Greek Ecologists

Greek Ecologists
Έλληνες Οικολόγοι
PresidentDimosthenis Vergis
Founded1986
Website
http://ecologist.gr/

The Greek Ecologists (Greek: Έλληνες Οικολόγοι, romanizedEllines Ιkoloyi) (previously Union of Ecologists, Greek: Ένωση Οικολόγων, romanizedEnosi Ιkologhon) is a Greek "fringe"[1] and "bizarre ecological party".[2]

The party's president is Dimosthenis Vergis, a former auto-worker, trade unionist, journalist, and peace activist. Vergis has been described as a "self-styled ecologist"[3] and "a self-styled, modern-day Dionysus – God of wine, revelry and fertility".[4]

Vergis usually deploys naked female party workers in his campaigns and has posed nude for campaign posters and pamphlets, flirting "with any female journalist that comes within groping distance".[5] He supports the legalisation of cannabis[6] and unrestricted nudism.

The Greek Ecologists and its leader are not accepted as a Green party by the Ecologist Greens, which enjoys international recognition as Greece's green party. The Ecologist Greens have condemned Vergis, stating: "The public can be assured that the political culture of Ecologist Greens and the Green movement, in general, has nothing to do with behaviour that makes a mockery or which, through strange – at least – and disastrous interests (such as abuses, money laundering), has damaged the interest in the environment and the political perspectives of ecology in Greece."[7]

  1. ^ "'Ecologist' party head in land-grabbing row". Kathimerini. 2007-11-20. Archived from the original on Jan 29, 2022. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  2. ^ Nicholas Paphitis, "Press Watch" Archived 2003-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Athens News, 13 November 1997.[dead link]
  3. ^ "In brief" Archived 2003-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Athens News, 9 September 1997.[dead link]
  4. ^ As described by the blurb for ABC Television's broadcast of Dominique Schwartz "Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, 19 September 2000.
  5. ^ As described and depicted by ABC Television's Dominique Schwartz on the Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, broadcast on 19 September 2000.
  6. ^ As described by the blurb for ABC Television's broadcast of Dominique Schwartz "Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, 19 September 2000.
  7. ^ Ecologist Greens, "Election FAQ" Archived 2008-06-24 at the Wayback Machine, July 2007.