November 2008

LOG-BOOK:

News about Greece is in blue

November 1^st:  at 4.55 a.m. we could rescue a huge, fat Green Toad (Bufo viridis) from being bitten by our dogs, because that one was sitting on the doorstep of our toilet !! The Long-eared Owl was 315 (+1), the Little Owl 204 (+1) and the dark Barn Owl 293 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 214 (+3) and the Goshawk 965 (+6) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 27 (+2) and the other 28 (+1) gram. “Mázzel” has produced no diarrhoea anymore after the given Imodium.

Acropolis gets wired for quakes

Scientists use latest technology to see effects of tremors and weather on ancient monuments

For thousands of years the Acropolis has withstood earthquakes, weathered storms and endured temperature extremes, from scorching summers to winter snow.

Now scientists are drawing on the latest technology to install a system that will record just how much nature is affecting the 2,500-year-old site. They hope their findings will help identify areas that could be vulnerable, allowing them to target restoration and maintenance.

Scientists are installing a network of fiberoptic sensors and accelerographs – instruments that measure how much movement is generated during a quake.

“The greatest danger for our monuments at the moment is earthquakes,” Dimitrios Egglezos, chief civil engineer in charge of the Acropolis’s defensive circuit wall, told AP. So understanding how the structures react to the earth’s movement is paramount.

Egglezos said six accelerographs are to be installed starting next week at various parts of the Acropolis: at the base of the hill, part of the way up where the geology changes, and on the Parthenon, the Acropolis’s most famous monument, built between 447 and 432 BC in honor of the goddess Athena.

“The measurement of earthquakes and their consequences on the monuments is essential,” said Maria Ioannidou, who supervises restoration work on the Acropolis.

The fiberoptics are installed on parts of the wall to measure subtle changes caused by varying weather conditions or earthquakes, while the accelerographs can help determine how the earth’s movement affects the monuments. “This is the first system that we’ve installed to record the (natural) activity that affects our monuments,” Egglezos said.

They don’t look like much: a nondescript small metal box at the foot of a column, barely visible wires snaking across outer walls. But the insight they could give into potential problem areas is invaluable.

The first accelerograph was placed on the hill about two years ago as a pilot program. Another two were installed in late September on the Parthenon, one at its base and one on the top of the columns on the architrave, as part of a study by Japan’s Mie University and the National Technical University of Athens.

Greece is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, and while most of its earthquakes are relatively small and cause little or no damage, some have been fatal.

In June, a 6.5 magnitude quake in western Greece killed two people and injured more than 200, while a 5.9 magnitude quake near Athens in 1999 killed 143 people. Neither seriously damaged the Acropolis.

Indeed, some parts of the ancient citadel have weathered the forces of nature remarkably well. The Parthenon survived virtually intact until the late 17th century, when an Ottoman garrison used it as a gunpowder store; it was targeted by Venetian cannon fire and exploded, damaging parts of the temple.

The accelerographs could also give experts more insight into how the Parthenon has withstood earthquakes so well, Egglezos said. “The earthquakes that don’t cause damage are very useful because we have a natural ... experiment which doesn’t destroy the monument but gives us valuable information about how these structures behave.” The two accelerographs funded by Mie University will be in place for three years, while the other seven will remain on the Acropolis permanently, Ioannidou and Egglezos said.

The fiberoptic sensors, meanwhile, can detect even minor changes in the structure: slight expansion during hot weather, contraction in the cold of winter, the buildup of pressure from a particularly heavy rainfall. And, of course, shifts caused by earthquakes.

They have been installed on two outer parts of the perimeter wall: the southeast, which is the highest and most vulnerable point, and on the north wall, which shows evidence of damage, probably from an 18th-century quake.

Egglezos said the experts need about one or two years’ worth of data from the fiberoptics before they can draw any concrete conclusions.

November 2^nd:  the Long-eared Owl was 319 (+4), the Little Owl 204 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 293 (=) gram. The Kestrel was 216 (+2) and the Goshawk 971 (+6) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 23 (-4) and the other 28 (=) gram. In the House-next-door we’ve started with making the storage under the stairs from the 1^st floor to the 2^nd floor more suited for the storage of cleaning-materials etc. And after the electricity had left us at 8.15 a.m. for some minutes, the whole island had a black-out, which lasted from 9.30 till 10.21 a.m. !! At 12.15 p.m. the young laddy, who had been here October 19^th with an injured Canary-bird, was here with the bird for removing the bandage . . . . so the little one was still alive !! It took quite some problems removing this swab, which had been clogged for a fortnight. Now a swab with Dermisol-cream was given and the boy was told to be here in two days for bandage-changing. The Goshawk was brought after the midday-feeding, to “The Keep” for practicing the wing and the opportunity to take a bath. At 2.15 p.m. we were disturbed in our sleep by the phone: quite a huge Greek company was determined to visit us at thát moment. Friendly they were told that we were sleeping and that they were welcome after half past three. “Yes, but we hare here nów !!” “We are very sorry, but we are in bed nów !! After 3.30 p.m. you’re quite welcome !!” . . . . Of course no-one was seen afterwards. At 4.30 p.m. it showed to be that the Goshawk indeed had taken quite a good bath.

November 3^rd:  it’s soo misty outside, that the “Table Mount” can’t be seen from here !! The Long-eared Owl was 321 (+2), the Little Owl 205 (+1) and the Dark Barn Owl 291 (-2) gram. The Goshawk was 979 (+8) and the Kestrel 219 (+3). With the latter we’re giving in a try again in the “falcon-aviary”. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 26 (+3) and the other 31 (+3) gram. Today meat had to be processed again and Douglas & Janice, Ineke & Tjarda did 16,745 kilo (for 109,38 Euro). Total now this year 644,649 kilo for 4173,30 Euro. At 10.30 a.m. the “re-building” of the storage in the House-next-door was finished and re-organized. We have removed still some dead tissue from the wing of the Goshawk before he went to “The Keep”.

A huge blaze...

Charred tree trunks loom above firefighters at the Strofilia National Park, in western Achaia, on Saturday night, when a huge blaze ravaged some 20 hectares of forestland, about half the park’s expanse. The forest had been declared a national park only two weeks ago.

Migrants detained

Port Authority officials on Rhodes, Samos and Lesvos detained a total of 119 illegal immigrants on Saturday alone, the Merchant Marine Ministry said. The migrants included several children.

Tourism plan under fire

Reforms ‘too vague’ to avert overdevelopment, say engineers and hoteliers

The government’s special zoning plan for tourism, which authorities say will boost development while protecting the environment, is too vague to protect Greece from the “concretization” that has ruined much of Spain, conservationists, civil engineers and even entrepreneurs have told Kathimerini.

“The plan’s goals are very general and overshadowed by a sense of competitiveness,” according to Ilias Beriatos, president of the Greek Association of Urban and Regional Planners.

The leader of the state Association of Regional Development Scientists, Christos Ladias, is also cautious about the plan drafted by the Environment and Public Works Ministry. “It needs improvement and clarification, including a determination of what activities will be permitted in Natura (or European Union-protected) areas,” Ladias said. Even some businessmen involved in tourism are concerned about the impact of the plan. According to Gerasimos Fokas, president of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, the plan “is general and unclear, allowing the use of land for tourism everywhere, without prerequisites or restrictions.”

But the most vocal in their criticism are the conservationists. A consortium of environmental groups, including Greenpeace and WWF Hellas, issued a statement condemning the zoning plan for “treating tourism as an activity chiefly connected to public works and favoring large-scale projects such as golf courses and large hotel complexes... without considering the need to protect the natural environment.”

