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Adelaide High School students protest against ‘sexist culture’

The Greek Herald
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Adelaide High School students protest against ‘sexist culture’

Adelaide High students, among them some of Greek background, walked out of class on Tuesday, to protest sexist behaviour at their school – including claims nude pictures of a girl were being sold for $5 a text, the Advertiser reports.

Up to 100 students outside the West Tce campus aired their disgust over the school’s alleged “toxic sexist culture” and an alleged lack of appropriate leadership response to it.

Call4Action school group member Sophia, 17, said students were upset by what they perceived as the school’s poor response to student allegations of sexual harassment and assault first raised to leadership last month and publicly on social media.

Picture: The Advertiser

The students are demanding an apology to both pupils and caregivers over lack of action and misleading information, a whole-school approach to sexual education and respectful relationships, and accountability of perpetrators.

A Change.org student petition calling for an end to sexism and sexual assault at Adelaide High School has attracted more than 6000 signatures.

Adelaide High School principal Cez Green said Tuesday’s events were an opportunity for students to speak about a pressing social issue.

It is understood Ms Green has offered to meet with the students organising the protest – an offer which has not yet been taken up. 

Ms Green last week said in a letter addressed to students that they could contact her directly to discuss any unresolved issues, as well as provide feedback on the school’s delivery of the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum.

The Adelaide High School walkout follows a national student movement calling for earlier and improved sexual consent through a petition. 

Full Story: The Advertiser

New digital barriers aim to deter migrants from entering EU illegally

The Greek Herald
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New digital barriers aim to deter migrants from entering EU illegally

A new steel wall, similar to recent construction on the U.S.-Mexico border, blocks commonly-used crossing points along the Evros River that separates Greece and Turkey.

Nearby observation towers are being fitted with long-range cameras, night vision, and multiple sensors. The data will be sent to control centers to flag suspicious movement using artificial intelligence analysis.

“We will have a clear ‘pre-border’ picture of what’s happening,” Police Maj. Dimonsthenis Kamargios, head of the region’s border guard authority, told the Associated Press.

The EU has poured 3 billion euros ($3.7 billion) into security tech research following the refugee crisis in 2015-16, when more than 1 million people — many escaping wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan — fled to Greece and on to other EU countries.

A police officer works inside the operation center at the village of Nea Vyssa near the Greek – Turkish border, Greece, Friday, May 21, 2021. An automated hi-tech surveillance network being built on the Greek-Turkish border aiming at detecting migrants early and deterring them from crossing, with river and land patrols using searchlights and long-range acoustic devices. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos)

The automated surveillance network being built on the Greek-Turkish border is aimed at detecting migrants early and deterring them from crossing, with river and land patrols using searchlights and long-range acoustic devices. 

Key elements of the network will be launched by the end of the year, Kamargios said. “Our task is to prevent migrants from entering the country illegally. We need modern equipment and tools to do that.” 

Researchers at universities around Europe, working with private firms, have developed futuristic surveillance and verification technology, and tested more than a dozen projects at Greek borders. 

AI-powered lie detectors and virtual border-guard interview bots have been piloted, as well as efforts to integrate satellite data with footage from drones on land, air, sea and underwater. Palm scanners record the unique vein pattern in a person’s hand to use as a biometric identifier, and the makers of live camera reconstruction technology promise to erase foliage virtually, exposing people hiding near border areas. 

Testing has also been conducted in Hungary, Latvia and elsewhere along the eastern EU perimeter.

 

EU approves 800 million euro scheme to help Greek tourism industry

The Greek Herald
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EU approves 800 million euro scheme to help Greek tourism industry

The European Commission approved an €800 million Greek program for businesses in the tourism industry that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU said on Tuesday.

The scheme was approved under the EU state aid rules and based on the temporary framework for the EU member states’ support, a press release said.

“This €800 million Greek scheme will facilitate access to liquidity for companies active in the tourism sector. They have been hit hard by the pandemic and this scheme will help ensure the continuity of their economic activity in these difficult times,” said EU Vice President Margrethe Vestager, who is responsible for the competition policy.

Tourism is Greece’s most important sector counting more than 20% of its gross domestic product and after months of lockdown restrictions, the government is eager to rejuvenate it following a plunge of 8% in the last year due to the pandemic.

