Greece is a gold mine of natural sources for green energy and infrastructure, capable to feed the next generations. As an example, take a look at the west side of Crete island whereas the three seas meet, and form permanent swell, enough to empower generators operating with the power of the sea. Harnessing from the power of seas and oceans is the future.
For now, we focus on a particular concept which can help Greece to overcome its financial crisis. By having been through the stressful experience of unemployment, my awareness arose through paying attention to perspective for the next generations to ensure job opportunities.
Greece has a population of 11M citizens approximately. Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece, an ancient historical city, in which, according to demographics at around 3.75 million live in the metropolitan area.
Obviously is easier to offer comfort to habitats of Athens, than relocating in other Greek regions. What could possibly offer jobs to habitats of the one-third of the Greek population? Makronisos
A geophysical naturally shaped port which can host airport and become additional hub or fueling station of Cosco, or even a second commercial port. Charter would be reduced in terms of time at almost one day by heading to Makorinisos instead of Piraeus port, and time means money in shipping. Cosco would have nothing to lose or compete, as the decongestion by separating operations in two locations would strengthen its presence and commerciality.
In a modern era, with current shipping projects focusing on cohesion in the current European transport infrastructure, a new i.e. LNG hub may totally satisfty one of the main objectives in shipping
10 years challenge: Ten years ago when I tried to bring up the subject I was told by politicians that researches speak of deep waters which may not allow construction of bridges with the land. Digging further I came across with the extensive project presented by Constantinos Doxiadis, an Architect Engineer born in 1913 and took part in the Greek resistance and was decorated by the Greek and British governments. This is the only reason daring to share the project for Makronisos isle.
Constantinos Doxiadis, a Greek Architect and town planner, distinguished himself as Minister of Reconstruction at the end of the war and founded Doxiadis Associates company in the 50s, expanding offices globally and performing projects in over 30 countries. He became known as the lead architect of Islamabad, the new capital of Pakistan in the 1960s.
In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reoriented the city facing Mecca. Awarded for creative and innovative concepts was rather a father of urban sustainability in his era, by proposing ‘Ekistics’, a futuristic at that time urban pattern sourcing experience from the archaeological and historical past cities.
Amongst studies and books authored by Doxiadis, remarkable is this for the Great Lakes Megalopolis suggested through US Congress. Doxiadis vision for the Great Lakes region was for the construction of the largest economic unit in the world with a gross regional product roughly equal to that of Japan. The five Great Lakes contain one-fifth of the world’s surface fresh water and have a combined shoreline of 10,210 miles. About 200 million tons of cargo is shipped by way of the Great Lakes each year through land and marine corridor transportations.
An intellectual urban planner, illustrated at the front cover of Time Magazine for his great vision on American metropolises, was utmost ignored in Greece.
Beyond large contracts could have brought, his principle vision was for the Island of Shame, Makronisos – called like this as political prisoners were held there, to build a bridge, a rail link, and ports both on Makronisos and opposite land of Lavrion.
Constantinos Doxiadis report is saved in the National Library of Greece. The full report should come in the hands of competent engineers and visionary politicians to reconsider the vision of a great man.
Makronisos was called Helena in antiquity, as they say, Beautiful Helen of Troy, wife of Menelaus was first sheltered in this island with Paris before heading to Troy. The current name of the island means long island due to its shape and length of approximately 12km. During the Greek Civil War and until the restoration of Democracy after the Greek Junta, the island was a prison camp. This is why we call it the Isle of Shame.
Standing silent in time, the island can be transformed thanks to visionary people to a new hub, in benefit of a shipping fund, ideally consisting of companies supported by Governments of Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia. Can you think of life this port could give to the citizens of Athens? The opportunities offered to face unemployment?
There are ways for sins to be washed away, through actions which may cater to people’s needs in Greece. Uninhabited as Monument of War, the Isle of shame can become the Isle of Peace.
In memory of Constantinos Apostolou Doxiadis
By Maria K.Bakalakou, 17 March 2019
