Greece | Good News For Humankind

Greece’s sea turtle nests reach record numbers as conservation efforts pay off

By Peter Schulte / September 28, 2024

From Spain in the west to Cyprus in the east, the Mediterranean has witnessed a record rise in sea turtle nesting – testimony to the painstaking efforts of environmentalists determined to save an ancient mariner that not that long ago was on the verge of extinction. In Greece, which hosts 60% of Caretta caretta nests, the rebound has been phenomenal: from an average of 5,000 to 7,000 nests per year, since 2023 over 10,000 nests have been recorded annually, according to Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece.

Greece becomes first E.U. country to ban bottom fishing in marine protected areas

By Peter Schulte / April 18, 2024

Greece will start with national marine parks, where bottom fishing will be banned “by 2026.” Then, it will be prohibited “in all marine protected areas by 2030.” This method of fishing, decried by environmental associations, involves dragging heavy nets along the seabed, damaging ecosystems and releasing carbon trapped in the seabed.

Greece legalizes same-sex marriage

By Peter Schulte / February 15, 2024

Greece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalize same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after the 176-76 vote in parliament. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis proclaimed “People who have been invisible will finally be made visible around us, and with them, many children will finally find their rightful place.”

Renewable energy meets all of Greece’s electricity needs for the first time ever

By Peter Schulte / October 11, 2022

For at least five hours on Friday, renewables accounted for 100 per cent of Greece’s power generation, reaching a record high of 3,106 megawatt hours.

Greece bans genital surgery on non-consenting intersex babies

By Peter Schulte / July 26, 2022

The surgeries are often unnecessary for the health of the child and are performed so that adults feel better about how the child’s genitalia look, even though the child often cannot consent to the procedures.

Greece bans LGBTQ conversion therapy

By Peter Schulte / May 12, 2022

Psychologists or other health professionals now will need a person’s explicit consent to perform such treatment and face fines and a prison term if they violate the law.

Greece builds Europe’s largest double-sided solar farm

By Peter Schulte / April 14, 2022

The installation of this bifacial solar farm is part of Greece’s aim to double its installed capacity from renewables to approximately 19 gigawatts by 2030.

Athens is tackling urban air pollution and heat stress with “pocket parks”

By Peter Schulte / March 19, 2021

In an effort to curb air pollution from vehicles — which are responsible for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions — the city is now closing traffic lanes and transforming them into bicycle paths, pedestrian walks, and small areas of greenery. It is also renovating fountains which can lower temperatures and improve air quality,

Katerina Sakellaropoulou becomes Greece’s first female president

By Peter Schulte / February 11, 2020

A high court judge and ardent human rights advocate has been elected Greece’s first female president in a historic vote by parliament.

The astrolabe is invented, perhaps by the Appolonius of Perga in Greece

By Peter Schulte / September 28, 1002

An astrolabe is an elaborate inclinometer, historically used by astronomers and navigators to measure the inclined position in the sky of a celestial body, day or night.