Restaurant Event at Greek Embassy in Italy

Eleni Bozos
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Restaurant Event at Greek Embassy in Italy

Forty-five Greek restaurant owners were present at an event that was held in Italy at the Greek Embassy in Rome . Representatives of Greek cuisine expressed the need for more promotion of Greek products and an initiative which entails creating a position to have a representative that will represent Greek restaurants in Italy.

The main goal for the event was to attain further support and a closer association with traditional Greek restaurants. This is an efficient and strategic move as it is estimated that daily, four thousand Italians experiment with the recipes and flavors of Greek cuisine. Michael Cambanis who is the Ambassador of Greece in Italy, stressed that: “Greek cuisine is also a means of spreading our culture and in the past few years without a doubt, there has been a great push to international recognition of our gastronomic identity.”

This event was initiated by the Trade and Economic Affairs office of the Greek Embassy in Italy and leaders Michael Vrettakos of Rome and Emmanuel Stantzo of Milan. It was also indicated that there may be a need for the certification of Greek restaurants in Italy. This certification, with the participation of the Director of the Press Office of the Embassy, George Mamalos will be based on specific criteria including qualifications and quality of Greek products and the ability to advertise them with targeted and informative publications.

It is no coincidence that in the culinary insert in the newspaper “La Republica” Litsa Gkranelo has repeatedly expressed a particular weakness to Greek recipes.  Gkranelo references to a creative variation such as vegetarian moussaka  (mussaka vegetariano).

Ancient Tomb Discovered in Larnaca!

Eleni Bozos
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Ancient Tomb Discovered in Larnaca!

A 2,500 years old ancient tomb was discovered according to archaeologists in the Ormideia community of Larnaca, Cyprus.  The discovery was found during street work being conducted at the base of a hill. In the area where the tomb was found is now the location of an elementary school.

Specialists of the Department of Antiquities who searched the area drew out a female skeleton and six containers. As stated by the specialists, the tomb is carved.  It dates back to the end of the Archaic period; around 500 BC. These findings are very important to scientists because they are one of the few found in this region.

As noted by one of the scientists from the Department of Antiquities, several ambiguities that were noticed are said to be the actions of Luigi Tsensola, an Italian of the US Consul.  Tsensola conducted his searchings in a destructive matter during the 19th century. Many of the archaeological findings of Tsensola, which had not been withdrawn the proper way, are currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

NYC Greek Americans Honor OXI Day!

Eleni Bozos
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NYC Greek Americans Honor OXI Day!

Greek Americans of New York are preparing for the parade which honors the anniversary of the country’s ethnic holiday OXI Day on October 28th. The Greek Societies Organization of New York is the organizer of the parade and its events which will begin with a formal prayer service at St. Catherine’s Church in Astoria, and will follow with the parade that ends at the Stathakion cultural center.

The events of the day include an audio-visual documentary which will be screened and portrays the heroism and sacrifices of the 1940 generation in its fight against the invaders and the struggles. Keynote speaker for the events will be Nikos Alexiou, a professor at Queens College.

All Greek schools of the metropolitan area are on holiday today in remebrance of OXI Day.

(Video from last years celebrations)
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New Book: “Greek Cinema Across Australia” by Peter Yiannoudes

A. Makris
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New Book: “Greek Cinema Across Australia” by Peter Yiannoudes

Films gave Greek immigrants arriving in Melbourne a reel link to the homeland they had left and missed, says cinema entrepreneur Peter Yiannoudes.
The Richmond resident has owned 12 Melbourne cinemas during the 50 years in which he has been bringing Greek films to Australia.  He still owns Northcote’s Westgarth Theatre which he bought in 1965.
“For Greek migrants of the late ‘50s and ‘60s, watching Greek movies was not just a way of amusing themselves, but was a way of staying in touch with their homeland, its language and culture,” he said.

Yiannoudes has just completed a book: “Greek Cinema Across Australia”, documenting his involvement with cinema.  He began working in the film industry in his native Cyprus, where he started working as an usher at the age of 12. He arrived in Australia in 1956 at the same time TV arrived and people were deserting the cinema in favour of staying home to watch the box.
Yiannoudes and his business partners in his company Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures, snapped up Melbourne cinemas as they came on to the market; sold by owners anticipating a continued decline.