Last month, Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis announced a multimillion-euro promotional campaign aiming to attract more visitors with the slogan “All you want is Greece”.

Travel requirements

According to the latest travel update, all visitors arriving from the EU and Schengen area countries, the US, the UK, Israel, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, Singapore, Russia, North Macedonia, Canada, Belarus, Bahrain, Qatar, China, Kuwait, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Saudi Arabia are allowed entry into Greece without the need to quarantine.

Travelers, however, would need to provide a proof of either a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before their arrival or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 issued by a public authority or a certified laboratory or a proof that the traveler tested positive for COVID-19 in the past two to nine months.

In addition, visitors may also be subject to random, rapid tests at the country’s entry points and anyone with a positive result will be required to quarantine at designated isolation hotels covered by the Greek state.

Meanwhile, Greek cases continue to show a decline as 1,007 new cases were recorded on Monday, with the total number of infections counting to 402,306 since the start of the pandemic. Also 41 fatalities were recorded, pushing the total tally to 12,095.

Greek Australian artist, Nick Stathopoulos, named finalist for the Archibald Prize 2021

Andriana Simos
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Greek Australian artist, Nick Stathopoulos, named finalist for the Archibald Prize 2021

The finalists of the 2021 Archibald Prize have been announced by the Art Gallery of New South Wales and among them is renowned Greek Australian artist, Nick Stathopoulos.

This is the seventh time Nick has been a finalist in the Prize, having won People’s choice in 2016 with his painting of Sudanese refugee lawyer, Deng Adult, and being nominated last year with his painting of singer, Ngaiire Joseph.

READ MORE: Greek Australian artist Nick Stathopoulos announced as 2020 Archibald Prize finalist.

“It’s always an angst-ridden wait for the email from the AGNSW, so when it comes and you definitely know you’re a finalist, it’s a massive relief. It’s exciting to be part of the exhibition, particularly since this is the centennial year of the prize,” Nick tells The Greek Herald exclusively.

Nick Stathopoulos, The white shirt – portrait of Tané Andrews’, acrylic and oil on poly-cotton, 153 x 80.1 cm, Copyright- the artist.

This year, Nick’s potentially prize-winning painting, ‘The White Shirt – portrait of Tané Andrews,’ is a little bit out of the box. His subject is artist, Tané Andrews, who uses his art to explore the transience and transformations in the natural world. The composition itself is acrylic and oil on poly-cotton, measuring 153 x 80.1 cm.

Nick says he wanted to try something different, even though he knew it would be a challenge.

“I always try and do something different with each Archibald entry. It’s insanely difficult to come up with a totally original portrait… it’s a challenge,” Nick explains.

Nick Stathopoulos. Photo by Adrian Robinson.

“This time I wanted to paint a subject that wasn’t a celebrity, but someone who had their own highly distinctive look.”

What about the deeper message behind the painting? Nick says his painting is all about “mood and disquiet” this time around.

“There’s no intended message, other than perhaps there are many fascinating faces that would make wonderful portraits out there,” he concludes.

The winning paintings will be announced on June 4, with the $100,000 Archibald Prize finalists and winner chosen by the AGNSW trustees, including artists Tony Albert and Quilty.

Young people get creative at the Kytherian Youth Association’s painting event

Andriana Simos
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Young people get creative at the Kytherian Youth Association’s painting event

The Kytherian Youth Association (KYA) held its first-ever ‘Brushstrokes, Burgers and Beer’ night on May 24 and it was a huge hit with all the young people who attended.

Over 20 members of the association were spotted getting creative by painting their own versions of flowers in a vase, followed up by burgers and beer at the WellCo cafe in Leichhardt.

President of the KYA, Georgia Galanos, tells The Greek Herald that everyone had fun on the night as the mingled with friends and fellow Kytherians.

https://www.facebook.com/kythoya/posts/776603979715372

“I received many compliments about the event such as how it was very social and people mingled while achieving a creative outcome. Many had not attended a painting night and seemed to enjoy the atmosphere as well,” Georgia says.

The Youth President goes on to say that the association has a ‘Big Fat Greek Event’ coming up on July 4 as well and she encourages everyone to attend.

