THIS IS NOT MY COUNTRY

New Domain

2011-06-12T22:01:00.002+03:00

Just in case anyone is still landing here, I have moved three times since starting on blogger! I am now at here at THIS IS NOT MY COUNTRY dot com. See you over there!

I HAVE MOVED

2006-12-14T13:53:00.000+02:00

I moved a long time ago but some blogs only allow comments from people's blogger accounts. So if you have come here via one of my comments, please note that I am now here.

THE RIGHT PASSPORT

2006-05-12T15:22:00.001+03:00

Another article on the difficulties facing people who come to Greece legally, with contracts or scholarships, when trying to wade through the enormous bureaucratic mess that is so evident here. When I read these stories I thank my lucky stars that I was born in England. When I had to go and let people know I was here, I waited in a long queue for alien registration. At some point, I checked that I had my passport with me. As soon as I had got the thing in my hand, I was plucked out of the queue, led to an office, and dealt with by a very polite and efficient woman. I was out of the place in ten minutes flat. I was elated that I had succeeded to achieve the one task I had set for myself that day (this is one of my survival strategies for living in Greece: never set out to do more than one thing per day). I cannot imagine how I would have reacted if I had been treated in the way that non-EU citizens are. I grew up confident of my rights and expecting to be treated with respect by everyone. For the most part I am treated well here but I have a sneaky suspicion that this has a great deal to do with my passport.

STREET VENDORS

2006-05-12T15:22:00.000+03:00

Another blow to those trying to make a living for themselves here in Greece. Immigrants who have licences to sell their goods at outdoor venues will no longer be able to renew them. The new legislation will only allow EU and Greek citizens to have these licences. The immigrants who are affected by this law are legal, they pay taxes and national insurance. In the Athens News, two of the street vendors speak out: "There are only two application requirements that we cannot fulfil - a Greek identity card and proof that we have served in the Greek military," says Hammed Adekola. "I have been legal selling my goods [handbags and electrical items] at open-air markets in Athens since 1998. I do not understand why the government now wants to ban us from the markets. If the law is not changed, it will be bad for me and for my family." Elvis Ekhaguosa, vice-president of a local Nigerian community organisation, says he has had a licence to sell his wares at the market since 1996, accuses the government of discriminating against immigrants. "I am urging the government to reconsider," he says. "We have children and families and are upright citizens. We don't understand why we should be deprived of the right to work... I have been living in Greece for 18 years with proof. I should not be barred from the markets because I do not have citizenship." They are joined in their protest by Athens city council member Yvette Jarvis, who said, "What this new law means is that they will no longer be allowed to continue working, which means they will not be able to fulfil their social insurance requirement," explains Jarvis. "This means that when the time comes for them to renew their residence permit, they will be deemed illegal because they will not meet the mandatory social insurance requirement. And also the [immigration] law does not allow immigrants to change the type of employment easily... so there are lots of conflicting issues." The government stance is that the municipalities had no legal right to issue the permits in the first place but they are looking into it. That's comforting isn't it? If these permits were not supposed to be handed out to non-EU immigrants, why not look into changing the law in favour of doing so. After all, there is an anti-discrimination clause in the Greek constitution. It seems we take one step forward and two steps back when it comes to minority rights. What on earth do they expect immigrants to do now they seem to be losing another means of making a living? It seems to me that this is just another step in making life so difficult for them in Europe that they will be forced to leave. I would like to add my thanks and support to Kathy Tzilivakis at the Athens News for making a determined and sustained effort to keep minority rights in the spotlight. Full article below.

ANOTHER DEATH

2006-05-12T15:21:00.002+03:00

From Kathimerini A probe has been launched into claims by Afghan migrants that a 15-year-old fellow national was beaten by coast guards at the port of Patras and that a 21-year-old Afghan subsequently died of shock, authorities said yesterday. The two young men were part of a group of Afghans who tried to sneak into a truck due to board a ferry to Italy on Sunday evening but were spotted by coast guards who then chased them and beat the younger man, members of the group testified. According to the migrants, who have been living in a camp near the port, the 21-year-old died of shock upon seeing the alleged beating of the youngster. The Port Authority refuted the beating charges and said the boy had sustained his injuries after jumping off some railings during the chase. A coroner said the 21-year-old died of natural causes and the boy’s injuries were the result of “impact upon a hard surface.” There have been many stories of police and coast guard brutality towards immigrants over the years. An investigation has been launched but I doubt anything will be discovered. Who are the authorities going to believe in this case? A group of illegal immigrants or the men in uniform? Whatever the truth is, another young man is dead. While we continue to treat immigrants like criminals and worse, like animals, more people will be beaten, killed, rounded up, imprisoned in containers, stripped of their basic human rights and forgotten. And we call ourselves civilised?

BLOG AGAINST SEXISM

2006-05-12T15:21:00.001+03:00

We only get one day out of 365 and it's on March the 8th. International Women's Day and Global Women's Strike Day. I will be on strike that day and I hope all you women will be too. Men... for one day you get to do it all. So go over to vegankid and add your committment to Blog against Sexism.

Technorati Tags: Blog against Sexism

BLOG AWARDS

2006-05-12T15:21:00.000+03:00

Although nominated for the 2nd European Weblog Awards, along with Mel and SeaWitch, we didn't make the finalists list. I'm trying not to blubber. As far as I can see, there are no Greek blogs in the lists. Shame. Voting is underway here.

Technorati Tags: european weblog awards

UPDATE LINKS

2006-05-12T15:20:00.002+03:00

THIS IS NOT MY COUNTRY is now here. I will not be updating the old place from now on. I would appreciate it if you could update your blogrolls or links with the new url as soon as you get a moment. Thank you so much. DD

Technorati Tags: personal

SELLING BABIES

2006-05-12T15:20:00.001+03:00

From ert The Bulgarian authorities broke up a five-member ring that was bringing pregnant women to Greece to give birth, while the babies were being put up for adoption illegally. Each baby was sold for 15,000 euros, while on many occasions the gang forced the women to deliver prematurely by having a c-section, so as to avoid arrest as their leave had expired. The Bulgarian police discovered 13 cases of illegal adoption just in 2004. Poor gypsy women from Bulgaria were being tempted to sell their newborns in exchange for 500-5,000 euros. In fact, in some cases, the masterminds of the ring would grant loans to their perspective victims charging exorbitant interest rates, thus forcing them to sell their babies in Greece to repay their debt. Most of the babies were sold in Athens, Volos, Katerini and Larissa over the last six years. The members of the gang are facing up to eight-year prison sentences. There are so many things wrong with this, where do you start? Who are the doctors performing these early c-sections? Who is buying these babies? How? Surely it is not enough just to arrest the ringleaders. There are many others involved in this situation. Excuse me while I bang my head on my desk... eight years for forcing women to undergo surgery and to sell their babies? Are the lives of these women and children worth so little? UPDATE: Tanner over at The News from Kisbacs links to this post and brings up another side of this story. A view from someone wishing to adopt a child. My point in the article was that these women are being forced to give up their children for money. Tanner brings up the issue of legal adoption for cash versus the current system that, as he puts it, is "adoption-in-exchange-for-bureaucratic-nightmare alongside a thriving (and criminal) black market".

Technorati Tags: trafficking

PARENTS AGAINST CHILDREN UPDATE

2006-05-12T15:20:00.000+03:00

I posted a while back about the proposed segregated schools for Romani children at a school in Aspropyrgos. That post here. Below is an open letter to the Ministry of Education from the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and the European Roma Rights Center. It gives the background details to the case and calls on the government to do something (for a change) about this situation, These children have been unable to go to school since 2004. Three parts stood out for me in the letter: A twelve year old girl said in an interview "I go to school and they turn me away; they tell me ‘you are poor, go away." Remind you of anything? When Alpha filmed the protests non-romani parents were heard shouting “No child of yours will enter our school […]. You are not going to enter the school. I will bring 500,000 people; you will not enter here, and that’s that.” Remind you of anything? On October 12, a sign was posted stating, “The school will remain closed for the problem of the Gypsies; Wednesday 12/10/05; Parents and Guardians Association.” Fancy that. Those uppity Roma causing problems by wanting their children to go to school! Remind you of anything?

Technorati Tags: roma

ANOTHER BLOG CELEBRATION

2006-05-12T15:04:00.000+03:00

As well as moving to a new place, this blog reached 1000 comments yesterday! And guess what? SeaWitch, you wrote comment number 1000. A special shoutout to you. And here is your prize (virtual only, sadly) A dot com Diva tshirt (available for real here)

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

CLOSED

2006-02-13T16:24:00.002+02:00

This blog is now closed. I have moved here with all the old posts, comments and all. Just like the old place but cleaner, quicker and hopefully, with less down time. Please update blogrolls or links. Thank you. See you over at the new place.

LAST POST HERE

2006-02-09T20:07:00.000+02:00

Due to having an average-sized brain and only one pair of hands, I have found that I am unable to keep two blogs running AND do all the things I need to do at my new place. So this will be my last post here. It's been a great place to be while it lasted. I guess me and blogger just couldn't be together anymore, though we are parting as friends. The old place will stay here for as long as blogger keeps it. I will be able to pop back for a visit every now and then, at least until they start tearing down the old places. I'm going to miss my first blog but I am keen to move on to better things. And if things don't work out over at wordpress, I could move back in here. Life is sweet. Comments are open on this post until Sunday. For those who haven't heard the news yet I am in my new place right here.

ANOTHER BLOG CELEBRATION

2006-02-09T19:15:00.000+02:00

As well as moving to a new place, this blog reached 1000 comments yesterday! And guess what? SeaWitch, you wrote comment number 1000. A special shoutout to you.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

A FAVOUR

2006-02-09T09:48:00.000+02:00

I have a favour to ask all my blog friends. Could you go over to my new home here and leave a message under the post entitled "THE FAVOUR". I just want to check that everyone can access it and that it's all working before I close this blog. Thank you very much in advance.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

COMMENTS

2006-02-08T22:56:00.000+02:00

All posts and comments from this blog have been set up in the new place here. Feel free to carry on your discussions over there. So far so good.

Technorati Tags: blogs

TWO PROSECUTIONS

2006-02-08T19:33:00.000+02:00

The Greek Helsinki Monitor has issued an urgent appeal to protest the Greek government's prosecution of journalists and human rights defenders. The two cases cited in the appeal are that of journalist Makis Nodaros tried for defamation after he highlighted a case of sexual exploitation, and that of Professor Takis Alexiou who I blogged about earlier this year here and here. To read the full appeal click here.

