Monthly Archives: June 2015

Eva Sarmonikas, who died of cardiac arrest due to a lung hemorrhage caused by the doctor. Photo: Facebook.

Second autopsy proved medical malpractice led to Eva Sarmonikas’ death.

Andrea Sarmonikas, sister of 29-year-old Eva Sarmonikas from Queensland who died during a cosmetic procedure in Mexico last March, says she will not leave the Latin American country until the surgeons responsible are brought to court.

In a statement issued from Mexico City, Sarmonikas said legal procedures had begun against the medical staff who performed liposuction and buttock injections on her sister on March 20, following the results of a second autopsy on the deceased’s body.

“Contrary to what was ruled by the doctor of the Attorney General of the State of Baja California, the second autopsy determined that my sister was perforated on more than four occasions in the right lung, causing a hemorrhage that led to the death. Evita did not die from a pulmonary embolism nonthrombotic as we were first advised,” said Ms Sarmonikas.

She also alleged that the lead surgeon, who poses as an accredited specialist in plastic and reconstructive surgery, does not have the expertise to perform cosmetic procedures.

Thanking Australian and Mexican authorities for their support since Eva’s death, Andrea added that she hoped her campaign may prevent similar predicaments occurring in the future.

“There is nothing we can do to make Evita’s life returned to us,” she said.

“I will never be able to fill the huge gap that is left (in our lives), but we can and we will work our hardest to ensure Evita’s death is not in vain.”

The Go Fund Me page set up to cover the expenses of the second autopsy, legal procedures and repatriation of Eva’s body to Australia, has raised over $31,000.

Meanwhile, Australian Medical Association (AMA) vice president Dr Stephen Parnis issued a warning to all Australians planning to undergo medical procedures abroad.

“Our concern is a person will go overseas with the presumption things will be cheaper, but if a complication occurs the ability to manage that is reduced on the other side of the globe,” he said.

“If you can vouch for the standards, the accreditation and the scrutiny that medical systems in Australia have, that’s wonderful, but we can’t vouch for those things overseas.”

source:Neos Kosmos

Setting the stage for fireworks… Alex Lykos, who wrote and stars in Alex and Eve: The Wedding, with co-star Helena Stamoulis.

With the return of the hit play It’s War and on the verge of releasing his new film Alex & Eve, Alex Lykos took some time out to talk about his life and why he chose a career in the arts.

Sitting in a pub in the cultural hub of Marrickville, it’s easy to see what motivates this talented playwright and actor. It wasn’t the long list of achievements or heartwarming story of transition from aspiring tennis player; it was his passion for the stories he creates and the environment he grew up in. For you see this is a Marrickville boy through and through, having grown up here and seeing it change from a Greek and Vietnamese area that was seemingly neglected to the vibrant diverse suburb today.

It’s War

The return of the smash hit It’s War made Alex beam as he explained how proud he was of the production. The play is designed to make you hurt with laughter, taking the audience through a neighbourhood conflict. Each night in June has been a sell out.
In 2014 the production played to packed audiences and the sound of ‘encore, encore’ which ensured its inevitable return to the iconic Factory Theatre (Marrickville).

“The story is set with the best friend neighbours whose backyard house extension triggers a war which will test friendships, forcing neighbours to choose allegiances, and a long kept secret is revealed which will shock the foundations of the street,” Alex explains.

“When it premiered, I did not expect the audience reaction to be as crazy as it was. They were on the floor laughing their heads off,” For anyone who has been to Marrickville you will notice that Greek and Vietnamese features in the play, which mirrors the area somewhat.

The production comes under the Bulldog Theatre banner, which he founded in 2006, providing theatre offerings which were well-received by critics and the public, including the Alex & Eve trilogy.

Making special mention of people and sponsors who helped from his early days, many have become lifelong friends, to the point of joining the committee of Bulldog Theatre. He reserves special praise for one of his long term collaborators and friends, Elena Stamos, the star of three of his productions and the recently completed Alex & Eve movie. Elena took on a lead role at the last minute in the current production, literally stepping off a plane from Europe.

