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When Cambridge dethroned Harvard..

The second oldest university of Britain, namely Cambridge ( established in 1209) managed to be given the title of the best university in the world. According to the list of Quacquarelli Symonds, the british university overthroned Harvard, which used to hold the title for seven years...up to now..



The university of Cambridge


Yale took the third place, while the Top 10 had only universities from Britain and the U.S., such as the Imperial College, UCL, Berkeley, etc.
The University of Athens fell from the 177th to the 286 place, thus, leaving the club of the 200 best universities ..

The list was compiled by the academic reputation of institutions, research and the absorption of graduates into the job market. British and American universities have primacy mainly because most students around the world choose the English language to start or continue in post-graduate level their studies.

Certainly this is not enough to explain why the Greek universities remain riveted to low levels when the country has such a valuable scientific staff both within and outside Greece. It is time the Greek government to repatriate them and focus on research.

As it is known almost to everyone, the country produces almost nothing. Of course this is not necessarily bad if you focus only on services.

But if we decide to do only that, we have to do it well,  through quality and innovation. Universities should be evaluated and operate independently as are those in Europe and the U.S. in order for the country not to lose huge amounts from the''export''of students abroad. And the solution in such a direction is not by legalizing some colleges..


For the complete list see

http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/home


2,500 years from the battle of Marathon - Europe remembers

''Ελλήνων προμαχούντες Αθηναίοι Μαραθώνι χρυσοφόρων Μήδων εστόρεσαν δύναμιν
 The Athenians, as defenders of the Hellenes, in Marathon destroyed the might of the golden-dressed Medes''

Thucydides, II, 34

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Remember, remember the 6 of September..

It was characterised as the ''Second St. Bartholomew's night'' because of the wrath of the masses and the total destruction. After that night nothing was the same for the Greeks of Istanbul, the ''Constantinopolites''..

55 years after the ''September events'', Cafebabel Greece remembers and calls the whole of Europe to remember as well...

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Gruevski, the caricature of the Balkans

Can anyone imagine a country in the middle of a financial crisis to spend 500 million euros in order to build..colossal statues for its ''heroes'' in the middle of its capital city? Can you now imagine that despite all these, these ''heroes'' are the apple of discord between this country and its neighbors ? This is not an illumination nor a science-fiction scenario- its the reality in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), where Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is trying to cultivate to his people nationalist sentiments.

What is really odd in this, is that next to the statues of Goce Delchev and Dame Grueve, founders of IMRO,  and the statues of Saint Cyril and Methodius protectors of the Slavs, a prominent position in ''Macedonia'' square has been kept for the statue of Alexander the Great. The height of this statue will be equal to an eight-floor building!! The kitsch compilation will be surrounded by four colossal lions-protectors of the city.. 


The editor of SPIC newspaper in Skopje, mr. Branko Geroski, in his interview at Greek newspaper ''Kathimerini'' said that this plan is ''an expression of political hegemony of mr. Gruevski and his intention is to change the history, the society and the aesthetics of the country'', while he spoke of a ''De-Slavisation plan'' in order for the PM to win the elections.

What is now happening in Skopje is ''retarded nationalism''..Events like these, were common during the Willelmine Germany and Britain before World War I...maybe mr. Gruevski should join us in the 21st century and stop being a caricature of Kaizer...

with news from Kathimerini.

A Greek arc in Venice

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The secret agreement between Erdogan and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Before about a year, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the Büyükada island, next to Istanbul. He became the first Turkish prime minister who went there in order to visit the famous Orphanage. Mr Erdogan met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in a move that proved to be something more than symbolic. The Prime Minister of Turkey and the Ecumenical Patriarch then put the foundations of an informal agreement with mutual benefit. The first would open the door to meet demands of the Patriarchate, while the second would greatly improve the external testimony over the issue of religious freedoms, critical to Turkey's European perspective.

Athens welcomed the "positive steps" made by Ankara towards the Ecumenical Patriarchate and believes that Turkey moves to the "right direction", said Mr. D. Droutsas, after his meeting with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who firstly met with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu. On his part, Mr Bartholomew said after the meeting that the problems facing the Ecumenical Patriarchate "are being solved one after another, 'and spoke of" steady progress in the right direction on the part of the Turkish government. "

Observers of the "difficult relations" between Ankara and Fener (the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate) note that four were the key points of understanding between Mr. Bartholomew and Mr. Erdogan. They also promote the important role played by the intervention of U.S. President Barack Obama during his visit to Turkey in the spring of 2009.

