Acropolis News

Volunteers of New Acropolis in Toronto continue the annual tradition of planting trees at Downsview Park. Since 1999, New Acropolis volunteers have joined other Toronto citizens to transform an old military base into a vital community space, continuing to create Canada’s first Urban National Park.

Each tree we have planted over the years is a symbol of the dreams that we plant and nourish every day for a new and better world!

New Acropolis Mumbai organized a debate entitled “Empowering real change”, in collaboration with the Indian Express newspaper. Speakers included the educator and environmental specialist Sonam Wangchuk, the philanthropist Tsarina Screwvala (Swades Foundation) and the philosopher Yaron Barzilay (Director of New Acropolis in India).

With over 150 attendees, the presenters at this ’round table’ emphasized the need for a sustainable change in society, beyond quick and immediate fixes, which are of little relevance and lead to uncertainty and despair. A collective investigation showed that the “Post-truth” world  (Word of the Year 2016, Oxford Dictionary), leads to individuals’ inability to dream and to aspire to a better world. It turns out that our challenges could be more possible to carry out, redefining how society provides education. Ultimately, the responsibility rests with the individual at the time of choosing to participate in the change.

For the third time, volunteers from New Acropolis Munich, carried out the cleaning of a brook in the North of Munich, which in recent years had accumulated trash fostering a sick ecosystem.

Volunteers pulled out of the channel items including barbed wire, a rusty fence,  several sharp metal plates which prevented the natural flow of the water.

This clean-up was a good experience and an enjoyment for all to recover the natural atmosphere of nature; to give something to nature and not just consume.

New Acropolis Bulgaria conducted a discussion on the topic “How to make my life more ecologically friendly?”.

New Acropolis volunteers presented two detailed reports about the pollution of the air, water and soil and also about the damages caused by the mining industry and the oil drilling. Participants received some helpful advice on how to reduce the waste of water, plastic and paper. There was also a short report about recycling.

During the discussions all participants shared how they intend to carry out these recommendations in their lifestyle. During the discussion participants came to realize that big changes regarding the planet start with everyone’s small actions. At the end of the day everyone left the event strongly determined not to leave water running while brushing their teeth or washing the dishes, not to forget the cloth bag when going shopping and stopping and thinking for a while if one really needs a document before printing it.

Members of New Acropolis in Warsaw continued the project The Heart of the Vistula River that was initiated in Spring 2012 as a long-term ecological activity and aims to clean-up the edges of the Vistula River, which are heavily polluted by people. During the year, members of New Acropolis Poland cleaned-up various parts of the river edges.

The children of the New Acropolis center in Belem participated in some unforgettable days in the Amazon Jungle putting into practice what was learned at the Survival and Camping Techniques workshops.  This was part of the philosophy program for children.  The activity had as its main objective to teach respect for Nature and not to fear it.

New Acropolis, along with more than 500 volunteers including Scouts, volunteers from Avianca, Paill Laboratories, Kerygma Catholic Ministry, Don Bosco University, National Institute of Chalchuapa, local people and individual volunteers, planted 1500 trees with the support of the Coatepeque Foundation and private companies.