Daily Archives: October 21, 2014

Την τρίτη πιο μισητή κυβέρνηση του κόσμου φέρεται να έχει η Ελλάδα, καθώς, σύμφωνα με την έρευνα Global States Of Mind που κάνει κάθε χρόνο η εταιρεία Gallup και τα αποτελέσματα της οποίας αναδημοσιεύει ο ιστότοπος 247wallst.com, μόνο ένα 14% των Ελλήνων εμφανίζεται να αποδέχεται την κυβέρνηση Σαμαρά.

Ειδικότερα, όπως προκύπτει από τη λίστα που καταρτίσθηκε με τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας, η Ελλάδα εμφανίζεται να είναι τρίτη σε όλο τον κόσμο στις κυβερνήσεις με χαμηλό βαθμό αποδοχής από τους πολίτες, ενώ την πρώτη θέση καταλαμβάνει η Βοσνία – Ερζεγοβίνη και την δεύτερη η Βουλγαρία.

Ειδικότερα, όπως προκύπτει από τη λίστα που καταρτίσθηκε με τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας, η Ελλάδα εμφανίζεται να είναι τρίτη σε όλο τον κόσμο στις κυβερνήσεις με χαμηλό βαθμό αποδοχής από τους πολίτες, ενώ την πρώτη θέση καταλαμβάνει η Βοσνία – Ερζεγοβίνη και την δεύτερη η Βουλγαρία.

«H Ελλάδα, τον περασμένο χρόνο, είχε το δεύτερο υψηλότερο, ως ποσοστό του ΑΕΠ, στο κόσμο χρέος και κυμάνθηκε σε ποσοστά άνω του 175%», σημειώνει ο ιστότοπος.

«Παρά το γεγονός ότι τόσο η Moody’s όσο και η Standard & Poor’s πρόσφατα αναβάθμισαν την Ελλάδα, γιατί όπως υποστήριξαν είδαν βελτίωση της δημοσιονομικής της κατάστασης και των οικονομικών προοπτικών της, οι κάτοικοί της πρέπει να τα βγάλουν πέρα με τα μέτρα λιτότητας που ήταν και οι όροι για τη διάσωση της χώρας. Τα μέτρα λιτότητας στην Ελλάδα έχουν αυξήσει την επιρροή περιθωριακών αριστερών και δεξιών πολιτικών ομάδων και οι δύο από τις οποίες τα πήγαν καλά στις πρόσφατες εκλογές.

Αυτή τη χρονιά μόνο το 14% των Ελλήνων φαίνεται να αποδέχεται τους ηγέτες του και μόλις το 23% και το 29% αποδέχεται την ηγεσία της ΕΕ και της Γερμανίας αντίστοιχα, ενώ μόνο το 19% των Ελλήνων έχει εμπιστοσύνη στα χρηματοπιστωτικά ιδρύματα» προσθέτει.

Μεταξύ άλλων στην έρευνα της gallup σημειώνεται ότι το 91% των Ελλήνων πιστεύει ότι η διαφθορά είναι διαδεδομένη, ενώ αναφέρει ότι το επίπεδο της ανεργίας το 2013 στη χώρα άγγιξε το 27,3%.

Οι πιο μισητές κυβερνήσεις:

