Search
Home Blog Page 1402

Greek Australian, Peter Mousaferiadis, wins silver at Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards

The Greek Herald
-
0
Greek Australian, Peter Mousaferiadis, wins silver at Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards

Cultural Infusion CEO and Founder, Peter Mousaferiadis, was today awarded the Silver Medal at The Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards, sponsored by The Religious Freedom & Business Foundation in cooperation with the United Nations Global Compact’s Business for Peace initiative.

Peter was awarded alongside business leaders from around the world, including Intel CEOs, Pat Gelsinger and Sandra Rivera, and Tyson Foods Chairman, John Tyson. Recognised for their efforts to bridge cultural and religious divides, ten business men and women from UK, US, Iraq, Israel, India, Australia, and Japan were honoured.

The Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards recognise individuals for their contributions to peaceful and inclusive societies. Peter was awarded the silver medal for his work as a pioneer in using cultural and artistic expression as a means of promoting social cohesion and interfaith understanding.

Peter strongly believes in the importance of embracing religious freedom.

“This Global Business and Interfaith Peace Silver Award recognises what every single one of us can do to bridge the divide and recognise the importance and benefits of faith and religious freedom (including those with no religion) can have on business, the economy and flow on benefits to the community,” he explains.

Peter Mousaferiadis wins silver at Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards.

“By embracing religious diversity it not only strengthens our communities but also promotes tolerance, respect, understanding, equity and equality and ultimately builds cultural and religious harmony.

“Our transformational analytics tool Diversity Atlas is now being used by organisations across the globe to make their settings more equitable, inclusive and representative through a data driven approach.”

Cultural Infusion’s Diversity Atlas platform is a world-first data analytics tool able to provide comprehensive insights into the extent and type of cultural and demographic dimensions of diversity. The survey platform is now being used by think tanks and a range of multinationals to map their global workforce.

Diversity Atlas allows teams and organisations to measure and understand the differences and connections between diverse groups thereby acting as a catalyst for better performance and equity. It features more than 8500 religions and branches, 8000 cultures and more than 8000 speech communities and languages.

The child of Greek migrants growing up in Melbourne’s Western suburbs in the 1960s and 1970s, Peter, born Panagiotis Mousaferiadis, was shaped by the multicultural landscape of the area and time. Before becoming a conductor, he was deeply influenced by and interested in studying religion.

In 2002, he founded the internationally recognised organisation Cultural Infusion, which builds global harmony through intercultural action within education, ICT and the arts.

In 2009, he directed and produced the Parliament of the World’s Religions and today is still a Global Trustee of the United Religions Initiative.

The winner of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Intercultural Innovation Award, Peter also produced the winning slogan “Diversified We Grow” for the UN’s “Do One Thing for Diversity” campaign. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow and was admitted to the Asia Peace Innovators Forum.

In 2017, Peter was issued with the Peace Ambassador Award from the Center of Peace Studies in Sri Lanka.

Held in tandem with the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, The Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards were held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Seoul in 2018 in collaboration with the UN Global Compact, and Tokyo in 2021. The 2021 jury comprises high-level experts, including from the European Union; the NGO religious freedom community; and the business and peace community.

Nominees must have launched or spearheaded policies, programmes or initiatives that contributed to increasing interfaith understanding and peace in the workplace, marketplace and/or local communities.

Recognising business leadership in advancing interfaith understanding is at the core of the awards. Current or past CEOs, who have demonstrated leadership in championing interfaith understanding and peace are eligible.

The Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards are presented biennially by the Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, a US-based nonprofit. The foundation helps educate the global business community about how religious freedom is good for business and how they can promote respect for freedom of religion or belief.

Sophie Cotsis among MPs who spearheaded pop-up vaccination hub at Campsie hotspot

Andriana Simos
-
0
Sophie Cotsis among MPs who spearheaded pop-up vaccination hub at Campsie hotspot

People aged 16 to 39 are turning up in huge numbers at the Orion Function Centre in Campsie as part of a four-day vaccination blitz until August 24 in the Canterbury-Bankstown Local Government Area (LGA).