The first issue concerned the acceptance of the Ecumenicity of the Patriarchate and non-interference in religious matters. Regarding this, very important was the statement of Mr Erdogan during his visit to Athens last May. "If it bothers me that the title Ecumenical Patriarch? Of course not. It didnt bothered my predecessors, my forefathers, why would annoy me?" was his answer to a question.

The second issue was the recognition of legal personality of the Patriarchate. Focal point is the actual acceptance by Ankara of the decision of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for the return of Büyükada Orphanage to the Patriarchate. Essentially, the ECHR has acknowledged with this decision the legal personality of the Patriarchate, which can own the property.

The third point was the government intervention in the matter of the election of a Patriarch. Ankara decided to grant the Turkish citizenship to members of the Holy Synod who do not have it, in order to facilitate the choice of a new Patriarch when it is needed (Turkish law requires the possession of the Turkish citizenship to elect a Patriarch).

The fourth and final point is the reopening of the Halki Theological School. This, according to diplomatic sources is a in Ankara and will sell it cheap. Already, however, Turkish officials have prepared the ground with their statements, and the recent exhibition which was organised in the School, since Istanbul is the cultural capital of Europe, has further increased expectations.

Source : To Vima (original in Greek, translation by Cafebabel Greece)

Satish Kumar : ''Europe needs an amount of Eastern Wisdom''

1962. More than 8000 miles of journey on foot from India to the capitals of the former Allies. Four bags of tea to be delivered to the leaders of nuclear powers : France, UK, USSR, USA. One message : “When you think you need to press the button, stop for a minute and have a fresh cup of tea”. Probably to most of us sounds like a farytale. For Katish Kumar is the story of his life..The author of 'No Destination',  a former Jain monk and later follower of Gandhi's movement talks to cafebabel.com about Europe, Greece, and gives another viewpoint to the ''clash of civilizations''. He insists that borders are not a solution and that West needs a little...oriental spirit.


How do you see Europe after actually walking  on this content? How do you feel? Have you seen any common things?



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The art of Theophilos in Athens for a unique exhibition

Probably most of our foreign friends do not know Theophilos. However his story and his paintings are crucial to understand Greece. If you find his story interesting and you find yourself in Athens from 15/9 to 30/10 pay a visit at the Benaki Museum and take a glance of his magnificent art.  
Theophilos was born in Mytilene, son of a cobbler and became self-taught painter. His art was ridiculed from the salons of his time,  which did not give proper attention to his works. Yet, Theophilos Hadjimichael, known as THEOPHILOS was to be recognized (naturally after his death in Greece) as the cornerstone of modern Greek painting. His art will receive the ''credentials'' of any artist of the 30's with artist- legends of the greek painting like Kontoglou and Tsarouchis to honor their great teacher of the authenticity and the masterpiece of his art.
Εrotokritos kai Aretousa

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Innovation, as a successful model in Greece

The Public Library of Veria (a small city in north Greece) awarded the prize in Learning Access «Access to Learning Award (ATLA)» by the Foundation Bill and Melinda Gates, accompanied by a cash sponsorship amount of $ 1,000,000, honouring the library as a successful model in Greece around the world.

The nomination of the Public Library of Veria was one of the three selected for the final evaluation phase by more than 250 nominations from around the world, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Education.

Veria Library

The annual award Access to Learning «Access to Learning Award (ATLA)» recognize the innovative efforts of libraries and similar organizations outside the United States providing free access to computers and to Internet. It is part of an international initiative of the Institute for libraries (Global Libraries Initiative), which is trying to make the world of knowledge, information and opportunities accessible to everyone, particularly to poor and disadvantaged people in developing countries helping the lives million people.

Veria Library

The Public Library of Veria met the requirements below set by the award:

- Developing a network of library and information services in the region of Veria and beyond.

- Giving more than 50,000 residents of Veria, and yet 130,000 people in the surrounding areas free access to computers and the Internet.

- Reaching people in remote rural areas through mobile library equipped with books and laptop computers.

- Emerging at the centre to meet and exchange ideas about the residents of the centre for creative expression and innovation.

- Finally, the Public Library of Veria focuses on young people in the department for children and adolescents, "the magic box, enabling access to knowledge and creativity of expression through new technology.

