Thinking of Shakespeare

Thinking of Shakespeare, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Romeo and Juliet, III, v

JULIET: Chain me with roaring bears;
Or shut me nightly in a charnel-house,
O'er-cover'd quite with dead men's rattling bones,
With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls;
Or bid me go into a new-made grave
And hide me with a dead man in his shroud;
Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble;
And I will do it without fear or doubt,

Greek general strike 2009 - γενική απεργεία 2009

Greek general strike 2009 - γενική απεργεία 2009, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek public services closed down and transport was disrupted across the country Thursday as thousands of workers went on strike to protest government spending cuts.

Associated press

Ανοιχτή Σύγκλητος στο Α.Π.Θ

Ανοιχτή Σύγκλητος στο Α.Π.Θ, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Ψήφισμα για τη διευθέτηση του θέματος των εργολαβιών στο Αριστοτέλειο Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλονίκης (ΑΠΘ) εξέδωσαν οι πρυτανικές αρχές, έπειτα από ανοιχτή Σύγκλητο που πραγματοποιήθηκε για το θέμα αυτό.

Στο ψήφισμα αναφέρεται ότι το ΑΠΘ δεσμεύεται να ασκεί όλα τα δικαιώματα που του παρέχει ο νόμος αναφορικά με τις τρέχουσες συμβάσεις εργολαβίας, ώστε να μην παραβιάζεται από τους εργολήπτες η κείμενη νομοθεσία (εργατική και ασφαλιστική) για τους εργαζόμενους στο πανεπιστήμιο με εξαρτημένη σχέση εργασίας, να τηρούνται οι συναφθείσες συμβάσεις και να ασκεί τα νόμιμα δικαιώματά του, όταν διαπιστώνει ότι υπάρχουν παραβιάσεις των συμβάσεων.

www.kathimerini.gr

Earth Hour - 2009 Greece

Earth Hour - 2009 Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

http://www.earthhour.org/home/

Making the world safe for Gucci

The press here in Thessaloniki has been full of stories on the recent clamp down on crime. According to the Greek national daily newspaper Kathimerini, the authorities carried out 1912 checks, reported 386 violations and made 67 arrests. I happened to be in town at the time and as far as I can tell the police's efforts seemed to be once again a "round up the usual suspects" affair in which the plain clothes and uniformed officers chased the African street vendors who sell knock-off bags and other accesssories in the centre.

In the meantime last night thieves attempted to steal a ATM located inside the Praktiker DIY super store by throwing a hand grenade at it, two large stores were attacked midday in the centre, a bank was firebombed in Euosmos and the body of a young woman was found floating in the harbour.

I think we're moving more and more towards a model of law and order that befits a banana republic in which the kind of crime that affects ordinary people is met with indifference and incompetence but in which public order offenses get the lion share of police time and resources. Perhaps this government is, in fact despite its chronic inability to plan more than five minutes ahead, getting ready for the future, knowing full well that there is going to be massive resistance to the inevitable cuts in public services and that the rich are going to be more and more the target of protests as times get harder.

According to the Kathemerini and Eleutherotypia the government is planning to double the number of riot police.In addition the Athens police authorities are creating rapid response teams to police the upscale shopping districts in the centre of the capital even while crime rates in the rest of the city are going through the roof.

The present conservative New Democracy administration cannot fund a US style New Deal because they have already borrowed heavily and even more recklessly lied about financial fundamentals such as the extent of the country's debt load and growth projection to such an extent that the government's macro - economic data is now considered unreliable by EU auditors and potential creditors. The result is that future loans can only be secured at cripplingly high interest rates and that the government will have no alternative but to sell off public assets and cut spending. Both of which will lead to massive public unrest.

Hence the increase in riot police units.

On the other hand, it is comforting knowing that in a world beset by crisis and mayhem the market for high end Italian accessories remains safe under the vigilant eye of the authorities.

Acrobatics in Modiano

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

American film maker beaten by ultra - nationalists

An American documentary film maker was attacked and beaten during a political rally last night in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki. The critic and film maker was visiting the city in order to attend a documentary film festival and was passing by the rally by the far right LAOS party in the central Agias Sophias square when he was set upon by 8 to 10 ultra-nationalists carrying iron bars and clubs who according to police reports, were most likely party supporters. According to the victim's account the attack was probably provoked by the fact that the assailants thought he was a photographer.