The ministry has stressed many times that the plan aims to promote tourism development alongside environmental protection, creating different zones for different levels of development.

But many believe that these zones are not strictly delineated and that, in practice, exemptions would be granted to large developers. There are also concerns that islands with a high level of tourism infrastructure will be opened up to even more construction and that smaller and relatively undeveloped islands, and the mainland’s coastline, will become fair game for construction firms.

Temperatures reached unseasonable highs...

Two young boys gleefully enjoy the fine weather at a beach near the Cretan port of Iraklion yesterday. Thousands of citizens across the country packed beaches and open-air cafes over the weekend as temperatures reached unseasonable highs of 28 C. The coastal suburbs of Athens were unusually busy as city dwellers took advantage of the sudden hot spell to enjoy some seaside action before winter sets in. In other countries, the first days of November saw quite different conditions. In France, torrential rains forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes and cut off two major highways. Italy was also hit by heavy showers.

At 12 o’clock a phone-call from the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí in Mytiléne that she is sending by the 1.15 p.m.-coach a pigeon with eye problems. She as well wanted to know when for the first time we should strip “Sophie” from her tape and give her a polyestrene cover > she definitively wants to be present !! The pigeon we had in our possession at 2.02 p.m. > see further at PIGEON. After taking-back the Goshawk from “The Keep” it showed that there is something wrong with one or both legs > can’t sit properly on the roost, No fractures could be detected, but tonight he is sleeping on the bottom of the cage.

November 4^th:  it’s the right leg of the Goshawk which is causing problems > no force in it any more ! Reason ?? Will stay inside today and for the time being no roost yet !! The Long-eared Owl was 321 (=), the Little Owl 204 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 288 (-3) gram. Whatever we try with this one, he is diminishing. Should the released “mate” being missed ?? Such a behavior we have seen in the past at Eagle Owl I > this lasted 4 months !! The Goshawk was 992 (+13) and we started feeding less now. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 29 (+3) and the other 31 (=) gram.

Forest blaze fuels arson suspicions

A fire that razed a large section of the Strofilia National Park, in western Achaia in the Peloponnese, on Saturday night, was the work of arsonists seeking to grab land in the protected area, regional conservation groups claimed yesterday.

The blaze, which was extinguished early on Sunday afternoon after a long night of efforts by firefighters, ravaged some 10 hectares of forestland, about a quarter of the park’s expanse. Another 50 hectares of brush was also burned.

Environmentalists yesterday expressed their outrage at the incident, noting that the forest had been declared a national park just 10 days ago.

They believe that arsonists ignited the fire, planning to exploit the loopholes in legislation designed to protect the site, one of the largest pine forests in Greece and a unique ecosystem in the Mediterranean region.

“For years now, we have been calling for a crackdown on land-grabbers in the region,” a Patras-based group of environmentalists said yesterday.

Several smaller fires had broken out at the same site last month but the local fire brigade had managed to extinguish them before they could cause serious damage. They were not so lucky on Saturday night.

Conservationists say the timing of the fire raises suspicions as it came so soon after the Environment and Public Works Ministry signed a decision to declare the area a national park. The decision, which needs to be rubber-stamped by another two ministries, foresees total protection for the nucleus of the forest. However, according to environmentalists, large chunks remain open to exploitation by potential land-grabbers.

Dieing tree hits back:

Felled

A man was killed yesterday when a tree that he was chopping down collapsed on top of him, authorities said. The incident occurred in the area of Malako in Trikala prefecture, central Greece. The man, who was not named, was discovered by his family and taken to the hospital in Trikala where he was pronounced dead.

At 1.55 p.m. a phone-call from Mytiléne from a man who didn’t want giving his name neither phone-number, but who about claimed we should come to there, because he had a pigeon, which urgently deeded medical care. He was told or he could bring the bird himself, or send it tomorrow by the first coach. Because both options were rejected by him, the phone-number of the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí was given. And she phoned us at 2.11 p.m. and told she had given the bird to a man from Mólivos, who should deliver it at the Shell-Petrol-Station. And there we have picked it up at 3.40 p.m. > see further at PIGEON II. The Goshawk is still not yet using the right leg !!

November 5^th:  no victims this morning, but “Mázzel” has again diarrhoea and that was good visible on the floor of the Sick-Bay !! The Long-eared Owl was 321 (=), the Little Owl 204 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 287 (-1) gram. The Goshawk (which showed now having a fracture of the right tibia > got stuck somewhere ??) was 998 (+6) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 29 (=) and the other 30 (-1) gram. At 7.55 a.m. a phone-call from Kallonís from Ineke, who on her way to the dentist had seen a Kingfisher falling from the sky > see further at KINGFISHER.

Utility networks not prepared for quakes

The utility networks in Greek cities are not prepared to withstand the impact of a large earthquake, according to a study made public yesterday.

Natural gas pipes have not been reinforced against possible rupture in the event of a strong tremor and other utility networks – such as water and sewage – rely on old and fragile pipes, the study by experts at Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University has revealed. Regions where the soil is particularly soft are also vulnerable, according to the study, which assessed the likely impact on Thessaloniki’s infrastructure of quakes measuring between 6 and 7 on the Richter scale. “If a natural gas pipeline suffers a leak, this could cause an explosion,” said Kyriazis Pitilakis, who led the study.

He called on authorities to reinforce existing infrastructure to limit the likelihood of such risky eventualities.

November 6^th:  at 5.45 a.m. we discovered only one Sparrow in the cage: it showed that the other one (08-138; July 26^th ’08) had drowned himself in the (small) water-bowl. Was a “nest-misfit” and had one completely twisted leg. The Kingfisher was 35 (-3) and the Goshawk was 986 (-12); the latter had vomited almost all the given food from yesterday-evening. The Long-eared Owl was 319 (-2), the Little Owl 204 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 288 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 29 (=) and the other 33 (+3) gram. Cleaning the cages in the Sick-Bay we suddenly discovered lots of Red Mite (Dermanyssus gallinae) in the Long-eared Owl’s night-cage > as well the bird as the cage were treated; the surrounding cages as well. The only House-Sparrow still present (08-152; August 12^th ’08) we have transferred to the Aviary at 8 a.m. > he has meanwhile so many feathers, that this was just now. If he survives the winter, he can be released next spring. The Goshawk is giving back all given food since he has broken his leg > doesn’t he believe in it anymore ?? If yes, we can forget all . . . . !!

Slash carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions...

Dimitris Karavellas, director of WWF Hellas, yesterday told a press conference that Greece could slash carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 67% by 2050 if it embraces green technologies. According to a report made public yesterday by the conservation group, alternative energy sources could fulfill 58% of Greece’s energy needs by 2050.

Release:

At 12.36 p.m. we have released well in the Tsianásriver (at the ford, where the water was glittering from fishes) the King Fisher. Why she had fallen from the sky will remain a question-mark for ever.

At 2.40 p.m. a phone-call from some-one who “had knocked-down a bit a doggie” > told that after half past three we indeed wanted to look after the poor one, but that he should bring him here. “Yes, but in the past I have already once brought a tortoise . . . .” (??). At last he understood that we didn’t turn out herefore, because that should be the beginning of the end. Transferred to the vet in Kallonís. Was the female Kestrel transferred to the falcon-aviary November 3^rd with 219 gram, this afternoon we have caught her back for measuring: was 191 (-28 !!) gram. So she is in again during the night and will be fed early in the morning and at sun-set !! At 5.47 p.m. a phone-call that a dead turtle (probably a Caretta caretta) was washed ashore at “Ta Niséllia” (Τα Νησέλια) in between Pámfila and Thermís. Because it was already too dark for a search and our car tomorrow morning the first hours has another use, this case was transferred to the Limenarchío (Coast Guard).