– Βοσνία Ερζεγοβίνη -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 8%

– Βουλγαρία -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 13%

– Ελλάδα -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 14%

– Τσεχία -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 15%

– Μολδαβία -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 18%

– Πακιστάν -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 18%

– Περού -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 18%

– Ρουμανία -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 18%

– Κόστα Ρίκα -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 20%

– Τζαμάικα -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 20%

– Πορτογαλία -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 20%

– Ισπανία -Ποσοστό αποδοχής της κυβέρνησης 20%

Πηγή:zougla.gr

Η βοσκός Νέλι Μπαντ και κάποια από τα… λιγότερο μερακλίδικα πρόβατά της

Ένα κοπάδι από πρόβατα περιπλανήθηκε πριν λίγες ημέρες αμέριμνο, αν και λίγο ζαλισμένο, στις πεδιάδες που περιβάλλουν την πόλη Μέρσθαμ, λίγο έξω από το Σάρεϊ της Βρετανίας. Η γυναίκα που ήταν επιφορτισμένη με την φύλαξη τους παρατήρησε κάτι ασυνήθιστο στη συμπεριφορά τους και προσπάθησε να καταλάβει το γιατί. Μέχρι που έπεσε πάνω σε μια φυτεία μαριχουάνας και ο γρίφος λύθηκε.

Όπως προκύπτει από το ρεπορτάζ της εφημερίδας Independent, το κοπάδι, αφού βόσκησε για λίγο τρώγοντας το συνηθισμένο του χορτάρι, στη πορεία κάποια πρόβατα «μυρίστηκαν» μια, κρυμμένη από τα μάτια των περαστικών, φυτεία με ινδική κάνναβη.

Τα πιο μερακλίδικα απ’ αυτά είπαν να δοκιμάσουν τον απαγορευμένο καρπό, με αποτέλεσμα κάποια από αυτά να εκδηλώσουν μετά από λίγο μια τεράστια όρεξη για… οτιδήποτε.  «Παρακολούθησα τα πρόβατα που κατευθύνονταν σε κάτι μαύρες σακούλες που τις είχαν παρατήσει στη μέση του δρόμου. Στην αρχή νόμισα πως επρόκειτο για σκουπίδια, αλλά όταν πήγα από πάνω τους, οι σακούλες έβγαζαν μία περίεργη μυρωδιά κι υποπτεύθηκα ότι επρόκειτο για κάνναβη», είπε η βοσκός Νέλι Μπαντ ο οποίος διαχειρίζεται τα ζώα της φάρμας.

«Βεβαιώθηκα ωστόσο πως επρόκειτο όντως για μαριχουάνα όταν είδα πως κάποια από τα ζωντανά αυτά ξαφνικά είχαν τεράστια όρεξη για φαγητό», πρόσθεσε η νεαρή βοσκός, καταλήγοντας με χιούμορ πως «το κοπάδι δεν εμφάνισε κάποιες άλλες παρενέργειες, ωστόσο θα σας ενημερώσω για την ποιότητα του κρέατος την ερχόμενη εβδομάδα».

Όπως ενημέρωσαν οι αστυνομικές αρχές του Σάρεϊ, η κάνναβη που κατανάλωσαν τα πρόβατα ήταν αξίας άνω των 5.000 ευρώ. Η υπόλοιπη φυτεία καταστράφηκε από την αστυνομία, στεναχωρώντας κάποια από τα πρόβατα που ίσως να ήθελαν να «τιμήσουν» και μια δεύτερη φορά το ίδιο βοσκοτόπι…

Πηγή:in.gr

Con’s Peddlers team has already raised over $45,000 for the cause.

The Peter Mac Ride to Conquer Cancer, an epic 200km ride over two days throughout picturesque Victoria, will take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October.

With an all-Greek team, Con’s Peddlers, taking part in the event for third year in a row, you can still donate to help the researchers at Peter Mac get some much needed funding and help with the fight against the cancer.

Think of it as a history-making opportunity for you to do something big about cancer. Con’s Peddlers team is currently amongst the top 10 fundraisers, having raised over $45,000.

When: Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October
For more information and to help Con’s Peddlers raise more funds, visit http://bit.ly/1sJ1vDa

source: Neos Kosmos

Esteban Batista (L) of Panathinaikos Athens goes for the basket against Ivan Zigeranovic (R) of PGE Turow. Photo: EPA/SPYROS CHORCHOUBAS.

Panathinaikos had a perfect start in its Euroleague première against Polish champions Turow, winning 84-77

Panathinaikos completed its perfect start in all three competitions this season with victory in its Euroleague première against Polish champions Turow on Friday, winning with an 84-77 score.