Technorati Tags: law

MIGRATION UPDATE

2006-02-08T08:49:00.000+02:00

As I said in my last post THIS IS NOT MY COUNTRY has a new home. Hopefully, I will be closing this blog on Sunday 12th February. I am turning off comments here today as a trial before I turn them off permanently. From then on, this place will remain but will not be updated. The new place is here. Please wait until Sunday before updating blogrolls or links if you have them. Today is a test to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

MIGRATION

2006-02-07T15:38:00.000+02:00

I made a decision. I am moving my blog to Wordpress because I am fed up with Blogger. All the outages and losing comments is really getting on my nerves. Many bloggers are advising people to move because they predict they are going to start losing blogs all over the place and then start charging for the service. This one will stay current until I am happy with how things are going. For anyone interested in how it looks at the moment click here. Bear in mind it's not finished. There is one disadvantage for those of us who like messing with html in the templates on blogger; you can't do that with the free wordpress blog. The advantages far outweigh that though. Number one for me is categories at last. Number two is automatic pings when you post new entry (for those who care) and number three greater control over comments, spam etc. I hope you all like the new look or are, at least, willing to get used to it. I'm not 100% happy design-wise but apparently they keep adding to the templates. Hopefully one will turn up that I like better. Please don't post comments over there yet. I will let you know when version one will be closing. I will not be deleting it and I'll give you all plenty of time to update those links! See you all over at my new place.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

MISSING CHILDREN

2006-02-06T15:02:00.000+02:00

500 children went missing from the Aghia Varvara institution between 1998 and 2002. Only 4 of the children have since been located. Where are the other 496? No-one knows. Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights of the United Nations on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Juan Miguel Petit visited the country in November 2005 and reported specifically on this case and made recommendations to the Greek government. During the visit, I looked for information on the case of the approximately 500 children who went missing from the children’s institution Aghia Varvara between 1998 and 2002. I share the conclusion of the report of the Ombudsman on the case, which indicated the overall deficiencies of the institution Aghia Varvara to adequately respond to the challenging objective of the government programme set up at the time and aimed at giving protection and social care to street children. I saw the records in which children coming and going from Aghia Varvara were registered. All the elements I gathered indicate a deficiency in the design of the educational and social methodology of the programme. During my visit in Albania, the Albanian Ombudsman informed me that only 4 of the missing children from Aghia Varvara have been located in Albania. We do not know where the others are. As a preliminary suggestion, I recommend to consider the possibility of creating a mixed commission of relevant Greek and Albanian authorities, the Ombudsmen of both countries and NGOs which have worked on the case. The commission should coordinate the efforts to locate the children whose whereabouts remain unknown and identify institutional responsibilities. My perspective on this case is on the lessons that we should draw from it to prevent its recurrence in the future. For this, a more efficient and cooperative relationship between the Government and NGOs is needed to make children a recognised priority for the country beyond political, institutional and ideological disputes. He also commented on other issues: There is still need to improve the coverage of social programmes with specialised staff with specific expertise to work with foreign unaccompanied minors, street children, and victims of trafficking.The protection of unaccompanied minors is to be improved. Although the Government is making efforts in this direction, in practice unaccompanied children are too often treated as adult illegal migrants. This is particularly concerning for more vulnerable categories of unaccompanied minors, such as victims of trafficking and asylum seekers, who may end up being deported without having had the possibility to access the protection measures they are entitled to. The situation of Roma and Roma children is a concern. I visited a Roma settlement in which housing conditions and sanitation are just not acceptable. Access to health and education is limited or lacking and social programmes are not providing assistance to the community. The State should take specific measures to improve the living conditions and the possibilities of development of Roma communities to give to Roma children alternatives other than street work or prostitution as survival strategies for them and their families. My last consideration relates to the lack of an overarching institutional set up for child protection. Institutional responsibilities are spread among different ministries without a coordinating entity. Such a coordinating body is very much needed to improve the institutional capacity to respond to the problems I referred to, together with specific measures such as specialised educators and social workers, outreach programmes, community centres, and resourced shelters. The cooperation of NGOs in the implementation of these measures, which are to be framed in an overarching policy on children’s rights and child protection, is an indispensable asset. We can only imagine what has become of all those children. I cannot believe that so many could have been 'lost' and that so little effort had been made to find them. And yes, I'm going to critisise Greece about this too. If it had been 500 Greek children from an orphanage or other such institution, would it have gone unchecked? This story makes me despair for our humanity. Whatever your views of foreigners and immigrants and asylum seekers and roma and whoever else you have problems with: These are children we are talking about. 496 children. 496 children that Greece had the responsibility to protect (regardless of why and how they were here). And Greece failed them. For a country that prides itself on loving children (I assume now that that means Greek children) This is a disgrace. What is going to be done. My guess is absolutely nothing. UPDATE Here are two links to this story. Just to clarify, Aghia Varvara was a state-run institution where children were housed after being picked up by police from the streets. The Amnesty report cites 502 children missing and both articles state that little or no effort has been made to find them (in fact it was not even reported until 2003) Copy of the letter to the Greek government from the World Organisation against Torture (2004) The missing children also appear in the annual report on Greece from Amnesty International 2005

Technorati Tags: children, Greece, trafficking

JOB VACANCIES

2006-02-03T13:36:00.000+02:00

Via Athens News Despite the rising hysteria that says Greece is overflowing with immigrants, the government has announced that the country needs 57,000 more to fill vacancies in the job market, mainly in the agricultural sector. The lists of jobs have been drawn up by regional offices around Greece and will be posted at Greek consulates around the world. Workers will then be able to apply for specific jobs and, if successful, will be issued with a work visa. Kathy Tzilivakis of the Athens News writes: Greece is now ready to put in motion perhaps it's boldest and most ambitious plan to dead-bolt the back door to illegal immigration by opening the front door wider. Most of the jobs (almost 40,000) will be in central Macedonia. 45,619 of the vacancies are in agriculture (mainly picking and packing olives, grapes and vegetables), 7,962 in livestock and poultry farming and 2,001 in fishing. I know all the anti-immigration lot are going to get twitchy right about now but think about it. If there was a legal way to secure work in Europe people would take it. No-one is an illegal immigrant by choice. (Let's not get confused between people coming to Europe looking for work and those seeking asylum who often have no choice but to do so illegally). So, take a deep breath and count to ten before you respond.

Technorati Tags: Greece, immigration

EUROPEAN WEBLOG AWARDS

2006-02-02T23:41:00.000+02:00

Starfish (who is an occasional commentor here) has nominated this blog for the 2nd Fistful of Euros European Weblog Awards. Also nominated by the same person are Mel's Diner and Sovereignty of the Seawitch. Add your nominations here and I will keep you posted on the voting procedure. Thank you starfish.

Technorati Tags: blogs, Greece, personal

INSOLENT

2006-02-02T22:54:00.000+02:00

I have blogged several times about Roma issues and about the appalling situation of housing and evictions in Patras (European City of Culture 2006). I wonder what on earth this is all about and how it will it play out? Is this an attempt to stop those pesky liberals and humanitarians from trying to secure basic human rights for the Roma community . I will be watching this one with interest. Especially since useless objects are being thrown in the river! From Greek Helsinki Monitor (definition in brackets from dictionary dot com) Legal investigations are under way against the Chair of the Greek Helsinki Monitor, Panayote Dimitras, by the Head of the Appeals Prosecutor's Office of Patras, Anastassios Kanellopoulos. Panayote Dimitras and the Greek Helsinki Monitor are accused of encouraging Roma of the Makrigianni settlement to "believe that they enjoy a sui generis (a special case, a category of their own) immunity and to have thus grown insolent, as they believe they will not be punished and that they have hence reached a point of throwing useless objects into the River Glafkos".

Technorati Tags: Greece, human rights, roma

ACTION FOR ROMA

2006-02-01T19:36:00.000+02:00

Via Balkan Human Rights

The Panhellenic Confederation of Greek Roma (PACONGR) and Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) have launched a joint effort to defend the fundamental human rights of Roma by visiting the Roma settlement in the Psari, Aspropyrgos (near Athens). During the visit, the Chairman of the PACONGR Vassilis Dimitriou was interviewed by BBC television on the problems facing Roma and the objectives of the new political party “Independent Rally of Citizens with Special Self Identification – ASPIDA ROM”. Similar actions on other Roma settlements will follow.

During their visit to the Psari settlement, PACONGR and GHM noted the inhuman and degrading living conditions of the Roma, were briefed about the establishment of a segregated “ghetto” school for the Roma schoolchildren and were informed of a series of discriminatory acts against the Roma, including the use of offending stereotypes.

It was decided to record also audiovisually the unacceptable living conditions, so as to widely inform Greek society, state agencies and Members of Greek and European Parliaments. In addition, it was decided to carry out a census of the community in order to make documented demands to the state concerning their adequate housing the schooling of all school aged Romani children in mainstream public schools and not in segregated Roma-only school annexes. Lastly, it was decided to activate the relevant anti-discrimination legislation for each documented violation of its provisions against any Roma.

