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Greece 2021: committee for bicentennial of Greek War of Independence in full force

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Greece 2021: committee for bicentennial of Greek War of Independence in full force

The year 2021 marks the bicentennial of the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire, and the head of “Greece 2021” committee, Gianna Angelopoulos believes the event is “more important than the Olympic Games 2004.”

This weekend, Mrs Angelopoulos met with famous historian Mark Mazower, famous for his books “After the War Was Over: Reconstructing the Family, Nation, and State in Greece, 1943-1960”, “Salonica, city of ghosts” and “Inside Hitler’s Greece”.

Mazower is among several academics who will join the Greece 2021 committee and contribute to their goal of “demonstrating how the ideas of liberty provided the intellectual ammunition for the War of Independence.”

Mr Mazower and Mrs Angelopoulos discussed the initiatives of Greece 2021 and the specifics on how the organisation is going to execute its goals.

It has been reported that “Greece 2021” is going to collect data through public opinion surveys, original research, book publications, informative videos, high-quality media content, targeted workshops, public events, and an advocacy campaign, which are all “aimed to educate Greeks about the important role of liberal ideas in the War of Independence and the pursuit of a free and prosperous society.”

Ms Angelopoulos said in an interview with SKAI TV: “The purpose is to make people remember, reflect, or learn for the first time the side of the facts of the real bravery and self-sacrifice, to give everything to the homeland for freedom. Most importantly, to help us see who we are, what we want to achieve. Do we want to be miserable and oppressed or do we think we have the elements and the potential to stand above?”

28 African asylum seekers have applications rejected due to lack of interpreters in Lesvos

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28 African asylum seekers have applications rejected due to lack of interpreters in Lesvos

The Regional Asylum Office (RAO) – the Greek government organisation responsible for implementing international, ratified protection laws – rejected 28 African asylum seekers from 15 to 20 November, due to a lack of interpreters.

Legal aid organisations expressed concerns over these actions, which go against Greek, European and International laws. Under these laws, it is mandatory to conduct an asylum interview for those seeking asylum, which is a universal human right under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The interview is viewed as an opportunity for asylum seekers to individually explain the specific reasons they were forced to leave their country, and assess whether they require any further protection.

The 28 individuals, all from Sub-Saharan African regions, had their asylum applications rejected before the interview stage, due to the RAO’s “inability to secure interpretation for languages spoken by the asylum seekers,” said the Legal Centre Lesvos.

The RAO stated the decision was because, “the asylum seekers did not attend a personal interview since repeated attempts to find interpretation services for the mother tongue and the language of communication of the asylum seeker proved unsuccessful.”

According to the Legal Centre Lesvos, the language they required interpreters for was Portugese.

The Legal Centre Lesvos released a statement which explained the downfalls of a lack of resources and the legal loopholes that go along with this.

“The Lesvos RAO follows practices that do not adhere to our legal acquis and breach national and EU law, which we believe is important to highlight. Moreover, these practices expose our country to future condemnations by European and international courts and institutions,” said The Legal Centre.

“We call on the competent Greek authorities to respect the law and take the necessary steps in order to revoke all the above decisions, to restitute the harm caused to the asylum seekers, and to refrain from similar practices in the future.”

Greek President slams Turkey and EU’s handling of refugee crisis

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Greek President slams Turkey and EU’s handling of refugee crisis

The President of the Hellenic Republic, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, has called out Turkey again for its inhumane and apathetic treatment of refugees.

Mr Pavlopoulos was presenting the Nation’s Scouts honour the graduate scouts at the Athens College on Saturday 23rd November, where he addressed his concerns in his key note speech at the Scouts of Greece event.

“This behaviour violates the country’s obligations under international law, as well as its agreement with the European Union”, said the Greek President.

Pavlopoulos also addressed that active solidarity and responding in unison is a fundamental principle under EU law, which has not occurred throughout this crisis.

The President also reminded citizens that “humanity and solidarity have been key pillars of Greek culture since antiquity, but they are also fundamental to our common European culture today.”

Lively and successful: The 8th Symposium of Kytheraismos

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Lively and successful: The 8th Symposium of Kytheraismos

By Kyriaki Orfanos

A lively and successful Symposium took place in Brisbane over the weekend when the 8th Kytheraismos provided an excuse for Kytherians and lovers of Kythera to get together. It offered a diverse series of events ranging from booked-out Genealogy and Diples workshops, an exhibition featuring talented artists, jewellery-makers, and photographers, a vintage photo-montage showing the lives of early Greek- Queenslanders, and several social events, to a standing-room-only Speakers program which was both informative and entertaining.

