Daily Archives: July 22, 2015

PRAKSIS’ team of teachers in action.

Turmoil in Greece along with capital controls has lead to a humanitarian crisis outburst

As a leading Greek non-government organisation (NGO), Programs of Development, Social Support and Medical Cooperation (PRAKSIS) is focused on humanitarian programs and medical interventions in Greece.

The effects of the financial crisis have created an alarming rise in poverty and precarious conditions, with a substantial amount of households facing homelessness.

The recorded loss of property due to financial circumstances, along with the general economic insecurity arising from pension reforms, has led to an explosion of humanitarian issues.

“To the constantly deteriorating predicament add the increasing rate of layoffs, heavy taxation and pay cuts,” PRAKSIS fundraiser Marie Halaka stresses.

“On behalf of PRAKSIS we kindly ask diaspora Greeks to join our struggle confronting the upcoming repercussions of the financial crisis.”

PRAXIS works to eliminate the social and economic exclusion of vulnerable social groups and the defence of their personal and social rights.

It implements programs throughout Greece, with a focus on Attica, central Macedonia, Lesvos and Patras. Its mobile medical units cover northern Greece and the Dodecanese.

“In these dire times for our country, our antipoverty program is facing severe difficulties.”

“We apply to the Greek Australian community and to all Hellenes living abroad in an effort to provide relief to the homeless and support the many households in desperate need of help.”

source:Neos Kosmos

Young Greek Australian aspiring to break into Australia’s 2020 Olympic team

Aspiring to get onto the world stage, 14-year-old Maria Petrakis is a taekwondo champion with success in the sport beckoning at her feet.

With her parents support from the age of seven, Petrakis took to taekwondo and is now training for her chance at Olympic fame at Tokyo 2020.

Whilst most people her age are occupied with many of life’s pleasures, Petrakis finds her own pleasure in her strict training regime – which includes four days of a combined workout of sparing and speed and two days on the running track.

“I’ve learnt respect, discipline and how to be fit. I love doing it… I feel it [the impacts on the body], but once I’m on the mat I don’t feel it any more, it’s all adrenalin on the mats. I’ve learnt how to be stronger in my mind because … my yiayia gave me that, she was always strong,” she said.

Perched at number one in her age group nationally, she has been selected to compete at the World Cadet Championships, in Muju, Korea in August after winning the Australian Open in June.

Along with her yiayia she finds inspiration from her coach, Nick Tsioulos, who continues to challenge her both psychologically and physically.

“He’s always been by my side and I’ve always loved having him coach me. He motivates me, he never gives up on me, he always helps me when I’m doing something wrong and he makes me laugh all the time.”

Petrakis has already been asked to train with the Australian Institute of Sport twice this year, where she was joined by the Thai national team.

The determined youngster has set her bar high with the 2020 Olympics and is focused on maintaining her training and fitness.

“I’m not going to give up on anything now because I’ve got massive goals in my head that I want to accomplish. So far this year I’ve done four competitions, that’s all of the competitions so far, I’ve won them all.”

The level-headed teen maintains her education is her priority – she won’t train without having completed all of her studies – where she dreams of one day involving herself with sports science or teaching.

The prominent youngster is building a CV which boasts four gold medals and one silver at competitions since December 2014.

source:Neos Kosmos

Clothing drive starts for poorest Greek families.

Community extends support to Greek families in need

At this difficult time for the mother country, the Greek Australian community in Victoria is again showing its practical support.

Hellenic Heart is a new initiative to help families in need by collecting donations of clothing and transporting them to Greece.

Rea Liapis, the owner of a childrens’ boutique in Melbourne, came up with the idea as she was trying to figure out ways to contribute other than fundraising.

“The Greek way of life is always about doing what we can for our families and I realised that am really lucky that I can give my kids everything they need.

But how hard some families must be finding it in Greece at the moment, with the thought that they may not be able to keep their children warm this coming winter”, Ms Liapis told Neos Kosmos.

What started off as one person’s idea grew bigger, with the project’s Facebook page attracting1000 followers just 48 hours after it went online.

The community has embraced the initiative with local businesses offering to help as drop-off points, or with logistics so that donations can be shipped directly to Greece.

“Everyone seems to be working together and it has been received really well. I think we can all make a difference through unity.

I’m a really emotional person and I have shed many happy tears over the wonderful outpouring of support from the Greek community”, says Ms Liapis.

Hellenic Heart is in the process of registering as a non-profit organisation and is working closely with two NGOs based in Greece – The Smile of the Child and the Salvation Army to ensure that clothing donations will be distributed to families who need it most.

“We aim to gather as much as we can in the way of clothing, linen and necessities for the families living under the poverty line”, Ms Liapis explains.