Technorati Tags: Greece, roma

FUSS ABOUT TRAFFICKING

2006-02-01T17:47:00.000+02:00

An excellent post by Laurelin In The Rain on a Mary Dejevsky article about the 'fuss there has been this year about the trafficking of women'. The subtitle of the article in The Independent was "How gullible does a girl have to be to follow an old man who promises a free tourist trip?" I agree with Laurelin in her response to it. She writes Firstly, Ms Dejevsky, people who are poor and desperate, as well as unknowledgable about the West, may well believe these people when they offer them a chance. It is the promise of capitalism after all, that if one seizes 'opportunity' and works hard enough that one will 'make it'. Secondly, since when was naivete or innocence a crime, and since when was rape and imprisonment a punishment for crime? Nothing a rape survivor has done/ thought makes the crime against her any less of a crime, and indifference to her suffering because of her perceived naivete is unforgivable. Read the entire post here

Technorati Tags: trafficking, women

UPDATE ON PROFESSOR ALEXIOU

2006-01-31T19:51:00.000+02:00

Via Balkan Human Rights The Journalists Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) has written in support of Professor Alexiou, sentenced to 25 months in prison for heresy. See my post here for the full story. Professor Alexiou, founder of the Greek Rumi Committee is condemned because this Committee is considered to be a “heresy”, which poses a threat to the religion and national identity of the country. However, it is well known that the Greek Rumi Committee’s goal is solely the study of the works of the great poet and philosopher Rumi. Read the rest of the letter here

Technorati Tags: Greece, religion

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

2006-01-30T17:43:00.000+02:00

A letter to the editor from last weeks Athens News. I HAVE lived in Greece for 20 years. I am an artist, musician, poet and actor. I have taken every legal path to legalise myself. I became a Christian Orthodox. I married a Greek, twice. In 2002, I submitted my papers to renew my Green Card. At the time, new [undocumented] people were being granted the right to legalise their status and all of us were put into one sack. My name never came out when I asked about my application. I was told they were giving priority to the newcomers. Why? I am still waiting. Why? I have been sent in circles from one office to another. And when I asked why football players and dancers get their papers on time, they said they are another category. Well, shall I put on lipstick and silicone breasts and shake my body in some club so to get my permission? Is this the only way? People who have been living here for 10, 15 and 25 years and even longer have rights under the law to get at least permanent residence, not to mention nationality. Many of them are working at building sites, factories and farms. They have lived here for half their life but are still abused by the state. There are bosses who won't pay for their social security. We are all victims of the state. We demand our rights. We must go to the European Court of Human Rights. Elderdiry M Fadul Athens This is not an isolated case. I have heard of many complicated stories just from among my friends who have tried to renew papers, get residency or work permits and or (long, long story) to gain citizenship. Before anyone writes a comment, this is not only a problem in Greece. Immigrants face equally drawn out, baffling procedures in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. Can anything be done to simplify the system and allow those who are legally here or wish to apply for legal status to get through the bureaucracy?

Technorati Tags: immigration, law, politics

FOCUS ON CYPRUS

2006-01-28T15:40:00.000+02:00

Cyprus Tales is a blog dedicated to immigration issues on the island. Stories of racism and xenophobia, deportations and abuses. You have to register to leave comments.

Technorati Tags: cyprus, racism, xenophobia

TAKING UP CAUSES

2006-01-26T19:12:00.000+02:00

On my post "END HUMAN TRAFFICKING" Zardoz asked me whether there were any watchdog organisations in Greece dealing with trafficking. I answered: "There are several non-governmental organisations working to end trafficking and helping the victims of this crime. However, there is always a problem with funding for these initiatives. I blogged about one such organisation, STOPNOW, a while back (the link is in my sidebar). They are closed now due to lack of funds." The official blurb on the conference "The Roundtable aims to the sensitization of the business community and its commitment to a code of moral principles. The business community due to its great power and influence on the world, can be of significant assistance to the important efforts already made by governments, international organizations, as well as governmental and non governmental organizations for the confrontation of human trafficking" So the big conference to launch the End Human Trafficking campaign took place at Zappion in Athens on Monday. Firstly, no Greek non-governmental organisations were invited to attend. One group requested an invitation and were refused. These are NGO's who have been working long and hard to combat this appalling trade in human beings. Secondly, the meeting was organised in collaboration with the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is the same ministry that has withheld the funding of these same NGO's. Thirdly, the event was hosted by Motor Oil (Hellas) and co-sponsored by the World bank. Huge amounts of money was spent on gifts and freebies for the participants. Gifts with corporate logos on no doubt. I can think of many better things that money could have been spent on. Fund some of the projects that are currently closed perhaps? Or is that just too simple? I think it's good that glamorous famous people take up causes. They attract attention to the issues and have the ability to attract huge amounts of money. The problem for me is that they sit about and have their fundraising dinners and talk about how terrible it all is (now that they've realised people ARE being trafficked) while the very organisations that were trying to tackle the problems are closed due to lack of money. I will let you know if any of the NGO's manage to get a euro or two out of this so that they can continue actually helping people. Don't hold your breath.

Technorati Tags: Greece, personal, trafficking

GREEK ART BLOG

2006-01-25T22:27:00.000+02:00

I am being lazy today on my blog. Apologies to you all but there isn't much (relevent) news. I take that as a positive sign but maybe I'm just missing something? Or maybe the snow reports have made us all a little mad. In the meantime, I have been busy making cutting edge video and writing my book. (that's a euphemism for I've been messing about on my computer and amusing myself). Amidst all this merriment and relaxation, I found a really funky blog. It is called One Drawing Per Day: Just for the hell of it. It is run by Alexandros who just posts these amazing daily drawings. I love it. Go and see for yourself.

Technorati Tags: blogs, Greece, personal

END HUMAN TRAFFICKING

2006-01-24T10:28:00.000+02:00

The international campaign to end human trafficking began in Athens on Monday. The focus being to urge the business community to participate fully in putting an end to trafficking. Forced labour is big business. A new global report on forced labour by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) suggests that the illicit profits realized per year from trafficked forced labourers- US$ 32 billion - are far greater than has so far been understood. Half of this is made in industrialized countries and close to one third in Asia. Some US$ 28 billion per year is made from sexual exploitation of women and US$ 4 billion annually from other forms of economic exploitation. As Suzanne Mubarak of the Women's International Peace Movement, who organised the campaign stated, human trafficking is not only unethical: IT IS A CRIME.

Technorati Tags: Greece, trafficking

SECOND MEME

2006-01-23T17:49:00.000+02:00

I was asked by Sha to join in with this one. Oh, the life of a blogger. 10 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME 1. I once had a parrot called Pedro. 2. I wanted to be a professional swimmer. 3. I hate wearing high heels. 4. I eat Marmite straight from the jar. 5. I am afraid of flying and dentists. 6. I would like to write a book. 7. I don't know how to drive. 8. I have done the cliff jump at Ricks cafe, Jamaica. 9. My favorite cartoon character is Taz. 10. I don't do ironing. Over to you, Ellasdevil

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

WHO ARE YOU?

2006-01-20T18:48:00.000+02:00

All this talk about what people are supposed to be like based on race and ethnicity got me thinking. Just an idea. For fun. WHO ARE YOU? In any way you feel like expressing it. If you feel like it. This is me.

BEYOND MY SKIN

I am strange up and down moody and changeable. I am rich with laughter on my lips. I am deeply unreligious given to having faith. I am blessed and unbelieving. I am fragile raw and kind. I am lazy loving calm sleep. I am scared by thoughts of impending doom. I am indulgent imperfect flawed. I am funny sarcastic and angry. I am hungry for everything but food. I am living breathing needing. I am silly enjoying nonsense and rhyme. I am serious thinking and changing with time.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

GREEK DENIAL

2006-01-20T17:26:00.000+02:00

Via the Athens News The Greek government continues to deny that Pakistani men were illegally abducted and interrogated by intelligent agents following the London bombings. This after British officials admit they were present at the supposedly non-existent interrogations. In their own words: "The more the government tries to cover up, the more we fear for life today" "I also felt more insecure and scared for my life and future in Greece" "I am so afraid that someone might be waiting for me" "All we want is justice and for the government to acknowledge what happened and to reassure us that it will never happen again"

Technorati Tags: Greece, law

SHUT UP

2006-01-18T18:32:00.000+02:00

This post relates to the the one yesterday entitled "SISTERS" on the subject of being silent. When I was growing up (in a very white world I might add), it was common for people to call the chinese takeaway "the chinky", the corner shop was the "paki shop" and black people were "nignogs" and "darkies". If you were lucky and very very good, you might be referred to as "the coloured gentleman". While some people today in Britain might find it acceptable to continue with these derogatory terms, most find it abhorrent. If you have ever been on the receiving end of this kind of language you would understand fully why the situation had to change. The saying when I was growing up was: "Sticks and stones will break your bones But names will never hurt you" This is totally false. As anyone who has ever been verbally abused by someone will tell you. What the phrase really meant was: "Shut up" In the same way the feminist movement fights to change the sexist society we live in, the anti-racists take up the challenge against racism. There are always those that will use these movements to deride the issues. The backlash against feminism is quite ferocious. We are told stories about working women being unable to find partners. That delaying having children will result in deformed babies or infertility. That really things are not that bad for women. Finally, we are being led to believe that men are now the victims. Basically, this boils down to: "Shut up" The backlash against the anti-racist movement is equally ferocious. We are told stories about black people hating whites. We are overwhelmed by ridiculous exaggerations of political correctness. We are bombarded by white anxiety that black people want to wipe them out. We are told that things are really not that bad for black people. And indeed that white people are now the victims. Again, the same. "Shut up" I am glad those words are gone from our mouths. I am glad that it is unacceptable to use derogatory words to describe huge numbers of people. I am glad that we have been forced to look at our racist language and change it. I am glad that we didn't shut up. There is still so much to do. Sometimes it seems like we will never reach equality. I am sure I will be told to be nice, and not rock the boat, and be grateful for the few concessions I have been granted, many, many more times before I die. But until then, I am not going to SHUT UP.

Technorati Tags: personal, racism, women

SEND SOME LOVE

2006-01-18T14:30:00.000+02:00

I really laughed when I read the comments on a post by my loyal fan, ethnocentrist! (obviously not the racist comments which are just sad). Chakil, scruffy american and anonymous are spreading love over there because, as anonymous put it, "you need more love in your lives". The blog is just more of the same "statistical evidence" on why black people are inferior, rants against the left and assorted muslim and gay bashing that we have come to expect from our favorite commenter. I like the idea of sending love to people who may be in desperate need of it. Go spread some.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal, racism

RALLY AGAINST HATRED

2006-01-18T14:22:00.000+02:00

From Kathimerini Max Frisch once said of his native Switzerland that it had “called for workers, and has been given human beings,” a saying that could also apply to Greece. This article focuses on the murder of Edion Yahai, who was murdered on New Year's Day because he was Albanian. Following the murder a rally was held by Greeks and Albanians calling for peace between the two communities and to demonstrate together against those who would keep them divided.

