Jonathan La Paglia Talks About His Role in ‘The Slap’

Fani Toli
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Jonathan La Paglia Talks About His Role in ‘The Slap’

Hitting a child, is it ever justified? Australian novelist Christos Tsiolkas stirred up a hornet’s nest when he set his novel, The Slap, around that very question. And the debate is set to flare again now that it’s been turned into an eight-part TV series.

Playing the pivotal role of Hector, at whose 40th birthday party the fateful slap occurs, is Jonathan LaPagtia, the real life the father of seven-year-old Tilly. So, you have to ask: could he ever slap her?

“Never”, says LaPaglia. “But in The Slap, it’s an extreme situation. You have to ask yourself – would you step in if a child was out of control”?

The hook with The Slap, first published in Australia in 2008, is that you can’t help but take sides. When Hector’s cousin Harry snaps and disciplines three-year-old brat-from-hell Hugo, there will be some who feel like cheering him on. Equally, there will be others as horrified as Hugo’s still breast-feeding mum, Rosie, played in the TV version by former Home and Away favourite Melissa George. She splits a close-knit circle of family and friends down the middle by pressing assault charges against Harry.

“There’s definitely a divide in reactions”, says LaPaglia. “For some people it’s a generation divide, older people are fine with it because that’s how they were brought up. But to my generation [he’s 42] it’s less acceptable. But men and women, parents and non-parents, the divides go every which way”.

He’s quick to point out The Slap is not just about one strike. Tsiolkas skilfully spins out that one incident into an exploration of sexuality, race, cultural divides, the cracks that appear when you reach your forties and more besides.

One issue that hit close to home for LaPaglia was The Slap’s setting amid Melbourne’s Greek community, a milieu which brings the issue of cultural identity into sharp focus. LaPaglia, son of an Italian father and Dutch mother, had first-hand experience to draw on.

“It was a big thing when I was growing up”, he says. “When I was at school you had to choose, there was a lot of pressure to assimilate”.

One sticking point for some critics of the original novel was the suspicion of misogyny in its relationships but LaPaglia has little truck with that. “To me, it’s an accurate portrayal of these people”, he says. “The misogyny thing comes down to the sex scenes but a lot of them are raw fantasy.

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/879695-jonathan-la-paglia-the-slap-isnt-misogynistic-its-a-portrayal-of-people#ixzz1bsfwRVll

US Admiral James Stavridis Receives 2011 Athenagoras Human Rights Award

Stella Tsolakidou
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US Admiral James Stavridis Receives 2011 Athenagoras Human Rights Award

Greek-American US Admiral James G. Stavridis and the three million members of the US Armed Services received the 2011 Athenagoras Human Rights Award by the Archbishop Demetrios of America and the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’ National Commander Dr. Anthony Limberakis during a banquet held at the New York Hilton hotel on October 15.

Admiral Stavridis is the highest ranking Greek-American in the history of the United States Military, serving as the Supreme Allied Commander of Europe. Both he and the joint members of the American Forces were honored for their selfless contribution to promoting and defending human rights around the world.

Admiral Stavridis thanked the Greek Orthodox Archiodecese of America for the award, while referring to the humanitarian role of the Armed Forces and his family values.

Two Greek Female Professors Win PECASE Presidential Award

Stella Tsolakidou
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Two Greek Female Professors Win PECASE Presidential Award

Despite the current harsh times that Greece is facing, two Greek prominent professors are among the winners of the Presidential PECASE Award 2011, proving that in all uncertainty and bleak future prospects, Greeks have the necessary abilities and qualifications to succeed at international levels of science.

The highest distinction bestowed by the United States government on science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers (Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers-PECASE) has been awarded to Greek Ms. Demetra Evangelou psychology and engineering education professor at Purdue University and Greek-American Ms. Fotini Katopodes-Chow professor of civil and environmental engineering at Berkeley University.

Ms. Evangelou is researching on the better understanding of engineers’ education process because according to her, “their way of thinking is totally different from other scientists”.

Ms. Katopodes-Chow’s research focuses on the creation of electronic applications and algorithms aimed at better understanding the way gases move in space.

