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Tourism, an ailing industry - 9 May, 2008

We think of tourism as Greece’s heavy industry. If this is true, then museums and archaeological sites are its factories. These, however, constantly operate below capacity.

Sometimes it is the staff that is on strike and padlocks the gates of the sites. Sometimes it is the Culture Ministry’s fault for failing to pay the guides what they’re due. The state does not hire enough hands to run these attractions and the end result is that while museums are expected to close at 7 p.m., you find their doors shut at 3 p.m.

Greece’s “heavy industry” is drowning under the state’s poor management. Greece has a lot riding on the success of tourism. It is the country’s biggest source of income. And in these times especially, as clouds gather over the global economy, our country needs, now more than ever, the last euro cent brought by those who visit from all over the world to admire the achievements of ancient Greece.

We need better organization and some serious investment. At least to the extent that museums close at the time stated.

The weather

Clear skies are forecast for most parts, with patchy afternoon cloud over the mainland, sporadic rainstorms in eastern Macedonia, Thrace and possibly on the mountains of the mainland. Winds will be northwesterly at 3 to 4 Beaufort in most parts and 5 to 6 Beaufort in the southeast. Temperatures will range from 6C (43F) to 21C (70F) in the north and from 8C (46F) to 24C (75F) elsewhere.

OUTLOOK: Afternoon showers tomorrow on the mainland and Crete, and perhaps also in central and northern Greece. Winds will be northerly at 3 to 4 Beaufort in the north and east and east-southeasterly at 4 to 6 Beaufort elsewhere. Occasional showers Sunday on the mainland, Cyclades and Crete, with rainstorms in the north.

From: Kathimerini
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Nuclear energy option derided - 8 May, 2008

A bid by Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias to open a discussion on whether Greece should consider adopting nuclear power seems to have stalled before it had a chance to get going. His idea was rejected flat out by government politicians, the leader of the main opposition party and the head of the Technical Chamber of Greece.

Perhaps the most damaging reactions to Souflias’s effort “to open the public dialogue on a crucial matter” came from within his own party. First was the response of New Democracy MP Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who also presides over Parliament’s environmental protection committee. Souflias had suggested in a speech earlier this week that the European Union now regards nuclear energy as “green energy since it does not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants.” But Mitsotakis poured cold water on these claims, telling reporters, “Nuclear energy is not green.” [...]

Flight disruptions

Ongoing go-slow protest action by Olympic Airlines pilots is expected to lead to the cancellation of some domestic flights today. Passengers planning to travel with OA are advised to contact the airline on telephone 210.966.6666. The pilots’ action yesterday resulted in the cancellation or delay of several flights.

From: Kathimerini
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Nuclear power considered - 7 May, 2008
Greece should begin thinking about whether to build reactors, ministry says

The option of Greece turning to nuclear power to solve its energy and environmental problems was firmly put on the table by the Public Works and Environment Ministry yesterday. Greece does not have any nuclear power plants but, in a statement released yesterday, the ministry indicated that a debate should begin on whether this form of energy could be adopted.

The ministry was reacting to comment by European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, who said that “nuclear energy does not belong to the group of renewable energy sources.” [...]

One in 4 go to private doctors

One in four citizens resort to private healthcare as the state health service is overburdened and understaffed, according to a 10-year study by Athens University whose results were made public yesterday.

Some 25.6 percent of Greeks seek out the services of a private doctors, according to the research, carried out between 1996 and 2006. Even in the traditionally poorer agricultural regions, only 20 percent of residents chose state care.

One of the main problems, according to the study, is that hospitals in Attica and the northern region of Macedonia are overburdened, serving the residents of both areas as well as a large influx of patients from elsewhere. The paradox is that many hospitals in other parts of the country have dozens of beds lying empty.

The report also highlights chronic shortages in hospital staff.

From: Kathimerini
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Fires will get worse, experts say - 6 May, 2008

Firefighting experts yesterday told an Athens seminar that Greece must take the necessary measures to fight increasingly fierce blazes as temperatures rise and land dries out.

Interior Minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos told delegates that hundreds of illegal landfills across the country are often the site of blazes, either accidental or intentional.

Pavlopoulos’s comments came hours after firefighters managed to control a large fire at Attica’s main landfill, northwest of the capital. It is unclear whether the blaze, believed to have started from four smaller fires, was caused by arsonists or by a methane explosion triggered by the rotting garbage. There were no reports of injuries in the Ano Liosia blaze.

