THE WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION IRIDA
COMBINES FESTIVITIES WITH CHARITY
(February, 2012)

The Association’s cutting of the pita event took place recently at the taverna Kostas in Gournes. The evening began with a speech from the president of the Association, Mrs. Renia Drosou, who presented:

• The direction which the program Women for Women has taken

• A new action by the Association called Acquainting Ourselves with our Region which concerns organizing excursions and walks in areas of natural beauty within the Hersonisos Demos.

In the course of the evening Mrs. Drosou handed over a cheque, with the money collected during the association’s Christmas event An Embrace for the Children, to the president of the association representing all women’s groups in Iraklion, Mrs. Pahiadaki.

Mrs. Pahiadaki thanked Irida for its contribution and said that the creation of the children’s hostel, the House of Angels, is coming along.

ROUGHLY 65 BILLION EUROS
HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM GREEK BANKS
(February, 2012)

This amazing revelation was made recently by the finance minister, Mr. Evangelos Venizelos, during a session in parliament. He noted that this money has been withdrawn by the Greeks so they can save their money in case the drachma returns and that’s why a good percentage of the 65 billion is being kept in basements, old chests, bank vaults and under mattresses.

Mr. Venizelos pointed out that 65 billion Euros is the total amount withdrawn from the Greek banks since 2009 when this trend first began.

According to the finance minister, from the 65 billion only 16 billion have been officially transferred abroad and from that only 10 percent have gone to Switzerland. The remaining 45 billion, he explained, only partly have been spent on goods and services.

Regarding the reduction of bank deposits, he said, that “deposits which have flown the country do not only belong to big-time depositors but also belong to ordinary citizens who used the money to pay debts to the Sate or pay their workers.”

THE IRAKLION CARNIVAL
Events from February 12 to 27

Sunday, February 12 the children’s carnival will take place in Eleftheria Square. It includes the 3rd children’s Hunt for Hidden Treasure (ages 9 to 12) which will begin at 10:30 in the morning from Town Hall.

Wednesday, February 15 the carnival concert by the Iraklion Philharmonic will take place in the Saint Markos Basilica at 20:30.
   
Thursday, February 16,”Tsiknopempti”, an event with the theme “one city, one big party” will take place. In the center of town, radio stations will be playing music, setting up the dancing rhythm for all the gaily costumed participants flooding the city’s streets.

Friday, February 17, a Carnival Serenade will begin at 7 in the evening from the Iraklion Town Hall. Choirs, Conservatoires, the Iraklion School of Music, the Pancretan Association of Cretan Music Artists and other Artists will bring to the city a carnival frame of mind with their melodies.

Saturday, February 18, at 2 midday, the big carnival teams will parade starting from Hanioporta.

Sunday, February 19, the 10th Hunt for Hidden Treasure (ages 18 and over) will begin at 10:30 in the morning by Town Hall.
Applications to join in the parade and/or participate in the games will be accepted at the Youth Multicenter of the Iraklion municipality, daily from 9:00 until 14:00, and at the pavilion in Lions square, daily from 11:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 21:00.
Following the parade, various events sponsored by the traditional carnival teams will take place in the center of town until the closing ceremony at 19.30.

Monday, February 27, Clean Monday. Koulouma, the traditional Clean Monday outings to the countryside, picnicking and flying of the kite will take place in many municipalities.

DOG OWNERSHIP CONGRESS
RATED A SUCCESS
By Kerenza Vlastou
February, 2012

The Cretan Animal Welfare Group and WSPA would like to sincerely thank you for actively supporting the Responsible Dog Ownership Congress. Together we made the event a success and we hope that it will be a starting point for many beneficial co-operations to ensure a better future for the animals on Crete and beyond.

The Responsible Dog Ownership Congress was held at the Lato Boutique Hotel, by the Cretan Animal Welfare Group and WSPA. A variety of important agencies came together to debate how irresponsible dog ownership contributes to the stray animal problem as well as how working together and applying a variety of expertise can change the future! Thank you to all our volunteers, sponsors (Lato, Friskies, Pedigree and Whiskas), key note speakers (Municipalities of Hersonissos and Heraklion), the Veterinary Association and all delegates for making this a great event. Thank you also to Joy Lee and Raj Patel for their invaluable contributions.

CONSUMERS, BEWARE
(February, 2012)

Winter sales have begun and will continue until February 29. The Consumer Protection Agency of Crete has issued its directives so that consumers may be aware of any type of traps and/or unsavoury practices by merchants.

• First and foremost for the consumer is market research. “A discounted price ticket does not mean lowering of quality – especially in safety.”

• Program your purchases, giving priority to your needs. Avoid shopping just because a product is cheap. Take under consideration the quality while you search for the best price.

• Beware of very high discounts where the numbers are being displayed on the window with big numerals.  While they should concern all of the products in the shop, in many cases they only refer to very few items and are used just to reel you in the shop. Remember that “up to” in microscopic letters and discount rates in huge numerals are considered misleading advertising.

• Each product should display two prices on its tag. The regular price and the discounted price.

• If you buy defective products, you must return them immediately and get your money back or get a replacement of the product, if that’s your wish. The merchant may refuse to exchange it only if the product was discounted due to particular faults and provided that he has informed the consumer before the purchase.

• You must be provided with a sales receipt for all your purchases. Only with receipts can you return or exchange products or bring a charge against an unsavoury shop owner.

• For your purchases you should prefer Greek and local products because the money remains in the country helping its economy.

Finally, if any consumer comes across fictitious, misleading or inaccurate sales please report it to the Cretan Consumer Protection Agency at 28210-92666 and 28210-92306. Misleading consumers is an action punishable by the Penal Code, as well as a fine.

EVENTS IN HERSONISOS MUNICIPALITY
DURING CARNIVAL SEASON
(February, 2012)

ORGANIZED BY THE CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONS
OF THE MUNICIPALITY

February 05: A Walk from Stalida  to Mohos
The walk begins at 9.00 at the Blue Sea

February 16: Agriana, Costume Party given by the Agriana Cultural Association at the Village Center

February 18: Mohos, Xynohontros and Mouzoudia (black face) party

February 18: Kokkini Hani, Costume Gala given by the Koxari Cultural Association at the Hatzis restaurant

February 19: Koxari, Children's Custume Party at the Koxari Cultural Association Center beginning at 11:00 am.

February 25: Avdou, Costume Party given by the Avdou Cultural Association February 26: Galyfa, The Galyfa Carnival

February 26: Agriana, The Agriana Carnival

February 27: Koxari, Clean Monday Celebration from the Koxari Cultural Association at the courtyard of the school

February 27: Avdou, Clean Monday Celebration from the Avdou Cultural Association

February 27: Kenourio Horio, Clean Monday Celebration from the Kenourio Horio Cultural Association

MINIMUM WAGE WARS
(February, 2012)

Regarding Greece’s minimum wage, the country finds itself in eighth place on the Federation of European Employers list. The country with the highest minimum wage is Luxembourg with 1,757.56 Euros and the lowest is Estonia with 278.02 Euros.

Minimum wage as an institutionally guaranteed wage is provided in 20 of the 27 member-states of the European Union. In the seven remaining member-states the minimum wage is negotiated with employers.  More analytically the first 10 on the list are:

1. Luxembourg: 1,757.56 Euros
2. Belgium: 1,498.87 Euros
3. Ireland: 1,499.93 Euros
4. Holland: 1,424.40 Euros
5. France: 1,365.00 Euros
6. Austria: 1,000.00 Euros
7. Cyprus: 909.00 Euros
8. Greece: 739.56 Euros
9. Malta: 664.95 Euros
10. Spain: 641.50 Euros

MINISTRY STEPS UP ITS HUNT
FOR THOSE WILY TAX EVADERS
February, 2012

The government is set to try out some new ideas in an effort to combat the country’s still extensive tax evasion through introducing the notion of presumed income for the self-employed based on so-called objective criteria and by installing electronic meters at gas stations.

The Finance Ministry intends to set specific objective criteria for what are seen as the main tax-dodging culprits: the self-employed and small and medium-sized enterprises, including the private practices of doctors and dentists. The ministry’s agencies will analyze their level of bank deposits, their expenditure in cash, their net position, their cash flow and the relationship between prices and the total turnover.

Other criteria to determine the presumed income will include the kind of activity they engage in, where they work (for example, an upmarket district such as Iraklion’s Mastaba, would entail more revenues than less-affluent Kaminia), operating expenses, properties and possessions such as real estate and stocks, and many more.

An Alpha Bank report showed recently that while revenues from foreign tourists grew significantly this year (up 15 percent in October year-on-year), retail sales volume fell 8.8 percent. While major food stores saw a minimal drop in sales (-0.4 percent), smaller ones reported a 19.7 percent drop on an annual basis. The report explains that this is due to the big ones being forced to issue receipts, while not all small ones do so.

The Finance Ministry recently signed a joint ministerial decision for the installation of electronic meters at gas stations controlling the inflow and outflow of fuel and their interconnection with the ministry’s tax database. The Development Ministry also needs to sign it.

This came as the publicity generated by the accusations against the general secretary for tax and customs of the Finance Ministry, Yiannis Kapeleris, who has since resigned, has revealed that the ministry was indeed planning on passing a favourable regulation for illegal fuel traders, reducing their fines to a considerable extent.

OLD SCHOOL IN VRAHASSI
TO BE RESTORED
By Jane Sharp
February, 2012

Great news, the various Councils involved have given the go ahead for the renovation of the old school in Vrahassi.

This is very good news for the village. The building will eventually become a store house for archaeological finds from the Minoan site on Anavlochos, as well as a place to exhibit photographs.

The project is the brainchild of Prof Jan Driessen, the chief archaeologist for the Belgium School, who in recent years have been excavating a site in Sissi, known as the Sarpedon Project. With Mr Michaelis Petselakis at the helm, Vrahassi is going places.
For a full report in Greek please see: http://vrachassi.blogspot.com.

GREECE'S TILL RINGS UP
31 MILLION EURO SALE
(January 2012)

It may be a only a drop in the bucket, but at least it's starting to drip in the right bucket, as Greece kicks off the new year with a big sale.
The government will get 31 million euros for four Airbus A340-300 aircraft that belonged to the formerly state-owned Olympic Airways and in the last couple of years have remained idle at Athens International Airport.

The Interministerial Committee on Privatization and Restructuring decided to sell the aircraft to the Apollo Aviation Group, at a price deemed particularly low by market experts. This was attributed to the old age of a number of the airplanes’ parts that will require replacement, and to the general conditions in the industry.
That was the second offer for the four Airbus planes, after the first in 2010 failed.

The daily costs of those and other old OA aircraft at the Athens airport amount to some 15,000 euros.