November 7^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 322 (+3), the Little Owl 202 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 291 (+3) gram. The Kestrel was 195 (+4) but the Goshawk 948 (-38 !!) gram. Showed to have vomited again a lot. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 27 (-2) and the other 31 (-2) gram. And while we were busy feeding “Sophie” and quietly waiting till madam had swallowed the food, our eye fell upon “Mázzel” which quite astonished was staring at the floor > showed after the feeding that “Sophie” had urinated for the first time since her intake (September 30^th !!) . . . . > we needed more than one roll of kitchen towel to remove this “deluge” !! The yesterday transferred to the Aviary House Sparrow was seen this morning in good health. Cleaning the pigeon-cage in “The Keep” we discovered two beautiful, healthy young pigeons in the nest-tower, The father, a brown one, is so disabled he is only capable of fluttering. But evidently enough for the oldest game on earth . . . . !! At 5 p.m. one passed-by with a knocked-down she-cat > taken-in for observation. See further at SHE-CAT. At 5.15 p.m. with festively sound of church-bells the celebration started for the commemoration of the Liberation of Lesvos in 1912, after 450 years of bitter Turkish occupation.

The President of the republic is a.o. present on the island (and so all will be closed the coming days . . . !!).

November 8^th:  no victims this morning. The yesterday-evening taken-in she-cat “Fífi” has eaten already, but not yet used the litter-box. The Long-eared Owl was 322 (=), the Little Owl 205 (+3) and the Dark Barn Owl 286 (-5) gram. The Kestrel was 197 (+2) and the Goshawk 949 (+1) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 31 (+4) and the other as well 31 (=) gram. We have been able to remove quite a lot of stone hard scabs around the eyes at Pigeon I, allowing the eyelids functioning a bit more. The she-cat “Fífi” meanwhile has urinated and produced droppings; the latter gave lots of troubles and caused pain.

Waste units pollute Thermaic Gulf

“Streams of pollution” are gushing into the Thermaic Gulf daily due to the inadequate operation of biological wastewater treatment plants in the Thessaloniki area, a study by the northern city’s Aristotle University has revealed.

According to the 600-page study, which took experts at the university’s pollution-monitoring laboratory two years to complete, the Thermaic Gulf is being polluted by seven key sources.

Among the main offenders are local wastewater treatment plants, whose purpose, ironically, is to cleanse water.

The results of the study, commissioned by the government, were made public at a joint press conference yesterday by Macedonia-Thrace Minister Margaritis Tzimas and by Constantinos Fytianos, the chemist who led the research project.

The study mentions more than 30 proposals for improving the operation of local wastewater management and cleansing the polluted gulf.

According to Fytianos and his fellow researchers, action must be taken immediately to upgrade the operation of processing plants in Angelochori, on the east coast, and the city’s main sewage processing plant, on the west coast near the Gallikos River. The sewage unit alone processes some 160,000 cubic meters of waste every day. This is “theoretically a full second-stage biological processing procedure,” according to the report, which noted concern “at the presence of phosphoric acid in the processed sewage as well as high levels of bacteria.”

This toxic waste was found to be particularly concentrated around the area of Kalochori. Tests revealed high traces of heavy metals, including lead, chromium and copper. They also discovered traces of pesticides that have been banned in Greece for years.

Last month, the Environment and Public Works Ministry heralded a project for the reuse of hundreds of tons of wastewater that is discharged daily from a sewage processing unit on the islet of Psyttaleia, off Piraeus. The water would be purified before being used for irrigation, the ministry said.

The cat “Fífi” is laying quietly the whole day in her cage, and even when the door is open almost all day, she evidently doesn’t want coming out. Rest is in this kind of cases the best therapy and she is feeling so (literally as well !!). At 8.25 p.m. arrived our two new Dutch trainees Jessica Schleepen & Sandra Hermans; one still a bit air-sick > for both ladies this had been the first flying-experience . . . . !!

November 9^th:  no victims this morning under the patients; from the trainees we still don’t know yet . . . !! The Long-eared Owl was 321 (-1), the Little Owl 204 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 285 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 199 (+2) and the Goshawk 937 (-12) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 27 (-4) and the other 32 (+1) gram. As well both trainees showed having survived the first night here well !! Later in the morning they were showed around and they even had the opportunity placing back some birds-of-prey in their caged. At 9.55 a.m. a phone-call from Sígri about a white bird; knee-high and with long legs and a long bill, which was roaming around on the beach over there. Didn’t seem to be injured and could be approached till a short distance, but then was running away. Most probably a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta). As long as further nothing special is wrong, we’re not turning out for nothing. One should inform us further. We could remove some scabs around the eyes of Pigeon I. With the help of both trainees we were able to remove some dead tissue from one leg and as well the bill was trimmed. At 9.03 p.m. during the letting-out of the doggies there was discovered by the she-dog “Mítsi” a Green Toad; just before our door in the street. This one however was, in contrary with the one from November 1^st, bone-thin and the skin was sloppy around the bones. So taken-in for recuperation > see further at GREEN TOAD.

November 10^th:  all patients were still alive; even the Green Toad ! This one was fed very carefully a little bit > is quite difficult to feed !! The Long-eared Owl was 323 (+2), the Little Owl 205 (+1) and the Dark Barn Owl 283 (-2) gram. The Kestrel was 204 (+5) and the Goshawk 942 (+5) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 31 (+4) and the other 33 (+1) gram. Today it was the first time for both trainees they had to assist with the processing of meat, and the complete female crew has done 16,190 kilo (for 108,14 Euro). Total now this year 680,839 kilo for 4281,44 Euro. We could buy Aether for the removal of the tape-covering on the shell of “Sophie”. A dead piece of bone could be removed from the leg of “Mázzel”, just above the heel. The injuries are almost complete clean now and are closing well. However, it seems if there is a dislocation of the foot > so wait and see how this is developing in the near future.

Souflias defends tourism zoning

Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias has hit back at claims that the zoning plan for tourism being drafted by his department will lead to Greek islands being covered by swathes of concrete as one holiday complex after another goes up.

In a letter sent to Sunday’s Kathimerini, Souflias argues that the plan being prepared will actually help protect the environment and lead to more organized and less obtrusive construction than under the current legislation.

Environmental groups recently issued a statement condemning the plans, saying that “they are treating tourism as an activity chiefly connected with public works and favoring large-scale projects such as golf courses and massive hotel complexes... without considering the need to protect the natural environment.”

However, Souflias says that his scheme would be better for a number of reasons. Firstly, it limits the number of beds in a holiday complex or hotel per hectare from 150 to 80.

The minister says that his zoning regulations would also stop anyone building up to 100 meters from the sea. The current limit is 50 meters.

Also, construction would be limited to 10% of each plot of land, so someone owning 200 hectares would only be able to build on 20 hectares.

The new law would furthermore require anyone wanting to build a tourist complex on a Greek island or a mainland resort to prove that they would be contributing something positive to the local community and to the tourism sector.

The Green Toad was discovered not alive anymore at 3.30 p.m.

November 11^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 324 (+1), the Little Owl 203 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 283 (=) gram. The Kestrel was 205 (+1) and the Goshawk 940 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 28 (-3) and the other 34 (+1) gram. Coming back from a short “cultural excursion” with both trainees, we were stopped by some workmen from our municipality, who showed us a sucking pig over where a huge swine had “rumbled over”. If we should succeed saving this little one, we should have later “something tasteful” . . .!! So see further at SUCKING PIG.

