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  • 14th Bibliotheca Alexandrina Int’l Summer Festival

    14th Bibliotheca Alexandrina Int’l Summer Festival

    ΠολιτισμόςThe Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s 14th annual International Summer Festival will take place between 29 July and 8 September, offering a rich programme for all musical tastes alongside film screenings, plays and theatre.

    Organised by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Arts Centre, this year’s edition will bring over 40 cultural events, ranging from music and theatre to film and traditional dance, to the Mediterranean city.

    The music programme promises a vibrant line-up with concerts by an array of established singers and musicians from Egypt and the region, from opening act Marcel Khalife to Soad Massi closing the festival, from independent rock and fusion bands to jazz, folklore and orchestral music.

    The festival will be topped with several film screenings and plays

    Events take place across a variety of venues at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria. Events start at 8:30pm unless otherwise noted.

    Friday 29 July
    Marcel Khalife (Lebanon)
    Great Hall

    Saturday 30 July
    Basata band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Sunday 31 July
    El Nafeekha band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Monday 1 August
    Kathakali dance (India)
    Open Air Theatre

    Tuesday 2 August
    Samaei band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Wednesday 3 August
    Eftekasat band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Thursday 4 August
    Faia Younan (Syria)
    Open Air Theatre

    Friday 5 August
    Hani Shaker (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Saturday 6 August
    Concert conducted by Selim Sahab (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Aqsa Alwasat band (Egypt)
    Small Theatre

    Sunday 7 August
    ‘Music from here’ concert with bands Soot Fel Zahma and Wasla (Egypt)
    concert in cooperation with Goethe Institute in Alexandria
    Open Air Theatre

    Monday 8 August
    Music concert
    Open Air Theatre

    Tuesday 9 August
    Folkloric bands from Nubia and Sudan
    Open Air Theatre

    Wednesday 10 August
    Boghdadi band performs jazz music (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Thursday 11 August
    Fouad and Mounib (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Friday 12 August
    Black Theama band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre, 9pm

    Saturday 13 August
    Ali El Haggar (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Birthday of a Marionette: Theatre dance (Egypt)
    Director and choreographer: Mohamed Abdel Sabour
    Small Theatre, 8pm

    Sunday 14 August
    Massar Egbari band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Jazz music (Slovenia)
    Small Theatre, 8pm

    Monday 15 August
    Ali El-Helbawy (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Tuesday 16 August
    Omar Khairat accompanied by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Orchestra (Egypt)
    Great Hall

    Wednesday 17 August
    Omar Khairat accompanied by the Bibiotheca Alexandrina Orchestra (Egypt)
    Great Hall

    Thursday 18 August
    The Jets Band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Friday 19 August
    Qarar Ezala band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    A play for children (Egypt)
    Small Theatre, 7:30pm

    Saturday 20 August
    Bibliotheca Alexandrina Orchestra conducted by Khaled El-Showeikh (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    A play for children (Egypt)
    Small Theatre, 7:30pm

    Sunday 21 August
    The Wave Jazz band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Monday 22 August
    Sheikh Alzain (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Tuesday 23 August
    Karakeeb band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Wednesday 24 August
    Ahmed Al Haggar (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Thursday 25 August
    Two bands: Storm and Zajel (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Friday 26 August
    Rima Khcheich (Lebanon)
    Open Air Theatre

    Star of Orient: a theatre play for children (Sweden)
    Small theatre, 7:30pm

    Saturday 27 August
    Sound of Egypt orchestra conducted by Ahmed Atef (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Star of Orient: a theatre play for children (Sweden)
    Small theatre, 7:30pm

    Sunday 28 August
    Music from Here concert with bands Telepoetic and Disorder (Egypt) in cooperation with Goethe Institute in Alexandria
    Open Air Theatre

    “Five short films in four days” – screening series of films by Egyptian filmmakers
    Day 1: Screening of Aida by Maysoun El-Masry
    Film duration: 20 mins
    Screening will be followed by discussion with the director
    Auditorium hall, 8pm

    Monday 29 August
    Andromida band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    “Five short films in four days” – screening series of films by Egyptian filmmakers
    Day 2: Screening of Sunflower Lane by Mayye Zayed
    Film duration: 14 mins
    Screening will be followed by discussion with the director
    Auditorium hall, 8pm

    Tuesday 30 August
    Hanan Madi performs with the Sound of Egypt orchestra conducted by Ahmed Atef (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    “Five short films in four days” – screening series of films by Egyptian filmmakers
    Day 3: Screening of Tree (10 mins) and ‘Tashkeel’ (12 mins) by Mohamed Mostafa
    Screenings will be followed by discussion with the director
    Auditorium hall, 8pm

