Time for another open thread.
I’d almost forgotten that I said I would do this. I blame the weather.
So what’s on your mind these days, people ? Post your thoughts here. As always, my comment policy rules apply.
Technorati Tags: open thread, thoughts, comment policy,
Abravanel writes about death threats sent by neo-nazis to Greek actor, Charis Romas, for co-writing and acting in the series “Δεληγιάννειο παρθεναγωγείο”. I haven’t seen the series so Abravanel’s breakdown of what it is about is essential. He sums it up like this:
a simple, feel-good television series with drama like the deportations, youth love, messages against straightforward racism, while the viewers can identify themselves with the good greeks who are emblematic of the greek people who in their totality struggled heroically and saved the jews.
Yes, even making a rather innocent sounding TV drama with a single Jewish character is enough to send the neo-nazi’s into a tailspin. Mr Romas spoke about the threats in an interview:
he considers all this a great silliness although highly threatening” and he does not intend to change his script which represents also his ideas
Please read the full post here.. It is also well worth reading the links Abravanal provides within the post.
Technorati Tags: greece, neo-Nazi, television, antisemitism
[promoted from comments. Thank you Kat]
While a couple of people are squabbling over who can call themselves what, there is a real crisis happening on the island of Lesvos.
Greece is locking hundreds of migrants in an overcrowded centre on the Mediterranean island of Lesvos without proper sanitation and medical care in what French charity Medicins Sans Frontiers branded a “humanitarian crisis”.
The migrants, most of them from war-torn Afghanistan, are kept in rooms clogged with stagnant water and only allowed outside for half an hour every couple of days, said Yiorgos Karayiannis, head of MSF Greece’s migrant assistance programme
Technorati Tags: greece, lesvos, lesbos, migrants, immigration
An article by Malcolm Brabant (BBC correspondent in Athens) about the neglect of refugees from Palestine, Afghanistan and Somalia who have been rejected from the reception centre on the island of Patmos and are currently sleeping in the streets.
Medecins du Monde (Doctors of the World) claims says the 140 refugees had been crammed into a second floor discotheque measuring just 50 sq m (60 sq yards).
The only advantage the building offered its occupants was shelter from outside temperatures approaching 40C (104F).
But the refugees have been forced to confront the elements of a harsh Greek summer, because, according to the charity, the government has not paid the rent for the discotheque and the people have been evicted.
The situation was described as “outrageous” by Sophia Ioannou, a Medecins du Monde spokeswoman.
Read the full article here at the BBC
Technorati Tags: greece, patmos, refugees, asylum,
[Related to the previous post about copper recycling in that it gives an insight into news reporting versus racist drivel]
The Greek Helsinki Monitor (GHM) has won another victory under the anti-racism law (Law 927/79) here in Greece. The case was against the publisher, editor and columnist of the right-wing newspaper Eleftheros Kosmos (Free World), who were found guilty under that law for publishing
offensive phrases for Greece’s Roma everywhere, intended to demean their social presence and social existence, because of their ethnic origin as Roma
This is the text that appeared in the paper on the 18th June 2006
Gypos came crashing
Even the Gypos have realized how incompetent we are to protect our country. Teams of Athiganoi [GHM note: the term is derogatory for Roma] in Dekelia, Aghios Stefanos, and in all other areas of Attica where there are rail tracks, dash out every night and steal very expensive equipment of [train company] OSE, which they resell as pure copper. In addition to very important expenses that the Greek State pays every day to repair the rail tracks, there is also the direct issue of the safety of the trains that pass-by. Yet, no journalist highlights the issue, because it is probably racist to go against with the peaceful Athiganoi
The prosecutor in the case, Alexandra Pischoina
rejected the arguments about an alleged increased criminality of Roma and immigrants, stating that the arrest of 2, or 32, or even 102 individuals cannot legitimize the generalization that an entire group engages in criminal activity. She also rejected the claim that the article was a simple news report, characterizing it instead as an expression of ideas that arrived at the conclusion that Roma go out stealing every night
The defendants were sentenced to seven months in prison (publisher and columnist) and a ten euro per day fine (editor), all suspended pending a possible appeal.
You can find full details of the trial and the verdict here (word document)
The other conviction of the same newspaper under this law is here.