More than 15 locations in Melbourne are able to receive donations and the team is also in discussions withpotential donor locations interstate.

There is no restriction on the type of clothes that can be donated but Hellenic Heart says donations should be in good condition: freshly washed, have no stains or rips, and packaged in plastic bags.

For more information and to find your nearest drop-off point, visit http://www.facebook.com/hellenicheartaus

source:Neos Kosmos

του Γιώργου Ροδάκογλου

Μια πολύ σημαντική πρωτιά σε Διεθνές επίπεδο κατέκτησε η ανασκαφή της Αμφίπολης. Η μοναδική Έκθεση Αρχαιολογίας στον κόσμο με έδρα το Capaccio-Paestum στην Ιταλία δίνει το χρυσό μετάλλιο στην Ελλάδα με την οδηγία να επισκεφτούν οι τουρίστες τον τύμβο Καστά.

Η εφημερίδα La Stamba σε ρεπορτάζ κάνει εκτενή αναφορά στην αρχαιολογική έρευνα της διεπιστημονικής ομάδας της Κατερίνας Περιστέρη και κάνει λόγω για τον μεγαλύτερο αρχαίο τάφο που βρέθηκε ποτέ στην Ελλάδα .

Την ίδια ώρα το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού δεν έχει ανακοινώσει τίποτα απολύτως για την Ελληνική επιτυχία. Το ”Διεθνές Βραβείο Αρχαιολογικής ανακάλυψης” της Αμφίπολης έχει προγραμματιστεί να δοθεί στον αρχαιολογικό χώρο της αρχαίας πόλης Paestum 29 Οκτωβρίου -1 Νοεμβρίου του 2015.

Τα άλλα τέσσερα αρχαιολογικά ευρήματα υποψήφια για την πρωτιά ήταν: α)Τα αρχαιότερα ανθρώπινα ίχνη στην Ευρώπη στην Αγγλία β)Ο Τάφος Khentakawess ΙΙΙ στο Abu Sir στην Αίγυπτο γ)Ο Τάφος ενός πρίγκιπα των Γαλατών στο Warcq της Γαλλίας δ) Ο Θησαυρός της Orselina στο καντόνι του Τιτσίνο της Ελβετίας. «Η ομάδα των Ελλήνων αρχαιολόγων με επικεφαλής την Κατερίνα Περιστέρη έχει βρει το μεγαλύτερο αρχαίο τάφο που βρέθηκε ποτέ στην Ελλάδα.

Το ανάχωμα έχει περίμετρο 496 μέτρων. Το σύνολο της βάσης, ένας τέλειος κύκλος, υποστηρίζεται από έναν τοίχο 3 μέτρα ύψος, με μια άριστη ορθομαρμάρωση από εκλεκτό μάρμαρο Θάσου.

Η ομάδα εργάζεται στον τάφο από το 2009, αλλά στις 10 Αυγ 2014 έχει εντοπιστεί και αποκαλύφθηκε μια εντυπωσιακή είσοδος, μια μαρμάρινη πόρτα που φρουρείται από δύο φτερωτές σφίγγες που κάθονται σε ένα υπέρθυρο, και που διατηρεί τα ίχνη της αρχικής μορφής σε χρώματα, κόκκινο, μπλε, μαύρο. Βρέθηκαν οι μοναδικές Καρυάτιδες ένα υπέροχο ψηφιδωτό και ο νεκρικός θάλαμος. Και ένα λιοντάρι που ήταν την κορυφή του λόφου που έκρυβε τον Τάφο.

Ένα μοναδικό μνημείο που δεν έχει προηγούμενο στον Ελλαδικό χώρο» γράφει μεταξύ άλλων η La Stamba. Η “Borsa mediterranea del turismo archeologico” είναι μια έκθεση που σχεδιάστηκε και οργανώθηκε από το Leader Ltd, η οποία από το 1998 λαμβάνει χώρα στο Capaccio-Paestum,μια πόλη στην επαρχία του Σαλέρνο στην Καμπανία της νοτιο-δυτικής Ιταλίας.

Στόχος της πρωτοβουλίας είναι να προωθήσει τόπους και προορισμούς αρχαιολογικού ενδιαφέροντος, Αρχή της έκθεσης αυτής είναι η προώθηση της εμπορίας του τουρισμού που συμβάλλουν στην εποχική προσαρμογή και την αύξηση των οικονομικών ευκαιριών.

Ο “Borsa mediterranea del turismo archeologico” επιτρέπει την συνάντηση στο πεδίο της πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς, με τους επαγγελματίες των επιχειρήσεων του τουρισμού, με εμπειρογνώμονες, με ταξιδιώτες, με τους οπαδούς των αρχαιολογικών ανασκαφών και με τα σχολεία. Από το 2013,ο θεσμός αυτός πραγματοποιείται στην μαγευτική τοποθεσία του Capaccio-Paestum όπου υπάρχει το Αρχαιολογικό Πάρκο, το Εθνικό Μουσείο και η παλαιοχριστιανική βασιλική του Paestum.