    Wednesday 31 August
    Bands High Dam and Mina
    Open Air Theatre

    “Five short films in four days” – screening series of films by Egyptian filmmakers
    Day 4: Screening of Har Gaf Sayfan by Sherif El Bendary
    Film duration: 30 mins
    Screening will be followed by discussion with the director
    Auditorium hall, 8pm

    Thursday 1 September
    Cairo Celebration Choir conducted by Nayer Nagui (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre, 9pm

    Friday 2 September
    Family day across many spaces of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina with activities targeting the youngest audience members and whole families

    Saturday 3 September
    Tania Saleh (Lebanon)
    Open Air Theatre

    Sunday 4 September
    Palestinian folklore band
    Open Air Theatre

    Until Proven the Opposite: A play (Egypt)
    directed by Mohamed Osama Ata
    Small Theatre, 8pm

    Monday 5 September
    Traditional music from India
    Open Air Theatre

    Until proven the opposite: A play (Egypt)
    directed by Mohamed Osama Ata
    Small Theatre, 8pm

    Tuesday 6 September
    Shawarena band (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Crazy Accident: A play (Egypt)
    written by Lenin El-Ramli and directed by Yasmine Saeed
    Small Theatre, 8pm

    Wednesday 7 September
    Mohamed Mohsen (Egypt)
    Open Air Theatre

    Thursday 8 September
    Soad Massi (Algeria)
    Open Air Theatre

    (english.ahram.org.eg)

  • The Decimation of Alexandria’s Architectural Heritage

    The Decimation of Alexandria’s Architectural Heritage

    ΑλεξάνδρειαIn 2012, the civil group Save Alex took a stand in the streets of Alexandria, calling to save the Cicurel Villa in the ancient city’s Rushdy district. The group’s work resulted in a law that should have protected the building. But last week, the villa built by a Jewish-Turkish merchant in the 1930s was knocked down anyway.

    Since its foundation in 331 BC, each era has left its beautiful print on Alexandria’s architecture. The city’s streets are lined with Greek, Roman, English and Italian works of art. But these villas and palaces are now being demolished, taking away from Alexandria’s history, one after the other.

    The 1920s Modernist Agion Villa used to draw French, Italian and other foreign tourists to marvel at and study it. Brought down three months ago, the villa is to be replaced by a touristic residential tower. A few days after the Cicurel Villa incident, the much-loved Al-Salam Theatre, was also bulldozed for a TOLIP franchise hotel.

    “One of the most bizarre self-defeating trends in Alexandria is the idea that you can destroy historical buildings so you can build … hotels in their place. If this logic is followed through, where do tourists and visitors who stay in these hotels end up going for sightseeing? To go look at other hotels?,” said Amro Ali, a PhD scholar writing about Alexandria’s urban politics.

    Surrounded by trash and left to rot, it is feared many other sites face demise.

    “Owners care about the properties’ monetary value rather than their touristic or cultural value to Alexandria,” said Mohamed Mehaina, deputy director of AlexMed and member of the Heritage Preservation Committee at the Biblioteca Alexandrina.

    Under law 144 of the year 2006, “It is prohibited to demolish or add to any building of significant architectural style related to national history or a historical figure, a building that represents a historical era, or a building that is considered a touristic attraction.”

    To define this, AlexMed compiled a legal Heritage Preservation List in 2007. But owners seek to remove their properties from the list, either to dodge restrictions over them, or to sell or demolish the property, usually through filing a lawsuit. Forty-seven pieces of property have been dropped from the list through adjudications, and since 2009, 14 were knocked down, according to Mehaina.

    On the Alexandria corniche lies the locked up and neglected Sabahi Palace. With the area of 3000 meters squared, the site is worth EGP 300 million. Also on the heritage list is Princess Aziza Fahmy’s 15,000 meter property, valued at EGP 435 million. Despite their ‘protected’ status, these buildings are also under threat.

    The owners of Villa Ambron, the former home of British author Lawrence Durrell where he wrote the Alexandria Quartet, want to knock it down. The owner of Roman neo-classic Qerdahi Palace asked to be excluded from the heritage list.

    “The problem is that the state does not provide compensation,” Mehaina believes. In other countries, businesses receive a tax relief on buying historical property as compensation for saving heritage, which is why investors run to put money in such properties, the architect said.

    Alexandria’s oldest street, Fouad, said to be the first planned street in history, is under threat. Crowned by Muhammed Ali’s opera house on one side, and his cultural palace on the other, all the buildings’ details are very rare, said Hassan.