Technorati Tags: greece, racism, roma, newspaper, press
A recent article about the Roma community at Votanikos from the national newspaper Eleftheros Typos (in Greek). It looks at the health and fire risks that arise from salvaging copper which involves burning cables. The community sells the copper to make some sort of livelihood. The dioxins emitted cause cancer and can have lasting harmful effects on the food chain in the region.
Eva Zimaraki, a member of a neighbourhood association against burning cables, said
We do not want repression. We are asking to find a solution to enable them to survive
One solution that is being suggested is a collaboration with recycling companies in order to secure a safe occupation for the community and a valuable resource for the city. However, as with all developments for the Roma, nothing has been achieved.
There is a photo gallery on the left of the text.
Technorati Tags: roma, greece, votanikos, copper, recycling
Very interesting…
After 34 years of watching the reception’s humdrumness, this year someone finally DID something to actually remind people that beyond the hedges of the beautiful (as I have been told) gardens of the Presidential Mansion are citizens living in our democracy with no voice, who are not recorded as existing citizens
Go and read what this is all about at Flubberwinkle
Stephen Colbert laughs at the lesbian dispute. Yes, most people think this court case is a joke.
Thank you toomanytribbles for the link.
UPDATE: For more Saturday giggles, go and see this video from Where The Hell Is Matt ? that toomanytribbles pointed out to me and be sure to to read about what happened to him when he danced at the parthenon.
Technorati Tags: lesvos, lesbian, greece, stephen colbert, colbert
I have been putting off writing this post for days now. I don’t know how many of you have been following events in Italy involving the Roma community there, but the whole issue is becoming increasingly disturbing. I have written extensively about the Roma here in Greece and I am well-aware of the deeply entrenched animosity towards them. I have always felt that putting a face on what many people consider “a problem”, is important and necessary. I still do because we seem to have this unending ability to dehumanise people, making it easier to ignore, exclude or abuse them en masse.
Although, this post is based on events happening in Italy, attitudes towards the Roma is no different here or in the rest of Europe. They are probably the most openly discriminated against people in Europe.
Italy has begun fingerprinting the entire Roma population. The European parliament has “urged” the country to stop this racial profiling (rather than condemn the process altogether). Left-leaning newspapers, human rights groups and activists are outraged but world leaders have been silent on the subject. In this article from the Guardian, Seumas Milne writes
It has been left to others to speak out against this eruption of naked, officially sanctioned racism. Catholic human rights organisations have damned the fingerprinting of Gypsies as “evoking painful memories”. The chief rabbi of Rome insisted it “must be stopped now”. Roma groups have demonstrated, wearing the black triangles Gypsies were forced to wear in the Nazi concentration camps, and anti-racist campaigners in Rome this week began to bombard the interior ministry with their own fingerprints in protest against the treatment of the Gypsies. But, given that the European establishment has long turned a blind eye to anti-Roma discrimination and violence in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, along with the celebration of SS units that took part in the Holocaust in the Baltic states, perhaps it’s no surprise that they ignore the outrages now taking place in Italy.
He also points out that
The persecution of Gypsies is Italy’s shame - and a warning to us all
The Guardian also has an article about the attitude of Italians towards the Roma. Sounds horribly familiar.
Many people are openly hostile to the Roma, accusing them – especially the newer arrivals – of avoiding work in favour of theft and other crime and shutting themselves off from mainstream Italian society in squalid, illegal camps. Rights groups working with Roma people say they face severe discrimination, some of it tied to more general anti-Romanian and anti-immigrant feeling.
One recent newspaper survey found 68% of people wanted all Italy’s Gypsies expelled, whether or not they held Italian passports. Another poll said more than three-quarters of people want unauthorised camps demolished.
This attitude seems to be sanctioned and reinforced by some of the highest authorities in Italy.
Italy’s legal system has already indicated there is nothing to stop discrimination against Roma. In a ruling handed down earlier this year, but only recently reported, the country’s highest appeal court ruled in the case of six people accused of anti-Gypsy racial propaganda that it was acceptable to single out Roma on the basis that they are thieves.
There was one particular event that prompted me to write about the racial profiling in Italy (as you know I don’t cover many stories from outside Greece). I had briefly seen on the CNN ticker a sentence about the drowning of two Roma girls in Naples. Then theriomorph sent me some links to the story.
WARNING: THE PICTURES IN THE ARTICLES ARE VERY DISTURBING.