Pavlopoulos said the government had earmarked 35 million euros for the firefighting coffers of local authorities.

Greek fires are expected to “increase in size and intensity” over the coming years,” according to the country’s fire chief Athanassios Kontokostas.

From: Kathimerini
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Zoning bill called into question - 5 May, 2008

A number of politicians, businessmen and environmentalists have expressed their concerns about the government’s land zoning plan, which is set to be the subject of parliamentary debate in the next few weeks.

Chief among the skeptics is New Democracy MP and head of Parliament’s environmental protection committee Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Writing in Sunday’s Kathimerini, the deputy expressed concern that the draft law does not encourage “green development” and does not adequately tackle unlicensed construction.

“The National Land Zoning Plan has room for improvement so that it can truly play its role and not just be a line of defense against the Council of State, which often overturns decisions to stop construction that does not conform to a wider zoning plan,” wrote Mitsotakis.

The head of policy at environmental group WWF Hellas, Theodota Nantsou, said the bill “is light years away from what a national zoning plan should be.” [...]

From: Kathimerini
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Samaria Gorge - 3 May, 2008

The Samaria Gorge on Crete opened yesterday to visitors for the first time this year after preparation work was completed. Extra staff will be hired over the next few weeks as thousands of tourists are expected to trek through the gorge during the summer.

More patrols to curb migrants

Merchant Marine Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis yesterday asked the country’s coast guard chief to boost patrols of Greek shores in the Aegean after more than 100 illegal immigrants were intercepted in just a few days.

Voulgarakis issued the order after coast guard officials on Lesvos, Leros and Farmakonisi detained 115 would-be migrants over the Orthodox Easter weekend. All the migrants claimed to have reached Greek territory by boat from neighboring Turkey.

Another 22 immigrants were stopped on Lesvos and Kos yesterday and 15 more on Farmakonisi, together with their suspected smuggler, a Turkish national.

According to ministry statistics made public yesterday, a total of 20,134 immigrants and 690 people smugglers have entered the country illegally since 2004.

From: Kathimerini
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Cavo Sidero - 2 May, 2008
Foreign academics lead petition to stop huge tourism project on Crete

Two academics, an American and a Briton, who are spearheading a petition opposing the construction of a massive tourism complex in northwestern Crete, had managed to collect nearly 6,000 signatures by yesterday. Oliver Rackham, of Cambridge University, and Jennifer Moody, of the University of Texas, are trying to drum up support for their cause ahead of next Friday when the Council of State is to hear the case of local residents and ecologists against the Cavo Sidero project. Protesters argue that the project is “unsustainable” as it will demand “huge quantities of water.”

Missing farmer

A 51-year-old farmer who had been missing on Crete since last Friday was found dead in a ravine near the village of Sassalo yesterday. Police said that it appears the man, who was not named, lost control of his scooter and drove off the road. Officers said that his disappearance was not reported until Wednesday morning, which hampered the search operation. Authorities had called in a helicopter to help with their efforts.

From: Kathimerini
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Sunshine Forecast on May Day - 1 May, 2008

Bright sunshine and high temperatures will make up the weather in several regions throughout Greece on May Day. Weather conditions in Attica will be rather mild, with temperatures ranging from 13C to 26C and winds at speeds of 3 to 4 Beaufort. In Thessaloniki the weather is forecast a little cloudy. Winds will be southerly at 3 to 4 Beaufort and temperatures will range from 11C to 20C.

From: ERT News
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Police say no problems on roads - 30 April, 2008

Police said there were no major problems for vacationers returning from the Easter break yesterday. An estimated 1 million vehicles left from Athens for the long weekend but are returning only gradually as many vacationers appear to be extending their break due to the May Day public holiday tomorrow. Some drivers, however, complained of queues backing up for tens of kilometers in Mesolongi, central Greece, as they waited to cross the Rio-Antirio bridge. Despite the smooth traffic flow on the national highways, 21 people were killed on the country’s roads over the long weekend, in an estimated 170 car accidents.

May Day...

A tree is seen in a field covered with flowers, in Oinoi, near the town of Pyrgos in the Peloponnese. It is traditional for Greeks to collect various kinds of flowers and weave them into wreaths on May Day. The wreath is known as ‘Mais’ or May.

