Hello, my name is Sofia Loverdou and I am a greek freelance journalist.

I need a little help from a Costa Rican friend that has to do with a petition I have started to save an ancient monument in my country.

The petition is at www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/870477005 and it has already been signed by people from 76 countries.

Since nobody from Costa Rica has signed yet, I would appreciate if someone could sign (if he or she wants to, of course).

Bringing the "country count" higher, would result in more certain success.
I am at everybody's disposal for more information...

Buenas tardes a todos y Muchas Gracias!!

Some friends are asking various questions about the Ancient Diolkos petition. I guess a lot of you reading about Diolkos are wondering about the same things, so I give some explanations here.

MONEY.
Signing the petition for saving and restoring the monument, does not mean asking the Greek State to give money that it presumably cannot afford. The protection and restoration of Ancient Diolkos should have been presented for funding (with European Union contribution or other similar projects) LONG AGO. Unfortunately, by not caring to gather even simple documentation about the monument (!!!) , the services presumably in charge were KEEPING THEMSELVES UNPREPARED even to ASK for funding…

WHY SPEAK...
The monument is not a piece of property OWNED by someone free to destroy it. Unfortunately, this is what has happened up to now. This petition says that we want this to stop. The Diolkos is a common heritage of mankind (as many other monuments and sites all over the world).

IS THE PETITION JUST A PLEA?
No, it is more dynamic than that. The Prime Minister’s Office is often notified about the progress and knows that people from many countries know of the problem. Consequently, the Diolkos cannot be left to decay in silence (as was the situation up to now).

If anybody feels like having more information, I will be glad to provide information or documentation, so please send me an e-mail at sofia-l@tellas.gr.

Dear Friends from Costa Rica,

up to now, people from 79 countries have signed the petition for Saving and Restoring Diolkos. These countries are:

Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia, Germany, Netherlands, France, Luxemburg, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, Brazil, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Poland, Ireland, Iceland, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Russia, Georgia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia & Montenegro, Turkey, Israel, Japan, Repubic of Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Macao, South Africa, Liberia, Togo, Nigeria, Bahamas, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile, Panama, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Guatemala, Maldives, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Iran, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, Armenia


Although it may seem unbelievable, the authorities in my country have not only neglected this monument but they have also facilitated its destruction (for example after an "understanding" with the Corinth Canal company they have "forgotten" an obligation of this company to present a study for Diolkos, in 1985).

So, I think that having signatures from as many countries as possible will make even more clear the "message" that this destruction has to stop - and it has to stop with actions, not just with words...

So, if any friend from Costa Rica would like to sign the petition, I would be really happy and much obliged...

The damage of Diolkos is going on, as one more ancient block fell from the monument during the last few days.

Although the Master Plan approved at the beginning of September about Diolkos calls for immediate temporary protection measures, relevant services remain largely inactive, drawing a picture of mindboggling inability....

The Master Plan actually comprises the basic information about Diolkos (which the services “in charge” lacked and which was largely forced upon the Ministry by privates) and considers steps to be taken for the monument’s salvation (an obligation that never ceased to exist and in which the Ministry has up to now tragically failed).

The long festival of hypocrisy and illegality that has determined the monument’s deterioration is – at last - becoming known to the large public. It is good to see the veil of silence about Diolkos finally lift itself and a greek tragedy, complete with an innocent victim, slowly come to light.

The petition for Saving and Restoring Diolkos has already received 5,350 signatures originating from 81 countries.
www.thepetitionsite.com/petition/870477005