PETROLEUM RESERVES IN SOUTHERN CRETE:
COULD THEY FUEL GREECE’S FUTURE?
(January, 2012)

“The existence of enormous deposits of natural gas in southern Crete has been certified... amounting to petroleum reserves of 20 -22 billion barrels of oil," stated Mr. Antonis Foskolos, a professor at the Technical University of Crete, during a congress which took place recently at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute in Hania and which was organised by the Technical University.



Mr. Foskolos explained that “in southern Crete there are enormous layers of hydrocarbons - about 3.5 trillion cubic metres of natural gas - which translated in oil are equivalent to about 20 -22 billion barrels. Due to the fact that here in Crete we have much bigger reserves than those at the gulf of Kavala, the cost of developing these deposits will be much cheaper than the corresponding cost of Prinos in Kavala.”

He went on to explain: “In considering this, we believe Greece can cover its deficits and within 12 years of the country developing this wealth it could pay off all of its debts.”

The professor also disclosed that the area to be further researched on Crete is twice as big as the sum total of both Cyprus’ and Israel’s Exclusive Economic Zones and probably with more reserves.

On another front, one of the speakers at the “the Hour of the Greek Economy” congress, which was organised recently by the Greek-American chamber of commerce, was Mr. John Tomitch, vice-president and general manager of Noble Energy International, an American oil drilling company, who stated: “Noble wants to apply in Greece the experience which the company has acquired in the region of the Eastern Mediterranean where it’s already been very successful. We were very lucky in that area and why not, we can be lucky and here in Greece.”



Mr. Yannis Maniatis, vice minister of Environment, Energy and Climatic Change was part of the panel as well. According to information, Noble is interested mainly for the available researches which exist on the region of southern Crete, where it’s estimated that a similar geological structure with that of the Levantine Basin in the Eastern Mediterranean exists. However, at this same congress, Mathios Rigas, managing adviser of Energean, a Greek drilling company, stated that for the region in Crete, the probability of recovering the sediment layers using the current data is only about three percent. Respectively, for the Patras Gulf the probability is more like 10 percent.

“The rate of success for Crete can be improved if additional research is carried out,” Mr. Rigas said, “but the costs will be very high.”

However, according to Mr. Foskolos, the exploitation of mining wealth in Greece and particularly Crete moves in tragically slow rhythms, because of undermining purposes. The professor reports that the vice minister of Energy, Yannis Maniatis, who recently announced that the exploitation of layers has been scheduled for a 20 year span, grasped the situation too late and was even later in undertaking any action. Mr. Foskolos maintains that the reason the Greek reserves remain unexploited is due to Greece’s agreement with Russia until 2015 and that the agreement will be renewed.

Iraklion MP, Manolis Stratakis, has asked the minister of Environment, Energy and Climatic Change to accelerate the exploitation of the oil layers and natural gas in Crete. The MP reports that with data like:

1. The certainty of existence of the layers,
2. With many companies interested on the exploitation of this enormous wealth,
3. And taking into consideration the needs of the country,

experts estimate that the whole process can be completed in 60 months.
 

45 PERCENT OF GREEKS
HAVE NEVER ENTERED INTERNET!
One of the highest percentages in Europe
(January, 2012)

Even today the world of cyberspace remains as foreign as ever for almost one in two Greeks.



According to the last Eurostat statistics published recently, 45 percent of Greeks between the ages of 16 and 74 has never used the internet. Despite the fact that the corresponding percentage was reaching 65 per cent five years ago, our country still continues to possess one of the highest percentages in Europe regarding the non-usage of internet, confirming the extreme digital gap in the Europe of the 27.

Characteristically, Greece is found in third place from the end in the relative classification after Romania with 54 percent and Bulgaria with 46 percent. Completely different is the situation in northern Europe, with the corresponding percentage in Sweden to be five percent, while in Denmark and Holland it’s only seven percent. Globally in the 27 member-state Europe, the total percentage of people who have never used internet reaches 24 percent, when the objective which has been placed by the digital agenda is that by 2015 it should not exceed 15 percent.

Also, the levels of internet use in the Greek households are extremely low. Thus, according to Eurostat statistics, the percentage of users who receive information from the web pages of public institutions amount to only 42 percent in our country when the European average is 48 percent and in Denmark it reaches 86 percent.
At the same time, Greeks continue to be unfamiliar with electronic trade mainly because they worry about safety in these transactions, resulting in only 33 percent of Greek users ordering products and services online. The average number in the EU amounts to 58 percent.

Greece also shows one of the lowest indexes in the use of broadband connections or fast internet, which, though increasing rapidly from four percent of the households in 2006 to 45 percent this year, remains low enough compared with the European average of 68 percent, with Sweden climbing to 86 percent and Denmark to 84 percent.

GREECE’S ILLEGAL HOMEOWNERS:
ALMOST 240,000...AND STILL CLIMBING
(January, 2012)

The rate of homeowners who are declaring illegal properties, many of which are spread throughout Crete, appears to be picking up as recent figures showed that 236,700 homes have been listed in the government program which allows owners to pay to protect the structures from demolition.



About a quarter of those declaring their homes have paid the first instalment on their penalties, according to officials.

Despite the increase in applications, the government has so far only raised 173 million euros rather than the planned 300 million from the scheme, but a spokesman said all fines will be aggressively pursued.

Locally, according to the latest figures released, there are more than 4,500 illegal homes in the Iraklion Municipality alone. At the same time, the Urban Planning Agency warned that, in the new year, multiple fines will be issued to all illegal homeowners who were able to procure water and electricity, courtesy of the Municipal Council decision in 1997, unless they hurry up and pay the penalties.

The agency warns that according to the new law, unless they enlist in the government’s special program, they will be called to pay 30 percent of the objective value of their real estate.

TRADITIONAL BARBERS
CUT HAIR AND PRICES
(January, 2012)

It wasn't that many years ago that a man could walk into a kafenion in Crete and get a haircut along with his coffee, as many such places featured a barber's chair set among the tables.
Well, the role of the traditional barber seems to be making a well-reserved comeback as some men, and even some women, are refusing to pay "salon" prices for their haircuts.

A significant number of such barbershops have recently opened across the country, more than half of which appear to be run by or employ immigrants. They offer haircuts and shaves at remarkably low prices to all customers and are known to have already drawn customers away from modern hairdressers, who generally charge more for their services.

EPIPHANY CELEBRATIONS
IN OUR MUNICIPALITIES
(January 2012)

CretAquarium, the ceremony of blessing the waters took place with His Eminence Irineos, the Archbishop of Crete throwing the cross into the aquarium's central tank. Present were the local parish priests and officials of the Aquarium, as well as representatives from local government.



Gournes, the Epiphany was celebrated with parish priests, Father Emmanuil Liakakis and Father Leonidas Hatzakis, as they blessed the waters at the marina on the old base and threw the cross for the local divers. 



Kokkini Hani, Father Yiorgos Metohianakis, pastor of the Axion Estin Parish, and other clergy, were joined by a large group of swimmers, blessed the waters and then threw out the cross.





 

Gouves, by the graphic little cove near the Aghios Konstantinos church many parishioners enjoyed the blessing of the waters by father Iraklis Ploumis and the throwing of the cross which followed.



Aghios Nikolaos, the blessing of the waters took place at the harbour with His Eminence Nektarios, Metropolite of Petras and Herronisou, throwing the cross. The mayor of Aghios Nikolaos Mr. Dimitris Kounenakis wished every one a bright, healthy and creative new year filled with happy and peaceful days.



A Japanese television crew which has been filming a travelogue in the municipality filmed the festivities as well while one of their technicians braved the icy waters and joined the divers in search of the cross. 

DOG OWNERS, BEWARE!
THE MUNICIPAL POLICE ARE FULLY EQUIPPED!
By Kerenza Vlastou
(January 2012)

Recently, after a request by the Municipal Police of Hersonisos, CAWG donated a microchip scanner to the municipality's services.
The officials participated in a briefing about the microchip, the use of equipment and information relating to the legislation. Tired of the countless stray dogs and the irresponsibility of some dog owners, they will start inspections in the Hersonisos area from this month.
We kindly request that all dog owners comply with Law 3170/03. Dog owners should ensure that:

• Dogs over 8 weeks are micro-chipped and registered*

• Dogs have the annual rabies vaccine and health booklet

• Dogs are always on leash in public places and under the supervision of the owner / escort!

• Dog faeces are picked up (using a bag or special scoop)

• If you are breeding to sell puppies, owners must have the appropriate permit required by law

• Dog welfare is good (adequate housing, cleanliness, care, etc.)

For those who don't comply with Law 3170/03, fines will be given. Thank you for your cooperation and your understanding. These measures aim to create a better future for animals and therefore for society and that includes all of us!

* Please ask your veterinarian for more information or take advantage of CAWG's Subsidised Neutering and Microchip Project: tel. 6993 023797.

BRINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
IN AGHIOS NIKOLAOS MUNICIPALITY
(January 2012)

The residents of the Municipality received the New Year with festive events which were organised by the Cultural Associations sending messages of love, hope and optimism to all fellow-citizens.
In Voulismeni, the Cultural Association in the presence of local dignitaries and local residents cut the New Year's cake wishing health and happiness to all.



In Vrahasi, the Cultural Association Anavlohos cut the New Year's cake at the Community Centre. The Mayor of Aghios Nikolaos, Mr. Dimitris Kounenakis and others from the local government were present. The children of the Vrahasi Community sang holiday carols, recited poems and AghiosVasilios gave out gifts.



In Vrises, the Cultural Association cut the New Year's cake in the Church exchanging wishes with the residents for a happy and healthy new year.
In Kalo Horio, the Cultural Association together with the village parish and the Parents and Guardians Association organised a New Year's Day feast and cut the holiday cake at the Municipal School. The church choir sang holiday carols, recited poems and a festive buffet followed. All the children at the event were gifted books.

In Krista, the members of the Cultural - Educative - Developmental Association sang carols accompanied with Lyra and lutes throughout the neighbourhoods of the village. The cake was cut at the central square and the children received gifts. A festive buffet for all followed.



In Exo Lakonia, the Cultural Association welcomed the New Year at the village square, cutting the holiday cake, sharing gifts with the children and offering tasty treats to all.



In Mesa Lakonia, the Cultural Association cut the New Year's cake. Aghios Vasilios gave gifts to all the children and holiday treats were shared by all attending.

In Limnes, the Educative Association received 2012 in the central square, where together with local dignitaries cut the holiday cake and exchanged wishes with the village residents. The children welcomed Aghios Vasilis singing carols accompanied with a lyra and lute. A festive buffet was enjoyed by all. 

