Monthly Archives: August 2015

Η κυβέρνηση θέλοντας να πιάσει τους πάντες στον ύπνο ή μάλλον στις διακοπές, προχωρά στην ιδιωτικοποίηση 14 περιφερειακών αεροδρομίων, ολοκληρώνοντας έτσι το έργο της απερχόμενης κυβέρνησης ΝΔ/ΠΑΣΟΚ. Η γερμανική εταιρία Fraport, σε κοινοπραξία με εταιρίας ελληνικών συμφερόντων είναι εκείνη που θα αναλάβει τη διαχείρισή τους. Μια από τις μεγαλύτερες εταιρίες στον κόσμο, η οποία διαθέτει ήδη 11 αεροδρόμια σε όλο τον κόσμο, ενώ συμμετέχει με μειοψηφικό ή και πλειοψηφικό πακέτο σε ακόμη περισσότερα.

Η Fraport είναι η ιδιοκτήτρια εταιρία και manager του αεροδρομίου της Φρανκφούρτης, του μεγαλύτερου αεροδρομίου της Γερμανίας και ενός από τα μεγαλύτερα στον κόσμο. Όπως διαβάζουμε στην επίσημη ιστοσελίδα της πρόκειται για μια εταιρία με μακρά παράδοση και ιστορία που ξεκινά από το 1924, όταν και ιδρύθηκε η εταιρίας Südwestdeutsche Luftverkehrs AG (Αερολιμένας νοτιοανατολικής Γερμανίας). Αρχικά το αεροδρόμιο λειτούργησε στο Rebstock, πριν μεταφερθεί στην περιοχή του Rhein-Main όπου βρίσκεται μέχρι και σήμερα, το 1936.

Πλήρης ιδιωτικοποίηση α λα ελληνικά

Παρά το γεγονός πως στην Ελλάδα το ελληνικό δημόσιο φαίνεται να παραιτείται πλήρως των… δικαιωμάτων του, η ίδια η εταιρία που το αγοράζει δεν είναι αποκλειστικά ιδιωτικών συμφερόντων. Η Fraport ως εισηγμένη στο χρηματιστήριο διοικείται από ένα εποπτικό συμβούλιο, το οποίο και είναι υπεύθυνο για την επιχειρηματική ανάπτυξη και τη στρατηγική της. Το συμβούλιο απαρτίζουν, όπως διαβάζουμε:

– Τρεις εκπρόσωποι του ομοσπονδιακού κράτους της Έσσης

– Δύο εκπρόσωποι της πόλης της Φρανκφούρτης

– Ένας εκπρόσωπος της Κεντρικής Ομοσπονδιακής Δημοκρατίας της Γερμανίας

– Τέσσερις ιδιώτες μέτοχοι

– 10 εκπρόσωποι των εργαζομένων

Η αεροπορική εταιρία των πέντε ηπείρων

Φυσικά δεν είναι η πρώτη φορά που η Fraport επεκτείνεται εκτός γερμανικών συνόρων, αφού ήδη έχει στον έλεγχό της 11 αεροδρόμια σε Αμερική, Ευρώπη, Αφρική και Ασία και συμμετέχει με πλειοψηφικά πακέτα και μετοχές σε πολλά ακόμη. Επιπλέον, το ίδιο το αεροδρόμιο της Φρανκφούρτης επεκτάθηκε θεαματικά μέσα στις δεκαετίες, ώστε να αποτελεί σήμερα το μεγαλύτερο στη χώρα και ένα από τα μεγαλύτερα στον κόσμο.

Αυτή φυσικά η επέκταση δεν ήρθε χωρίς εντάσεις, αφού η διοίκηση της εταιρίας, σε συνεργασία με πολιτικούς του κρατιδίου της Έσσης αγνόησαν την επίπτωση που θα είχε η ανάπτυξη του αεροδρομίου στους κατοίκους της γύρω περιοχής. Από το 2011, οι διαμαρτυρίες για τον τέταρτο αεροδιάδρομο ήταν έντονες. Οι άνθρωποι που διαμένουν στην περιοχή ανέφεραν στα γερμανικά ΜΜΕ πως δεν φαντάζονταν ποτέ πως ο θόρυβος θα ήταν τόσο έντονος.

