And it burns burns burns

If any of you caught some of my posts last summer you’ll probably remember me obsessing over the heat and global warming. Why would this year be any different right? Especially when I have to deal with one of the most severe heat waves ever recorded.
While northern Europe is being flooded by intense storms, these last couple of days we’ve recorded temperatures as high as 48 degrees Celsius, even surpassing Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh and making Athens the hottest city on earth on this day. This time, literally. I don’t believe I have ever felt this hot in my entire life. I mean ok, I had heard the weather forecasts and the news warning people not to get too much sun exposure and to take precautions to avoid dehydration but I just thought it was one of those alerts addressed to the elderly and people with respiratory complications but little did I know. I first realized how hot it was, when I stepped out of the office last evening and felt like I was breathing fire. I even felt my skin burning for the first time in my life while I could also sense the heat of the pavement on my feet. A choking atmosphere with an unusual smell of burnt... an altogether strange feeling which isn’t easy to describe. While meteorologists have announced that temperatures will drop a few degrees by next Friday, I can’t help to think that this is only the beginning of the summer. Are we to expect more heat waves this year? One thing's for sure, this is definitely going to be one hell of a summer.

Me and the City

In my continuous effort to catch up for this last month, I’ve decided to share a few moments / happenings in the city which were quite interesting. I'll begin with a show held in Syntagma Square by an Australian dance company named Strange Fruit, which as they describe it, combines dancing, theatre and acrobatics. It was an interesting little show, but nothing breathtaking in my opinion. I mean ok, I didn’t expect to see De La Guarda but I had heard that they were acrobats so I expected something more edgy. It was nice though, and given the fact that it was performed outdoors and at sunset made it even more enjoyable. (see pictures)




My next event is the Champion’s League finals between Milan and Liverpool. A reminiscent breeze of the Olympic Games had taken over the city with hundreds of tourists of any age and gender, celebrating in the streets with flags, chants and unfortunately an overdose of alcohol on a 24hour basis.. I will not get into details of things that I have seen happening in the streets but I will say this.. Some people are animals! I will be fair though and say without generalizing that among the two teams, it was Liverpool’s fans which from what I saw, were being more extreme. I understand the need to celebrate and the need to have fun but not to the extent where they are so wasted that they do some group pissing in broad daylight in the middle of Syntagma Square and in front of people and children.. And imagine that all this was happening prior to the final game.. such a shame.. but then again, it could have been worse right? :-)

Last but not least, the latest event I’ve attended to was last night’s Jazz Festival held in the much-loved Technopolis. Although I didn’t stay too long due to other commitments, I really liked the show and the whole feeling. Then again, what’s not to like when music is involved. I have promised myself that this year I will try to attend to as many concerts possible and I’m happy to say that there are many interesting acts coming our way this summer, some of which I have already bought my tickets.. I’ll keep you posted of course!

This one's for Amalia...

"Every patient has the right to being respected and maintaining his dignity."
(Greek law, article 47, L.2071/1992)

"Quacks should be the exception, you guys, not the norm…"
(Amalia Kalyvinou , 1977-2007)

Since the age of 8, Amalia Kalyvinou started having pains. Despite her numerous visits to doctors and several admissions to hospitals, no-one managed to diagnose her in time with the benign neurinoma of her lower extremity, which was the actual diagnosis at that point. 17 years later, Amalia was told that the neurinoma had transformed by then into a malignant tumour.

For the next 5 years, Amalia not only had to fight with the cancerous disease and amputation, but also with a corrupt Greek National Health System: it ignores (by choice) the ongoing patient-to-doctor bribery and insists on time-consuming bureaucratic methods and practices. Besides radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Amalia had to face the financial exploitation by doctors that stood opposite to rather than by her side. On top of her pain, she had to endure the greediness of private clinics and the exhaustingly long waiting queues of the health insurance system, in order to get legal approval for some ridiculously low financial compensation.