November 12^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 323 (-1), the Little Owl 204 (+1) and the dark Barn Owl 287 (+4) gram. The Kestrel was 204 (-1) and the Goshawk 949 (+9) gram. With the latter we’ve started carefully with some normal food. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 32 (+4) and the other 35 (+1) gram. 

Water low but bills likely to get higher

A few sporadic downpours over the last two months have not been enough to boost water reserves, which stand at roughly half of last year’s level, and the government is likely to approve a rise in household bills as one way of deterring excessive consumption and waste.

According to sources, customers could be receiving higher water bills as early as next spring because of the shortage. There has been more rain in September and October this year than last but the dry period before that and forecasts of a relatively rain-free winter are causing concern among officials. The four reservoirs – Marathon, Iliki, Mornos and Evinos – which supply water to more than 4 million people in Athens were boosted by just under 10 million cubic meters of water over the last two months. During the same period last year, over 20 million cubic meters of water flowed into the reservoirs.

It is a pattern that has been repeated throughout 2008 and total reserves this year are down almost 800 million cubic meters on 2006, when water authorities reported that reservoirs had reached their capacity.

In 1993, when Greece suffered a serious drought, water reserves reached only 170 million cubic meters. A campaign was launched at the time to encourage people to cut back on their use of water as there was only enough for 160 days.

Though authorities are not expecting a similar situation over the next few months, they are examining ways to reduce demand. This effort is likely to be spearheaded by two initiatives. The first will be to increase the cost of water as a disincentive against consumption, while the second will involve the Public Works and Environment Minister giving the go-ahead – after several years of delay – for treated sewage water to be reused for irrigation.

Mountain fire

A fire that broke out late on Monday in the area of Petrovouno on Mount Athos razed around 25 hectares of forestland but did not threaten any monasteries, according to the local fire service, which had contained the blaze by early yesterday. Some 80 firemen were used in the effort to douse the blaze. The fire service remained on standby late yesterday.

The she-cat “Fífi” has left her cage already several times and as well produced droppings; doing so not the whole world was informed anymore about her problems !! And while we had made a clear appointment with the vet from Mytiléne about the exact time we should start changing the bandage from the shell of “Sophie”, she phoned 5 minutes after the agreed time to tell us that she was at that moment still 25 minutes away > so we started without her. From the shell a huge part was grown together; 2 pieces which had completely had no connection anymore with the surrounding tissues, were still present, but not alive anymore. This will be changed in the future by healthy tissue. We give two pictures of “Sophie” > the first is the situation September 30^th and the 2^nd was made today.

The whole place is covered with a double layer of Sporttape which later was covered with polyestrene .

November 13^th:  all out patients were quite alive & healthy, something that couldn’t be said about the inhabitants of the House-next-door ! The Long-eared Owl was 325 (+2), the Little Owl 206 (+2) and the Dark Barn Owl 288 (+1) gram. The Kestrel was 204 (=) and the Goshawk 959 (+10) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 33 (+1) and the other 34 (-1) gram. The Collared Dove (08-198; October 29^th ’08) received a double blue ring and was transferred to the Aviary for flying-practices. Pigeon I received a silver and a blue ring and was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”; as well for flying-practices. We started with physiotherapies for the leg of Pigeon II. After one month we have taken a picture of the leg of “Mázzel”; if one thinks about the fact that we are very glad with this result, one can imagine how the leg was at intake!

November 14^th:  the she-cat “Fífi” is behaving more and more “saucy” and is even drinking from “Mázzel’s” water-bowl, which is watching this quietly. By the way, her walking is still difficult. The Long-eared Owl was 326 (+1), the Little Owl 205 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 291 (+3) gram. The Kestrel was 202 (-2) and the Goshawk, which is back on normal food, was 968 (+9) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 33 (=) and the other 34 (=) gram. We have caught our tortoises for hibernation: the provisional counting (some could have digged-in themselves already !) is: 2 Marginated Tortoises (Testudo marginata) of which 1 home-bred, 1 Mediterranean Tortoise (Testudo hermanni) and 15 Spurr-tighed Tortoises (Testudo graeca ibera). We could have released some, but because it hardly has rained yet, there is not enough fresh food present and the bottom is still too hard. So they will stay till next year.

HYDRA BLOCKADE

Islanders close harbor to protest lack of ferries

Residents on Hydra, in the Argosaronic Gulf, yesterday blocked the island’s main harbor for a second day, in protest against the fact that they are no longer served by conventional ferries, but only high-speed vessels, which are significantly more expensive. Locals gathered at the port yesterday and prevented a high-speed ferry from docking. For the past two years, Hydra has not had a conventional ferry service.

EC sees progress on landfills

Greece has made “great progress” in closing down illegal landfills but a lot more remains to be done, a visiting team of European Commission officials told authorities.

According to a biministerial committee, which provided EC officials with an overview of progress being made by regional and local authorities, hundreds of illegal landfills have been closed down in the past few months. Of 2.974 makeshift dumps that had been registered early this year, the committee said, 1.454 have been replaced by so-called “sanitary” landfills and another 1.093 are in the process of being closed down. This should leave an estimated 500 illegal landfills by the end of the year, the committee said.

“The aim of this effort is to manage waste in our country in a way that is fitting for an EU member state,” said Deputy Interior Minister Thanassis Nakos, who has been overseeing a drive to eradicate the country’s illegal dumps.

EC officials had warned that Greece would face hefty fines – some 34.000 euros per landfill, per day – if it failed to close down the majority of its makeshift dumps by the end of the year. There was a sense of cautious optimism yesterday as the issue of fines was not raised.

Jacques Poncet, a senior regional policy official for the EC, said that Greece appeared to have made “great progress” and was “on the right course” but added that “much more needs to be done if the final goal is to be reached.”

Giorgos Kremlis, a spokesman for the EC’s environment directorate-general, was also upbeat. “Things are on the right track,” he said, adding that there are sufficient funds to secure the closing down of the illegal landfills and the creation of a new infrastructure for sanitary landfills.

The biministerial report, whose results were presented to EC officials yesterday, observed that there had been an improvement in the operation of a new landfill site in northwestern Attica but noted that “complications” still hinder the construction of two more landfills in eastern Attica. Residents have mounted court challenges against the projects.

Greek health service ailing

Greece’s spending on healthcare is about average for a European country but when it comes to the quality of service on offer to patients, it comes almost last on a list of 31 nations that includes all EU members.

According to an annual survey by the Sweden-based Health Consumer Powerhouse, which was made public yesterday, Greece comes 15^th out of 31 countries in terms of expenditure but is in 27^th place when it comes to assessing the results of this spending. Overall, the Greek health system ranks as the 19^th best in Europe, down from 17^th last year.

The report also refers to the national health system being a “kingdom of doctors” and that, despite improvements in some areas, such as access to specialists, it is characterized by under-the-table payments and by the need for patients to also spend an excessive amount of their own money.

November 15th:  all patients were still alive this morning. The Long-eared Owl was 329 (+3), the Little Owl 204 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 294 (+3) gram. The Kestrel was 203 (+1) and the Goshawk 977 (+9) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 33 (=) end the other 34 (=) gram. “Sophie” is eating well and is producing in accordance . . . !! “Fífi” is walking around freely and thinks “Mázzel’s” sleeping-place is the best place to be, no matter if he is there or not !! “Mázzel” himself has spent his first night in the house without any problem on the couch in the living. He is walking and running with three legs (is already sometimes leaning on this leg during relieving) but is still not yet capable climbing the stairs; descending the stairs is beginning. We have discovered that under the “hot-spot” on the head of Pigeon II there is a fracture of the crane > the difference between the pieces of bone could be felt easily !! The injured leg of “Mázzel” is now only covered with some Balsamum Peruvianum, because all is complete clean now.  