“I think it’s important to hold events like these as these smaller events encourage people to challenge themselves at a new type of activity, as well as enjoy each other’s company. These smaller events can be great to have a chat to new people,” Georgia concludes.

Helen Petousis-Harris to lead world’s largest vaccine monitoring study

The Greek Herald
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Helen Petousis-Harris to lead world’s largest vaccine monitoring study

Scientists at the University of Auckland in New Zealand will facilitate the largest vaccine monitoring study ever undertaken of how COVID-19 vaccines effects about 300 million people in 17 countries.

The university was awarded almost $8 million by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the study, which will be undertaken by the Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN).

Associate Professor Helen Petousis-Harris from the university will be the project leader, as her team of researchers monitor the effectiveness and potential risks of COVID-19 vaccines over the next three years.

Helen Petousis-Harris. Photo: Chris McKeen / Stuff.

Petousis-Harris, who is also a vaccinologist and one of New Zealand’s leading voices in the COVID-19 response, told Stuff.co.nz there has never been a vaccine roll-out like this one.

Clinical trials provided the information needed to authorise vaccines for use, but it’s vital to continue monitoring how they work, she said.

“There are many new COVID-19 vaccines, and it is therefore imperative that there be a global, centralised surveillance process to detect any very rare vaccine safety issues and to allow ongoing risk-benefit assessments,” Petousis-Harris told the website.

Study will focus on how COVID-19 vaccines effect people.

With such a huge data set, scientists will be able to assess even extremely rare outcomes, such as hospitalisations.

The study will draw from populations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Western Pacific, with more countries expected to join as the study progresses.

Researchers will be also able to detect new potential concerns and compare outcomes between vaccines, as well as between vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Source: Stuff.co.nz

Academics warn the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is ruining the study of languages in NSW

The Greek Herald
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Academics warn the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is ruining the study of languages in NSW

Academics have warned the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is ruining the study of languages in NSW schools and want universities to change the way languages are scaled so students don’t feel punished for studying them.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported on Sunday that 16 education and language experts have written to the NSW Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, which runs the University Admissions Centre (UAC), with their complaints.

In their letter, the academics stressed that the number of students taking community languages has shrunk dramatically since the scaling system changed 20 years ago. In 2001, 230 students studied Greek continuers, but only 72 took the subject last year.

“The ATAR is forcing kids to drop languages,” Professor Ken Cruickshank, the chair in languages at the University of Sydney, told the SMH.

Currently, UAC works out the overall ability of students doing one HSC subject by looking at their performances in all their other subjects, then scales their raw mark up if they are among a strong cohort, and down if they are not.

Professor Cruickshank tells the SMH this process disadvantages community languages as subjects studied in advantaged schools tend to be scaled up, and those studied by disadvantaged students down.

“French, Latin and [ancient] Greek get high ATARs, but if you do a subject like Japanese or Arabic it’s going to get a low ATAR,” he said.

The letter suggested returning to the pre-2000 system in which all languages were ranked according to the two most popular ones, which would now be French and Japanese, or look at different ways to rank languages cohorts.

But Barry McGaw, whose report on HSC reform in 1999 led to each language being scaled differently, told the media outlet that pegging all languages to French for example, gave community languages students an unfair advantage.

“In some languages you’ve got the difference between native and non-native speakers, and kids are up against native speakers or people who’ve managed to persuade the assessors that they are background speakers,” Professor McGaw told the SMH.

“You can’t make the assumption that all the others are comparable groups of students.”

As the debate clearly continues to rage, the vice-chancellor’s committee will discuss the letter at their next meeting.

Source: SMH.

World Parents Day: Top six signs you are from a Greek family

Andriana Simos
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World Parents Day: Top six signs you are from a Greek family

The relationship between a son or daughter with their Greek parents is something that many outside the diaspora group find unique and at times, comical.

To mark World Parents Day today, we take a look at the top six signs you are from a Greek family. Let us know how many of these have happened to you!

1. You converse in Greek with your parents while in public:

There’s definitely many benefits to being bilingual and this is one of them. Almost everyone has spoken to their parents in Greek while in public to make sure that no one else understands the conversation. But then of course, there’s always that one coincidence where a random Greek pops up, understands the conversation and you become instant friends or frenemies!

