The Solidarity Cities initiative was recently announced at a press conference in Athens in October 2016, following a closed political session gathering 23 mayors and vice-mayors of the EUROCITIES network. The Mayor of Athens, Georgios Kaminis, and Vice-Mayor of Barcelona, Laïa Ortiz, presented to journalists the concept of the initiative and the main demands of European cities in terms of direct funding for refugee reception and integration, as well as better involvement from cities in the shaping of migration policy at the European and national level.

Solidarity Cities embodies a humanitarian response to the refugee situation, advocating a fairer sharing of responsibilities among EU member states. EUROCITIES published an open letter on World Refugee Day 2016, calling to refocus the debate on the refugee situation in Europe so as to reflect common European values of solidarity, humanity and dignity. Many cities are already taking steps to ensure the safe reception and passage of refugees through their territories, as described in the April 2016 report, ‘Refugee reception and integration in cities.'

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek News Agenda

 

Please click HERE for more information on Solidarity Cities.

Among the many languages offered on Facebook, Ancient Greek is now a choice.

 

When you save Ancient Greek as a language, from then on messages will be ‘Aγγέλματα’, Facebook will be asking you ‘Tί δοκείς;’, friend search will be ‘Φίλους ευρίσκειν’, the main page will be called ‘οίκος’, while under each post you will see the indication ‘Σχόλιον γράφειν.’

To change your language settings to Ancient Greek, go to Settings - Language - Select Your Language - Ancient Greek - Save Changes.

Source: Greek Reporter

Ancient Greeks, as well as other civilizations of that time, often attributed weather changes and natural phenomena to the gods. For example, lightning was a way for Zeus to show his anger, just as Thor in ancient Nordic mythology.

Ancient Greeks also believed in Poseidon, god of sea and earthquakes, Helios, god of sun, Selene, goddess of moon, Hephaestus, god of volcanoes, Chione, goddess of snow, Zeus, king of all gods and god of sky, thunder, lightning and rain. All occurrences of favorable or poor weather were thought to be a direct result of godly intervention.

The word “climate” stems from the Greek word “klima” meaning inclination and referring to the climate conditions created by the Sun’s angle. Moreover, ancient Greeks invented the term “meteorology,” the study of atmospheric disturbances. Aristotle is considered the founder of meteorology. He tried to explain the weather through the interaction of the four elements: earth, fire, air, and water. Aristotle’s student Theophrastus produced the first book on weather signs, listing observations used to forecast weather, many of which are still used to this day.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

On September 27, 1960, six days after his twenty-sixth birthday, Cohen bought a house in Hydra for $1500, using a bequest from his recently deceased grandmother. This was a "big deal" in the words of one of his friends, a commitment to place and a world that was mysterious and unusual. Buying the house was a complicated act, needing the assistance of his friend Demetri Gassoumis as translator, adviser, and witness to the deed. Cohen later said that it was the smartest decision he ever made. The tree-story, ancient whitewashed building, with its five rooms on several levels, was run down and had no electricity, plumbing or running water. Yet it was a private space where he could work, either on the large riled terrace or in his music room on the third floor.

He knew he had been accepted by the community when he began receiving regular visits from the garbage man and his donkey. To a friend he explained that, “Having this house makes cities less frightening. I can always come back and get by. But I don't want to lose contact with the metropolitan experience.” Buying the house also gave him confidence, “The years are flying past and we all waste so much time wondering if we dare to do this or that. The thing is to leap, to try, to take a chance.”

It was a place of solitude, of plodding donkeys (even today no cars are allowed on the island; nor would they get very far if they were), cold water and kerosene lamps. In such primitive surroundings, amid the stunning beauties of the island and the glories of the Aegean, where fishermen still wrested a living from the sea and ferries scrabbled one from the land, Leonard found his peace, his sitting-down time, as he called it, where he could -as all pots must - recollect in tranquillity. Here he could live in virtually complete seclusion, at a fraction of the cost it would take in Northern Europe or Canada, where the people were unconcerned as to who you were or what you did; And where breathtaking vistas opened up for the seeing - both external and internal.

Leonard Cohen was a Canadian songwriter who died on November 7, 2016 at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 82 years old. 

To read this article in full, please visit: Leonard Cohen Files

Skyros, located in the Sporades islands, is famous for its traditions - carved wooden furniture, delightful pottery, embroideries - and its miniature ponies! Skyros is also known all over Greece for its Carnival traditions, which may have their origin in Dionysiac revels.

This island can almost be considered two islands, its two halves being so different. Most of its 3,000 inhabitants live in the northern half, which is wooded and fertile, while the southern half is barren, mountainous and wild.

The island’s port, Linaria, midway between the two halves, has a number of good fish tavernas, while the best beaches are to the south-west and north-east, though the latter can be windblown. Those on the north-west are pine-shaded but stony.

To read this article in full, please visit: Hip Greece

Starting in 2017, Greek supermarkets will start charging for the use of plastic bags. The charge will be 5 to 10 euro cents.

This change for Greece comes after many EU countries have already implemented the charge for decades. The charge will hopefully encourage patrons to bring their own reusable bags as to cut down on plastic waste.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

Nikos Polias, multi-times Panhellenic Marathon champion and record breaker, talks about his passion for running the classic route.

From an early age, running was an important part of my life. In the vacant lot in the neighborhood I grew up in and, later, on the track at Karaiskakis Stadium, in my hometown of Piraeus, running became more than a sport for me. It was a way to relax, to express myself as well as to socialize. I still have friends who used to be running buddies back then.

I tried my legs at sprinting for a while, but soon realized that my true potential lay in endurance running. Despite its difficulty, the Classic Marathon route enchanted me from the first time I ran it, back in 1993. It was my first marathon ever and I ended up a Greek champion, much to everyone’s surprise, including my own.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greece Is

‘People often think old Greek music is dead. It is not, it only needs a little bit of humidity in order to blossom again,’ says Greek vocalist Katerina Papadopoulou explaining why she initiated project Anastatica.

Anastatica project is a collaboration between musicians and a vocalist that remaster old traditional tunes and songs and turns them into ethnic music. Vocals and dance are equally incorporated into their music. They value music that is transferred from place to place and from one era to another, without losing its originality and drive.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek TV