The American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading association for the nation’s three million American citizens of Greek ancestry, and countless Philhellenes, will hold its 87th Annual Supreme Convention, June 29 to July 5, 2009, in San Francisco, Calif. “We’re excited to return to the West Coast for our Supreme Convention,” said Supreme President Ike Gulas. “San Francisco is also a poignant location for the Daughters of Penelope which was founded there 80 years ago. We believe we have a wonderful program for the entire family to enjoy, including a gala affair honoring a distinguished group of Hellenes.” Honorees attending the 87th AHEPA Grand Banquet on Friday, July 3, include Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis who will receive the AHEPA Pericles Award. “I would like to wholeheartedly thank both you, personally, as well as members of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA) for your decision to honor me with the Pericles Award, which I gladly accept,” wrote Foreign Minister Bakoyannis in an acceptance letter to Supreme President Gulas.
In addition, the convention program will consist of: educational and policy symposia, athletic events, business sessions, and social affairs hosted by the San Francisco AHEPA Family. The Daughters of Penelope, an affiliate organization of AHEPA, will be celebrating its 80th anniversary in the city of its founding. “Everyone is welcome to attend the convention,” said Executive Director Basil Mossaidis. “One can register as a guest, or non-AHEPA family member; although a registration discount is offered to non-members who join.” This will be the third time San Francisco hosts a Supreme Convention. Previously, AHEPA held conventions there in 1931 and 1979.
AHEPA to Honor Greece’s FM Dora Bakoyannis
Fourth swine flu case in Greece (from NY)
The fourth case of the new H1N1 “swine flu” in Greece was confirmed by the Pasteur Institute in Athens on Friday.
According to the national Health Operations Centre, the new case involves a 23-year-old woman that arrived from New York on Thursday night having flu-like symptoms, such as a cough, aching muscles and a runny nose, while her fever was being kept in check by medication prescribed in the United States.
On arriving at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos airport, the young woman acted on briefing material available to passengers and herself contacted the Hellenic Centre for Infectious Diseases Control, where she was submitted to tests.
After doctors obtained a sample for testing, they gave the young woman treatment and advised her to remain home and meticulously observe all the necessary hygiene measures. When the test result came back positive, they immediately sent a specially equipped ambulance to take her to the ‘Sotiria’ hospital in Athens, where she will be admitted for treatment and an epidemiological investigation.
In the meantime, the second and third patients diagnosed with swine flu in Greece, two travellers arriving from Edinburgh, are still in hospital for treatment but are considered to be doing well and will soon be discharged.
(source: ana-mpa)
Greece 2nd in Europe with clean beaches
Greece is the runner-up to Spain, among 39 countries, in the number of ‘Blue Flags’ awarded for clean beaches, with 425 beaches and eight marinas this year receiving the prestigious awards, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature announced yesterday.
Blue Flags were awarded to 430 beaches and 8 marinas in Greece last year. They are awarded on a basis of 29 criteria including cleanliness of the coast and the sea, organisation, information, safety, and protection of the coastal environment.
Nia Vardalos and Alexis Georgoulis about “My Life In Ruins”
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We met the duo at the Press Day that Fox Searchlight had organized for their new movie, “My Life In Ruins”. We talked about being a tourist in Greece and the many restrictions that prohibit movie productions to go to Greece and film in the country’s monument’s, something that should change if Greece wants “more free publicity”.
Billy Zane’s New Hot Love-Making Scene
Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu is going to be hot and bold on bed with Greek-American actor Billy Zane in a new Hollywood movie, titled ‘Chimera’ according to BreakingUpdate.com.
Director Tapan Saha and producer Daniel Silverman have approached the actress for their next film Chimera, which is a paranormal thriller.
Sources report that Bipasha has agreed to act in the film. Tapan Saha said, “Zane plays an American doctor, who takes up an offer in India to work in a hospital. There, he treats Bipasha. I’ve approached Shabana Azmi to play Bipasha’s mother. I’d want Anil Kapoor to play Billy’s Indian friend.”