Veria Library

John Trohopoulos is the Director of the library, who also submitted the application. The awards ceremony was held in Gothenburg, Sweden.

SIEMENS TO BE TREATED AS A CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION

One of the two massive corruption political scandals at the moment in Greece is the illegal payments made by the German engineering giant, Sienens to greek politicians in order to profit from public contests and works.

In Spiegel we read: German investigators want to uncover the full extent of the Siemens bribery affair. The company has already admitted that between 1999 and 2006 as much as €1.3 billion ($1.8 billion) was spent on dubious payments. The company is thought to have resorted to bribery after its communications division had missed a series of industry trends and suffered from a collapse in overall demand.

And in DW- WORLD.DE: Prosecutors say industrial conglomerate Siemens spent some euro57.5 million illegally in Greece to win a contract with then-state owned telephone operators OTE 1997-2003. Greek officials are also investigating alleged corruption in deals between Siemens and the state involving security systems for the 2004 Athens Olympics.

What’s new on the case from the greek side is that the Supreme Court’s Prosecutor Valyrakis will pursue further criminal prosecution for Siemens as a criminal organization. His words ; « Siemens is making fun us ! »

A " criminal organization who acted against the Greek government, commiting fraud, repeatedly money laundering as well as active and passive bribery "...

POSIDONIA 2010, the world largest international maritime event.

A lot is being said about Greek economy lately, few people know though that Greece is the world leader in Shipping.

100_2094.JPG

Hellenic merchant shipping industry, holds the first place in the world industry of maritime transportations, with 15% G.R.T. capacity of the World Merchant Fleet and investments exceeding $2.1 bn dollars only in the four months of 2010.

2010Nasdaq.jpg The famous colourful landmark NASDAQ tower at New York's Time Square is already displaying the blue and white logo of Posidonia Shipping Exhibition 2010 in a gesture of support to the listed shipping companies.

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...and what about the Marbles???

Cafebabel.com Athens, launches e-campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles.


In few hours, the opening of the New Acropolis Museum is about to come. With this museum, Greece fulfills its promise to History. With this museum, the ancient treasures of Acropolis will be well- preserved for the generations to come. This museum, questions from now on, the validity of the British Museum's arguments, that Athens is incapable of protecting the Marbles. Cafebabel.com Athens, from today, announces an e-campaign in the form of debates over the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. And what about you? Are you for or against ? Send us your comments, so that we can spice-up the debate!

What's the meaning of voting on June the 7th?

Over the last weeks, the eu-elections are one of the top news in every european country no matter how the people really care. Here in Greece, the political parties announced their candidates almost two weeks after PM Karamanlis announced that the Parliament will end its sessions because of the european elections- a move which provoked a lot of discussion because of the corruption scandals which dominate the political life of the country. It is sad that in Greece, the european election race will be held based on the national agenda - nothing about Europe was said from the parties until now..Very few debates were organised up to now, so that nobody knows what each party represents about Europe. Within the Greek political system exist a consensus over Greece's position within the EU. Except of the Communist Party, no other party has ever questioned that it is for good that Greece participates to the Union, no matter the different visions over the european project that each party has. This phenomenon is not only apparent in Greece. A greater political consensus has been created in the european level as well. The two big political parties of the Union, the European Popular Party and the European Socialist Party are agreeing even to that point so they both want Jose Manuel Baroso to continue being the President of the European Commission. It is true that those big political coalitions do not seem to be that much different at all. After all, since the Reagan-Thatcher era, almost all the socialist parties which came to power, implemented liberal policies. ''So, what is the point of all this procedure ? '' I am afraid, that all these years, in order to boost up the unification process we' ve lost something much more important : to politicize the procedure. Despite the fact that the European Parliament was given a lot of powers over the last years- powers that will be much more important if the Lisbon Treaty is about to be implemented- the percentage of people who vote in the elections is diminishing. To conclude, is this 60% of Europeans who believe that their vote will result to nothing on June the 7th, a message to Brussels that something doesn't goes well ? I think that we are in a desperate need of MEP's that are able to understand so..

Hellenic Foreign Policy : ''Quo vadis''???