Technorati Tags: blogs, Greece, racism, xenophobia

SISTERS

2006-01-17T20:57:00.000+02:00

I post a lot less personal writing here than I used too. The rudeness and quite frankly, (yes, I know, I'm going to get blasted for this) racist content of some of the comments got to me. Personally. So I took a very big step away from it all. However, today I read this article that got me thinking again, about the reasons why I am doing this in the first place. Discussion. Dialogue. Debate. I stated this in my very first post and that is what I still hope to acheive. I went to meet a friend today and as we talked about this whole thing I realised that, although I was threatened by those people, I am more scared that I might have been silenced. The article is called "Finding words to talk about Race" and let's face it, we have to. If we can't talk about these delicate issues than what are we going to do? Ignore it? Hope it will go away? So I am going to post this song/poem I wrote awhile ago as a first step to getting back to my own voice. The relevance of this piece is that I wrote it for my sisters. (Two are white and one black: Make up your own story here). I believe it relates to this blog. SISTERS Ours is a hard and complicated love Indifferent and painful love No blood ties That keep us together Chances and misfortune brought us Bind us Blind and unspoken We shared beds and tears Growing up and going away And growing old All that is unsaid Lurks around us We smooth each other Rub away the sharp edges In case we cut ourselves And bleed to death We mop up each others tears In case we drown Sisters of our history Not under the skin The only way we know how And I love you more than is possible Just because I do

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

NEW ROMA PARTY

2006-01-16T15:24:00.000+02:00

From Kathimerini A new political party was officially formed in Greece yesterday with the sole purpose of representing the Roma or Gypsy community, claiming that it could garner more support than the Communist Party, which holds 12 seats in Parliament. Heads of Greece’s Gypsy communities announced the creation of the ASPIDA party at an Athenian hotel, saying that they wanted better representation in Parliament and at the local government level. ASPIDA said that there were around 600,000 Roma in Greece — double the amount of people who voted for the Communists in the last election. The party has chosen a logo which includes the colors of the three main parties in Greece: blue, green and red. Its president and candidates for local and mayoral elections, which are due in October, will be elected at ASPIDA’s next party conference.

Technorati Tags: Greece, roma

TEN POINTS

2006-01-16T09:22:00.000+02:00

At the start of every European Union Presidency, Amnesty International presents its observations of the EU’s human rights policies and recommends how they could be made more effective. TEN POINTS FOR THE AUSTRIAN PRESIDENCY TO REAFFIRM THE PRIMACY OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1. Enable the EU Fundamental Rights Agency to address human rights compliance by Member States. 2. Reaffirm the primacy of human rights principles by ensuring full human rights observance in the EU’s counter-terrorism effort and see to it that by the end of 2006 all EU Member States have ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture. 3. Develop a comprehensive policy that will address the situation of the Roma in the EU. 4. Strengthen protection of the rights of asylum seekers and migrants through a common information system, gender guidelines, and standards on return that comply with international law. 5. Ensure that the development of Regional Protection Programmes is never a substitute for refugee protection obligations. 6. Assert a strong human rights dimension in the EU’s enlargement and neighbourhood policies. 7. Press for more active implementation of the EU human rights guidelines. 8. Make control of small arms a key theme for 2006, and complete the work to strengthen the EU Code of Conduct on arms exports. 9. Lead the EU to help ensure that the UN Human Rights Council is established as an effective body during the first half of 2006. 10. Initiate a comprehensive review of the overall EU human rights policy and ensure effective Council working groups to deal with human rights within and outside the EU. Read the full report here

Technorati Tags: human rights, roma

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM (TWO)

2006-01-13T11:15:00.000+02:00

Continuing with the theme of religious freedom in Greece, here is the US State Department report for 2005. Many of the themes have been covered already in this blog but here it is all in one place. Also an article on the difficulties of burial for Muslim citizens in Greece from Middle East Online. I remembered this post from Seawitch which is a personal account of a Greek funeral with a link to Taphophilia that relates to this post.

Technorati Tags: Greece, religion

BLOG LINK

2006-01-12T15:30:00.000+02:00

I would like to point anyone who reads Greek to an interesting blog. It is called Υπάρχουμε….. Συνυπάρχουμε; which translates as We exist.....We coexist? (the semi-colon is a question mark in Greek). It is run by Gazmend Kapllani . His online biography is as follows: Gazmend Kapllani migrated from Albania to Greece in 1991, at the age of 18, and has since been residing legally as student. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Athens (1997). He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Political Science and History of Panteion University, in Athens, with a state scholarship. His thesis topic is “Modernity and otherness: the image of Albanians in the Greek press and of Greeks in the Albanian press.” As a journalist, he has been working for the largest daily “Ta Nea,” the state radio NET 105.8, Albania’s daily Koha Jone, and the IWPR’s Balkan Crisis Report. He is also the founder of the NGO “Home of Albanian Culture,” a member of the extra-parliamentary center-left party AEKA, and has been the most vocal advocate on migrant issues in the Greek media. Thanks to Buruburu for the reminder).

Technorati Tags: blogs, Greece

PHOTOGRAPHY

2006-01-11T22:40:00.000+02:00

I've always had a special love of photography so thank you to Flubberwinkle for this link. A site by Nikos Chrisiakis. Check out the reportage section especially the Muslim Women of Elefsina and Immigrants of Athens. A warm and very human approach to photographing people.

Technorati Tags: Greece, personal

UPDATE ON KIDNAPPING

2006-01-11T09:34:00.000+02:00

The story rages on. Here are two articles from the Athens news on the interrogations of Pakistani men in Greece. From the press conference where the men explained what happened to them, entitled Face of Fear, go here and for the British spies involvement here

Technorati Tags: Greece, politics

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

2006-01-10T18:27:00.000+02:00

Via Amnesty International Professor Takis Alexiou was sentenced to 25 months in prison on July 1st 2005. He is an internationally-renowned academic, writer and artist. He is also founder of the Greek Rumi Committee which studies the philosophical and poetical works of Mevlana Celaledin Rumi, a 13th century philosopher, poet and humanist. Charges were brought against Professor Alexiou after a resident of Simi called as a witness a Greek Orthodox monk, Arsenios Vliagoftis, member of the Greek Ecclesiastical Commission Against Heresies, which considers the Greek Rumi Committee a sect (number 105 on the Commission’s list) and claims that the “heresies” which it propagates “threaten to corrupt [Greece's] religious and national identities". The sentence against Professor Alexiou not only contradicts Article 13, paragraph 1 of the Greek Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of religion and expression, but also the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which Greece ratified in 1974. The Amnesty International public statement is dated 5th December 2005. The appeal was due to be heard the following day. I have not been able to find out if he won his appeal. However, should the sentence be confirmed at the appeal hearing and Professor Alexiou imprisoned, Amnesty International would consider him to be a prisoner of conscience and would call for his immediate and unconditional release. I will update when I find out.

Technorati Tags: Greece, law, religion

FIRST MEME

2006-01-09T10:58:00.000+02:00

I've been tagged for the first time ever by Laurelin In The Rain FOUR THINGS MEME FOUR JOBS I'VE HAD Raspberry picker. First job. Still can't eat them. Cinema Usher. Loved it. Got to watch everything with free popcorn. Waitress. Disgusting and unflattering brown uniform. Actor. Got there in the end. FOUR TV SHOWS I WATCH The Daily Show Gilmore Girls That's Life (the one with Paul Sorvino not the one with Ester Rantzen!) ER FOUR FILMS I CAN WATCH OVER AND OVER Moulin Rouge Life is Sweet Toy Story High Fidelity FOUR PLACES I HAVE LIVED Bristol London (central) London (east) Athens FOUR PLACES I HAVE BEEN ON HOLIDAY Spain Jamaica Holland Scotland FOUR BLOGS I VISIT EVERYDAY Stressqueen I Blame the Patriarchy Londonist Sour Duck FOUR FAVORITE FOODS Crumpets and Marmite Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup Trifle Barbecued Chicken FOUR PLACES I'D RATHER BE Caribbean New York London Asleep FOUR ALBUMS I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT Stoosh (Skunk Anansie) Tidal (Fiona Apple) Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (PJ Harvey) Sunny Border Blue (Kristen Hersh) FOUR VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED Tricycle Roller Skates 10 speed bike Moped FOUR PEOPLE WHO NOW MAY CONSIDER THEMSELVES TAGGED Mel SeaWitch Buruburu Scruffy American

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

CULTURAL CAPITAL OF EUROPE

2006-01-08T18:24:00.000+02:00

This article is by CHRISTINE PIROVOLAKIS who writes for the German Press Agency (dpa) in Athens. Overlooking the city of Patras in western Greece lies a problem that organisers of the 2006 Cultural Capital of Europe would give anything to forget. Right next to the city live hundreds of impoverished Roma people who say they are about to be thrown off the land they call home, to make room for the city's festivities. "They want us far away from the Cultural Capital of Europe,'' said Vassili Mihalokopoulou, a 45-year-old mother of five who now lives in a plastic covered shack on the site of a former garbage dump just two kilometres from Patras. "They say we are dirty and will not give us work,'' she said. "But you would be dirty too if your children were forced to live without any electricity, toilets or running water,'' she said pointing to the only tap supplying water to more than 200 people in this shantytown which they share with rats, cockroaches and stray dogs. The majority of the 250,000 Roma, or gypsies, living in Greece face a high level of racism, illiteracy, unemployment and poverty. In Patras, the Roma community has repeatedly experienced forced evictions in the areas of Riganokampos, Akti Dimeon and Makrigianni. According to Amnesty International, nearly 90% of the Roma have hepatitis and suffer from other illnesses as a result of unsanitary living conditions. "Greece has done little to improve the situation. On the contrary, the municipal authorities in Patras and elsewhere around Greece are most eager to get the Roma out of their territory, and in some places like here take to extreme measures,'' said Giannis Gianakakis from Amnesty. "They move in with bulldozers, telling the Greek Roma families to leave their houses, and then flatten them. Other Roma settlements like the one in Makriyianni have also been set on fire.'' Organisers of the Cultural Capital of Europe are urgently renovating museums and concert halls for their 30-million-euro event. According to human rights advocates they are also trying to get rid of the Roma as part of their effort to polish up the city. Patras' deputy mayor Giorgos Zafiropoulos said the city planned to build an open-air amphitheatre, which would be used to host concerts and plays, next to the Roma settlement. "We don't believe they will want the gypsies living anywhere near the theatre,'' said Mr Gianakakis. The Roma fear that if organisers go ahead with their plans they will be left with nowhere to go. "We are afraid that they will come here and demolish our houses to make room for the theatre _ they want to get rid of us but then were will we go?,'' said Nikolaos Giorgopoulos. Government officials insist they are committed to improving the fate of the gypsies but so far promises to spend more than 300 million euros to help them with housing and education have not been met. "The municipality has done everything to try to solve the problem but it is still waiting for the government to provide funding,'' said Mr Zafiropoulos. Human rights advocates say the plight of gypsies is made worse by a Greek attitude of indifference. "This is not an area where many people from Patras come to visit. Many Greeks will tell you that the Roma have a right to a decent place to live, but just not next to 'me','' says Mr Gianakakis. Most Greek gypsies deal in scrap metal, sell fruit and vegetables or beg to make ends meet, while some also resort to drug dealing. Cultural Capital organisers say the problem with the gypsies is one which has remained unsolved for years."The problem of the Roma is a problem of Patras,'' said Christos Roilos, an official from the Ministry of Culture and managing director of the Cultural Capital of Patras. The "European Capitals of Culture'' scheme was first launched in 1985 on the initiative of renowned film actress Melina Mercouri, then Greek culture minister.