Talking about the sizzling lovemaking scene, Saha said, “Bipasha has a love-making scene that Indian cinema hasn’t seen her doing before.”
Director Saha wants Anil Kapoor to play role of Billy’s Indian friend and Shabana Azmi to play Bipasha’s mother role.
Zane was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were Greek-American amateur actors and founders of a school for medical technicians. His father’s family shortened their surname from Zanetakos.
BreakingUpdate.com reports that the flick is set to go on floors in July this.
Rachel Dratch Talks About “Her Life In Ruins”
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We met Rachel Dratch at the Los Angeles Press Day for “My Life In Ruins” at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hils. Her character in “My Life In Ruins” is an American who always thinks about America, but at the end Kim learns that the world is not just one country.
Journalist Lambros Papantoniou Passed Away at age 63
Journalist Lambros Papantoniou passed away at age 63 in Washington, DC. Lambros was a constant fixture in Washington, having been a diplomatic correspondent for several Greek and Greek-American media outlets for nearly 35 years.
Ian Kelly, State Department spokesman made the following statement “This is a sad day for all of us here. We learned this morning that our long-time friend and colleague Lambros Papantoniou passed away. Lambros was a veteran member of our press corps family here. And he was proud to say that he covered the State Department from Nixon to Obama. He loved his work here, and we loved him.”
The President of AHEPA in an email targeted to the organization’s members highlighted the importance of Papantoniou’s coverage for the Hellenic Issues in the US and abroad.
“His diligent work to explore U.S. foreign policy issues toward the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans at a multitude of press briefings and press conferences in Washington was immeasurable. Lambros always ensured that no matter the Hellenic issue; it was always raised before the spokespersons of Washington DC policymakers. We are truly indebted to his passionate work as a journalist. Moreover, Lambros was a personable and warmhearted individual, and we will sorely miss his presence at future gatherings and events in Washington and elsewhere. We also remember fondly his support of AHEPA and all Hellenic American organizations.”
Latest school to be hit by swine flu
Melbourne Girls’ College in Richmond today confirmed a Year 9 student has tested positive to swine flu yet the school remains open.
The Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS) has provided her family members with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu and is currently identifying other students and
staff who have had prolonged contact with the girl.
Fotoula Margaronis, whose two daughters attend the college says that she is concerned but not panicking that her daughters are still at the school.
She received an email yesterday alerting her to the situation and directing her to the website in which the principal had posted information for parents.
Although one of her daughters is in the same year level as the student with the flu she is relieved that she is not in the same class and does not believe that she has had direct contact with the affected girl.
“I have not made contact with the school because I know that the principal knows what she is doing and the girls are in good hands. If there was any danger I know that she would send the girls home or close the school.”
Ms Margaronis does not believe that parents should keep their children at home just yet.
“I’ll keep an eye on my girls within the next 24 to 48 hours and if they come down with any symptoms I will act on it.”
Principal Judy Crowe has stated on the college’s website that “some people in our school community may be asked to enter into quarantine in the coming days.”
Ms Crow also said that the DHS would notify her immediately of the outcome
The latest school outbreak takes the national swine flu toll to 61, with Victoria’s acting Chief Medical Officer affirming that one in five Australians could contract the H1N1 strain.
Mr Brumby admitted that it was impossible to stop the virus spreading but that quarantining victims had successfully limited its spread.
Special clinics will be set up at the Royal Children’s hospital, the Austin Hospital in Heidleberg, and hospitals in the northern and western suburbs to help cope with the increasing cases.
The Premier said that the clinics would allow swine flu patients to be isolated from general waiting rooms.
“Concerned families have been heeding the advice of the government and health authorities that they should see a doctor if they are concerned about flu-like illness and this has led to a significant increase in visits to hospital emergency departments,” he said.
“Our advice is still for parents to take their children if they develop symptoms to their local doctor who will then refer them to the clinics if necessary.”