Amalia passed away on Friday, May the 25th, 2007. She was just 30 years old.

Before dying, she managed to document her experience and share it with us in her blog http://fakellaki.blogspot.com/. The promising literature graduate named in there each and every one of the doctors she had to bribe, praising at the same time the ones that honoured the Hippocratic Oath. Her testimony moved thousands of people that stood by her side all the way to the end.

"Amalia's main aim was to tell her story, so that she could awaken as many people and as many consciences as possible. She mainly wanted to show that there are ways to resist not only the self-regulation and authority of dishonest and heartless doctors, but also the bureaucrats of the Health System."

(Dikaia Tsavari & Georgia Kalyvinou – Amalia's mother & sister)

According to the Greek law, it is considered a major disciplinary offence for the doctors of the Greek National Health System to:

"Accept bonus and especially any compensation or property grant, for any medical service provided.”

Amalia Kalyvinou fought for things that are taken for granted in a modern European country. Unfortunately, this is not the case for Greece. Continuing Amalia’s effort where she left off, we protest in public and we demand:

* THE STATE TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO STOP BRIBERY AND THE INEQUALITY BROUGHT IN THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS.

* THE NATIONAL HEALTH COMMITTEE TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE SO AS PATIENTS STOP FALLING VICTIMS TO TIME-CONSUMING BUREAUCRATIC PROCESSES.

* THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO ENSURE STRICTER CONTROL ON THE RELATION OF DRUG COMPANIES – MEDICAL SERVICE.

* FULL UTILISIZATION OF CURRENTLY ABANDONED HOSPITAL INFRASTRUCTURE. CONTINUOUS AND COMPLETE SCIENTIFIC TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES.

* CREATION OF A NATION-WIDE ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD SYSTEM, TO SPEED UP PROMPT DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

LET’S END THE HYPOCRISY OF THE ONES THAT GOVERN, WHO PREFER TO ALLOW DOCTORS TO BE BRIBED BY THEIR PATIENTS, INSTEAD OF PROVIDING THEM WITH A DECENT SALARY.

* NO MORE BRIBERY

* NO MORE BUREAUCRACY

* NO MORE LIES

WE DEMAND FREE AND EFFICACIOUS HEALTHCARE SERVICES FOR ALL.

Next time you’ll have to bribe a doctor, just don’t. Choose instead to make a donation. Amalia’s last wish was to contribute to the -under construction- Oncological Centre for Children. (Elpida foundation, tel no 0030210-7757153, email: info@elpida.org,
Bank accounts: National bank of Greece, account no 080/480898-36, Alphabank account no 152-002-002-000-515. Please remember to quote that your donation is “for Amalia”)

INTERNET MOVEMENT OF AMALIA’S FRIENDS

The Cruise.. the delayed Sequel

No, I haven’t drowned and No I wasn’t shipwrecked on some deserted island. Not literally anyway, because even though I managed to circumvent a Titanic and Crusoe’s adventures, I couldn’t avoid my “return” to work and to reality…

The cruise itself was fantastic! I mean, where to start and what to describe. Unlike last time, I have decided not to get into too many details but rather focus mainly on the highlights.

While the vessel was much smaller this time around, it was living proof that size doesn’t always matter. Our cabins however where much more spacious, with a living room and a desk, and believe it or not, portholes that actually opened!!! I can’t describe how happy I was since we could actually feel the sea breeze from within our cabin (not to mention having my “I’m the king of the world” moment without having to dangerously hang myself on the ship’s deck). I dare not include the food as a highlight regardless if it deserves to be credited with much praise, as it is also responsible for all of us having to go on a strict diet upon our return. Other highlights obviously include our adventures in every stop. Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini.. I may not get into details about each and everyone one of them but I will tell you this.. our presence wasn’t gone unnoticed!

Résumé: A cultural, artistic and enriching experience in an unforgettable, uncompromised and alternative voyage!

But enough with my description! The relay goes to the pictures to do the talking. Sail away!