Χριστιανοδημοκράτες πολιτικοί είχαν φροντίσει για να υποστηρίξουν την κατασκευή του έργου να διαβεβαιώσουν πως στο νέο αεροδιάδρομο θα απαγορεύονταν οι προσγειώσεις κατά τη διάρκεια της νύχτας, κάτι φυσικά που δεν μπορούσε να σταθεί νομικά. Ύστερα μάλιστα και από πιέσεις της Lufthansa, οι περιορισμοί αυτοί κρίθηκαν από το ειδικό δικαστήριο ως μη αποδεκτοί. Τα οικονομικά και πολιτικά συμφέροντα υπερίσχυσαν όπως φαίνεται των πολιτών και έτσι, πολλοί από τους κατοίκους που πλήττονται περισσότερο, δήλωναν τότε στην BILD πως εξέταζαν σοβαρά το ενδεχόμενο να μετακομίσουν. Με νέα απόφαση πάντως του δικαστηρίου τον Απρίλιο του 2012, φαίνεται πως επετεύχθη ο περιορισμός των πτήσεων στον τέταρτο αεροδιάδρομο από τις 11.00 μμ. εως τις 5.00πμ.

Εξάλλου, οι σχέσεις της εταιρίας με τους εργαζόμενους των αεροδρομίων της, δεν είναι πάντα οι καλύτερες. Από το 2008, ένα μόλις χρόνο μετά την εξαγορά του αεροδρομίου, 100 και πλέον εργαζόμενοι του αεροδρομίου στο Μπουργκάς της Βουλγαρίας προέβησαν σε σιωπηλή διαμαρτυρία κατά της εταιρίας. Όπως μετέδιδαν τότε τα τοπικά πρακτορεία ειδήσεων, οι εργαζόμενοι ισχυρίζονταν πως η Fraport, που όπως και στην Ελλάδα έχει συνάψει στη χώρα κοινοπραξία με βουλγαρική εταιρία, προχωρούσε σε περικοπές μισθών. Επιπλέον, η εταιρία είχε φροντίσει να περιορίσει προνόμια και εκπτώσεις σε φαγητό και ρουχισμό για το προσωπικό της, αλλά και τα έξτρα των νυχτερινών βαρδιών. Εκτός όμως από τις μειώσεις, οι εργαζόμενοι κατήγγειλαν πως για ένα μεγάλο χρονικό διάστημα, κάθε Παρασκευή ένας από αυτούς λάμβανε ένα γράμμα με το οποίο η εταιρία των ενημέρωνε πως δεν ανήκει πλέον στο δυναμικό της και έτσι δεν είναι απαραίτητο να εμφανιστεί στη δουλειά του από Δευτέρα.

Η ιστορία της Fraport και ο ρόλος του αεροδρομίου στον Β’ ΠΠ

Η εταιρία ξεκίνησε να σημειώνει εντυπωσιακή άνοδο κατά τη διάρκεια της ναζιστικής Γερμανίας, το 1936, όταν και το αεροδρόμιο μεταφέρθηκε στο Rhein-Main. Αποτελούσε από τότε το δεύτερο μεγαλύτερο αεροδρόμιο στη χώρα, μετά το αγαπημένο του Χίτλερ Tempelhof στο Βερολίνο, ενώ υπήρξε και η μεγαλύτερη βάση για τα δύο μεγαλύτερα γερμανικά Ζέπελιν, που διεξήγαγαν δρομολόγια συνδέοντας ακόμη και την Ευρώπη με την Αμερική. Οι μεταφορές με τα μεγαλοπρεπή αερόστατα θα συνεχίζονταν απρόσκοπτα αν δεν συνέβαινε το τραγικό δυστύχημα του LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin Hindenburg το Μάιο του 1937 στο Λέικχερστ της Αμερικής.