The first of these theatres was the National in Richmond. Yiannoudes’ book details his battle to rid the theatre of rats.
“We hired pest exterminators, but it seems that the rats were fanatical film lovers and they were not shifting,” he wrote.
Yiannoudes borrowed a cat which initially seemed to get rid of the rats; at least until the screening of the Oscar winning classic “Ben Hur” (with Greek subtitles).

“Suddenly there was turmoil in the theatre, shouts and shrieks were heard and many patrons were standing,” he said. “I thought it was in response to the events on the screen … but then a patron came into the projection room to explain the upheaval was due to a black cat chasing a large rat.”
Yiannoudes eventually got rid of the rats and his company went on to buy cinemas in Northcote, Brunswick, Sunshine, Yarraville and Oakleigh.

He said “Golfo”, a Greek romance similar to Romeo and Juliet, was the most popular film he’d shown, with an estimated 80% viewership by Greek-Australians. He still shows Greek films at the Westgarth Theatre on the second Friday each month at 10.30am and has a collection of more than 1000 Greek movies.
For more details on his book “Greek Cinema Across Australia” please email: pyiannoudes@bigpond.com or call: 0408 738 180.
(source: melbourne-leader)

Immigrants Face Citizenship Delays

A. Makris
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Immigrants Face Citizenship Delays

Immigrants in Canada are waiting 15 to 19 months to have their Canadian citizenship applications approved due to a large back up of applications.
In 2009, changes to the Immigration Act meant that more people were eligible for citizenship, leading to an increase in citizenship applications.
“Really it’s just a question of enough resources to process all the applications we receive,” said Citizenship and Immigration Canada operations manager Paul Snow in an interview with CBS News.
“Citizenship and Immigration as a department has a fixed amount of resources and we’re facing increasing applications in all of our program areas,” he added.
Immigration and naturalization fees are an important source of funding for citizenship and immigration in Canada. Many applicants are unhappy with the processing delays. This could put off prospective migrants in future.
“I don’t think this is a good way of welcoming our fellow Canadian citizens-to-be, considering the fact that they pay all kinds of taxes,” said Edward Chung who is president of the Korean Association of Prince Edward Island.

“One particular member of my association, it took her two years and I find this to be extremely long,” he added. This year Canada has been struggling with an increasing backlog of immigration applications. One reason for this is because Canada has become more and more popular with skilled workers wishing to live and work abroad.
To obtain Canadian citizenship, an applicant must have been a permanent resident for at least two years and have lived in Canada at least three of the four years preceding an application. In addition applicants, amongst other requirements, must be able to show knowledge of English and/or French.

Music Legend Theodorakis Warns for "a Movement of Civic Resistance"

A. Makris
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Music Legend Theodorakis Warns for "a Movement of Civic Resistance"

Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, one of the symbols of the struggle against the military junta, has lashed out at Greek Prime Minister Giorge Papandreou. He announced that if the latter were to call early elections in the country he would create a Movement of Civic Resistance.
Over the past few days in a televised interview Papandreou did not rule out calling early legislative elections in the upcoming local ones on November 7 th , if Greek citizens do not confirm their confidence.  Papandreou said that this may block the reforms that he intends to bring in. It was a statement meant to resist the ”protest vote” hoped for by the opposition.
In statements broadcast by the Skai television channel, Theodorakis aged 85, called the prime minister’s words ”blackmail” to force Greeks to vote for PASOK.  The polls show that PASOK may be losing support but it is still enjoying a clear lead. ”With his interview Papandreou is blackmailing the Greek population by telling them that if they do not vote for him then he will call early elections…in the current circumstances new elections would mean the end of Greece, its dissolution and paralysis.” stated Theodorakis.
According to the well known composer, if what Papandreou does and says were done by a center-right government, the left would have ”set Greece on fire”.

Greece Refuses to Give Up Public Smoking Habit

A. Makris
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Greece who is known for its resilience to change is not reacting well to governmental efforts to control its smoking habits. The nation’s reaction has been a lot more inflammatory than predicted.
A state wide initiative to assist Greece to stop smoking last month proved unsatisfactory. The initiative last month placed a blanket ban on smoking in all public areas. All involved knew it wasn’t going to be easy to halt the EU’s largest smoking country. Greece has so far snubbed eight attempts by the government to control its killer habit.
Of Greece’s total population, 40% declare themselves as smokers. The nation’s hospitals are at a severe tipping point and can barely afford medical supplies. At the same time, Greek smoking costs are estimated at over 1.8 billion Euros annually.
Greece is resilient to change this and their anti-authoritarianism traits are very high. Greek restaurants, cafes and bars stated this week that ashtrays will be again placed on tables. The sector claims that the ban has negatively affected their industry in a economically challenged environment.
This collective act of dismissal is yet another example of how Greeks are not ready to change and take the crisis and severe changes without a conflict.