The PECASE Award was established during the Presidency of Bill Clinton in 1996 and it was meant to honor and support the achievements of young professionals at the outset of their independent research careers in the fields of science and technology. The stated aim of the award is to help maintain the leadership position of the United States in science.

Greek-Americans Remember Greek Genocide

Fani Toli
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Greek-Americans Remember Greek Genocide

According to the Times, Greek Americans remembered the Greek Genocide of 1914-1923 with memorial services for the first time on both the East and West Coast, a letter from the Hellenic League of America informs.

On September 18th, the Asia Minor Holocaust Memorial Observance Committee, headed by Archon Bill Theodosakis, held their annual commemoration of the Greek Holocaust at Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church in Brooklyn New York.

This year’s commemoration saw a large influx of Greeks from across the tri-state area joining with local parishioners to observe the memorial service and listen to guest speaker Prof. Michael Stratis.

The annual commemoration, which normally goes unnoticed by the greater Greek American community, inspired for the first time another such memorial service to be held in California. Also on Sept 18th, St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church in Stockton, CA, organized their own memorial service to remember the victims of the Asia Minor Catastrophe in solidarity with services held in Brooklyn.

It is the hope of the Hellenic League of America to expand memorial services in Greek Orthodox Churches in 2012.

22nd International Symposium of Modern Greek Studies in New York

Fani Toli
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22nd International Symposium of Modern Greek Studies in New York

The 22nd Biennial International Symposium of Modern Greek Studies in New York was held at the University of New York (NYU) from the 13th until the 16th of October. The Symposium has been at a different place biennially since 1960, attracting many speakers from America, Europe, and Australia.

Despite the fact that accommodation and transferring costs are fully paid by the participants of the Symposium, this year there were 150 attendees, including 40 postgraduate students.

The conferences organized by Modern Greek Studies Association is held in very high esteem due to its excellent coordination and consistency.

Although there is no schedule of the conference proceedings as of now (only the schedules of the last seven conferences are on the website of the Association: mgsa.org), it is known that the conferences will reflect the different existing trends of Modern Greek Studies in a global scale.

The organizing committee of the Association aims to promote interdisciplinary conferences, attracting scientists from different fields, such as linguists, historians, experts on cinema or cultural studies etc.

USA has managed to create a constructive cooperation of human and social sciences. According to the President of the Association Stathis Gourgouris, main purpose of the Association is the independence of the committees, the shrinking of bureaucracy, and the creation of stronger relations among the Association, academics and postgraduate students.

Finally, postgraduate students or new scientists are given the chance by the International Symposium of Modern Greek Studies in New York to present their own study and to be a part of a wider academics’ community.

Greece to Escape Debt Crisis by Exporting Solar Energy?

Stella Tsolakidou
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Greece to Escape Debt Crisis by Exporting Solar Energy?

EU’s Energy Commissioner Günther Öttinger, the Director General for Energy Philip Löwe, and the head of the EU’s Athens task force Hörst Reichenbach are reported to be engaged in ongoing talks about the possibility of Greece partially exiting its debt crisis by exporting considerable amounts of solar energy to its creditors.
The idea of solar power helping Greece’s economical growth in the near future is being investigated as in how far it can be implemented.
“Several German companies have expressed interest in the idea but it would clearly be more interesting if several member states were involved,” a senior source told EurActiv.
According to EurActiv, Greece could benefit from investing in solar energy plants located in its own territories as well as from exports in other European countries but the whole scheme faces obstacles, such as those countries willingness to invest in Greece, bureaucracy difficulties of the country and lack of available capital.
German chancellor Angela Merkel had suggested earlier this month to import clean energy from countries such as Greece, in order for Germany to step out of the use of nuclear power, especially after the tremendous catastrophe of Fukushima in Japan.
German economy minister Phillip Rösler told the German broadcasting agency ZDF that his country wants to take German firms and investment opportunities to Greece. “In the spirit of solidarity, it is the task of all Europeans to help Greece get back on its feet economically” he added.
Last September, the Greek government had announced a lofty plan concerning the expansion of Greece’s solar power production, the so called Project Helios, which would require €20 billion investments and create between 30,000 and 60,000 new jobs in unemployment-suffering Greece.