To Hinderburg τυλίχτηκε στις φλόγες και συνετρίβη κοστίζοντας τη ζωή σε 36 επιβάτες και πλήρωμα. Το δυστύχημα πάγωσε τα σχέδια ανάπτυξης των δρομολογίων, ενώ η άκατος του Ζέπελιν επεστράφη στη Γερμανία και χρησιμοποιήθηκε από το Ράιχ για την κατασκευή στρατιωτικών αεροπλάνων.

Μετά την κήρυξη του Β’ Παγκοσμίου πολέμου, όλες οι ξένες αεροπορικές εταιρίες εγκατέλειψαν το αεροδρόμιο και ο έλεγχος της εναέριας κυκλοφορίας μεταβιβάστηκε στην στρατιωτική luftwaffe, που η ναζιστική κυβέρνηση χρησιμοποιούσε για τη διοίκηση της πολεμικής αεροπορίας. Στις 9 Μαΐου του 1940 από το αεροδρόμιο σηκώθηκαν βομβαρδιστικά με προορισμό τη Γαλλία, ενώ από τον Αύγουστο ως και το Νοέμβριο του 1944, κοντά στις εγκαταστάσεις του χτίστηκε στρατόπεδο συγκέντρωσης, με Εβραίες φυλακισμένες να εξαναγκάζονται σε εργασία στον αερολιμένα.

Το έμβλημα της πολεμικής αεροπορίας των Γερμανών Ναζί που πήρε τον έλεγχο του αεροδρομίου

Οι συμμαχικές δυνάμεις κατέστρεψαν τους αεροδιαδρόμους του λίγο αργότερα, με την αμερικανική δύναμη να αναλαμβάνει τον έλεγχο του το Μάρτιο του 1945. Ο αμερικανικός στρατός έχτισε έναν νέο προσωρινό αεροδιάδρομο, ενώ μέρος των εγκαταστάσεων χρησιμοποιήθηκε αμέσως μετά τον πόλεμο ως αμερικανική βάση.

Ήδη από το 1952 το αεροδρόμιο είχε ξαναβρεί το ρυθμό του, επιστρέφοντας φυσικά σε υπηρεσίες πολιτικής αεροπορίας και εξυπηρετώντας περισσότερους από 500.000 επιβάτες. Σήμερα το αεροδρόμιο εξυπηρετεί 107 αεροπορικές εταιρίες από όλο τον κόσμο, οι οποίες πετούν προς 111 προορισμούς ανά την υφήλιο. Καθημερινά υπολογίζεται πως διεξάγονται 1.365 πτήσεις με τους επιβάτες που περνούν από το αεροδρόμιο να αγγίζουν τους 59,6 εκατ. ετησίως σύμφωνα με στατιστικές του 2013.

Πηγή:madata.gr

SYRIZA’s Left Platform slammed the government on Tuesday over its decision to proceed with the concession deal for 14 regional Greek airports, accusing the coalition of “surrendering” public assets, as the rift in the party between those willing to implement the country’s new bailout agreement and those vehemently opposed to it grows.

The Left Platform-affiliated website iskra.gr published an article accusing the government of handing over the airports for a “measly sum as a prize to German interests.” The 40-year contract for the airports has been awarded to a consortium led by Germany’s Fraport AG but also including Greece’s Copelouzos Group.

The article referred to the deal as being the “first fire sale under a SYRIZA government” and a “large present to [Angela] Merkel and [Wolfgang] Schaeuble, clearly in return for their services in the formation of the new, deplorable memorandum.”