George Vardas and Kallie Zervos gave well-researched papers about the influence of the British in the Ionian. George focused on their legacy, including the roads and bridges and the introduction of the Lancastrian education system, while Kallie spoke about what could be learned about life in the village of Potamos through the genealogy records of that period. Of course, no discussion about the British would be complete without an allusion the Parthenon Marbles, both George and Emmanuel Comino had much to say about them.

Dr. Maria Zarimis spoke of the poetics of Kythera through the work of Nicholas Souris, a man who had spent most of his life in Australia and documented it, and the nostos of living away from his homeland, through the medium of Madinades. Denis Conomos spoke about pioneering Kytherian immigrants to Queensland and their influence on their adopted homeland, as well as on the fortunes of future immigrants. Peter Vamvakaris presented a tribute to Father Gregory and his wife, Presbytera Roula, and their 6-decade contribution to Brisbane society. Kytherians who have brought more of their homeland with them than a pithari and a kourelou, include Sally Cominos Dakin, who described the adventure of establishing a successful olive grove in Queensland, using traditional techniques, and Tony Comino who spoke about Comino Wines.

Three speakers discussed Kytherian history and archaeology, Emmanuel Cassimatis, Dr. Amelia Brown, and Spiridoula Magoula, while George Poulos spoke of Lefcadio Hearn, whose mother was Rosa Kassimatis of Chora.

Paul Mathers who is a 3rd generation Greek Australian, spoke of the concept of Philotimo, through the history of his family, while John Carras recounted his experience of set- ting up the first morgue in Kythera.

Emanuel Kasimatis and John Kallinicos discussed investment opportunities on Kythera, and the role of the Kytherian diaspora in the future economic development of the island. Kiriaki Orfanos talked about how Kythera inspires, giving an account of running a successful writers’ retreat there.

The President of the Kytherian Association of Australia, Emmanuel Alfieris spoke of the future of Greek Australian associations and the role Kytherians can play, while the former president of the Association, Dr. Victor Kepreotis gave a talk titled Kythera, Back to the Future.

The keynote address, titled The Ecumenical Dimension of the term KYTHERA, as a Myth, as a Name, as a Place, as a Community Outside Kythera, and as Subject for Research, Over the Centuries. was given by the founder and International President of Kytheraismos, Professor Elias Marsellos.

‘The bursting-at-the-seams success of this Symposium is testament to the dedication and hard work of the Brisbane Kytheraismos Committee.’

Haihoutes: The Kos village that turned from abandoned to tourist attraction

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Haihoutes: The Kos village that turned from abandoned to tourist attraction

Haihoutes, also known as Agios Dimitros, is a ghost village located on the island of Kos, Greece. The village was one of the smallest in Kos since the 1850’s until it’s complete abandonment in the 1970’s.

In the early to mid 1900’s, Haihoutes contained only 35 to 40 houses, and only about 5 or 6 different extended families among them. During this time, a school was also founded and took place in the Church of Agios Dimitrios, which still remains intact and situated on the mountain. There were about 40 to 50 students within the school and was the first established school on the island of Kos.

The town was used as a safe point by Kos residents during WWII when fighting against the Turkish soldiers, as its high location in the mountains meant that enemy soldiers were channelled up by one steep incline path.

By the 1970’s, most people had left the town due to a severe lack of infrastructure and moved to other towns in Kos. Following its abandonment and repeated earthquakes, the town’s infrastructure completely collapsed, with houses crumbling to one or two standing walls.

In 2012, when the village was completely deserted, a couple from Athens brought life to the town by opening up a taverna called “Haihoutes”, named after the town. During the day it operates as a coffee shop for people to sit and admire the deserted village and view overlooking Kos. Additionally, on selected nights, the café holds live events with bouzouki music and Greek dancing, transforming the “ghost town” into a village full of life.

Along with the café, the couple opened up a small private museum in a restored house, showing off some of the history of the town, exhibiting items such as utensils and tools used in the early 1900’s.

With the future of the mostly abandoned town left undetermined, the free standing church and café remain active for tourists to visit and experience the recovered history from a forgotten town.

Archbishop Makarios visits Saint Euphemia Greek Orthodox College

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Archbishop Makarios visits Saint Euphemia Greek Orthodox College

On Tuesday, 19 November, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios made his first official visit to the Greek Orthodox College of Saint Euphemia, in the suburb of Bankstown, Sydney.

His Eminence was welcomed into the college by many young students who were decorated in traditional Greek costumes. Among them was a schoolgirl who welcomed him with her Cretan lyre, wearing a traditional Cretan costume.

