February 2016. Island of La Palma, Canary Islands.
I spent a month in this extraordinary Island, but more specifically in the eco-village of Pachamama, as a volunteer.
It was a wonderful experience, as I describe in some blog entries (click here), and I met many interesting people (check out theinterview with Mickael, a volunteer).
One of them is Panos, Greek. It is one of the inhabitants of an eco-village. A man of vast experience and wisdom, which has fought to change his country, but eventually quit to start a new life on the island of La Palma.
It took me a while, but finally I got him to tell his story, for my blog.
I took the time to translate it. A while (8 months, sorry!). It is a little long but worth reading it.
She asked me not to appear on video and in photos.
Below the audio (in English) and the transcript in Italian.
Good read.
Click here for the TEXT IN ITALIAN
Audio in English:
Hi Panos. How old are you?
I have 38 years.
How long have you been on the island of La Palma?
From 3 months.
Can you explain how you came here from Greece, and why?
I came here for many reasons. I came here to have an easier life, to work with my little handmade creations and sell them to tourists, without having much responsibility or handle something challenging.
These are the reasons why I came here.
Because you left Greece?
The Greece is a beautiful Country, a rich country, rich in civilization, natural landscapes of anything really interesting people. But in the last 10 years the political and economic situation has become very difficult. All the most powerful corporations and the greatest powers in the world have set their sights on Greece and make it very difficult to live there.
Thousands of young people are trying to have a better future in other countries around the world, and people that remains is as immobilized under an umbrella, under stress, they have no idea what can happen the next day.
The whole country is sold to large corporations. The ports, rivers, mountains, electricity companies, the aqueducts. Everything.
continue on Google doc
A special thanks to Liborio Conca for having made available its expertise and experience. Thank you very much!
Click here for her Blog "Issues"