In Milatos, Aghios Vasilis together with the Cultural Association called over all the nice children and gave them beautiful gifts exchanging wishes of love and hope.

SEVEN OUT OF TEN GREEKS
CLAIM TO LIVE IN POVERTY
(December, 2011)

According to statistics released recently by the Finance Ministry, the Greek middle class seems to be eradicating faster than dew drops in the summer, with most of them claiming to live below the poverty line while others live a plush life with yachts, swimming pools and luxury cars.
The data, based on tax statement records for 2009, the second year of Greece’s current recession cycle, showed an extraordinarily high rate of poverty as stated by taxpayers, with 70 percent telling the tax authorities that they had an annual income of below 12,000 euros, the tax-free ceiling at the time. In fact, four out of 10 households claimed their annual income was even lower than the new tax-free ceiling of 5,000 euros.

However, at the same time, there are four in every 10 households that own a house, one in two taxpayers has a car and more than 900,000 have revenues from renting - which illustrates the extent of tax evasion.

Data also show that there are 10,406 taxpayers who own yachts of more than 10 meters in length, while 128 own airplanes or helicopters. All this forms the basis for cross-checking in order to establish the validity of statements.

The 2010 statements, concerning incomes obtained in 2009, showed that the total number of taxpayers came to 8,451,733, with 3,058,590 of these being salary workers. At 2,342,865, pensioners accounted for 36 percent.

More than 360,000 taxpayers owned houses of more than 200 square meters, while 910,470 people lived in rented accommodation. Over 135,000 taxpayers were paying rent for their children who were living and studying in another city.

The number of taxpayers who declared their country homes came to 662,403, with 133,169 of them saying that their houses had a total area of over 150 square meters. However, only 11,763 of them stated they owned a swimming pool.

There were also 512,275 taxpayers who acquired a new vehicle in 2009, while the number of car owners came to 4,482,674.

All this was before Greece entered the strict monitoring of the eurozone and the International Monetary Fund, which started in May 2010.

FOOD AND DRINK EXPORTS
CONTINUE TO GROW
(December, 2011)

Food and drinks remain the strongest category in Greek exports, accounting for 17 percent of the total in the first seven months of the year, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) and Hellenic Foreign Trade Board data issued recently.

Exports of food and drinks amounted to 2.1 billion Euros in the January-July 2011 period, up by 6.2 percent from the same period last year. Compared with the first seven months of 2005 the increase comes to 48 percent.

The top 10 of Greece’s food and drinks includes fresh fruit, fish, prepackaged vegetables, prepackaged fruit, olive oil, cheese (led by feta) and alcoholic drinks, among others.

The bulk of olive oil exports (which have risen 14.9 percent within one year) are destined for Italy, followed by markets with many Greek expats, such as Germany, Canada and the US.

More encouraging is the fact that huge markets such as Russia and China are also showing a growing interest in Greek food and drink products. ELSTAT figures indicate that Russia is the fifth-biggest destination for Greek olive oil, while China is the eighth.

IF YOU HAVE IT, SPEND IT!
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING KICKS OFF
(December, 2011)

With a feeling of optimism, stores in major cities throughout Greece, including Iraklion, will be extending their opening hours for the Christmas shopping rush as of Thursday, December 15.

 

Stores will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on regular weekdays until December 30, while on Saturday December 17, 24 and 31, retailers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and, on Sunday, December 18 they will be serving shoppers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Regular hours will resume on January 3.

ARE PLASTIC DISCOUNTS
PART OF GREECE’S FUTURE?
(December, 2011)

The government is examining the South Korean model of encouraging electronic transactions to combat tax evasion by Greeks, which still ranks among the worst of the EU.

The plan follows a recommendation by the Center of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE), and is expected to form the main pillar of the reformed tax system as it recommends the offer of incentives for electronic transactions.

In a period of deep recession, South Korea offered significant tax exemptions both to tradesmen and consumers for using plastic money, while rendering the use of cards for transactions above a certain amount compulsory.

KEPE proposes the introduction of a tax discount or return for the purchases through credit or debit cards as an incentive. Alternatively, KEPE recommends the reduction of value-added tax for tradesmen as an incentive for electronic transactions.

A recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) showed that Greece does not cash in about 30 percent of the VAT it should receive from taxpayers, while the equivalent average in the European Union amounts to just 12 percent. Greece has the second-worst record in this respect.

HERSONISSOS MAYOR DOXASTAKIS
ATTENDS THE COVENANT OF MAYORS
(December, 2011)

Hersonissos Mayor Zaharias Doxastakis was an active participant in the Covenant of Mayors, an annual event which was held recently in the European Parliament.

The covenant is an all-important European movement where local and regional governments participate and are committed voluntarily to increase the energy output and the use of renewable sources of energy in their regions.

The mayors intend to not only achieve the European Union’s objective of reducing CO2 emissions by 20 percent but if at all possible to surpass it by 2020 in all EU member states.

“It is an important venue for the Hersonisos municipality to participate actively in all types of green actions to reduce the consumption of energy,” Mayor Doxastakis had stressed back in April when Hersonissos signed on with the covenant.

During his stay in Brussels Mayor Doxastakis had a series of meetings with members from the European Committee and MPs, regarding matters of interest to the Hersonissos municipality.

“We promote good practices and viable solutions on a local level to help stabilize climatic change and to protect the environment," he stated.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS 
OFFERED BY CRETAQUARIUM
(December, 2011)

At a time when the country’s education facilities are straining to maintain adequate facilities during this economic crisis, the Cretaquarium in Gournes is again offering educational programs which are geared for the students of primary as well as secondary education. Taking into consideration the study program of these students, the department of education at the Cretaquarium designed five new educational packages which have been added to the educational programs that the Aquarium already offers. A characteristic of these programs, other than the fact that they are adapted in the students’ educational curriculum, is the empirical way with which the programs transport the knowledge of the marine environment to the student. As a matter of fact some of the programs’ issues can be adapted to the age and level of the students, thus offering a big flexibility to the educational community.



The five new educational programs are:
The Young Explorers
A small discovery of the deep and its life
Us and the Sea
How different are our worlds?
The Deep with the Thousand Faces
Various places where different animals live
A Sea Full of Life
The diversity of marine life
The Heart of the SeaWorld
Marine research and its importance

These programs promise to lead the students, in a unique experiential travel of knowledge and exploration in the marine world.

The educational programs which the Aquarium already offers are:
Oceans: In a Continuous Motion
The importance of currents in our planet
Plankton in the Oceans
The “base of life” as we know it
Comparative Development
Observation of certain systems of different marine organisms



Simultaneously with these programs which are given in its premises, the Aquarium also gives the possibility to far-away schools, via modern technology and e-learning, to “visit” and intimately learn about this unique world.



Also, any students who are interested in creating work (posters, arts and crafts, presentations, theatrical events etc) inspired from the educational programs or their visit to the aquarium are encouraged to participate in the festival of school works which will take place at the Aquarium at the end of the school year.



Meanwhile, John McLaren, curator of the smaller but extremely popular Aquaworld Aquarium in Hersonissos, which is open from April through October, praised the Cretaquarium for its comprehensive educational program.
“With the shortage of traditional educational facilities, as well as schoolbooks, it’s important that the students of Crete receive quality supplementary programs,” he said. “At Aquaworld, our informative hands-on information program on the reptiles of Crete is extremely popular with visitors, as well as local students.”
Further information on the Cretaquarium educational programs is available at 2810-337880.

HIRE ILLEGALLY AND IT WILL COST YOU

(November, 2011)

In a concerted effort by the labour ministry and police to put a halt to the estimated 8 billion Euros in lost social insurance contributions, employers hiring undocumented immigrant workers will face harsher penalties.

According to Labour Minister Yiorgos Koutroumanis, under the new rules employers will face a fine of up to 5,000 Euros and a six month jail sentence.

The new rules are based on a European Union directive requiring member states to impose heavy fines, sanctions and jail sentences on rogue employers who attract and exploit undocumented migrant workers. It is part of the EU's wider effort to combat illegal immigration.

The Greek Confederation of Workers (GSEE) - the country's biggest trade union - estimates that as many as 500,000 migrant workers in Greece do not hold a valid residence permit.

In addition, as of January it will be against the law to pay day labourers (house cleaners, gardeners, baby sitters) in cash. Employers will have to pay them through a special coupon (ergosimo in Greek) that they can purchase at banks and post offices.

This is all part of the government's latest attempt to combat tax evasion and make sure all workers, Greeks and immigrants, are duly contributing to social insurance funds.

FINES IMPOSED ON BANKS
FOR SALARY WITHHOLDING

November, 2011)

 In a turn of events that would have John Dillinger and other famous bank robbers of yesteryear rolling over in their graves, three banks will need to pay combined fines of 260,000 Euros as the General Secretary for Consumers found them guilty of breaking the law in withholding the salaries paid to account holders who had debts to them.

The banks proceed to a unilateral holding of part or all the salaries and pensions of holders of accounts in order to settle debts they had to the lenders based on general terms, also known as fine print, in loan contracts.

Piraeus Bank and Eurobank EFG will have to pay 100,000 Euros each, while ATEbank must pay 60,000 Euros. All fines were imposed with the consent of the Bank of Greece.

Legislation provides for the protection of salaries and pensions in salary accounts up to a certain level and prohibits their use for the offsetting of debts.

The General Secretariat for Consumers has also started the process for the protection of account holders from the so-called deal expenses that some banks impose, beyond the interest paid for delaying a payment of a monthly installment of a loan.

A Consumer Ombudsman survey showed that those additional charges ranged from 8 to 120 Euros per month, while banks are estimated to cash in some 40 to 50 million Euros per year from this additional charge.

BOGUS PENSIONS COST COUNTRY
NEARLY 8 BILLION EUROS

(November, 2011)

Up to eight billion Euros have been paid in bogus pensions in the past decade, director of the Social Security Foundation (IKA), Rovertos Spyropoulos said recently.

Under EU pressure to cut spending and replenish empty state coffers, the Greek government has found out that millions of Euros have been paid to deceased claimants, some of which is often claimed by fraudulent relatives or, in some cases, it remains idle in banks.

“We are trying to cut back on waste,” Mr. Spyropoulos said, adding that the cutback has already saved the foundation over 700 million Euros.

The IKA chief said between seven and eight billion Euros have been paid to bogus pensions in the last ten years. “We will reclaim all that money up to the last euro,” he stated emphatically.

GETTING TOUGH
ON PROPERTY TAX

 November, 2011

Tax authorities will be able to withhold salaries and pensions and confiscate the properties of taxpayers who do not pay their special property tax, the Finance Ministry has decided.