The Greens could not afford to lose this game against the tournament’s Cinderella in an otherwise super-tight pool, and fended off a late comeback by the visitors to grab this precious win at the Olympic Sports Hall of Athens.

In a game that featured a very quiet Dimitris Diamantidis (two points) and the debut of Julian Wright (four points), Panathinaikos had five players scoring double figures, led by AJ Slaughter and Nikos Pappas (16 points each).

Against a Euroleague debutant Panathinaikos seemed more focused on its offensive game and led 42-35 at half-time, with Vladimir Giankovits producing some exciting highlights.

The Greens stretched their advantage to 14 points in the third period (54-40) but Turow started eating into their deficit. Former Olympiakos player Mardy Collins (23 points) almost single-handedly placed the game on a knife edge as the visitors came to within two points of Panathinaikos (73-71) before the Greens’ experience and quality made the difference.

The game showed that Panathinaikos coach Dusko Ivanovic still has plenty of work to do to ensure he can produce a decent defence, but the encouraging signs are coming from new generation of Greek players of the team that is coming of age just as the club really needed it to.

In another Euroleague game, Olympiakos had a last minute 71-68 victory at Valencia, in Milan Tomic’s debut on the Piraeus club’s bench.

Source: Kathimerini

More than 4,000 cases of Ebola have been recorded, mostly in West Africa. Photo: AAP.

Greek health authorities and facilities are preparing for the possibility of an Ebola outbreak in the country, with experts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) constantly updating their directives.

Staff at KEELPNO are focusing on the criteria for a case to be considered “suspect” and, mainly, the kind of measures that will have to be implemented to prevent the disease from spreading, including isolating patients for treatment.

Following the creation of a specialized ward at the Amalia Fleming Hospital in northern Athens, the Sotiria public hospital is also being considered by the Health Ministry as the location for a special unit to treat Ebola patients.

Source: Kathimerini

Saint Demetrios in his armour.

“The world has found you to be a great defence against tribulation
and a vanquisher of heathens, O Passion-bearer.
As you bolstered the courage of Nestor,
who then humbled the arrogance of Lyaios in battle,
Holy Demetrius, entreat Christ God to grant us great mercy.”

The apolytikion is not exaggerating when it suggests a global reach for the saint, for Saint Demetrios is one of the most popular saints of the Orthodox world, transcending ethnic and cultural boundaries. From the Synaxarion of the Orthodox Church, we learn that Saint Demetrios came from a noble family in Macedonia and that he rose to a high military position under Maximian, Caesar of the Eastern part of the Roman Empire, reaching the rank of proconsul.

When Maximian returned from one of his campaigns to Thessaloniki, which was his capital, he had games and sacrifices celebrated for his triumph. Saint Demetrios was denounced as a Christian, and thrown into prison. While in prison he was visited by a young Christian named Nestor, who asked him for a blessing to engage in single combat with the giant Lyaios, who was posing as the champion of paganism. Saint Demetrios gave his blessing and Nestor, against all odds, slew his opponent in the arena, as David had once defeated Goliath.

The enraged emperor, learning that this had occurred with Saint Demetrios’s aid, first had Nestor beheaded outside the city and then had Saint Demetrios impaled in prison. Later Saint Demetrios’ servant Lupus was beheaded after using his master’s blood-stained tunic and signet ring to work many miracles.

The Thessalonian Christians buried Saint Demetrios and Nestor next together in the bath where he had been imprisoned. During the seventh century a miraculous flow of fragrant myrrh was found emanating from his tomb, giving rise to the appellation Myrovlitis, the Myrrh Gusher, to his name. His tomb is now in the crypt of the great basilica dedicated to him, in Thessaloniki.

