Athens has appointed urban climate resilience veteran, Eleni Myrivili, as the city’s Chief Heat Officer to protect people from soaring temperatures and find ways to adapt the city to the current climate crisis.
The appointment, which was made on Friday by the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, is the first in Europe and believed to be only the second in the world, after Miami-Dade county in Florida appointed a chief heat officer earlier this year.
“I have a vision for a cooler, greener Athens,” Mayor Bakoyannis said at the announcement.
“Climate change for our city means more frequent and dangerous extreme high temperatures for residents and for tourists who are critical for our economy. Unfortunately, Athens is not unique – heat is an emergency for cities across Europe and the world.”
For her part, Ms Myrivili thanked Mayor Bakoyannis for realising the gravity of the climate situation and “mobilising international support for addressing it.”
“I am honored to serve as Europe’s first Chief Heat Officer and look forward to raising awareness among the citizens of Athens about the grave dangers of extreme heat and helping decision-makers take action to cool the city and protect people and their communities. We’ve been talking about global warming for decades, but we haven’t talked much about heat,” Ms Myrivili said.
Myrivili’s task will be to find ways to cool the city, beyond the obvious air conditioning in buildings, which only adds to the climate crisis by its massive use of energy around the world.
Athens has appointed urban climate resilience veteran, Eleni Myrivili (talking), as the city’s Chief Heat Officer.
Planting trees and plants and cultivating green spaces for shade and their cooling properties will be vital, as will redesigning roads and buildings, and examining the materials used for building.
Athens has already announced a programme to increase the amount of green space and shade across the city.
Athens’ actions have been supported by the City Champions for Heat Action initiative, a programme launched by the Resilience Centre of the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation.
The Australian Hellenic Council (AHC) has issued a statement on the Cyprus issue, calling on the Australian Government to officially condemn the latest Turkish provocations on the island.
“What is happening in Cyprus is unacceptable. Erdogan is no friend of Australia and the Federal Government should respond accordingly,” the AHC said in the statement.
The AHC expressed its hopes the Australian Government would condemn the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders “in the same strident terms as the UN Security Council” (UNSC).
On Friday, the UNSC finally condemned statements by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Turkish Cypriot leaders regarding plans to partially open Varosha, the southern part of Famagusta that has been fenced off and abandoned since Turkey invaded the north of Cyprus in 1974.
Varosha has been abandoned since Turkey invaded the north of Cyprus in 1974.
The UNSC expressed its “deepest regret” at unilateral actions that ran counter to previous resolutions and statements, and called for an immediate reversal of this course of action and of all the steps taken in Varosha since October 2020.
The statement concluded with the UN’s commitment to a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a “bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality.”
Full Statement of the AHC:
The Australian Hellenic Council is a peak lobbying body for the Greek-Australian community and engages with the Australian Government on matters of importance, including most notably, the Cyprus issue.
The illegal invasion and occupation of the northern part of Cyprus by Turkish armed forces has been a festering sore in international relations since 1974. The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, continues to make provocative claims and threats and most recently has declared that Turkey wants to resettle the abandoned Greek town of Varosha in northern Cyprus (as part of its blatant plan for a two-state ‘solution’ to the island’s division) in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.
Turkey’s actions have again been condemned by the Security Council which on 23 July 2021 reiterated that any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants is clearly inadmissible. The Security Council stressed the importance of full respect and implementation of its resolutions, including the transfer of Varosha to UN administration.
The permanent members of the Security Council were also clear in their condemnation of Turkey.
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken described the Turkish Cypriot actions in Varosha, with the support of Turkey, as provocative, unacceptable, and incompatible with their past commitments to engage constructively in settlement talks. The UK Government noted that Erdogan’s announcement runs contrary to UN Security Council resolutions and Security Council Presidential Statements in the past which called for Turkey to halt and reverse its actions in Varosha. France condemned what it called a “unilateral, uncoordinated .. provocation”. Even China described the announcement to reopen Varosha as inappropriate and nonconstructive which merely serves to raise tensions and undermine efforts to seek a negotiated settlement of the Cyprus issue.
It is extremely disappointing, therefore, that the Australian Government has not officially condemned the latest Turkish provocations. Neither the Prime Minister Scott Morrison nor the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Marise Payne, has issued any statement in the wake of the Security Council declaration. Rather, the Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus has meekly tweeted that Australia fully supports the UN Security Council Presidential Statement on Varosha and joins the call to “avoid unilateral actions that could raise tensions” and reaffirms its support of UN-led efforts for a comprehensive settlement based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality. But no words of condemnation of Turkey’s leaders and the Turkish Cypriot leaders.