    “There is a harmony between the buildings, even if not built with the same elements and techniques,” stated Ahmed Hassan, founder of Save Alex. Each time a historical building is brought down, Fouad’s skyline is damaged further. New buildings ruined the visual perspective, whether because of height or architecture style, explained Mehaina.

    Blacklisted in the hearts of those who care about Alexandria’s heritage, one company, Stanly, buys buildings and demolishes them, among which was the famous Rialto Cinema.

    Meanwhile, another company called Sigma buys such historical landmarks to preserve, develop and reutilize them. While a branch of Roastery restaurant was set up in Fouad with not attention to harmony with heritage, Sigma redeveloped L Passagefood hall with more consideration.

    “[Sigma] is somehow treating the buildings more sensitively,” Hassan said.

    Speaking of the role of civil activity, Mehaina said that “… we are struggling [against the demolition of heritage], but we are not executives,” adding that heritage committees, NGOs, and demonstrations are held to fight for the cause, as well as awareness campaigns and documentation.

    Legislation, strict application of law and a heightened sense of awareness need to come together to salvage the remaining sites that have witnessed how Alexandria came to be.

    (egyptianstreets.com)

  • First-ever legal bid for return of Elgin Marbles to Greece thrown out by European Court of Human Rights

    First-ever legal bid for return of Elgin Marbles to Greece thrown out by European Court of Human Rights

    Μάρμαρα ΠαρθενώναThe first-ever legal bid to force the UK to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece has been thrown out by the European Court of Human Rights.

    The court ruled that because the alleged theft of the sculptures from the 2,500-year-old Parthenon temple took place more than 150 years before the UK signed up to the human rights convention, it did not have the power to consider the lawsuit.

    Campaigners for the return of the sculptures pointed out that the court had not made a ruling on the “merits of the case”.

    The marbles were taken from the temple by the Earl of Elgin in the 1800s and he then sold them to the British Government in 1816 after running into financial difficulties.

    At the time, Greece was occupied by the Ottoman Empire. Lord Elgin obtained a “firman”, a legal document, that apparently allowed him to take some stones but some believe it did not entitle him to cut sculptures from the building.

    The marbles are regarded as some of the finest sculptures ever created and the Parthenon, built by the democratic Athenians after victory over the Persian Empire, is arguably the most important monument in Europe.

    The Greek Government was given extensive legal advice from lawyers Amal Clooney and Geoffrey Robertson, but appears to have decided against taking Britain to court.

    Instead, the case against the UK was brought by the Athenians’ Association, a cultural group, after the British Government refused an offer last year by Unesco to mediate between Greece and Britain.

    The British Government and the British Museum, where about half the surviving Parthenon sculptures are on display, insist the Earl of Elgin acquired them legally.

    In its ruling, which was sent to the Athenian Association last month, the European court said: “The Court notes that the marbles were removed from Greece in the early 19th century. 

    “In order to bring the matter within the temporal jurisdiction of the Court, the applicant has sought to rely on the refusal of the United Kingdom to enter into mediation with Greece concerning the return of the marbles and the continuing refusal to return the marbles. 

    “However, it is clear from the nature of the applicant’s complaints that its underlying grievance is the allegedly unlawful removal of the marbles from Greece. The removal having occurred some 150 years before the Convention was drafted and ratified by the respondent state, the applicant’s complaints would appear to be inadmissible.”

    The judges also said the Athenians’ Association did not have “any right … to have the marbles returned to Greece”.

    The Athenians’ Association’s legal representative, Vassilis Sotiropoulos, said the case was a “first step”.

    He claimed the judgement could actually help the Greek Government take legal action in the future.

    “Globally, this first statement of the European Court, historically the first court judgement, on the subject of the Parthenon Marbles highlights the points that Greece should focus on with particular attention in her recourse against the United Kingdom,” Mr Sotiropoulos said.

    “This decision leaves open the possibility of a recourse submitted by Greece being proclaimed admissible, thus also indirectly offering precious expertise on how to handle the case henceforth.”

    Andrew George, of the British Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, said the ruling did not affect the arguments in favour of sending the sculptures back.

    “We’ve learned nothing from this. There’s been no test of the merits of the case, just that this is not the arena to resolve the justice or otherwise of the case,” he said.

    “The UK Parliament effectively state-sanctioned the improper acquisition of the sculptures exactly 200 years ago this year. 

    “But this doesn’t make it a cause of pride for the British, nor does it make the act nor their continued retention either ethical or just.”

    On 10 July, a cross-party group of MPs launched a Bill to return the sculptures to Athens, where the Acropolis Museum was built specifically to house them within sight of the Parthenon.

    The British Museum argues that it “tells the story of cultural achievement throughout the world, from the dawn of human history over two million years ago until the present day”.

