Saturday, October 31, 2009

Global Greek Events: Athens, November 6th, Official Launch of ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΑΓΑΠΗ ΤΩΝ ΑΛΛΩΝ by Global Greek Writer, Justine (Ioustini) Frangouli-Argyris



A very talented and popular writer and journalist, and a Global Greek herself, Ioustini's latest book is based on the true story of the mother of Greek American John Catsimatidis, one of our Golden Global Greeks and a candidate for the office of New York Mayor. This book is a fascinating glimpse into the past, of Nisyros and the Italian Occupied Dodecanese Islands and it's impact on the future...






Photo Source: Ioustini Frangoulis

Justine Frangouli-Argyris is one of our Global Greeks! Justine, or Ioustini as she is known in Greek, was born in Lefkada. A best-selling Greek author and journalist, Ioustini has been a contributor to daily newspapers, radio, television and magazines in Greece since 1983. Since 1989 she has been living and working in Montreal, Canada as a correspondent for the Athens News Agency (ANA), Eleftherotypia and Ethnos newspapers. During the same period, she also collaborated with local Greek-Canadian and American radio stations and publications, but more importantly has written a number of very successful books which have been published both in Greek and English. Gia tin Agapi ton Allon is the latest and by all accounts will be her most successful!!!

Ioustini, Global Greek World wishes you every success for this tremendous book! It is well deserved!

To read more about Ioustini on Wikipedia, Click here

To visit her blog Click Here



John Catsimatidis, one of our Golden Global Greeks, is in fact, the personification of the American Dream.
Photo Source: John Catsimatidis' Website

Born in Nissiros, Greece in 1948, John’s parents emigrated to America when he was six months old. With little money, they settled in a rented apartment on 135th Street in Harlem. While his father Andres worked long hours as a busboy, his mother Despina raised their only son.

Growing up, Catsimatidis attended both public and parochial grade schools. His youthful fascination with mechanics and how things worked led him to Brooklyn Tech and then on to NYU as an Engineering major. While in college, a part-time job in a family friend’s grocery store at 137th & Broadway gave him to impetus open a small grocery at Broadway and 99th Street in Manhattan... Read More

To buy the Book, Click Here

Friday, October 23, 2009

Global Greek Events: Olympia - The Lighting of The Olympic Flame for Vancouver 2010

Photo Source: Thanassis Stavrakis for the Associated Press

Απόλλωνα, Θεέ του ήλιου και της ιδέας του φωτός, στείλε τις ακτίνες σου κι άναψε την ιερή δάδα για τη φιλόξενη Πόλη του Βανκούβερ. Και συ ω Δία χάρισε. ειρήνη σ' όλους τους λαούς της γης και στεφάνωσε τους νικητές του Ιερού Αγώνα.

Τήνελλα ω Καλλίνικε. Τήνελλα! ...


Photo Source: Eleftherotypia (Enet)


Apollo, God of the Sun and the concept of light
, send us your rays and light this sacred torch for the hospitable city of Vancouver.
And you, O Zeus, grant peace to all the peoples of the world and crown the winners of this Sacred Competition.

Godspeed in Victory!











On Thursday 23 October 2009, the eyes of the athletic world turned towards Ancient Olympia, the home of the Olympic Games, for the simple yet magnificent ritual associated with the lighting of the Olympic Flame for the winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Photo Source: Sakis Kostaris
Photo Source: Sakis Kostaris

Photo Source: Sakis Kostaris

The high priestess, Maria Nafpliotou, lit skier Vasilis Dimitriadis' torch with the one lit by the rays of the sun and handed him an olive branch to take with him on his journey, symbol of the Olympic Truce.


Photo Source: Sakis Kostaris

Photo Source: Sakis Kostaris

Photo Source: Sakis Kostaris

From Olympia, the Sacred Olympic Flame began it's week long torch relay around Greece, culminating in the official handover ceremony to be held on Thursday 29th October at 6 pm at the Kalimarmaro Stadium, in Athens, the Pan Athenian Olympic Stadium built for the 1896 Games. There the Olympic Flame will be handed over to Canada, in the presence of officials at the highest level, including the Governor-General of Canada, H.E. Michaelle Jean, and will thus set off on it's journey to Vancouver...