Η BMTA είναι η έδρα της μοναδικής Διεθνούς Έκθεσης της Αρχαιολογίας στον κόσμο, στην οποία παίρνουν μέρος 150 εκθέτες, εκ των οποίων 20 από το εξωτερικό. Η μορφή της εκδήλωσης παρέχει επίσης κάθε χρόνο μια ειδική εμφάνιση από μια χώρα που είναι επίσημη χώρα υποδοχής. Κάθε έκδοση της ΒΜΤΑ φιλοξενεί διαλέξεις, εκθέσεις αρχαιολογικών θεμάτων ,επιστημονικές συναντήσεις και ανταλλαγές από εργαστηριακές εμπειρίες.

Από το 2005 τιμούνται με το βραβείο “Premio Paestum” εκείνοι που έχουν διακριθεί για την προώθηση της πολιτιστικής κληρονομιάς, ενώ από το 2007 απονέμεται το βραβείο “Antonella Fiammenghi” στην καλύτερη διατριβή στον αρχαιολογικό τουρισμό. Η 17η ΒΜΤΑ, προωθείται από την επαρχία του Σαλέρνο , της περιφέρειας της Καμπανίας ,την πόλη Capaccio Paestum και τον ομώνυμο Δήμο, ενώ βρίσκεται υπό την εποπτεία για την αρχαιολογική κληρονομιά των Σαλέρνο , Avellino , Benevento και Caserta .

Η έκδοση του 2014 πραγματοποιήθηκε υπό την αιγίδα του Προέδρου της Δημοκρατίας , με την υποστήριξη της Expo Milano 2015 , το Υπουργείο Πολιτιστικής Κληρονομιάς και Πολιτισμού και Τουρισμού , του Υπουργείου Εξωτερικών και με την υποστήριξη της UNESCO και του UNWTO.

Πηγή:

Matthew Bailes isn’t convinced aliens exist but he’s going to give the search for ET his best shot.  

Professor Bailes will lead Australian researchers using the CSIRO’s Parkes radio telescope in a quest to find evidence of alien life. He will be joined by some of the world’s eminent astronomers and astrophysicists after Russian billionaire Yuri Milner yesterday said he would spend at least $US100 million ($138m) on the quest.

“We’ve never seen any evidence of alien life,” Professor Bailes said. “But I certainly ­believe there are a ridiculous number of planets out there and it wouldn’t surprise me if some of them ­develop life. Whether or not it ever gets to the point where it can communicate with us is another question.”

Professor Bailes has a partic­ular interest in pulsars, or fast-spinning celestial objects that emit radio, X-ray and gamma radiation at regular intervals.

“When they were first discovered in 1967, astronomers wondered whether they were an alien transmission,” he said.

“But they then ­noticed other signals coming from other directions which looked a bit the same. They decided pulsars were unlikely to be teeming with aliens. We now know pulsars are the most hostile environment in the universe and would be very unlikely to host any life form. The gravity is about one billion times stronger than on Earth so it would crush anything that came near it.”

Professor Bailes needs incredibly clear signals to locate pulsars and radio bursts. It is these signals that could lead the way to alien life.

Several science luminaries are backing the project, including physicist Stephen Hawking and astronomers Martin Rees and Frank Drake.

Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt said: “My guess is it is unlikely if we will find evidence of aliens, but it is going to drive ­innovation.”

source:theaustralian.com.au

Australian rock singer Jimmy Barnes has condemned the use of his songs as “anthems’’ at anti-Islam rallies, saying he does not support their cause.

It is reported Anti-Islamic group Reclaim Australia played Khe Sanh during a protest in Brisbane on the weekend but Barnes took to social media to tell his fans that he does not support “certain groups” using his songs at such rallies.

The Cold Chisel frontman said in a Facebook post, “It has come to my attention that certain groups of people have been using my voice, my songs as their anthems at rallies. None of these people represent me and I do not support them.

“I only want to say the Australia I belong to and love is a tolerant Australia. A place that is open and giving. It is a place that embraces all sorts of different people, in fact it is made stronger by the diversity of its people,” he said.

Barnes was born in Scotland and moved to Australia at age four. His wife, Jane Mahoney, grew up in Thailand.

“If you look at my family you can see we are a multicultural family. Australia needs to stand up for Love and Tolerance in these modern times,” Barnes wrote.