    “The Parthenon Sculptures are a vital element in this interconnected world collection. They are a part of the world’s shared heritage and transcend political boundaries,” it says.

    “The Acropolis Museum allows the Parthenon sculptures that are in Athens (approximately half of what survive from antiquity) to be appreciated against the backdrop of ancient Greek and Athenian history. The Parthenon sculptures in London are an important representation of ancient Athenian civilisation in the context of world history.”

    (www.independent.co.uk)

  • FOSTEr-ing solar technology in the Mediterranean area: an EU success story completed in Egypt through the FOSTEr in MED Project

    FOSTEr-ing solar technology in the Mediterranean area: an EU success story completed in Egypt through the FOSTEr in MED Project

    ΓενικάThe project for foresting solar technology in the Mediterranean region, FOSTEr in MED, was completed at a cost of €4.5m, and financed by the European Union (EU) through the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument – Cross Border Cooperation Programme (ENPI CBC MED).

    In 2007, the European Council adopted ambitious targets to shift climate and energy sources by 2020. This comes as part of a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%─or even 30%, if conditions are favorable─, increase renewable energy production to 20%, and improve energy efficiency by 20%.

    The FOSTEr in MED project aims to find solutions between theories and practices in the solar energy sector, transferring the accumulated experiences through training, and distributing specialised architectural integration instructions.

    The programme worked on bridging the gap between theory and practice in the solar energy field by transferring competencies and providing training. The support includes setting guidelines to achieve the architectural integration of solar energy technologies and the implementation of pilot projects within the framework of best practices. The programme helped in preparing a common theoretical approach in the field of renewable energy, and in the establishment and development of local communities, including local authorities, universities, research centres, commerce chambers, and representatives of SMEs.

    FOSTEr in MED encouraged the promotion of innovative solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies in the Mediterranean region. This project embraces a multi-layered strategic approach through the participation of local stakeholders, so as to ensure a multiplier effect (in terms of results) of the project’s activities in the Mediterranean Sea region, and then publish and transfer these results both outside the boundaries of the partnerships and after the project is completed.

    The project is characterised by a strategic approach that aims to influence the different layers of civil society. It also has a committee of experts and a Technical Scientific Committee (TSC) that consist of individuals and experts from the Mediterranean countries, coming from universities, research centres, the private sector, and institutional sectors.

    Salma El-Sahhar, the project manager of the FOSTEr in MED project at the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (CEEBA), said that in the course of the past three years, the project has promoted the adoption of innovative solar PV technologies in the Mediterranean area and exploited the potential of solar technologies through the transfer of technical knowhow to those involved in the sector (small- and medium-sized enterprises, engineers, students). It also identified the best practices in the policy and regulatory fields, and the implemented five pilot projects aiming to equip public buildings with innovative solar PV plants. One of these buildings is that of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, the first.

    The Alexandria Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria is one of the five public buildings and the first Mediterranean chamber to be solar-equipped, hosting the innovative solar PV plants, and testing different technological solutions and architectural integrations. The other buildings selected to be part of the project are: Balqa college in Aqaba, Jordan; the Lebanese University Campus in Hadat in Beirut, Lebanon; the Centre National de Formation de Formateurs et d’Ingénierie de Formation (CENAFFIF) in Tunis, Tunisia; and the Regional Agency for the housing construction industry (AREA) in Cagliari, Italy.

    El-Sahhar added that Onera Systems has completed the installation of a solar power plant at the Chamber of Commerce in Alexandria through the FOSTEr in MED project with a total peak power capacity of 13.72 kWp, a yearly energy yield of 19,813 kWh, and an annual  CO2 emission reduction of 11 tonnes.

    The PV is integrated in the building, intercepting the direct heat radiation on the roof where 56 coloured modules have been installed to match the building’s architectural design.

    She further added that the funding of the FOSTEr in MED project, which aims to promote solar technology in the Mediterranean region, came within the first call to establish strategic projects and promote environmental sustainability. The project aims to contribute to transferring knowledge and technology in the field of solar energy to the Mediterranean region through cross-border cooperation.

    The project educated at least 3,500 students from 60 schools, and 350 citizens about solar energy technologies, prepared at least six sheets of public policy proposal, and implemented five projects with a capacity of 85 kW (about 17 kW per station).

    Kamelia Youssef, the technical expert of FOSTEr in MED, said that the project aims to educate and apply. The educational side includes educating school and university students about the integration architecture of solar energy, while the application side comes through implementing a project to identify the importance of solar energy more clearly.

    She stated that solar panels can be installed on buildings’ windows in order to produce electricity and protect buildings from high temperatures.