The welcoming event for the Archbishop, which was organised by the administration, teaching staff and students, included activities which were undertaken by the school children, such as reciting Cretan Mantinades, dancing sirtaki and singing to classic Greek songs.

n his brief address, Archbishop Makarios drew the attention of the students to the importance of studying in a Greek Orthodox college and highlighting what makes them stand out from the rest of the country’s schools, despite potentially less facilities or greater financial opportunities. The Archbishop explained that the greatest difference is observed through the Colleges’ opportunity of being close to the Church and having Christ constantly in their lives.

“You can have a lot of things in your life, they can give you a lot of gifts,” he said, “but the most important thing is what this particular school will offer you”.

During the event, the students of the College offered Archbishop Makarios a pen as a commemorative gift, after which he promised to use the pen to sign their diplomas.

Vasili’s Taxidi: Hellenic Patisserie and Gelato Bar – Shops Synonymous with Marrickville

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Vasili’s Taxidi: Hellenic Patisserie and Gelato Bar – Shops Synonymous with Marrickville

By Vasilios Vasilas

One interesting aspect about shops and businesses is the way they become associated with a suburb; as soon as you say their name to people, they know exactly where they are located. It feels as though these shops and businesses have been there all the time; it does not matter if they may have moved to different locations and built new premises, they continue to be synonymous with their locality.

It was late 2017 when I interviewed Dimos Scoullis of Hellenic Patisserie and Gelato Bar, one of the ‘institutions’ of Marrickville, or as so many people fondly remember it as ‘Hellenic Bakery’.

Dimos migrated to Australia in 1965; although he was meant to begin ‘pick and shovel’ work at the Sydney Waterboard on Monday, he worked (during the weekend) in the takeaway shop under the Cecil Hotel, Cronulla…. peeling potatoes! This was Dimos’ first experiences of work in Australia!

A couple of years later, he married Vasiliki (nee: Konstantopoulos) and they eventually settled in Carlton.

It was Dimos’ brother, Giorgos, and his cousin, Yannis (Hatzikyriakou) who initially wanted to buy thr Artos Bakery off Peter Zefkilis, which was situated towards the crossroads of Illawarra and Marrickville Roads. As Yannis was tied up with the Corinthian Rotisserie, Giorgos asked Dimos to go into partnership (1977). There is a great story of how the bakers’ strike in January 1978 kickstarted their business and they did not look back after this.

With business booming, Dimos’ brother-in-law, Tasos Kotsogiorgis, came to work with Dimos and Giorgos. In 1981, the brothers bought another shop in Rockdale and transformed it into a bakery. Giorgos and Tasos ended up working in the new Rockdale bakery, while Dimos stayed in the Marrickville shop.

The early 1990s was a turning point for the business; with the lease ending, an opportunity arose for Dimos and Giorgos to part ways and Dimos daringly bought the property the business stands on today- the house was demolished and Hellenic Bakery re- opened there in 1992. In the early 2000s, the business continued to expand with the opening of the Glasshouse Cafe.

Times, people’s tastes and demographics change. These days, the bakery section of the business has decreased and morphed into a bustling patisserie and gelato bar (which also explains the business’ name change in 2016). With Dimos’ sons, Diamandis and Giorgos, this iconic business will continue to grow!

What I love about Hellenic Patisserie and Gelato Bar is the way it nurtured the tastes of Marrickville’s Greeks over the years; positioned near the railways station, thousands of locals come out of the station and will drop into the shop on their way home- where they will pick up something Greek to take home to eat. They have played a huge role in transitioning Greek food into the Australian cuisine.

Asked what Marrickville means to him, Dimos states, ‘For so many decades, I only saw Carlton, where we live, at nights because I was always working in Marrickville. If you look at Marrickville that way, I spent more time there than at my home in Carlton. Marrickville is like my home.’

NASA launch mission to Kolumbo volcano in Santorini

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NASA launch mission to Kolumbo volcano in Santorini

Launched last night from the port of Lavrion and will last until November 27, an international oceanographic seabed submarine will surveillance the Kolumbo volcano, about seven kilometres northeast of Santorini.

Funded by the US Agency for International Development, the international mission is made up of 30 scientists from the US, Greece, Australia and Germany, and is backed by the Greek interests of Maritech International’s DP-2 CLV Ocean Link.

NASA’s goal is to test new and “intelligent” technologies in the seas of the Earth with Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs), which in the coming decades are intended to be used to explore extra-terrestrial oceans such as Jupiter’s distant moons. The submarine will detect traces of life in extreme, uncharted and potentially dangerous environments that will be explored.

The program, aimed at optimising robotic probe technology, is being attended by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute of Massachusetts (led by Dr. Richard Camille, who is also the head of the mission), The Institute of Technology the University of Michigan, the University of Sydney, the Department of Geology and Environment of the University of Athens, and the Institute of Marine Biology, Biotechnology and Aquaculture (ITHAW.V.Y.K.) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Science (ELKETHE).