Alex & Eve, the movie

Momentum is building for the multimillion dollar Australian film based on the play. Having written the screenplay and taken a small role in the film, Alex is now making the exciting jump from stage to the big screen. What makes this new endeavour a great challenge is the chance to tell his story and entertain a larger audience here and abroad. The film is directed by Peter Andrikidis, who has won nine AFI awards including best direction for Underbelly. One of his more familiar projects was Wog Boy 2: Kings of Mykonos.

2015 has seen a range of local productions making a dent at the box office including Mad Max: Fury Road, The Water Diviner, Strangerland, Infini. The buzz in the industry is that Alex & Eve will join this list.
The film is based on the play of the same name, which performed to 28,000 people Australia wide. Alex tells the story that he once dated a Lebanese Muslim girl. The relationship did not last for too long, but the idea to explore cross cultural interactions via the stage did last. The film explores the dynamics between a Greek man and Muslim girl, perhaps a nod to the evolution of multiculturalism. It is certainly a long way from the traditional Greek town or village many of our parents left behind decades ago, where a similar relationship would have been unheard of. The film raises questions that would be pertinent in any society were religions and cultures differ dramatically. How would you raise your children, would one of them convert, what food will be eaten at dinner?

Alex once said that “if you are born into either of these religions you are ripe for therapy”.

The film is the culmination of a journey that commenced when he returned from living in America.”I had taken about 400 photos … I was a little lost, 29-30 years old, where do you go? I started writing vignettes on the photos and enjoyed that.” It was the start of a creative process, quickly realising that he had flair to create, penning the hit play Better Man.

As we finished our coffee, he told me, “I think about a story and ask myself this, in the middle of winter would I be willing to run around and put fliers on car windows? If not, my story isn’t worth fighting for.” With a track record that includes seven hit theatricals, it is fair say his story has been worth fighting for.

It’s War is playing at the Factory Theatre, season finishes 21 June. For more information call (03) 9550 3666 or visit http://www.bulldogtheatre.com
Alex & Eve is due out late 2015.

*Billy Cotsis is a freelance writer and short film director.

source:Neos Kosmos

Meteora, is one of the largest and most important complexes of Greek Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos.

Everymatic explores the breathtaking beauty of Meteora.

This short sentence has become our motto since starting our bespoke travel business. Gorgeous as the Aegean islands may be, there are so many other sides to a country as varied as Greece. So we headed for Thessaly, just a few hours north of Athens and suddenly everything changed. Snow capped mountains and traditional villages, vast swathes of farmland, rivers and lakes. And of course, Meteora; that special land which simply takes your breath away. It doesn’t matter how many photos you’ve seen; when you get there you still can’t believe the beauty before you.

Meteora, literally means ‘suspended in the air’, and when you visit this otherworldly place, you can see why that name was chosen. Of the six monasteries which remain here, the oldest and grandest is the Great Meteoro which dates back to the 14th century. The site has however been occupied for far longer than that; in one cave in Kalambaka, Theopetra, is the oldest known man-made structure in the world, a wall constructed 23,000 years ago. Meteora is now a UNESCO world heritage site, and visitors flock here to see the monasteries perched atop the stalagmite-like rocks.

We don’t tend to advocate staying right by big tourist attractions of this sort but Kastraki was a pleasant surprise. The little village at the base of Meteora has a number of simple bed and breakfast options, some cute tavernas and those awe inspiring views outside your bedroom window. You really can’t take in the size of what nature has created until you’re right up against it.

We then decided to explore the much talked about Lake Plastira. It has slowly but surely become popular with active Greek families in the last few years as it combines a number of outdoor activities, many accommodation and food options and unspoiled nature of the kind big city dwellers long for. Our drive from Meteora had a few hairpin turns but it was so worthwhile in the end. Pine forests, picturesque villages and images more reminiscent of Switzerland than Greece. The icing on the cake was the number of beautiful waterfalls created by the snowmelt all around us. Could this really be Greece?