Earlier, Stathis Leoutsakos, an MP who is part of the Left Platform, said that if Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras decides to hold a confidence vote, members of the radical faction would not back him. The Left Platform is expected to step up pressure on Tsipras in the coming days to allow greater debate in the party bodies about the policy direction chosen by the prime minister.

source:ekathimerini.com

Greece has agreed to sell to a German company the rights to operate 14 regional airports. The deal is the first in a wave of privatizations the government had until recently opposed but needs to make to qualify for bailout loans.

The decision, which was published in the government gazette overnight Monday to Tuesday, would hand over the airports, including several on popular tourist island destinations, to Fraport AG, which runs Frankfurt Airport among others across the world.

The concession, worth 1.23 billion euros ($1.37 billion), is the first privatization decision taken by the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who was elected in January on promises to repeal the conditions of Greece’s previous two bailouts.

The government had initially vowed to cancel the country’s privatization program, but Tsipras has been forced to renege on his pre-election promises in order to win a deal on a third international bailout for Greece, worth 86 billion euros. Without the rescue loans, the country would default on its debts and risk being forced out of Europe’s joint currency.

Separately, the government slightly relaxed its restrictions on banking transactions, allowing small amounts to be sent abroad for the first time in about two months.

The finance ministry’s amendments, also published in the government gazette, include allowing Greeks to send up to 500 euros ($555) abroad per person per month, and allowing up to 8,000 euros per quarter to be sent to students studying abroad to cover accommodation costs.

Greeks can now also open new bank accounts that will have no withdrawal rights, in order to repay loans, social security contributions or tax debts.

The government restricted banking transactions in late June to prevent a bank run after Tsipras announced a referendum on creditors’ terms for a new bailout.

The government’s U-turn on pre-election promises to secure its new bailout has sparked a rebellion within Tsipras’ governing left-wing Syriza party, increasing the possibility of early elections being called as early as next month.

The prime minister is widely expected to call a confidence vote in his government this week, after dozens of Syriza lawmakers voted against him during the ratification of the new bailout deal in Parliament last Friday.

Tsipras was meeting with members of his financial team Tuesday, but the government has said any announcements on political developments will be made after Thursday, when Greece must repay a European Central Bank debt for which it needs new loans.

source:ekathimerini.com

The prospects of an imminent vote of confidence in the government and of snap elections in September appeared to be played down Tuesday by sources close to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who indicated that the priority is to honor commitments to creditors.

Government sources had indicated after last Friday’s parliamentary vote on the new bailout that Tsipras would seek a vote of confidence once the country had paid off a 3.2-billion-euro debt to the European Central Bank on August 20. But Tuesday the tone seemed to change, prompting broad speculation that a confidence vote might no longer be on the cards and that early elections will more likely be held in late October or November following a first review of the new program and when the prospect of debt relief is likely to be more tangible.

Sources close to Tsipras indicated Tuesday that no final decisions will be taken before Friday. However, speculation swirled that authorities were planning to close Parliament’s plenary in the coming days and begin reduced summer sessions to legislate a series of prior actions demanded by Greece’s creditors. The move would allow Tsipras to limit the influence of rebels in his leftist SYRIZA party, as he can control the appointment of the 100 members of the summer sessions. It would push back snap elections, which the country’s creditors clearly do not want, fearing that the new program will not be implemented. Such a tactic would also certainly prompt a vehement response from SYRIZA’s radical Left Platform, and from outspoken Parliament Speaker Zoe Constantopoulou.

But it would likely please creditors. Although representatives of the lenders have made no public statements opposing snap polls in Greece, they have made it clear that they don’t want the government to delay implementation of the measures it has promised.

Some advisers to Tsipras, including State Minister Alekos Flambouraris, still favor the path of a confidence vote and snap polls so the final decision remained unclear late last night. Government spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili indicated however that Tsipras is buying time, telling Athina 9.84 FM that “in the next 10 days decisions must be taken and a road map must be on the table.”