These days in Greece, there is a peculiar sentiment over President Obama's visit in Turkey. Athens believed that bilateral relations with the US will enter in a new era, something which is actually happening...in Turkey!
Therefore, the Greek Foreign Policy didn't know how to react to this american-turkish flirt. It is clear that Obama is trying to promote a new role for Turkey which seems to be the ideal example of a western muslim republic. After Obama's personal involvement in order to persuade Turkey to accept the Danish PM as the new NATO secretary general and the public support of the Turkish candidancy in the EU, the Turks welcomed Obama as a rock-star. Meanwhile, the Greek diplomacy managed to arrange a meeting between PM Karamanlis and President Obama one day before his trip to Turkey, during the NATO summit in Strasbourg - Kehl.
According to my point of view this was a child-like reaction of the Greek diplomacy : Greece realised that now the US dont regard that Turkey and Greece as a ''package'', which seems to be the reality. Greece is regarded as a European country- no matter it's ''peculiar'' characteristics and weaknesses. Apparently, Turkey is not treated that way : Turkey is a huge country, three times the size of Greece, inhabited by eight million people, which neighbours with the sensitive Middle East area and forms a mixture of a western- even weak- republic and the islamic tradition.
The US seem to believe that Turkey can have a key-role in the area, by being the model of the other islamic states.
The question which rises, is not what Turkey is doing in order to strengthen her position worldwide, but what Greece does or not in order to strenghthen its very own position. In most international fora, Greece has only issues of ''national importance'' in the agenda, meaning : Greco-turkish relations, the Cyprus issue and the name of FYROM.
On the contrary, when issues of international interest are on the top of the meetings, Greece doesn't seem to have a position, we just adopt the thesis of our partners. Even in the way we treat our national issues, we do so, by asking the foreigner to take a position in favor of our own ''lawful'', ''true'', ''rightful'' or ''historical'' demands. We are acting like if international fora were a Holy Synod or a meeting of Saints, where issues are solved according to the ''rights of God''. Unfortunately they are not like this, and we should finally understand that the world is not spinning around our national demands and rights. National issues are extremely important and we should give our best in order to promote them but when you have to face international problems like economic repression, climate change, Iraq, Darfur or nuclear weapons you have to have a position. In order to be ''one'' and not''someone'' you have to have a voice, you have to have proposals. You have to see the world, try to understand it and foresee your position within it in the future. This is foreign policy. Otherwise, you will wondering in every recognition of ''Macedonia'' or ''Nothern Cyprus'' or in every trip of every Obama in every Erdogan.

Greece: Asking for...hope!

I think it is clear, even to a foreigner, that what is happening these days in Athens remarks that ''en era is about to finish.'' The government of the country, in a desperate effort to proof that...exists, tries to take measures. It is clear from what happened that PM Karamanlis is incapable of taking any political initiative for the country to escape the crisis. This can be witnessed from the way Karamanlis is taking decisions. After 2 days of Athens being in flames, Karamanlis asked to see his ministers and the President of the Republic in order to find a way to handle the situation. These 2 days, the political parties of the Parliament weren't capable of making a single statement about what is currently happening in the country. These measures should have been taken earlier. The assassination of little Alex in Exarcheia was not the cause, it was just the occasion for a whole generation to protest. This generation was shot in Exarcheia... It is this generation, which is the most educated of all which work without insurance and labor rights for only 700 euros. ''This generation has to pay the bill for all the depths of the greek economy.'' The ruling class of our fathers, who protested against the military junta in 1974 asking for democracy, established a ''prime minister's dictatorship'' in the country. It is this generation, which burnt and continues to burn forests in order to build illegally, which practices corruption and is corrupted and which managed to gain all the labor right for itself. The country demands changes, our society demands changes! I refuse to accept that we stick to the so-called anarchists and we don't face the problem. Day after day, people are getting poorer, the prices are skyrocketing while the wages are the lowest within the EU. At the same time the political system of the country is full of corruption scandals between politicians and companies such as Siemens as well as real estate businesses, between the State and the Vatopedion Monastery... This government must resign not because a child was killed. It must resign because it failed to fulfill the demands of its citizens. It failed to protect their lives and their properties and because this government attested in the cruelest way, that we miss essential political proposals. So we ask for hope ... a new political approach is demanded. We ask for politicians who will make changes in the state, politicians who is about to implement real social policy. Furthermore, we want politicians who will be capable to find solutions for those Greeks who suffer from unemployment, poverty ... and believe me, we aren' talking about just one or two. It is a whole nation! We ask for politicians who end all the bribing and nepotism, who fight those Greeks stealing taxes, those who vote only because of their personal interest. These are not just people. It is our very own nature that we ask to fight. We ask for a leader, who will attack this bad side of us as citizens and as a state... So we ask for hope...