Photo Source: Sakis Kostaris

Vasilis Dimitriadis, a skier in the Giant Slalom competition at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics, won the best place ever for Greece in a Winter Olympics and thus had the honour of being the first torchbearer of the XXI Winter Olympic Games.

Global Greek World especially thanks Sakis Kostaris, Hellenic Paralympic Athlete and Member of the Hellenic Paralympic Committee for kindly allowing us to use the photos of the ceremony at Olympia. Thanks very much, Saki!


To read more about the Olympic Flame Ceremony in Greek, from the Athens News Agency, Click Here

Photo of the Day: Heaven or Hell, Take Your Pick!

Photo source: Unknown -Thanks to Veatriki P (Greece) for passing it on

Just to wish everyone in our Global Greek World a great weekend!
Oldie but goodie and often seen on T-Shirts that can be bought all around Greece! :))

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Global Greeks: Presenting Constantine Cavafy's Ithaka...Read by Sean Connery

Photo Source: Wikipedia

Since we mentioned Global Greek poet Constantine Cavafy in our previous post, and inspired by Heather T's Hail Cavafy comment on our Facebook Page,(see sidebar), we decided to share with our readers perhaps the most famous of his works, written in 1911 and translated by Edmund Keeley, another one of those special people whom we call, our honorary Greeks!


Ithaka


As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don't be afraid of them:
you'll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
 

Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won't encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.



Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you're seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can; and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.


Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you're destined for.
But don't hurry the journey at all.
 

Better if it lasts for years,
so you're old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you've gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.


And if you find her poor, 
Ithaka won't have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, 

so full of experience,
you'll have understood by then 

what these Ithakas mean.

Listen to Sean Connery reciting Cavafy's Ithaca to the  wonderful music of Vangelis. Truly superb! (Thanks Ilia R, Sweden for pointing it out to us! )


Ιθάκη

Σα βγεις στον πηγαιμό για την Ιθάκη,

να εύχεσαι νάναι μακρύς ο δρόμος,
γεμάτος περιπέτειες, γεμάτος γνώσεις.

Tους Λαιστρυγόνας και τους Κύκλωπας,
τον θυμωμένο Ποσειδώνα μη φοβάσαι,
τέτοια στον δρόμο σου 
ποτέ σου δεν θα βρεις,
αν μεν' η σκέψις σου υψηλή,
αν εκλεκτήσυγκίνησις το πνεύμα 
και το σώμα σου αγγίζει.

Τους Λαιστρυγόνας και τους Κύκλωπας,
τον άγριο Ποσειδώνα δεν θα συναντήσεις,
αν δεν τους κουβανείς μες στην ψυχή σου,
αν η ψυχή σου δεν τους στήνει εμπρός σου.

Να εύχεσαι νάναι μακρύς ο δρόμος.

Πολλά τα καλοκαιρινά πρωϊά να είναι που με
να σταματήσεις σ' εμπορεία Φοινικικά,
και τες καλές πραγμάτειες ν' αποκτήσεις,
και κοράλλια, κεχριμπάρια κ' έβενους,
και ηδονικά μυρωδικά κάθε λογής,
όσο μπορείς πιο άφθονα ηδονικά μυρωδικά,
σε πόλεις Αιγυπτιακές πολλές να πας,
να μάθεις και να μάθεις απ' τους σπουδασμένους.


Πάντα στον νου σου νάχεις την Ιθάκη.
Το φθάσιμον εκεί ειν' ο προορισμός σου.
Αλλά μη βιάζεις το ταξείδι διόλου.
Καλλίτερα χρόνια πολλά να διαρκέσει
και γέρος πια ν' αράξεις στο νησί,
πλούσιος με όσα κέρδισες στο δρόμο,
μη προσδοκώντας πλούτη να σε δώσει η Ιθάκη. 

Η Ιθάκη σ'έδωσε τ' ωραίο ταξείδι. 
Χωρίς αυτήν δεν θάβγαινες στον δρόμο.
Άλλα δεν έχει να σε δώσει πια. 
Κι αν πτωχική την βρεις, 
η Ιθάκη δε σε γέλασε. 

Έτσι σοφός που έγινες, 
με τόση πείρα,
ήδη θα το κατάλαβες 
οι Ιθάκες τι σημαίνουν.