Extreme popularity for Saint Demetrios is first attested in the sixth century. It grew because of his miraculous interventions in defence of Thessaloniki during the many sieges it endured during the early Middle Ages, particularly by Slavic tribesmen who overran the Roman provinces of Hellas and Macedonia during the sixth through to the eighth centuries. It is for this reason, out of insecurity and fear, that the saint’s martial quality have been so emphasised and indeed, the final liberation of Thessaloniki in 1913 has also been attributed to him.

The very first pages of the Russian Primary Chronicle, on the other hand, maintain the saint’s marital qualities but present him as a punisher of the Greeks. The Chronicle relates that when Oleg the Wise threatened the Greeks at Constantinople in 907, the Greeks became terrified and said: “This is not Oleg, but rather St Demetrius sent upon us from God.” Russian soldiers always believed that they were under the special protection of the Saint, Demetrius, who was always depicted as Russian in icons displayed in Russian army barracks.

Yet in the teaching of the Church, it is the spiritual warfare in which he engaged, that makes him worthy of emulation and in this way, his depiction holding weapons can be reconciled as merely symbolic and not an exhortation to or a glorification of violence.

For his encouragement of the young Nestor and his chastity, Saint Demetrius is thus regarded as a protector of the young, and is also traditionally invoked by those struggling with lustful temptations. Thus in his church in Thessaloniki, one of the only mosaics to have survived the Great Fire of 1917 depicts him as a young man, his arms draped protectively around the shoulders of two children.

Given Saint Demetrios’ significance for both the Orthodox Church and the Greek nation, it is not surprising that his feast of 26 October is an important event here in Melbourne, especially for those whose origins derive from Thessaloniki. This year, the significance of the feast is augmented for an event unprecedented in the history of Australian Orthodoxy which has taken place: the parish of Saint Demetrios in Moonee Ponds has been granted the gift of a portion of the miraculous and myrrh-gushing relics of the saint. In this way, all Orthodox Australians are able to feel and witness the immediacy of the saint, when praying for his intercession, but also partake of a unique piece of history as well. In an age of hard-nosed economic rationalism, of materialism and of spin, the need to touch the ideal of the divine is felt as keenly as ever before. Whether one is called upon, as in the case of Iraq and Syria’s Christians to compromise one’s faith in order to survive, or in the complacent world of western bourgeois capitalism, to compromise one’s principles and sense of decency, or to sacrifice to any modern day idols, the Orthodox hymns in honour of the saint are a lasting call to remain steadfast:

“Even though callous tyrants gave you over/ to be subjected to the most cruel and painful tortures,/ and thy much-suffering and steadfastly enduring body/ did undergo a multitude of various torments,/ you, O Godly-minded Demetrios,/ did not renounce Christ,/ neither did you offer sacrifice to idols,/ but endured all as if it were somebody else who suffered,/ awaiting future reward and the undying love of the Word of God.”

A solemn vesper service at the Parish of Saint Demetrios, Moonee Ponds, will be held on Saturday 18 October at 6.30 pm, in order to officially deposit the precious relics within the church.

*Dean Kalimniou is a Melbourne solicitor and freelance journalist.

source: Neos Kosmos

Government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides says the vessel’s entry into Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone is a “clear violation of Cypriot sovereign rights”.

Cyprus officials were mulling a response after a Turkish survey boat encroached on an area off the island’s southern coast this week, further escalating tension in the ever-volatile region.

The Turkish research vessel Barbaros, escorted by one warship and two support vessels, entered Block 3 inside Nicosia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Monday. According to a so-called Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) note issued by Ankara in early October – and which at the time caused Nicosia to suspend UN-brokered peace negotiations – the bright red vessel plans to carry out seismic surveys for natural gas exploration until December 30.

“This is a clear violation of Cypriot sovereign rights,” said government spokesman Nicos Christodoulides, adding that “political, diplomatic and legal” countermeasures would be announced on Tuesday following a meeting between President Nicos Anastasiades and other political leaders.