Technorati Tags: Greece, roma

RISE OF THE RIGHT

2006-01-07T18:00:00.000+02:00

From the Athens News George Karatzaferis, leader of the extreme rightwing party Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) and member of the European Parliament, announced that he will be a candidate for the mayoralty of Thessaloniki, Greece's second biggest city, next October. Read the full article here Always controversial, he is known for being ultra-nationalistic and anti-semitic (He claimed that no Jews were killed in the September 11th World Trade Centre attacks). He used to be vocal about getting all foreigners out of Greece. He has since toned down his views, perhaps to win over more Greeks who found him too extreme? It's obviously working. He is a member of the European Parliament! Many people consider him to be a bit of a nutcase. Sadly, he's not one who is going away any time soon.

Technorati Tags: anti-semitism, Greece, immigration, politics

GOLDEN DAWN COLLAPSES

2006-01-05T16:55:00.000+02:00

The Greek neo-nazi organisation Golden Dawn has folded. However, it's members have been told to continue their activities in the Patriotiki Symmachia (Patriotic Alliance) so I will be keeping an eye on them. Good riddance to Golden Dawn though.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

2006-01-04T14:37:00.000+02:00

I have avoided writing anything about the alleged "kidnapping and torture" of a group of Pakistani men in Greece for obvious reasons. The story is fraught with claims and counter-claims. Accusations and lies. Denial and back-tracking. Something happened. The problem is no-one knows what, apart from those involved. Today in the Guardian special report it states British diplomatic and intelligence sources yesterday strongly denied suggestions that UK officials were present at the interrogations. This despite what was said three days earlier on the 1st British officials have admitted MI6 officers were present during the interrogation of 28 Pakistanis in Greece, despite apparent denials by Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. I don't know what happened. Only the people involved know that. We can only hope that the truth will be revealed by proper independent investigations.

Technorati Tags: Greece, politics

THE IMMIGRANT

2006-01-03T13:09:00.000+02:00

I found this poem yesterday and felt that it summed up some of feelings people have living as immigrants. It is by Wole Oguntokun, who is a playwright, poet and a lawyer. His blog is laspapi. Reproduced here with the kind permission of the writer. The Immigrant I’m trying to lose this accent trying to blend into my surroundings like insignificant wallpaper I’m trying to smile when you laugh at my mistakes. Trying to be a good sport. I’m trying to appreciate John Keats and William Butler Yeats I’m trying to put up a jolly good show I’m trying to sit in this blood-red bus and act as if I know this city and I’m trying to look inconspicuous. I’m trying to be dismayed when you catch a corrupt official Trying to forget he’d be a lord in my land Trying not to think of those I left behind Trying to forget how I almost didn’t make it out. I’m trying to be you, curse this clumsy tongue. Wole Oguntokun

Technorati Tags: immigration, personal

WHAT DO YOU THINK (THREE)

2006-01-02T18:58:00.000+02:00

We have been hearing and debating for quite a while about Greece being the most racist and xenophobic country in Europe. The European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) that came up with this results posed a series of questions and statements. I thought it might be interesting to hear peoples answers to the questions rather than just the figures. PERCEIVED COLLECTIVE ETHNIC THREAT Is the your country's cultural life undermined or enriched by immigrants? Do immigrants make your country worse or better place to live? Please take the time to write a bit about why you respond in the way you chose. I am not interested in repeating the original survey, so this is open to people of all nationalities, anywhere in the world. I would like to hear what people really feel about these issues. Not just a series of statistics.

Technorati Tags: Greece, immigration, multicultural, xenophobia

A THREAT FROM THE EAST ?

2006-01-02T15:24:00.000+02:00

An interesting article about the need to build bridges between the Muslims and the Orthodox Christian majority in Greece. After the post-World War I Treaty of Lausanne rearranged frontiers and populations, nearly 350,000 Greek Muslims had to leave in exchange for 600,000 Greek Orthodox Christians. Nowadays, the Muslim presence in Greece is mostly concentrated in Thrace, where some 108,000 live. The Muslims of Greece were largely passive until the 1970s, when they formed such organizations as the Western Thrace Turkish Solidarity Association to protect their interests. Greece has not had any real Islamic problems yet. But the question remains as to how much longer this will this be the case. Read the whole article here in Kathimerini

Technorati Tags: Greece, religion

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2005-12-31T14:23:00.000+02:00

A very Happy New Year to all of you. I hope 2006 will bring new energy and new hope to all of us. Whatever you are planning to do for the celebration, I hope you all have a fantastic time filled with love and laughter. See you all in 2006.

Technorati Tags: personal

STATISTICS AND ASSUMPTIONS

2005-12-30T21:16:00.001+02:00

I know Flux doesn't post very often but I always enjoy reading his take on stuff. Here's some new writing on statistics and assumptions at Fluxistan

Technorati Tags: blogs, Greece, personal

RANDOM STORIES OF RACISM

2005-12-28T23:08:00.000+02:00

This is the place to post random stories of your personal experiences of racism. You can post anonymously but I would rather you gave yourself a name, even a false one, so that people can respond to you directly if they wish. There is a permanant link in the sidebar too.

Technorati Tags: personal, racism

WHAT DO YOU THINK (TWO)

2005-12-26T20:01:00.000+02:00

We have been hearing and debating for quite a while about Greece being the most racist and xenophobic country in Europe. The European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) that came up with this results posed a series of questions and statements. I thought it might be interesting to hear peoples answers to the questions rather than just the figures. RESISTANCE TO IMMIGRANTS Read the following questions and choose between many and few for each one: Allow many/few immigrants of different race/ethnic group from majority Allow many/few immigrants from poorer countries in Europe Allow many/few immigrants from poorer countries outside Europe Please take the time to write a bit about why you respond in the way you chose. I am not interested in repeating the original survey, so this is open to people of all nationalities, anywhere in the world. I would like to hear what people really feel about these issues. Not just a series of statistics.

Technorati Tags: Greece, immigration, personal

CHRISTMAS BREAK

2005-12-21T20:25:00.001+02:00

I realised from the very scant response to the last post that everyone is far too busy shopping to blog. So, I better get started too. I will not be posting any new content until after the Christmas holidays. Please feel free to comment though, as I will still be checking my mail. A very, very Happy Christmas to everyone. I am wishing you all a peaceful and love-filled time with your family and friends. See you next week.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

2005-12-19T23:29:00.000+02:00

We have been hearing and debating for quite a while about Greece being the most racist and xenophobic country in Europe. The European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) that came up with this results posed a series of questions and statements. I thought it might be interesting to hear peoples answers to the questions rather than just the figures. CULTURAL DIVERSITY Read the following statements: It is better for a country if almost everyone share customs and traditions It is better for a country if there is a variety of different religions Which do you agree with and which do you disagree with? (You can agree or disagree with both) Please take the time to write a bit about why you respond in the way you chose. I am not interested in repeating the original survey, so this is open to people of all nationalities, anywhere in the world. I would like to hear what people really feel about these issues. Not just a series of statistics.

Technorati Tags: Greece, multicultural

INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS DAY

2005-12-18T12:24:00.000+02:00

Today is International Migrants Day. Via Migrant Rights International The international community remembers the faces of the migrant workers and their families, who are the unrecognized, unappreciated, and undervalued force that now drives a significant part of the global economy. Find out more here

MOSQUE UPDATE

2005-12-17T18:25:00.000+02:00

The Holy Synod of the church of Greece has changed it's mind and said it will support the building of a muslim cemetery and mosque. From Kathimerini The decision was made out of respect for “the needs of these people, since this is what our Church teaches us; to show our love and help to all people — without discrimination — who are God’s creatures,” according to Father Chrysostomos, who read out the Synod’s statement.