The blitz was made possible after Member for Canterbury, Sophie Cotsis MP, and Member for Lakemba, Jihad Dib MP, called for a pop-up vaccination hub to be opened in the current hotspot.

“We’ve been calling for access to localised vaccination hubs for a while,” Ms Cotsis told The Greek Herald.

“Having hubs at Campsie, Belmore and Lakemba, in addition to pharmacists and local GP’s, means more people have access, particularly in those priority groups and essential workers.”

The vaccination hub is being lead by registered nurse, Karen, and was officially launched on Saturday by NSW Labor Leader, Chris Minns MP.

“These vax hubs are one of our best tools in the fight to save lives as this virus spread further. We need more of them,” Mr Minns said on the day.

Ms Cotsis added that so far the response to the pop-up vaccination hub in Campsie has been “excellent” and expressed her gratitude to the healthcare workers for all their hard work in helping the hub run effectively.

“They’ve been amazing. If anyone wants to buy the 30 healthcare workers lunch, just let me know. We can sort something out,” she concluded.

You can book your vaccination at this hub here.

Greek Community of Melbourne celebrates its 124th anniversary

The Greek Herald
-
0
Greek Community of Melbourne celebrates its 124th anniversary

The Greek Community of Melbourne marked its 124th anniversary on August 22 this year, but due to the current lockdown in Victoria they weren’t able to hold their pre-scheduled celebrations.

The Community had planned to raise the Aboriginal, Greek and Australian flags at their Lonsdale St Headquarters to bring together the “Elders” of the Greek and Aboriginal communities acknowledging the strong respect and history that exists between them.

“Rest assured that this event will occur as soon as restrictions are lifted and we can safely return to face to face gatherings. In the meantime it’s great to see that the history of indigenous Australians is included as part of our schools curriculum,” Theo Markos, who is the Education Committee Convenor of the Community, said in a press release.

Full Statement:

Covid continues to challenge the way we do things at the Community, especially in the education sector. But as the saying goes we just “keep on keeping on.”

Nick Dallas and his Seminars team continue their excellent work, presenting talks of a high standard every Thursday evening. This year’s theme revolves around the bicentenary of the 1821 Greek War of Independence. Dr Stavroula Nikouloudis head of the Greek studies program at La Trobe University presented an excellent talk on the life and deeds of the legendary Theodoros Kolokotronis. Post-event, most seminars  are hosted on the Community’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, and we encourage you to take the time to view them. Our online seminar series wouldn’t be possible without the IT assistance of Kosta Avloniti, who is always there behind the scenes troubleshooting where necessary.

Our devoted team of teachers under the guidance of our new principal Maria Bakalidou continue to offer an excellent online school program. Kudos to our students, parents and teachers for their strong commitment to the teaching and learning of our Greek language and culture.

On the 18th of August, the Greek Community played host to an information evening via Zoom, which discussed the current status of Greek Language teaching in the Victorian public education system. Over 20 participants from a number of public schools were given the opportunity to express their views and network with both parents, teachers and principals from schools where Greek is taught as part of the school’s curriculum. Representatives from Coburg West Primary, Lalor North, Preston South Primary, Serpell Primary, Strathmore Secondary College, Oakleigh Secondary College, Northcote high, Victorian School of Languages, all agreed that the discussion initiated on the night, needs to continue whist also agreeing that an informal network be established to both promote the programs and play and advocatory role to lobby government and other relevant authorities.

The gathering had the support of the Modern Greek Teachers Association, as well as that of the Greek Education Consul, Ms Georgia Nikolaidis, who’s presence and valuable contribution to the discussion was greatly appreciated. Vicky Marinellis from the Central Office of the Department of Education and Training also attended the Zoom gathering, providing us with the good news that a new Greek language program commenced in 2021 at Keilor Views Primary which delighted all those present.