 

From: Kathimerini
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FIREWORK INJURY - 29 April, 2008
Cretan man loses a hand in explosion during celebrations on the island

A 25-year-old man from Crete was being treated at the KAT hospital in Athens yesterday after having one of his hands blown off by a firework early on Sunday. The man, who was not named, was taking part in Easter celebrations on Crete when the accident occurred. Precise details of how he was injured were not made public. This year, authorities have tried to clamp down on the sale of fireworks, whose sale is not permitted during Easter. The 25-year-old’s accident was the only injury reported up to last night.

From: Kathimerini
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Last Minute Shopping - 26 April, 2008

Consumers are doing the last shopping for Easter dinner today while among them there are some who on purpose have left shopping for the last minute in the hope that butchers will have dropped prices to move their products. Shops will close at 15:00, butchers’ at 16:00 and super markets at 18:00. In the Barbakios market the price of domestic lamb ranges from 6 to 10.5 euros and imported lamb from 5.5 to 7 euros per kilogram. However, the price of lamb is 2 to 3 euros higher in neighborhood butcher shops. Particularly high are the prices of vegetables and fruits, tsourekia and eggs.

From: ERT News
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Taxi and bus fares to increase next month - 25 April, 2008

The cost of traveling by bus and taxi will rise by 5 percent next month, it was agreed yesterday, but cabbies vowed to press for further hikes in the near future.

Transport Minister Costis Hatzidakis issued a statement saying that the price rises, which also affect the charges for deliveries made by tanker trucks, were agreed upon as a result of the spiraling cost of fuel.

“The rise in fuel prices is creating an extra burden for all professionals in the transport sector,” said Hatzidakis. The measure means that the cost of KTEL intercity buses and taxis will increase as of May 19.

Representatives of taxi driver unions said afterward that they were not particularly satisfied by the amount of the increase but would accept it for now. Cabbies had been pushing for an inflation-busting rise of more than 10 percent.

From: Kathimerini

Exodus Culminating

Although the weather is expected to deteriorate, the city dwellers’ exodus from urban centres will culminate today. The Traffic Police is on the alert while long vehicles have been banned from using the national roads during certain hours of the day. Ports, airports and bus terminals are packed with people with 100% complement of passengers for ships. Meanwhile, tickets for ships have gone up by 10%, while those using their cars will have to spend more this year because of the high prices of petrol and toll gates.

From: ERT News
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Cold fails to stem Easter rush - 24 April, 2008

The prospect of one of the coldest Easters in 30 years and rising prices do not seem to have had any negative impact on the traditional exodus of Athenians ditching the city in favor of spending the next few days in the countryside.

According to figures released yesterday, some 118,000 passengers set sail from Piraeus between last Friday and Tuesday. This was a rise of some 7,000 over the same period last year. An extra 5,000 passengers left through the port of Rafina this year as compared to 2007. The Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) has upped the number of carriages on its services by 20 percent and almost 1,000 KTEL intercity buses are expected to depart from Athens today and tomorrow.

A number of Athenians have picked foreign destinations for their Easter vacation and about 3,000 flights are due to land or take off from Athens International Airport over the next week. However, the largest percentage of Athenians is expected to leave the city by car. Although there was a gradual build up of traffic yesterday, a sharper increase is expected today and tomorrow. As part of the special traffic measures for Easter, from today trucks will not be allowed onto national roads between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Warnings from meteorologists that an uncharacteristic cold snap is expected to spread across the country from today do not appear to have dampened the desire of Athenians to spend their Easter outside the capital. Rain is forecast for many parts of the country today and tomorrow, with the mountainous regions of central and northern Greece even expected to witness snowfall. The temperature is expected to range between 17 Celsius (62 Fahrenheit) and 22C (71F) on these days.

These temperatures will make this Easter one of the coldest that has been recorded over the last three decades. Easter Sunday, when Greek families usually roast a lamb on a spit, is expected to be cloudy in most of the country but the Aegean Islands are likely to experience some rain.

From: Kathimerini
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Lamb sham - 23 April, 2008

The Piraeus Prefecture said yesterday that it has seized almost 9 tons of lamb from Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that had illegally been stamped as being from Greece. The increased trade in lamb ahead of Easter often leads to traders importing meat from other countries and selling it as Greek.