Turkey under Erdogan is increasingly becoming a rogue state. Its provocative irridentist designs on Cyprus deserve the strongest condemnation by the international community, including Australia.
The Australian Hellenic Council calls on the Australian Government to condemn the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders in the same strident terms as the UN Security Council. What is happening in Cyprus is unacceptable. Erdogan is no friend of Australia and the Federal Government should respond accordingly.
The World Heritage Committee of the UN’s cultural agency, UNESCO, has asked Turkey to submit a report by early next year about the state of conservation of Hagia Sophia, expressing “grave concern” over the consequences of its conversion into a mosque.
Turkey’s move last year to convert the revered Byzantine-era Hagia Sophia cathedral from a museum into a mosque sparked fury from the international community and added to tensions with Greece.
A month later, Ankara ordered another ancient Orthodox church, the Holy Saviour in Chora, to also be converted into a mosque.
Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque last year.
UNESCO said in a statement that it expects Turkey to submit a report on both churches by February 1, 2020, and added it “deeply regrets the lack of dialogue and information” over the Turkish government’s intention to change the status of Hagia Sophia and Chora.
The committee expressed “grave concern about the potential impact of changes at these key components… on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property” and urged Turkey to engage in international cooperation and dialogue before any further major changes are implemented at the property.
But in response on Saturday, Turkey rejected the UN cultural agency’s criticism as “biased and political.”
UNESCO has asked Turkey for a report on Hagia Sophia.
The Turkish foreign ministry said it “rejects the relevant articles of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s decisions on Istanbul’s historical sites understood to be driven by prejudiced, biased and political motives.”
The Turkish government is “fully aware of its rights, prerogatives and responsibilities towards its properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List,” the ministry’s statement added.
Erdogan marks first anniversary of Hagia Sophia reopening as mosque:
This condemnation by UNESCO comes one year after Hagia Sophia was reopened as a mosque, an anniversary which was commemorated by Erdogan over the weekend.
The Turkish President called the iconic 16th century structure a “symbol of the revival of Turkish civilization” on Twitter and also shared a video of the first Friday prayer at Hagia Sophia last year.
In his post, Erdogan also said he hoped for the call for Muslims prayers and Quran to never abandon the converted structure “until the end of time.”
Medeniyet güneşimizin yeniden yükselişinin sembolü olan #AyasofyanınDirilişi bir kez daha hayırlı olsun. Bizlere bu günleri gösteren Rabbimize hamdolsun…
İnşallah bu ulu mabedin kubbelerinden ezanların, salavatların, hatmi şeriflerin sesleri kıyamete kadar eksik olmayacak… pic.twitter.com/7wUivL4Rft
In response, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of America Elpidophoros issued a statement on Saturday on Twitter.
”Hagia Sophia is the embodiment of our Orthodox Christian Faith,” Elpidophoros said in a tweet.
”We mourn its conversion to a mosque. Every culture is worthy of respect and Hagia Sophia, the epitome of the Byzantine achievement, should have been left as a place of cultural intersection and religious harmony.”
Third seed, Stefanos Tsitsipas, got his Tokyo Olympics campaign underway on Sunday with a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over German Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The Greek, who was making his Olympic debut, had to battle back from a break down in the third set to advance to the second round in one hour and 54 minutes.
Tsitsipas won 75 per cent (43/57) of his first-service points to set up a meeting with Frances Tiafoe after the American downed Soonwoo Kwon of South Korea 6-3, 6-2.
Ο Στέφανος Τσιτσιπάς απέκλεισε με 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 τον Φίλιπ Κολσράιμπερ.Τον αγώνα του παρακολούθησε ο Πρόεδρος της ΕΟΕ Σπύρος Καπράλος, ο Υφυπουργός Αθλητισμού Λευτέρης Αυγενάκης και ο Πρόεδρος της Επιτροπής Ολυμπιακής Προετοιμασίας Σπύρος Ζαννιάς#tsitsipas#tennis#TeamHellaspic.twitter.com/Wr0XXFt39i
— Ηellenic Olympic Committee (@HellenicOlympic) July 25, 2021
The win came after Tsitsipas reached the first Grand Slam final of his career in June at Roland Garros, but failed just short to the World Number One, Novak Djokovic.
After the final, Tsitsipas announced his beloved grandmother passed away just five minutes before the start of the match.
In an emotional farewell to his grandmother, who died in her village near Karditsa, central Greece, Tsitsipas wrote: “A wise woman whose faith in life, and willingness to give and provide, can’t be compared to any other human being that I have ever met.”
