Good Vibes at Reclaim Festival
Reclaim Festival : a multifaceted political and cultural event of the New Left Youth Organisation
The 2nd Reclaim Festival of the New Left Youth Organization (Néa Aristerá) took place in Athens from Friday, October 10 to Sunday, October 12.
There were three days of vivid discussions, joyful comradeship, exceptional musical events, food and drinks that combined Greek flavors to the ones from Turkey , Africa and the Mediterranean coasts.
Different generations of comrades and friends got together, visited the numerous colorful kiosks ( among them the EL kiosk) and attended the three main political events, as well as workshops on labour rights and actual working conditions, censorship imposed on the press, public education and privatization of universities , ecology and waste management with the participation of experts, trade unionists and social factors.
Large and attentive audiences attended the three main political events.
On Friday, October 10, “The heart of the world beats in Gaza” was the first major discussion of the festival , dedicated to the struggle of the Palestinian people and international solidarity. The keynote speaker was Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, while Alexis Charitsis, President of the New Left, made the opening speech and intervene on the issue, followed by an interesting discussion, featuring Stratis Angelis, journalist, Vivi Kefala, Professor of International Relations in the Greater Middle East – Director of KESAMEP Institute, Peti Perka, New Left MP, member of March to Gaza & Global Sumud Flotilla that has participated both in Cairo and the Flotilla attempts to break the Israeli siege of Gaza, Sotiris Lapieris, member of BDS Greece. There were also interventions by representatives of the Greek Palestinian Community and March to Gaza Greece .
On Saturday, October 11, “The World in the Age of Trump and the Response of the Left” opened the discussion on the rise of the Far Right and the international challenges of the era. The key speakers were Gabriel Sakellaridis, Secretary of the New Left, Thanasis Kampayiannis, lawyer, Marga Ferre, President of Transform Europe, Kostis Papaioannou, Director of “Simeio” ( The Point) for the study and confrontation of the far right, Anastasia Stavropoulou, member of the Board of Directors of the Athens Bar Association.
On Sunday October 12, the main event “Against the cover-up – A constant struggle for oxygen”, was dedicated to justice, accountability and the right to life, with the participation of Thodoris Eleftheriadis, relative of a Tempi train collision victim, Xenophon Kontiadis, constitutional scholar, professor of Public Law at Panteion University, George Lykopantis, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Youth of the New Left and Eurydiki Bersi, journalist, member of Reporters United.
After three days of exceptional political and cultural experiences, the Reclaim Festival has definitely taken its prominent place among left -wing major annual events.
