Daily Archives: September 25, 2015

In a reasoned opinion sent to Athens on Thursday, the European Commission demanded that the Greek government abolish tax exemptions on locally made alcoholic beverages.

The decision is set to inflict a heavy blow on producers of bottled raki and tsipouro, firstly because the special consumption tax on the drinks will be increased to that of other alcoholic beverages, and secondly because it is almost certain that the trafficking in illegal tsipouro and raki will grow further.

The government will have to respond to Brussels within a couple of months, and if that response is not deemed satisfactory, the Commission could take Athens to the European Court of Justice.

The issue of the bulk, unbottled quantities of raki and tsipouro is also included in the second toolkit of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that Greece has committed to use in the context of its bailout agreement with its creditors. The OECD had asked either for a ban on bulk sales of raki and tsipouro or for them to be allowed only with legal documents.

As things currently stand, standardized raki and tsipouro carry a special consumption tax of 12.75 euros per liter of ethyl alcohol, which is 50 percent lower than that imposed on other drinks (25.50 euros/liter of alcohol). Bulk raki and tsipouro officially have an even lower tax, at just 1.4 euros/liter. Beer has a 6.50 euros/liter rate, while wine has no such tax.

The Commission stressed that European Union rules dictate that all ethyl alcohol products should have the same consumption tax rate and that the only exceptions should be those provided by EU legislation. Consequently, according to the Commission, the application of a reduced consumption tax rate on bottled and bulk tsipouro and raki constitutes a violation of EU rules both in terms of the consumption tax and the free trafficking of goods, as this is seen as favoring local produce over imports.

source:ekathimerini.com

Aliki Vougiouklaki meets Alex & Eve

A program packed with drama and suspense from classic and new big screen gems adds up to what promises to be the most impressive Greek Film Festival to hit our shores in a long time.

With the return of the Greek Film Festival to five cities (Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney), this year is expected to bring some old friends and new favourites to the big screen.

It will also bring a world premiere on 14 October, one week before the Alex & Eve official release date on 22 October.

To commence the program, the long awaited film version of the successful screen play Alex & Eve will open the festival in both Melbourne and Sydney.

The Sydney Greek Film Festival will be the film’s debut, as apart from being the movie writer’s hometown, it is a melting pot of multiculturalism.

Alex Lykos wanted to write a story which crosses the delicate nature of religion and culture, and which can only serve to highlight a core strength of Sydney.

Peter Andrikidis, the award winning director of the film, knows full well the concept of multiculturalism (Wildside, Underbelly, False Witness), himself having a mixed background with his mother’s Irish ancestry and his father born in Alexandria to Greek parents.

That element of cross-cultural heritage made it easier for Peter to direct a film which includes the young talents of Perth-born Andrea Demetriades, the charismatic veteran Tony Nikolakopoulos and the ageless Zoe Carides.

Andrea, who plays the Lebanese Muslim Eve, has made a name for herself as an actress appearing in Blind Date and Crownies, whilst Tony and Zoe play the Greek parents; these are some of the most acclaimed actors Australia has produced.

Add to the mix Richard Brancatisano as a Greek Orthodox man and you have a cast that will have the audience engaged and thinking about intercultural relationships.

The feedback from the set has been that the chemistry between Andrea and Richard is sure to bring back memories of Scott and Charlene (Neighbours).
The play was originally a massive hit Australia-wide, with 28,000 people attending.

The transition to cinema from theatre has been a dream of the creators of the original play, led by Alex and his Bulldog Theatre Company and long-time collaborator Elena Stamoulis.

Having written the screenplay and taking a small role in the film, Alex is now making the exciting jump from the stage to the big screen.

What makes this new endeavour worthwhile is the chance to tell his story and entertain a larger audience.

When I caught up with Alex recently he told me he once briefly met someone who was a Lebanese Muslim; leading to the idea to explore cross-cultural interactions via stage.

The film will once again explore the dynamics between a Greek man and a Muslim girl, a nod to the evolution of multiculturalism in Australia.

It is certainly a long way from the traditional Greek town or village many of our parents left behind many years ago, where a similar relationship would have been unheard of.

The film raises questions that would be pertinent in any society where religions and cultures differ dramatically. How would you raise your children, would one of them convert, what food will be eaten at dinner?