Deputy Finance Minister Pantelis Economou said that within 60 days of the issue of the bills, the Public Power Corporation and alternative electricity suppliers will have to send to the General Secretariat of Information Systems (GSIS) a detailed list of the taxpayers who have not paid their property tax, so that tax authorities can proceed to the compulsory collection measures.

Taxpayers will only have 40 days from the issue of the electricity bill containing the special property tax to pay it, or have their power supply cut. Unless they ask to be reconnected within 20 days, suppliers will delete the customer’s request and send his or her name to the GSIS. They will only get their electricity supply back if they produce a receipt for the payment of their property tax to their power provider.

RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY
COULD LIGHT CRETE’S FUTURE

November, 2011

The unique geographic location of Crete, the island’s geological characteristics, as well as its climate, render the island as one of the most coveted places for the growth and production of energy via Renewable Sources, like wind power.

According to reports, many big Greek enterprises have expressed interest and have filed proposals with the Greek Regulatory Authority for Energy, aiming to create colossal Aeolian parks, whose total power will be near 3,000 MW and will be located in all four Cretan prefectures. The total cost of these investments, provided that they materialise in their entirety, touch upon four billion Euros. Also, the cost of cable-connecting the island with the main land must also be included because the cable connection is a basic condition if any of these investment plans are to materialise.

Seventy mountainous regions in Crete, in the four prefectures, have already been studied and are in the plans to be developed by the investors. The State or private individuals, whoever owns these lands, as well as the local societies, will be called by their local government or local institutions, to decide about this big private investment which will be attempted to take place in the island and which will definitely reverse the island’s physiognomy - economically, developmentally and environmentally - at least for the next 25 years.

Three of the biggest interested investors according to reports are: The National Electric Company Renewable Division, SARRAS & Co./ELIKA and TERNA Energy Ltd. These three big investors, that have the necessary know-how, have already been making relative studies for at least three years now, and have filed their findings to the Regulatory Authority for Energy and are in the process of obtaining the necessary permits for the installation of Aeolian parks. This process is extremely time consuming because it includes declassifying forests, approving environmental studies and obtaining archaeological permissions.

Consequently, a meeting was recently held in the Aghios Nikolaos Municipality after an invitation by the three Chambers of Commerce, the Technical, the Economic and the Geotechnical. The meeting centered on the subject of organising a scientific congress in regard to Renewable Sources of Energy and was attended by the Mayor of Aghios Nikolaos, Mr. Dimitris Kounenakis, Vice-mayors Mihalis Keroulis, Mihalis Sgouros and Nikos Afordakos, the environmentalist of the Municipality Mrs. Maria Lazaraki, the representatives of all three chambers of commerce, Giorgos Arakadakis, Manolis Markakis, Manolis Roukonakis, Haris Alexakis and Yiannis Lasithiotakis.

This is an initiative that the three Chambers have begun with the purpose to brief people regarding the renewable sources of energy. The appointed committee will arrange a series of meetings with the mayors in the Lasithi prefecture to ask for their joint co-operation and contribution to this project and together to discuss the intentions and any questions/problems which might come up in the municipalities.

Mayor Kounenakis expressed his concern about “the uncontrollable positioning of the aeolian and photovoltaic parks which have already been observed in the region,” and added: “What emerges from meetings with local institutions and citizens, regarding the positioning of these parks, is that there are no set guidelines in confronting the renewable energy subject but at the same time, it is quite obvious that these particular energy sources will set us free from ‘oil dependency’.”

He added: “What however we wish is that all renewable energy installations to be instituted after all necessary studies are done, in a legal fashion, also not to be contrary to any other economic activities which have been developed in the region, for our local society and local councils to be kept apprised and mainly that we ‘have a say’ in the matter.

“Also, in order for us to be effective, our Environment Committee headed by Vice-mayor Mihalis Keroulis and working together with the three chambers of commerce, the municipalities and other institutions must file clear and precise proposals which will be voted by the Municipal Council and afterwards will be dispatched in the Prefecture and the relative Ministries.”

The mayor also said that he will participate in the meetings regarding the Special Study on City Planning for the Viable Installation of Aeolian Parks in the Cretan Region. Consequently the Mayor will have the chance to be informed on the research work that the Technical University of Crete has done up until now with regard to the boundaries and possible locations of Aeolian parks.

PET NEUTERING
OFFERED AT DISCOUNT

November, 2011

Another local animal welfare organisation, Zoofili Drasi, will be offering neutering and micro chipping of owned dogs and cats at reduced rates from now until the end of the year. Kerenza Vlastou, President of Filozoiki Kritis, which has been subsidising neutering and free micro-chipping for owned dogs for the last five years, said she firmly believes that this latest program addresses and deals with the root cause of the problem of stray dogs and cats.

“To persuade dog and cat owners to neuter their pets and give them a little incentive to do so is going a long way in ensuring that we minimise the number of unwanted puppies on the streets,” Kerenza said.  “I would like to congratulate Zoofili Drasi on this excellent initiative.”

According to Kerenza, Filozoki Kritis, is organising a Congress on November 9 at the Lato Boutique Hotel in order to share the successes and learning points it has accumulated over the course of its five-year project. Key note speakers will include Vice Mayor of Iraklion, Mr. Bolakis, and the Mayor of Hersonissos, Mr. Doxastakis, as well as the President of the Iraklion Veterinarian Association, Mr. Piperakis (TBC).

 “We would like to believe that dog owners are becoming more responsible in many different ways, including the realization that neutering is absolutely key in today’s society, Kerenza stated.  “We certainly hope that animal owners will take advantage of this wonderful offer.”

Further information about the Congress or responsible dog ownership and subsidised neutering, is available by visiting www.FilozoikiKritis.gr and www.CretanAnimalWelfare.org

CRETE DURING THE ICE AGE:
NEW STUDY OF LASITHI PLATEAU

November, 2011 

The Lasithi plateau is the subject of a new scientific study that aims to reconstruct the climate and the environment of the last 150,000 years in Eastern Mediterranean, according to Nena Galanidou, Associate Professor in the department of History & Archaeology at the University of Crete.

The research is being conducted by Professor Hroni Tzedaki from London University, working together with professor Galanidou, Professor Kosmas Pavlopoulos from the geography department at the Harokopion University and professor Giorgos Apostolopoulos from E.M.P. The research is also being aided by the Lasithi Plateau Municipality.

The program began recently with a geophysical study of the Plateau basin in order to determine the precise point of where to begin the study, and to take a sampling to study the sediments.  The sediments of a natural basin like that of the Lasithi plateau are a precious file of information on the environment and the changes that took place in the recent geological past.

“Crete, as the most southern point of Europe, is the crossroad of climatic systems in the low and intermediate geographic widths, as well as in the human populations of Eastern Mediterranean,” Professor Galanidou said. “Nevertheless, our knowledge for the environmental changes in this region remains exceptionally limited.”

She added that the purpose of the study is to combine sedimentological and geochemical analyses in order to provide answers to the following questions:

·         What were the changes in the temperature and in the rainfalls in the last 150,000 years?

·         What were the changes in the vegetation of Crete during the glacier age?

“The answers to these questions will enable us to shape a better picture about the environment which met the first visitors and residents of Crete in prehistoric years,” she concluded.

CRETAQUARIUM
WINTER HOURS

November, 2011

From now through April 30, 2012, the Cretaquarium will operate on its winter schedule of opening daily (including holidays) from 09:30 to 17:00 (last ticket issued).

AGHIOS NIKOLAOS HONOURS
IAKOVO KAMPANELLI

November, 2011

 “Word and Art 2011,” a three-day event recently held in Aghios Nikolaos, was dedicated to the memory of the unforgettable writer Iakovos Kampanellis, who died just a few months ago.

The event was organized by the Cultural Athletic Organization of the Aghios Nikolaos Municipality, working together with the Art Conservatoire, the Amateur Theatrical Group and the Aghios Nikolaos Cinematography Club. Mrs. Maria Kostaki, vice president of the organization, prefaced the activities, which was attended by the mayor of Aghios Nikolaos Mr. Dimitris Kounenakis, vice-mayors, municipal advisers as well as various institutions of the region and many of its citizens.

During the homage, all sides of the author’s works were presented, like selections of his theatrical works, Mauthausen, his movie scripts and his poetry. The children's choir from the Art Conservatoire sang his verses in a unique way, under the direction of Mrs. Rena Panayiotaki, with Mrs. Sofia Arakadaki on the piano, as well as Mrs. Marina Maniadaki singing Mauthausen. Several rare films which were written and directed by Mr. Kampanellis were shown as well.

The events on the third day were opened by the president of the cultural association, Mr. Dimosthenis Methymakis, who commented that “the objective of the association has been achieved” and thanked all those who honoured Mr. Kampanellis’ memory with their presence.

Film critic, Yannis Bakogiannopoulos, commented: “The events during these three days moved us very deeply, and we applaud them from the bottom of our hearts. The souls of everyone were filled with joy and optimism because we enjoyed all forms of creativity from a big and diachronic Greek artist.”

Mayor Kounenakis said: “The effort of all those who organised and participated in this three-day celebration deserves to be congratulated by all of us. We hope that we can always enjoy such quality events.”

CAW RESPECT PROGRAM
CONTINUES IN NEW SCHOOL YEAR

By Kerenza Vlastou 
(October, 2011)

 Although we delayed, eventually we succeeded!
Although we encountered difficulties, ultimately we overcame them!

 From the autumn of 2010, Cretan Animal Welfare Group’s educational program Respect, with its aim to make children understand ethical lessons, has been promoted. It is aimed at children of primary and secondary schools and teaches respect for our environment, which consists of nature, animals and humans. The program is also a comparative study among children living in the village and in the city centre and their changing behavior through the program.

Unfortunately, in the beginning there were many difficulties and schools were not interested in any activity beside their normal program, but fortunately, we overcame these challenges and started with great enthusiasm in Lefkochori. As from January 2011 the few children who live permanently in the village of Lefkochori (near Arkalochori) were delighted by the fact that we would study our natural environment, learn about the animals and their connection to humans.

So, from January to June there were six meetings. During the first they completed questionnaires which are essential to the study of the behavior of the children and how this can be changed by new ideas and experiences.  In the other meetings children were asked to bring an object from their natural environment, take part in a theatrical game and learn through various interactive ways about respect towards humans, animals and the environment.

It is remarkable that at the first meeting the children expressed their concern about a small dog that was trapped in a ravine. We informed them how they could act so that the dog could be released. And really... at the next meeting, our little friend was safe in a house!

Our efforts continue for the school year 2011-12 expanding to other areas of Crete! We will not give up! Because the children are the future of our planet! Because the children can change the world in which we have brought them! Let's give them the opportunity to do so!Tel. 6955-973666 Project Coordinator Elena Alefantinou.