We chose the gorgeous Kazarma Lake resort as the base for our stay. This is exactly what we look for on our trips around Greece. Boutique accommodation options with great service and the warm welcome you would expect from more humble, family run hotels. The rooms here are lovely, everything from the bed, to the linen, the fireplace and veranda have been carefully thought out to maximise your comfort and the views of the lake. They had just taken delivery of some funky new electrical bikes when we arrived which families will have a lot of fun using.

As ever our trip was further enhanced by the amazing people we met in the most unexpected places. We drove around the lake and headed towards the dam (Lake Plastira is man made) and saw a little sign off the side of the road. What we discovered was a beautiful little restaurant on a side of a gushing river. Evritos is family run trout farm, which has expanded into cooking and serving what they painstakingly rear. Mr Yiannis greeted us so warmly and we enjoyed the freshest trout and vegetables you could possibly imagine. When the bill came we literally couldn’t believe how reasonable it was.

Later that evening and as a film set moonlight shone on the still snowy mountain tops, we drove up to the village of Filakti. A cobbled street off the cute little village square led to Korkotaras taverna, which has an authentic and still fully operational 1950s jukebox. Mr Vasilis, the owner, was sitting at one of the tables having a drink with some friends. It didn’t take him long for him to starting regaling us with stories of the war and German occupation. The villages in the Agrafa area, of which Filakti is one, have always been known for resisting any invading force. Mr Vasilis’ hearbreaking stories of loss and rebuilding his life and home from the ashes of WWII gave us plenty of food of thought. The fact that the food his son served us was incredibly tasty as well was certainly a bonus.

Our long weekend in Thessaly drew to a close with us wanting to see much more of it and it wasn’t just the fresh air going to our heads. We will be back soon for more tsipouro inspired stories. Sometimes you really don’t need a beach to feel blessed to be alive.

source:Neos Kosmos

Ο καλλιτεχνικός κόσμος αντιδρά στην νέα πολιτική χρηματοδότησης των Tεχνών.

Περισσότεροι από εξήντα εκπρόσωποι των γραμμάτων και των τεχνών της Αυστραλίας συναντήθηκαν προχθές με στελέχη του Εργατικού Κόμματος και των Πράσινων, προκειμένου να συζητήσουν τις προωθούμενες αλλαγές στον τρόπο χρηματοδότησης του πολιτισμού.

Σύμφωνα με τον προϋπολογισμό του 2015, κονδύλια ύψους 105 εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων μετατίθενται από το Συμβούλιο για τις Τέχνες σε ένα νέο «Εθνικό Πρόγραμμα Αριστείας για τις Τέχνες» το οποίο θα τελεί υπό την διακριτική ευχέρεια του Υπουργού Πολιτισμού (και Δικαιοσύνης) George Brandis.

Η κίνηση αυτή έχει βάλει την κυβέρνηση Abbott στο στόχαστρο της καλλιτεχνικής κοινότητας της Αυστραλίας, η οποία διαμαρτύρεται έντονα τις τελευταίες εβδομάδες εκφράζοντας ανησυχίες για αυθαιρεσία στο σύστημα κρατικών επιχορηγήσεων και φόβους για διακοπή χρηματοδότησης οργανισμών ή και ολόκληρων τομέων του πολιτισμού.

Η συγκέντρωση των εκπροσώπων του πολιτισμού, οι οποίοι προσήλθαν από όλες τις Πολιτείες και τις Διοικητικές Περιοχές της Αυστραλίας, έγινε ύστερα από κατάθεση κοινής αντιπρότασης από τους Εργατικούς και τους Πράσινους προς την Γερουσία. Στην συνάντηση έδωσε το παρών και ο σκιώδης υπουργός πολιτισμού του Εργατικού Κόμματος, Mark Dreyfus, ο οποίος κάλεσε τον George Brandis να υποχωρήσει: «Δεν είναι αργά, να ανακαλέσετε αυτές τις αλλαγές».