We were going to restrict ourselves to just Ithaka, but we couldn't resist the temptation to add this earlier, 1904, poem of Cavafy's, Waiting For The Barbarians, simply because of it's timeless and oh so relevant commentary!


Waiting For The Barbarians


What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?
The barbarians are due here today.
-Why isn't anything going on in the senate?
Why are the senators sitting there without legislating?
Because the barbarians are coming today.
What's the point of senators making laws now?
Once the barbarians are here, they'll do the legislating.
-Why did our emperor get up so early,
and why is he sitting enthroned at the city's main gate,
in state, wearing the crown?
Because the barbarians are coming today
and the emperor's waiting to receive their leader.
He's even got a scroll to give him,
loaded with titles, with imposing names.
-Why have our two consuls and praetors come out today
wearing their embroidered, their scarlet togas?
Why have they put on bracelets with so many amethysts,
rings sparkling with magnificent emeralds?
Why are they carrying elegant canes
beautifully worked in silver and gold?
Because the barbarians are coming today
and things like that dazzle the barbarians.
-Why don't our distinguished orators turn up as usual
to make their speeches, say what they have to say?
Because the barbarians are coming today
and they're bored by rhetoric and public speaking.
-Why this sudden bewilderment, this confusion?
(How serious people's faces have become.)
Why are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly,
everyone going home lost in thought?
Because night has fallen and the barbarians haven't come.
And some of our men who have just returned from the border say
there are no barbarians any longer.
Now what's going to happen to us without barbarians?
These people were a kind of solution.



Constantine Cavafy was born in 1863 to Greek parents in Alexandria, Egypt. His father was a prosperous importer-exporter who had lived in England in earlier years and acquired British nationality. In 1870, following the death of his father, Cavafy and his family settled for a while in England. In 1876, his family faced financial problems following the crash, so, by 1877, they had to move back to Alexandria.

In 1882, disturbances in Alexandria caused the family to move again, though temporarily, to Constantinople. This was the year when a revolt broke out in Alexandria against the Anglo-French control of Egypt, thus precipitating the 1882 Anglo - Egyptian War. Alexandria was bombarded by a British fleet and the family apartment at Ramli was burned.

In 1885, Cavafy returned to Alexandria, where he lived for the rest of his life. His first job was as a journalist; then he took a position with the British-run Egyptian Ministry of Public Works for thirty years. (Egypt was a British protectorate until 1926.) His poetry from 1891 to 1904 was published in the form of broadsheets, and only for his close friends. Any acclaim he was to receive came mainly from within the Greek community of Alexandria. Eventually, in 1903, he was introduced to mainland-Greek literary circles through a favourable review by Xenopoulos. He received little recognition because his style differed markedly from the then-mainstream Greek poetry. It was only 20 years later, after the Greek defeat in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922), that a new generation of almost nihilist poets such as Karyotakis would find inspiration in Cavafy's work.
In a biographical note written by Cavafy himself, he states the following:
"I am from Constantinople by descent, but I was born in Alexandria—at a house on Seriph Street; I left very young, and spent much of my childhood in England. Subsequently I visited this country as an adult, but for a short period of time. I have also lived in France. During my adolescence I lived over two years in Constantinople. It has been many years since I last visited Greece. My last employment was as a clerk at a government office under the Ministry of Public Works of Egypt. I know English, French and a little Italian." ....
You can read more at Wikipedia


See also this excellent tribute site, http://cavafis.compupress.gr, to read more about our brilliant Alexandrino, or Alexandrian, poet as he is called in Greek, Constantine P Cavafy, his life and works.
 


Global Greek Films: Save the Date!!! LAGFF and The Night Fernando Pessoa Met Constantine Cavafy!

Photo Source:LAGFF
THE NIGHT FERNANDO PESSOA MET CONSTANTINE CAVAFY

The team at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival has advised us that because of high demand and to ensure that as many people as possible see this very interesting film, it will now be shown as follows:

Saturday October 24, 7pm
Wilshire Screening Room
8670 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

On 21 October 1929, the ocean liner 'Saturnia' sails from Trieste on its voyage to America, picking up immigrants from the ports of the Mediterranean, along with their dreams of the New World. There, an equally dreamlike encounter takes place, between two of the greatest poets of the 20th century, Fernando Pessoa and Constantine Cavafy. This masterful fictionalized documentary uses multiple visual and auditory means in order to create a stage on which the two great minds may unfold, converge and diverge, seamlessly weaving the reality of their intellect.