Sources told Kathimerini that Nicosia will most likely request a freeze of Turkey’s EU membership talks. A proposal to resort to the UN Security Council was ruled out due to concerns that the New York-based organization might call for the suspension of all activity inside Cyprus’s EEZ. The Greek Cypriots have already licensed blocs 2, 3 and 9 to the Italian-Korean energy consortium ENI-Kogas.

Still, analysts questioned the possibility of an EU talks freeze as it would require a unanimous decision by the European Council.

Turkey’s latest move also drew a hard-worded response from the Greek foreign minister. In Athens, Evangelos Venizelos urged Ankara “to reverse course, not just with the vessel, but also in its foreign policy, and to maneuver within the framework of international legality.”

Adding to concern, the Russian navy will be carrying out a drill off Cyprus’s eastern coast until Thursday in an 800-square mile zone next to the area Turkey plans to survey. Also on Tuesday, Israel and Cyprus will mount a joint military exercise.

Diplomatic sources attribute Turkey’s assertiveness to the ongoing rapprochement between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, which, among other consequences, helps to reinforce these countries’ sovereign rights in the region.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will visit to Cyprus on November 7. The meeting will take place as part of preparations for a trilateral summit between the leaders of the three countries. Meanwhile, their foreign ministers are set to meet in Nicosia on October 29.

Source: Kathimerini

Those who are in the top three will receive cash prizes.

Harking back to the variety shows of yesteryear, the National Union of Greek Australian Students (NUGAS) of Victoria will be showcasing their best talents in their first ever talent show, entitled Nugasvision.

Taking its name from the popular European song contest, Eurovision, the Nugasvision event will work a little differently, with participants able to showcase anything they deem as a talent. The event is designed to show a number of disciplines, so participants are encouraged to show off any artwork, videos or music they’ve been working on.

Bonus points will be given for using the Greek language or referencing all things Greek.

Those truly talented go into the running to win a variety of prizes, with $100 going to first place, $50 for second and $25 for third.

All those who participate don’t leave empty handed, as they get a free drink on arrival.

Organisers will also have special presentations and surprises on the night.

Those wishing to participate will need to fill out a registration form detailing their talent and any requirements on the night.

The event will be held at the Fitzroy Beer Garden, 243 Gertrude St, Fitzroy on 23 October at 6.30 pm.

To register for the event or for more information, visit www.facebook.com/events/1587115528178746/

source: Neos Kosmos

Medallion Greek Cafe on Lonsdale Street.

In another blow to Australia’s Hellenic heartbeat, Lonsdale Street’s iconic Medallion Café has announced it will be shutting its doors.

Since 1970 Medallion has stood tall at the centre of everything Greek in Melbourne’s CBD, and for a lot of Greeks it was ‘the’ meeting place for most of those years.

On the back of the announcement, many first and second generation Greek Australians took to social media to voice their angst and to recount their endless memories.

Although Melbourne’s Greek heartbeat has been gradually shifting from Lonsdale Street to Oakleigh, Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) president Bill Papastergiadis believes Hellenism is still vibrant on the traditional Lonsdale Street strip – helped by the recent opening of the new Cultural Centre.

“It’s still the centre of Melbourne. It is the CBD for our city and our state and our presence there is very vibrant from a teaching perspective in terms of the schools that are being used in that precinct, to the glendi which is by far the biggest ethnic festival in Australia, to the nightly events that are being held in the Cultural Centre which are being attended by over 200 people.”

Despite Medallion’s iconic stature, Papastergiadis says the Cultural Centre will reinvigorate the area’s unique Hellenism.

“It’s sad. It’s a sad moment to see the shop closed. We would have hoped there would have been more of an effort by all parties to ensure its continuation in one form or another, but at the same time when one door closes another one opens.

“The Greek Community itself will be announcing a major tenant for its ground floor and for its rooftop bar and we’re confident that the precinct itself will survive and continue to thrive, and that of the 70 per cent of the building that we have now leased, almost all of the tenants are Greeks. So what may be a small isolated event with Medallion is not being replicated elsewhere. We’re confident that there will be a strong and steady procession and growth within the precinct.”

source: Neos Kosmos

The group are taken on a guided tour of the Acropolis Museum. Photo: AP/Yorgos Karahalis, Pool.