The memories of the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 are indelibly engraved like a tattoo in the memory of everyone who lived them up close. At that time, 17 years ago, every Greek was “grasping” the feasible possibility of happiness, in that event, where Athens presented the best version of Hellenism.
A version that reminds us of the new-fangled “Athens Olympic Museum“, which opened its gates two months ago, after the end of the second lockdown in the country.
Situated, a walk away from the” Olympic Stadium”, on the first floor of the” Golden Hall”, a few metres from there, where you think the triumphal sounds from the opening ceremony, curated by The Great Master of art, Dimitris Papaioannou.
The Olympic Museum of Athens is impressive. It looks like, as you have the opportunity to see from the photos – secured by the “Greek Herald” – taken from the future, but completely respecting the past.
About a week from the start of the most special Olympic Games in their history, in Tokyo, where the fans will not be on the stands, due to the pandemic, we decided to tour, even conceivably, the impressive Olympic Museum of Athens, guided by its Director, Maria Papaioannou.
We started the tour by asking what are the main goals of the Museum.
— Professor Jean Williams (@JeanMWilliams) May 11, 2021
“The idea for the Athens Olympic Museum was born in 2004 and 2 months ago we had the pleasure to open its gates for the general public.
The aim of the museum is to present the history of the Olympic Games from antiquity to the present day, to convey the values of Olympism, highlighting the country from which it all began, but also to honor the Greek athletes who have pioneered the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Athens Olympic Museum which was designed and implemented by Lamda Development S.A. according to international standards it is under the auspices of the Greek and the International Olympic Committee and is a member of the international network of Olympic museums.
The Olympic Museum of Athens aspires to become an international reference point for Olympism and the Olympic Games and is certainly a museum that one would expect to meet by visiting the country that gave birth to the Games “says Ms. Papaioannou to the “Greek Herald”.
With international borders closed in Australia, our readers will still long away from visiting the Museum. Ms. Papaioannou, however, offers us a vivid picture of the exhibits and what a visitor will experience.
“The museum narrates the course of the Olympic Games in time from antiquity to today’s Olympiads, the role of our country and Greek athletes.
The feeling that the museum exudes to the visitor is a journey through time, bathed in light. During this trip, the visitor meets natural, interactive exhibits and sports equipment of Greek Olympians and Paralympians which compose an exciting experience.
The journey through time begins, from the origin of the Games, through a chronological narrative that highlights the three main Greek stations:
The Nativity (Ancient Olympia), with the corresponding Hall representing the stadium of Ancient Olympia, making special reference both to the competitions and rules of the ancient Olympic Games, but also to the victory and the winners.
The Revival (Athens 1896), where in the hall with the Representation of the Kallimarmaros Stadium, there are authentic documents of the historical event, and an audio-visual production describing each day of the games, the events that took place and the winners of each event.
The hall of the return of the Games to Greece (Athens 2004), is a strongly emotionally charged point of the museum’s permanent exhibition, as these games have been indelibly imprinted in the memory of the Greeks.
Colorful costumes from the opening ceremony of Dimitris Papaioannou, have received the necessary preservation and are exhibited to the public. It is part of the rare collection from the imposing procession of the opening ceremony, with figures and mythological figures from frescoes and sculptures. Armor, Byzantine costumes, caryatids and other costumes and constructions dominate the space.
Then, special mention is made to the principles and values, the structure of the International Olympic Movement, the organisations and institutions, the message of World Peace, Sports and athletes, the Greek Olympians and Paralympians and finally to the struggle, the constant effort of man to overcome himself, in every aspect of his life. This was the inspiration for the design of the museum.
The timelessness of the Olympic Games is experienced through the story line, one of the most imposing halls that connects the institution with its landmarks and with history. Here is presented the evolution of the Olympic Games with various benchmarks, such as the first time women participated in the games, the first Winter Games, but also the first exclusively Winter Olympics.
An important legacy is the promotion of the Greek medalists Olympians and Paralympians through the presentation of their personal sports equipment, aiming to be a source of inspiration for the next generations” Ms. Papaioannou tells us.
The effort to enrich the exhibits will be continuous, since there is already planning to have souvenirs from the Tokyo Games, when they are completed.
“For the creation of the museum, it was necessary to study the history of the Olympic Games, but also to cooperate with a variety of institutions. Our cooperation with both the Greek and the International Olympic Committee has been crucial in the creation of the museum. The museological study and the creation of his collection could not be completed without the contribution and support of these two institutions.
In order to document the exhibits, the museological team collaborated with more than 40 national and international cultural institutions, while in the long term the enrichment of its collection will continue along with continuous participation in the Olympic events and the organisation of various educational programs with the participation of the entire Greek Olympic family.