Alex told me that the original play was “rejected by every theatre company that I approached. Rather than be discouraged, I made sure it was a success”.
“We had a good connection with the audience with a core group coming back to see us over the years.”

Now that audience and connection will make a big splash at the Greek Film Festival and the local box office.

Another welcome addition to the festival, which will run from 10 October until 1 November (Sydney/Melbourne), will be the film screenings of Aliki Vougiouklaki masterpieces.

Anyone who grew up in Australia in the 1970s-90s would have had that family moment when you sat down to your VCR to watch the charismatic Aliki.

How we all pine for those simple times, when Greece was just a beautiful image and a song and dance on the screen, a period of Greek cinematic history where magic seemed to flow.

This year, the Greek Festival has brought back five Aliki favourites that will touch all generations. Our own original Penelope Cruz, Aliki is a favourite that will endure the test of time. Along with a matinee screening, Aliki will be a star attraction at the festival.

And for those who are too young to know about Aliki, just ask your parents or grandparents and they will beam with pride as they count the moments that they watched an Aliki classic.

One of the great aspects of the 2015 Greek Film Festival is that there are more international themes and cultures being explored.

Along with an array of Greek and Cypriot offerings, this year sees the introduction of a brilliant documentary from the internationally acclaimed Yorgos Avgeropoulos who brings us Agora from Democracy to the Market, a must-see film about contemporary Greece captured through his lens; an Israeli/Greek Film (Magic Men) and even a short film from London made by emerging director Basil Genimahaliotis (Brutus vs Caesar: Winner Takes London).

The festival is made possible with the support and sponsorship of Delphi Bank who continue to see the importance of Greek cinema taking the grand stage in Australia.

With the festival being held for nearly three weeks each year, it has become one of the largest of its kind in Australia.

source:Neos Kosmos

Australian maritime authorities have received complaints concerning basic goods’ deficiency and unpaid wages in two Greek-owned ships.

The first incident took place last week in Newcastle after an inspection was carried out by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) on the bulk carrier ‘San Nicolas’ managed by Greece’s Athenian Shipping company.

MUA Newcastle Branch Secretary Glen Williams reported concerns for the crew’s health with a lack of fresh fruit and limited potable water being available.

Some days later in WA, allegations surfaced about the grain vessel ‘Apellis’ following a meeting between crew members and a volunteer inspector from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

The shipping agency Pyrsos Shipping Co Ltd is the owner of ‘Apellis’, which has been detained near the Esperance Port zone.

The staff on board, which includes Ukranians and Indonesians, made claims over poor quality and insufficient essentials, low hygiene standards and unpaid salaries.

“We have one crew member, the steward, on $200 a month, another, the chief engineer, claims he hasn’t received a single cent in eight months,” Matt Purcell, ITF’s assistant national coordinator in Australia, told reporters.

Mr Purcell referred to the conditions as inhumane and in contravention of the Maritime Labor Convention.

Sources: splash247.com, ABC

A FORMER Lake Macquarie teacher has accused the Department of Education and Communities of psychological, emotional and financial abuse and called for an independent investigation into how it manages workplace injuries.

Rebecca Roberts* is on medication and undergoes monthly therapy following a breakdown late last year, after 18 months fighting for compensation for a workplace-related psychological injury.

The mother of two said the process left her with $45 in her bank account, referred to the Salvation Army for food vouchers and feeling she had no choice but to medically retire and forgo at least $1 million in expected earnings.

“I’ve suffered a loss of purpose, my career, financial security, 10 years of permanent income, long-service leave and superannuation payments,” Ms Roberts said.

“It’s a loss for me and for my family that will impact on me for the rest of my life.

“This isn’t a one-off, I’m not the only person who has gone through this and it’s not just at my school.”

Ms Roberts joined the school in 2011 and made many unofficial and unanswered complaints over the next two years about what she described as its “destructive” culture.

Her allegations included undermining of work; threatening language and behaviour; victimisation after being a support person for other colleagues; as well as intimidation over the reporting of bullying.

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Ms Roberts made her first official complaint to the DEC in January 2013. She lodged a claim for compensation for a work-related psychological injury and went on indefinite sick and then long service leave, hoping to some day return.

