OLD AMERICAN BASE
Dear Editor:
Your collaborative article on status of property where the former Air Base
was located was very informative and greatly appreciated. You have once
again managed to capture the essence of the issue and feelings of the local
population with great skill. Having been stationed there circa 1964-1966 I
can really appreciate the desire to retain as much of the community theme as
possible or in its entirety. I pray that the local residents and sincerely
interested parties prevail. However, my concern is that the money people
with all the influence they can bring could ultimately win the day in the
end. So I will continue to offer daily prayers on behalf of all of you who
are striving to do the right thing for today and the foreseeable future, as
well as the children and grandchildren who will hopefully follow in your
footsteps
Walter R. Pearce
Dear Editor:
As
Gournes is just outside of the old American base and Gouves is down the road
a ways why is the Gouves town hall on the base and not the Gournes town
hall? If I remember correct Gournes is closer to the base.
I have passed your e-mail address to some others who were stationed on the
base and are watching to see what happens to it. Keep up the fight and good
work.
Gary McPherson
Dear Gary:
When you were
stationed here, each village had its own mayor. Now, however, Gouves Township
incorporates 14 villages, including Gouves and Gournes. Thanks for your
support.
The Editor
|
ANIMAL
WELFARE
Dear
Editor:
A
perusal of the internet will reveal the extent of concern among Dutch,
German and British visitors about the pathetic strays in the villages, towns
and cities and at the airports.
The
main problem in setting up of a shelter will be money. It first must be
financed for infrastructure. Thereafter, money must be there in a regular,
and increasing, amount for vets, food and recompense for volunteer “carers”.
Charity donations will not be enough – it is mainly foreign visitors and
residents who give and then not in adequate amounts. Greeks appear
unconcerned, in spite of the very negative effect on them.
It
should be a matter of embarrassment to Cretans that visitors are so
distressed by the abandoned dogs and cats that they will pay large amounts
of money to local pet shop for airline-approved crates and air fares in
order to provide these animals with a good home away from
Crete.
I
have enquired of my Greek acquaintances why they are so averse to
sterilization and they say it is cruel! I ask whether to let the animals
starve or be squashed (and left) on the roads is not even more cruel?
Crete
relies very heavily indeed on the tourist industry and, in order to
encourage the more wealthy type of visitor, the matter of roaming cats and
dogs (and the sight of so many killed on the roads) should be brought to the
attention of all.
Local authorities are accountable and must bring pressure to bear on the
Churches, schools and any other influential bodies.
It
cannot be left to the foreigners to attempt to remedy this.
Miranda Brown
Pano Gouves
Dear Editor:
I
have lived on Crete for over 20 years. In
the past one rarely heard of stray cats and dogs being poisoned. However, a
large influx of “animal lovers” has tipped the scales. How many people make
it their first job, when they arrive to take on a pet only to depart a few
months later leaving their debris (including pets) behind?
I
live in Analipsis where in my small corner of the village alone three female
dogs were abandoned last year as families left the island. These dogs have
been kept alive by animal lovers. Do they keep them in their gardens? The
answer is no. Do they care that they will breed indiscriminately? Again, the
answer is no. Now the dogs are in season again. I can no longer approach my
house safely due to rampant aggressive males. I can no longer sit in my
garden, eat, sleep or think due to the 24 hour cacophony of yowling and
howling. One can no longer stroll along the beach without being menaced by
strays. Friends who are responsible pet owners are equally threatened and
harassed by those who are, in my opinion, irresponsible.
As
there’s no institution, government or otherwise, to deal with this problem,
is it surprising that they have to put down poison?
To
you, the residents of Crete, may I suggest
that you think twice before feeding that cute little cat or dog on your
doorstep. Your actions will have consequences. Unless you’re prepared
to pay for the inoculations, grooming and birth control, the situation will
rapidly get out of control. Remember that pets need care for life and that
“barbarians” don’t only poison cats and dogs, but they leave them homeless
and bereft.
As a
taxpayer who would rather see money spent on more services for old people,
children, handicapped people etc. I’ve written this letter in the hope that
it will prick people’s consciences and hopefully reduce strays in a more
humane manner.
To
those at the Khronicles I say keep up the good work and bravo for a great
little newspaper.
Sally Koufakis
|
|
Γεια σας,
ειμαι ο Αλεξ και ειμαι 12 ετων.Θελω να επικοινωνισω μαζι σας διοτι μου
αρεσουν πολυ τα ζωα και με συγκινησε πολυ αυτο που μου συναιβηκε την
προηγουμενη εβδομαδα.
Λιπον,ειχα καποιους σκυλους(οχι δικους μου,αλλα τους φροντιζα)στη Βαση, και
τοτε την Τριτη τα ξημεροματα κατα τις 02.00 η ωρα ακουγα απο το σπιτι μου
που ειναι 100 μετρα παρακατω να γαβγιζουνε σαν τα τρελα.Την ιδια ημερα το
απογευμα πηγα να τους δωσω τροφη και τοτε ειχαν ψωφισει ολοι τους.Μονο ο
λυκος και μια γατα μπορουσαν να σωθουν.Αργοτερα γυρω στα 50 μετρα παρακατω
βρηκα 7 κουταβια και απο εδω και περα εγω τα φροντιλω. Σας παρακαλω
αγονιστειτε μαζι μου και με αλλα ατομα για τα ζωα τις περιοχης μας.
Αλεξ Χενκελ
Γουρνεσ
|
Dear Editor:
Perhaps you could do an article in a future edition
explaining the procedure as to how us expats register ourselves here for
voting purposes. I would like to vote in the next local elections, if only
to show that I do not think this current Mayor is delivering what he
promises!
Concerned Citizen
Dear Concerned:
In the last local
election, hardly any of the thousands of expats who reside legally in our
area turned out to vote. Surprised by the poor turnout, this newspaper
questioned many of the foreign residents and discovered that they didn’t
know if they were eligible to vote. Rest assured, before the next election
we will run the article you requested, and we will support a vigorous
voter’s registration campaign.
The Editor
|