Technorati Tags: Greece, religion

ASYLUM BETRAYED

2005-12-17T13:38:00.000+02:00

As many people have not been able to access the full article on the state of asylum in Britain, from the post "ASYLUM NIGHTMARES", here is the article in full. Asylum betrayed Peter Tatchell Monday 19th December 2005 The Home Office asylum system is corrupt, with applications prejudged and lawyers prevented from properly representing their clients. By Peter Tatchell Britain's asylum system is out of control and ministers preside over a regime of corrupt-ion and inhumanity. I know. Working with asylum applicants, I see the reality of an amoral, bungling policy at first hand. In the past few years, I have helped more than 100 would-be refugees, their cases a snapshot of a national disgrace. In my experience, most assumptions about "failed" asylum-seekers are nonsense. Some cases may be bogus, but many fail because of poor or non-existent legal representation. None of the asylum applicants I have dealt with was fraudulent. All were eventually able to corroborate their harrowing accounts of imprisonment, torture, rape and the murder of their loved ones. The majority of the asylum-seekers who contacted me had no legal help. Only one had a good lawyer, and that was because his family was well-off. The rest were dependent on legal aid solicitors, many of whom do a second-rate job, because they are incompetent, underfunded or overburdened. The Home Office has a list of solicitors it recommends to claimants: it just happens that most of these firms have a high failure rate - which is convenient for a government hell-bent on slashing asylum numbers. The talk on the asylum street is that shoddy solicitors gravitate to asylum work because it provides easy pickings, with little competition. From my experience, it certainly looks that way. Cuts in legal aid funding mean that many reputable solicitors no longer take on such cases. The number of hours paid by legal aid to prepare each application is usually insufficient. The standard contract gives solicitors a mere £286 per asylum client, which covers five hours' work at minimum rates. In five hours, lawyers are expected to take a statement from the applicant, get corroborating affidavits from witnesses (often on the other side of the world), obtain reports from human rights groups, organise medical examinations to confirm torture, and research the legal basis of the claim. Most times it is impossible. This leaves the field open to unscrupulous firms which see these cases as cash cows and are prepared to submit poorly prepared claims. The solicitor for one Palestinian claimant represented her after only a 20-minute interview. This was not long enough even to document her story. At the hearing, key aspects of her persecution were never heard and no corroborating evidence was presented. No wonder she failed. One Iranian I am assisting was represented by a firm of solicitors recommended by the Home Office. He was told that they did not "have time" to record his story of persecution and, anyway, it was "too complicated". The asylum process is rigged to fail as many applicants as possible. Under the "fast-track" system, a solicitor assigned to a new claimant usually gets less than 24 hours' notice of a client's Home Office hearing. If the claim is refused, the appeal is often scheduled a week or so later - rarely enough time to gather sufficient supportive evidence. Another inbuilt bias is the Country Information and Policy Unit (CIPU) at the Home Office, which produces reports on human rights violations in the countries from which asylum-seekers flee. These reports are used by adjudicators to determine whether a person has a well-founded fear of persecution and, in my experience, they are often overly optimistic. For example, I have helped several refugees who fled Islamist state repression in Algeria. The CIPU report on Algeria that was in use until September 2004 played down the abuses and the likelihood of returnees being victimised. It was eventually withdrawn in embarrassment, having been exposed as out-of-date and riddled with unverified information from dubious sources. The notorious "white list" system is another ploy that allows the Home Office to declare that designated countries (currently there are 24) are free from serious human rights violations. The white list currently includes Sri Lanka, where a bloody civil war has led to widespread torture and assassination. Yet the Home Office says all asylum claims from Sri Lanka should be assumed to be bogus and the claimants deported. Applicants who have committed no crimes are held in detention centres such as Colnbrook and Harmondsworth in Middlesex. These are prisons in all but name. People are mostly put there if the Home Office thinks their claims are unfounded and/or if they come from a white-list country deemed to be safe. (In other words, the Home Office prejudges their application.) Minors sometimes get incarcerated, too, and not by accident. One 17-year-old told me that officials confiscated his original Home Office ID and issued him with a new one with a false date of birth, which made him 18, in order to permit his detention in Harmondsworth. Within detention centres, asylum claimants are at the mercy of the guards. In cases brought to my attention, abuse happens in "blind" areas, where there are no CCTV cameras. It also occurs in the internal prisons - the high-security segregation units - where "troublemakers" who try to assert their legal rights are sometimes punished. This abuse echoes the humiliations inflicted in Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. As well as racist and homophobic insults, it includes strip searches and internal genital examinations. There are no protections against these violations. Detainees are virtually powerless. In theory, asylum detainees have access to legal representation. In practice, many don't. Some claimants are deported illegally, without removal orders being served. Others get deported even though a judicial review is pending. I know of people served with deportation notices while waiting for medical examinations to confirm their claims of torture. One victim I am supporting was until recently held in detention for six months, without receiving any treatment or counselling. He says requests for medical treatment are frequently ignored and people suffering severe trauma are sometimes fobbed off with aspirin. It is not unknown for the Home Office to serve removal notices with no warning, perhaps an hour before asylum applicants are carted off to the airport. I know of detainees who have had phone access denied when they were due for removal, preventing them from contacting their solicitors. Last month, one applicant in a London detention centre was bussed to Scotland shortly before his order was served. His removal from English legal jurisdiction seemed designed to make it as difficult as possible for his solicitor to take action to halt him being sent back to Uganda. "Failed" asylum-seekers scheduled for deportation can be shackled, bound and forcibly injected with sedating medication, according to eyewitness accounts I have received. To stop them screaming en route to the plane, some escorts apply thumb pressure to the throat and twist handcuffs so tight that they pinch the wrist nerves and cut the flesh, leaving some victims with long-lasting nerve damage. Many human rights advocates working with asylum claimants, such as the Bail Circle and the London Detainee Support Group, tell similar stories. So when the Home Office talks about "failed" asylum-seekers, what this often means is claimants who have not succeeded in surmounting the shameless, devious obstacles - legal and illegal - designed to ensure the deportation of as many applicants as possible. Ministers cannot blithely claim that they are unaware of these abuses. If they don't know, they should. If they do know, why are they allowing it to continue?

Technorati Tags: asylum, immigration, law

ASYLUM NIGHTMARES

2005-12-16T18:49:00.000+02:00

As a follow-up to the last post here ONE MAN'S STORY I came across this article via Harry's Place from the New Statesman on the nightmare situation for asylum seekers in Britain entitled ASYLUM BETRAYED Be warned: You can only access it once if you don't subscribe TO NS so I would suggest you copy it somewhere (I made the mistake of trying to go back and read it again).

Technorati Tags: asylum, law, politics

ONE MAN'S STORY

2005-12-15T15:05:00.000+02:00

One man seeking asylum in Europe. For me, reading a personal story highlights the issues more clearly. Please note, as stated in the article, this is not only happening in Greece or Britain. It is happening all over Europe. Via the United Nations Refugee Agency. Mohammad is from war-torn Darfur, often described as the scene of some of the worst violence in the world over the past two years. Hundreds of villages have been destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured, or have died of illness and disease linked to the fighting and scorched earth tactics of the infamous janjaweed militia. Large numbers of women and girls are believed to have been raped. More than 2 million people have been displaced. War crimes and crimes against humanity are widely believed to have been committed. Enough for an asylum claim by someone from Darfur to be taken seriously, one would think... Read the full story here

Technorati Tags: asylum, Greece, politics

COMPLAINING EXPATS

2005-12-13T10:20:00.000+02:00

A letter printed in Cyprus Tales not written by me or any of my friends. "To complain about racism and human rights in this country may touch a raw nerve; nevertheless, Cyprus, in general, is a very racist country and treats immigrants extremely badly, especially if they have a different colour skin. There is little or no protection from the police and immigration bullies, when they pull someone off the streets because he has a dark skin. Am I a ‘whingeing Brit’ or have I just stated what is obvious to many people, who choose to turn a blind eye or are too apathetic to want to say anything? And, of course, the immigrants themselves, are very scared - I now this for a fact." Read the whole letter here

Technorati Tags: cyprus, racism, xenophobia

DESPERATE MEASURES

2005-12-12T22:02:00.000+02:00

This story from Cyprus Tales A Chinese man threatened a public suicide to protest his treatment at the hands of his Cypriot employer. Immigrant support group KISA head Doros Polycarpou said Monday’s incident was far from isolated, adding that his group was aware of dozens of foreign workers in the same position... “The only difference is, this man couldn’t take it any more”

Technorati Tags: law, politics, cyprus

ET1 AND UNICEF TELETHON

2005-12-12T17:47:00.000+02:00

Today, Monday, December 12, Unicef and ET1 call on all of us to actively participate in the telethon for the victims of the deadly earthquake on October 8, in Pakistan, which left behind it thousands of dead and million of homeless. The telethon will begin on 4pm and will be presented by journalists: Bilio Tsoukala, Prokopis Doukas, Giorgos Amyras and Renia Tsitsibikou. Many guests and popular artists will join them, while hundreds of radio and television networks will support the effort. In order to make your donation in the telethon please call 210-33 62 800. Via ERT

Technorati Tags: Greece

MAKE SOME NOISE

2005-12-11T14:32:00.000+02:00

Celebrate International Human Rights Day by being part of the global launch of Make Some Noise Amnesty International’s new global campaign that is a mix of music and activism. Make Some Noise is about music with a message. This ground-breaking venture from Amnesty International mixes music, celebration and action to protect individuals wherever justice, freedom and equality are denied. With exclusive Lennon covers, artist videos and opportunities to make an impact, it's time to inspire a new generation to stand up for human rights. Via Amnesty International

Technorati Tags: human rights

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

2005-12-10T22:07:00.001+02:00

Today is International Human Rights Day celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Via PanHellas

Technorati Tags: human rights

10.000 HITS PARTY

2005-12-09T17:06:00.000+02:00

Today, I am patting myself on the back and celebrating my first 10.000 hits on this blog. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. I hope you will keep coming back and keeping this place as lively as ever. I will be raising a glass to us all later this evening.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

PROTEST AGAINST MIGRANT LAW

2005-12-09T14:53:00.000+02:00

On Saturday December 10th, there will be a demonstration marching from Omonia Square in Athens to the Greek Parliament starting at 3pm. The reason for the rally is to protest the new immigration law due to take effect on January 1st 2006. Critics of the new legislation have objected to the complicated bureaucracy, to the difficulty of obtaining the documents needed and to the expense. The government has said it will not consider any changes to the law.

Technorati Tags: Greece, immigration, law

EVA CLOSING

2005-12-09T14:34:00.000+02:00

The EVA programme was started by the United Nations Refugee Agency and the Social Work Foundation, to help women seeking political asylum in Greece with the aim of assisting integration. It will close at the end of the month, partly due to lack of funding. Greece has an extremely low refugee recognition rate, standing at less than 2% at the moment. Via Athens News

Technorati Tags: asylum, Greece, women

STOPNOW MISUNDERSTANDING

2005-12-08T10:31:00.000+02:00

Apologies from me. I think there was some misunderstanding of what I wrote in the previous post. Just to confirm: The shelters are not closed. They are empty. The trafficked people who are rescued from their captors are taken into detention rather than to these shelters. Also, people do not go to the shelters to seek help because they do not know that they exist. STOPNOW do not run the shelters. "The organisation worked on raising public awareness about trafficking, lobbying for a law to be passed, pushing for victim support and also importantly coordinated all organisations in Greece working on counter-trafficking. Also, it worked with Bulgaria, Albania, Georgia, Moldova etc to raise awareness so that women would be aware of the pitfalls of pormised-land jobs before they make the trip to Greece. It is all of this that cannot be continued without funds" (Thank you anonymous for putting this in a concise and clear way) I am in touch with people involved in this vital project and will post information as soon as I find out if anything effective can be done.

STOPNOW UPDATE

2005-12-06T18:57:00.000+02:00

Last month I posted a link to STOPNOW, a project managed by the Centre of Research and Action on Peace (KEDE), set up to confront and combat human trafficking. Please go and read the FAQ's here. The organization has been successful in working raising awareness of human trafficking, working with the victims and trying to prevent more people being trapped in this modern-day slavery. I found out today from people working in this project that STOPNOW is no longer operational. Why? Because the government of Nea Dimokratia (New Democracy) refuses to fund it. Why? Because the government does not acknowledge that there are trafficked people in Greece. Why? Because the shelters that were set up to help the victims of trafficking are empty. Why? Because the people who are "rescued" from their captors are being held in detention centres instead of being taken to the shelters. They are held there (without access to the proper help they need) until they are deported . Many of the victims of this hideous exploitation have their bail posted BY THEIR CAPTORS and they are taken back into slavery. As soon as I get any information on what action can be taken to help this vital project, I will post it.