From: Kathimerini
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Greek Culture Minister Witnesses the Return of Greek Pottery - 22 April, 2008

Greek Culture Minister, Michalis Liapis, was pesent at the National Archaeological Museum in Greece to witness the return of a funerary urn named "lekythos" made from marble during the years 400-500 BC. The "lekythos" was brought back to Greece from Basel, Switzerland where it was part of of the collection of antiquarian J.D. Cahn.

A lekythos (plural lekythoi) is a type of Greek pottery used for storing oil, especially olive oil. It has a narrow body and one handle attached to the neck of the vessel. The lekythos was used for anointing dead bodies of unmarried men and many lekythoi are found in tombs. The images on lekythoi were often depictions of daily activities or rituals. Because they are so often used in funerary situations, they may also depict funerary rites, a scene of loss, or a sense of departure. These drawings are usually outline drawings that are quite expressionless and somber in appearance. The decoration of these ceramic vessels consists of a dull red and black paint. These colors may have been derived from the Bronze Age, but were not used until 530 B.C. in Athens. Many artists of these vessels attempt to add more color to the figures, but end up abandoning the idea as to leave more of a contrast. These vessels were very popular circa the 5th century B.C., however there are many that have been found dating all the way back to 700 B.C.

Lekythoi can be divided into five types:

  • the standard or cylindrical lekythos, which measures between 30 and 50 cm though there are much larger lekythoi, up to 1 m, which may have been used to replace funerary stele
  • the Deianeria lekythos which originates from Corinth, this form has an oval profile and a round shoulder and is generally of a small size (20cm), it was produced from the beginning of the black figure period until the late 6th century
  • the secondary or shoulder lekythos, a variation on the standard type produced from the mid 5th century on, most are decorated with the white ground technique and measure around 20cm
  • the squat lekythos, usually less than 20cm in height with a rounded belly and a flat base
  • the acorn lekythos, a rarer form, which has an oval profile and a net of points at the base.

From: ArtDaily.org
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Reds end top but wait for title - 21 April, 2008

Olympiakos won its fourth straight Greek championship last night but could still lose the title if a ruling by the highest court in sports goes against the Piraeus club.

Olympiakos beat visiting Iraklis 3-1 in the season’s last round to finish with 70 points from 30 games, while AEK ended second with 68 points after defeating Asteras Tripolis 2-0. Panathinaikos beat Apollon 3-1, away, for third place.

But the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland, could still affect the title. Last-place Apollon Kalamarias has filed a complaint with CAS to regain the four points it lost for fielding an ineligible player when it beat Olympiakos 1-0 on February 3. If it is successful, Olympiakos could lose the three league points it was awarded in the decision by Greek sports authorities. [...]

Police to boost road patrols this week as pre-Easter exodus begins

Police will increase supervision of the country’s national road network this week due to the upcoming Easter break. Measures include a larger number of police patrolling national highways and redirecting traffic flow on busy roads. Trucks will be banned from traveling on the highways exiting large cities on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. A large number of holidaymakers are expected to leave the major cities this coming weekend to take advantage of the May Day holiday that follows the Easter break.

From: Kathimerini
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Dust cloud may cause breathing problems - 19 April, 2008

A massive cloud of dust, expected to cover Athens in the coming days, may result in an increase in heart and respiratory problems of up to 10 percent, according to experts.

Meteorologists predict the dust, brought from the Sahara Desert by a southerly wind, is expected to reach the country around Monday.

Research shows that the airborne particles, or fine sand, are considerably larger that those normally found in city smog and can be more dangerous.

“When strong southerly winds blow over areas such as lakes in northern Algeria, they also take with them bacteria,” said Giorgos Kalos, associate professor of meteorology at the University of Athens. “This is then carried in a shell formed by salt and other matter and these organisms enter our geographical region,” he added.

From: Kathimerini
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Migrant leaflet - 18 April, 2008

A new multilingual leaflet seeks to inform migrants living and working in Greece of their rights and instruct them as to how to deal with bureaucratic hurdles in their daily life, the Hellenic Migration Policy Institute (IMEPO) said yesterday. The leaflet is available in six languages: English, Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Greek.

OA - Air Berlin

Olympic Airlines yesterday announced a partnership with German carrier Air Berlin, which will enable Greek travelers to continue on to six other German destinations from the capital (Bremen, Dresden, Cologne, Hamburg, Hanover and Munster). Return fares begin at 180, but they exclude airport taxes and fuel surcharges and are for a limited number of seats.

