Summary of International Conference

WATER IN THE ANTHROPOCENE:

ECOTHEOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES

The International Conference on the topic “Water in the Anthropocene: Ecotheological and Scientific Perspectives” was held in the “Thessalia” Conference Center, Melissatika, Volos, Greece, organized by the Volos Academy for Theological Studies with the support of the Social Collective “zVolos”

The Conference started with greeting messages from Metropolitan Ignatius of Demetrias and Dr. Nikolaos Asproulis, on behalf of the Academy of Theological Studies, who emphasized the imperative necessity of ecological action in order to avoid further water-related disasters, reminding the enormous importance of clean water for the preservation of life and the preaching of His-All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on the ecological sin. The first speaker, Prof. Dr. Agis M. Papadopoulos (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) presented the increasing problem of water scarcity all around the Mediterranean, its local and temporal exacerbations and the efforts to address it, focusing in particular on the desalination method and its challenges, due to its high energy footprint. Then, Prof. Dr. Nikitas Mylopoulos (University of Thessaly) spoke about the management of water resources in Thessaly, mainly related to the agricultural exploitation, the observed eco-anomy and the risk of desertification of Thessaly due to the incautious management of these resources. In the last presentation on Friday, Theodota Nantsou (Environmental Policy Director of WWF Greece) spoke about natural ecosystems as a shield against climate disasters, presenting case studies where mild interventions outweigh large-scale projects.

On Saturday, the Conference began with a presentation by Prof. Dr Ekaterini Tsalampouni (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), who referred to the biblical references to water, especially in the theophanies of the New Testament, where water is personified not as a neutral natural element but as a witness to the will of God and as a voice of justice. Bishop Anthony (Vrame) of Synada, professor at the Hellenic College of the Holy Cross in Boston, spoke on the topic of “Water of Life,” emphasizing the importance of water from both a biblical and liturgical perspective, juxtaposing it with ecological challenges and coming to conclusions about human responsibility. Dr Christina Nellist (Pan-Orthodox Concern for Animals, UK) focused on the “Food – Water – Energy” nexus, highlighting how inefficient, wasteful and harmful the animal-based diet is, and commenting on the refusal of the vast majority of people to change their eating habits. Prof. Dr Chris Durante (St Peter’s University, NJ, USA) raised the issue of the Orthodox Christian ethics of water, speaking of a well-being that includes not only the human species but also all of nature, thus formulating a demand not for care but for justice. Prof. Emeritus Dr Frances Kostarelos (Governors State University, Chicago, IL, USA) presented the interconnection between global warming, water use and sustainable rural life in Greece, focusing on the destructive neo-liberal policies of petroleum products and the need to comply with the ecological legal frameworks of the European Union. Prof. Dr. Shelly Kumar (Governors State University, Chicago, IL, USA) spoke about the chemical particularities of water and referred to the way in which these beneficial properties turn into destructive ones in the case of pollution. Dr. Tomás Insua (Ecclesiastical Associate at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom) spoke about the initiatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to promote September 1 as a global ecumenical “Day of Creation” from 1989 to the present, about the historical origins of the Feast of the Indiction as a day dedicated to the whole of creation, and about the importance of this particular celebration as a pan-Christian day for the environment.

At the conclusion of the Conference, Thodoris Sdroulias (Architect & Journalist, Volos) presented a video on the vital importance of wetlands everywhere, which concluded with an on-site visit to Lake Karla, followed by a visit to the ecological education center “zVolos”, where Michalis Stylas and Vasilios Tiliakos (representatives of the “zVolos” Cooperative) presented models of mild intervention in arboriculture with the aim of adapting fruit trees to conditions of increasing drought. The Conference concluded with the Sunday Divine Liturgy at the “Green Parish” of Evangelistria of Nea Ionia, Volos, officiated by Bishop Anthony (Vrame) of Synada.

The video recording of the Conference proceedings will be soon uploaded on the Volos Academy YouTube channel.