Pensioner, fisherman and Hollywood actress nominated by Athens for Nobel Peace Prize

Eighty-five year-old Emilia Kamvysi and 40-year old fisherman Stratis Valiamos, both natives of Lesvos, the island that has borne the brunt of the massive flows of refugees towards Europe, and the actress and activist Susan Sarandon were chosen for representing a humane response to the refugee crisis over the past year.

“The proposed individuals represent all the islanders and those who showed solidarity and stood by the refugees, defending the values of peace, freedom and solidarity,” the president of the Academy of Athens, Thanasis Valtinos, told journalists.

Kamvysi was selected to represent “all those women who contribute like affectionate mothers in helping children who arrive in Greece and face migration, all the women who help any way they can in dealing with the refugee-migration issue,” the announcement said.