Italian newspapers, an archbishop and civil liberties campaigners expressed shock and revulsion on Monday after photographs were published of sunbathers apparently enjoying a day at the beach just meters from where the bodies of two drowned Roma girls were laid out on the sand.
EveryOne Group is calling for an investigation into the drowning because of some suspicious circumstances.
the dynamics of what happened – as reported by the press – are unconvincing. There is something strange about the fact that four young girls who are non-swimmers would throw themselves fully-clothed into a rough sea (which can’t have been that rough seeing there were many other people, including several children, in the water at the same time). There is something strange about the fact that four young girls would dive into the waves in front of dozens of people, forgetting all about their traditional modesty. Unconvincing too is the fact that in a climate hostile to the Roma people, they would stop begging for money in order to abandon themselves to a joyous, carefree activity without fearing what people around them would say.
John Hooper from the Guardian also writes about what happened there on the beach.
From the Independent, this article entitled The Picture that Shames Italy
It was the sort of tragedy that could happen on any beach. But what happened next has stunned Italy. The bodies of the two girls were laid on the sand; their sister and cousin were taken away by the police to identify and contact the parents. Some pious soul donated a couple of towels to preserve the most basic decencies. Then beach life resumed.
The indifference was taken as shocking proof that many Italians no longer have human feelings for the Roma, even though the communities have lived side by side for generations.
That is what I want to say about these latest events in Italy. It is the indifference that pains me so much about attitudes towards minorities. That we can ignore what happens in their communities because we barely see them as human. We see them as “a problem” that needs to be dealt with. I posted the other day about how labeling people as “illegals’ dehumanises them and makes it easier for us to turn a blind eye.
I don’t want us to be like that but we seem incapable of anything else. I know we can’t walk around crying and weeping over every injustice that happens. That would probably render us utterly useless to do anything at all. But we can all care about our fellow human beings. If perhaps we saw ALL people as people, we would be less able to treat others in such disgusting ways.
Yes, I know what some of my “friends” here on the blog will be thinking. There she goes with her “Pollyanna, let’s all love each other” attitude.
Well, I make no apologies for my attitude.
I DO ask myself things like “what if that was MY child, husband, sister, friend.
I make no apologises for that.
I DO want to put a face to the two girls who died on the beach and those who are being targeted for racial profiling.
I make no apologies for that.
I DO care about what happens to minority communities in Europe with the rise of nationalism.
I make no apologies for that.
And I DO seriously worry for ALL our futures if we continue on this path.
I make no apologies for that.
UPDATE: Questioning Transphobia also has a post up on this subject.
Technorati Tags: italy, drowning, roma, naples
A court in Athens today rejected a law suit from some residents of the island of Lesbos that attempted to stop homosexual women from using the word ‘lesbian’ to define themselves.
Three islanders took gay rights group OLKE, the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece, to court to get a ban on anyone except islanders and their descendants using the term lesbian.
The court ruled that they do not have sole claim to the word.
The Greek island, home to the 6th Century BC poet Sappho, who wrote about female same-sex love, lends its name to the term ‘lesbian.’
“My sister can’t say she is a Lesbian,” islander and plaintiff Dimitris Lambrou told AP at the start of the case last month.
“Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos.”
Andrea Gilbert, spokesperson for Athens Pride 2008 and a member of OLKE, has drawn attention to the amount of money from tourism that lesbians bring to the island when visiting Eressos, the birthplace of Sappho.
She told PinkNews.co.uk:
“The claim is based in serious prejudice and hatred, a ridiculous claim that most Greeks find laughable.
“However, the underlying homophobia and reactionary sentiment is no laughing matter.”
Mr Lambrou said they will take their case to the European courts.
The banner reads “Silence no more. If you are not from Lesbos, you are not a lesbian”
I am sure the case will be laughed out of the European court too !
Legislation in progress on immigration:
Greece backs the new EU plans on immigration
A new bill aimed at children of migrants
Education of the children of immigrants
Technorati Tags: greece, immigration, migrants, children
Immigration issues have been very much on the agenda across Europe in the past few years. As you know, I follow the subject very closely in relation to Greece. I am not an expert but I do have opinions on the issues like many others.