Following the approval of Greece’s third bailout Tuesday by the Austrian, Spanish and Latvian parliaments, Wednesday it is the turn of German and Dutch MPs to vote on the package.

As European lawmakers give the go-ahead for the disbursement of what Greece’s creditors had indicated could be up to 86 billion euros in loans over the next three years, a spokeswoman for the European Commission indicated that the entire amount might not be necessary. “The total financing envelope of up to 86 billion euros is for the full duration of the program and it could turn out much less if things go well,” Annika Breidthardt told reporters in Brussels. The final sum will depend on how much of the 25 billion that has been set aside for recapitalizing Greek banks is finally needed. The results of stress tests on Greek banks, which are expected in October, will determine the needs of the banks.

source:ekathimerini.com

The 49th anniversary of the bloody Battle of Long Tan has been marked at Vietnam Veterans Day commemorations around the country.

During the four-hour battle 120 Australian troops held off an attack from up to 2,500 enemy soldiers until reinforcements arrived.

The violent engagement saw 18 Australian troops killed and 24 wounded while hundreds of Vietnamese soldiers died.
I want to make sure that veterans that follow me are looked after better than what we were.

Tasmanian Vietnam Veterans Association secretary Brian McKenzie

Prime Minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to Long Tan veterans and all 60,000 Australian soldiers who served in the conflict at a remembrance ceremony in Canberra.

“Courage, determination, resourcefulness and unflinching loyalty to mates marked that battle and indeed the entire Australian experience in Vietnam,” he said.

“Today we remember all who served in the Vietnam War, we remember those who died, we remember those who were scarred physically and mentally, we remember their families and their loved ones that suffered with them.”

Queenslander Keith Payne, 81, one of Australia’s most decorated soldiers, marked Vietnam Veterans Day at a ceremony in Darwin.

Mr Payne is Australia’s last living Vietnam War Victoria Cross recipient, the highest military decoration for gallantry “in the presence of the enemy”.

He received the award for helping to find and save 40 wounded soldiers in one night during the war.

“It was my responsibility, I was the company commander, I couldn’t tell anybody else to go and do a naughty job,” he said.

“Of course I wasn’t going to leave my soldiers in the field if I could get them out.”

Mr Payne said attitudes towards Vietnam veterans had changed dramatically since the diggers first returned from war.

“It was a terrible time for the nation and the Vietnam veterans because they were booed,” he said.

“We were doing the duty of the government of the day.

“They sent us there and why should we, as veterans, suffer the consequences of your not liking us go there.

“But I am happy to say, with the welcome home parade in Sydney [in 1987], it was not only bringing the Vietnam veterans home and giving [them] a welcome home by the Australian people, it was also a reunification of our nation.”

Veterans committed to ‘looking after’ returned soldiers

Tasmanian Vietnam Veterans Association secretary Brian McKenzie said there was a fierce commitment among veterans to care for returned soldiers of all generations and their families.

“Our motto is ‘honour the dead, fight like hell for the living’,” he said.

“I want to make sure that veterans that follow me are looked after better than what we were.”

Tasmanian Vietnam War veterans are backing calls to officially recognise the gallantry of the men who fought the Battle of Long Tan.

Retired Colonel Harry Smith said officers received gallantry awards, while the men he led still had not been recognised.

Mr McKenzie joined the call for greater recognition for the soldiers.

“I think there were a lot of things that were done incorrectly,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s restricted to just that particular battle either, there were quite a number of significant battles that have really been un-recognised.”

Tasmanian Retired Major John Opie fought in the Battle of Long Tan.

“I was there on the day,” he said.

“Long Tan was a bad day for a lot of people.

“My unit was badly mortared the night before which in fact drew the company out and that’s the genesis of the Battle of Long Tan.”

He said he remembered some moments with perfect clarity.

“Most vividly [I remember] checking the outposts with no shirt on, in the dark,” he said.