Thank you to the William & Charlotte Parks Foundation for their ongoing support!

MORE HOURS FOR PUBLIC WORKERS

(October, 2011)

The new 40-hour working week for Greek public-sector staff is now in effect, in case you hadn't noticed.

Following the distribution of a circular ordering the implementation of the new working week by Administration Reform and e-Government Minister Dimitris Reppas, on-the-job hours have been increased from 37.5 hours to 40, making it the same as that in the private sector, and applies to all permanent staff in the civil service and local authorities (except in cases where special regulations call for shorter work hours, such as for staff in sanitation).

In announcing the new hours, Minister Reppas said he hoped that the additional work hours will help increase the productivity of services that come into direct and daily contact with the public, but he offered no explanation how he would bring about such an astounding feat. And rumours that he believes in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, too, have been denied.

…BUT IRAKLION TRAFFIC IS STILL HEAVY

(October, 2011)

Car registration fell 32.2 percent in June this year, compared with the same month in 2010, for a decline of 42 percent in the first half of 2011, the Hellenic Statistical Authority reported.

The statistics service said new car registrations totaled 12,444 vehicles in June, down 32.2 percent from June 2010, while car registrations totaled 72,048 vehicles in the January-June period, after recording a 14.6 percent decline in the corresponding period last year.

At the same time, motorcycle registrations fell 28.4 percent in June, for a decline of 23.5 percent in the January-June 2011 period.

BARREN BATTERY CAGE BAN 2012

By Kerenza Vlastou

“The welfare of battery caged, egg producing hens is the most compromised of all farm animals”- RSPCA
(October, 2011)

In 2012, according to EU law, the barren battery cages will be no more. Does that mean freedom for the hens? Of course not…already many farmers have changed to the new, legal, "enriched" cages, although these are actually only slightly larger than the old cages, but they do include a PLASTIC NEST! Other farmers are still lobbying their MEPs to delay the ban for maybe as much as 10 years.

We say enough! After 12 years they have had plenty of time to change.

The old battery cages are prisons, no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper, allowing no possibility for a hen to do what is natural for her. They cannot forage for food, perch on a roost, dust bathe, preen, lay their eggs in a nest or even just flap their wings.

Hens suffer greatly in these overcrowded conditions and are usually cruelly de-beaked at between one- and 10-days-old to prevent them pecking each other, and are often left unable to eat properly.

For many of those who profit from this system the hens are not seen as sentient beings who suffer in the same way as we do. They are merely a money-making machine. Cages are piled high in rows, impossible to clean properly so the hens are given quantities of antibiotics to keep them "healthy." In fact, the Antibiotics are then passed on to anyone eating these eggs and/or meat.

You may have seen photographs of these wonderful farms when, in January 2011 almost 5,000 of them were closed down after feeding contaminated food to their hens. The food contained 77 times the permitted limit of dioxin, a known carcinogenic. Before discovering this, many of the eggs were sent to the UK and Netherlands for use in food production. Don’t you want to know what you are eating?

In the UK 10 years ago 75 percent of hens were kept in cages, but this is now down to about 58 percent (17million) as consumers demand the alternatives.

Shouldn’t we do the same? We each have a choice in what we buy and eat. Let us send a clear message to the egg producers that we will no longer tolerate this terrible amount of suffering for a slightly cheaper egg.

Today there are 250,000,000 laying hens in battery cages across the EU.

We will be continuing to lobby our MEPs to uphold the ban in 2012.

Will you help us, and the hens?

Buy only organic, free range or barn eggs.

CRETE'S BUSINESSES CLOSING
AT ALARMING RATE
(September, 2011)

While it is estimated that the Modern Greek language with its dialects and its idioms incorporates more than half a million words, none are more pre-eminent these days than πωλείται and ενοικιάζεται, as businesses and shops dissolve into bankruptcy or go out of business at a most alarming rate.

According to an official estimate, one out of every four businesses across the country have closed their doors, while the number in Crete is reported to be even more devastating. An unofficial survey incorporating Iraklion through Aghios Nikolaos on Crete's northeast coast shows that, in many areas, three out of 10 shops are now closed.

While the closures affect almost every type of business, reports show that the hardest hit is the food and drink industry, and that number is expected to increase as a new tax for restaurants and bars is now in effect, raising the tariff from 13 to 23 percent. One industry insider has predicted that by year's end there will be 50 percent fewer tavernas and cafes in Crete than there were two years ago.

The majority of restaurateurs queried by The Khronicles Online said they would not raise their menu prices, but will somehow absorb the cost. However, a local accountant told this newspaper that the new tax, coupled with the general increase in the cost of doing business, will make it impossible for most establishments to continue operating at a profit, and will surely bring a new influx of closings.

And, while businesses across the country burn like an out-of-control bush fire, most people believe the government in Athens continues to fiddle around with ineffective and, in some cases, harmful measures, that will lead to a sure and rapid total bankruptcy for Greece.

This doomsday’s picture is being painted by business leaders, not just the general public. While wishing to remain anonymous, one president of an international corporation told us he was shocked that the government is doing nothing to encourage new business, but instead is "hanging albatrosses around the necks of those trying desperately to survive."

"It just doesn’t make any sense," he said. "They should be doing things to encourage new business, such as issuing tax incentives and easing the red tape which makes it so difficult."

Difficult, seems to be an understated word in relation to doing business in Greece. The country is continually at or near the bottom of every index listing the ease of doing business, with one recent report putting Greece next to last, with Indonesia as the only country more difficult.

A direct effect of so many businesses closing is, of course, unemployment, which, as reported this month, soared to a stunning rate of 1,200 people per day in May, climbing to 16.6 percent of the Greek work force that month, according to data released by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).
The total number of jobless Greeks soared above the 800,000 level for the first time in the last few years, reaching 822,719. Twelve months earlier, in May 2010, the figure stood at 602,185 or 220,534 fewer jobless people. In percentage terms it was at 12 percent, having been at just 6.6 percent in May 2008.

Another grim sign of this worsening situation is that bad checks in Greece soared 43 percent or 1.4 billion euros in the first seven months of 2011, asphyxiating the market further as credit lines continue to dry up.
Data just released by the Tiresias bank information system showed that bounced checks in the year to July amounted to 1.38 billion euros, up by 43.3 percent from the same period in 2010, while unpaid bills of exchange rose to 86,257 units, totalling 134,476,048 euros and representing a 6.47 percent increase compared to last year.
Given the growth in bad checks and the deepening recession in the real economy, it is almost certain that their total amount will exceed 2 billion euros by the end of the year.
A survey by the General Confederation of Greek Small Businesses and Traders (GSEVEE) has shown that just under half of the companies that make transactions through checks possess checks that have already bounced (37.9 percent) or are at risk of doing so (7.3 percent).

A new side-effect related to the enormous amount of businesses closing is, according to a government report, influx of Greek migration to other countries in search of greener pastures.

The report showed that over 10,000 Greeks migrated to Germany alone so far this year, while almost equal numbers fled to other countries, such as Australia.

One media commentator observed that unlike the great Greek migrations of the past, this time it is the skilled worker that is pulling up roots with the hopes of transplanting his hopes to a country with a more fertile land when it comes to doing business.

STOMPING GRAPES IN LIMNES
(September, 2011)

By Popi Halkiadaki

 Your lips drip wine
And mine drip honey
Come. We will drink the wine
We will eat the honey

The 2^nd annual event “Stomping Grapes in Limnes” was held recently by the Educative Association of Limnes as part of its summer celebration events.

It was held at the now defunct Limnes grammar school (see "Students Say A Last Goodbye") which was provided to the association by the municipality.

A small display with sweet flavours had been set up by the entrance preparing visitors for everything they were about to enjoy – free of charge – during the celebration, like grape preserves diligently packed in small jars, moustalevria (a thick grape custard) and yoghurt accompanied by grape preserves. Also, Limnes housewives gave out prettily wrapped packets with their favourite sweet recipes. In the back of the school courtyard, a specially prepared area (the patitiri) was filled with grapes waiting to be stomped by the villagers, which they did as the visitors cheered on. 

The production of wine includes “grape stomping” in these vat-like areas. One after the other, people enter the vat and stomp so that the grapes brake up and mustos (unfermented grape juice) is collected. Even today the methods that are used are absolutely traditional.

Everyone at the event enjoyed a rich menu with home cooked food: Pork with leeks, rooster in a wine sauce, traditional Cretan pasta, oven roasted pork, dolmathakia, a colourful salad and cheese pies. 

I must mention also that the stomping grapes event this year was realized under unfavourable conditions because grapes are hard to find due to the fact that much of the crop has been destroyed by the peronospora fungus. So it’s only due to the insistence and patience of Mr. Nektarios Tsihlis, chairman of the Educative Association, and the perseverance of all its members that we enjoyed the velvety taste of moustalevria and some refreshing grapes at our tables. Also, a big thank you to all the village merchants who closed up their shops for the evening to lend a helping hand to the festivities, which continued until the wee morning hours with lots of dancing, singing and glee.

(See grape recipes from this event in GOOD LIVING section).

OIL RESIDUE JOINS LITTER
IN DIRTYING OUR BEACHES
(September, 2011)

Local environmental authorities seem unable to explain why an ugly black residue of crude oil has been washing up on beaches along Crete's northeast coastline for most of the summer.

 
Oil residue washed up on Gouves beach

From Iraklion to Aghios Nikolaos, many beaches, already blighted by tons of litter, from plastic bags and bottles to every other imaginable waste product, are now experiencing a heavy residue of oil, which, in some cases, has compacted into globs of a tar-like substance.

Many visitors to the beach, both local residents and tourists, during the hot days of July and August have expressed concern about bathing, and some of those who did swim complained about a slimy film over their bodies. In spite of all this, local officials have issued no explanation as to cause nor made any statement regarding health factors.            

Long considered one of the world's dirtiest seas, along with the North Sea, the Mediterranean is a major oil transportation route and up to one million tons of crude oil is discharged annually from accidental spills, illegal bunkering and tank cleaning practices, as well as inadequate harbour facilities.

Additionally, the United Nations Environment Programme has estimated that 650 million tons of sewage, 129,000 tons of mineral oil, 60,000 tons of mercury, 3,800 tons of lead and 36,000 tons of phosphates are dumped into the Mediterranean each year. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of the wastewater dumped into the Mediterranean is untreated.

Pollution also reaches the Mediterranean through its major river systems: the Po, the Ebro, the Nile, and the Rhone which carry substantial amounts of agricultural and industrial wastes. As the Mediterranean is almost entirely landlocked, its waters have a very low renewal rate (80 to 90 years) making them excessively sensitive to pollution.