But Ms Roberts said the principal dismissed her complaint and the DEC treated it in isolation, without considering other complaints and without seeking evidence from those who could support her complaint.

Allianz denied her claim for compensation.

Ms Roberts’ doctor, psychologist and psychiatrist told the DEC in May 2013 that work was important for her wellbeing.

Ms Roberts was also paying for medical expenses that would eventually reach $10,000 and needed to support her family.

The DEC gave Ms Roberts permission on May 21 to work for a secondary employer and then withdrew it on September 23.

“It was absolutely essential to my mental health that I had something purposeful to do [marking] that I was good at,” she said.

“I was just sitting in my house with no one else, with no human interaction, because I was past that point in my mental health.”

Ms Roberts was given backdated approval on November 15 to work from July 15 to December 20, 2013, but had already had to decline an offer of employment for that period.

She was given further approval to work from February 4 to April 18, 2014, but her request on May 22 for an extension was denied.

When she engaged a solicitor, the department agreed to arbitration. Her lawyers advised her to take an out-of-court settlement to prevent further anguish.

It comprised workers’ compensation valued at about $30,000 for December 2012 to May 2013 when she had made her temporary move into secondary work, and medical expenses worth up to $10,000 for one year from May 2013. But, Ms Roberts said, the DEC never accepted liability for her injury.

She pleaded again to work either within or outside the department, but was offered no return to work options or rehabilitation.

The DEC injury management adviser told her in July 2014 that her only option was medical retirement.

“It was a relief to get away from the DEC but it was that sense of hopelessness,” she said. “I had fought so hard for the truth, I hadn’t got any justice and the only person who had faced any consequences for what had happened was me.”

The first partial payment of workers’ compensation arrived on September 11, 2014, and her medical retirement was approved on September 25. She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress within a fortnight and spent a month in hospital.

“There is no external body which ensures accountability for the safety and welfare of employees within the DEC,” Ms Roberts said.

A DEC spokesman said it was “inappropriate” to detail an individual’s circumstances under privacy legislation. “The individual’s matter was managed in line with relevant departmental policy and procedures,” the spokesman said.

* Not her real name.

source:theherald.com.au

Από αύριο και μέχρι τις 2 Οκτωβρίου αναμένεται να καταθέσουν υποψηφιότητες για την αρχηγία της Νέας Δημοκρατίας, όλοι οι ενδιαφερόμενοι…

Αυτό που προκαλεί έκπληξη είναι η πληροφορία πως η Ντόρα Μπακογιάννη δεν σκοπεύει να στηρίξει τον ίδιο της τον αδελφό, τον Κυριάκο Μητσοτάκη που μέσω του ΑΝΤ1 δήλωσε πρώτος πως θα κατέβει υποψήφιος για την αρχηγία της Νέας Δημοκρατίας.

Οι πληροφορίες αναφέρουν πως η Ντόρα Μπακογιάννη θεωρεί πως η απόφαση του Κυριάκου Μητσοτάκη να κατέβει υποψήφιος είναι βιαστική.

Μάλιστα, σε περίπτωση που ο νυν πρόεδρος του κόμματος, Ευάγγελος Μεϊμαράκης αποφασίσει τελικά να είναι υποψήφιος, οι πληροφορίες αναφέρουν πως η Ντόρα Μπακογιάννη θα στηρίξει εκείνον και όχι τον αδελφό της.

Τι απαντά ο Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης

Από την πλευρά του ο Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης μιλώντας στο κεντρικό δελτίο ειδήσεων του Mega, ρωτήθηκε σχετικά με το εάν θα στηρίξει την υποψηφιότητά του για την προεδρία της Νέας Δημοκρατίας η αδελφή του Ντόρα Μπακογιάννη, και δήλωσε «Με την Ντόρα Μπακογιάννη έχουμε πολύ στενή προσωπική σχέση, αλλά δεν συμφωνούμε σε όλα πολιτικά, δεν ξέρω αν θα με στηρίξει».

“Δεν θα μετατρέψω τις όποιες οικογενειακές διαφωνίες σε δημόσια πολιτική αντιπαράθεση. Όταν ρωτήσετε την κ. Μπακογιάννη φαντάζομαι ότι θα μπορεί να αιτιολογήσει την επιλογή της”.

