cafebabel.com

Inner-city immigrant-city Athens: look Greek, look lively

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:39:48 -0000

A crisis can exacerbate a ‘them versus us’ feeling, especially with elections on the cards. Half a million undocumented immigrants* makes Greece one of the three European countries (alongside Spain and Italy) to be the first point of welcome for asylum seekers. Far right parties milk the 'foreigners-out' cow, whilst a general mood of mistrust reins

Rise of Turkish soap operas in Greece

('Krisztian Gal',) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:28:40 -0000

Has this positive phenomenon in Greek entertainment regarding multiculturalism increased due to the crisis? A wave of Turkish novellas seems to be bringing back more 'traditional values' that everyone can relate to via the small screen, regardless of the ancient antagonism between the two cultures

Forget environment! Cars rule the road in Athens

('Nicola Potter',) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:38:58 -0000

In Athens driving is quite frankly a way of life. Doctors and environmentalists sound the alarm, yet it’s the financial crisis that’s on everyone’s mind, while health and environmental issues take a backseat. Take a walk around the city, but don’t expect a breath of fresh air

Environmental art in Athens: art project for Kifissos river

('hkeet',) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:57:55 -0000

Whoever asks the Athenians about the Kifissos river hears mainly legendary tales, as Yvonne Senouf and Corinne Weber, the creative minds behind the international art platform MELD’s Project Nero, can testify. Their project for a vanished river aims to deal with urbanisation and pollution creatively

Indignant Athens: 'get your tax off my ass'

('Elina Makri',) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:57:42 -0000

I haven't been on the streets for about twenty years, but I can't stand this anymore. I decided to protest after many years because I cannot bare our politicians’ apathy for people’s problems. They just keep on slamming the taxes on us - and that’s all. If politicians really wanted to find solutions for the country they would. One indignant protestor speaks

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I: ‘Young people in Europe feel unsafe’

('Georgios Kokkolis',) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:57:11 -0000

He speaks seven languages, he’s down with the green cause and he’s the leader of the global orthodox movement which in Europe exists in the east, north and the Mediterranean, but he resides in Istanbul. Interview with the spiritual leader of 300 million worldwide. cafebabel.com in Athens and Istanbul meet the man

Monetary union and media stress: young Greeks and Germans debate

('Nabeelah Shabbir',) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:30:00 -0000

This month, Greece was announced to be suffering a eurozone deficit of 12% - the maximum is 3%. The German media has called them the 'deceivers of the euro-family'. The Greeks respond that they are hypocrites, holding them accountable for debts from 1945. Who wants whose diplomatic blood? We hear immediate reactions from the two sides

Wanna go out in Athens? Try the Gazi neighbourhood

('Aatish Pattni',) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:00:00 -0000

You could almost call it a phenomenon that has worked its charm on the Athenians over the years. Some of the prostitutes in the area even parade around in the latest fashions, like it’s some kind of catwalk

Greek islands: a new Eldorado for clandestine immigrants

('Helen Swain',) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:00:00 -0000

The influx of clandestine immigrants to Italy and Spain has drastically reduced; the eastern Aegean Sea has become the new destination for illegal migrants