(source: neos kosmos)
Haidari Square in France
A delegation of the city council headed by Mayor, Dimitris Maravelias was in the city of Villeneuve D’Ascq on May 9-10, for the inauguration of Haidari Square in an event organized by the municipal authorities of the French city, honoring Haidari and its history. Mayor Maravelias and the Mayor of Villeneuve D’Ascq, Gerard Caudron, unveiled the two rocks which had the following inscription:
“Haidari Square inaugurated on May 9 2009 by Gerard Caudron, Mayor of Villeneuve D’Ascq and Mayor Dimitris Maravelias, Mayor of Haidari”
The event concluded with Greek songs and dances by a local traditional group.
Later in the day, Mayor Maravelias and his counterpart placed wreaths at the monument of the 86 French soldiers who were executed in April 1944, during the withdrawal of German troops from the city.
Turkey Under Pressure by USA and Others to Reopen Halki Theological School
When U.S. President Barrack Obama visited Turkey last month, he raised the plight of a small religious school of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Halki seminary was closed by the government in 1971, and despite intense pressure by the church and diplomats the school has remained shut. But pressure is growing on Ankara to reopen the school.
Deacon Doratheos looks after the 165-year old Halki theological school, for the long-awaited time when it reopens its doors. “Here is one of the classes, when the school was at its height there were never more than 120 students. Very few students, good professors so they can have an excellent education. …We try to keep it clean and well for re-opening,” he said.
The school was closed in 1971, as part of legislation to close independent university institutions. But observers say the closure was as much to do with the then high tensions between Turkey and Greece over the island of Cyprus.
Doratheos says the school is crucial to the 60,000-member Greek Orthodox community. The school is the only institution in Turkey that can train priests, and Doratheos says without the school it is becoming increasingly difficult for the church to replace aging priests.
“Each church, each chapel must have its own priest. We cannot imagine a baby unbaptized or one who is dead not to have a priest to conduct the last prayers for him. All those graduates before hand from this school, they were very successful as priests as bishops and as patriarchs,” he said.
Supporters of the school’s re-opening recently got a boost when President Obama spoke in Turkey’s parliament. “For democracies cannot be static, they must move forward, freedom of religion and expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state. Which is why steps like opening Halki Seminary will send such a an important signal inside Turkey and beyond,” he said.
The president’s call is echoed by the European Union, which Turkey is seeking to join. Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Spokesman Suat Kiniklioglu says the Turkish government does not oppose reopening the school, but only under certain conditions.
“I do not think it can be solved in the short term. In essence our government has no objection for the school to be reopened and for it to train … priests for the Greek Orthodox Church. But if the school was to function outside the national education umbrella there could be a multitude of other schools being set up that would seek similar exemption from the national education system. That is something we are not ready to do. But if the Greek Orthodox Church agrees to have the school part of the Turkish educational system there is no problem,” he said.
But the offer has been dismissed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, Bishop Gennadios, says the school’s specialized role of training priests does not fit the country’s university structure.
“We would like have our school as it was before. It is not a medical school or school for engineers. It is school which is not just to train priests for our community here in Istanbul, but also other Orthodox churches around the world. And I think this is our right, to have our schools like our churches. And everything that is related to this community, which did not came from outside but is part of this land. They were born here. They are Turkish citizens. They serve in the army. They are loyal to society and as a Turkish citizens they have also their own rights,” he said.
At a local church a small service is being held by an aging priest. With no new priests there is growing concern about for the future of the Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul.
Speaking to worshippers, there is concern for the future and feelings of discrimination. This man’s view is typical.
As a citizen of Turkey of Greek decent it is necessary to practice my religion. There are priests who do not deserve this status, but are there just to fill the void. He says military schools are exempt from the ministry education and the church school has to be independent as well.
Ankara is under mounting diplomatic pressure from the United States and the European Union to reopen the school, and that pressure is set to increase with the church considering taking the matter to the European Court of Human Rights.