XpatAthens

XpatAthens

Thursday, 19 February 2015 13:07

Coalition Looks To Garner Extra Support

With only a couple of days to go ahead of the first of three possible parliamentary votes to elect Greece's new President, and all eyes are on independent lawmakers and the DIMAR and Independent Greeks MPs.

The vote will take place this Wednesday, December 17, at 7 p.m. and so far only about 10 parliamentarians outside the coalition have said they will back the government's candidate, Stavros Dimas. This has led many government sources to suggest that 165 MPs will be a good starting point for this Wednesday' s vote, secretly hoping the support could get to 170.

The coalition needs a two-thirds supermajority majority – equivalent to 200 MPs out of the 300-member assembly – for its candidate, Stavros Dimas, to be elected in the first round. If it fails to do so, a second round will be held after five days, on December 23, also requiring 200 votes. A third and final round of voting will be held on December 29, but this time the required majority will drop to 180 lawmakers, which is the government's target.

If the presidential elections fails, the parliament has to be dissolved within ten days and a snap election will be held as early as 25 January or 1 February. So far opinion polls suggest the snap election would be won by main opposition party Syriza.

To read more, please visit thetoc.gr/eng

By Anna Zarifi

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is set to get personally involved in the process of trying to convince independent and opposition MPs to elect Stavros Dimas as president, Kathimerini understands. The task of contacting the lawmakers has so far been left to State Minister Dimitris Stamatis, Samaras’s adviser Chrysanthos Lazaridis and Health Minister Makis Voridis.

However, Samaras will now become involved in the process, either meeting or phoning MPs who the government believes might be prepared to vote for Dimas.

The coalition’s aim is to secure at least 165 votes in the first ballot on Wednesday and to then take stock of which lawmakers the coalition might be able to persuade to vote “yes” by the time the final round of voting comes around on December 29. The government needs 200 votes to elect a president in the first two ballots and 180 in the final one.

Realistically, this means that the coalition needs to garner support from roughly 15 of the independent MPs and about 10 deputies from Democratic Left and Independent Greeks. So far the number of lawmakers in this group who have clearly said they will back Dimas numbers around 10.

As the battle for MPs’ votes intensifies, the polarization between the two main parties – New Democracy and SYRIZA – also looks certain to grow. On Friday, however, it was comments from outside Greece that caused a stir. The controversy was caused when European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker clearly stated his preference for the current government remaining in power rather then being replace by SYRIZA.

To read more, please visit ekathimerini.com

In a letter addressed to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Former President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE) Stefanos Tamvakis noted that Greece should count on the 6 million Greeks abroad.

Tamvakis, as the last SAE president for six years, from 2007 to 2012, and honorary President of the historic Greek Community in Alexandria, invited Tsipras to utilize the Greek Diaspora’s resources, stating that Greeks abroad will stand by the government as allies in order to help the country exit the crisis.

Furthermore, Tamvakis stressed the need to establish a Ministry for Greeks Abroad, as well as the need to turn the General Directorate of Greeks Abroad into a General Secretariat. Meanwhile, he wrote about the postal voting issue and the need to reopen SAE.

To read more, please visit greekreporter.com

By Ioannou Zikakou

Some 300 internationally acclaimed academics and intellectuals from across the globe have signed and published an open letter in support of Greece and Europe, demanding from the European governments, the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to respect the mandate of the Greek people for a new negotiation between the country’s government and its partners in order to agree to a new program and resolve the long-standing debt problem.

The open letter was published online on a website founded by journalist and former editor in chief of French daily newspaper Le Monde, Edwy Plenel.

Among others, the letter is signed by economists James Kenneth Galbraith of the University of Texas at Austin, Stephany Griffith-Jones of the Columbia University in New York, Jacques Sapir of the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris, psychiatrist Gerald Epstein of the American Institute for Mental Imagery and philosopher/sociologist Dominique Meda of the Universite Paris-Dauphine.

The full letter in English:

We the undersigned call on the governments of Europe, the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF to respect the decision of the Greek people to choose a new course and to engage the new government of Greece in good faith negotiations to resolve the Greek debt.

The government of Greece is correct to insist on new policies because the previous policies have failed. They have not brought economic recovery. They have not brought financial stability. They have not brought jobs or foreign investments. They have stressed and damaged Greek society and weakened Greek institutions. There is therefore no value in that approach and no progress to preserve. We urge Greece’s European partners to accept this reality, without which the new government would have never been elected.


To read more, please visit greekreporter.com

By Aggelos Skordas

Thursday, 19 February 2015 12:59

GreekTV Launches New Website

GreekTV launches new website and encourages a progressive and open exchange of news and community building for Greeks worldwide. Here are the human stories.