An assistant Professor of Greek Law at the University of Athens Paraskevi, who played a key role in conducting NASA’s research in Greece and not in any other country, told RES-EIA: “The Columbus volcano faces us with those of planetary exploration. Although remote-controlled submarines have previously landed in the Kolumbo Crater, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs and gliders) will be used in this mission to collect oceanographic data due to the complex and potentially dangerous environment.”

As explained, the Kolumbo volcanic cone has a base diameter of three kilometres and forms a crater of 170 meters in diameter, rising from a depth of 504 meters to a depth of 18 meters below sea level. This submarine caldera is located in a highly geodetic environment, very close to the caldera of the Santorini volcano, and has an important hydrothermal system, from which almost pure carbon dioxide is released.

“Self-propelled submarines will move through the Kolumbo Crater and study its hydrothermal sources and other areas of biogeochemical interest. The robots, which have chemical sensors, among other things, will look for conditions inside the caldera that could favour the development of life forms, as if they were in an extra-terrestrial ocean,” Ms Nomikou said.

Sourced by: RES-EIA

Papastergiadis: Proposed legislation for expatriate vote is insufficient

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Papastergiadis: Proposed legislation for expatriate vote is insufficient

President of the Greek Orthodox Community in Melbourne, Mr Bill Papastergiadis, recently sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Greece, Mr Kyriakos Mitsotaki, regarding the current restrictions of the diaspora vote that are affecting Greek Australian citizens.

Mr Papastergiadis believes that this legislation is a positive one and congratulated both the government and the political parties on the agreement of the vote. However, Papastergiadis added that alterations to the agreement are necessary to properly convey the voices of Greek’s living abroad.

Despite being positive and congratulating both the government and the political parties on the agreement of the vote, Papastergiadis believes that alterations to the agreement are necessary to properly convey the voices of Greek international people.

The main concerns Papastergiadis raises with the proposed legislation are:

• It excludes the majority of expatriates from voting.

• It does not practically accommodate expatriates in the election process

• Creates two categories of Greek citizens

• Does not provide a ballot vote, forcing expatriates to travel long distances to vote at consulates, embassies or elsewhere. We, as expatriates, propose the universal introduction of the postal vote for Greeks both within Greece and those abroad.

• It creates contradictions. On the one hand, Greece forces and trusts a Greek-born foreigner to serve as a soldier and to protect the homeland, and on the other it restricts the right to vote because they have not been in Greece for two consecutive years.

Mr Papastergiadia continues to explain that because of these voting restrictions, instead of helping expatriates on the issue of voting, the legislation poses a number of obstacles that will ultimately have the opposite effect of what is expected.

“Greeks abroad, and especially in Australia, are fighting for Greece’s national issues and for its economic development, and we are trying to promote the interests of Greece in the governments of the countries where we live.”

In Australia, Greeks must visit the nearest Greek Consulate or Embassy to vote, however due to Australian cities such as Sydney and Melbourne having very large perimeters, some voters may have to travel up to 120 kilometres to vote.

“Even if ballots are eventually erected elsewhere, such as Communities, etc., in the event of multiple registrations from certain areas, the problem is not resolved. There will also be Greeks who will not be able to visit these centres.”

The president of the Greek Orthodox Community voiced that the criterion of requiring 35 years of residence abroad automatically deprives those living outside Greece more years to vote. Additionally, he argues that the criterion of a two-year stay in Greece prevents the majority of Greeks (up to 90%) from voting.

“Most Greeks return to Greece for holidays and stay from two weeks to three months…. As employees, having businesses and families abroad, we are unable to stay two years in Greece. Only a very small percentage may meet this criterion.”

Mr Papastergiadis requests that Prime Minister Mitsotaki reviews the presented concerns and finds a suitable solution that accommodates the Greek Australian community.

Acropolis lights up blue in respect of Children’s Rights

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Acropolis lights up blue in respect of Children’s Rights

As a sign of respect for children’s rights and for their right to be protected, one of the world’s greatest monuments, the Athens Acropolis, lit up blue on November 20.

The colourful display signified Greece’s support of UNICEF’s World Children’s Day 2019 celebrations, which coincide this year with the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Greek Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, released a statement expressing its support to the UN cause:

« The Ministry of Culture and Sports, supporting the aims of the organisation (UN) and the work it has been doing for decades with actions, interventions and initiatives concerning all aspects of child protection, has approved the UNICEF request. The Acropolis is among the monuments and major buildings around the world, lit up blue, to promote the work of the organisation and raise public awareness of children’s rights. Among them, this year are the European Parliament in Brussels, the Shanghai Tower in China, the Pantheon in France, and the Petra in Jordan. »

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