Furthermore, the Med is severely endangered by human and industrial waste pollution. Just under 100 million people now live in coastal cities, and by 2025 there will be an estimated 150–170 million. Another 100 million tourists visit each summer, and this number is expected to double by 2025.

STUDENTS SAY A LAST GOODBYE
TO THE “KATO SCHOOL” IN LIMNES
(September, 2011)

Although most schools are preparing to open for the new sessions, one will not be so fortunate…the Grade School in Limnes.

But the memories of the school, which was a bastion of education for 154 years, were related at recent closing ceremonies. The history of the school tells us that in September 1856 a horrible earthquake shook the island of Crete, causing a lot of destruction to the cities and villages. During this quake, a big rock toppled over from the side of the Aghia Fotini monastery and by some miracle this huge boulder stopped right above the village. Afterwards the villagers broke down the rock, transported the stones by carriage and, a year later, the school construction was completed.

 

Now, by decision of the Ministry of Education, the school will not reopen because the number of students for this coming school year came down to only four. According to existing records, in 1935 there were 117 students in the school, in 1960 there were 75 children and in 1970 the students reached 49 while last school session there were only eight students.

Thusly, with the initiative of the Limnes Educative Association, a farewell event took place in the courtyard of this historical school. The president of the Limnes community, Mrs. Zaharoula Lempidaki, opened the event.  

“Our school functioned in-spite of some occasionally difficult conditions and has offered a lot to our village community as well as to the surrounding communities in the region,” she said. “Many of us have been taught on its desks and many more have continued and beyond these boundaries…”

Mrs. Lempidaki went on to thank the school’s last schoolteacher, Mr. Haralambo Tsioti, for the six years he taught the students in Limnes.  Mr. Dimitris Kounenakis, mayor of Aghios Nikolaos said: “… in these difficult days we must maintain all our optimism and hope and it’s good to live with nice recollections.” He said that the four students will be transferred to schools in Neapolis or Aghios Nikolaos. The mayor also expressed some hope that perhaps the economic growth of the village could again be on an upswing because Limnes has been included in the European network of “Beautiful Villages."

  

COMBINING FAMILIAL AND PROFESSIONAL LIFE

Positive Measures and Practices
Not Included In The Greek Legislation

By Renia Drosou

Mrs. Drosou is a Sociologist Msc, Director of European Programs in the Iraklion Municipality. This text constitutes a presentation and proposal for the Iraklion Municipality laboratory of European Programs, in the framework of the program “Europe for the citizens” on the subject “Equality of sexes in times of an Economic Crisis”.

Combining familial with professional life is, or should be, a serious matter for women as well as men. The difficulties women face, particularly mothers, are to find and maintain a paying job; deeply rooted preconceptions that women are the responsible carers for the family, and the cultural expectations that men are the basic bread winners. These constitute some of the factors which intensify the inequality between the sexes. This is contrary to article 141 of the European Union Treaty - which forecasts the beginning of equality in employment - and has caused a pan-European movement to confront these inequalities via legislative regulations, programs, etc, while simultaneously contributing in producing an interesting relative bibliography, on a national as well as an international level.

The incorporation of women in the professional life in important positions with increased responsibility, the demographic changes, the changing of roles of women and men in the family and work environment and the appearance of different models in labour relations are reasons which render necessary the creation of legislation to protect the family while combining the professional lives of both parents. Positive measures are the “measures which offer definite advantages, developed to facilitate exercising the professional activities by the least represented sex or to avoid and/or compensate any labour disadvantages, so they can in fact ensure the complete equality of women and men in the labour market” as is forecasted in paragraph 4 of article 141 in the European Community Treaty (2002).

This article investigates the legislation of the European states on issues of combining familial and professional life pointing out some positive measures and practices which are not included in the Greek legislation.

According to Eurostat statistics (1994-2005), it is observed that the birth-rate does not manage to reach the death-rate in any European country due to the difficulty of combining familial life with a paying job. According to the Labour Ministry and Social Security (2002), 39 percent of non-working women attribute the lack of intending to find a job to familial obligations. According to research by the European Committee entitled “Combining professional and familial life in Europe,” which was done in 1998, public financed child services in 1996, in eight countries, show that Spain has the least amount of child-minding facilities for children up to three years of age with Greece and Austria following (Petroglou, 2001). Denmark and Sweden have the most public-funded child-minding facilities. However, according to statistics from the Labour Ministry and Social Security, an increase of these facilities takes place in Greece in 2002, with 1,386 child-minding stations serving 57,820 children. There are also some other facilities serving children of the same age being financed from various other programs, but it’s doubtful that they will continue after these programs expire. Also, there are private facilities, which of course do not serve a low income family. Moreover, from the research by the Labour Ministry and Social Security, it’s not clear how many day-care nurseries there are in comparison with the child-minding facilities. The numbers in the children’s group for up to three years of age are important for the percentages of participation in the workforce by new mothers.

According to the directives of the European Council, the time-off which concerns the mother resting before and after childbirth is called maternity leave and the time-off concerning the care of a child is called parenting leave (Petroglou, 2001). The directive of the Council Directive 92/85/EEC (1992), which continues to apply today, concerns the application of measures aiming to protect the work insurance  of pregnant and/or nursing women, fixing as a minimum duration of maternity leave 14 weeks and/or after the childbirth (National Committee for Human Rights, 2006). Also, Treaty 183 by the International Work Organisation (DOE, 2000) specifies that a woman is eligible for maternity leave of no less than 14 weeks from the likely date of childbirth. Moreover, Directive 96/34/EK regarding the agreement on parenting leave agreed by the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), the European Center of Employers and Enterprises (CEEP) and (CES), pledges these three organisations to apply just the minimum rules for parenting leave, as well as being absent from the job due to extreme violence. Also, the Chart of the European Union’s Fundamental Rights (December 7, 2000), declares that “any person wanting to combine familial with professional life shall have the right to be protected against redundancy for reasons which are connected with maternity, as well as the right to a paid maternity and parenting leave after birth or adoption of a child." For the countries which have signed Treaty 183 of the National Work Organization DOE (2000), the obligatory maternity leave lasts a minimum of six weeks after the childbirth while the worker maintains all her labour rights and receives her wages. Also, it imposes on the Member states to prevent redundancy for the duration of the maternity leave.

Despite the directives by the European Council, the correct treatment and protection of family are not ensured, without specific guidelines for the application of directives as well as following-up that the states have indeed abided by these directives. Finland has separated the maternity leave into 16.5 weeks and the parenting leave into 144 weeks. From the parenting leave 31.6 weeks are fully paid (pay proportional with the salary before obtaining the leave) and 112.4 weeks with a lower pay (a percentage smaller than the 50 percent of her wage before obtaining the leave) (Petroglou, 2001). In Sweden, maternity leave amounts to 14 weeks, with a high remunerated parenting leave for 46 weeks and a low remunerated parenting leave of 12 weeks, while there is non-paid parenting leave as well of 72 weeks. Consequently, the parenting leave in Finland and Sweden covers at least three years. Now, in Greece in the private sector, maternity leave amounts to only 17 weeks and parenting leave is 14 weeks without pay. In the public sector, in local government as well as national and civil service, the maternity leave is two months before and three months after childbirth, and the well-compensated parenting leave numbers nine months. In comparison with the advanced Scandinavian European states, Greece lacks at best two years in parenting leave, depriving the possibility for the Greek woman of raising her child until it’s ready to enrol in a child-minding facility because, as we mentioned before, Greece falls short particularly on child minding infrastructures for children up to three years of age.  A good practice would be to increase parenting leave and to guarantee paid maternity leave for all the women, working in the state and the private sector.

Regarding the social benefits, according to research by Matsaggani and Petroglou (2001) for the Center of Research for Matters of Equality, the state should participate substantially in the “familial economic weights” of its citizens by issuing income funds for families with underage children. In Greece, most benefits are granted to cover traditional dangers, like ageing (pensions absorb the biggest percentage of the total expense for social benefits).

The participation of the father should be a must in the upbringing of children. A good practice which European states enforce is paternity leave. In the Scandinavian states paternity leave varies from 10 to 20 days with pay. The term “paternity leave," which is included in Directive 2002/73, regards the balanced participation of women and men in the professional and familial life, and also prohibits any relative discrimination, and it terms the paternity leave as an individual and not transferable right after the birth or the adoption of a child, without the father’s labour rights being hurt. Paternity leave should be taken simultaneously with maternity leave, regardless of the duration of the maternity and paternity leave and has been established very successfully by many European countries, as a leave with pay (National Committee for Human Rights, 2006). According to the Committee’s study in 2006, in Greece, only those in the private sector are eligible for just two days paternity leave after childbirth.

The directive of the European Parliament and Council 2000/34/EK (2000) aims at the promotion of special measures concerning work time rendering the work flexible, so that the combination of familial and professional life is encouraged, without any of the workers’ rights being infringed. It calls for the member states to establish the necessary measures so that the work week is limited to 48 hours per seven days including overtime. Good practices regarding work-time for the balance of family and professional life, which are applied by other states, but do not exist in the Greek Legislation, are:

·         Using a flexible schedule, so that a part of it is obligatorily common for all workers, and the rest to be adapted according to the preferences or the needs of each worker with a possibility of working in the home in order to spend more time with the family. In Denmark and Austria the workers who have the responsibility to care for a member in their family can agree with their employer on a decreased work schedule. In Denmark the flexible work schedule is a relatively established practice in the public sector, but less in the private sector and it mainly concerns administrative executives.

·         In Italy, the law 191/1998 in effect today makes it possible for the workers in public administration for telework without reduction of their salaries.

·         In Spain and Portugal the possibility of partial employment for familial reasons is established by law, but with proportional reduction of their salaries (Petroglou, 2001).

In Greece with the Law 3250/2004, the possibility of partial employment was established in the state and local government and civil service and concerns mainly women, being that they occupy, according to the law, 60 percent of the positions. According to research in Greece, from the total of the part timers, 63 percent are women. The contractual agreements are for 18 months with an obligatory stoppage of work for four months before renewing the contract. Consequently on one hand, the work schedule allows for certain women to combine familial and professional life. But on the other hand, it creates instability in their professional life because, due to the obligatory stoppage of the contract, it places their professional life at risk because they don’t know if they will be rehired. Also, they are not given the possibility of enrolling in full time work, even if they wish to do so, or even if the positions do exist. However, according to research in the Greek private sector, the workers, who were engaged or switched into part-time employment for familial reasons, have the right to full-time employment, if the positions exist in the company, regardless whether or not the familial reasons still exist.