Εκπροσωπώντας τον χώρο της λογοτεχνίας, η συγγραφέας και συνιδρύτρια του λογοτεχνικού περιοδικού «Kill your darlings» (το οποίο λαμβάνει κρατική επιχορήγηση), Hannah Kent τόνισε ότι τα σχέδια του Υπουργού Πολιτισμού έχουν συναντήσει την αντίδραση «όχι μόνο των καλλιτεχνών, αλλά γενικότερα των Αυστραλών.

Οι Αυστραλοί αγαπούν τον πολιτισμό. Ξοδεύουν σημαντικά ποσά στις τέχνες, συγκριτικά με το ποσό που δαπανά η κυβέρνηση».

Ο Υπουργός Πολιτισμού, παρ’ ότι προσκλήθηκε στην συνάντηση, δεν δέχθηκε να παραστεί.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Ο Αυστραλός αιμοδότης James Harrison

Ο Αυστραλός αιμοδότης James Harrison, έχει σώσει έως σήμερα δύο εκατομμύρια παιδιά, σύμφωνα με τον Ερυθρό Σταυρό Αυστραλίας.

Ο James Harrison άρχισε να δίνει αίμα από το 1950 και δεν έχει χάσει ούτε ένα ραντεβού από τότε. Έχει δώσει αίμα συνολικά πάνω από 1.100 φορές!

Όλα ξεκίνησαν το 1951 όταν ο 14χρονος τότε James Harrison χρειάστηκε να κάνει τρεις φορές μεταγγίσεις αίματος για να επιζήσει μιας ιδιαίτερα δύσκολης επέμβασης στους πνεύμονές του. Κάποιοι του πρόσφεραν αίμα, επέζησε και όταν έγινε 18 ετών αποφάσισε και εκείνος να γίνει αιμοδότης, όπως ήταν και ο πατέρας του.

Να τι δήλωσε ο ίδιος ο James Harrison πρόσφατα στο ABC με την ευκαιρία της Παγκόσμιας Ημέρας Αιμοδοσίας:

«Μετά την εγχείρηση μου», είπε, «έχοντας σωθεί από 13 λίτρα αίματος που μου πρόσφεραν άνθρωποι που δεν γνώρισα ποτέ, αποφάσισα όταν ενηλικιωθώ να γίνω και εγώ αιμοδότης».

Και δυο μέρες μετά την 18η επέτειο των γενεθλίων του έδωσε αίμα για πρώτη φορά και εξακολουθεί να δίνει έως σήμερα, 60 χρόνια αργότερα.

Σύμφωνα με τον Ερυθρό Σταυρό μια αιμοδοσία μπορεί να σώσει 17 ζωές και εκτιμάται ότι ο James Harrison

έχει σώσει δυο εκατομμύρια ζωές έως σήμερα στην Αυστραλία για ένα επί πλέον λόγο.

Ο κ. Harrison έχει κάποια σπάνια αντισώματα στο αίμα του, που έχει βοηθούν να σωθούν πολλές ζωές.

«Υπάρχουν πολλές γυναίκες στην Αυστραλία που στις φλέβες τους ρέει το αίμα του James Harrison, λέει η Jemma Falkenmire, από την Υπηρεσία Αιμοδοσίας του Ερυθρού Σταυρού Αυστραλίας.

Αν και άρχισε να δίνει αίμα από την δεκαετία του ’50 ήταν στα μέσα της δεκαετίας του 1960 όταν η ιστορία του Harrison έγινε πραγματικά αξιοσημείωτη.

Εκείνη την εποχή, γινόταν τεστ σε γυναίκες που αντιμετώπιζαν μια περίπλοκη κατάσταση. Ήταν η περιβόητη νόσος Rhesus. Τα αντισώματα στο αίμα εγκύων γυναικών κατέστρεφαν τα κύτταρα του αίματος στα αγέννητα μωρά τους.

«Υπήρχαν πολλά μωρά που πέθαιναν ή που γεννιόνταν με αναιμία, ή γυναίκες που είχαν αποβολές», λέει h Jemma Falkenmire από τον Ερυθρό Σταυρό Υπηρεσία Αιμοδοσίας.

