PARNONAS – ZAVITSA
(Initiative for the Protection of Parnonas – SAVE PARNONAS)
On April 5, 2025, a public event and discussion took place in Astros, Kynouria, addressing the installation of renewable energy projects (RES) in Northern Parnonas and the Zavitsa region. Among the speakers were:
Maria Karamanof, Vice President of the Council of State and Honorary President of the Chamber of Environment and Sustainability, Chloe Benou, Forest engineer, Haris Giannopoulou, Nuclear medicine specialist, Konstantinos Marinakos, Associate Professor at the University of West Attica and President of the Peloponnese Tourism Organization, Panagiotis Faklaris, Professor of Archaeology, Alexandros Safner, Representative of the Movement for the Protection of Islets and others.
The event was opened by Nagia Papaliakou and moderated by journalist Giorgos Katerinis.
In this broadcast:
We speak in-studio with Haris Giannopoulou, nuclear medicine doctor from Agios Petros, and by phone with Nagia Papaliakou, political scientist from coastal Kynouria.
This is a continuation of the conversation around what lies ahead for the region — the future of the mountain, the growing presence of investors, and the large-scale projects being proposed. One such project is the Drampala site in the Municipality of Northern Kynouria, designated for lithium battery storage in support of RES infrastructure, along with forest road construction and other developments.
With Haris Giannopoulou, we focus on the health implications:
– Infrasound (low-frequency noise): penetrating walls, causing head or ear pressure, sleep disruption, increased stress, and long-term cardiovascular issues.
– Visual disturbance: flickering shadows from spinning blades (shadow flicker) inducing visual stress.
– Wind Turbine Syndrome: anxiety, irritability, fatigue, nausea, tinnitus, depression, palpitations, shortness of breath.
– Psychological impact: altered connection to the landscape, feelings of loss, alienation, injustice, and disempowerment, leading to community tension.
– Environmental pollution: contamination of groundwater, soil, and food; release of toxic gases; pollutants from burned materials, heavy metals, plastics, and electrolytes; soot and fine particles causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
Stay tuned!