With the completion of the Tokyo Olympics we intend to enrich our collection with new exhibits. In addition, provision has been made in the space for hosting objects from future Olympiads in order to keep the interest of our visitors active”.
The Olympic Museum of Athens is taking its first steps. Just two months of history, but already it has attracted the interest of all of us.
We asked Ms. Papaioannou if visits to the Museum are satisfactory and if there are any plans to organise events ahead of the Games in Tokyo.
“Certainly opening a museum at a time that we all experience with the pandemic, is a challenge. However, the museum received significant public acceptance during its first two months of operation.
Beyond the general public, Athletes of all sports as well as Olympians who come to donate their personal belongings to its collection have already visited the museum.
It has also been visited by the first school students who, through the educational programs of the museum, will be initiated into the principles and values of Olympism and “fair play”.
Regarding the 2nd part of your question, we are planning a program of actions in view of the Tokyo Olympics which we will announce very soon, always taking into account the measures to protect against coronavirus with the aim of ensuring the health of both visitors and employees of the Museum”…
The Corinth Canal is a waterway that crosses the narrow isthmus of Corinth to link the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf.
Here are 5 fast facts about the Corinth Canal!
Where is the Corinth Canal?
The Corinth Canal separates the mainland of Greece from the Peloponnese Peninsula. Specifically, the Canal links the Gulf of Corinth of the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. Technically, the Corinth Canal makes the Peloponnese an island, but since it’s so narrow, most experts still refer to it as a peninsula.
Who started the construction of the Corinth Canal?
Although construction on the Corinth Canal was not completed until 1893, political leaders and sea captains dreamed about building a canal in this location for over 2,000 years. The first documented ruler to propose a canal was Periander in the 7th century B.C. He eventually abandoned the canal plan but did substitute a portage road, named the Diolkos or stone carriageway. The remains of the Diolkos can still be seen today next to the Canal.
When was the Canal completed?
The government of Prime Minister Thrasyvoulos Zaimis passed a law in 1870 authorizing the construction of a Corinth Canal and a French company was hired to oversee the project. It was not long before money became an issue.
A decade passed, and in 1881 the Société Internationale du Canal Maritime de Corinthe was commissioned to build the canal and operate it for the next 99 years. King George I of Greece was present when construction was begun in April 1882. After eight years of work, it ran out of money.
In 1890, construction resumed when the canal project was transferred to a Greek company. The canal was completed in July 1893, eleven years after construction had begun.
How can you see the Canal?
Travellers to Greece have three main options to see the Corinth Canal. First, cruise lines with small ships transit the canal on eastern Mediterranean itineraries.
Second, several private companies depart from Piraeus, the port of Athens, and offer a cruise through the canal.
Finally, cruise ships with a day in Athens often offer a half-day shore excursion to the Corinth Canal for those who have visited Athens before.
How big is the Canal?
The Canal has steep limestone walls that soar about 300 feet from the water level to the top of the Canal but is only 70 feet wide at sea level. Ships must be narrower than 58 feet wide to transit the Canal. This small size was appropriate when the Canal was built in the late 19th century, but it is way too small for today’s cargo and passenger ships.
Sheftalies are a traditional Cypriot sausage made with simple ingredients and cooked over the charcoal.
Ingredients
1 kg pork caul fat see notes
¼ cup vinegar
4 small brown onions, finely diced
1 large bunch of parsley, 60 sprigs, finely chopped
3 kg pork mince
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbs dried mint
30 mL white wine
2 tbs salt
1 tbs black pepper
Method
The first step is to prepare the caul fat so that it is cleaned properly and that there is foul smell. Wash it in a large bowl with plenty of water several times. Then add enough cold water to cover it, as well as the vinegar and let it soak for 15min or until there is no more nasty smell.
In the meantime prepare the mince mixture by finely chopping the parsley and onion. Both of these need to be chopped small enough so that they combine easily with the mince and there aren’t large chunks when you are biting into the sheftalies. You may choose to brown off the onion before adding it to the mixture, to help digest it better but it is not something i tend to do.
Once the parsley and onions are chopped, add them with the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl and mix well with your hands until everything is well combined.
Wash the caul fat, strain any excess water and place it in the strainer over a bowl. Keep it aside and have it ready to use to roll the sheftalies.
Scoop 70g (a packed ⅓ cup) of the mince mixture and form a 9-10cm long sausage shape (see notes). Place the sausage you have just formed on a tray and continue to do the same until all the mince mixture is finished. If i am making these with someone else, one person usually makes the sausages while the other wraps them into sheftalies.