Annual B.C. Cancer Foundation Fundraiser “Maria’s Opus” on November 14th

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The Annual B.C. Cancer Foundation fundraiser “Maria’s Opus” will take place Sunday November 14th at St. James Community Square in Vancouver. The event promises to glitter and sparkle while inspiring youth to join in.  The evening will be filled with jazz favorites and art to raise money for all the “Marias” that have been lost to cancer.

Creator and Producer Natalia Pardalis, who lost both her mother Maria and her godmother Mary to cancer when she was a little girl, has created this event.  The event is to commemorate these two ladies whose passing has touched indelibly her own life but also ALL the women who have lost their lives to cancer. Natalia’s Greek Orthodox roots inspired her to use the name Maria’s Opus, as the Virgin Mary depicts the caring mother and matriarch. “Maria’s Opus to me is a way to commemorate all the mothers, aunts, sisters and friends the world has lost to this terrible disease, and since it was my mother who taught me how to play the piano and inspired me to sing, I felt that through these gifts I should show how much she meant to me” says Natalia.

Natalia envisioned the event to encourage young talent while providing an opportunity for them to work and learn with professionals. Musicians and artists that welcomed the opportunity to participate and give back in a major way include Guest Conductor Jon Thompson, Chair- Department of Music Trinity Western University, Suzy Berstain who is freshly back from her overseas exhibit workshop “Mia Muse”, artist/photographer Rob Sombilon and vocalist Rebecca Van Drunen. Also participating is the Long and Mcquade Family of Choirs and the Vancouver Tap Dance Society.

Their goal is to raise seven thousand dollars. Tickets are only $20 and sold off the website: www.bccancerfoundation.com.

Doors open at 8pm. For more information please visit: www.mariasopus.com

Greek American Professional Women Honor Tina Santorinaiou

A. Makris
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Greek American Professional Women Honor Tina Santorinaiou

For 22 years Tina Santorineou during 1972 – 1994, was the voice of the Greek American community in the Metropolitan area of New York; an era when satellite television and the internet did not exist.
The broadcast: “The Sound of Greece” hosted on an American 24 hour radio station became a means of expression for Greek Diaspora organizations, federations, communities, schools,  and businesses.  “The Sound of Greece” was also  a listening point for politicians, Greek and Cypriot artists who visited the United States, and American figures when they wanted to address the Greek Diaspora.
Tina Santorineou was honored for dedicating her life to the Greek community during an event of the Association of Greek American Professional Women (AGAPW) entitled “HONORING THE SUCCESS OF GREEK AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE NEWS MEDIA: An In-Depth Look at Their Contributions to Both Ethnic and National Media and Their Personal Journeys on the Road to Success”.
Greek American women excelling in the American media participated in the panel.

Greek Finance Minister; 2009 Deficit Above 15%

A. Makris
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Greek Finance Minister; 2009 Deficit Above 15%

Greece’s 2009 budget deficit will be more than 15% of GDP after revision. This was announced today by Greek Finance Minister Giorgio Papaconstantinou, quoted by the press in a conference in Cyprus (photo). Eurostat has to officially announce the deficit revision in November. Earlier this deficit was established at 13.6%.
Greece’s finance minister has said the country’s economy will shrink by up to 3% in 2011, worse than previously estimated.
“Growth will contract by 4% this year, and next year by between 2.5% and 3%,” said George Papaconstantinou.
The government’s draft 2011 budget had forecast only a 2.6% contraction.
He also said the country was not seeking to extend the schedule for repaying its 110bn euro bail-out loan from the EU and IMF.
Speaking to the Associated Press news agency, the minister played down the issue of a payment delay – which he said was not up to the Greek government – but did not definitively rule it out.
“What is up to us is to do the best that we can to reduce the deficit and do the structural reforms,” he said, adding that the government was not “at the moment thinking or proposing something else”.

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