Khe Sanh, released in 1978, is about an Australian Vietnam veteran dealing with his return to civilian life and is considered one of the most popular songs ever recor

The song only peaked on the national sales charts at a number 41, partly as a result of censors gave it an A Classification, deeming it “not suitable for airplay”.

In 2001, members of APRA, the Australasian music industry’s peak body, nominated Khe Sanh at number eight in a poll of the all-time best Australian songs.

Rallies were held across the country on the weekend. Police were forced to keep Reclaim Australia supporters and anti-racism campaigners apart after violence and four arrests at Saturday’s Melbourne event.

Federal government back­bencher George Christensen and One Nation founder Pauline Hanson addressed rallies in Queensland, urging greater vigilance against Islamic extremism, shrugging off claims the Reclaim Australia movement is racist and divisive.

The Reclaim Australia movement has risen out of fears “radicals of Islam” have compromised the nation’s security, values and way of life. Organisers say they are not racist, despite supporters carrying racist placards and making racist chants, and say they are not affiliated with the neo-Nazis or white supremacists who attend some of their events.

ded by an Australian act.

Apostolos Gletsos, the mayor of Stylida, central Greece, and head of the Teleia (Full Stop) party on Tuesday brought legal action against former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis on charges of exposing the Greek state to the risk of reprisals by his actions and policy decisions while serving the government.

In a lengthy legal suit, the former actor accused Varoufakis of exposing the country and its citizens to negative reactions by third countries “either through malice or extreme negligence,” adding that the former minister’s policy decisions and behavior “upset the friendly relations of the Greek state with our partners in the European Union” and caused “massive damage to the Greek economy.”

source:ekathimerini.com

Ahead of Wednesday’s crucial parliamentary vote on a second set of so-called prior actions pledged to creditors, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sought to strike a hard line opposite critics within the ranks of SYRIZA Tuesday, sources close to the premier said.

In comments to colleagues, which were relayed to reporters by government sources, Tsipras is said to have lashed out at critics within the party who he accused of “hiding behind the safety of my signature.”

The premier sought to clarify that a range of alternative plans that have emerged in recent days had never gained his approval. “If some believe that an alternative leftist plan is Schaeuble’s plan, or grabbing the stock of European Central Bank note, or giving IOUs to pensioners, let them explain to the Greek people,” Tsipras was quoted as saying.

The references are to a plan by German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble for a Greek exit from the eurozone and to an alleged plan by Energy Minister Panayiotis Lafazanis, who is head of SYRIZA’s radical Left Platform, to use some 22 billion euros in Bank of Greece reserves to cover the state’s funding needs in the transition to the drachma. Tsipras’s purported criticism is believed to have been directed at both Lafazanis and former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who indicated in recent interviews that an alternative plan involving the use of IOUs had been drafted.

Referring to the tough deal he signed with creditors early last week, Tsipras spoke of “a compromise but one which keeps us alive so we can keep on fighting.” He sought to rally the party to back the measures, noting that after today’s vote, attention will turn to negotiations with creditors during which “the government must try to use every prospect for alliances, both political and social, in Europe to secure the best possible outcome.”

He also appeared to look toward a party congress in September when, he said, there will be “broad collective procedures to connect the goals and characteristics of leftist governance to the new state of affairs.”

Earlier in the day, the new government spokesperson, Olga Gerovasili, told reporters that the government aimed to conclude negotiations with creditors by August 20. She added pointedly that Wednesday’s vote would be on a new civil code of procedure, aimed at speeding up court cases, and the adoption of a European Union law designed to protect banks, not on changes to farmers’ tax status which she emphasized “is not a prior action.”

Reports according to which changes to farmers’ taxes will be voted on in the first week of August are “totally groundless,” she said.
Although the contentious changes affecting farmers are not on the agenda in Parliament today, it is expected that the 32 SYRIZA MPs who voted “no” to a first set of prior actions last week will probably do the same again today. Government sources hope that another six who abstained last week may vote “yes” this time.

The draft legislation is to be debated at the committee level at 9 a.m. today with a discussion at the plenary session and vote later in the day.

Parliament Speaker Zoe Constantopoulou appeared unmoved Tuesday, declaring that Greece’s democratic procedures were being “strangled.”

source:ekathimerini.com

Golden Dawn lawmaker Yiannis Lagos on Tuesday was returned to Attica’s high-security Korydallos Prison, from which he was freed in March following the completion of the mandatory 18-month maximum in pre-trial custody, after he allegedly violated the terms of his release.

According to judicial sources, Lagos repeatedly violated the condition that he remain under house arrest with the exception of appearances in Parliament.

On three occasions documented by authorities, the MP is alleged to have failed to return to his home, which is under police surveillance, visiting bars, staying in a hotel one night and visiting GD’s offices in Perama on another occasion.

source:ekathimerini.com