The Greek government says it will grant refugee status to a group of Iranian men who have held a hunger strike to protest long delays in the processing of their asylum applications.
A government statement Monday said all six men, two of whom had refused food since July 19, were given political asylum.
The Iranians have camped outside the Athens offices of the United Nations refugee agency, claiming their asylum applications were unanswered for up to nine years. They said they faced persecution in Iran for their beliefs.
Human rights groups often criticize Greece about their asylum system. Only about four in 10,000 applicants are granted asylum, and a backlog of more than 45,000 appeals has built up. Greek authorities have pledged reforms.
DF: Should Greece be getting help from other EU countries to deal with the flow of immigrants/refugees?
posted on Thursday, September 2
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A blanket ban on smoking in public places, aimed at bringing Greece’s legislation into line with EU laws, comes into effect today. The ban will apply to bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as offices and all modes of public transport. Going with the theme of the slogan "Stub out your cigarettes, add to your life," the controversial legislation adopted in July 2009 but so far unenforced bans smoking in all public spaces except casinos and large music halls which have a nine-month extension to June.
Caught smoking? Get ready to pay up. Violaters faces fines from 50 to 500 euros (64 to 640 dollars) while business operators risk tougher penalties of 500 to 10,000 euros and repeat offenders could have their licenses revoked.
Regulators say they will allow for a one month 'grace' period for anyone caught smoking during the transition phase.
But for nicotine addicted Greece, we will see how fast this new ban will be able to be adapted. According to a report by the Greek newspaper Ta Nea, forty percent of Greeks are smokers and go through an average of eight cigarettes per day.
posted on Wednesday, September 1
Last year, a primary school in Melbourne cut both Greek and Mandarin from it's curriculum due to budget cuts and teacher restraints. The school, Wales St Primary School, draws students from areas of the greater Melbourne area that are home to a large Greek population (Northcote and Thornbury).
Over 130 parents have signed a petition to bring the language back to the curriculum saying that it not only benefits the students but the neighborhood as a whole. The parents will try to partner up with the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne in Victoria (GOCMV) to create a wider buzz about the subject.
A public forum to reinstate Modern Greek at Wales St Primary School in Melbourne will be held at St Georges Greek Orthodox Church Hall, 66 St David St, Thornbury on September 2 from 7pm. We will keep you all posted.
posted on Monday, August 30
Photographer Tony Koukos finds inspiration throughout the world. Currently residing in Canada but with strong ties to his native Greece and her whitewashed isles, Tony is a veteran traveler whose search for unique matter has brough him to over 30 countires including: Italy, Cuba, Australia, Thailand, Japan and Turkey.
Tony recently has one of his pieces, Heart Street, be launched globally at over 300 IKEA Stores.
Tony captured the image on his camera while walking down the graffiti-strewn streets of an old Athens.
A new website is planned to launch soon with over 3000 new travel images from approximately 38 countries. Best of luck for continued success Tony!
Be sure to check out his website at www.tonykoukos.com.
You can also find his work on Facebook at "Tony Koukos World Travel Photography"
DF Note:
» DF was on WGN's Morning News in Chicago promoting the upcoming Taste of Greece in Chicago's Greektown with WGN's 'Around Town' Reporter Ana See you there!
posted on Friday, August 27
GREEK X-FACTOR JUDGES ARRIVE IN NEW YORK TO LOOK FOR THE NEXT BIG STAR!
JOIN BY SEPTEMBER 3rd
The most successful talent show of Greek TV is back and looks for this year’s big star! Special auditions for Greek-Americans will take place for the first time in New York. All performers or vocal groups that have the x-factor have the privilege to participate in the Greek version of THE X-FACTOR 3 show!
NEW YORK X-FACTOR AUDITIONS: SEPTEMBER 10th 11th and 12th, MANHATTAN
To Join Call 1 212 688 5475, send an email to satellite@antenna.gr with all your data or fill
the join form at www.antenna.gr/satellite.
Join forms’ deadline: Friday, September 3rd.
posted on Thursday, August 26
Sudan, the largest country in Africa, and the tenth largest in the world; has been home to a small yet powerful Greek business community since the early 20th century. Located mostly in the capital Khartoum, the Greeks got heavily involved in trading and the industrial sectors, which turned out to be very lucrative for them.