Migrant influx to islands doubles

The number of illegal immigrants arriving on the Cyclades Islands increased by 220% in the first eight months of the current year compared to the same period of 2007, government statistics revealed yesterday as local authorities on the islands run out of patience with the swelling influx of desperate foreigners.

According to Interior Ministry figures, the first eight months of the year saw 11.001 illegal immigrants arrive on Lesvos, 8.000 on Samos, 4.300 on the islet of Agathonisi and 3.400 on Leros.

Authorities on the islands have reacted differently to the influx. On Patmos, locals have blocked their ports to vessels carrying would-be migrants. Local hoteliers say they have had enough as the migrants pose a public health risk and upset tourists. On Agathonisi, a small islet between Patmos and the Turkish coast, authorities have been bearing the brunt of arrivals since Patmos blocked its ports. But now residents there, too, have had enough, municipal authorities say.

One of the chief problems appears to be the lack of space at migrant reception centers on the Cyclades. Most of the centers are currently holding double the migrants they were designed to accommodate, posing health and safety problems for the migrants themselves but also for staff. On some islands, such as Agathonisi, there are no centers and migrants wander the streets.

According to Doctors Without Borders, the situation is also critical at the central port of Patras, where illegal migrants trying to board ferries to Italy have created a makeshift camp. The group said some 1.600 migrants are crammed into the camp, up from around 1.000 in May.

Greece returns to Kyoto scheme

A United Nations committee has decided to reinstate Greece in the emissions-trading system of the Kyoto Protocol after a seven-month suspension, the Environment and Public Works Ministry revealed yesterday.

Greece was suspended from taking part in the UN scheme in April after inspectors found that methods for testing pollution levels were inadequate. But in a new report, UN officials say Greece is now in line with international standards.

“The compliance committee decided unanimously that Greece fulfils all the prerequisites to participate in the flexible mechanisms of Kyoto,” a statement issued by the ministry said yesterday.

In April, Greece was told it must develop a new and more effective system of measuring emissions.

The ministry indicated yesterday that this new system was up and running. “Our country has undertaken the necessary institutional and structural reforms to ensure that a national system for measuring greenhouse gases can operate comprehensively,” it said.

In a related development yesterday, environmentalists warned that the Evros Delta in northern Greece was becoming increasingly polluted. They said it was in danger of being added to a list of seven wetlands that are supposedly protected under the Ramsar Convention – an international treaty for the conservation of such areas – but which are thought to have been neglected. As the Evros river straddles both Turkey and Bulgaria, cross-border cooperation is necessary to effectively curb pollution in the area, conservationists say. The highly polluted Koroneia and Volvi Lakes are already on Ramsar’s ‘black list.’

Samothrace trash

Authorities on the island of Samothrace in the northern Aegean were on the verge of declaring a state of emergency yesterday as thousands of tons of trash rot in the streets following a 40-day blockade of local landfills. Garbage has been piling up in the streets of the island and now poses a health risk, after residents prevented municipal lorries from dumping trash at four landfills on the island.

We could remove from the heel-joint of the right leg of the adult Long-legged Buzzard quite a lot of dead tissue > was stone-hard. Maybe she can use this leg a bit more now, because the leg was completely stiff !!

November 16^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 325 (-4), the Little Owl 202 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 298 (+4) gram. The Kestrel was 204 (+1) and the Goshawk 966 (-11) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 34 (+1) and the other 36 (+2) gram. Both trainees told us that they wanted to break off their traineeship , because they “weren’t fitting well in their skin” (read: they died from home-sickness for their home-land) > the school and their parents were already completely informed . . . . !! So evidently not “ripe enough for the great adventure” !! We have placed the Central Heating in the winter-position and all radiators checked in both houses; it’s beginning to be necessary now and then.

November 17^th:  at 5.20 a.m. both “Molluscae” departed for the crumb-pies and their mothers. We’re now completely fed up with trainees from this part of the Netherlands !! The Long-eared Owl was 331 (+6), the Little Owl 204 (+2) and the Dark Barn Owl 297 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 204 (=) and the Goshawk 964 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 22 (-1) and the other 35 (-1) gram. At 7.45 a.m. arrived the semi-stray cat “Baby” > see further at SHE-CAT. Pigeon II was transferred to the pigeon-cage in “The Keep”, colorful ringed. Today meat had to be done again, and luckily Douglas & Janice had offered their help, because 14,440 kilo (for 98,35 Euro) had to be processed. Total now this year 695,279 kilo for 4379,79 Euro. Meanwhile we have been in contact with the school of both ladies > the story from that side was a bit different from the stories we have heard . . . . !! At 11.50 a.m. the cat “Baby” left again for Parákoila.

Standoff with Turkish frigate off Kastellorizo

Athens on Saturday protested to Ankara over the presence of a Norwegian-flagged vessel believed to have been prospecting for oil off the coast of Kastellorizo, in the southeast Aegean, under the escort of a Turkish frigate. The Foreign Ministry immediately complained to officials in Ankara and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis contacted her counterpart in Oslo.

A Hellenic Navy vessel intercepted the ships but the Norwegian vessel had not retreated by late yesterday.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos, the two vessels had been outside Greek territorial waters but in a region containing part of Greece’s continental shelf.

Turkey and Greece have long disagreed about the delineation of borders in the Aegean and nearly went to war over the issue in 1987 and 1996.

After a TV-programme on “SKAI” about Lesvos, in which we seemed to have been “quite a long time in the picture” (we ourselves can’t receive this channel !!), we received at 7.10 p.m. already the first reactions from Athens with questions about an injured pigeon > case transferred to our colleague-hospital on Páros. And more reactions came: from Greece, but as well from Holland, where via the satellite the programme was received. Over there one will try recording it for us tomorrow, because the programme will be replayed.

November 18^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 332 (+1), the Little Owl 202 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 301 (+4) gram. The Kestrel was 208 (+4) and the Goshawk 971 (+7) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 34 (+1) and the other 37 (+2) gram.  “Mázzel” is since the end of this morning without a bandage around his leg; he is leaning now and than already on this leg. See for the following as well November 15^th:

Mounting trash causes outcry on Samothrace

Nikolaos Zambounidis, prefect of Evros, yesterday pleaded with the government for a state of emergency to be declared on Samothrace, as household waste has not been collected on the northern Aegean island for 45 days.

Piles of garbage are accumulating on the island’s streets due to legal action by residents who want to pressure the local authority to construct two landfills in Evros and Kavála rather than keep dumping trash in an illegal dump on Samothrace.

Zambounidis said that the case will not be heard until November 26 and the island already has a serious hygiene problem. “The decision will not be issued immediately. It will take another week or 10 days,” he said. “It is impossible for the island to remain in this state for another 20 days.”

There were four illegal dumps on Samothrace but three were shut down in 2005, leaving just one in Therma.

Attica downpours

Heavy rain leads to flooding

Heavy rainfall yesterday evening caused flooding and traffic problems in many parts of Attica. The flooding created problems on some of the capital’s main roads, while parts of northern and eastern Attica were left without electricity for a few hours. The fire service received dozens of calls to pump out flooded ground-floor homes and stores in the northern and eastern suburbs as well as in Piraeus. Keratsini, Gerakas, Salamina and Glyka Nera were among the worst-hit areas.