Finally, it’s disappointing that the event planned on the 22nd of August to celebrate the 124th anniversary of the Greek Community of Melbourne as well as the raising of the Aboriginal, Greek and Australian flags at our Lonsdale St Headquarters had to postponed. The event was to bring together the “Elders “ of the Greek and Aboriginal communities acknowledging the strong respect and history that exists between them and to celebrate the Community’s AGMdecision to endorse the Uluru Statement from the heart.

The planned function was to also have a strong education component as our students were to highlight and acknowledge, in their own way, the unique aspects of our First Nations culture and history. Special thanks to our teacher, Christina Soumi, who is overseeing the education component of this initiative.

Rest assured that this event will occur as soon as restrictions are lifted and we can safely return to face to face gatherings. In the meantime it’s great to see that the history of indigenous Australians is included as part of our schools curriculum.

The Education subcommittee always welcomes ideas from everyone with an interest in Greek language and education on “how we can do things better.”

In the meantime STAY SAFE and take care of your loved ones !!!

And of course …. Happy Birthday Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria !!!

Theo Markos,

Education committee Convenor GOCMV

Need to look beyond COVID-19 case numbers to hospitalisations, says Scott Morrison

The Greek Herald
-
0
Need to look beyond COVID-19 case numbers to hospitalisations, says Scott Morrison

On opinion piece by Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison.

A focus on case numbers was very important when we knew nothing about this virus and whether our hospital system would be able to cope.

A lot has changed since then. Increasingly we need to look beyond just the case numbers to know what our future holds. How we can keep safe and how we get our lives back in a COVID world.

Case numbers are important, but they are not the whole story.

Our hospital and public health systems are prepared, they have held up to the challenge and continue to do so. And where they have to be reinforced we know how to do that.

Our ICUs have the know how, we have vaccines and the new drugs like sotrovimab that has been approved by the TGA for use that can better treat those who are infected. This all means we can battle Delta and seriously reduce how much harm it does to our health, our way of life and our economy.

So while right now our national strategy is necessarily about suppressing the virus and vaccinating as many people as possible, a one-eyed focus on just case numbers overlooks the fact that less people are getting seriously ill, let alone dying.

READ MORE: Prime Minister – Opinion: Vaccination protects you and your family.

Shifting our focus from just case numbers, to actually looking at how many people are becoming seriously ill and requiring hospitalisation will be increasingly what matters. After all, this is how we manage all other infectious diseases.

The data shows that after an AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccination, you’re 86 to 87 per cent less likely to end up in hospital or an ICU, and while figures aren’t confirmed about how much vaccination reduces transmission, the evidence from the recent outbreak in Sydney is really strong.

A key next step in our plan will also be getting children aged over 12 vaccinated.

Just as we’ve seen overseas in places like the UK, even when their case numbers tick up, their hospitalisations and deaths are not increasing at the same rate and remaining flatter and at rates like you see with the flu.

It’s always darkest before the dawn, and these hard lockdowns are imposing a heavy toll. They are sadly necessary for now, and we will keep providing health and income support to get people through, but they won’t be necessary for too much longer.

Under our national plan when we start hitting the 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination targets, we can start claiming back what COVID has been taking away from us. And when we do so, we must not be intimidated by the case numbers that will inevitably increase. We will be able to better handle them then, because of all the improvements we have made to protect people from serious illness and fatality.

This doesn’t mean people won’t get sick, but with achieving our vaccination targets, a strong public health system, retaining common sense public hygiene measures and more effective treatments for COVID-19 we can get on with our new normal, and treat COVID like other infectious diseases.

That is what our national plan is all about. That’s what all the Premiers and Chief Ministers signed up to.

