International ridicule and Justice investigations have finally induced the Greek Ministry of Culture to some movements. During April 2009, some partial protection work has been done at two parts of the monument where erosion was eating away the supposedly "sane" part of Diolkos (see photo)
But the rest of the exposed monument is still suffering, as you can see in a recent video. I invite you to watch this short video and, in case you haven't done so already, please sign the petition.
Although the Ministry say they "will" take care of it, I feel more pressure is needed, or nothing or too little will be done... The fact that the Diolkos was falling down for 50 years without any substantial reaction of the Greek Ministry of Culture – worse still, with false assertions of care!) - shows beyond any doubt that the Greek Ministry of Culture should restructure its internal mechanisms in order to be able efficiently control the monuments it is supposed to protect.
The Ministry is once again moving along. Usually they only wake up to create another round of illegality and blunders - let's hope it is not as bad this time... Up to now, we have been witnessing the severe incapacity of the services of the Ministry to take care of the Diolkos' problems. In 2007, they openly considered a number of other ministries as also having a say as regards authorizations(?) for the permanent protection of Diolkos (and maybe also its temporary protection; I cannot really say since I don't have this document and, even if I did, maybe I could not decipher it, as the Ministry has quite a talent for ambiguity). Presenting other services' co-responsibility could be another way to shake off THEIR OWN or to indefinitely stall salvage actions afain. Anyway, I heard, just yesterday, that they are fixing another meeting of the various ministries' representatives. At any case, protecting Diolkos has always been a task for the Ministry of Culture. Regardless of what the Central Arcaheological Council or the Minister, or anybody says!
On my YouTube page, you can find recent videos and links for the Facebook page where I have started to present some documents that illustrate quite clearly the terrible heap of stupidity and cover-up that has brought the Diolkos to its present state...
Alarmed by repeated reports of their illegalities that I have sent to the members of the greek parliament, officials of the Ministry of Culture are once again showing signs of some movement... To do what? I really don't know what will be done FOR THE MONUMENT; instead, I already know (more or less) what they are doing to cover up their responsibilities. Their theatrical "care" is however largely confined to the sane parts of the monument - for example I was told that they are using a quite expensive "program" (I don't know what this means) to map non-eroded parts - which means they are spending money NOT to save the monument but to save themselves, since they will muddle up thing as usual and make it apear as "care" for Diolkos! (I was also told about a diver - well, one of the things I denounced to the members of the Palriament was the failure of the Ministry to take some ancient blocks that have wandered towards the axis of the Canal out of the water!!! ) Various lies about their presumed care seem to be in the air or in the making already - and I am talking only about things that have come to MY attention. So, while I go on with various reports, I am monitoring Diolkos by taking short videos and putting them on my YOUTUBE page. I invite you to have a look at the videos. In my Youtube profile there also are links to my articles, as well as to documents and a Diolkos gallery...