Ήταν, τότε, λοιπόν που εντοπίστηκε ότι ο Harrison ήταν ένας από τους πολύ λίγους των οποίων το αίμα περιείχε ένα αντίσωμα που θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί για την Παρασκευή ενός AntiD, ένα σωτήριο εμβόλια.

Παραμένοντας σεμνός και ταπεινός ο Harrison απορρίπτει όλους τους επαίνους και λέει πως κάνει το καθήκον του,

«Το αίμα μου είναι κόκκινο. Δεν υπάρχει τίποτα διαφορετικό. Και η αιμοδοσία μου γίνεται με το γνωστό τρόπο»λέει ο Harrison.

Η Υπηρεσία Αιμοδοσίας του Ερυθρού Σταυρού διαφωνεί μαζί του με μ σεβασμό.

«Ο James είναι πολύ ιδιαίτερο για εμάς» λέει η κ. Falkenmire.

«Έχουμε περίπου 500.000 δότες αίματος σε όλη την Αυστραλία, αλλά έχουμε μόνο περίπου 50 δότες οι οποίοι έχουν αυτά τα ειδικά αντισώματα στο αίμα τους. Ο James είναι κάτι πολύ σπάνιο για μας. Υπάρχουν πολλές γυναίκες εκεί έξω που έχουν James στις φλέβες τους» προσθέτει.

Αυτό οφείλεται εν μέρει στο γεγονός ότι στα τελευταία 60 χρόνια, ο Harrison δεν έχει χάσει ούτε ένα ραντεβού αιμοδοσίας.

Κάτι που αναγνωρίστηκε το 1999, όταν του απονεμήθηκε ειδική διάκριση.

Στα 80 του ο Harrison θα πρέπει να πάψει να είναι αιμοδότης και αυτό ανησυχεί τον Ερυθρό Σταυρό.

«Δεν υπάρχει κανείς που έχει κάνει πραγματικά τόση διαφορά» λέει η κα Falkenmire και προσθέτει:

«Είναι σπάνιο το αίμα του, αλλά είναι επίσης σπάνια και η δέσμευσή να σωθούν ζωές.»

Μία από αυτές τις ζωές ήταν και του εγγονού του Harrison, μετά από το πλάσμα του χρησιμοποιήθηκε με επιτυχία κατά τη διάρκεια της εγκυμοσύνης της κόρης του.

Ο ίδιος λέει πως νοιώθει ικανοποίηση που μπόρεσε να βοηθήσει τους συνανθρώπους μας και μας καλεί και εμάς να γίνουμε αιμοδότες.

«Η ζωή που θα σώσουν όσοι δίνουν αίμα μπορεί να είναι και η δική τους» είπε και πρόσθεσε: «Μια ώρα από την ζωή ενός αιμοδότη σημαίνει μια ζωή για αυτό που θα πάρει το αίμα του. Η διαδικασία είναι ανώδυνη. Αφού μπορώ και το κάνω εγώ που είμαι αλλεργικός στον πόνο, τότε όλοι μπορούν.

«Υπήρχε μια κυρία που είχε επτά αποβολές, πήρε το εμβόλιο με το το πλάσμα του Χαρισον και τώρα είχε επτά φυσιολογικά παιδιά» λέει η Falkenmire για να υπογραμμίσει τη μεγάλη προσφορά του αιμοδότη.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

The blue team turned the field into an endless Zorba dance.

Greece has returned to the Super League of the European Track & Field Teams Championship after finishing second in the 12-team First Division meeting that took place at Iraklio on Crete over the weekend.

Greece’s men and women collected a total of 327 points to finish only behind the Czech Republic, with 351 points. The top three of the First Division advanced to the Super League, with the Netherlands finishing third with 299.5 points.

The event also marked the end of the illustrious career of hurdler Periklis Iakovakis, who run not only the 400-meter hurdles but also in the 4x400m relay for Greece.

The Greek won seven events, with the most impressive arguably being Costas Filippidis who cleared 5.80 meters – his best this season – in the men’s pole vault on Sunday.

The moment after the end of the 4x400m relay when the Greek athletes grabbed each other by the shoulder and danced around the center circle at the Pankritio Stadium was one of the most memorable for the Greek sport in years.

