Is tourism in Greece in 2026 sustainable? Does the current tourism model respect the environment and local communities? Do local authorities (municipalities, chambers of commerce, university, regional government, and producer and cooperative organizations) have the necessary resources and authority to operate a decentralized model of regional development?

These key questions will be the focus of the book launch event for the anthology “A Just Society Is Not a Utopia: It Is a Choice” (Papazisis Publications), which will take place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the event hall of the 61st Panhellenic Exhibition of Handicrafts and Agricultural Economy in Kremasti (next to the Flower Garden).

Program & Speakers

• Opening Remarks:

  • Angelos Fragakis – Mayor of the Municipality of Halki, Member of the European Committee of the Regions.

  • Vangelis Laos – President of the Municipal Community of Kremasti, Municipality of Rhodes.

  • Georgios Pattas – Deputy Mayor for Communications & Deputy Mayor for Culture of the Municipality of Rhodes.

• The following speakers will discuss the book:

  • Areti Mesanagrenou – Agronomist (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), MSc, beekeeper, and President of the Rhodes Beekeeping Cooperative.

  • Alexandros Myrisis – Attorney in Rhodes, President of the Association of Trainee and Young Lawyers of Rhodes (EANDIR).

  • Katerina Diakogeorgiou – Elementary School Teacher.

  • Panagiotis Kounakis – Businessman, former Regional Councilor, former member of the Board of Directors of the Rhodes Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBED), and Deputy Secretary of the Tourism Sector of PASOK-Movement for Change.

• Counterargument:

  • Christos Giannoutsos – Author of the chapter on sustainable tourism.

• Opening Remarks:

  • Minas Lyristis – Editor of the anthology, Ph.D. from the Department of Mediterranean Studies at the University of the Aegean.

  • Stefanos Parastatidis – Author of the foreword, Physician & Member of Parliament for PASOK-Movement for Change.

• Coordination:

  • Stella Papasavva – Journalist for the newspaper “I RODIAKI.”

Musical Accompaniment & Side Events

Following the book presentation, there will be a concert featuring:

• The Mandolinata, the Mixed Choir, and the Children’s Choir of the Petaloudes Municipal Unit.

• The esteemed Flora Pelekanou.

Copies of the anthology will be available at the event venue from the Karavaki bookstore.

About the Anthology

The volume *A Just Society Is Not a Utopia; It Is a Choice* brings together the academic and political proposals of 24 young scholars and professionals. It was edited by Minas Lyristis and published by Papazisis Publications.

The authors of the volume (in alphabetical order):

Panagiotis Alexis, Giannis Aposkitis, Diana Voutyrakou, Christos Giannoutsos, Konstantinos Grigoriadis, Emmanouil Daskalakis, Lefteris Zeibekis, Konstantinos Iliopoulos, Karina Iskandarova, Giorgos Karchimakis, Giorgos K. Katsifaras, Theofanis Kotsonis, Dimitris A. Kourtis, Stavros Kourbetis, Vasia Madesi, Niki Mousadakou, Emmanouil Bougiakiotis, Vasilis Panagou, George Papageorgiou, Evita Papastefanidi, Tasos Seferiadis, Giorgos Tsoumas, Giorgos Fragos, Anita Hatzimichailidi.

Organized by / Supported by: Papazisis Publications, Municipality of Rhodes, D.E.R.M.A.E., Regional Union of Municipalities of the South Aegean, Department of Culture of the Municipality of Rhodes.