2. Measurements do not exist in Greek recipes:

Everything is a “pinch.” Only problem is, no one’s “pinch” is exactly the same.

Measurements do not exist in Greek recipes.

If you ask a Greek mother to give you her recipe for baklava, you can be sure you won’t find any set measurements. While this may be slightly confusing and frustrating, your best bet is to simply ask her to show you how to make it. Recipes don’t really exist and if they do, sometimes they’re kept under lock and key.

3. Everyone knows at least 6 Nikos, 3 Dimitris, 9 Marias and 7 Elenis:

In Greece, the tradition is that the eldest children get their names from their grandparents. This often creates duplicates, where cousins of the same gender may share the same name.

4. Name days are better than birthdays:

Since most Greeks have names associated with a saint, this saint’s day is basically a reason to celebrate. And since Greeks are champions when it comes to partying, it is usually celebrated in a big way, either with a huge feast or paniyiri where friends and family are invited.

Greece holds paniyiria to celebrate name days.

5. There is no such thing as privacy in a Greek home:

No matter how old you are, there is one thing you can be sure will never change: there is no such thing as a secret. In fact, any business is everyone’s business in a Greek home.

6. You know to never say ‘I’m hungry’ at Yiayia’s house:

Because if you do, you better prepare yourself to be stuffed with every Greek dish on the planet.

It doesn’t matter if you had a big breakfast or simply if you had a quick lunch a few hours before. A Greek mom and/or yiayia (grandma) will always offer you something. Whether it is a piece of moussaka or pastitsio or simply a portion of baklava to go with your coffee, there is no way to escape it.

Fmr policeman who made up same-sex relationship with George Sclavos found guilty of fraud

The Greek Herald
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Fmr policeman who made up same-sex relationship with George Sclavos found guilty of fraud

A former police officer who was found to have fabricated a lengthy same-sex relationship to claim a $6 million inheritance has been found guilty of misappropriating funds from the deceased’s accounts within hours of his death.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Okan Yesilhat, 38, was found to have invented a 14-year-long same-sex relationship with wealthy pharmacist, George Sclavos, in order to inherit his estate as the de facto partner.

Mr Sclavos, 65, died of a heart attack in his Leppington pharmacy on August 13, 2013, but having never married and with no children, he left his entire estate to his two nieces, Cleopatra Calokerinos and Anna Sclavos-Lahana.

Within hours of the pharmacist’s death, more than $200,000 had been moved from his bank account into Yesilhat’s account, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

During the battle over the will, Justice Michael Slattery said he was satisfied that Yesilhat “dishonestly diverted to himself or for his benefit all the funds transferred from the deceased’s accounts on and from the day of the deceased’s death.”

His inheritance claim was ultimately rejected and in December 2018, Yesilhat was found guilty of 14 charges relating to the misappropriation of money from Mr Sclavos’ accounts, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

On Friday, after a two-day hearing in April, the NSW Court of Appeal rejected Yesilhat’s renewed claim that he was the de facto of Mr Sclavos and therefore entitled to inherit his estate.

FULL STORY: Sydney Morning Herald.

Isaac Mizan: Last living Greek Jewish survivor of the Holocaust dies at age 94

The Greek Herald
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Isaac Mizan: Last living Greek Jewish survivor of the Holocaust dies at age 94

The last living Greek Jewish survivor of Auschwitz, Isaac Mizan, has passed away in Athens at the age of 94, according to the World Jewish Congress.

Mizan was born in 1927 in the Jewish community of Arta in northwest Greece. He was the youngest child of Joseph and Anette Mizan.

In March 1944, Mizan, his family and 351 Jews of Arta were arrested and deported to the renowned Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, and later moved to Bergen-Belsen.

READ MORE: The Jewish family that was saved during the Holocaust by brave Greeks.

Out of the 12 members of his family sent to Auschwitz, only he and one sister survived, the World Jewish Congress states.

Mizan returned to Arta in 1945 and lived there until 1961. At the age of 35, he moved away to Athens as the last Jew of Arta. The Jewish community in Arta no longer exists.

READ MORE: NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO, Vic Alhadeff, on his passion for Greek causes.

Source: israelnationalnews.com.

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