Daily Archives: May 9, 2016

Greek MPs have passed a controversial package of pension reforms and tax hikes despite mass public opposition, bowing to creditor demands in the hope of unlocking the next round of badly needed bailout funds.

Greek parliament approves controversial austerity measures amid violent protests, riot police clashes – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The unpopular measures were adopted thanks to the slim parliamentary majority held by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s coalition government — the main New Democracy opposition party voted against the austerity package.

Earlier outside parliament, Greek riot police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators throwing Molotov cocktails to protest against the reforms.

Greek television showed police firing volleys of tear gas in response to projectiles lobbed by masked youths during the demonstration, which attracted about 10,000 people.

Mr Tsipras’s government was seeking to adopt the new measures ahead of a crunch meeting of eurozone creditors in Brussels on Monday.

The reforms will reduce Greece’s highest pension payouts, merge several pension funds, increase contributions and raise taxes for those on medium and high incomes.

The austerity measures are part of a package demanded by the EU and IMF in exchange for the next round of an 86 billion euro ($133 billion) bailout agreed in July, the third for the debt-laden country since 2010.

Central Athens was largely closed to traffic with riot police vehicles parked in front of the parliament ahead of the vote.

Days of strikes cripple public transport

Elsewhere in the city there was a strong police presence, although numbers were significantly down on February protests when 40,000 people marched in Athens alone.

Mr Tsipras defended the reforms on Friday, telling politicians from his left-wing Syriza party — which holds a slim majority of 153 seats in the 300-seat parliament — that they would spare the poorest.

Reforming Greece’s bloated pension system was crucial to prevent “the system collapsing in a few years”, Mr Tsipras added.

Greece’s budget deficit has ballooned as it struggles to keep up with mammoth debt payments.

The country is in the grip of the third day of strikes that have paralysed public transport across the country.

During the stoppages, the fourth general strike since Mr Tsipras came to office in January 2015, the public sector has operated at a snail’s pace, while most TV and radio stations have refused to air news bulletins.

Despite the pressure from the strikes, Employment Minister Georgios Katrougalos stood by the pension overhaul, pointing to a funding shortfall of 2 billion euros ($3.1 billion).

“This reform should have been done decades ago,” he said.

Source:abc.com.au

Damage to the East Melbourne church worse than expected

The history of the Greek presence in Australia took a serious blow on Monday, when Victoria’s first Orthodox church was severely damaged in a fire, including icons dating back to the 1800s.

The incident took place at the heritage-listed Annunciation of our Lady (Evangelismos) in East Melbourne at approximately 1.00 pm, shortly after a morning liturgy was held to celebrate the holy day of Saint George.

No one was inside the church at the time, and the fire brigade managed to gain control of the blaze in half an hour, with the majority of the damage occurring in the west wing of the church.

While reasons behind the cause of the fire have yet to be confirmed by Victoria Police in writing, president of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) Bill Papastergiadis informed Neos Kosmos that police had concluded the fire was not suspicious.

“The police told us … that they have formed the view that it’s an accidental fire, but they haven’t provided any further particulars,” he said, with the final report expected to be complete next week.

So far the damage is estimated at more than $500,000, and though it will take time to rebuild, Mr Papastergiadis says the community is dedicated to its restoration.

“Planning for the church’s restoration will begin as soon as the police and the MFB finish their investigation and a full account has been taken of the damage,” he said.

“What we’re now doing is we’re in the process of engaging with all of the relevant stakeholders to rebuild the church to its former glory, so we’re committed to that. And we have already started meetings with the insurance assessors and also involving the Archdiocese with their experience as well.”

The president also added that there are plans to set up an appeal fund to assist with rebuilding the historic site, which parish priest Father Kosmas Damianides acknowledged has been part of parishioner’s lives for many years.

“Many people have got married here, many people have got christened here, it’s devastating that the church has caught on fire,” said Father Damianides.

Mr Papastergiaidis admitted “it brought a tear to my eye”.

“I’m a regular attendee at that church and not only did it have antiquities in the sense that it had the icons and tapestries that were over a hundred years old, but putting that aside, it’s also got enormous spiritual and symbolic importance to our community and myself personally,” he explained.

It is yet unknown whether the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Greece or Australia will assist in replacing the priceless damaged icons, though discussions are currently being held with companies specialising in the restoration of antiquities.

Built by the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, The Annunciation of our Lady (Evangelismos) was constructed in 1900-2 to serve Greeks, Syrians and other nationalities of the Orthodox faith. It is protected by the Heritage Act 1995 and was listed as part of the Victorian Heritage Register in 1982.

Source:Neos Kosmos

The advertisement placed next to the British Museum in London.

South Australia’s Foundation for Hellenic Studies is behind the bold billboard ad strategically placed next to the British Museum

Adelaide’s Foundation for Hellenic Studies has done it again putting up a risqué electronic billboard poster just a few hundred metres off the British Museum in Holborn, London.

The advertisement shows the image of a naked male statue with the following quote cleverly placed to cover its private parts, yet sending a clear message.

“We gave you philosophy, democracy, logic, drama, comedy, justice… Please give us back our Marbles.”

Bill Muirhead, who designed the aforementioned ad is South Australia’s agent-general in the United Kingdom and Europe.

As part of the SA-based organisation’s #ReturnTheMarbles campaign which started in 2013, the banner aims to push the British government for an answer.

South Australian Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis has also joined the campaign, along with Senator Nick Xenophon, endorsing its motto: “To champion the cause to Return the Marbles home”.

“Australians have fought in the past to have Indigenous artefacts returned to Australia because of their value to our Indigenous culture,” Mr Koutsantonis said.

“The same should happen in Europe. These marbles were robbed and stolen from the people in Greece, from the people of the world. They deserve to be back at the Parthenon which is a great temple, not just to Greek gods but to democracy itself.”

In his interview with the ABC, Mr Koutsantonis clarified that his advocacy of Hellenic affairs does not in any way interfere with his role in the Australian parliament.

“I’ve fought for the unification of Cyprus, to end the illegal occupation of Cyprus. I’ve fought for many issues affecting Greeks including the use of the term Macedonia,” he stressed.

“There’s an old saying in life, you can love your mother and your wife. Greece is my mother and Australia is my home so I can love both at the same time.”

The British Museum has yet to comment on the billboard directly, however, the statement released by its press office said that keeping the Parthenon Marbles in London, “allows a worldwide audience to see them. They are part of the world’s shared heritage and transcend political boundaries,” said the British Museum in a statement.

Meanwhile, acclaimed solicitor QC Geoffrey Robertson will be speaking at a fundraising dinner in Adelaide this evening, supporting the return of the Elgin marbles to Greece.

Source:Neos Kosmos