    According to Youssef, three training sessions were held. The first session trained graduate students of engineering colleges and institutes from Cairo, Tanta, and Alexandria about the architectural integration of solar energy. It lasted for six days. The second session taught technicians and workers how to install, operate, and maintain solar plants throughout six days. The third session trained designers on solar energy programmes.

    Youssef said that the application side of FOSTEr in MED included the launch of a solar energy plant project with a capacity of 13.7 kW, producing 20,000 kWh annually at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce building.

    The partnership project is composed of different research institutions, public administration, and representatives of private sector, including the University of Cagliari in Italy, the Association of the Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) in Spain, the Promotional Services Centre for enterprises (CSPI) in Italy, the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (CEEBA) in Egypt, the Industrial Research Institute (IRI) in Lebanon, the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) in Jordan, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tunis (CCI Tunis) in Tunisia.

    (www.dailynewsegypt.com)

  • The Ark of the World: A Superbrand of Love and Solidarity

    The Ark of the World: A Superbrand of Love and Solidarity

    Κιβωτός του ΚόσμουIt was 1998 and a young orthodox priest who had just received his ordainment in the parish of Agios Georgios Church in the area of Kolonos-Attica, felt the need to reach out to his community by giving a second chance to children who were living under conditions of total negligence and abandonment.

    Back in the late ‘90s that particular area of western Attica was one of the most difficult regions to live in, troubled by cases of drug trafficking, gang crime and social exclusion mainly for the young.  For the 27 year old Father Antonios Papanikolaou, this was the ideal place to take action. “I was watching from my window, young abandoned kids, involved in drugs and completely wretched. I started wondering what could I do to help them? At first, it started with a group of young adolescents. I approached them and asked them to join me at a basketball game… I sat down and listened to them, I accepted them exactly like they were. I realized that my flock was out and not inside the Church”,he explains in one of his interviews and underlines that by joining these children in their space, their home, the neighborhood square or the field, he saw their positive features emerging through sports and tournaments. “When someone is that desperate, like they were what can you really tell them? That Christ will save them? They will not pay attention”, sites the active priest who soon realized that in order to make a difference to the lives of these children, he needed to create a safer place for them, where they would be nurtured and loved. At first he used his own home. And when that space proved too small, he rented another space, an abandoned cafeteria, where he was able to receive the growing number of socially excluded children who were daily experiencing abandonment, indifference and racism. The “Ark of the World”, a Non-Profit Organization for the Special Care and Protection of Mothers and Children, was thus born, in order to create programs of support with an ultimate goal to help the children of the area return to school and complete their education.

    Father Antonios did not have a specific plan in mind, when he set the whole project in motion. “One thing led to another. The children were sick. So we said, we need to cook in one corner (of the shelter) and teach them in the other corner. Then the homeless came in, so we put beds. Then we built bathrooms so that the children could bathe and one thing led to another”. As soon as people started getting acquainted with the work of the young priest, they gradually joined his cause by volunteering to the work of “The Ark”, teaching the children, cooking for them or bringing them clothes, shoes and toys. But from the very beginning, the message was that “The Ark of the World” was a place for everybody, regardless of ethnicity or religion. It was through the relentless work of Father Antonios that his community was persuaded to accept and support immigrants and not exclude them or marginalize them. “How can a refugee survive unless you educate and help him find his way? He will be otherwise forced to steal! I approached the immigrants’ and refugees’ children and explained them the history of our fathers and grandfathers…. We know what the words “refugee”, “racism” and “death” mean. If everyone took action in his neighborhood we wouldn’t be facing this huge problem with foreigners who cannot leave the country and are pushed into the margins of society! So, we can either lock ourselves inside our homes or help them stand on their feet!”

    Despite the numerous difficulties and adversities, Father Antonios remains optimistic and never loses his hope and dedication to his goal: to always find ways to help as many children as possible! With the support of numerous volunteers, they are providing today help to approximately 500 children from Greece and abroad, aged as young as infants to 18-year-olds, making the centre of Athens a community of compassion and love. The Ark offers food to 1.300 people on a daily basis (mostly homeless mothers with their children, including refugees and non-refugees) and meets the needs of children for their education as well as clothing, footwear, medical and dental care through the work of volunteers. There are also teachers and instructors who organize workshops for ceramics, hagiography, computing, foreign languages, folk dances and learning of musical instruments, among other things.  