The global media landscape changes with the debut of a website and community that offers a fresh, progressive perspective of Hellenism today. GreekTV creates a platform where Greeks and Philhellenes from around the world can present progressive viewpoints, positive efforts, and interesting subjects often ignored by traditional media. This active window into contemporary Greek reality and the world of Greek diaspora is without stereotypes and exclusions, offering the world a more nuanced perspective of modern Greek social, economic, political and cultural life.

The origins of the GreekTV project date to a radio show produced in San Francisco by Louis Vitalis in 1940. From those beginnings, GreekTV was born and went on to become one of the longest running ethnic television shows in the Unites States.

Now, GreekTV.com serves the world online. Here viewers will find the best regularly updated original and curated content by, for, and about Greeks—from Athens to Australia, from Santorini to Silicon Valley, and everywhere in between. Through regularly updated original videos, mini docs, interviews, profiles and presentations, GreekTV shares human stories, unique images and contemporary portraits.

In addition to the team of resident journalists and video producers based in cities like Athens and New York, GreekTV welcomes contributors from around the world to share their own stories and ideas with the global community, making the site a truly communal space and fostering an open exchange of information and viewpoints.

GreekTV will launch for public viewing and interaction on Tuesday, February 3 2015. For access to GreekTV content and global contributions plus more information about the project, visit www.GreekTV.com. You can watch the GreekTV teaser video here: vimeo.com/105680548.

www.facebook.com/GlobalGreekTV - twitter.com/GrTV_World - www.GreekTV.com

Sixteen sites were named by the independent selection panel set up by the European Commission to receive the European Heritage Label (EHL) out of a total of 36 sites that had been submitted for pre-selection in view of their roles in European history and the activities they have developed to highlight their European dimension.  From Greece, the Heart of Ancient Athens was selected.

The area consists of the Acropolis and surrounding regions that include Pnyx Hill, the Ancient and Roman agorae, Hadrian’s Library and the nearby Kerameikos Cemetery. The area reached the EHL shortlist because it is believed to have played a crucial role in the European culture and identity.

The independent selection panel in charge of assessing the applications on the basis of the established criteria recommended the 16 sites for the Label, however the EC will reach its formal decision by mid-February 2015.

To read more, please visit en.protothema.gr

Thursday, 19 February 2015 12:57

Weddings In Greece 2015

The history, weather, and picturesque landscapes of Greece and its islands make it a hugely attractive destination for couples looking to add a little extra magic to their special day, making it one of the most popular countries in Europe for overseas weddings in recent years.

Perhaps one of the greatest virtues of Greece as a wedding destination is that its variety of landscapes permits the couple to really be in control of the aesthetics and tone of their wedding.

With that in mind, we’ve put together some of the most popular Greek wedding destinations and themes to inspire you.

Destinations

Santorini

Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands in the Mediterranean and is justifiably one of the most popular wedding destinations in Greece. The island features the famous blue and white villas and churches, excellent beaches, and fantastic views stretching out over the blue water. The laid back and clean aesthetic of the island lends itself to small and personal weddings, though that’s not to say there isn’t plenty of scope to invite hundreds of your friends and turn it into a big wedding – there is. Whichever one you decide on, it’s hard to go wrong in an area as beautiful as this.

Kefalonia

The island of Kefalonia may only be 50km long and 25km wide, but it manages to pack a lot of romantic views into its small space. With beautiful beaches, stunning water, and an untouched atmosphere that is seldom replicated elsewhere, the island is the ideal place for a small beach ceremony with an intimate audience of family and friends.

Themes

Cruise Weddings

A great way to have a Greek wedding and begin your honeymoon is by taking a cruise wedding, in which you get to share the build-up to the ceremony, the ceremony, and week-long after party with your friends and family. A cruise wedding isn’t a Vegas wedding, however – you’ll still enjoy as much control over the day as you would if it were taking place on land. With so many beautiful Greek islands worth visiting, a cruise wedding is a great way to see them all and make your wedding especially unforgettable – it is also convenient for those couples who can’t decide which picturesque landscape they want in the background of their wedding photos.

Greek Group Weddings

With overseas weddings growing in popularity each year, couples are thinking of ever more creative ways to keep the costs down and turn their dream wedding into a reality. One of the most fun ways to do this is to double, triple, or even quadruple or more up with other engaged couples and have a group wedding, thus slashing costs. Sixteen couples recently wed in one massive ceremony on the island of Crete, taking the idea of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” to a whole new level! While it’s unlikely to save you big money on flights or accommodation, you can save on rentals, food packages, and just about everything else connected to a wedding (though feel free to splurge on your own dress!).