The length of work hours plays an important role in combining familial and professional life. The maximum amount of work hours (directive 93/104/EK) are fixed by law in all the countries of the European Union. Work in Greece is fixed at 48 hours per week and gives the right to the employer to exceed this limit for a period of up to four months (PD88, Official Journal of the Hellenic Republic 94/13-5-1999). This article has not taken into consideration some newer and particularly bad developments due to the now infamous memorandum. We have excellent practices in countries such as Denmark where the regular work-week is 37 hours while in Spain, Finland, Italy, Portugal and Sweden there are 40 hour work weeks, respectively.

Caring for the aged and the invalids presents an important matter for members of the family and mainly involves women in the family without any type of legal coverage and welfare providence, thus limiting women’s chances of employment.  Where the special leave for the care of other members of the family is paid, it is of a very small duration (two-three days in Italy, Spain) with the exception of Sweden where it is 60 days and it always presupposes the existence of a serious illness and/or an emergency. In Greece the corresponding leave is without pay.

During the period of 2000-2006, the European Social Fund (ESF) was the main financing means with which the European Union provided support for the development of skills in the population to combat unemployment. In the frame-work of subsidies from ESF, support structures have been created like the Centers for Creative Development for children, Day Care Centers for the aged, Help in the Home for caring of aged and invalid etc. However, there are problems in continuing to operate these programs after the financing expires because measures have not been taken regarding the continuation of financing or for any relative legislative action. A positive would be a direct contribution from the state budget of each country.

Finishing, the harmonious existence of familial and professional life constitutes a natural supplement for the beginning of equality between sexes and a means for its effective application. In the effort of maintaining the course towards the achievement of the objective of the Lisbon Treaty to increase the percentage of female employment to 60 per cent by 2010, an objective which has not been achieved, the Greek state owes to contribute, strengthening:

·         To merge the difference in percentages of the sexes in each legislative action

·         To design more family-friendly regulations regarding work schedules

·         To issue parenting leave and to guarantee a paid maternity leave for all women

·         To establish paternity leave

·         To establish a state subsidy towards the further development of child care services, especially for children up to three years of age, and generally towards developing the support services for the care of the aged and/or infirm individuals  

·         To create  labour regulations like:

1.    Increasing the attractiveness of working

2.    Create positions for partial employment

3.    Ability to go from part-time employment to full-time employment in the public sector and

4.    Benefits for families with children, aging members and invalids

GREEKS LIVE BEYOND THEIR MEANS
SAYS EU MONETARY COMMISSIONER

European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, during a recent news conference in Brussels, spoke candidly about the situation in Greece, emphasizing one main point: "For a long time, you lived beyond your  means," spreading his arms as if to indicate all the Greek people.

However, overall he sounded optimistic that the Greek economy would soon see growth.

"Compared to other member states that have been in the same situation that Greece was in this year, the political determination to reform the economy has definitely surprised me positively," said. "It’s been even better than I expected. But of course it is important to maintain the momentum and not to let it slip, not to become self-complacent."

He went on to say that the main causes behind the sorry state of the Greek statistics started to be revealed only at the end of last year.

KALLIKRATIS COMES TO GREEK HOSPITALS

Important changes in the nation's hospital system, including the merging of Iraklion's two major hospitals, have been announced by health authorities.

From the first months of 2011 all health units in the National Health System – ESY - began to be evaluated based on the services they provide, how full they are, even the geographical area they cover and the population which they serve.

After many discussions and meetings and based on data analyses, the leadership of the Health ministry gives a final Kallikratic form to all hospitals in the National Health System. A plethora of mergers are planned for the hospitals in the country and the 138 hospital units which exist today will be merged into 77 new ones. The existing beds are expected to increase from 31,000 to 36,000.

In the Iraklion prefecture they are incorporating the University General Hospital together with the Venizelio and in Lasithi they are merging the general hospitals of Aghios Nikolaos with the general hospitals of Ierapetra, Sitia and Dialynakio in Neapoli.

The hospitals will have common administrations and the modifications in the new organizations of the hospitals are expected to be instituted by December 31 with a proportional distribution in personnel in order that the services cover the needs of each region for primary, secondary and third degree health care. In the big urban centers the hospitals will be separated in groups, with the biggest ones undertaking a coordinating role. Simultaneously the supply and management services like sterilisation, cleaning, food services, guard services etc. will be unified to save on resources.

SUMMER SALES DOWN
BUT ARE BARGAINS REAL?

Turnover on the commercial market in the first three weeks of the extended summer sales period is at least 25 percent lower than last year, despite hefty discounts, the National Confederation of Greek Trade (ESEE) said.

Deeply hit by the economic crisis and deep recession, Greek shop owners were looking to the sales to generate much-needed revenues, which have dropped sharply in recent months as a result of austerity measures that have caused shoppers to restrict purchases to the bare necessities, and are offering reductions as much as 70 percent off original prices.

But turnover nearly midway through the sales period is down an average 25 percent over last summer's already low figures.

Meanwhile, a top government official, in addressing the terrible sales reports, said he has received many complaints from shoppers that some of the so-called sales are not rally bargains, and warned buyers to beware of stores that offering "incredible" bargains because quite often they're not. 

AGHIOS NIKOLAOS DEMOS IN 3D
ON AMERICAN TV

Benny Tagory, cameraman for the American channel Fashion One was recently in the Aghios Nikolaos region for the shooting of Top Hotels – Deluxe and to film a documentary-homage to the Municipality of Aghios Nikolaos which will appear in 179 countries around the world. Although Mr. Tagory is a man whose work takes him travelling to many exotic destinations, he told Mr. Dimitri Kounenaki, mayor of the Aghios Nikolaos demos that he is “very impressed with the region and would very much like to return one day as a permanent resident."

Fashion One channel broadcasts in 3D using a completely new, digital, three-dimensional technology supported by a special digital high resolution and special 3D glasses for the viewers.

The travel show where the documentary of Aghios Nikolaos will be shown reports on leading tourist destinations throughout the world and the Aghios Nikolaos region was selected as the best in all of Greece.

The filming lasted three days and Mr. Tagory shot in Elounda, Plaka, Spinalonga, Vrouhas, Aretiou monastery, Fourni, Neapoli, Milatos, Sisi, Kalo Horio, Kritsa, Panaghia Kera and in other beautiful spots of the municipality. The documentarist didn’t just shoot beautiful landscapes and sights but included many human interest aspects of village life like a visit to the women’s co-op in Kritsas while they were preparing some traditional Cretan spoon sweets and pastries.

HILLARY HITS OUR SHORES

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Washington's answer to Tammy Wynette, famous for her recording of Stand By Your Man, recently wrapped up a two day visit to Athens.

The visit took place at the invitation by the Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis.

Mrs. Clinton praised the structural reforms introduced by the Greek government but said more needs to be done to pull the nation out of its fiscal misery. “We think what has already been done is important but we know more also has to occur with privatization and tax reform” she stated.

In the area of foreign policy, she encouraged efforts to improve ties with Turkey, while warning that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia “will not be able to move forward on its European integration” unless it agrees on a settlement to its long-running name dispute with Greece.
Mrs. Clinton was originally scheduled to visit Greece and Turkey at the second week of February, but cancelled out due to the protests in Egypt and demonstrations in several Middle East and North African countries.

IS BASE PROPERTY
SET FOR LAS VEGAS EAST?

As local residents and elected officials desperately try to gather support to keep the valuable base property in Gournes "in the hands of the people," word has surreptitiously made its way to our shores from the United States concerning a covert movement to build a sprawling Las Vegas-style gambling resort complex at the site.

While no one is actually speaking "for the record," according to insiders the talk is hot and heavy among Vegas bigwigs that a billionaire entrepreneur with massive gambling and real estate holdings is quietly attempting to form a cooperative with some of the most powerful developers in the world – from Europe as well as America.

The Khronicles Online has learned through its media contacts in the U.S. that the immense project could bring over a billion euros to this country's coffers over the first few years, and millions more on an annual basis.

At the time of this writing, there has been no comment from government officials regarding the "secret" project, nor has Athens offered any information concerning this most prized piece of real estate.

 
Greece’s finance ministry is sending a small army of tax collectors with specific commands to boost tax revenues aiming on 14,700 taxpayers with outstanding debts of more than 150,000 euros each.

The total outstanding overdue tax debt owed currently stands at 41.1 billion euros, of which 37 billion euros is owed by the specific 14,700 taxpayers, many from Crete.

At the same time, the computer-armed men will go after taxpayers with large real estate property or high annual turnover.
These decisions were taken during a broad meeting of finance ministry officials chaired by Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos. The aim is to effectively deal with lower tax revenues and to create new mechanisms which will facilitate procedures to achieve fiscal targets.
Ministry figures showed that roughly 900,000 individuals and enterprises owed around 41.1 billion euros to the state in taxes and fines. Those owing less than 150,000 euros have an outstanding tax debt totalling 4.1 billion euros and the remaining 37 billion euros in outstanding tax debt was owed by 14,700 taxpayers.
Ministry inspections will focus on those 14,700 taxpayers initially. Inspections will be a priority and will be made with the help of outside advisers (lawyers, accountants and auditors).

BASE RALLY CALLS FOR:
'A PLACE FOR ALL'

From the Editors

Photos by Ellen Weijers (ellen123@otenet.gr)

At another important showing of support, more than 200 people attended the open public event – discussion to dissuade the plans for the privatisation of the former American base in Gournes.

The common demand of all the various speakers was that the public character of the area must be safeguarded so that the expanse of the old base with the right infrastructures will infuse some much needed green, culture, education and recreation in the Hersonisos demos.

The joint organizers were: the Citizens for Society and Environment, the Association of Architects of the Iraklion Province, the Ecological Intervention of Iraklion and the Movement of Independent Citizens.

The event closed with a musical evening featuring Ross Daly and his musicians, students from the Iraklion Music School, the youthful group “Without Words” and many others.

THE EFFECTS OF TOURISM
IN GROWTH OF GREEK ISLANDS

From the Editors

On the recent occasion of the announcement by the European Committee about forming and developing a new tourism policy for Europe, titled “Europe, the First World-wide Tourist Destination”, member of European Parliament Spyros Danellis, organised a meeting in Strasbourg, Germany, on the subject: "The Effects of Tourism in the Growth of the Islands". Mr. Danellis especially stressed that: “Today we are living in the most critical phase of a post-war Greece. It is obvious that we cannot all accept this reality. Those of us who can, owe to describe the problems and rate the needs and objectives, recognizing that not everything can be accomplished at once and that no crises exist without damages. And that, solutions must be geared towards the collective problems and must support long-term objectives”.

He went on to say: "I perceive the qualitative upgrade of our tourism to be a national priority. In the sector of tourism, nature gave Greece comparative advantages - climate, sunlight, biodiversity, a history of culture.

