01/11/19

[Maik]

Καλό μήνα

[Maik]

Organ donations rise by 30% in Greece

The Athens Medical Association (AMA) announced that organ donations in Greece have risen significantly, although the country still lags behind most European countries.

The announcement was made at a AMA function ahead of Friday’s national organ donation day, with AMA speakers noting that the average European country has 18 donors per million residents, while in Greece the ratio is 4.8 donors per million. In addition, the average waiting rate for a kidney transplant in particular is 6.5 years, with 60% of kidney patients dying before a transplant is found.

https://greekcitytimes.com/2019/11/01/organ-donations-rise-30-greece/

[Maik]

HELPE indicates possible existence of large gas field

Seismic research conducted by Hellenic Petroleum (HELPE), the country’s biggest oil refiner, has indicated the possibility of the existence of a large reserve of natural gas in Greece, similar to Egypt’s gigantic Zohr gas field in the Eastern Mediterranean.

If these indications are confirmed by drilling activities, then the potential quantities may be 280 billion cubic meters, which would be able to cover Greece’s needs for 70 years.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/245984/article/ekathimerini/news/helpe-indicates-possible-existence-of-large-gas-field

[Maik]

The Christmas advert season arrives on television screens

The Christmas ad season has arrived on television screens as retailers hope to end another difficult year with some festive cheer.

Big budget campaigns from Asda and Argos are screening from Friday and Saturday amid predictions by the Advertising Association that businesses will spend a record £6.8 billion on seasonal advertising in the UK during the final quarter of this year – up 4.7% on last year’s record.

https://www.itv.com/news/2019-11-01/the-christmas-advert-season-arrives-on-television-screens/


Give us a break! First Christmas we spent in Greece, around 2000, Christmas arrived in Spetses' shops - well, two shops, the others didn't make a fuss about it - mid-December. Prior to that the local charity had a jumble sale in the square in blazing sunshine with Christmas carols blaring out of a ghetto blaster. Over the years we noticed Greece getting more Westernised and Christmas ads - often for kids toys - making an inroad onto our TV screens. Oh well.

[expat]

It really annoys me that everything is starting early, at the beginning of October people were setting off fireworks! it frightened my cat so much that it climbed up the christmas tree!  

[Maik]

Greece passes asylum law aimed at curbing migrant arrivals
Opponents of legislation say it will severely curtail access to safeguards for asylum seekers

number of migrants arriving on its shores, despite mounting criticism it will curtail fundamental human rights.

The 237-page bill, entitled “international protection and other provisions”, has provoked the ire of human rights groups, aid organisations and opposition parties, who claim the law will severely restrict access to safeguards for asylum seekers.

They raised objections that the centre-right government had allowed only days to examine proposals that ordinarily would require months to consider.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/01/greece-passes-asylum-law-aimed-at-curbing-migrant-arrivals

[Maik]

Two passengers, aged 85 and 35 respectively, were yesterday midday transferred from the Crown Iris, the cruise ship at the centre of a security 'scare' when it docked in Argostoli recently, at sea northwest of Kef, by Coast Guard to Argostoli hospital due to their need for urgent medical attention. No more info available.