Greece, 2007
Director/Screenwriter: Stelios Charalambopoulos
Producers: Thanos Lambropoulos
Production: Peiplus, Greek Film Centre, ERT, Graal, Contracosta Producoes, Arctos, PIK (Cyprus)

*Critics Award For Best Film *Best Documentary, Greek State Quality Awards 2008

Tickets are $20 online - $25 at the door (cash only.)
LAGFF SOCIETY members enjoy free entrance.
Please RSVP to payment@lagreekfilmfestival.org
Click here to join the LAGFF Society.

If you are not a member, Tickets are $20 online - $25 at the door (cash only.) , click here to buy tickets

Friday, October 16, 2009

Global Greek Media: Greek American Radio Show All Things Greek With Eleni Daniels. OPA!!!

Photo Source: Greek American Educational Public Information Systems (GAEPIS)

All Things Greek with Eleni Daniels, Friday, October 16, 2009,
7:00PM EST on WNYE 91.5FM and HD1

Hellenic Public Radio-Cosmos FM

Live web stream: www.gaepis.org

On the next All Things Greek, new film release OPA! opens today in select theaters nationwide and Actor Agni Scott talks about her lead role as KATERINA alongside Actor Matthew Modine (ERIC), and Dr. Alex Pattakos introduces his groundbreaking meaning and innovation work that led to The OPA Way!®

It's all about the quest for meaning in our life and the people and/or the ways in which we find it… First segment features Eleni Daniels' interview with Agni Scott, one of the lead actors of the new independent film release OPA! that opens today, Friday, October 16, in select theatres nationwide--a modern day treasure hunt for a mystical relic that turns into a love story for all time. Directed by Udayan Prasad, OPA! stars Matthew Modine, Agni Scott, Alki David and Richard Griffiths.

Story Synopsis
: On the magical Greek island of Patmos, the inhabitants have lived, danced, and laughed for thousands of years. But, with the arrival of a straight-laced, high-tech archaeologist, ERIC (Matthew Modine) everything could forever change. Eric soon finds himself swept into a world of picture-postcard scenery and romance. That is, until his satellite-guided equipment reveals that his most important find may be buried under the taverna owned by the object of his affection--the beautiful and uncompromising KATERINA (Agni Scott). Will Eric toss away a lifetime of work--and the hope of fulfilling his father's deepest wish--for the love of a vivacious and independent woman? Read more at www.opafilm.com

And in the second half of the hour-- Are you feeling unhappy or stressed? Out of balance with a lack of passion? Overwhelmed with increased responsibilities and change? Missing out on opportunities? Are you wondering if there is more to life than what you are experiencing? Well, Eleni's next guest says it's time to live and work The OPA Way!®

Dr. Alex Pattakos ("Aleko"), author of the international best-selling book, Prisoners of Our Thoughts
is a personal development pioneer who has helped many with the search for meaning in their personal and work lives. He is also a very proud Greek-American (of Cretan heritage) and a weekly columnist for The National Herald (ETHNIKOS KYRIX). Go to www.prisonersofourthoughts.com and www.seedsofinnovation.com for a brief history and profile of the groundbreaking meaning and innovation work that led to The OPA Way!®

About
All Things Greek with Eleni Daniels All Things Greek is making waves as a fresh approach to talk radio with a Hellenic twist. Segments include lively in-depth interviews with personalities, newsmakers, celebrities, and people who make a difference. "Now more than ever, it is important to create a forum where people, ideas and stimulating conversion meet for a common understanding of news, history and cultural awareness," says Eleni Daniels, executive producer and host. All Things Greek broadcasts on WNYE-FM's 91.5 and HD1 for Hellenic Public Radio-Cosmos FM (HPR) on alternate Fridays at 7pm ET reaching approximately 13 million households throughout the New York metro area and neighboring New Jersey, Connecticut, and Long Island. Listener comments and suggestions are always welcome. Email: allthingsgreek@yahoo.com
.

