Pawsitive Parks – Public Spaces, Shared Responsibility

PRESS RELEASE

On Friday, December 19, from 13:00 to 16:00, Esai en Roi, in collaboration with the B and E Municipal Communities of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, invites you to the international symposium

Pawsitive Parks – Public Spaces, Shared Responsibility

A highly topical event presenting *comparative systems for companion animals and stray animals, through the experiences of young European volunteers participating in the European Solidarity Programme.

Of particular interest to *educators, academics, NGOs, and policymakers* with related fields of interest.

📡Live streaming via YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@rethinkingyouth6384

Information and registration: https://www.reyouth.net

Later the same day, at 18:00, a short performance titled “The Night of the Stray Cats will take place, along with the distribution of printed materials presenting the results of the volunteers’ research (including good practices from their countries), at the ZOGGOLOPOULOS Umbrellas, Thessaloniki seafront.

*Pawsitive Parks – because public spaces are a shared responsibility.

List of European Participants

Lea HIEMANN, Germany – Veterinary Care & Well-being Lead for Companion Animals

Richard BARBE, France – Urban Planning & Spatial Design for Companion-Inclusive Cities & Artistic Director

Julia QUINTIN, France – Communication & Outreach Manager

Scott HICKMAN, France (and England) – Legal & Regulatory Frameworks Advisor for Companion Animals

Zuzana ZARECKA, Czech Republic – Dissemination Manager & Pawsitive Park Dance-Theatre Activities Lead

Ana OBRADOVIC, Serbia – Pawsitive Park Dance Activities Creator

Lara CIMESA, Serbia – Seasonal & Community Events Coordinator (Christmas Focus & Dance in Nature)

Hongbo ZHAO, Estonia & China – Manifesto Development & Values Alignment Coordinator

Pavel PETERKA, Czech Republic – Research & Impact Assessment Coordinator

Mirjam ECKERT, Germany – Pawsitive Park Music & Sound-Based Activities Creator

Chiara PARRINELLO, Italy – Ethics, Care & Inclusive Practices Review

Silvia DECINA, Italy – Social & Cultural Studies Lead on Human–Companion Animal Relations

Alexis VALLET, France – Assisting Urban Planning & Spatial Design for Companion-Inclusive Cities

Giovanni IMPARATO POMARES, Spain – Urban Food Systems & Companion Animal Nutrition Strategist

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Organisational Support

Andreas Lonquety, France

Lev Narozhny, Estonia

Mariam Sanikidze, Georgia

Saba Khutsishvili, Georgia

ANALYTICAL SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM

Symposium Program

Session Time: 13:00 – 16:00

13:00 – 13:10

Session Opening

Welcome and overview of the session themes

13:10 – 13:22

Hongbo Zhao

From Vision to Action: Manifesto Development and Values Alignment

13:22 – 13:34

Scott Hickman

Legal and Enforcement Practices Supporting Companion Animal Welfare

13:34 – 13:46

Lea Hiemann Giovanni Imparato Pomares

Beyond the Bowl: Is the Monotony of Dry Diets Failing Our City Strays?

13:46 – 13:58

Richard Barbe Silvia Decina

The Urban Sanitation Crisis: How Does Poor Planning and Animal Waste Endanger Our Shared Health?

13:58 – 14:10

Lea Hiemann Richard Barbe

The Unmet Need: How Can We Overcome the Critical Shortage of Veterinary Aid for Strays?

14:10 – 14:22

Silvia Decina Giovanni Imparato Pomares

The City as Sanctuary: Can We Reduce Shelter Reliance by Transforming the City into a Safe Haven?

14:22 – 14:34

Chiara Parrinello

Ethics, Arts and Education Practices in Human–Companion Animal Initiatives

14:34 – 14:46

Pavel Peterka

Research and Impact Assessment in Companion-Inclusive Projects

14:46 – 14:58

Julia Quintin

Communication and Outreach Strategies for Companion-Inclusive Initiatives

14:58 – 15:10

Zuzana Zarecka

Dissemination Pathways and Dance-Theatre Practices in Pawsitive Park

15:10 – 15:22

Ana Obradovic

Designing Pawsitive Park Dance Activities: Movement, Inclusion and Care

15:22 – 15:34

Lara Cimesa

Seasonal and Community Events as Tools for Nature-Based Connection and Inclusion

15:34 – 15:50

Mirjam Eckert

Sound, Music and Sensory Experiences in Pawsitive Park Activities

15:50 – 16:00

Collective Reflections & Session Closure