Fridtjof Nansen was a well known Norwegian polar explorer, scientist, diplomat and international humanist. In 2011 it is 150 years since his birth, and his extraordinary accomplishments are being celebrated and honored around the world, including in Greece on October 10th and 11th.
As a part of the Nansen-Amundsen-Year 2011, the Human Rights Defense Centre (KEPAD) in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Office in Greece, the Norwegian Institute and the Norwegian Embassy in Athens will host the Nansen-conference, taking place on October 10th at 18:00 hours at the Hall of the Athens Academy. On the following day, a bust of Dr. Fridtjof Nansen will be unveiled in a small park in the city centre.
Conference on Nansen and his humanitarian work
Dr. Fridtjof Nansen was born in Oslo, Norway, on 10 October 1861 and died on 30 May 1930. Through his achievements as explorer, scientist, diplomat, international senior servant, humanitarian and Nobel Laureate he won international recognition. In 1921 Dr. Nansen was appointed as the very first High Commissioner of Refugees (1921-1930) of the League of Nations. One of Nansen’s most crowning achievements as High Commissioner of Refugees was his role in the succor and settlement of well over one million destitute Greek refugees during the period 1922-1924.
Photo: NajsonalbiblioteketNansen’s invaluable support and humanitarian work during the Greek refugee crisis will be the main focus for both the Norwegian and Greek contributors during the conference on October 10th.
Ms Berit Tolleshaug who was written the book “Fridtjof Nansen. A Norwegian hero in a Greek drama” will be the speaker from Norway. Her book in now being translated into Greek by MATI publications.
Here you can read an article Ms Tolleshaug has written on Fridtjof Nansen.
Amongst the other speakers at the conference are Constantinos Svolopoulos, Professor Emeritus of Modern Greek History at the University of Athens, Christos Zerefos, Professor of Atmosperic Physics and member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and Letters, and Georgios Giannakopoulos, Professor of Achieve Studies and Sources of Modern Greek history.
The entire program can be found here.
Author: Linn Blekkerud
/ lcb@mfa.no