Click here for report from the Makedonia newspaper in Greek.

All Along The Watchtower

All Along the Watch Tower, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Thesssaloniki paramedics protest over lack of equipment

Συγκέντρωση διαμαρτυρίας εργαζομένων στο ΕΚΑΒ στη Θεσσαλονίκη , originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

The ambulance crews were demonstrating in order to demand new vehicles and protective suits. Of the 220 new ambulance ordered in 2007 not one has been assigned to Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city and home to 10% of the population of the country.

See here for a report in Greek from Kathimerini.

On the other hand the massive medical equipment scam which has cost taxpayers billions since 2004 has gone unpunished despite a government report submitted to then minister of health, Nikos Kaklamanis in 2006 outlining the way in which companies supplying hospitals pumped up prices. For example, A titanium screw, for instance, cost 18 euros in Cyprus, but was bought for 159 euros by Greek hospitals.

Nor has present health minister, Dimitris Avramopoulos, been inclined to act on the report.

See here for a report in English from Kathimerini.

Cloudation

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Ο Αλέξης ζει

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Εναλλακτικές μορφές ενημέρωσης και δημοκρατία - Alternative forms of information, and Democracy

Photo by Rabbleradio at Flickr

Αίθουσα TZON KAΣΣABETHΣ, Δευτέρα, 16 Μαρτίου 2009, 11:00


"Πάσχος Μανδραβέλης (δημοσιογράφος / πολιτικός αναλυτής, Καθημερινή / ΣΚΑΙ), Ηλία Κανέλλης (δημοσιογράφος), Niels Kadritzke (δημοσιογράφος, αρχισυντάκτης Le Monde Diplomatique Γερμανίας), Γρηγόρης Πασχαλίδης (κοινωνιολόγος / Αν. Καθηγητής, Σχολή Δημοσιογραφίας και ΜΜΕ του ΑΠΘ) Συντονιστής: Στέλιος Κούλογλου (δημοσιογράφος / σκηνοθέτης) .

Τα πρόσφατα γεγονότα που σημειώθηκαν στην Αθήνα αλλά και την υπόλοιπη ελληνική περιφέρεια τον περασμένο Δεκέμβριο επανέφεραν στο προσκήνιο του δημόσιου λόγου το ρόλο των ΜΜΕ και ανάδειξαν εναλλακτικά μέσα, κυρίως ηλεκτρονικά, που μέχρι τότε βρίσκονταν στο περιθώριο της ενημέρωσης. Μέσα ενημέρωσης ή μοχλοί χειραγώγησης; Διαμορφωτές ή ρυθμιστές της δημοκρατίας; Στο σύνθετο τοπίο της πραγματικότητας η ανάγκη για εναλλακτικές φωνές στους συσχετισμούς δημοκρατίας και ΜΜΕ γίνονται όλο και πιο επιτακτική. Ξεκινώντας από την επικαιρότητα, το 11ο Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ εξετάζει το θέμα σε μια Ημερίδα με τη συμμετοχή δημοσιογράφων, ακαδημαϊκών και bloggers, για να φτάσει στον πυρήνα του, δηλαδή στο ντοκιμαντέρ ως εξέχουσα μορφή εναλλακτικής ενημέρωσης."

11ο Φεστιβάλ Ντοκιμαντέρ Θεσσαλονίκης – Εικόνες του 21ου Αιώνα

At JOHN CASSAVETES Theatre, Thessaloniki Passenger port, Monday, March 16, 2009, 11:00

"Speakers: Paraschos Mandravelis (journalist / political analyst, Kathimerini newspaper / SKAI Radio & TV), Ilias Kanellis (journalist), Niels Kadritzke (journalist, editor of Le Monde Diplomatique German edition), Grigoris Paschalidis (sociologist / Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki). Moderator: Stelios Kouloglou (journalist / doc. director)

The riots that took place in Athens and other major Greek cities this past December brought back to the foreground of public discourse the role of the Mass Media,while at the same time highlighting alternative –mostly electronic –means, which, until then had remained in the margins of the world of information. Are we talking about information media or levers of manipulation? Do they shape democracy or do they regulate it? In the complex landscape of reality, the need for alternative voices in the discourse concerning democracy and the Mass Media is becoming more and more imperative. Through the prism of current events, the 11th Thessaloniki Documentary Festival explores this topic in a panel discussion with journalists, academics and bloggers, in an effort to arrive at its core, i.e. at the documentary as the form par excellence of alternative information."