Αναφορικά με τις επόμενες κινήσεις του αποκάλυψε ότι θα συναντηθεί με όλους τους πρώην ηγέτες της ΝΔ, Κωνσταντίνο Μητσοτάκη, Κώστα Καραμανλή, Αντώνη Σαμαρά. «Θεωρώ χρέος μου και προφανώς θα επισκεφθώ τους τέως προέδρους, να αναζητήσω τη συμβουλή τους» είπε ο Κυριάκος Μητσοτάκης.

Συνεχίζοντας, παραδέχθηκε ότι το όνομα του στα πρώτα του βήματα στην πολιτική αποτέλεσε πλεονέκτημα, ωστόσο τόνισε ότι εν συνεχεία μετατράπηκε σε μειονέκτημα.

“Όσο πιο γρήγορα κινηθεί η διαδικασία, τόσο πιο γρήγορα θα ανανεωθεί η Ν.Δ”, σχολίασε αναφερόμενος στην εκλογή προέδρου στη Νέα Δημοκρατία.

Ο κ. Μητσοτάκης, ο οποίος έχει ήδη ανακοινώσει την υποψηφιότητά του, τόνισε ότι χρειάζεται να αλλάξουν πολλά στο κόμμα, ενώ επεσήμανε ότι θέτει υποψηφιότητα γιατί πιστεύει πως έχει το σχέδιο και τη θέληση για να πραγματοποιήσει τις αλλαγές που απαιτούνται.

«Δεν βλέπω κανέναν λόγο γιατί να καθυστερήσει η ανακοίνωση των υποψηφιοτήτων, από τη στιγμή που άνοιξε το θέμα ο πρόεδρος της Ν.Δ. Ευάγγελος Μεϊμαράκης», σχολίασε.

Όπως ανέφερε, επιθυμεί οι πολίτες να συμμετέχουν στη διαδικασία εκλογής γιατί, διευκρίνισε, η Νέα Δημοκρατία πρέπει να αλλάξει από κάτω προς τα πάνω.

Παράλληλα, υπογράμμισε ότι δεν τον ικανοποιεί το εκλογικό αποτέλεσμα και στάθηκε στην ανάγκη να υπάρξει σχέδιο για το πώς θα αλλάξει η Ν.Δ.

Επεσήμανε τέλος: «Η διαδρομή μου μέχρι στιγμής είναι αρκετά συνεπής για να αποδείξει ότι σε ζητήματα αξιοκρατίας δεν σηκώνω μύγα στο σπαθί μου».

Πηγή:madata.gr

Ο καλλιεργητής μπανάνας Wang Kaiyu από την Κίνα αγόρασε πριν από δύο χρόνια στο Βιετνάμ δύο χαριτωμένα “σκυλάκια”, που όπως είπε ήταν πολύ φιλικά με τους ανθρώπους και καθόλου δύσκολα στο φαγητό. Τα πήγε στο σπίτι του και από την πρώτη στιγμή έγιναν αχώριστοι. Από την αρχή γνώριζε πως θα γίνονταν πολύ μεγάλα σε μέγεθος καθώς ήδη ως “κουτάβια” ήταν τεράστια.

Τα πράγματα κυλούσαν ομαλά μέχρι που μια μέρα έφαγαν ζωντανό ένα κοτόπουλο… “Αυτή δεν είναι ορθή συμπεριφορά σκύλων”, σκέφτηκε ο αγρότης. Όμως ακόμα δεν είχε καταλάβει… Μέχρι που μια μέρα είδε κάτι αφίσες για την προστασία των άγριων ζώων. Το σοκ ήταν μεγάλο όταν συνειδητοποίησε πως μεγάλωνε δύο μαύρες αρκούδες. Χωρίς να χάσει λεπτί επικοινώνησε με το κέντρο διάσωσης άγριων ζώων, όπου και μεταφέρθηκαν με ασφάλεια οι αρκούδες και τέλος καλό όλα καλά!

Πηγή:madata.gr

A 56-year-old man in Serres, northeastern Greece, has been ordered to pay a 30,000 euro fine after admitting to shooting and killing a dog.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Wednesday, when the suspect allegedly shot and fatally wounded the animal, owned by a 54-year-old man, with an unregistered rifle.

Authorities confiscated the weapon while an investigation was underway.

source:ekathimerini.com