The Greek run

It is not a good idea for Greece to leave the euro. But it is time to prepare for its departure

“GREXIT” is an ugly term for what may soon become an even uglier reality: Greece’s departure from the euro zone. As fury in Athens runs up against frustration with Greek recalcitrance in the rest of the European Union, the EU’s most troubled economy could be heading out of the single currency within weeks. If Greek banks suffer a mass run, as depositors withdraw euros for fear they will be forcibly converted into new drachmas, Greece’s fate could be settled even sooner.

Greece’s ascendant politicians, particularly Alexis Tsipras, leader of the radical left Syriza party, want to repudiate Greece’s rescue deal with its European and IMF creditors. The creditors, particularly Germany, are standing firm, rightly making clear that they will not be blackmailed into repeatedly rewriting bail-outs. If in fresh elections on June 17th the objectors have a majority, as the polls suggest, and if they renege on Greece’s bail-out deal, then the world will cut off the supply of rescue funds. It is hard to see Greece then staying in the euro.

Eirexit, Porxit, Spaxit and Ixit

There is already a whiff of inevitability about an outcome once deemed impossible. Central bankers now openly discuss the possibility that Greece may leave. As the impossible lapses into the inevitable, a growing chorus is arguing that it is even desirable. Advocates of an exit say that Greece would gain from a cheaper currency, and that the politics of forging a closer fiscal and financial union between the euro zone’s remaining members would be easier without a country that should never have joined in the first place. But it is wrong to pretend that a Greek exit is an easy or desirable outcome. Before it is too late, Greek politicians need to be honest about what an exit implies. And Europe’s politicians need to act far more boldly to protect the rest of the euro zone in case the worst happens.

The "famous" picture of Aris Messinis at Auction

On Tuesday 15 May, the House Christie's in New York organized "night photography and friendship" in honor of photographer Anton Chamerl, killed in Libya last year covering the conflicts in the Libyan city Bregu. Great photos will be auctioned by military conflicts in order to strengthen the family's finances Chamerl. 

Among the "famous" pictures to be auctioned will be found and impressive picture of "our" Mars Messina, who toured the world when it was published, documenting a dramatic way the absurdity of war. (Read more HERE) 

At auction will be donated photographs internationally renowned photojournalist such as Sebastiao Salgado, Alec Soth, Gilles Peress, Platon, Christopher Anderson, Ed Kashi, Yuri Kozyrev, Larry Fink, Lynsey Addario, Susan Meiselas, Ron Haviv, David Burnett, Joao Silva, Bruce Davidson, Samuel Aranda, Roger Ballen, and Vincent Laforet.

Aris Messinis (son of the great photojournalists D. Messina, who also has covered major international events and conflicts around the world), began his collaboration with the Associated Press in 1997.To 2003, he joined Agence France-Presse and since 2006 is the main photographer of the photo department of AFP in Greece.

Photos published in all major international newspapers and magazines such as The International Herald Tribune, The New York Times, the magazine TIME, the magazine Newsweek, Paris Match magazine and newspaper The Guardian.

Awards

Fotoweek DC Awards 3rd place (Portfolio Photojournalism / Social documentary) - 2011

Prix ​​International du Grand Reportage Sportif Francophone, First Prize - 2005

NPPA Best of Photojournalism Contest, 3rd place - 2005

EPPA Fuji Hellas first prize - 2005

Deadline Club of America Awards - 2002

Editor & Publisher photos of the year Award

Source in Greek

Game of Thrones in Real

A few wolves, and a dozen animals are living on private property in Stupino. The owner often walks them through the streets of this small town.

Blue Lake – unknown underwater world

These amazing pictures were taken by underwater photographer National Geographic Lyagushkin Victor, who accompanied the team of divers who explore the underwater system of caves in the Blue Lake, near the Caucasus.

A diver glides over the surface of the crystal clear blue lagoon under a tree in the Blue Lake in Russia.

Blue Lake is the deepest lake in the world of karst. Its length is 235 m, width – 400 m, and depth – 243 m Photo: Diver inspecting the wall, covered with bright green moss.

