CRETE 2020
On 3-4 March 1990, the OAC organized a pancretan conference about the future of the island on a long term perspective.
Why 2020?
Another magic number? No! Simply a number to guide the eye and the mind. It covers, conventionally, the duration of one generation (1990+30 years=2020).
The period from now to the year 2020 is not clearly seen yet. Nevertheless it is not completely invisible. We know, of course, that even though man always had the feeling that "everything flows", today the rhythm of change is rapidly proceeding. Instability seems to be the only "stable" thing in earthly matters. The forecast of today is ridiculed by the reality of tomorrow, which also is dissolved by what happens the day after tomorrow. Despite all of this, we call for a new outlook, daring to see the present no longer from the standpoint of the distant past or the stressful present, but from the standpoint of a relatively near future, which is full of charm and fear.
Since 1990, the OAC calls all Cretans and all friends of Crete to reflect on the following three questions:
1. How do you imagine Crete to be in the year 2020?
Who and how many besides Cretans will inhabit Crete in 2020? What will their "nationalities" be? What language will they speak? What historical conscience will they have? What ethos? Which God will they believe in? What will be their way of life? And if we were to continue as in the present - what will the island be like then? How do we imagine the system of education and research to be in Crete in 2020? The economic system, the health care system, agriculture, energy, tourism etc., etc.
2. How would you like Crete to be in 2020?
3. How wouldn't you like Crete to be in 2020?
Through conferences, seminars, meetings, workshops and other activities, the OAC encourages research, reflection, dialogue, and interdisciplinary exchange to cover many areas of our life, not forgeting of course that Crete, even though an island, is part of the planet. Men and women from the Church, art, science, economics, politics, farmers, workers, several institutions, etc. are invited to participate. Emphasis is given to the active participation of schools.
The logic of the program
The program Crete 2020 is a conscience reaction to the everyday "logic", which is gradually trapping us. It's the "logic" which destroys the poet and the prophet in particular, because it detests their visions, and is afraid of their truths. But - as history shows in many ways - societies with this kind of"logic" and related practices do not have hope.
It's the "logic" which, because it has lost its vision, remains caged in the "here" and defines life from the perspective of death: "if the dead rise not, let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die" (I Cor. 15,32). We even sing it in Crete: "Eating, drinking and being merry is the life of man" - grab right now what we can...And then? "Well: When I'm dead, who cares what happens?" A triumph for the ANTI-LIFE over life...
As a consequence of the above, it is a "logic" of never feeling satisfied, of the easy and quick profit, of the sacrifice of everything for our own benefit and of an indifference to everything. The "what the heck" as a rule of life.
It's the "logic" of the stressful planning by the State as well as the unrestrained "private initiative", which follows the system of "seize whatever you can", and be indifferent to others - to men and to men's "great and wonderful" works, to the environment and to all of creation!
It is this logic which must be turned over, must be altered in all its aspects, if we want our people and our island to survive.
What would we like to be done in 2020?
In the year 2019 the University of Crete and other institutions will be asked to evalute the project and to present the results in a congress to be organized beginning Friday, May 8th until Monday, May 11th, 2020. Theme: HOW CRETE OF 2020 WAS SEEN IN 1990 BY SOME FOOLHARDY PERSONS!
Planning this framework, we affirm that the years and the times are in the hands of God, and usually "man plans, but God commands"!
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