Since the summer of 2015, the Greek island of Lesvos has been centre stage of the so-called refugee crisis and one of the sites where new EU policies for migration control have been tested and implemented. This combined study of jurisprudence with ethnographic fieldwork aims to understand the impact of the asylum regime on the…
The illegal practice of border pushbacks by sea along Greece’s borders has become standardised and normalised despite the severe human rights violations associated with it. Refugees and asylum seekers subjected to border pushbacks endure numerous forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, and verbal violence, which exacerbate the trauma from their perilous journeys in search of…
This study investigates the impact of three understorey management practices – herbicide application, understorey clearing, and undisturbed understorey – on the biodiversity of plant and arthropods in olive groves in the Gera region on Lesvos, Greece. The study found that herbicide application had a negative effect on plant diversity, but less pronounced effects on arthropods….
Shoreline configurations are a complex outcome of the dynamic interplay between natural forces and human actions. This interaction shapes unique coastal morphologies and affects sediment transport and erosion patterns along the coastline. Meanwhile, ephemeral river systems play a vital role in shaping coastlines and maintaining ecosystem sustainability, especially in island settings. In this context, the…
Seven people, including a boy, a girl, and two women, tragically lost their lives after a migrant boat sank off the coast of the Greek island of Lesbos on Thursday morning. The incident occurred in the northern part of the island, and the vessel was discovered by a coast guard patrol boat early in the…
In the morning hours today (February 23rd) the Port Authority of Mytilene was informed by a Greek Police unit about the identification of 18 foreigners in the land area of Vatera, Lesvos. The foreigners were transferred to the Kara Tepe “Mavrovouni” KIH . During the transfer, it was reported that a woman inside the boat…
Greece is currently facing a “children’s emergency” due to the rising number of unaccompanied minors arriving in the country, particularly along a new trafficking route from Libya to Crete. This alarming situation has led non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to urge Greek authorities to take immediate action to ensure the safety and protection of these children. The…
In a quaint seaside workshop on the Greek island of Lesbos, 70-year-old Nikos Kouvdis is keeping an ancient craft alive, a labour of love that has now been honoured with a place on UNESCO’s National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage.The recognition celebrates his family’s dedication to preserving traditional pottery techniques in an era dominated by…
The quest for a Krüper’s Nuthatch is what stirs all the excitement. From early morning, we’ve been wandering through the pine forest at Mikri Limni, treading on a carpet of pine needles – but there’s no sign of the bird. We’ve chosen to come late in the season because summer is a tough season for…
Following increased migration flows in 2015, the European Commission (EC) and the Greek government implemented new strategies and legislation to regulate mobility in the EU area. The impact of one of these strategies is especially important. The EC “European Agenda on Migration” was implemented by Greek Asylum Law 4375/2016 and followed up with subsequent legislation….