“[It was] to ensure that my people knew that I wasn’t Vietnamese.”

Major Opie now volunteers with Legacy Australia, a charity providing services to returned veterans and their families.

“We look after the families of Vietnam veterans as well as World War I, World War II, Afghanistan, Iraq,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter where they are, if they’re fallen or they’re injured to a point where they can’t look after their family; we step in and do what we can.”

source:abc.net.au

H Μελβούρνη, οι ουρανοξύστες της και ο ποταμός Yarra που τη διασχίζει…

Για 5η συνεχή χρονιά
H Μελβούρνη είναι η καλύτερη πόλη να ζει κάποιος για πέμπτη συνεχή χρονιά με βάση την αξιολόγηση του Economist Intelligence Unit.

Τον κατάλογο με τις εκατό καλύτερες πόλεις του κόσμου για να ζει κανείς δημοσίευσε ο Economist, στο πλαίσιο της ετήσιας έρευνας του «The Economist Intelligence Unit», και η Μελβούρνη φαίνεται ότι πληροί για ακόμα μία χρονιά τις προϋποθέσεις που την οδήγησαν στην κορυφή της λίστας.

Η πολιτική σταθερότητα, οι παροχές υγείας, ο πολιτισμός, το περιβάλλον, η εκπαίδευση, η ασφάλεια και οι υποδομές είναι μερικές από τις παραμέτρους που αξιολογήθηκαν και τοποθέτησαν και την Αδελαίδα στην 5η θέση.

Στη λίστα συμπεριλαμβάνονται επίσης το Βανκούβερ (3ο), το Τορόντο (4ο) και το Καλγκάρι (60ο) (από τον Καναδά) ενώ καλύτερη ευρωπαϊκή πόλη για να ζει κανείς ανακηρύχθηκε η Βιέννη που είναι 2η στην παγκόσμια κατάταξη.

Πηγή:Νέος Κόσμος

Yiorgos Karagounis during his Greece playing days at the Brazil 2014 World Cup. Photo: EPA/Kai Foersterling.

Greece’s football governing body swings the axe

The Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) announced sweeping changes late last week with the removal of manager Sergio Markarian, as well as his assistants Roland Marcenaro and Nikos Costenoglou, and national team director Yiorgos Karagounis.

The decision to part with Markarian, Marcenaro and Costenoglou was reportedly agreed to by mutual consent, but Karagounis, Greece’s most capped player, is said to be a sticking point with the organisation, with the EPO stating his contract was terminated for an unspecified “significant reason”.

The former national captain accused the EPO of showing no respect throughout the process.

“The most striking thing is that since all of this first started, I have kept seeing my professional dignity being tarnished in the media and nobody [from the EPO] has bothered to contact me to tell me anything,” Karagounis told Greece’s Sport FM.

“This is not consistent with my behaviour over the years, especially towards the national team that I’ve served for 24 years. They should respect all these years that I’ve been involved.

“It’s so bad to let rumours and heresy continue with so many lies being bandied about and nobody responding to them.”

Greece’s Under-21 coach Costas Tsanas will stand in as caretaker manager until a permanent replacement is found. Greece has four Euro 2016 qualifiers remaining, with the next on September 4 against Finland in Piraeus, and sits last in its group on two points.

source: Neos Kosmos

A Turkish fighter jet flies above the Incirlik airbase. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Airspace violations between Greece and Turkey are a common issue, especially over the Aegean Sea.

A formation of six Turkish fighter jets violated Greek national air space over the northeastern and southeastern Aegean on Tuesday, according to Greek defence officials.

The Turkish jets, which were flanked by another three electronic-warfare aircraft that were not a part of the formation, carried out a total of eight transgressions, without determining whether any of the aircraft were armed or whether any dogfights occurred.

The reported violations took place in Greek airspace over the north, central, and southern Aegean Sea.

On a previous chase which took place last week, two of the Turkish jets were carrying armaments and a tense close-quarters confrontation occurred between the neighbouring countries’ jets.

