THE GREEK AUSTRALIAN The oldest circulating Greek newspaper outside VEMA Greece JULY 2012 Tel. (02) 9559 7022 Fax: (02) 9559 7033 E-mail: [email protected] $320,000 collected for the “Greece Appeal” by all Parish - Communities of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia PAGE 14/32 GREEK ORTHODOX IN THE 2011 CENSUS PAGE 4/22 SYDNEY ONE OF What Greece makes, the world might take The problems are overwhelming, but it’s somewhat satisfying to know that the solu- THE WORLD’S tions might be based on things the Greeks have long known how to do themselves, like processing olives and brining cheese. PAGE 3/21 BEST CITIES Sydney is continuing its reign as one of the World’s “Sydney has now been selected by Travel+Leisure Best City according to the well-travelled readers of Trav- readers as the top Australasian city for 17 years. Again el+Leisure magazine. The Harbour City has another top this traveller survey demonstrates Sydney’s international ranking on the list of top 10 Cities Overall in the presti- reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations,” gious World’s Best Awards survey. Mr Souris said. Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, “It is yet another tribute to our local tourism and events has announced that Sydney has been voted the number industries, which continue to develop new and exciting one city in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific experiences to keep this city at the forefront with inter- and is ranked number five on the list of Top 10 Cities national visitors. Overall in Travel+Leisure 2012 World’s Best Awards “This latest accolade will help reinforce Sydney’s rep- readers’ survey. Last year, Sydney ranked number eight utation as a top international destination, especially for Global colloquy among cities worldwide in the survey. American travellers.” on reunification of the Parthenon Marbles Three campaigning organisations for the Parthenon Marbles, from the UK, USA and Australia, convened in London to launch the international colloquy on “The Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles”. PAGE 2/20 Serbian Bishops visit Archbishop Stylianos Mainalo Bishop Porphyry of Jegar, of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Father Teodosije, a brother of the monastery of The heart of the Peloponnese retains its rustic Kovilj, with their host Bishop Irinej and deacon Nemanja Mrdjenovic, secretary of the Metropolitanate of Australia-New feel amid traditional settlements and fir forests. Zealand, visited earlier this month the offices of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and St Andrew’s Greek Orthodox Theological College. On this occasion they were welcomed by His Eminence Archbishop Stylianos of Aus- PAGE 20/38 tralia and His Grace Bishop Iakovos of Miletoupolis. JULY 2012 2/20 TO BHMA The Greek Australian VEMA Group Shot at the British Museum. Left to Right: Margaret Gilbert, Eddie O’Hara (Chairman BCRPM) Krister Kumlin (Chairman Swedish Committee), Michael Reppas (ACRPS), Kimon Bizos, George Bizos, Emanuel J. Comino AM ( Chairman Australian Committee), Stu O’Hara, BCRPM Committee Chairman Eddie O’Hara (right) with Mr Comino (left) and Mr Reppas Marlen Godwin and Mrs Kumlin. GLOBAL COLLOQUY ON REUNIFICATION OF THE PARTHENON MARBLES marks historic annual campaign effort Three campaigning organizations for the Bizos SC, a Member of BCRPM and lawyer many ways, and on as broad a front as cept not to be confused with the political Parthenon Marbles, from the UK, USA and to Nelson Mandela, who spoke on issues possible; concept of nationalism Australia, convened in London (19-20 June) relating to litigation. 6. The focus of this education should be At this time, the three campaigning or- to launch the international colloquy on “The Amongst the key speakers were Prof. on the cultural and ethical justifications for ganizations, BCRPM, ACRPS, and IOC- Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles”, Dimitrios Pandermalis, President of the reunification; A-RPM, agree that their campaign policy which was attended by leading represen- Acropolis Museum; Andrew Dismore, Lon- 7. Ethical justifications should take ac- for the reunification of the Parthenon Mar- tatives from four continents. don Assembly Member, Former MP for count of the perception by the Greek peo- bles should emphasize cultural and ethical Among the topics presented included the Hendon, Chair, Parliamentary Joint Com- ple of the Parthenon sculptures as sym- arguments. Certainly for now, the policy concept of the “Universal Museum”, issues mittee on Human Rights; Dr. Elena Korka, bols of their ethnicity. This is a cultural con- does not encompass litigation. of litigation, the Acropolis Museum, archae- Archaeologist; Kostas Tsarouchas, Journal- ological perspectives, and special tributes ist - Publisher; Dr. Tom Flynn, Art Historian, to Eleni Cubitt, founder of the British Com- Prof. Dr. Judith Herrin, Professor of Late