Greek Style

Most people who get married in Greece do so because of the beauty of the landscape, but those who delve a little deeper will find that adding a healthy dose of Greek culture to the ceremony adds plenty of potential to make it unique, stylish, and memorable. The beauty of this approach is that it is so simple – just think about Greek culture while planning! This means adding plenty of fish and local fruit in your meals, serving Greek olives, and making sure all the wine comes from within the country. You can even find plenty of wedding dresses inspired by Ancient Greece and include local music, dances, and customs into your ceremony and after party. If you really want to be Greek, follow the age-old custom and turn your wedding into a three day celebration – it’ll be worth it!

Final Advice

The hospitality and beauty of Greece makes it an unforgettable wedding location. And the beauty of a Greek wedding is that there are no rules to follow – you can have an intimate or extravagant ceremony, choose a romantic island or the bustling city of Athens; the choice is yours. Whichever you decide, take the time to really think about what your perfect wedding would look like – because in Greece, it’s probably achievable.

By Jemma Bond

Photo: iefimerida.gr

 

It’s All Greek is a specialist in fine replicas of ancient Greek art and jewellery who work exclusively with small, family businesses like their own. Their product range comes from a team of over fifteen such companies: currently 12 in Greece and 5 in the UK. Nothing is mass-produced.  Their shop is located in London, Bloomsbury—opposite the east corner of the British Museum to be exact (don’t mention the Marbles!)

As a Grecophile myself, I came across them on Twitter and immediately fell in love with their philosophy: “Our aims are to nurture enthusiasm for the spirit and art of ancient Greece, to promote the excellent products of our suppliers and to provide our customers with the best possible quality and service.”   Opening in 2000, they have supplied feature films such as Troy, Alexander and Clash of the Titans as well as featured in various media such as The Daily Telegraph and Elle Decoration, to name but a few.

I regularly make trips to London to see my friends. This time I decided to go and visit It’s All Greek and have a chat with them.  I met with Elinor Wynne Lloyd, founder and owner of It’s All Greek.

Your website is very extensive and shows us what can be purchased, as well as giving us background information about this lovely enterprise run by a collection of friends and family who come from a Classics background.

What was the final push in your compass to dedicate a shop to selling all things Greek?

During my sixteen years or so as a Classics teacher, I took a number of school trips to Greece, as I wanted the students to experience that magic of visiting the sites and to make the subject come alive. I found myself purchasing a number of bits and pieces to bring home to use in class and to have at home. Friends would often ask me to bring something back for them too, so I decided there might well be a market for this, albeit a very niche one.

To read the rest of the interview, please visit www.lifebeyondbordersblog.com

By Rebecca Hall

Department of Defense is seeking shooters, counter intelligence agents and qualified fighter jet pilots, while the government has already issued a visa for 135 people who will work for the country’s elite units. The military recruitment from abroad has increased since 2012, while the appointment of some 36 foreign employees on the defense sector is currently pending.

The Australian Defense Ministry has already given funds to attract the elite military personnel. “In fact, this is not a waste of time, on the opposite, we save money as we do not spend time for staff training.

To read more, please visit greekreporter.com

By Aggelos Skordas

CNN has included the Greek island groups of the Sporades and the Dodecanese among nine exclusive Mediterranean cruises for those who want to embark on a peaceful journey and avoid the crowds this summer. The cruise destinations suggested by CNN are ideal for a “small group of friends on a private boat that’s large enough to carry essential luxuries, but small enough to head to uncrowded offbeat destinations”.

The Sporades - A taste of real Greece

The Sporades — an archipelago of 11 islands, four of which are uninhabited — are what real Greece is all about, CNN mentions. “They’re offbeat, hard to reach and untamed by nature.” The Sporades one-week cruise suggested by CNN begins with Skiathos as the departure port and of course includes a stop at Skopelos, the filming location for the movie “Mamma Mia!”.

The Northern Dodecanese - A world of unspoiled atolls

The one-week cruise for 12 people to the Northern Dodecanese that CNN suggests starts from Kos and explores the Greek islands “of unspoiled atolls dotted with blue and white houses”: Pserimos and Leros (both recommended for bicycle tourism), Patmos (get ready for a monastery with a breathtaking view), Lipsi (ideal for food enthusiasts) and Kalymnos (offers opportunities for free climbing).

CNN’s list includes peaceful cruises to Corsica’s Cap Corse (France), Egadi Islands & Zingaro Reserve/Marsala (Italy), Pontine Archipelago (Italy), Bodrum to Didim (Turkey), Alternative Amalfi Coast (Italy), Kornati Islands (Croatia) and Aeolian Islands & eastern Sicily (Italy).

To read more, please visit gtp.gr

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