It’s our path back. It’s our deal with Australians, that by everyone doing what we need to do – push through the lockdowns, stay home, get tested, get vaccinated – we can break out of the current cycle we are in and move forward.

That is the light at the end of the tunnel on our journey. We’ve had three days in a row now delivering more than 300,000 jabs a day and with more than 1.73 million vaccinations delivered in just the last week, even if we do see more case numbers we’re going to see fewer hospitalisations and deaths meaning we can live our lives again.

This is what living with COVID is all about. The case numbers will likely rise when we soon begin to open up. That is inevitable.

But our focus needs to be on the rate of people being hospitalised. That’s the measure that should now start to guide our response.

Rising cases need not impact our plan to reopen, and reopen as soon we can. I know it seems pretty dark now, but it’s always darkest before the dawn, and dawn’s coming. So please hang in there.

Theodore Drivas’, Waterview Venue in Bicentennial Park, to be first privately-owned vaccination hub

The Greek Herald
-
0
Theodore Drivas’, Waterview Venue in Bicentennial Park, to be first privately-owned vaccination hub

In support of the local community during the current COVID-19 crisis, Waterview Venue in Bicentennial Park will become the first privately-owned hospitality venue to volunteer their function centre for use as an official NSW Health Vaccination Hub.

In an effort to assist with the current national emergency and the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta strain, Waterview Venue’s initiative comes with the hopes to assist in raising the state’s total vaccination rates.

“Our vision is to welcome back our loyal employees and dear clients, while supporting fellow businesses, improving the health of the local community and the state of New South Wales,” Managing Director, Theodore Drivas, says.

“The financial economic impact on businesses during the pandemic has been distressing to all and we hope this initiative will be a part of the change that will see the current economic crisis recover. We aim to give back to the hospitality industry and all suffering business sectors.”

Waterview is proud to share their vision with the Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA), aligning in values and being able to further support the community in which we are located and the health and wellbeing of NSW.

“Nothing is more pleasing than an initiative that allows us to welcome back our loyal staff, now as frontline workers, to benefit the health and wellbeing of the community. We’re all in this together, uniting on this cause and receiving protection against the virus will bring us closer to resuming life as normal,” Director of Operations, James Drivas, says.

Waterview Venue is located within the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, perfectly situated within the
picturesque landscapes of Bicentennial Park.

Offering tranquil views overlooking vast parklands, ponds and lakes, Waterview is the ideal setting for all events. Waterview can accommodate Weddings, Business Events, School Events and Special Occasions of all kinds.

You can book your vaccine at the Waterview Venue in Bicentennial Park here.

Greece completes border wall extension to deter potential Afghan migrants

The Greek Herald
-
0
Greece completes border wall extension to deter potential Afghan migrants

Greece has completed a 40km fence on its border with Turkey and a new surveillance system is in place to stop possible asylum seekers from trying to reach Europe following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

Events in Afghanistan have fuelled fears in the European Union of a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis, when nearly a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and beyond crossed to Greece from Turkey before travelling north to wealthier states.

Greece was on the frontline of that crisis and has said its border forces are on alert to make sure it does not become Europe’s gateway again.

In this Friday, May 21, 2021, policemen patrol alongside a steel wall at Evros river. Photo: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos, File.

READ MORE: Greece border force ‘on alert’ amidst Afghanistan crisis.

The Afghanistan crisis had created “possibilities for migrant flows,” Citizens’ Protection Minister, Michalis Chrysochoidis, said after visiting the region of Evros on Friday with the Defence Minister and the Head of the Armed Forces.

“We cannot wait, passively, for the possible impact,” Chrysochoidis told reporters. “It is our decision to defend and secure our borders. Our borders will remain safe and inviolable.”

READ MORE: ‘We will not be the gateway of Europe’: Greek ministers respond to Afghanistan crisis.

In this Friday, May 21, 2021 file photo, a police car patrols alongside a steel wall at Evros river. Photo: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos, File.