photo by courtesy of Mariana (murplejane/flickr)

Rioters burn and plunder Athens

The centre of Athens looks like a conflict zone, probably the worst seen in Greece since the restoration of democracy in 1974. Dozens of shops, banks, businesses and cars are being destroyed by the rioters on Athens main shopping streets and business centre. Incidents started on Saturday night, soon after an officer who was patrolling shot dead a teenager (Alexis Grigoropoulos) in Exarchia district, an area where they often take place clashes between self-styled anarchists known as “known-unknowns” and police. The circumstances surrounding the death are still unclear. According to the officer’s version of events, his vehicle was attacked by a group of some 30 people and he fired three times with his service gun (twice in the air and one on the ground) for self-defence. His version is contradicted by several witnesses who claim there was simply a verbal exchange between a small group of youngsters and the two officers who got out of their car to pursue the youths. The two officers have been arrested and charged with murder and illegal use of gun. In Athens, rioters set up burning barricades across downtown streets, hurled rocks and Molotov cocktails, torched the capital’s massive Christmas tree in central Syntagma Square, smashed windows, burned and robbed shops and ATM machines causing millions of euros worth damage. Massive riots spread across Greek cities and towns including Thessaloniki, Patra, Ioannina and Crete in the third day of rioting. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has called an emergency Cabinet Meeting Monday night and the Rector of the University of Athens has resigned.

photo: Third day of violence

Thousands of protesters battled police in central Athens, smashing the windows of shops and banks with Molotov cocktails, and sending three officers to hospital, said police, who used tear gas to disperse the rioters.

By courtesy of Mariana (murplejane/flickr)

The ''Banana Republic''...

Athens is on fire..Greece is on fire..and I am really afraid that nobody can bring an extinguisher..I feel really upset of what happened in Exarcheia. No matter if the child attacked or not to the policemen it is unacceptable for a policeman, who knows the sensitivity of this certain district, to shoot. No public force has the right to shoot any civilian, let alone a 15 year old child. If the child is regarded as a criminal then they arrest him..After all nobody believes that a bullet in the heart and and the stomach can happen by mistake. What is really important to me is first of all that the civil society, through blogs and through the facebook is fully aware of the event and want to react. However, those anarchists-who apparently seem to not know what their ideology is all about- for another time burn Athens and there are so many people, students, professionals and civilians who will pay for all this mess. The government and personally the PM Karamanlis are totally ABSENT and seem incapable of protecting the people who are in trouble. Also the rest of the political parties are also ABSENT and only after 48 hours later Papandreou (PASOK party) makes a statement. Our society demands changes, the political system of the country seems incapable (not to say dangerous) to handle the situation and we are waiting to see what is going to happen..The Hellenic Republic became the Banana Republic

Riots in Greece: Shame!!



Shame! This is what we felt all passers-by who witnessed yesterdays battle scene at the centre of Athens. Riots that have broken out after police shot dead a 15-year-old boy who tried to throw a firebomb (!) at a patrol car in Exarchia district. At least that seemed to be the motive-reason which I doubt facing myself the extent of the damages, the fires and the vandalism at the central streets, shops, banks and about 20 cars. Police responded by firing tear gas, evacuating some restaurants in the area, and closing several streets to all traffic. But what I don’t understand is the Government apology. Several hours after the incident, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the interior minister, apologized for the incident and expressed his sorrow for the death of the young boy. "There will be an exemplary punishment and measures will be taken so that such a thing will not be repeated", he said! But why there were no arrests? Why they leave those people hurling Molotov cocktails and vandalizing undisturbed businesses in central Athens? Who controls and organize those rioters? These are the concerns of the simple citizens like me, like the cab driver who took me home last night, of the terrified passers-by, forced to find their way out of the centre whispering “ok! Once again we are going to pay for all that” or the small business owners of the destroyed and burned shops and cars. Shame to the "professional" rioters, they loose the right –if they have any- over the public opinion who witnessed speechless such damages, such chaos and proving for once again how easy is to destroy than create and contribute to the society

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