Error ?? Or just a stupidity, which took the lives of two people, sank a ship and is polluting seriously the environment . . . . :

Error on map ‘sank liner’

The shipping firm that owns the Sea Diamond cruise liner, which struck a reef and sank off Santorini in April last year, yesterday declared itself cleared of responsibility for the incident after the Hellenic Navy published a map indicating that an original plan of the area had been inaccurate.

The new map reportedly shows the reef to be 113 meters away from the island’s coast and not 58 meters as shown on the previous map. The map also determines that the depth of the water at the spot of the collision is 5 meters and not 18 to 22 meters as the original map had indicated.

“These official findings vindicate the stance the cruise liner owner has insisted upon for the past year, namely that, based on the official map in use at the time, the course that the Sea Diamond followed when approaching Santorini had been absolutely safe,” Louis Cruise Lines said in a statement. The Merchant Marine Ministry refused to comment on the development yesterday.

November 19^th:  and since last night it’s raining here as well !! The Long-eared Owl was 329 (-3), the Little Owl 205 (+3) and the Dark Barn Owl 301 (=) gram. The Kestrel was 206 (-2) and the Goshawk 961 (-10) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 34 (=) and the other 38 (+1) gram. We used a short period without rain to make in the bath (in the former day-pen of the Shearwater) a concrete “slope & exit”, so the pen is now fitting quite well for a.o. terrapins. The fresh concrete we have protected against the rain with the old feeding-apron, which was used for the Shearwater > this was complete stiff due to the glued fish-scales and those can disappear now in the rain.

Residents enraged about pungent river

Residents of Nea Philadelphia and Nea Chalkidona, in northwestern Athens, are angry over the increasingly polluted Podoniftis River, which they say poses a major health risk and is engulfing them in a strong stench.

According to a residents’ group, local manufacturers dump toxic waste into the river as well as on its banks, polluting its waters and releasing an overpowering smell.

In summer, the stench was so pungent, and the cloud of mosquitoes so thick, that residents say they had keep their windows closed at all times.

“The situation with the Podoniftis – along with the Kifissos River – highlights once again the necessity of measuring pollution,” said Dinos Laskaris of the residents’ group. “We should find out, once and for all, who is polluting our environment,” he added, noting that current inspections are not systematic and rarely lead to any indictments.

Elafonisos dispute

European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas called on Greek authorities to take the necessary measures to give the island of Elafonisos, off the southern Peloponnese, the protection that it deserves as an area safeguarded by the European Union. Dimas was responding to a question submitted by Euro MP Dimitris Papadimoulis. Allowing unchecked construction on the island could have destructive and irreversible repercussions on the environment, Dimas said.

We were called, indeed in the siesta, by an Israelian dentist from Athens, who (probably after the programme on “SKAI”) offered us his assistance whenever we should have animals with dental-problems !! We had to stop feeding “Sophie” with bananas: she is vomiting it all and this is causing quite a lot of problems !!

November 20^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 320 (-9), but showed to have vomited quite a lot last night. The Little Owl was 205 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 298 (-3) gram. The Kestrel was 209 (+3) and the Goshawk 966 (+5) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 32 (-2) and the other 38 (=) gram. We could remove a small piece of dead bone from a crushed toe of “Mázzel”. Since he is “bandage-free”, the injuries are healing a lot quicker. The concrete “slope & exit” in the former day-pen of the Shearwater has stood the downpours well, thanks to the old feeding-apron.

November 21^st:  the Long-eared Owl was 324 (+4), the Little Owl 203 (-2) and the Dark Barn Owl 297 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 209 (=) and the Goshawk 966 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 37 (+5) and the other 38 (=) gram.

Environmental inaction slammed

The government’s environmental record came under attack again yesterday over its alleged failure to tackle the pollution of the Asopos River and failure by Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias to appear at an international climate change conference in Athens.

The Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) slammed what it sees as the failure by authorities to ensure that the Asopos River, which supplies millions of Athenians with drinking water, is not polluted any further by the factories that operate in Oinofyta, north of Athens. “The industrial area is developing without any structure,” the president of the local TEE branch, Stelios Zacharopoulos, told Kathimerini. “The state is not doing anything to get a picture of the environmental problem concerning the Asopos so that it can ascertain the sources of pollution, in other words, which areas have been polluted and by what.”

Tests carried out by the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) in February indicated high levels of chromium, arsenic and lead. The central water committee of the Environment and Public Works Ministry, which commissioned the study, played down the findings.

TEE claims that the Environment Ministry is not doing anything to help local authorities combat the problem.

IGME yesterday accused the ministry of “burying” its test results. One of the institute’s hydrologists, Charis Smyrniotis, claimed yesterday that industrial waste is now being dumped some 5-10 kilometers away from the area where the factories are located but is washed into the river when it rains.

Meanwhile, the environment minister failed to take part in a conference yesterday on climate change that was organized by Skai, Kathimerini and the Danish Embassy in Athens. Souflias’s deputy, Stavros Kaloyiannis, also failed to appear at the event, during which Denmark’s Troels Lund Poulsen explained how his country has been able to become more environmentally friendly without it affecting economic growth.

Landfill clash

Riot police fired tear gas yesterday to disperse dozens of residents in Lefkimi, southern Corfu, who were protesting against the creation of a landfill in their area. One woman was arrested after the protests and a police patrol car was destroyed in an arson attack. Residents of Lefkimi have clashed violently with police several times this year for the same reason.

We have allowed “Sophie” being in the sun for probably the last time this year, because in the week-end the weather seems to change !! At 5.15 p.m. the electricity disappeared, coming back at 6 p.m. Due to our hanging candle-holders (bought via the Internet) we could see a bit in the whole house !! In the evening we could read in a column from a good acquaintance of us on the island, that she not only was homesick for the eating of venison in the Ardennes, but that she indirectly is co-operating in the disgusting “sport” of hunting here by trying to order boar in the local butcher’s shop . . . . !! And such a thing isn’t appreciated over here at all of course !!

November 22^nd:  the announced weather-change was announced by an orange weather-alert for storms !! The Long-eared Owl was 326 (+2), the Little Owl 207 (+4) and the Dark Barn Owl 296 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 210 (+1) and the Goshawk 970 (+4) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 37 (=) and the other 38 (=) gram.

Greece violating land mine pact

Greece, Turkey and Belarus have all violated an international treaty by not destroying land mine stockpiles, and 15 other countries, including Britain, will miss their 2009 clearance targets, a watchdog said yesterday.

The International Campaign to Ban Land Mines (ICBL) said that more than 5,400 people were killed or maimed last year by anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions and other ordnance that can lie dormant for decades before exploding.

In its 1,155-page Land Mine Monitor Report, the coalition of nongovernmental groups said that while trade in land mines is now “virtually nonexistent,” many countries are moving too slowly to get rid of the crippling weapons.

Denmark, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru, Britain and Venezuela, who are among those seeking more time to clear their mined areas, should all have finished by now, said the ICBL, which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997.

Britain has not even begun minesweeping in the Falkland Islands, where it fought a war with Argentina in 1982, and Venezuela has said it gains some benefit from mines that keep Colombian guerrillas off its territory, according to Stuart Casey-Maslen, editor of Landmine Monitor.

“It is not acceptable that (these) countries... have failed to clear a single mined area in the last nine years and expect to be granted extensions,” he told reporters ahead of a November 24-28 meeting of the pact’s 156 signatory states in Geneva.

Greece and Turkey have a combined stockpile of 4.2 million anti-personnel mines, and Belarus has 3.4 million remaining to destroy under the Convention on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, also known as the Ottawa Convention.

