“The monopolization of the agricultural economy and the transformation of the isolated countryside into a zone of unlimited investment, with the depletion of natural resources and absolute adaptation to the needs of mass tourism, seems to lead to a paradoxical Sisyphean myth: the peak of development can sink communities in the complete destruction of the sources they used for their existence “.

This passage, taken from documentary “Being an Islander” (Be an islander) Dimitris Bura And her Anastasia Christophilopoulos For Sifnosseems to sum up the fears of its inhabitants about the future of the island. Following a letter from the municipality to three ministries in which it asked for a ban on swimming pools, underground structures, alteration of the island’s architectural heritage and destruction of paths (see “K” 8.4.23), a letter signed by 100 friends of the island, aims to highlight and expand on the problems created by unregulated tourism/housing development. The signatories declare their support for the initiative of the municipality and indicate a number of issues related to those mentioned. Among them are integrated water resources management, anarchic and off-scale construction, compliance with protected Area Natura. “It is clear that the local community itself is ready to lay claim to development that will ensure both the present and the future of its children,” the letter says. “On Sifnos, as in other Cyclades islandsthere is a fear that the situation will worsen. The islands are experiencing an unprecedented real estate boom,” he explains. Yannis Spilanis, Professor at Aegean University and Director of the Aegean Observatory for Sustainable Tourism. “The difference in the case of Sifnos is that not only part of society reacts, but also the businessmen themselves, who do not want the character of the island to be destroyed. Potential investors came to the islands, stayed for a few days and looked for opportunities. Now they arrive in helicopters, see and leave on the same day. It’s reasonable for them to worry.”

Red line

One hundred friends of the island support the initiative of the municipality to ask the competent state authorities to preserve the cultural heritage of the island with their letter.

“Sifnos has been destroyed twice in its history by monoculture: in antiquity, when its mines were flooded, and in the 1950s, when new materials took pottery out of competition. However, most Siphnians refuse to see the reality: For now, investors are targeting high-income islands. Now it is Sifnos, when it stops giving what they want, it will be some other place,” he says. Dimitris Buras, anthropologist and documentary film maker. “Today, the island is dominated by easy money and short-sighted logic. But at the same time, the island has crossed a red line for its natural resources, its heritage, its landscape.”

“Rules not followed”

OUR Ronia Anastasiadou, a resident of the island, is actively involved in thematic tourism. “I think it all starts with how easy land is for sale. 20 years ago there was nothing to buy, no one was selling. Now the exact opposite is happening, because people came and offered exorbitant amounts, far exceeding the real value of real estate. At the same time, whatever rules exist, they are not respected, there is no control, obscenity reigns. Whoever has money does what he wants. But even if they’re not illegal, you can see how out of place they are: they build huge houses, and because the white looks intense, they also build some exposed stone walls, which here they only use in the stables. And then, whoever built a hippopotamus on top of a mountain or in the wilderness has needs for electricity, water, sewerage, and the meager resources of the municipality should serve them, not the needs of society. Together, our society is changing. Once upon a time, the islands were revitalized by government officials appointed there or those who decided to leave urban life behind. Now they all can’t find a home – after all, everyone is on Airbnb – and they leave. I don’t know how to stop it.”

Letter

We are lovers of Sifnos and most of us have been spending most of the year on the island for many years. We strongly support the initiative of the Municipality of Sifnos to send a letter to the competent state authorities for the preservation of the cultural heritage of the island. It is clear that the local community itself is ready to claim such a development that will ensure both the present and the future of its children.

Other examples of issues that are interconnected with those highlighted by the municipality are integrated water resources management, anarchic and off-scale construction, respect for the protected area of ​​Natura, maintenance of dry stones and paths, garbage management, limitation of cars in the carrying capacity of the island, combined with an even more perfect public transport, protection of natural beauties and others.

The island already has many related initiatives in which residents are actively involved. With this pioneering step, Sifnos is starting a fruitful dialogue for the sustainable development of not only itself, but also other islands, as well as the exploration of a new model of tourism that is friendly to the environment and cultural heritage.

1. Vasia Atanasula
2. Nikos Anastasopoulos
3. Alina Valvi
4. Angeliki Vafeidis
5. Kostis Vafeidis
6. Nikos Vernikos
7. John Bicknell
8. Becky Bloom
9. Alex Bloom
10. Alexandra Vulpiotis
11. Ilias Gunaris
12. Maro Grigoriadis
13. Maria Griva
14. Zoe Gozadinou
15. Angela Colman
16. Deborah Colman
17. Rosie Colman
18. Catherine Galle
19. Raymond Galle
20. Christina Greiner
21. Frank Greiner
22. Ion Dagtoglu
23. Jim Devine
24. Dragon chest
25. Eleni Dori
26. Michael Ellis
27. Alexis Efstratiadis
28. Thodoris Efstratiadis
29. Lukia Efstratiadis
30. Mary Efstratiadis
31. Flavia Zakian
32. Nikos Zacharias
33. Amalia Zepou
34. Greta Zepou
35. Kostas Zepos
36. Diana Issidorides
37. Fotini Issidoridis
38. Anastasios Ioannou
39. John to John
40. Rebecca Camhi
41. Aris Kandris
42. Vassilis Karatsas
43. Minnie Karras
44. Anna Kashimati
45. Christ Katsakos
46. ​​Alexandra Katsiri
47. Eleftheria Katsiris
48. Nikos Katsiris
49. Mary Kelly
50. Jerome Koehler
51. Elizabeth Cooluri
52. Phaedo Cornelius
53. Chrysovergis Kritas
54. Marina Kiriaki
55. Dimitris Constantinou
56. Caterina Constantinou
57. Konstantinos Lalakis
58. Maria Lutge
59. Dimitris Manikas
60. Dimitra Markel
61. George Xidis
62. Lisa Xidis
63. Eleni Machira-Ontoni
64. Achilleas Mitsos
65. Popy Miestris
66. Nikos Muselis
67. Despina Balliou
68. Dora Dailiani
69. John Olympios
70. Amedeo Ontoni
71. Alkmini Paka
72. Spyros Papagrigoriou
73. Anna Papadakis
74. Mary Papaioannu
75. Zoe Papasmyris
76. Irini Petropoulos
77. Maria Polenaki
78. Daphne Potamitis
79. Stathis Potamitis
80. Stelios Potamitis
81. Vangelis Russo
82. Benedetto SARACENO
83. Elena STERNAI
84. Christina Solakaki
85. George Stamatis
86. Miltos Stamatopoulos
87. Chrysothemis Stamatopoulou
88. George Stratakis
89. Phoebus Stratakis
90. Dimitris Sfantos
91. Nikos Tasartes
92. Melina Tanagri
93. Anna Teley
94. Nikos Teleienis
95. Eleni Tsirtzilaki
96. Lina Hartocollis
97. Anemone Hartocollis
98. Christos Hatzigiannakis
99. Daphne Psimara
100. Dimitris Psimaras
101. Thanos Psimaras
102. Thassos Psimaras
103. Hazel Webb