From: Kathimerini
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Zoning plan submitted to Parliament - 17 April, 2008
Bill to be voted on in May

Greece's first national zoning plan, which aims to regulate land development over the next 15 years, was submitted to Parliament yesterday.

Experts have criticized the draft bill, saying that it does not deal with the problem of uncontrolled urban sprawl or illegal construction activity and also fails to provide for the country's islands.

The bill says it «addresses the management of measures, after thorough studies, such as the creation of bus lanes and setting up of toll roads in areas or urban centers where traffic has come to a standstill.» A number of municipal officials, political representatives and transport experts have opposed plans to set up toll areas, arguing that it will be an ineffective measure just aimed at earning the government revenues.

A parliamentary committee is expected to debate the draft bill over the next two weeks, giving MPs an opportunity to modify the draft plan, which will head for a final vote by lawmakers in May. The initial proposal is the result of efforts by about 40 experts from various fields, and was submitted to the Environment and Public Works Ministry where it was subsequently divested of any «troublesome» amendments or innovative approaches.

The designers of the plan had mentioned the need to wean the islands off dependency on Athens and Thessaloniki and to organize the Aegean archipelago as an autonomous unit with four centers - Iraklion on Crete, Ermoupolis on Syros, Rhodes and Mytilene. The zoning plan submitted to Parliament yesterday, however, has failed to take this into account, say experts.

«Points of growth for the mainland have been clearly set out but for the islands they are non-existent,» said one architect, Rania Kloutsiniotis, who was one of the experts who initially drafted the plan. «They could have created new sea and airport routes between the islands that do not necessarily pass through Athens.»

Cup final

Olympiakos eliminated second-division side Thrasyvoulos from the Greek Cup last night and will play Aris, who saw off Atromitos, in the final next month, 17th May.

From: Kathimerini
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Egg warning - 16 April, 2008

The Hellenic Food Authority (EFET) yesterday warned consumers to be careful when purchasing traditional dyed eggs for Orthodox Easter. The eggs should bear a label indicating the final deadline by which they can be consumed and explaining their date of production and origin, EFET said. Retailers should not mark boiled, dyed eggs as “fresh” as this term can be applied only to eggs before they are boiled, EFET added.

From: Kathimerini
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Wind change blows away African dust - 15 April, 2008

The dust clouds that have covered much of Greece over the last few days began dispersing yesterday afternoon and should leave a much cleaner and less muggy atmosphere behind them, weather experts said yesterday.

The thick clouds of dust from North Africa are a normal phenomenon for this time of year, brought on by strong southerly winds caused by Saharan depressions.

A change in the wind, which turned northerly yesterday afternoon, is expected to help blow the dust away, according to the National Meteorological Service.

Experts said that the dust is only a danger to people with breathing problems. “It does not affect us in any way,” said pneumology professor Panayiotis Behrakis. “It is a natural, tried and tested phenomenon. Normal city pollution or smoking a cigarette is worse for us.”

From: Kathimerini

Hotels to Get EOT Signs by End of 2008      

The Tourist Development minister has announced today that hotels must get or renew EOT’s (Hellenic Tourism Organisation) special sign by the end of 2008, otherwise they will face the law.

This what Mr Aris Spiliotopoulos stated at a Press Conference in view of the new tourist season that begins in a few days.

In parallel, design competitions will be proclaimed for the creation of four new tourist ports in Malia, Crete, Mytilini, Argostoli and Zakynthos. In parallel, he said that 105,000 social tourism coupons will be distributed as of May until March 2009.

Finally, in reply to criticism launched against him on fastidious political conception, he reported that he is interested in being useful and not popular. “Our work is to travel abroad promoting Greece and not sit in our offices,” he stated.

From: ERT News
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Power shortage likely in summer - 14 April, 2008

Greece is likely to experience energy shortages until 2010 due to power demand exceeding supply, according to a report seen by Kathimerini.

The National Power Strategy Council, which belongs to the Development Ministry, said in a report recently that Greece will be reliant on lignite for the next few years until power from natural gas and renewable energy sources start to increase.

EU directives state that by 2020 Greece is obliged to get 18 percent of its energy needs from renewable sources such as solar and wind power.

The government examined the council’s report at a Cabinet meeting last week but no decisions were made, a source said. Meanwhile, fears are also rising that the country will experience power shortages this summer due to the extensive use of energy-hungry air conditioners.