Chrysochoidis said the extension to the existing 12.5-kilometre fence had been completed in recent days, as well as a hi-tech, automated electronic monitoring system.

Migrant arrivals to Greece, either by land or by sea, have overall slowed to a trickle since 2016, when the EU agreed a deal with Turkey to stem the flows in exchange for financial support.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Turkish President, Tayyip Erdogan, discussed Afghanistan on the phone on Friday, with Erdogan saying Afghanistan and Iran – a key route for Afghans into Turkey – should be supported or a new migration wave was “inevitable,” a statement from his office said.

In this Friday, May 21, 2021, a policeman patrols alongside a steel wall at Evros river, near the village of Poros, at the Greek -Turkish border, Greece. Photo: AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos, File.

Greece and Turkey, NATO allies and historic rivals, have long been at odds over migrant issues and competing territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean.

Greece has hardened its migration policy in recent months by fencing off its migrant camps and launching EU-wide tenders to build two closed-type facilities on the islands of Samos and Lesvos, close to Turkey.

It has in the recent past stopped people entering its waters, though it denies widely reported allegations of so-called “pushbacks.”

READ MORE: Pontian Greeks of Australia send supplies to Evros border guards in Greece.

Source: Reuters.

Greece, Israel and Cyprus affirm alliance based on shared values

Andriana Simos
-
0
Greece, Israel and Cyprus affirm alliance based on shared values

The foreign ministers of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, Greece, Nikos Dendias, and Israel, Yair Lapid, have affirmed during a meeting in Jerusalem their countries’ close ties, based on shared values.

Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias remarked that the wider region is seeing “extremely worrying developments” lately, namely religious fanaticism and spoke of an “arc of fundamentalism” spreading from North Africa to Afghanistan.

He contrasted those developments to the shared values also enunciated by his Isreli counterpart, Yair Lapid: promotion of peaceful coexistence, moderation, prosperity, international law.

“Our objective today was also to find new ways to institutionalise our participation of strategic partners of our trilateral scheme. You mentioned them, thank you,” Dendias said in his speech.

The Greek Foreign Minister then went on to thank Israel for its help with the wildfires that hit Greece earlier this month.

“This is something that has created a very positive element, our cooperation, to address climate change and the results of climate change,” Dendias said.

For his part, Cyprus’ Foreign Minister, Christodoulides, wrote on Twitter: “Our meeting is a visible confirmation of the strategic nature of this cooperation, that is here to stay and more importantly, to continue growing.”

The Israel Foreign Minister stressed how “this trilateral alliance is a strategic asset for all of us” as it “strengthens our economy, our security, our international standing.”

Full moon seen rising over the Acropolis and Temple of Poseidon in Greece

Andriana Simos
-
0
Full moon seen rising over the Acropolis and Temple of Poseidon in Greece

The August full moon was seen rising over ancient archaeological sites in Greece, such as the Acropolis and the Temple of Poseidon, on Sunday night.

The full moon, which many call a seasonal ‘blue moon,’ gave stargazers something to smile about on the night as they prepared their cameras to capture the rare sight.

120 archaeological sites and museums across Greece also opened their gates free of charge so that the public can enjoy the August full moon. At the same time, a series of cultural events have been scheduled between August 20-25, 2021.

Music concerts, theatrical performances, dance performances, poetry recitations, documentary screenings, art exhibitions, stargazing and guided tours are the main events that have been organised this year by the Ministry of Culture and Sports for the August full moon.

Photos:

Photo: Amazing Greece / Twitter.

Melbourne couple Kristine Costalos and John Tilley set sail amidst lockdown

John Voutos
-
0
Melbourne couple Kristine Costalos and John Tilley set sail amidst lockdown

Melbourne couple Kristina Costalos and pilot John Tilley set sail along Australia’s east coast on their brand new yacht three months ago. 

Ms. Costalos says she has Tilley’s navigation experience to thank for their escape from lockdown. 