Though the countries will not face direct sanctions for missing their deadlines, Steve Goose of Human Rights Watch said they would face diplomatic pressure to quickly finish the job: “The international stigma against these weapons is powerful.” Nearly 42 million mines have been destroyed under the pact, which was struck in 1997 and came into force in 1999.

See for the following article as well November 17^th:

Greek PM chides Turkey over plans to search for Aegean oil

Greece is unhappy with the lack of effort from Turkey in improving relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said yesterday. “We are not satisfied with the level of Turkey’s response to the honest will of Greece for the constant improvement of our relations,” said Karamanlis in response to a question in Parliament about Turkey’s recent attempt to begin searching for oil near the southeastern Aegean island of Kastellorizo. Karamanlis called on Ankara to settle peacefully its differences with Greece over the continental shelf, even if it means taking the matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Continuation from yesterday: indeed a dirty river, but washing the hands in innocence:

DIRTY ASOPOS

‘River not ministry’s problem’

The Public Works and Environment Ministry responded yesterday to criticism that it was not doing enough to ensure that the Asopos River is not being polluted by saying that it is not responsible for ensuring that there is enough staff at regional and local authorities to conduct inspections. The ministry also denied ordering tests carried out by the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) in February, which indicated high levels of chromium, arsenic and lead in the river, which supplies millions of Athenians with drinking water.

And nice such releases: can be shot-down immediately again by hunters . . . . :

Taking flight

Members of the Hellenic Wildlife Hospital (EKPAZ) (in Aegina > note from the L.W.H.) released a number of birds, including eagles and hawks, back into the wild on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes yesterday. EKPAZ regularly rehabilitates animals and releases them into their natural habitat.

And that’s why we’re waiting with releases till after the hunting-season !!

We have after all decided letting “Sophie” hibernate: she doesn’t like so much the cage with the heating and is constantly trying to dig herself in !! Because in the whole village the street-lightning was dead (we heard from friends that other villages were completely without electricity), we had a slippery experience during the letting out of the dogs with as well a disabled “Mázzel” and a flash-light in the hands in a downpour, due to which one knee was damaged quite a lot.

November 23^rd:  there still is an orange weather-alert here and the ferries remain all moored. Still no street-lightning !! The Long-eared Owl was 328 (+2), the Little Owl 206 (-1) and the dark Barn Owl 294 (-2) gram. The Kestrel was 210 (=) and the Goshawk 973 (+3) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 36 (-1) and the other 38 (=) gram. “Sophie” has spent the whole night in a cage without heating as a preparation for the hibernation-period. The knee from yesterday-evening has cut up roughly during the night and the thud has done no good to an already crunchy back !! At 8.40 a.m. a quite sleepy “Sophie” was transferred to the hibernation-place for tortoises in the House-next-door. Did we were capable helping the Zoo in Lahore (Pakistan) in 2005, when they had problems with disappearing vulture-species, today we received the following e-mail:

Helo sir,

i hope that you will be well there? how going your work? blive me i am very happy, and great thank to you that which information you send me about vulture related diclofenac sodium in vultures, i am doing research on vultures my vulture arctical is published in the news paper last sunday. blive me i have no words to thanks for you, and your center.

alls eforts are yours. this reword go to you. i am sanding you my coments in paper which published 16 november2008         

ZARRAR KHALIL

EX VETERINARY TECHNOLOGIST LAHORE ZOO LAHORE PAKISTAN

VETERINARY ASSISTANT IN BROOKE HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS

RECOGNITION REWORD HOLDER USA

And from the used words in the arctical (sorry: article !!) it showed that our explanation and wording was taken-over almost literally !! So: so let it be written !!

Checking “Sophie” at 4.45 p.m. it showed that she was breathing evidently more quiet than this was the case yesterday and this morning. The orange weather-alert was meanwhile turned-back into yellow, but in this case not anymore due to stormy weather, but due to thunderstorms. But we’re still better off than in Western Europe !! In the evening we could read on the web-site of the county-newspaper “Aiólika Néa” a huge article, written by the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí about the tortoise “Sophie” and our efforts keeping her alive. We were praised into the heavens !! And it was nice reading to be appreciated from veterinary side !!

November 24^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 318 (-10 !!), the Little Owl 205 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 291 (-3) gram. The Kestrel was 211 (+1) and the Goshawk 971 (-2) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 38 (+2) and the other  as well 38 (=) gram. Today meat had to be processed again, and the own crew, completed with Douglas & Janice, has “done” 14,530 kilo (for 97,32 Euro). Total now this year 709,809 kilo for 4477,11 Euro. Did we have at 5 a.m. still a yellow weather-alert because of expected thunder-storms, this had disappeared completely at 11.30 a.m.

Tree planting

Hundreds of volunteers took part in the planting of some 20,000 trees on the hills surrounding Kalyvia, east of Athens, yesterday in an event organized by Skai TV and Radio. Greenery in the area was destroyed during wildfires in the summer of 2007.

Force winds and heavy rain...

An Athenian is drenched by a crashing wave as he walks in the city's coastal suburbs on Saturday. Gale force winds and heavy rain wreaked havoc with ferry travel and caused flooding in some parts of the country. The fire service had to respond to 56 calls for help in Attica, 86 in central Greece and almost 100 in the Peloponnese. One of the areas worst affected by floods was Ierapetra on Crete, where a driver narrowly avoided being swept out to sea in his car. Nine fire engines were dispatched to this area of southeastern Crete to help locals recover from the damage caused by flooding.

“Sophie” is still not sleeping, but there are some more which are still a bit awake. In the afternoon we had again a yellow weather-alert due to expected stormy winds. The cat “Fífi”, which should be taken-back by the owners before 7 p.m. . . . . wasn’t taken back . . . . !! Greeks !! Late in the evening there was a huge consternation in our (already pitch-dark) court-yard: all possible (and impossible) cats were “celebrating a party” over there. During our efforts stopping this “breach of the peace”, our black ex-tom-cat “Poekie” took his chance and disappeared . . . . !! Finding black in black . . . . ??

November 25^th: “Poekie” hadn’t yet appeared at 4.50 a.m. !! There still is a yellow weather-alert for our islands. The Long-eared Owl was 320 (+2), the Little Owl 204 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 291 (=) gram. The Kestrel was 212 (+1) and the Goshawk, which had vomited a lot, was 960 (-11) gram. We started again feeding him soft food. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 38 (=) and the other 39 (+1) gram. For the first time “Mázzel” has climbed on his own the narrow rotating staircase from the ground floor to the 1^st floor.

Discharged:

At 4.10 it showed to be that the she-cat “Fífi” was indeed a Lady, because she returned home in style in an Alfa Romeo !! And she was walking almost as good as before the accident !!

November 26^th:  there is no weather-alert anymore !! The Long-eared Owl was 314 (-6), the Little Owl 204 (=) and the Dark Barn Owl 290 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 212 (=) and the Goshawk 960 (=) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 37 (-1) and the other 40 (+1) gram. We have neither seen nor heard anything from the Tom-cat “Poekie” !! He had entered the L.W.H. in 2004 (04-015; February 7^th ’04), after being “forgotten” in a sterilizations-programme due to being replaced together with the cats which were “done” already. He had lived in Mólivos already for some years in the streets and has evidently now chosen freedom again. “Mázzel” is able climbing the stairs now completely, and after he is helped over the high doorstep at the first stair, he can walk downwards as well !! At 6.56 a.m. (!!) we were phoned from Mólivos by the well-known to us Eva, that her dog “Max” was poisoned for the umpteenth time. We have in the past several times brought him back from before “the doors of hell” whereunder last year when they needed antidote and we were the closest-by. “Max” is now still under treatment at het friend Myrsíni Tourvalí, but she is (of course !!) not willing, if this should bee necessary due to the age and condition of the dog, to put him down decently !! “If we eventually should be willing to . . . . ??” Our answer was positive and so we’ll wait for further information. In the meantime the whole day busy with repairing the working clothes for coming trainees, making new pockets (there were some jackets completely “stripped”), etc. etc. This with reference to the defects we had discovered when the last 2 trainees were here. By the way, from one of the two we received an e-mail that she definitively hadn’t wanted going back home prematurely, but had thought she had to go back together with her colleague. Such a pity !!