    The focus remains largely to the aid and support of mothers who struggle from cases of abuse, abandonment and poverty. They are given the opportunity to place their children to the daily care of “The Ark of the World” and at the same time they can receive financial aid to pay their bills and rent.  The ultimate goal is to help them stand on their feet and be able to provide for their children in full. Since 2012, “The Ark of the World” has added more actions to its work of solidarity: a renovated three storey building in Piraeus has been operating as a guest house for unaccompanied children, a “social grocery” serves 200 families on a daily basis and during the last two years, “The Ark of the World” has been operating a centre at Pogoniani Ioanninon in the region of Epirus and another one in Chios island, including an agricultural school and a boarding school for the children. 150 children in total are sheltered in Athens, Piraeus, Epirus and Chios.

    Ever since its establishment, “The Ark of the World” has received numerous awards and distinctions in Greece and abroad. This year, “Suberbrands” a prestigious international organization operating in Greece since 1995 which identifies on a yearly basis the country’s strongest brands, has selected “The Ark of the World” as a “Superbrand ” in the section Non Governmental Organizations, out of 68 candidates.

    As once Father Antonios said: “volunteerism is a tangible action of love and therefore shouldn’t be awarded”. So the work of solidarity and love continues through his relentless efforts, combined with the work of volunteers and donors who support the mission of “The Ark of the World” in protecting, supporting and spreading love to children and mothers in need.

    (www.greeknewsagenda.gr)

  • Open Air-Cinemas – a breath of magic under the Greek starry skies

    Open Air-Cinemas – a breath of magic under the Greek starry skies

    ΑθήναWhether you are in the Greek capital this summer or enjoying your vacation in the countryside, there is a longstanding summer tradition all over the country to spend the evenings at an outdoor cinema, while having a drink under the stars, with a soft summer breeze and the scent of bougainvillea and jasmine filling the air. Athenian summer cinemas bring back unforgettable memories of summer nights surrounded by potted plants, gravel under the feet of the audience and water fountains. Occasionally a cat strolls in front of the movie screen and songs from loud speakers are filling the gaps during the intermission. This unbelievable atmosphere is combined with the freedom of outdoor smoking, the waning moon, the illuminated windows of the surrounding houses and youngsters who watch free of charge from their balconies.

    The first summer cinema opened in Greece in the early 1900s. The tradition became popular all over the country and especially in Athens before the war when silent movies became talkies, one of the most affordable means of entertainment. Then, during the heyday of Greek tourism in the 1960-1970s, there were as many as 700 open-air theaters in Greece (600 of them in Athens), that is five times more than today. This reduction is mainly due to the challenges posed by the digital age in combination with the current financial crisis.

    Fortunately, some open- air theaters persist and survive, keeping the magic alive. In Athens, there are many open air cinemas all over the city, including in the middle of heavily built up areas, on rooftops and in enclosed courtyards. Athenians are, thus, spoilt for choice when it comes to summer cinemas with at least one at every neighborhood. Around 15 are located in Athens downtown welcoming cinephiles who want to watch the reruns of movies from the winter or classical movies that appeal more to the wider public.

    Specifically, one of the oldest open-air cinemas in Athens, located in the Thisseion area, is ZefyrosOutdoor Cinema, with its two red velvet curtains at the entrance symbolizing an unashamedly unmodernized reverence for cinematic tradition. Close by, in Plaka area, one can find Cine Paris which is operating since the 1920s and Cine- Thisseion which is offering the best direct view to the Acropolis and has been ranked by CNN among the top movie theaters in the world. A little further up, just few steps from Syntagma Square, Cine Aegli in Zappeion provides the perfect setting for a cinema night, perfectly combined with a stroll through the beautiful Zappeion garden and a drink at the luxury Aegli Bar. In close proximity, located on Dexamenis Square in Kolonaki, you can find one of the oldest cinemas in Athens Dexameni just up the hill.

    For something more alternative, one can visit Riviera cinema, situated in a scented garden in the Exarheianeighborhood or the legendary rooftop cinema VOX, frequented by local actors and artists– famous for its love of the Hitchcock oeuvre and for showing European and arty films true to the intellectual character of the district. Other charming options include Cine Psiri, situated in the quarter of Psiri -one of the most artistic areas of Athens- and the open-air cinema operating on the roof of the Greek Film Archives premises at Lais, Kerameikos, a new culturally growing neighbourhood in Athens. It’s also worth mentioning Cine Palas, one of the oldest cinemas in the district of Pangrati, complete with art-deco interior and red velvet armchairs, as well as a second, open-air venue on the rooftop, notable for quality movies and a ticket option which allows you to watch three movies for an unlimited period of time.

