are our concern.

We know that all the waste we throw on the ground will one day end up in the river and the sea.

Story D. João II School, Santarém | Portugal

Last week we took a tour of the Portas do Sol gardens, in our city. Along the way we found some rubbish, especially plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic bags and papers. The garden was clean and well  cared, with lots of colorful flowers and birds.

Story D. João II School, Santarém | Portugal

Suddenly, Ana hears a scream from a student who, looking at the Tagus River from the garden walls, was started by the little water that the river carried, seeing some sandbanks.

Ana approaches this student, already accompanied by other students who were close by.

What worries you so much? - asks Ana Scalabitana.

 Pollution in the streets and at school is contributing to the environmental problems we already feel. - says Mary anguished.

It is true! - says Vicente. All the garbage we leave on the streets will one day end up in the river and the sea.

You have to help us solve this problem, Ana. - adds Manuel.

Story D. João II School, Santarém | Portugal

As if by magic, Ana took them on a journey through time, showing them what would happen if they didn't take care of the environment and the river.

When they returned, they already knew what they had to do: organize cleaning actions at school and in the river.

The next day, some students began to collaborate in cleaning the school and organized an action to raise awareness among the population, alerting them to the importance of keeping the river clean.

[Athena will bring our concerns to the other mascots to jointly propose solutions to reduce the problems encountered.]

“Practices environmentally sustainable behaviors so that we have a planet with a future.”

Story of

Ciao Athena, buona giornata!

Hi Athena have a good day!

Ciao! Nameless

Hi!

Story of

Hi Athena, here we are to tell you our story:

I’m Nameless the Robot, a super powerful robot and I followed the guys in an incredible adventure!

This year, in November we started from our school for a trip to the Muzzetta Springs, an incredible spot in our neighborhoods rich in water and trees and biodiversity.

First we walked through the countryside and we reached some farms, there we could see a lot of animals, like horses, cows, rabbits, hens and chickens!  We liked them very much!

ICS "L. Da Vinci" di Settala | Itália

We followed our teachers and we were all very happy to be there together !

All of a sudden we saw something strange, something that didn’t seem natural. We got closer and we found out that there was some garbage left on the ground!

We were so disappointed that we tried to pick it up and let the spot clean ( our teachers had brought some gloves and bags to collect the garbage).

ICS "L. Da Vinci" di Settala | Itália

Then we arrived at the springs. It was amazing! Everything around us was green and the water in the ponds was clear and fresh. There were a lot of little animals such as dragonflies, salamanders, butterflies, little fish and we also saw an owl just like you!

ICS "L. Da Vinci" di Settala | Itália

After that, with our teachers,  we did some scientific experiments about the water and the environment. We learned about a lot of new things and we enjoyed being in nature. We came back to our school and we discussed our experience.

ICS "L. Da Vinci" di Settala | Itália

Some months later, in April, our teachers organized another trip to the same place and we were all very happy, but when we got there we had a bad surprise, the springs were dry! All the water was gone and also the animals that lived there before. 

ICS "L. Da Vinci" di Settala | Itália

 Our teachers explained to us that it was because of climate change and the scarcity of rainfall. In fact it hadn’t rained for about four months, so the level of the aquifer had lowered and the springs and ponds were empty.

We were all very sad and coming back to school we started thinking about what we could do to help solve the problem.

ICS "L. Da Vinci" di Settala | Itália

Dear Athena this is our story, can you tell the other partners and please help us to find a common solution?

Story of

Hi Athena,

I am calling from Rome. As you know, the capital city of Italy is a wonderful city, full of monuments and artworks. I am proud to live here. When I see the Colosseum, I think that it was built in 72 A.D. and it is still standing, it is so impressive. 

Story of

Rome is also a green city, with its many parks, like Villa Torlonia, where we often go to relax  and have fun with our friends.

Story of

But all these beauties are in danger now!

Walking in our neighbourhood with students I have seen a lot of bad situations.

On the pavements and the streets there are many potholes, very dangerous for passers-by.

Poor me!