This footage was filmed and produced 10 August 2023.


All over Greece, locals are acting on their own and throwing their towels in the sand to reclaim free access to their beaches and nature without paying a high price for it.

It was near sunset on Sunday, September 3, on Paros, a popular tourist island in Greece's Cyclades region.

About 50 people were gathered on the beach of Parikia, near the island's main port. Behind them, the sky glowed bright orange against the blue sea. To one side, an iconic Cycladic windmill silhouetted against the horizon. On the other, a strip of deck chairs belonging to a bar stretched across the sand.

Even if you've never visited Greece, parts of this scene probably sound familiar. However, there were also some unusual details that day. Three of the people who had gathered were holding a huge sign that read, "Reclaim the beach." Next to them was a man with a loudspeaker.

As the crowd watched, the man read aloud parts of the Greek Constitution, which states that beaches and other natural areas belong to the country's citizens.

SHOTLIST
1. Various of Santorini (Archive - August 10, 2023)
2. Various of tourists in Greece (Archive - July 25, 2023)