Concerns over power supply have risen due to low levels of rainfall last winter that have lowered the capacity of hydroelectric plants. Earlier this month, Takis Athanassopoulos, PPC president and CEO, acknowledged that a lot more rain is needed to avoid the problem.

“I don’t know whether we can avoid power cuts this summer; we are currently considering all the options for better management (of available resources),” he said. Sources said the Finance Ministry is examining whether to introduce financial incentives to get consumers to discard their old air conditioner and replace it with a more energy-efficient model.

Hania arrests

Police arrested 28 people during an operation in the early hours of Saturday morning in Hania, Crete. Officers stopped and searched almost 700 people and conducted checks on dozens of stores and vehicles. Of those arrested 17 were Greeks and 11 were foreign nationals. Police did not give details about the offenses the 28 were alleged to have committed.

From: Kathimerini
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Earthquakes - 12 April, 2008

An undersea earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale shook the island of Crete yesterday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, authorities said. The quake, which had an epicenter north of Iraklion, struck at 2.14 a.m. Later in the day, at 11.01 a.m. another earthquake struck the area of Samos. There were no reports of damage from the 4.7 Richter tremor that shook the eastern Aegean island.

Plastic bags

The City of Athens will launch on Monday a pilot program aimed at replacing plastic supermarket bags with recyclable bags. At an event to be held in Syntagma Square, central Athens, volunteers will hand out fabric bags and pamphlets to raise awareness on the issue. A number of large supermarkets, including AB Vassilopoulos and Veropoulos, are involved in the initiative that is also backed by fast-food chain Grigoris.

From: Kathimerini
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Consumers complain mostly about airlines and telephony - 11 April, 2008

Airlines, lottery games and time-share companies caused most of the complaints submitted last year to the European Consumer Center in Greece. From the 292 complaints filed, a third concerned the loss or damage of luggage, cancellation or delay of flights and denial of boarding by airline companies. Just under 30 percent of these were filed by non-Greeks. Separately, telephony and Internet services had the lion’s share of complaints submitted last year to the General Federation of Consumers in Greece, with over 2,000 citizens filing complaints.

Digital preparedness

Greece has fallen eight positions to 56th this year in the World Economic Forum’s ranking of digital preparedness among 127 nations.

From: Kathimerini
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Carnivores - 10 April, 2008

Greeks have a keen appetite for meat, with more than a third (37.4 percent) eating it three or four times a week, according to a new study carried out for the Agriculture Ministry. Men are the most regular consumers of meat, with 71.7 percent of men aged up to 22 eating meat between three and seven times per week. The consumption of meat, particularly red meat, is significantly higher in provincial areas, the study showed.

Migrant reception

Government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos defended Greece’s treatment of illegal immigrants yesterday, saying that there are plans to build two new reception centers for migrants. One will be in southern Crete, the other on the island of Kos. Roussopoulos said that two recently built centers, on Samos and in Evros, had been working well and had received a positive reaction from the European Commission.

From: Kathimerini
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HOT FLASH - 9 April, 2008
Temperatures to rise sharply in normal conditions, say experts

There will be a sharp rise in temperature from tomorrow, weather forecasters predicted yesterday, adding that such fluctuations are normal for this time of year. The temperature is expected to reach as high as 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) but is forecast to drop to about 20C (68F) by Monday. “April is a transitionary period that is known for its cold snaps and the warm fronts from North Africa,” the head of the National Weather Service, Dimitris Ziakopoulos, told Kathimerini. He pointed out that the record temperature for this time of year was in 1985, when it reached 37C (98.6F) in some parts of Greece. Ziakopoulos said it was too early to forecast the weather for the Easter weekend.

From: Kathimerini
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Ban on smoking by 2010 - 8 March, 2008

Greeks, among the heaviest smokers in the world, will be running out of places to light up in a few years as the government moves to adopt European Union guidelines protecting people from passive smoke.

The Health Ministry announced yesterday it will gradually ban smoking in public places, such as cafes and restaurants, by 2010. The stricter measures, aimed at protecting smokers and non-smokers, have the backing of most Greeks.

According to a recent survey, eight in 10 Greeks believe that banning the habit from all public places is not an infringement on personal rights. Additionally, 73 percent agreed that the reduction of smoking should be a target in national government policy. Authorities will also launch a marketing campaign aimed at preventing youths from taking up the habit.