Eleni Daniels is a native New Yorker, who began her love of radio and journalism with Cosmos FM in 1993. She is producer/talk host of the radio news journal All Things Greek, where her interviewing style and keen curiosity of diverse topics has endeared her to her listeners. As former executive director of GAEPIS, she led a successful advocacy campaign to save the ethnic voice on WNYE 91.5FM. She holds a BA from CUNY in French/Communications with graduate coursework at NYU. She is president/principal of DanielsMedia Co., providing consulting services on various arts & culture, educational and health/medical related projects.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Global Greek Humour: Greek Education Then... and Now!

'What kind of grades are these?!!!'
(Cartoon source and author unknown)

Same Question...Different Era!

A rather funny but sad commentary on the state of the Education system in Greece! (Thanks Eleni M, Greece)

Our question is, is it universally applicable and why has it got to this point?

From what one of our Global Greeks, Greek American Dr Alex Pattakos wrote in his latest Huffington Post article, titled No Person Left Behind, in which he discusses Health System Reform and Education Reform in the USA, it appears that what we call the abdication of responsibility of students/parents which is illustrated by the cartoon above, is indeed universally applicable and needs to change drastically if things are to improve.

Dr Pattakos wrote:

...the aims of education can never be achieved without personal responsibility on the parts of students/learners, parents, teachers, and other involved stakeholders, in addition to the collective responsibility of families, local/state jurisdictions, and other levels of community and society...

and went on to say

...In the education arena, a "teach me," ignorance, entitlement model has less chance of observable or sustainable success without a measurable dose of responsibility by those seeking access to and services from the "system."...

concluding that

...The education process, in the final analysis, is a two-way street. Minus some kind of brain implant like those depicted in science fiction, which is probably something that we would not want to see become reality, the true benefits of education derive as the "return on investment" that is made in yourself and in your future. And this kind of "ROI" can only occur when you become fully engaged and demonstrate that you are responsible for the investment.

We agree 100%! Why is it that the existing education system seems to destroy all drive, initiative and passion for learning? Is the ever-increasing pressure on students such that they no longer 'enjoy' the engagement that Dr Pattakos refers to?

What is to blame?

In Greece, which is how this post started, we have the phenomenon of those who go abroad excelling in their chosen fields...it can't be by chance that there are so many notable Greeks in fields like medicine, science and finance outside Greece, a lot of whom have come through the Greek education system but have gone to the top of their field once they went abroad! Despite that, and here is the irony, when some of these very same top-of-their-field experts try to get back into the system and give back some of their knowledge and experience to their homeland, the 'system' chews them up and spits them out! Dr George Papanicolaou, the creator of the lifesaving Pap test was one of these experts who came back to Greece with knowledge to share and determination to turn his vision to reality but ended up going back to the USA! Why does this happen?

Tell us what you think...


Dr Alex Pattakos is, as we said above, one of our Global Greeks and we have had a link to his very interesting article on the 25th Anniversary in our sidebar since the day we started this blog, because of it's relevance to all of us. A professor of public policy and management, a mental health therapist, the author of several books, a columnist with The Hellenic Herald and a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, Alex is known Dr Meaning in the USA. We will tell you more about him and his very valuable work in a later post. Stay tuned!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Global Greek World Thanks Everyone Around the World Who Has Visited Our Site!!!! :)

Syntagma - Greek Parliament - Vouli ton Ellinon

Efharistoume Poly!! Ευχαριστούμε Πολύ!!! Thanks a million!!!!

Gotcha!!! You probably thought our next post would be about the new government!!! But no, we decided to write about that later...

Today we are dedicating our post to our readers and friends...

We at Global Greek World would like to thank our wonderful friends around the world who have taken the trouble to visit our site and leave comments, either here, on Twitter or on our Global Greek World Facebook Page!

In just a few months we have had readers visit us from 80 countries - with the USA, Greece, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia topping the list.