Before you start using the caul fat you need to check it. If the caul fat has any holes in it do not use it to wrap the mince, otherwise the coating may tear apart. Also if the caul fat veins are too thick I tend to not use it, as they may not render (melt) well when cooked.
Grab a piece of the caul fat carefully and spread it out on a board or your clean working bench. Place the mince log on the edge of the caul fat and then roll it 1.5 times around, folding the sides in as you do. The caul fat will stick together and once it cooks it will render and will hold the sheftalia well. Use a sharp knife and cut off the caul fat surrounding the sheftalia.
Repeat the process until all the mince is wrapped. If any caul fat remains then you must throw it away.
Place the finished sheftalies on a lined tray and put them in the fridge until you are ready to cook them. If you are not cooking them that day then place them in the freezer well wrapped. I only freeze them if I find fresh caul fat to use. Otherwise, if the caul fat is frozen to begin with, I always cook them on the day and I do not freeze the caul fat again.
To cook the sheftalies we tend to fire up the charcoal. The sheftalies should be cooked slowly, not too close to the fire, so that the inside cooks before the outside burns. Instead an even brown colour should form. Otherwise you may choose to heat a grill pan on a high heat cooking each side for 10min or so.
Greek police used teargas and water cannon to disperse people who had gathered in central Athens on Saturday to protest against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.
More than 4,000 people rallied outside the Greek parliament for a third time this month to oppose mandatory inoculations for some workers, such as healthcare and nursing staff.
A police official, who asked not to be named, said some protesters had thrown petrol bombs, prompting the police to respond with tear gas.
Anti-vaccine demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccinations, in Athens, Greece, July 24, 2021. REUTERS/Costas Baltas
Recent polls showed the majority of Greeks would get the shot against the COVID-19 which has claimed 12,890 lives in Greece since the pandemic broke out last year. About 45% of a population of 11 million are fully vaccinated.
Greece has ordered the vaccination of healthcare and nursing home staff as cases have risen and urged school teachers to get the shot in time for the start of the school year in September.
Nearly 2,500 cases were reported on Saturday, bringing the total number of infected people to 474,366.
Three goals to Bronte Halligan and a goalkeeping masterclass from Lea Yanitsas has helped Australia to a comfortable 8-5 over Canada in women’s water polo action in Tokyo.
The Stingers led all game thanks to regular goals and Yanitsas’s (13-of-18) 72 per cent save rate, who was praised by both the commentators and her fellow teammates.
Canada worked back to 4-3 in the second quarter before Rowie Webster’s penalty shot skipped off the surface and hit the upright in what could have proved a turning point.
Australia’s women have opened their Tokyo water polo campaign with an 8-5 win over Canada. Credit: AAP
But Australia held their nerve, Zoe Arancini neatly lobbing the Canadian keeper Claire Wright (10 saves from 18 shots) to regain a two-goal buffer they would never relinquish.
The Stingers have finished first, fourth, third, third and sixth since women’s water polo was introduced, with the United States emerging as the clear super power after Australia pipped them for gold in Sydney.
“It’s been a long 16 months since our last international game,” dual bronze medallist Bronwen Knox said.
Australian players celebrate after a win over Canada in a preliminary round women’s water polo match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 24, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
“I was almost forced into retirement at one stage. It’s a tough slog to continue to be an athlete. I’ve had two-and-a-half years off work now.
“To support myself financially is extremely difficult. I’ve obviously got the support of Water Polo Australia and all my support networks back home.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry expressed on Saturday its “heartfelt condolences” to the families of the victims of the deadly floods and landslides in western India.
“At this difficult time, our thoughts go out to the missing, the injured and the rescue crews. We extend our solidarity to the people and government of India,” it said in a post on Twitter.
At least 112 people have lost their lives in western India in landslides and floods caused by torrential monsoon rains.
National Disaster Response Force personnel rescue people stranded in floodwaters in Kolhapur, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, on Friday.Photo: CNN
In hard-hit Raigad, south of Mumbai, where landslides buried dozens of houses, at least 47 people were killed and 53 others were feared trapped under layers of mud.
The downpour caused the Savitri river to burst its banks, leaving the town of Mahad completely inaccessible by road, and prompting terrified residents to climb onto rooftops and upper floors to escape swelling waters.
A combined rescue operation involving the army, navy and air force was under way to evacuate those stranded by the flooding. Their operations, though, were hampered by high water levels and landslides blocking roads, including the main highway between Mumbai and Goa.
Nearly 90,000 people have been evacuated in Maharashtra so far.
The navy deployed seven rescue teams equipped with rubber boats, life jackets and lifebuoys to the affected areas, along with specialist divers and a helicopter to airlift marooned residents.