The 11th Documentary Thessaloniki - Images of the 21st century

A man is never lost at sea.

A man is never lost at sea., originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek police involved in new brutality case

A university student has accused police in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki of beating him during a routine stop and search. The 22 year old was stopped after leaving a bar with two friends during the early hours of Saturday morning. According to the sworn testimony given by police officers present Rafael Pagadas, refused to provide ID and became abusive. Afterwards the student repeatedly attempted to injure himself by banging his head on the patrol car present and on the wall of the Plateia Demokratias police station where he was taken.

Pagadas claims that he and his friends were stopped without reason and that when asked for ID he presented his Italian passport which lead to his being handcuffed immediately. Later he was taken to the police station where according to his statement plain clothes officers punched him repeatedly while he was handcuffed to a bench. Later, according to Pagadas officers slammed his head against the wall and dragged him by his hair around the station.

The 22 year old is due to stand trial 6th March for disobedience, refusing to provide ID and insulting a police officer.

Now Public

The writing is on the wall

The writing is on the wall, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Drowned world

Drowned world, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"As the cutter moved off across the lagoon he went back to his chair. For a few minutes the two men stared across the table at each other, the insects outside bouncing off the wire mesh as the sun lifted into the sky. At last Kerens spoke.

'Alan, I'm not sure whether I shall be leaving.'

Without replying, Bodkin took out his cigarettes. He lit one carefully, then sat back smoking it calmly. 'Do you know where we are?' he asked after a pause. 'The name of this city?' When Kerens shook his head he said: 'Part of it used to be called London; not that it matters. Curiously enough, though, I was born here. Yesterday I rowed over to the old University quarter, a mass of little creeks, actually found the laboratory where my father used to teach. We left here when I was six, but I can just remember being taken to meet him one day. A few hundred yards away there was a planetarium, I saw a performance once - that was before they had to re-align the projector. The big dome is still there, about twenty feet below water. It looks like an enormous shell, fucus growing all over it, straight out of The Water Babies. Curiously, looking down at the dome seemed to bring my childhood much nearer. To tell the truth, I'd more or less forgotten it - at my age all you have are the memories of memories. After we left here our existence became completely nomadic, and in a sense this city is the only home I've ever known –' He broke off abruptly, his face suddenly tired.

'Go on,' Kerens said evenly."

Drowned World by JG Ballard

Portraits

Riot police sent in to quell Greek carnival disturbances

Greek riot police were deployed against teenagers who had blocked roads in the centre of Greece's second city, Thessaloniki last night during Carnivali celebrations, the Greek Orthodox equivalent of Mardi Gras.

Hundreds of teenagers burned garbage bins, let off fireworks and hurled objects at the platoons of riot police on duty in the centre of the port city. The officers accompanied fire engines which quickly doused the fires in Mitropoleos St.

Traditionally, Tsiknopempti or "Burnt Thursday" marks the countdown to the start of Lent for Greek Orthodox Christians and is celebrated by fancy dress parties and carnivals across the country. However, the usually raucous atmosphere was more charged than previous years, a reflection that the effects of the riots and protests that swept Greece in December and January following the police shooting of a 15 year old are still being felt.

Now Public

Currents

I was looking through some photos when I came across this one taken at a recent exhibition at the museum of Photography here in Thessaloniki called "Currents".

"At the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, Warehouse A’, 1st floor, Port of Thessaloniki.

The Greeks wondered: the rivers never stop flowing in the sea. And yet, the level of the sea never rises. The Greeks reflect and cannot find any other enlightening explanation for this mystery, just one unavoidable reasoning: it is the sea which creates the rivers. This is where their sources are! And it is the internal fire of the Earth, which through distillation will alleviate the salt from the salt water. In this manner the sea receives what it gives."