• Kozani participates in the celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Revolution of 1821 with outstanding and innovative proposals
• Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki: The people of Kozani work on the transition to a new era; they are preparing the future in the present
A delegation of the Committee "Greece 2021" visited Kozani, a region with a long history and heritage, which has been the heart of energy production in Greece for decades. The delegation consisted of Committee President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Executive Board Member Costis Kontogiannis. The region is in a critical transitional phase toward a new kind of energy triggered by eliminating lignite from its production. A place of origin of influential personalities of the Greek Revolution, such as the associate of Alexandros Ypsilantis, Georgios Lassanis, and the fighter and member of the Friendly Society Nikolaos Kasomoulis, Kozani is currently planning its future due to the change in its energy production model. This is why it responded in an admirable way to the Committee's invitation for initiatives, actions, and interventions that, prompted by the 200th anniversary of the Revolution, concern the planning of the future.
"The 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution gives us the opportunity to "converse" with the history of 1821 and the 200 years of the modern Greek State. But the Committee's primary strategy is to start a dialogue about the coming days. A discussion on how we desire Greece to be like in 20, 30 years. That's why I'm excited to be here in Kozani today. An area with people whose gaze, thoughts and work are addressing the future. An area that faces its future in the present. A place that has great wealth, distinct local traditions, and enormous potential," said the President of the Committee.
Innovative proposals that integrate the past and the future
It is worth mentioning that the Municipality of Kozani has submitted exciting proposals to the Committee "Greece 2021". On the one hand, these concern projects that honor and highlight history, such as the organization of a conference on the Hellenism of the Diaspora and its contribution to the Revolution and the Charter of Rigas Velestinlis. And, on the other hand, projects that aim at leaving a mark on the future, such as the proposal to create a Dynamic Multifunctional Farm that will promote innovation in the primary sector and processing, the creation of an Energy Camp that will offer educational, informative and recreational activities and the creation of a Pole of Educational Innovation to help familiarize people with technology.
"These are excellent proposals, through which the local community intents to learn from its past, from the heritage of the people of Kozani who dedicated their resources and energy to the Revolution but also to leave a mark on the future. 2021 is an opportunity to redefine our future, and I am pleased that Kozani is also innovative in this area", stressed the Committee's President. "The Municipality of Kozani has submitted brilliant and innovative proposals that involve technology and look at the future. But the cultural activities they have proposed are equally interesting, and they also leave a legacy to the place," said Committee Executive Board Member Mr. Kontogiannis.
The Committee delegation had the opportunity to discuss these proposals thoroughly with the Mayor of Kozani Lazaros Maloutas, officials from the Municipal Authority, and representatives of the productive bodies and the local community at the historic Koventareio Municipal Library. This library, a characteristic landmark of the city, contains 1 of the 40 copies of the Charter of Rigas Velestinlis and houses a historical archive of old publications, the oldest of which dates from 1020 to 1040. As the Mayor mentioned in his statements, the close collaboration of the Municipal Authority with the Committee showed that the proposals' main objective was not the past but "a different field, the field of the future and the prospect of the city and the region in general". He added that this coincided with developments in energy production that concern the city and expressed the municipality's intention to implement all the proposals it has submitted, as they "will give new identity and perspective to the place". In her response, the President of the Committee publicly congratulated the local authorities for the proposals and their active participation in the anniversary, stressing that each organization had its share in forming the proposals.
From 1821 to the challenges of the new era
The Committee delegation also met with the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia Giorgos Kasapidis, who indicated that the Region will assist with its forces in the tremendous national effort for the success of the celebration. "The Region of Western Macedonia will highlight Western Macedonia peoples’ participation and role in the Revolution of 1821 and our liberation 90 years later," the Regional Governor said at the end of the meeting. He underlined that Western Macedonia is now facing a new and difficult challenge, unemployment, which it needs to confront with technology, knowledge, and investments in its armory.
The President and the Member of the Executive Board of the Committee also visited Kozani's district heating pump, where they toured the control room and were informed on the eco-friendly nature and the energy and economic benefits of this important but rarely used practice in Greece. Also, at the Bioclimatic School of the region, they had the opportunity to discuss with the children of the 6th grade of the Primary School about their experience of attending a pioneering school that uses alternative methods of energy.