"What stamped the changes in the Greek islands, almost entirely, since the 70s was the non-existent planning and growth organization. The terms for uses of land, city planning in built-up regions or protection of sensitive regions remained unknown and illegal building ruled. This is precisely the model that in the past few years has been internationally characterized by an escalated crisis.”

Present at this event were members of the European Bureau for Conservation and Development, members of Parliament and executives of the European Committee.

Points Made at Tourism Meetings
 in Gouves and Athens

Although tourism in Crete is on a slight rise, the level of infrastructures in air transportations and at the Iraklion airport remain low, as it was pointed out at the regional meeting of the association of Greek Tourism Enterprises which took place recently in the hotel Amirandes in Gouves

The chairman of the association, Andreas Andreadis, particularly commented on the need to improve the airports on Crete while Nikos Papathanasis, vice-president of the association and directing council for TUI Hellas, during a tourism event organized in Athens, commented on the sordid conditions in the regional airports and declared the Iraklion airport as “the big cancer”.

The chairman of the Iraklion Hoteliers Association, Andreas Metaxas, underlined the problems of infrastructures in sanitation, in the closed Iraklion Archaeological Museum etc.

Germans on the Problematic Airports

Mr. Volker Bercher, CEO for TUI, characterized the Greek tourism product as "partly long gone" in one of his statements during the international tourism exhibit in Berlin.

And he continued: “One of the reasons for the big success of tourist destinations such as Turkey and Egypt is the fact that they offer contemporary tourism”.

His dissatisfaction for the problems in the operation of regional airports in Greece (and Spain) was expressed recently by the chairman of the German Association for Travel Enterprises, Jurgen Bichi, who said indicatively: “We do not want to burden our clients with airports where they will be forced to wait for the departure flight for three hours in the boiling sun because of problematic building installations or bad operation of the baggage handling system. It would not help at this moment to make any public “specific” reports. For now we will address the “problem” countries directly. However, if nothing changes then we will make public statements regarding specific countries and their lack of infrastructures.”

Iraklion Airport Radar Problems
Now in the Parliament

Meanwhile, as complaints about the Iraklion airport soar throughout the industry, its horrific radar problems were brought to the Parliament and specifically to the ministry of Infrastructures, Transports and Networks, by the Iraklion MP Mr. Manolis Stratakis. In his report he states that “according to charges made by the air controllers, the problems in the operation of the radar at the N. Kazantzakis airport are serious, with frequent interruptions of sound and picture, specifically for planes departing from certain destinations, a fact which impends the smooth servicing of flights and, in enough cases, the guiding of planes is done “in the blind”.

Mr. Stratakis stresses that, according to the controllers, the systems need maintenance, especially now that the tourist season already has begun and the number of flights at the Iraklion airport, first in the number of charter flights in the country, is especially increased.

UKRAINIAN AND RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS
VISIT AGHIOS NIKOLAOS

The local government of Aghios Nikolaos, together with the local tourist hotels, apartments and other accommodation facilities, has undertaken a campaign designed to promote efforts for the growth of local tourism.

In that vein, they welcomed Ukrainian and Russian journalists earlier this month from world famous magazines, such as ELLE, HARPER'S BAZAAR, VIVA, LUXURY LIFE, FATA and VIPER.

Local officials from the Aghios Nikolaos municipality talked with the journalists, pointing out the comparative advantages of the region, its incomparable natural beauty and the cultural wealth which it allocates. They also stressed that the Aghios Nikolaos municipality has all the necessary characteristics to allow the region to transform itself to a year-round tourism destination, and in various types of tourism.   

Mayor Dimitris Kounenakis commented that “the journalists who visit our region play an important role in the support of our tourism and for this reason we thank the tourist accommodations for corroborating with the municipality so that we may develop and showcase the unique beauty of our region.”

 DAY OF ACTION TO RESCUE
THE FORMER AMERICAN BASE

A joint open public meeting of “The Citizens for the Society and the Environment," the "Association of Architects of the Iraklion Province," the "Ecological Intervention of Iraklion" and the "Movement of Independent Citizens," has been organized as an open public event - discussion to dissuade the plans for the privatisation of the former American base in Gouves. The organizations are demanding the completion of city planning and the creation of infrastructures in culture, education and recreation.

The event will take place Monday June 20, at 7 pm on base property (at the courtyard of the International Exhibition Center – KRITES taverna).

A music evening will follow featuring noted musician Ross Daly, Kostas Trikalis, the youthful group “Without Words” and many others.

The association “Citizens for the Society and the Environment” is a team of active citizens predisposed towards a viable society, fighting for what is theirs and claiming it.  The Association began its action in the region of the former Gouves Municipality and aims to unfold throughout the new “Kallikratic” Hersonissos Municipality.

BASE PROPERTY UPDATE

From the Editors

The subject of the development of the sprawling beachfront acreage of the old American base in Gournes is in the news again, together with scenarios of selling it off to the highest bidders. Meanwhile, precious property, with its dilapidated buildings and graffiti-covered walls, continues to resemble a third-world country, crumbling into further ruin each day.  

The local citizens are in distress about the fate of the base area, as well as whether the promises which have been given to the public all these years will ever materialise.

Iraklion MP Manolis Stratakis has taken to the Parliament the recent unanimous decision of the Hersonisos Municipal Council regarding a viable proposal for the development of the property. Highlights of the Hersonisos Municipal Council decision are:

·        The physiognomy of the new Municipality of Hersonisos presents an interesting and dynamic picture due to its position along the Iraklion – Aghios Nikolaos axis which is one of the more dynamic in Greece.

·        The entire old base area – 738 stremmata - must be handed over to the Hersonisos Municipality immediately to be used interminably.

·        A study for city planning must be carried out so that the area can be changed into a cultural – educational lung breathing some much needed relief into the area. This city planning study must be financed immediately.

·        The municipal council rejects any selling off or long term renting of any of the base area to any strategic investor and alternatively proposes the development of the base area by the Municipality, with the financial help from institutions of the social economy and state.

·        The municipal council insists on a guarantee for the public character of the base area benefiting the local public and for services which will yield a net profit result.

·        The administration and the management of the base area to be exclusively carried out by the Hersonisos municipality with a final objective in improving and marketing of some of the existing installations, basic and special infrastructures and networks along this most preferential space.

Meanwhile, the newly-established “Movement of Citizens for the Society and the Environment” calls the public to band together and combat the danger of a base sell-out. The new organization doesn’t have any party loyalties and proclaims that: “…any one who worries and wants to deter the emerging selling out of the base to Greek and foreign private interests, anyone who considers unthinkable the coexistence of schools and casinos, anyone who is tired of seeing the abandonment of the area and wishes to rescue the public character of the old base in Gournes”, to join in the Movement, taking into consideration the well-being of the local communities, so that the base area in the future will display a plethora of activities beneficial to the entire region.

The group points out that “precious time has been lost and unjustifiable confusion has been caused regarding the objectives and the ways of fighting a selling-out benefiting private interests.

“We are interested in a productive dialogue and we will talk with anyone including the local government,” it said. “We are interested in guaranteeing the public character of the base area and creating essential infrastructures so that the current picture of abandonment will be no more. Instead, the needs of the local societies will be served in the fields of Education, Health, Social Providence, Culture, Sports, Utilities and Recreation."

(Editor's Note: What's your opinion…the readers want to know…send to editor@ko-go.gr)

IRAKLION AIR STATION

From Jack B. Clark, Jr.

I have completed a video that is a nostalgic virtual tour of Iraklion Air Station as it was in the 1960s using Google Earth 3D models that I created a couple of years ago. 

Although the target audience was Air Force veterans of the old base, perhaps some local citizens in the area would enjoy recalling the old base when it was active.  It can be viewed on You Tube at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eSp-qTamwE

By the way, I am very happy that the paper is going to continue on line.  I know many veterans of Iraklion Air Station read it regularly.

MARILYN COMES TO CRETE

From the Editors

“Marilyn Monroe through Art," an exhibit jointly organized by The Cultural Exchange Institute of Tubingen Germany and the International Exhibition Center in Gournes, will run from now through October 30.

The exhibit, which is being presented for the first time in Greece, approaches the phenomenon of Marilyn through various art forms, highlighting the myth as well as the process of manufacturing that myth. Through the many photographs and paintings, the visitor can follow the life of Norma Jeanne Baker into Marilyn Monroe, one of the world's most famous women, and observe the ways with which Hollywood, the media and modern society transformed a young girl to an object of adoration.

The exhibit presents a complete photographic circle which includes photo-reporting, documentaries, studio out-takes and artistic photographs as well as paintings, sketches, etchings, videos and sculptures.

The exhibit follows a critical  approach focusing in a lot of issues of modern life, like: the price of publicity, self-knowledge and the society of image, the role of the media and the star system through the works of world-famous artists such as of Andy Warhol, Christo, Antonio de Felipe, Érro, as well as known photographers Sam Shaw, Milton Greene, George Barris and others.

The exhibit is open everyday from 09:00 to 21:00 through October 30. General admission fee 8 Euros, with student tickets at 6 Euros.

WE NEED A HOME

From Ellen Weijers

We have some lovely kittens available. If it's true that a picture is worth a thousand words, this may be the "longest" story in The Khronicles online…

Ellen Weijers (ellen123@otenet.gr)

NEW YORK BOUND

From the Editors

Hellenic Imperial Airways (HIA), Greece's mostly "unknown" carrier which has been around since 2006, has announced the start of new direct scheduled flights between Athens and New York's JFK Airport.

Originally a charter airline, HIA will begin scheduled routes this month (June) with direct flight between Athens and New York's JFK airport, becoming the only Greek airline flying between the two countries, since Olympic dropped its New York run last year. Flights will depart from Athens every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 17:30 (local time), arriving in New York at 21:30 (local time).
Return flights will depart from New York on the same days, at 23:30 (local time), arriving in Athens at 17:00 (local time) the next day.
"The planes serving this particular flight will be four Airbus 340, manufactured from 2001 up to 2003, while the ticket prices, by suppressing the existing monopoly in the direct flights between America and Greece, will be perceptibly lower," according to Yiorgos Kessanis, district manager of HIA in the United States. 

Further information is available at www.hellenicairways.com or at 800-11-08080 in Greece and 1- 855-HELLAS for the USA.

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POETRY CORNER

Everyone is invited to submit original poems in either English or Greek for publication in The Khronicles.  Each month one or more poems will be selected and, in December, all published poems will be judged and prizes awarded. Submit by Fax: 2810-762816; by e-mail: poetry@ko-go.gr , or in person at our editorial offices in Kokkini Hani.

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