Sudan unfortunately has been rocked by decades of war, famine, and civil strife; leading to many Greeks to leave the country for Greece or South Africa. About 250 Greeks still remain in the country. A crucial referendum will take place in 2011 to see if South Sudan will vote from independence from the north, hopefully leading to an end of hostilities in the country and a new era for growth and peace.
A interesting note about the Greek community in Sudan. The Acropole Hotel, which was founded in 1955 and run by the Greek Pagoulatos family - brothers Thanasis, George, and Mike; is the oldest hotel in Khartoum, founded by the brothers' father in 1955.
Acropole Hotel
posted on Wednesday, August 25
Greek briefings from around the world...
» Greek Ambassador to Pakistan visits Afghanistan. Greece's ambassador to Pakistan Petros Mavroidis paid an official visit to Afghanistan earlier this month, as he is also accredited as Athens ’ envoy to the country. The Greek ambassador was received by ISAF commander US Gen. David Petraeus, with whom he discussed the overall situation in Afghanistan .
» CNN's World Untold Stories focuses on the plight of the remaining Greeks of Turkey. Interesting read here.
» Wildfire reignites. A wildfire in Karystos, in southern Evia, continued to rage in the Kastro region of the island, north of the main harbor town on Monday. Gusty winds made it hard for firefighters to battle the blaze. A total of 83 wildfires were reported in the country in the last 24 hours.
» Scholarships announced in Melbourne, Australia. The Greek-Australian Cultural League (GCL) is offering $1500 in scholarships to two students of Modern Greek at Monash University in Melbourne. Greek-Australian Cultural League president Cathy Alexopoulos said the scholarships are an important way of promoting the league’s aims.
» Greek American Author writes new book. Gene Chronopoulos recently wrote a new book called “It all started with Billie Holiday” which isa nostalgic journey through the world of Jazz, the music, the artists and the contribution of Jazz to the world. For more info on Gene and the new book click here.
posted on Tuesday, August 24
Anna Prelevic - Miss Greece, (Yes she's half Serbian), and Demetra Olybiou - Miss Cyprus are among those competing today in Las Vegas of the United States for the title of Miss Universe along with over 80 other contestants. Miss Universe 2010, the 59th edition of the pageant, will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino It will be hosted by Bret Michaels and Natalie Morales.Stefanía Fernández from Venezuela, will crown her successor at the end of this event.
Good luck to Miss Greece and Miss Cyprus.
Miss Greece 2010 - Anna Prelevic
Miss Cyprus Demetra Olymbiou
Miss Univerise
posted on Monday, August 23
Teachers throughout Greece are retiring this year in larger number, by the thousands. Why? As the reforms passed by the government earlier this summer take affect, itwill, over the next few years, force public servants to work longer to qualify for their pensions while also slashing their monthly retirement payments.
The Greek Primary Teachers’ Federation (DOE) and Secondary School Teachers’ Federation(OLME) expressed their concern at the amount of teachers who will be leaving the profession, especially
as the number of new hires this year will be half what it was last year and far below those retiring.
Due to cuts in public spending, only 1,425 new teachers are to take up positions this September at secondary
and high schools. OLME said at least another 6,000 education positions need to be filed.
What does this mean? Possible merger of some schools, larger class sizes? We can't be for sure what the outcome will be but nearly 11,500 teachers have retired the past year, more than double the average.
posted on Friday, August 20
With its base above a fast food shop in Marrickville, Take Away Theatre is Sydney's contemporary Greek Australian theater company and has been staging contemporary Australian theatre in both English and Greek since it's establishment in 1989. The company has gained a strong fringe following for putting a Greek/Australian spin on the classics such as Shakespeare and Moliere, as well as premiering new works by local writers.
Scene from a previous performance of the Take Away Theater
The theater group has produced over one dozen live theater performances. Their newest production, To Baraki, will debut on September 15th at the Cyprus Community Center, coming on the heels of their 20 year anniversary. IThe production will run until October 10th. If visiting Sydney, make sure to remember to check out this theater.
To Baraki Promo
posted on Thursday, August 19
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