    Last but not least, cinephiles who want to enjoy their favorite movies under the clear starry skies of a Greek island, no problem! There are many islands in Greece that offer movie magic under starry nights. Among them is the party island of Mykonos with its famous Cine Manto which has been rated by the British newspaper “The Independent” as one of the best open-air cinemas in the world. Another famous island is Santorini with Cine Kamari, a charming venue that was created in 1987 to host various cultural events, including concerts, art exhibitions and theater plays.

    (www.greeknewsagenda.gr)

  • Planning a trip to Athens? Just use your phone and start booking!

    Planning a trip to Athens? Just use your phone and start booking!

    ΕλλάδαFor all of you planning to visit the city of democracy, theatre, philosophy, gastronomy and endless fun, the process just got easier than ever! In just 3 steps and with the use of your mobile phone, your journey to Athens is settled via an innovative new platform. Trip2Athens.com is an online tool that allows visitors to plan their journey to the Greek capital from the moment of their departure all the way to their return without paying any commission fees! The platform is designed both for consumers and businesses and the project is backed by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and financed through European funds by the city of Athens.

    This new and fun platform allows visitors from all over the world to be in complete charge of their journey, by offering them endless possibilities in selecting their means of transportation, accommodation, sightseeing and entertaining. It is based in two pillars: multilingualism (its content is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Chinese) and accuracy of information, but its biggest strength (especially for professionals who want to register with the platform) lies in the use of the same technology tools that big international hotel chains are using today for their bookings. With a database of 470 hotels and more than 2000 tourist businesses, this user friendly tool has endless things to offer.

    For example, as soon as one decides to organize a trip to Athens, the platform offers suggestions for which archaeological walks to follow, combined with visits to landmark sites, activities and shopping tripsto the famous commercial streets of the city.  Obviously the section dedicated to gastronomy and wine tasting is more than indulging and it is worth mentioning that all foodies will be more than satisfied to use the up-to-date information (there are search, filter and sort tools available to make the experience even more fun and simple) in order to discover the best places to taste traditional Greek and Mediterranean cuisine or the work of awarded chefs, but also visit some of the most famous wine bars and beer houses of the city! The entertainment continues with a list that includes bars, clubs and music halls for all tastes and preferences, but it would not be complete without the section uncovering the emerging and internationally acclaimed scene of street food in the Greek capital!

    Back to technology and the fun continues. Visitors are offered the possibility to create a virtual diary of their journey to Athens, share it with friends via social networks and upload it on their mobiles through available apps so that all the information about the trip can be accessed and used at any time even when offline.

    All entrepreneurs and businesses related to tourism can join the platform at any time and without any cost. Besides hoteliers, any tourism business entrepreneurs can collaborate with the platform, free of charge, by simply logging in and creating a profile that allows them to upload up-to-date content regarding their business or seasonal offers and discount coupons, for which potential visitors will be immediately informed.  Contrary to other platforms, Trip2Athens.com allows for bookings to be made directly without charging commission. The project is set to continue its expansions to the rest of Greece and soon include all its tourism regions to its database. 

    (www.greeknewsagenda.gr)

  • Destination Dream Weddings in Santorini Trending as 2017 Bookings are Filling Up Fast

    Destination Dream Weddings in Santorini Trending as 2017 Bookings are Filling Up Fast

    ΓενικάCouples are flocking to the Greek island of Santorini for their destination dream wedding.

    With extremely reasonable prices, many couples find that they are actually able to save money by marrying on the picturesque volcanic island rather than in their home countries.

    As couples tie the knot overlooking the traditional style houses of the famous island and the sparkling blue waters of the sea below, they have found that their destination weddings are a dream come true.

    The island provides a vast variety of options for couples with different types of ceremonies, both civil and religious.

    Each season has seen a steady increase over the past few years. According to english.cctv.com, Ioannis Kavallaries, one of three legal wedding registrars on the island says that business is booming.

    “I’ve been involved with this for 20 years, since 1996, and started the weddings in Santorini. It started very slowly, with very few weddings but with the help of this beautiful view, it increased and now every year in Santorini we have more than a thousand weddings,” Kavallaries said.

    Couples planning to get hitched in 2017 should consider booking asap as Katerina Stamatelopoulo, the events manager at Venetsano’s Winery told english.cctv.com. Her terraces are fully booked throughout the 2016 season with weddings and parties.

    “For next year, we have booked 20 weddings already and we have requests for 40 more,” she said.

    (greece.greekreporter.com)

  • Greek Movie Ouzeri Tsitsanis in Shanghai International Film Festival

    Greek Movie Ouzeri Tsitsanis in Shanghai International Film Festival

    ΠολιτισμόςAs part of the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival, held on June 11-19, 2016, the Greek movie Ouzeri Tsitsanis by Manousos Manousakis was selected for the Spectrum section, which keeps track of global cinema screenings. On the evening of June 13, at Cathay Theatre, the Chinese audience (together with members of the local Greek community) had the opportunity to watch the movie and take part in a post-screening discussion with the director. 