What can be done from the rock

What do you think you could make out of this rock?

Still, I can not help wondering the imagination of some people …

Most Beautiful Bays in the World

A bay is loosely defined as a body of water partly enclosed by land. Generally they have calmer waters than the surrounding sea and are a good place for ships to shelter from the weather. Also, bays are often very beautiful and represent unavoidable tourist attractions in the countries where they are located. This is our selection of some of the most beautiful bays in the world, enjoy the post.

Bay of Islands, New Zealand 

The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New Zealand. The picturesque area contains 144 islands, many secluded bays and some great sandy beaches. This beautiful bay has an abundance of marine life including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin. 

Also, this bay is a popular gathering place for sailing yachts on world cruises and international sport fishermen. The bay is also historically significant as it was the first part of New Zealand settled by Europeans.

Bay of Kotor, Montenegro 

The Bay of Kotor in south-western Montenegro is a winding bay on the Adriatic Sea. The bay, sometimes called Europe's southernmost fjord, is in fact a ria of the disintegrated Bokelj River which used to run from the high mountain plateaus of Mount Orjen. It is an important tourist attraction in Montenegro. 

The bay is composed of several smaller broad bays, united by narrower channels, formingone of the finest natural harbours in Europe. The bay inlet was formerly a river system. Very intensive tectonics and karstification processes led to the disintegration of this river. After heavy rain the famous waterfall of Sopot spring at Risan appears, and Škurda, another well known spring runs through a canyon from Lovćen (mountain).

Phang Nga Bay, Thailand 
Phang Nga Bay is a 400 sq km (154 sq mi) bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. Limestone cliffs with caves, collapsed cave systems and archaeological sites are found about Phang Nga Bay. 

Phang Nga is a shallow bay with 42 islands, comprising shallow marine waters and intertidal forested wetlands, with at least 28 species of mangrove; seagrass beds and coral reefs are also present. At least 88 bird species, including the globally threatened Malaysian Plover and Asiatic Dowitcher, can be found within the site, as well as 82 fish species, 18 reptiles, three amphibians, and 17 mammal species.

Souvlaki is still king despite crisis

Souvlaki, the undisputed king of Greece’s street food, has yet to feel the bite of the debt-wracked nation’s financial crisis.
Despite a steady drop in the country’s fast-food business since 2009, when the debt crisis started to unfold, the number of souvlaki joints, known among locals as “souvlatzidika,” has actually grown, Kathimerini understands.
Greeks reportedly consume an estimated 3 billion souvlakia, comprising small pieces of meat grilled on a skewer, every year. Greeks reportedly spend a total 2.5 billion euros on souvlakia per year.
Between 1992 and 2008, the local fast-food industry grew at an average of 15.2 percent each year as souvlaki, pizza and snack/sandwich shops proliferated and armies of food delivery bikes roamed city streets.
Recent figures released by ICAP show the economic crisis has caused an annual 4 percent drop in the sector. However, independent local outlets appear to be the most resistant to the downturn. Experts say success is mostly thanks to the small number of staff -- in most cases the owner plus a few family members -- which has allowed these businesses to maintain large profit margins. New souvlaki joints keep springing up, even in the relatively more expensive areas such as the capital’s central Kolonaki district.
Intense competition however does not seem to have come with better quality. The majority of outlets rely on a small number of suppliers and this inevitably leaves a uniform taste in the mouth, one businessman explains.
“In the past, souvlatzidika owners used to buy meat and prepare the gyros themselves. Now most of them buy the meat after it’s already been put on the stick or the spit,” the man, who asked that his name not be used, said. “About two dozen meat processing companies basically serve all of Attica. The taste will inevitably be uniform,” he said, adding that most of the pita bread and fries are readymade.
Economies of scale have had a similar impact on the local pastry business, as most cheese and spinach pies are prepared by a few wholesale bakeries. “Soon salads will also be subjected to the trend,” the businessman said.


Source
ekathimerini.com , Friday February 10, 2012 (22:58)  

We All Gone Be like F... Greece