“I just remember thinking to myself there has to be more to my life right now,” Ms Costalos, a former news reporter, told A Current Affair. 

“I don’t even know what day it is anymore.”

They currently sit in Airlie Beach near North Queensland after finding themselves in dire straits in the Bass Strait between Tasmania and Melbourne. 

“I don’t think this is for everyone, and John’s navigation experience has been an absolute bonus,” Ms Costalos says. 

“For example our auto pilot failed when we were in Bass Strait. It was a really scary experience but John was able to stay at the helm for 17 hours and get us through.”

“The sea is the limit, or the border quarantine requirements, that’s the limit,” Tilley added. 

The couple had no real sailing experience before setting off but they took lessons and spent a lot of time living on the boat to get used to it. 

Source: 9Now 

Greek Australians named as finalists in the Westfield Local Heroes 2021

Andriana Simos
-
0
Greek Australians named as finalists in the Westfield Local Heroes 2021

The finalists for the 2021 Westfield Local Heroes have been announced and they are now in the running to win $10,000 grants to support the impactful work they do for their local community.

Among the names are two Greek Australians from South Australia and win or lose, they are definitely making our community proud.

Here’s the list if you would like to vote before Monday, August 30, 2021.

Emma Georgiadis – Enlighten Education (Westfield Marion, SA)

Morning radio presenter, Emma Georgiadis, harnesses her combination of broadcasting skills and experience as a teacher to connect with young women and build their confidence.

She’s doing this through Enlighten Education, a non-profit provider of in-school workshops for teen girls. Her sessions help girls aged 11 to 18 decode the mixed messages they receive about what to eat, how to act, how to look, how to please and how to be liked. 

Emma shares vital tools girls can use to build positive relationships with their peers, parents and teachers. Her fun and engaging workshops cover topics including positive body image, self-talk, social labelling, personal safety, stress, conflict, diversity and healthy friendships.

“My work as a radio announcer gives me the platform to go into schools and have a connection with the girls. It has also provided me with the skills to develop my podcast, Empowerhouse, which builds attitudes of self-love, self-worth and self-belief,” Emma says.

She feels honoured to have been nominated as a Westfield Local Hero and if successful, she will use her $10,000 grant to fund workshops for an additional 500 girls.

“I am so excited by the opportunity to go out into more schools and spread positive messages. I am so pleased to be able to combine my skills to help others realise their potential,” Emma concludes.

Katerina Iliopoulos – HeartKids Limited, South Australia Division (Westfield West Lakes, SA)

Grandmother, Katerina Iliopoulos, is giving back as a passionate and generous fundraiser for families affected by congenital heart disease. 

Over the last three years, she has raised nearly $20,000 for the charity HeartKids by baking and selling mountains of Greek shortbread.

HeartKids aims to give every child diagnosed with congenital heart disease a fighting chance of leading a long and fulfilling life. The charity funds research, advocates for people with the disease and offers guidance, information and support throughout their journey.

Katerina was inspired to support the charity after her granddaughter, Zoe, benefited from their support to travel to Melbourne for surgery. 

Thankfully, Zoe made a quick recovery and is now a healthy and active little girl. But some children require multiple surgeries and trips to Melbourne. HeartKids also provides the families with peer support once they return home, which is often the hardest period. 

“Being able to support others, while in turn receiving support, has created a strong sense of community and reduced the feeling of being alone when it comes to caring for a heart kid,” Katerina says.

She is surprised to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero but “delighted to do my part, alongside many other supporters and volunteers.”

If Katerina is successful, HeartKids will use its funds to continue offering its support programs to families living with congenital heart disease.

*Please Note: The above finalists are those The Greek Herald could identify by their Greek name.

1...1,4011,4021,403...1,883Page 1,402 of 1,883

Stay connected:

Other

© 2024 The Greek Herald. All rights reserved.