    Based on a book under the same title by Giorgos Skampardonis, the film takes place in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1942-43. The city is under German occupation. A love story between a Christian and a Jew, forbidden in these times, is used to describe the brutality and irrationality of racial discrimination. Ouzeri Tsitsanis, a taverna the composer Vasilis Tsitsanis runs, provides refuge to the couple and is a source of hope for people. It is also the place where Tsitsanis composes some of his well known songs. The Chinese title of the movie, “fuyun biri” (浮云蔽日), literally means “floating clouds cover the sun” but was translated as “Cloudy Sunday,” probably to reflect the English meaning of the famous Greek song Sinnefiasmeni Kiriaki. 

    Mr. Manousakis pointed out that both Greece and China have long history and this brings them together. He was curious to see if the movie touched the Chinese, since its topic is not part of their history. Members of the audience asked the director what was his source of inspiration, if it was difficult to find funding due to the Greek economic crisis and what his impression of Shanghai was, among other questions. 

    This was the second Greek movie in the festival, which also hosted the film Invisible by Dimitris Athanitis. 

    (world.greekreporter.com)

  • Egyptian volleyball team promises better results at Rio 2016

    Egyptian volleyball team promises better results at Rio 2016

    ΑίγυπτοςAfter a disappointing performance at the FIVB World League competition, the Egyptian men’s volleyball team has promised better results at the Rio 2016 Olympics next month.

    The team won four matches and lost five in the competition. However, Sherif El-Shemerly and team captain Hossam Abdallah promised to do better moving forward, saying the team was not in its best shape at the World League.

    According to Kingfut, the coach stated that three factors contributed to the team’s poor performance.

    “First, Ahmed Afifi, who is a very important player, got injured. Second, our best player did not show his best in Korea. Third, four important players did not participate in this game,” said El-Shemerly. “We have only four weeks to prepare for the Rio Olympic Games. Although this is not enough time to solve the problems, we will decrease errors.”

    Egypt qualified to the World League among the top 24 teams in the 2015 World League, in which Egypt placed 21st. The team started off with a promising win against the Czech Republic, followed by a loss versus Canada, a win against China, then a defeat from Finland.

    Egypt also defeated Japan and Turkey, but lost its last three games to the Netherlands, South Korea and Czech Republic. This set Egypt in seventh place out of the 12 teams in Group 2, which was not enough for a spot in the finals that will include the top three teams in the group along with the host country.

    Still, the Egyptian players left the competition on a good note, with three of them among the top 20 scorers out of 137 players in Group 2. Ahmed El-Kotb is currently not only the highest scoring player in Group 2 but in the entire league, with 188 points. Additionally, Captain Hossam Abdallah is the second best server in Group 2, fourth in the competition. He is also the fifth best setter in his group, while Ahmed Abdelaal is the third best digger.

    As number 17 in the world and winner of seven African Championships, Egypt is the second highest-ranking African country after Tunisia, which is only one place ahead. Tunisia represented Africa in the World League alongside Egypt, while Qatar was one of seven Asian countries participating.

    Qatar and Tunisia both competed in Group 3, where they ranked sixth and eighth, respectively. When the teams met, Qatar won 3-1.

    Egypt booked its ticket to the Rio 2016 Olympic volleyball event after beating Tunisia in the final of the men’s African Qualification Tournament that took place in Congo. Tunisia gave another shot at an Olympic berth in the second World Qualifier in Mexico, but failed to seize it after finishing in third place. Nevertheless, the Tunisians are eight-time African champions and have participated in six volleyball Olympic events.

    The Egyptians are hoping to improve their performance in Rio 2016.

    “Congratulations to the Czech Republic. I think we played a full five-set match with Korea yesterday and the players felt tired. That is why we could not play well today,” said Abdullah, following the defeat against Czech Republic. “We are going to recover and show a good performance at the Rio Olympic Games.”

    Egypt will play against Poland on Aug. 7, Cuba on Aug. 10, Russia on the Aug. 11, Iran on Aug. 13 and Argentina on Aug. 15. It will proceed to the quarter finals if it ranks in the top four out of the six teams in its pool. This will be Egypt’s fifth Olympic volleyball participation, with a best finish of tenth place in Los Angeles 1984, when Tunisia ranked ninth.

    On the other hand, Qatar will make its Olympic volleyball debut this year at the beach volleyball event, to which Tunisia and Egypt are heading as well.

    (stepfeed.com)