Some 46 percent of males are regular smokers with the respective percentage among women reaching 31 percent.

EMERGENCY LANDING
easyJet Boeing, carrying 123 people, returns to Athens safely

An easyJet Boeing 737 carrying 123 passengers on an Athens-London flight malfunctioned shortly after takeoff late on Sunday and returned to Athens for an emergency landing. Authorities say the pilot of easyJet flight 2002, bound for Luton Airport in England, reported a problem with one engine shortly after takeoff at 11.05 p.m. and asked for an emergency landing. The plane dumped most of its fuel over the sea before landing safely at the Athens airport where rescue workers where on standby.

Easter shopping

It has been confirmed that stores will operate on a special Easter timetable from Thursday, April 17, until Easter Saturday the 26th. Shops will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the 17th,18th, 21st and 24th of the month. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday the 19th. Stores will be closed until 1 p.m. on Good Friday (25th) but will then stay open until 7 p.m. On Easter Saturday, shops will operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stores will be closed on Easter Sunday and Monday.

From: Kathimerini
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Acropolis part of Monopoly? - 7 April, 2008

The Acropolis may be included in a new version of Monopoly.

An upcoming new edition of the board game Monopoly is likely to include a Greek dimension. The game’s new version, branded as a collector’s edition, will not feature its trademark streets but landmarks instead, and the Acropolis is expected to be one of these.

The ancient monument is likely to appear on Monopoly’s new edition following approval granted to the board game’s owner, Hasbro Inc, by the Athens-based Central Archaeological Council, or KAS.

The new edition’s candidate components were determined by an Internet poll organized by Hasbro. Hasbro is scheduled to announce the new version’s final plan in August.

Not all at KAS agree on the Acropolis’s inclusion on the world-famous game. A number of KAS board members voted against the idea, citing their objection to the reference to the archaeological site on a commercial board game.

The weather

Generally fair conditions and sunshine are forecast across the country, with some slight morning cloud cover in the eastern Aegean and Thrace. Winds will be blowing west-northwesterly at moderate speeds of 4 to 6 Beaufort, but reaching strengths of up to 7 Beaufort in the south. Temperatures are expected to range from 3C (37F) to 18C (64F) in the north and from 5C (41F) to 21C (70F) elsewhere.

OUTLOOK: Warm and fair conditions are forecast across the country, with just some thickening of clouds and the possibility of light showers in northwestern Greece. Winds will be southwesterly, clocking in at speeds of 4 to 6 Beaufort in most regions and reaching up to 7 Beaufort at sea. Temperatures are expected to rise steadily.

From: Kathimerini
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Cross returned - 5 April, 2008

A golden cross, stolen from a church in the Cretan port of Hania last Friday, was returned to the church authorities by post yesterday. The cross had been placed in an envelope and mailed without any explanatory note, police said.

Police sacking

Ilias Mantas, the deputy police chief in Rethymnon, Crete, was dismissed yesterday. The police’s disciplinary panel decided that Mantas should be removed from his position after being accused of providing information to drug dealers in the mountainous village of Zoniana, which was the subject of a recent police operation aimed at clamping down on illegal activity.

From: Kathimerini
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Recycling - 4 April, 2008

Greece recycled a total of 345,000 tons of recyclable material in 2007, up 29 percent from the previous year, but falling well short of European Union goals. According to information presented by the Hellenic Recovery Recycling Corporation (HERRCO), participation in recycling programs by municipalities has risen as the group plans to invest 17 million euros this year. EU goals specify that Greece recycle 555,000 tons of recyclable material every year. In 2008, HERRCO plans to inaugurate three or four recycling centers while more may operate with the backing of private investors.

From: Kathimerini
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DNA sheds light on Minoans - 3 April, 2008

Crete’s fabled Minoan civilization was built by people from Anatolia, according to a new study by Greek and foreign scientists that disputes an earlier theory that said the Minoans’ forefathers had come from Africa.

The new study – a collaboration by experts in Greece, the USA, Canada, Russia and Turkey – drew its conclusions from the DNA analysis of 193 men from Crete and another 171 from former neolithic colonies in central and northern Greece.

The results show that the country’s neolithic population came to Greece by sea from Anatolia – modern-day Iran, Iraq and Syria – and not from Africa as maintained by US scholar Martin Bernal.