United States (US)
Greece (GR)
Canada (CA)
United Kingdom (GB)
Australia (AU)
New Zealand (NZ)
Germany (DE)
Spain (ES)
Belgium (BE)
France (FR)
Netherlands (NL)
India (IN)
Cyprus (CY)
Brazil (BR)
Italy (IT)
Sweden (SE)
Hungary (HU)
Romania (RO)
Switzerland (CH)
Poland (PL)
Austria (AT)
Mexico (MX)
Argentina (AR)
Finland (FI)
Philippines (PH)
FYROM (MK)
South Africa (ZA)
Saudi Arabia (SA)
Ireland (IE)
Turkey (TR)
Portugal (PT)
Croatia (HR)
Denmark (DK)
Bulgaria (BG)
Japan (JP)
Oman (OM)
Pakistan (PK)
Peru (PE)
Russian Federation (RU)
Norway (NO)
Serbia (RS)
China (CN)
Singapore (SG)
Togo (TG)
Iran, Islamic Republic of (IR)
Nigeria (NG)
Hong Kong (HK)
Thailand (TH)
Czech Republic (CZ)
Benin (BJ)
Luxembourg (LU)
Colombia (CO)
Ukraine (UA)
Indonesia (ID)
Egypt (EG)
Malaysia (MY)
Cote D'Ivoire (CI)
Latvia (LV)
Sri Lanka (LK)
Costa Rica (CR)
Georgia (GE)
Kuwait (KW)
Lithuania (LT)
Malta (MT)
Qatar (QA)
Jordan (JO)
Uruguay (UY)
Bolivia (BO)
Lebanon (LB)
United Arab Emirates (AE)
Taiwan (TW)
Panama (PA)
Nicaragua (NI)
Trinidad and Tobago (TT)
Monaco (MC)
Slovakia (SK)
Venezuela (VE)
Dominican Republic (DO)
Senegal (SN)
Korea, Republic of (KR)

Thanks a million for visiting and please don't hesitate to let us know what you would like to see more of on here in the future!

Global Greek Films: Don't Miss The Greek Heritage Society Documentary Premiere, The Promise of Tomorrow - The First Generation


The Promise of Tomorrow - The First Generation Documentary will Premiere on Thursday, November 12, 2009, in the presence of many of our Global Hollywood Greeks at the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences.

If you can attend and support this great undertaking, please do, but book early! Click on poster above for details...

The Greek Heritage Society (GHS), a non profit organization, was established in 1985 to preserve the rich culture, heritage and traditions of Greek immigrants in Southern California.

It's website banner proudly proclaims the objective of it's existence: Preservation of American Hellenic History and indeed, this is what the Society has done!

To achieve this objective the Society has interviewed over 300 Greek immigrants and Greek Americans in Southern California in order to put their experiences on record.

Historical photos, private footage, and folk art treasures have been catalogued for present and future projects. The GHS has contributed photos to the Ellis Island Museum and continues to conduct oral histories of the Greek American community.

In 2002, during the 36th Biennial Clergy-Laity Congress in Los Angeles, it successfully presented a Historical and Folk Art Exhibit whilst in October 2005, on the 20th anniversary of it's establishment, it celebrated the event with a concert, again in Los Angeles.

The Promise of Tomorrow

The Promise of Tomorrow, Part Two of the Greek Heritage Society's award winning series, The Greeks of Southern California — Through the Century, is the universal story of the Greek American experience as seen through the eyes of those who settled in Southern California.

The Documentary highlights the first and second generation of Greek Americans and the changing face of our community. Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis hosts the documentary, with additional narration by John Kapelos, as it explores the way in which the Greek American community has become an integral part of American history while maintaining a strong and unique Greek identity.


The Pioneers, 1900-1942

In 2002, GHS completed Part One, The Pioneers: 1900-1942, highlighting the achievements of early Greek immigrants. The Pioneers premiered at 20th Century Fox Studios and received the prestigious Award of Excellence from the Film Advisory Board. The film also was awarded "Best Documentary" at the 2003 International Panorama of Independent Filmmakers Festival in Thessaloniki, Greece.


To Read more about The Greek Heritage Society of Southern California, Click here

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Global Greek Events - Greek Elections 2009 - Presenting the Consummate Greek Politician, Andreas Mavrogialouros!!!

For those who love the classic Black and White Greek Movies here is one, and very appropriate, especially in view of the corruption scandals that have occurred over the years and particularly those that have come to light more recently. It's a political satire, ' Yparhei kai Filotimo' with Lambros Konstandaras as Andreas Mavrogialouros, the consummate Greek politician...

Andreas Mavrogialouros is a minister of the Greek government who goes to visit a small village for the inauguration of a local maternity clinic. Going there he gets more than he bargained for but in the process discovers that his associates have been fooling him for years, using state funds to accumulate riches for themselves...