The island-filled stretch of water separating Turkey and Greece contains maritime boundaries that are a persistent source of disagreement between the two countries.

Although violations happen with frequency between the two countries, Turkey and Greece have seen a rapid increase in incidents since 2013.

“In the first month of 2014 alone, Turkish aircraft allegedly violated Greek airspace 1,017 times,” Metin Gurcan, who reports for Al-Monitor, confirms.

“This was twice the number of total airspace violations between the two countries for the first half of 2013.”

In all cases, the Turkish jets were chased off by Greek aircraft, as usually occurs in the case of such incursions.

source:Neos Kosmos

4

TV presenter Sophie-Theodora Giltizi, whose family still lives in Kos, is not just saddened but alarmed for her island’s predicament.

Island residents react to the staggering migrant influx and EU’s immobility

More than 5,000 refugees are piled up in the port of Kos, while another flock of dinghies spits out nearly a thousand souls from Syria.

“I spent the entire summer of 2014 here and within a few months the island has turned into a completely different place,” says MTV Greece presenter Sophie-Theodora Giltizi.

“I live in Athens but my family are permanent residents. I’m gobsmacked by how Kos went from paradise to hell in a jiffy.”

Giltizi feels that describing the situation as ‘dire’ is an understatement. She fears the backlash from the poor living conditions the refugees, as well as the Kos residents, are faced with will be immense.

“Thousands of people were locked in the Antagoras football ground screaming for food, water and registration,” she tells Neos Kosmos.

“The unbearable heat and the poor hygiene conditions are making the immigrants aggressive.”

The majority of Kos’ people go to great lengths to feed and care for the refugees out of their own pockets, however, the local authorities’ unwillingness and the increasing numbers of people landing on the coasts in shambles on a daily basis, have worn them out.

“Our beautiful island is in disarray. My family tries to help but they are starting to worry and fear for the worst,” emphasises Giltizi, wondering “what will happen in a month or two?”

“There’s no reception centre and no official government program to provide them with essentials.”

Greece is a cash-strapped nation going through its own hell at the moment, which is why Giltizi and people living on islands like Kos were pinning their hopes on the first measures under the EU Migration Agenda.

“International aid groups are criticising the Greek government for the poor treatment,” she says, stressing that Greece has received no help from the EU.

Meanwhile, Greek American Kos resident Elias Svinos describes an even worse predicament for the island’s population of 35,000.

“Our daily ‘refugee-intake’ is in the thousands,” he says.

“The situation is far beyond our capacity as it is, yet, the UNCHR are estimating another 25,000 to arrive by the end of October.”

Svinos, who works as a translator and English teacher, is thinking of relocating to the United States.

“No one seems to be thinking long term,” he adds, pointing to the over 100,000 Syrians stacking up in the Turkish coasts, ready to jump on board the first vessel heading towards the Mediterranean.

“These are the circumstances under which hot-headed Golden Dawn supporters convince people racism is the only solution.”

Fights broke out during a registration procedure the other day and Svinos confirms both ends were aggressive.

“A lot of people are taking matters into their own hands as the EU and local government have turned their backs on Kos,” he admits.

“Most refugees are of Syrian background, fleeing an ongoing civil war to re-obtain their freedom and are being locked-up all over again.”

According to Svinos, the people of Kos are afraid hunger and frustration might make the immigrants resort to criminal behaviour down the track. The residents are divided and ideologically confused.

“I am concerned about my family; they don’t feel safe,” he says.

“There have been some petty crimes and a couple of muggings but it feels like the situation can explode and escalate at any given moment.”

Svinos is disappointed with the indifference being demonstrated by people across the globe towards this pressing issue.

“The world has practically become numb by the information and misinformation overload, or maybe humans are inherently selfish and continue to live as such until disaster explodes on their own doorstep.”

source:Neos  Kosmos