Technorati Tags: children, Greece, human rights, trafficking, women

PRIVILEGE

2005-12-05T21:17:00.000+02:00

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE POOR. I came here to Greece from a wealthy European country. I came here through choice. I came with money to support myself. I was not leaving England due to unemployment. I came here of my own free will, in search of adventure, to discover something different, to experience life in another country. I have had the pleasure of working in my professional field here. I have never had to take a low paid menial job without insurance. I am privileged I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE UNDER PERSECUTION. I did not flee England fearing for my life or for the lives of my children. I have never lived in a war-zone. I have never been attacked because of my religion, my beliefs or my ideas. I do not know what it is like to lose family members or limbs or my sanity because of war, bombings, massacres or ethnic cleansing. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE ENSLAVED I have never been held against my will. I have never been forced into prostitution or the pornography industry. I have never been trafficked into a country to work as a slave in any capacity. I have never had my passport taken away from me. I have never been beaten, locked up or restrained. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE HUNGRY I have not fled famine and starvation. I have never known anyone die of hunger. I do not know how it feels to walk across entire countries in search of food and shelter for myself or my family. I do not know what it is like to uproot from my country of birth and go in search of a better life for my children. I find myself free to live where I choose and to live without hassle. I am incredibly privileged. All the people who read this are. It is easy for me to sit here in judgment. Me with my access to everything I require. Food, housing, education, health and freedom. It is easy for me to blame my woes on the poor and the most vulnerable. So as I sit back and enjoy my coffee, my evening meal, my warm clothes and house, my processions, my lifestyle; I remind myself that it was all brought to me on the backs of other people. People poorer and less privileged than me. People who will never enjoy the things I enjoy. People who will never have the things I take for granted.

Technorati Tags: asylum, Greece, immigration, migrant, personal, tolerance

GOSPEL IN THE SQUARE

2005-12-04T18:03:00.000+02:00

Sorry for the late notice of this event. I completely forgot to post it yesterday. I must be 'blogged out". Tonight there will be a huge Gospel choir performance in Klafthmonos Square in Athens from 8pm onwards. Always good to hear voices raised in love and hope for a change.

MIGRANTS AND POLICE

2005-12-04T14:13:00.000+02:00

I feel that just adding migrants to the police force will not reduce problems by itself. There also needs to be education on the issues. A very good friend of mine used to work with the Metropolitan police on race issues and race relations. She ran workshops and held discussion groups. This was found to be a much more effective way of combatting the racism that exists in the police force. From Kathimerini (Friday) Enlisting migrants into the police force will help law enforcers fight their own racist attitude toward foreigners, the Panhellenic Confederation of Police Officers (POASY) said yesterday. At a conference held by the policemen’s union yesterday, POASY President Dimitris Kyriazidis put forward the proposal as part of a 10-point plan that could help Greece reduce problems with migrants and avoid possible incidents of urban unrest similar to those seen recently in France.

Technorati Tags: Greece, immigration, migrant

RALLY AGAINST RACISM

2005-12-02T17:17:00.000+02:00

Youth against Racism in Europe (YRE) and the Committee for Workers International (CWI) are holding a rally on Dec 3rd at the Polytechnic (Patission and Stournari Street) at 6pm. One of the speakers will be Timothy Abdul, one of the survivors of the racist shooting which happened here in Athens in 1999. The book about Timothy and Tommy was the inspiration for starting this blog. Today is International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

Technorati Tags: Greece, racism, xenophobia

THANK YOU EVERYONE

2005-12-02T01:14:00.000+02:00

To all of you who took part in Blog against Racism Day here and elsewhere, a big THANK YOU. It's after 12 here. I know there are many hours, in other parts of the world, before the end of this day, but I'm out of here.. Please feel free to contribute and add for as long as you like. Racism has not ended. It will not end in a day. I love and leave you with this... "An nice lady in the back…asked what I thought about how we begin to move forward. I think it is up to each individual, which then moves to your family, which moves to your community. Each person, in their own life, let your life be a light for peace, for justice, for all that is good. Just let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine." Oprah Winfrey

Technorati Tags: blog against racism day, personal, racism, tolerance

BLOG AGAINST RACISM DAY

2005-11-29T20:04:00.000+02:00

And when a child is born

Into this world It has no concept Of the tone of skin it's living in And there’s a million voices And there’s a million voices Neneh Cherry

Post your words, poetry, quotes or thoughts for Blog against Racism Day today, in the comments section of this post. Critisisms of other people's work will be deleted. For discussion and yes, if you must, arguments on the issue please go to Blog against Racism

With luck, the discussion engendered will endure past midnight on December 2. Via Creek Running North

Technorati Tags: blog against racism day, blogs, racism

BLOG AGAINST RACISM

2005-11-29T00:58:00.000+02:00

Everywhere I go in my city I see people. Everywhere. Hundreds and hundreds of people. All of them unknown to me. I travel on overcrowded buses and trains. I shop in busy supermarkets. I go to cafes, to bars, to offices. Everywhere I go I see more people. Most of my life outside my house is spent mingling with strangers. I see multitudes of faces. Young and old and the in-betweens. I see expressions of sadness and worry and bitterness etched on some; Joy and laughter written on others. I hear hundreds of voices meeting and mixing in foreign languages and native tongues. I see colours of skin that challenge any simple categories of black and white and yellow. I see clothes that reflect multitudes of personalities, religious beliefs and musical tastes. I smell food being prepared with herbs and spices that make my mouth water. Coriander, oregano, frying onions and garlic mixed with the scent of jasmine that grows everywhere. What I don't see is invading hordes of mud people, savages and rats. I do not see villains and murderers and terrorists on every street corner. I do not feel sick when I smell curry or wonton soup. I do not see chinks and pakis and niggers and fags and greedy jews. I do not see uppity women and lesbos out to get me. I do not see marauding arabs and dirty muslims. I do not see spics and gypos and darkies and abos and half castes. I do not see threats and violations in the eyes of every stranger. My world is vastly different to many. I live in a world where my heritage and upbringing has given me an insight into difference. I can look into someone else's eyes and see myself because I know who I am. I am free to make friendships with people different to me because I trust that people have good intentions. I am able to speak about my own experiences without insulting entire races/religions because I see people and not categories. I am able to live in a way most people would want to because I do not judge on the basis of arbitrary details like height or weight or colour. I can try and walk a mile in someone else's shoes because I feel safe in my own. I write this for Blog against Racism Day (December 1st) and to counter some of the hateful words that have been written about me and others who don't happen to fit into the white male mould. We "others" cannot stop racism alone. We can shout about it, scream about it, fight it, kick it, ignore it or lie down and let it run us down. Stamping out racism is going to take a commitment from each and everyone of us, and that means everyone; especially those who DON"T have to think about it everyday. This blog day is brought to you by Creek Running North

Technorati Tags: blogs, racism, xenophobia

INTEGRATION

2005-11-25T13:20:00.000+02:00

Apologies for the absence and lack of new posts this week. I was attacked by some horrible virus. Anyway, I'm back and here is some more food for thought from Athens News. An article by John Psaropoulos on the different perspectives of first and second generation immigrants and their host societies. "It is the second generation, which attends Greek schools, has Greek friends and grows up with Greek television, music and books, that will seek - and become aware of its success or failure in seeking - sameness." As always, comments and insights are welcome.

Technorati Tags: Greece, immigration, multicultural, tolerance

FOCUS ON RACISM

2005-11-22T15:20:00.001+02:00

"For today’s teenagers here in Greece, the word “Albanian” is tantamount to a four-letter word. Both Greeks and Albanians agree on this, as was confirmed by a recent poll of students in the Grava schools in Galatsi and in other areas, such as Kypseli and Metaxourgeio" Kathimerini focuses on young peoples views on racism today in the features section. "When a foreign car driver caused the death of a Greek motorcyclist two years ago, young Greeks took to the roads at night and attacked any person of color whom they chanced upon. Journalists reported the incident with a discreet sympathy and understanding for the insurgent Greeks." See also the article on the exaggerated press focus on crimes committed by foreigners.

Technorati Tags: education, Greece, racism, xenophobia

GOLDEN DAWN UPDATE

2005-11-21T20:47:00.000+02:00

It appears that the two men were shot, with a hunting rifle, by someone inside the Golden Dawn offices . The rest of the article from Kathimerini here

Technorati Tags: fascism, Greece, neo nazi

TECHNICAL HELP

2005-11-21T13:55:00.000+02:00

A place for people to post their various questions about blogger and blogging in general. Also for html hints and whatever other techie questions people might have. I will try and help if I can or anyone who knows the answers can post. I will make a permanent link to this page in the sidebar.

Technorati Tags: blogs, personal

ATTACKS ON GOLDEN DAWN

2005-11-20T17:59:00.000+02:00

Two people were shot last night during an attack on the extreme nationalist Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) offices in Athens. It is not clear who did the shooting. Brief details here from ERT

Technorati Tags: fascism, Greece, neo nazi

SEARCHING

2005-11-20T16:27:00.000+02:00

I don't often do links to issues outside Greece but this film caught my attention. Searching for Angela Shelton

Technorati Tags: personal, women

STOP NOW

2005-11-17T17:58:00.000+02:00

From STOPNOW Trafficking of people against their will is slavery. In Greece today, there are approximately 20,000 women forced into the sex industry. For more visit the website from the link above.