I would like to raise a question today about descriptions. The word “illegal” is so deeply entwined with “immigrant” that we rarely question it. But I want to ask how can a person be illegal ? A person can cross the border without papers but that person is not illegal. Maybe he/she is here illegally. Maybe he/she is undocumented. Maybe he/she is without papers. Maybe he/she is seeking asylum… but he/she is not illegal as a human being.
It has got to the point though, where we have connected the words so strongly that when we hear the word “immigrant”, we often make a subconscious link to the word “illegal”. Please read brownfemipower who has spoken more eloquently than anyone on subject of the criminalization of language.
Today, I would just like you to think about how the word “illegal’ being constantly attached to the word “immigrant” affects how you feel about the issues. And then do a leap. Think about how a different description might subtly change your opinion. Think about how describing a person as a person rather than an “illegal”, makes someone real rather than another problem.
I am very interested to know how you feel about this because it really bothers me.
Sorry…
DD Live is canceled until after the summer.
It’s too hot and everyone seems to be on holiday.
The kid is away with friends.
I’m going out with the love of my life.
It’s hot !
Photographer Oliver Jobard was arrested in Patras while he was covering the story below about Afghan refugees in the port.
French photographer Olivier Jobard of the Sipa Press agency was arrested and beaten by a coastguard officer on 4 July while taking photos in the port of Patras, in northern Peloponnese, for a report on immigrants. Detained by the police on charges of “resisting an authority” and “physical injury,” he was released the next day pending a trial, which was due to begin today.
For years, a special permit has for been necessary for anyone taking photos within Greece’s ports, which are regarded as military or high-security areas.
Jobard told Reporters Without Borders that Sipa Press requested a permit for him but it had not been issued by the time he needed to begin working. He took photos without any problem on 3 July, when he was questioned twice by port guards and was allowed to continue working after showing them, at their request, the pictures he had been taking.
Jobard was taking photos on a landing stage in the presence of a group of tourists at around 5 p.m. on 4 July, when a coastguard officer stopped him and tried to take his cameras from him. When Jobard hung on to his equipment, the guard forcibly dragged him into a nearby public toilet, pushed him inside, handcuffed him and hit him several times in the face. He then pulled out a knife, cut the strap of Jobard’s camera, threw the camera to the ground and smashed it with his foot.
After being released the next day, Jobard filed a complaint against the officer for assault and battery.
The head of the Patras harbour-master’s office today told Reporters Without Borders that Jobard was detained while taking photos from behind a tree. He claimed that Jobard resisted when asked to show his permit, and kicked the guard several times. On the basis of a forensic doctor’s report, the guard filed a complaint against Jobard for assault, he added.
“While one can understand why the Greek authorities might insist on permits for photography in port areas, we can only condemn the violence used by the guard when arresting Jobard,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The authorities have other means at their disposal for carrying out the necessary checks without using methods for which there is no place in the European Union.”
The press freedom organisation added : “Several Greek news media have criticised Jobard, essentially giving only the official version of the incident. While Jobard may have broken a regulation, his investigation into the problems of immigration and what life is like for immigrants deserves support.”
This is not the first time this has happened this year. I will update this story when I hear more.
Technorati Tags: greece, patras, refugees, photographer, reporters without borders
Thank you to Kat of Living, Working, Musing and Misadventures in Athens for the link.
A harrowing account of life in a makeshift camp in Patras for Al Jazeera by Danylo Hawaleshka
Local residents in the apartment buildings that crowd the shantytown’s perimeter resent the migrants’ presence and the inevitable filth resulting from so many people living in cramped and inadequate conditions.
That leaves community groups and aid agencies like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders to fill in the substantial gaps.
“It is inhuman to leave these people to live here like this,” says Christos Karapiperis, a social worker with the Hellenic Red Cross.
“It’s awful.”
The Greek office of Doctors Without Borders recently opened a clinic inside the camp. But Dr. Apostolos Veizis, the group’s programme director, says conditions here remain “unacceptable, inhuman and do not meet international standards”.
People like Karapiperis want a government-sanctioned facility established for minors and another for adult asylum seekers.
“We are sure that organised crime is controlling the whole thing,” Karapiperis says, referring to human smuggling.
“The refugees are afraid to talk about this — they are afraid for their lives and maybe their families’ lives.”
Please read the full article here
Technorati Tags: greece, patras, refugees, afganistan, asylum