International lawyer Geoffrey Robertson and David Hill might be Greece’s best shot at getting the Parthenon Marbles back.

It has taken two influential Australians to make the case for the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece the best it’s ever looked.

International human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson and the president of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, David Hill, are two of the leading members of a four group contingent in Greece this week, giving Greeks hope that they will one day see the return of their cultural artefacts.

Greece will be taking on Robertson’s counsel like gospel, as he has already successfully argued the return of artefacts to their country of origin and has written extensively about the topic, something he’s quite passionate about.

In 2007, he successfully represented the Australian government and the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and was able to stop the testing of aboriginal remains housed at the Natural History Museum in London, and secured the return of the remains to Australia.

The Natural History Museum was going to drill into bones and teeth to extract DNA and make plaster casts of the skeletal remains, housed at the museum since the early 1900s.

Robertson has long been a campaigner for the return of cultural artefacts, and wrote in his book, Crimes Against Humanity, that “unique” works that were the “living symbol of history and culture” need to be housed in their country of origin.

“There is considerable support for the emergence of an international rule requiring the return of cultural treasures of great national significance,” he said.
He believes there should be international treaties that grant countries a ‘right to culture’.

But he feels that museums shouldn’t be asked to remove all their artefacts, only unique cases like the marbles.

“Our aim is not to empty the museums but the Parthenon Sculptures are a unique case,” he said this week.

Fellow Aussie David Hill has been gathering support from the international community to keep the pressure on the British for more than 15 years, and knows every excuse, every plea both sides have used.

He understands the conflict better than most, and was asked by the Greek government to assemble a group of international lawyers to brief the Greek side on what their options are.

Alongside Robertson, Hill has travelled to Greece with Professor Normal Palmer and international lawyer, and newly married, Amal Clooney (nee Alamuddin).

This week the group of four met with Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Culture Minister Kostas Tasoulas.

Mr Tasoulas confirmed that the Greek government has not yet agreed to “go to trial” to see the return of the marbles, and said the country will “exhaust the procedure with UNESCO” before it considers its next options.

“Greece will weigh all the factors and awaits a response from Britain,” Mr Tasoulas said.

UNESCO agreed to mediate the talks for both countries in 2013, but is still waiting for the British to respond. They have placed an ultimatum and given the British six months to reply.

Mr Hill praised the bravery of the Greek government for keeping the issue alive, and reiterated that he would not rest until the sculptures were returned.

“I want to give a big thank you to Antonis Samaras, who has taken this matter much further forward than at any time in the past.”

For decades the British have argued that the Greeks had no way to look after the artefacts properly. In 2009, Greece built a state of the art Acropolis Museum to house the friezes and 17 statues the British Museum still holds.

The excuse simply doesn’t stick anymore.

The trio of lawyers, coming from the London-based Doughty Street Chambers, toured the Acropolis Museum on Wednesday and saw the purpose-built space marked for the missing marbles.

Robertson argued that the marbles are of global value and need to be in the one place to be properly appreciated.

“The Marbles are important for all the world,” he said.

“The fact that these sculptures are in two separate places, with 60 per cent in Greece and 40 per cent in Britain, is a terrible barbarity. If they are reunited, all the world will have the opportunity to see the start of civilisation.”

Seeing the split first hand, Mrs Clooney says Greece’s case is a compelling one.

“A horseman has his head in Athens and his body in London. The Greek god Poseidon has his torso separated between Greece and the UK,” she said.

“This means nobody can celebrate the Marbles united in the place that they come from.”

As the centre of attention after her high profile marriage to American actor George Clooney, Mrs Clooney has given the issue much needed international attention.

If the issue gets to the international courts, Greece will have a strong side, led by two influential Australians.

source: Neos Kosmos