Protesters Boo Ministers During St. Demetrios Celebrations in Thessaloniki

Stella Tsolakidou
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Protesters Boo Ministers During St. Demetrios Celebrations in Thessaloniki

Protesters booed and yelled slogans at two government ministers attending the festivities of St. Dimitrios Day in Thessaloniki October 26.
Defense Minister Panos Beglitis and  Deputy Infrastructure Minister Yannis Magkriotis attended the city’s St Demetrios cathedral on the occasion of the 99th anniversary celebrations since the city’s liberation from the Ottoman, while an angry crowd were yelling, “Thieves! Thieves!”.
Both ministers had a fresh haircut, which only triggered protesters off who started symbolically shouting “ Aren’t you ashamed to come here with a haircut?”, while somebody from the crowd shouted at Magkriotis “We voted for you and you proved incapable. Go away, thief!”
The two ministers as well as Nea Dimokratia officials entered the church from the church’s side doors due to the hostile atmosphere created by the gathered people of Thessaloniki.
Dean of Aristotelio University of Thessaloniki Yannis Mylopoulos was also booed and none of the governmental officials were allowed to deliver a speech due to the crowd’s detesting.
The slogans against the government’s austerity measures had began even before the officials had arrived at the cathedral, while placards were reading “Take the Memorandum and get out of here”.
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Tourism Enterprises Uncertain Over 2012 Trends

A. Makris
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Tourism Enterprises Uncertain Over 2012 Trends

On Tuesday, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) warned that 2012 would be an extremely uncertain period for Greek tourism, as it could be affected by a probable international economic recession, a recovery of North African destinations and economic developments in Greece.
Andreas Andreadis, president of the association, said a necessary precondition to maintain this year’s positive growth was to adopt a policy focusing more on development and less on tax burdens, as ANMA reports.
He presented the association’s proposals to help boost competitiveness of Greek tourism, through cutting VAT rates to 6.5% for tourist packages and 13% for restaurant services; lowering airport duties by 50%; rapid procedures to issue Schengen visas; combating bureaucracy, setting up a joint marketing company with Greek authorities to promote the country in foreign markets; resolving significant problems existing in downtown Athens and resolving a problem with intellectual rights.
Andreadis said a joint marketing company will have an initial capital of 1 million euros, with private investors accounting for 70% of the capital. The new company will promote Greece’s brand name in foreign markets using updated marketing tools.

Potential Trade Cooperation Between Greece and China

Fani Toli
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Potential Trade Cooperation Between Greece and China

During a meeting with the first Deputy President of Greece’s New Democracy Party Dimitris Avramopoulos, China’s top political advisor Jia Qinglin stated on Tuesday that China encourages its enterprises to invest in Greece, and is ready to strengthen cooperation in ocean shipping and expand trade with the debt-ridden European country.
China is willing to join hands with Greece to uplift the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new high, Jia chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said.
China is ready to further enhance its cooperation with the New Democracy Party so as to push forward the overall Sino-Greek bilateral ties, said Jia.
For his part, Avramopoulos said Jia’s visit at a time when Greece was confronted with utmost difficulties has offered great support and encouragement to the Greek people.
The New Democracy Party attaches great importance to developing ties with China, and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in order to further contribute to the development of Sino-Greek ties, he said.

Bill on Greek Language Education Abroad Passed

Stella Tsolakidou
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0

The Greek Parliament’s Plenary fully adopted the new bill of the Ministry for Education on Greek Language Education Abroad on Wednesday.
The bill has been passed with consensus, while the Alternate Minister for Education Fofi Gennimata stressed that it primarily aims at upgrading Greek language education units around the world, since they do not only appeal to Greeks of the Diaspora but to every person interested in learning about the Greek culture and its language.
As Mrs. Gennimata further explained, the new bill will enable every child of the Diaspora to really understand what they are being taught and will use this knowledge of the Greek language and culture throughout their lives.
Excessive expenditures will be moderated, corruption will be better handled, while rules, control and supervision will apply on all Greek schools, so that the results will be more positive than they have been in the past.

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