Source: Kathimerini

Different rules may apply in specific cases.

People from other countries, either foreigners or Greek expatriates, have in the past been buying plots and lands in Greece and will keep purchasing in the future, especially now that prices have dropped so much.

Before you proceed to pay for and buy the plot in Greece which you have chosen, you must know all its characteristics which determine its value. Such characteristics include the plot’s legal status (if it is free of any type of legal burden or legal dispute), its dimensions and actual boundaries, as well as the zoning and building regulations which apply in this particular area and in this particular plot of this specific size and shape.

To learn and understand the above, a plot buyer in Greece must first retain a lawyer for a thorough title search. The lawyer will get in touch with the seller of the plot, or with his lawyer and with the real estate broker. If one is involved, they will review the deeds, titles and plot plans or survey maps of the plot, he will make a title search on the spot at the local land registry/cadastre, and will advise you on the legal conditions which apply on the particular plot you want to purchase.

In essence, your lawyer should be able to advise you whether to buy that plot or not, although in some cases the lawyer will outline some of the risk factors which exist regarding the specific plot, and will leave the final decision to you. Such factors might refer to a possible uncertainty on the title history of the plot, which may or may not cause property disputes in the future, to the existence of present or past adverse possession claims by the owner of the plot or a neighbour, to a dispute on the boundaries of the plot with a neighbour, to the proper registration of the plot with the local land registry or cadastre, to an update on the property taxes of the plot, to forestry or archaeological restrictions, and so on.

Apart from a legal advisor you may also need to retain a civil engineer, who will review the zoning and building regulations of the plot in order to advise you whether it is allowed to build on the plot or not, how big a structure you can erect and how many stories, and if any building or architectural restrictions apply due to local traditional style.

The attorney and the civil engineer who will advise you must be of your absolute own choice. It is advisable to avoid working with a lawyer and civil engineer chosen by the developer or seller of the site. It must be very clear that your attorney and your civil engineer work only for you and will outline to you all the existing legal and technical factors of the plot.

In some cases, apart from retaining experts to advise you on the possible purchase of the plot, it may be a good idea to meet with the neighbours, to make sure that there are no misunderstandings on where the boundaries are, especially when no fences or other landmarks exist.

Before signing the purchase deed at the notary’s office, you must have read and understood a good translation in your language of the deed and you must be aware of the basic payment structure. A property buyer in Greece will not become the owner of the property until the purchase deed is registered with the local land registry, even if the buyer has paid the agreed amount for the purchase of the property. The notary who drafts along with the lawyers the deed of sale/purchase is usually chosen and paid by the buyer.

Although different rules may apply in specific cases, the usual purchase tax in Greece as of June 2015 is an average of three per cent of the property’s tax value. Such low purchase tax is considered an incentive for property buyers, in order the government to boost sales on a stagnant property market.
The yearly property tax that a plot owner may have to pay has recently increased by Greek standards, but remains low compared with what applies in other countries.

*Christos Iliopoulos is an attorney at the Supreme Court of Greece, LL.M.
For more information visit www.greekadvocate.eu, or email ktimatologiolaw@yahoo.gr or bm-bioxoi@otenet.gr

source:Neos Kosmos

Second generation migrants are eligible for citizenship.

The junior partner in the governing coalition, Independent Greeks (ANEL), on Wednesday broke ranks with leftist SYRIZA on a bill that foresees second-generation migrants being eligible for citizenship once they have enrolled at elementary school, provided one of their parents has a residence permit.

Although ANEL voted against the bill in principle, it passed with the support of SYRIZA, centrist Potami and PASOK. The legislation was also rejected by conservative New Democracy and neofascist Golden Dawn while the Communist Party (KKE) voted present.

Earlier in the day, Alternate Immigration Policy Minister Tasia Christodoulopoulou defended the bill in Parliament, saying that migrants who are permanent residents of Greece and their children should have the right to claim citizenship.

“We insist on this compromise, which is both viable and realistic,” she said about the bill, ignoring objections from opposition lawmakers.

Source: Kathimerini