Technorati Tags: children, Greece, women

DAY FOR TOLERANCE

2005-11-16T17:04:00.000+02:00

Today is the International Day for Tolerance. Please spend some time today thinking about what tolerance means for you and for everyone. Then send me your thoughts. I would like to do a follow up post of your messages (if there are any!) From UNESCO Declaration of Principles on Tolerance signed by the member states in 1995. Article 1 - Meaning of tolerance 1.1 Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference. It is not only a moral duty, it is also a political and legal requirement. Tolerance, the virtue that makes peace possible, contributes to the replacement of the culture of war by a culture of peace. 1.2 Tolerance is not concession, condescension or indulgence. Tolerance is, above all, an active attitude prompted by recognition of the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of others. In no circumstance can it be used to justify infringements of these fundamental values. Tolerance is to be exercised by individuals, groups and States. 1.3 Tolerance is the responsibility that upholds human rights, pluralism (including cultural pluralism), democracy and the rule of law. It involves the rejection of dogmatism and absolutism and affirms the standards set out in international human rights instruments. 1.4 Consistent with respect for human rights, the practice of tolerance does not mean toleration of social injustice or the abandonment or weakening of one's convictions. It means that one is free to adhere to one's own convictions and accepts that others adhere to theirs. It means accepting the fact that human beings, naturally diverse in their appearance, situation, speech, behaviour and values, have the right to live in peace and to be as they are. It also means that one's views are not to be imposed on others. For more go here

Technorati Tags: Greece, tolerance

STILL UNPOPULAR

2005-11-11T16:45:00.000+02:00

This is my 100th post. Happy blogging celebration to me. According to the new European Social Survey, Greece is the least welcoming country in Europe as far as foreigners are concerned. We already knew that though, didn't we? When asked if foreigners make the country worse, 64% said they did. Double the average. When asked whether migrants should be allowed to settle here, 27% said none. Double the average. When asked whether foreigners from poor countries should be allowed to come and live here, eight out of ten said no. Double the average. 60% of europeans said that immigrants were good for the economy. Almost 60% (57%) of Greeks said they were not. This is not a recent change of heart. The last European Social survey in 2002 was pretty much the same. So, not much of that famous greek φιλοξενία (hospitality) if you are foreign and actually want to live here. Yes, I know; "if you don't like it go home", "you know where the airport is" etc. (just thought I would save you the trouble of writing it) Greece is relatively new to multiculturalism and has not had decades of discussion and education on the issues. Many people are starting to have these debates which is positive to see. Unfortunately, for the foreigners here now, the majority opinion seems to be against them. I just hope our efforts will make things better for our children. By the way, November 16th is International Day for Tolerance

Technorati Tags: Greece, immigration, multicultural, tolerance

TODAY

2005-11-09T17:16:00.000+02:00

Today is the International Day Against Fascism and Anti-Semitism.

Technorati Tags: anti-semitism, fascism

COMMENT MODERATION

2005-11-09T16:37:00.000+02:00

Blogger has just introduced comment moderation, whereby comments can be seen by the blog owner first. I have mixed feelings about this facility. On the one hand, I was really pleased that I have that possibility if I felt people were abusing my blog. However, this could be seen as censorship. I could angle the debate towards my own views if I was so inclined. Now there's a thought... I think for now I will stick with the old way and just delete abusive comments. It looks quite dramatic at least. What do you all think?

Technorati Tags: blogs, Greece, personal

DON'T BELIEVE THE TYPE

2005-11-07T15:35:00.000+02:00

For those interested in facts about asylum seekers and refugees in Britain and the truth behind those screaming tabloid headlines. Go to Don't Believe the Type

Technorati Tags: asylum, human rights

PARENTS AGAINST ROMA CHILDREN

2005-11-06T17:08:00.000+02:00

I came across this appalling story today. Abuse of children, calls for segregation. Just when you thought it couldn't get much worse for Roma communities. The international Helsinki Federation for Human Rights is urging for action in the case of two schools in Aspropyrgos after parents pressure authorities to exclude Roma children from school. These children are having to be escorted to school by the police "to protect them from angry mobs shouting racist slogans, threatening, insulting and pushing Roma children and their escorts so as to hinder them from going to their schools" They are also campaigning against segregated schooling that the anti-Roma local authorities and parents are seeking. Read the full open letter here

Technorati Tags: children, education, Greece, human rights, roma

PATERNAL RIGHTS

2005-11-03T13:56:00.000+02:00

As in the rest of Europe, divorced Greek fathers are fighting for greater rights in bringing up their children. At the moment, more than 90% of custody cases are awarded to the mother. An article from the Athens News

Technorati Tags: children, Greece, law

UPDATE ON EXTREMIST ATTACK

2005-10-31T15:37:00.000+02:00

I was sent an anonymous comment on this post updating the situation with violent attacks by extremists. There have apparently been about 20 stabbing incidents in the last year. The latest victim is still in a coma after being stabbed 23 times. I have asked for more details on this and other attacks. If anyone has more information please let me know.

Technorati Tags: fascism, Greece

FOOTBALL RACISM

2005-10-31T13:25:00.000+02:00

Cyprus is not doing enough about racism during football matches. That was the message from a member of FARE (Football against Racism in Europe), speaking to the Sunday Mail in Brussels this week. Full article from Cyprus Action Network

Technorati Tags: sport, racism

A NEIGHBORHOOD STORY

2005-10-28T17:33:00.000+03:00

We have lived on the same street here in Athens for close to 11 years now. It is an ordinary street. It has a periptero (kiosk), a bakery, a couple of souvlaki joints, a butcher, a pharmacy, a kafenion, a flower shop, a grocer and a couple of small shops that sell a bit of everything. These days we have many additions to those basics including a manicure/pedicurist (what are they called?), a video store, a well known supermarket chain, an electrician, a pizza joint and a clothing store. It's a typically working class neighborhood inhabited by people who have grown up together and are growing old together. Enter the foreigners. Two of us at that time. From all the foaming at the mouth, screaming and ranting we have heard over here and at SOVEREIGNTY OF THE SEAWITCH you would think that we would have been lynched at the very least. Executed in the plateia as a warning to others. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are a few people on this street who still look at me like I'm a barbarian or a savage (to bring up those words that our rabid "friends" used to describe us). As I mentioned in a really early post on my blog, the man in the flower shop is one of them. However, the vast majority of our neighbors, although curious at first, have embraced us completely. It is almost impossible for me to pop out and buy a loaf of bread without encountering 4 or 5 people asking after me and my family, wishing us well, inquiring about our health, our work, how school is going, what do I think of this, that and the other. Our first landlady, a wonderful, warm woman, who spoke no english and had probably never known anyone foreign, treated us like we were her children. When she came to collect the rent, we would sit down and talk. My Greek was crap but she would chat away to me just like my mum would, asking about our lives, our problems, our successes and failures. When I first got pregnant she was more thrilled than I was! She worried about what I was eating, whether I was resting enough (I never did). I remember once I was sweeping the back porch, about to drop the sprogg, and she was horrified. She made me sit down and finished the job herself. Just like my mum would have. After the boy was born she bought something for him every-time she came round. She treated him like her own grandchild. She said once she was so proud that we had had our baby in the house where she had raised her own children. She once came to our defense against a "racist" remark directed at us by saying that she felt honored knowing us and that the person in question did not deserve that honor. The racist was a "friend" she had known since childhood. The woman on the balcony had lived in the same spot since the days when she had kept cows in a field that was now our house. She would wave at us whenever she saw us in garden and on the rare occasions we bumped into her on the street (she had difficulty with her legs), she always stop for a chat. The man in the "shop that sold everything", who was quite deaf, didn't understand a word I said and couldn't pronounce our kids name to save his life, always had time for us. He gave free sweets to our son who he insisted was Greek because he was born here. The woman down the road also insists that she is his Greek grandma. The men in the butchers who tease each other because our son supports the same football team as one and not the other. And so many more people. We know everyone on this street and everyone knows us. They know about our accidents and illnesses, our rather noisy parties, our myriad of foreign and greek friends who frequent our house. They know my parents and sisters and are pleased to see them when they visit. When the London bombings happened, several people spontaneously enquired after them. These are ordinary everyday stories. We have lived here and become part of this street. I am not naive. There are attitudes around here that are not so warm and cuddly. Attitudes towards certain groups of people, especially albanians and turks, are so ingrained that people don't think twice to blame everything on them. Our shop was robbed at gunpoint a few months ago. The immediate reaction was "ALBANIANS". People were rather quiet after they learned the truth that they were greeks. I believe anti-foreigner feelings are whipped up by the media, institutions and the few, but very vocal, racists and xenophobes. When ordinary people have the chance to get to know you, without those voices telling them to be afraid, they see that you are pretty much like them. That your children are like their children. That your lives are pretty much like theirs. When respect and warmth is shown, it is returned. There are more foreigners here now. I have seen and heard people chatting to them in the same way as they do with us. The same few, like our flower man, are probably still moaning about the "invasion" Is our street unique? Are we somehow in some parallel universe where this is the only street where Greeks don't hate foreigners? I don't think so. It is not perfect. It's noisy. It's dirty. People are worried about prices going up and whether their kids get a good education. What I don't see is people packing up and moving to "better" or more "racially pure" areas to avoid the "hordes of violent raping savages who are taking over".

Technorati Tags: Greece, personal, tolerance

MY OXI DAY

2005-10-28T01:12:00.000+03:00

Originally posted Sovereignty of SeaWitch My son took part in the school oxi day celebrations yesterday. I felt strange again to be standing for prayers (out of respect for others) but not "doing my cross" but that's another story. Lots of the other parents are non- religious like me. What was wonderful, was to see the kids doing their play. The content was a bit uninspired but they enjoyed performing especially the bit where they outwit the german soilders to get bread to the Greek army. As I scanned the crowd of proud parents and delighted kids, my mind wandered back to the venom and bile that has been spewed on this post. In the school there are a few black, mixed- race greek children (with greek GRANDPARENTS for those who care about those things), there are greek children of russian, albanian and turkish descent, greek-american and at least one dutch greek kid. All of them sang and performed with such pride and exitement while their parents took pictures and video of the performance. And afterwards we wished each other a happy three day holiday and went home. Now I am aware that underneath the smiles and waves there may be feelings of resentment and even hatred but it was the kids that got me feeling so happy. They really did charge into the playground happy. Together. They achieved something that kids care about. That they pleased their teacher, they pleased their parents, they did well and they had a great deal of fun doing it. Call me a sappy liberal lefty peabrained softy marxist all you like. It was a breath of fresh air after suffocating in here for such a long time. I know this was just a fleeting moment and kids grow up and make different choices and decisions BUT, just for now, they were kids having a good time

EXTREMIST ATTACK

2005-10-26T15:11:00.000+03:00

I had seen this story on indymedia yesterday but was unable to find any other reference to it so I didn't post it. However, today in Kathimerini Police in Athens yesterday arrested a 23-year-old man believed to have stabbed two students last Wednesday in Monastiraki. The man, allegedly a member of a far-right group, is thought to have attacked the students, aged 19 and 23, because one of them had an anti-fascist symbol on his T-shirt. I haven't been able to find much information on this attack but apparently one of the victims is in critical condition.