The DNA analysis indicates that the arrival of neolithic man in Greece from Anatolia coincided with the social and cultural upsurge that led to the birth of the Minoan civilization, Constantinos Triantafyllidis of Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University told Kathimerini.

“Until now we only had the archaeological evidence – now we have genetic data too and we can date the DNA,” he said.

From: Kathimerini
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Couples law not for gays - 2 April, 2008

Justice Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis said yesterday that the government is not intending to extend its plans for a cohabitation law to homosexuals as well as unmarried couples.

Hatzigakis plans for a law to give partners who live together the same rights as a married couple just by signing a standard notarial contract have proved controversial.

The Church of Greece’s Holy Synod responded by labeling any form of union other than that of a married couple as “prostitution,” even though Archbishop Ieronymos had already given his consent to the law being enacted.

A committee was set up last week to also look at the possibility of extending the rights to gay couples, prompting reaction, particularly from the Church.

However, Hatzigakis said yesterday that the cohabitation law would only apply to straight couples and not gay ones.

The minister told Parliament that the imminent law aims particularly to protect children that are born to unmarried couples.

Emergency landing

A firefighting aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in the sea off Evia early yesterday afternoon after the plane developed a mechanical fault. Neither of the two pilots of the Canadair plane were injured. The country’s forest fire fighters have been put on alert early this year following a series of seasonally early blazes.

From: Kathimerini
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The weather - 31 March, 2008

Some cloud, becoming heavier in places toward the evening in central and northern parts of the country, with occasional brief showers mainly in eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Winds will be north-northwesterly in the Ionian at 3 to 5 Beaufort and in the Aegean 6 to 8 Beaufort, later dropping. Temperatures will range from 2C (36F) to 18C (64F) in the north and 4C (39F) to 21C (70F) elsewhere.

OUTLOOK: Rain is likely tomorrow in the northeast, as well as in the southwest in the evening. Winds will be southeasterly in the west at 4 to 5 Beaufort and northwesterly in the east at 4 to 6 Beaufort, gradually easing. Temperatures will rise slightly. Rain Wednesday, with thunderstorms in the south.

From: Kathimerini
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Rain today but gone tomorrow, experts say - 29 March, 2008

Despite the heavy rain in many parts of the country yesterday, scientists at a conference in Athens warned that Greece is headed for higher temperatures and a lack of water in the not-too-distant future.

Experts believe that Greece will start experiencing problems of drought by 2025, as rainfall is expected to drop by about 30 percent over the next few years, according to statistics revealed at a conference on climate change organized by Kathimerini and Skai yesterday.

The same conference heard that the average temperature in Greece would shoot up by about six degrees by the end of this century.

“Everybody has to realize that they have to change their habits,” said Nikos Chrysogelos, the head of the Mediterranean SOS network, which helped to organize the conference.

Greece lands tourism prize in Shanghai

Greece has been chosen as the “Most Popular Travel Destination in Europe 2007-08” by China, proving that efforts to tap the Chinese tourism market are bearing fruit.

Speaking at the opening of the World Travel Fair 2008 in Shanghai, where Greece is the honored country, Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos recognized the importance for Greece of the tourist market of Shanghai, as 600,000 of its citizens travel abroad every year.

“Representing a country that organized the 2004 Olympic Games with absolute success,” Spiliotopoulos reiterated his certainty that China will be as successful in holding the 2008 Olympics. He also expressed his hope for the best possible cooperation between Greece and China “in the fields of economy and culture.” [...]

From: Kathimerini
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Earthquake South of Crete but No Damage - 28 March, 2008

Authorities say an earthquake has struck the southern island of Crete, but no damage or injuries have been reported.

The Athens Geodynamic Institute says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 and an epicenter in the sea south of Crete, about 250 miles south-southeast of Athens. The institute said the quake struck at about 8:15 p.m. EDT on Thursday.

The U.S. Geologocial Survey gave the preliminary magnitude as 5.8. Magnitudes of earthquakes measured by different institutes often differ.

From: Guardian UK

Quake Shakes South Crete

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck southwest Crete at 02:16. The quake was located south of Gaidouronisi, in the Libyan Sea [also called Chrissi island, 12 km from Ierapetra]. It was particularly felt in the Eraklio prefecture but there were no reports of damage or injuries. According to seismologists there is no reason for concern.

From: ERT News
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