Sound familiar? The film is over 50 years old and not much appears to have changed since then, but we are hopeful! ....

Enjoy!!!



We at Global Greek World are hoping that our politicians have finally got the message and are genuinely ready to shed the dreadful image the people have of them. We are hoping that from tomorrow things will change for the better, whichever party gets elected to power!!!!!!

Kali Psifo!!! :)



Friday, October 2, 2009

Global Greek Events - Greek Elections 2009 - With a Touch of Humour!!!

Photo Source: Unknown

And the Greek People have voted.....Presenting the ideal Prime Minister for Greece, Giorgo-Costas Kar-andreou!!!




Photo Source: ATSARANTOS

George n' Costas



Photo source: ATSARANTOS

Obama - OMama!!




Photo source: ATSARANTOS

Reporter Nikos Hatzinicolaou: Mr Papandreou, What will change in Greece if PASOK is elected to govern?

G A Papandreou (GAP) : First of all we will no longer be known as PsoroCostaina (traditional nickname for Greece back in the days when it was a very poor country)

Reporter: And what will we be known as?

GAP: PsoroGeorgena!!!


Joking aside, this weekend is Election weekend in Greece with PM Costa Karamanlis winding up the campaigning with his speech at Nea Dimokratia's Election Rally at Pedion tou Areos in Athens last night!

Now it's time to think before casting our votes tomorrow, for those of us who vote in
Greece...!

Our only criteria is what's best for
Greece and our people, both in Greece and all over the world. Whichever party wins the elections, we want them to put Greece and it's interests, both domestic and international, above everything else and that means taking many decisive and effective steps starting from Day 1! Greece does not have the luxury of time to grant any government 100 days to adjust!

Steps must be taken to save the economy from it's downward spiral and this involves a lot of things –


imposing and collecting taxes equitably, from each and everyone who earns income and not just the salaried employees,


cracking down on all those who seek and get payments on the side, forcing people to bear unbearable debt burdens just so that they can obtain medical treatment or education for themselves or their loved ones, things to which they are entitled as part of a functional and organised society,


collecting social security payments from all, employees and public or private sector employers alike, to ensure continuity of pensions and benefits for those who qualify,


ensuring that everyone gets paid fairly, and does the work they are paid to do, whether they are in the public or private sector, whether or not they are related to, or political cronies of, the people in power,


ensuring that the public service is streamlined and brought down to manageable proportions so that it is not a burden to the National Economy by appointing employees based on their qualifications and their ability to do their job, not who they know, and by providing objectives and incentives to all employees, to ensure the high quality of the services provided to the public-at-large


and above all,


enforcing the laws of the country which should be applicable to everyone irrespective of the status of the person involved, rich or poor, whether they have connections to the corridors of power or not.


We personally will applaud any government that puts an end to the endemic corruption in our country and which effectively has placed us in this unenviable position. It is time to act to change all this and it needs to be changed from the top down!


The best way to lead is by example…


Think, and above all, vote wisely!


Kali Psifo :)


For those who love the classic Black and White Greek Movies here is one, very appropriate one, Yparxei kai Filotimo, with Lambros Konstandaras as Mavrogialouro, the consummate Greek politician...not much has changed in the over 40 years since then but we are hoping that our politicians have finally got the message and that from tomorrow things will change for the better!!!!!!




To read what the main parties have to say, their election platforms, rallies, speeches and to see photos and TV, spots click on each name

Nea Demokratia (New Democracy)

PASOK (Pan Hellenic Socialist Party)

KKE (Greek Communist Party)

SYRIZA (Coalition of the Left and Progressive Parties)

LAOS (People's Orthodox Movement)

Oikologoi Prasinoi (Ecologist Green Party)

Many thanks to fellow blogger Atsarantos, the source of most of our funny pix above and to Mary M (Greece) and Jim C (NZ) for sending them to us!

To find out more about the elections, Click here

For LIVE Election Coverage
on Sunday 4th October, on radio and television, Click here


LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails

IMAGES OF GREECE ...ABROAD

IMAGES OF GREECE ...ABROAD
Archangel Michael's Shrine, Tarpon Springs, Florida, USA

25th March Parade To Cenotaph Wellington, New Zealand

25th March Anniversary Parade, Wellington, New Zealand