mittee for the Reunification of the Parthe- Antique and Byzantine Studies, and Christi- non Marbles, and the late journalist, Chri- na Borg, Literary Journalist. Plans are un- stopher Hitchens, a friend and supporter derway for the next annual International of the Committee. Colloquy to be held in Sydney during late The all-day colloquy was held 19 June at October/early November 2013. Official the Hellenic Centre in London followed the dates to be announced. next day, 20 June, by the launch of the The UK host committee, represented by MISSING global awareness campaign at BCRPM Committee Chairman Eddie O’Hara, the forecourt of the British Museum. has outlined some of the key points af- The launch was described as a “peace- firmed from the 2012 London Colloquy. ful show of support with a heartfelt mes- These include: sage.” 1. The focus of the campaign should be The historic event was timed to coincide solely on the reunification of all the Parthe- with the third year anniversary of the non sculptures. The campaign should not opening of the new Acropolis Museum and be weakened by association with wider the occasion of the 2012 London Olympics claims for restitution of cultural objects. one month later. Emphasis should always be placed on the The MISSING campaign is an initiative uniqueness of the Parthenon as a UNESCO created by ACRPS. The creative will run on- World Heritage monument parts of which line at MissingSince1801.com, with a have been forcibly removed and transport- developing extendable multi-format plat- ed for display in another country and to form to unite and mobilize support for the which the “floodgates” argument thus need cause. not apply; Co-presented by The British Committee 2. Unity of purpose and effort is essen- for the Reunification of the Parthenon Mar- tial if the world-wide support for the cam- bles (BCRPM), The American Committee for paign is to be harnessed and deployed to the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculp- maximum and optimum effect; tures (ACRPS), and The International Organ- 3. Litigation over the legal title to the Elgin izing Committee - Australia - for the Resti- Marbles cannot be ruled out. However, it is tution of the Parthenon Marbles (IOC- a risk strategy and requires much further A-RPM), the 2012 international colloquy research; echoed the efforts around the globe to ed- 4. Legislation, specifically amendment of ucate and connect people and resources. the British Museum Act 1963, is possible, By forging an open dialogue and coalitions but needs to be carefully framed and is not among supporters, the organizing commit- likely to receive British Government sup- tees hope to further increase the level of port in the foreseeable future; awareness and support around the world. 5. Public education about the issues is Keynote speaker was the world-renowned known to result in increasing support for human rights advocate and author, George reunification and should be pursued in as JULY 2012 The Greek Australian VEMA TO BHMA 3/21 Editorial What Greece makes, the world might take By ADAM DAVIDSON * says, came when Greece joined the European agricul- tural-subsidy system in 1981. Money from richer Euro- It has been years since anyone said anything positive pean taxpayers flowed to Greek farmers to upgrade about the Greek economy. But as one Greek economist their farms, “but the Europeans and the Greek govern- recently told me, there’s a local saying that when a ment had no control mechanism,” he says. Instead of in- spring is pressed down hardest, it can spring back the vesting in new tractors, “the farmers were taking the fastest. Let’s consider the country’s natural resources, or money and buying things like Mercedeses.” at least two of them. Feta cheese, which is increasingly Entrepreneurs who avoided the easy riches of gov- popular throughout the world, is mandated by an E.U. ernment contracts or E.U. subsidies were often punished ruling to come from Greece. The country also harvests by Greece’s nonsensical regulatory system. Megan arguably the best olives for making olive oil. Yet some- Greene, of the research firm Roubini Global Economics, how Greece has only 28 percent of the global feta mar- once famously recounted visiting a bookstore and cafe ket and a mere 4 percent share of the international in Athens only to learn that it was not allowed to sell olive-oil industry. books after 6 p.m. or coffee - ever. At the same time, How is this possible? In the last decade or so, com- those breakthroughs in olive-oil and feta technology panies in the United States, France, Denmark and else- were taking place everywhere but Greece. where flouted the feta ruling and invested in their own Ventouris, whose boss was recently named Greece’s food-science research and manufacturing equipment. new finance minister, also happened to advise McKin- They subsequently turned the salty, crumbly cheese into could create decent jobs and more tax revenue.