Environmentalists hit PM with e-mail blitz

The e-mail account of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis has been flooded by more than 4,500 messages from citizens embracing an initiative by conservation group WWF Hellas aimed at spurring authorities to do their bit in fighting climate change.

The e-mails comprise the following appeal: “Greece has the ability to reduce (carbon dioxide) emissions by 67 percent by 2050. The means are there. All that is needed is the political will. The climate is in your hands.” Next to the text is a photograph of the White Tower in Thessaloniki, Karamanlis’s home city, partially submerged in water. “This could be Thessaloniki in the middle of the century if we do not reverse climate change,” the caption says.

In the e-mail, WWF also appeals to Karamanlis to support measures proposed at a United Nations climate change summit scheduled to begin in Poznan, Poland, next month.

At 3.55 p.m. the dog “Max” arrived here > see further at HE-DOG. At 5.37 p.m. we received a phone-call from a well-known “subcontractor-address” in Pérama, that one had over there a “geráki” (bird-of-prey; probably a Buzzard)with a broken wing. Because it was already pitch-dark, agreed that we’ll turn out tomorrow at day-light.

November 27^th:  was the escaped tom-cat “Poekie” spotted already late last night on the roof of “The Keep” where he was sitting brotherly together with the out-door tom-cat “Pápa”, this morning at 5 a.m. we succeeded with some persuasiveness from our side (we were bitten and scratched everywhere !!) getting him in again. The Long-eared Owl was 318 (+4), the Little Owl 203 (-1) and the Dark Barn Owl 287 (-3) gram. The Kestrel was 213 (+1) and with the Goshawk it’s still “bull-shit”: 941 (-19 !!) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 38 (+1) and the other 42 (+2) gram. The “geráki” was still alive at 7.30 a.m., so we turned-out at about 7.45 a.m. > at the cross-road to Pérama there was a sign that the road was closed and that one had to take the road through the mountains. However, we were pig-headed and after all this had been the right decision, because 10 meters behind the place we had to be, indeed the road was teared up and was ruined further more. The bird showed to be a (most probably shot) female Sparrowhawk > see further at SPARROWHAWK. After we had finished the last working-jacket (four new pockets were made, of which two with flaps), we now have six working-jackets in different seizes and (green) colors for the trainees and/or volunteers to come. There is still one green pair of trousers, in which a new “sealing” must be made. Is that one ready too, we have as well six working-trousers in different seizes for the inhabitants of the House-next-door. 

Stray appeal

Deputy Agricultural Development Minister Costas Kiltidis yesterday sent a circular to local and regional authorities across the country, reminding them that it is their duty to collect, neuter and tag (micro-chipping > note L.W.H.) stray dogs and cats. Many local authorities do not fulfill their obligations to avert the uncontrolled breeding of stray animals, the circular said.

November 28^th:  no victims this morning !! The Long-eared Owl was 317 )-1), the Little Owl 204 (+1) and the Dark Barn Owl 286 (-1) gram. The Kestrel was 215 (+2), the new Sparrowhawk 269 (+11) and the Goshawk 936 (-5) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 35 (-3) and the other 42 (=) gram. Repairing the last green trousers is more difficult than was thought: it’s the extra layer on the bottom that was ripped-off, so the whole trousers had to be disassembled !!

Environment: Stern warning

British economist Sir Nicholas Stern warned yesterday during a visit to Athens that the problem of climate change is more dangerous than the current economic crisis.

“We have the economic crisis, which is serious, but we also have a global environmental problem, which is more serious and more urgent,” he told Skai TV’s “Eco News.” “Confronting one does not mean ignoring the other. In fact, we can take measures that will tackle both problems.”

In 2006 Stern produced a report for the British government on the impacts of global warming on the world economy. In his report, Stern suggested that 1% of global GDP would have to be invested annually to avoid climate change. Otherwise, it could lead to international growth being 20% lower.

Sir Nicholas warned that Southeastern Europe risks turning into a desert in the next 100-150 years unless climate change is reversed.

He said that the effects of global warming will be clear in 20 to 30 years unless action is taken.

See as well November 18^th for this item:

Samothrace cleanup

Municipal authorities yesterday began to clean up about 50 days’ worth of rotting garbage from the streets of Samothrace. The trash had started piling up after residents blocked municipal trucks from accessing the local landfill, which they believe poses a health risk. It was unclear whether the residents had reached a consensus with authorities regarding the operation of the landfill.

At 4.30 p.m. we have checked “Sophie” and except from being quite drowsy, further nothing was wrong with her. The Pallid Swift, we still have yet as well, remains perfectly on weight.

November 29^th:  the Long-eared Owl was 317 (=), the Little Owl 201 (-3) and the Dark Barn Owl 286 (=) gram. The Kestrel was 215 (=), the Sparrowhawk 273 (+4) and the Goshawk 929 (-7) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 39 (+4) and the other 41 (-1) gram. At 9.30 a.m. “our” carpenter was at our door with his doggie, which should deliver but wasn’t able to do so. So we did an internal exploration and although there was a complete unlock, there still were no contractions. He was told to wait and see till “the water had broken”.

 At 10.10 a.m. the last pair of trousers was completely ready; it showed to be an “XXXL”, only the legs aren’t so long . . . . !! The House Sparrow, we transferred 6^th of this month to the Aviary “hoping for the best”, is doing quite well and the feathering is almost perfect now. So he can be released after the hunting-season  (one is shooting over here even sparrows to eat them . . . !!).

What’s mentioned hereunder will have probably nothing to do with the last line here above . . . . :

Explosive disappearance

Two artillery shells are missing from a high security military munitions depot in Alexandroupolis, northeastern Greece, it was revealed on Friday. During a regular inspection, officers found that two padlocks had been changed on one of the warehouses and that two 81-mm shells were unaccounted for. . . . . (come on, unaccounted ??)

TRASH PROTEST

Municipal employees block Athens, Thessaloniki dumps

Municipal staff said on Friday that they would close landfills in Athens and Thessaloniki beginning Sunday to protest reforms tabled in Parliament last week granting the right to municipal authorities to hire private firms for local waste management. Protesters have called for a response by Tuesday threatening they will step up their protests. Meanwhile on Samothrace, an island in the northern Aegean, authorities continued gathering thousands of tons of trash from roadsides following a 50-day strike by local street cleaners. It is hoped they will be finished by Saturday.

Peloponnese roads in disrepair

There is a dangerous spot every 2.8 kilometers on country roads in the Peloponnese, some of which will need almost 60 years of maintenance work to be fully repaired, according to research carried out by local civil engineers.

The local branch of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) presented the data at a seminar on Friday. “The quality of the road network in the Peloponnese is no different to the average situation around Greece. It is old, poorly maintained and totally inadequate for the needs and demands of today’s traffic,” said the head of the TEE in the Peloponnese, Chariklia Tsioli. “The national, regional and country road network need a major improvement and restructuring program while, in some cases, we need new roads.”

TEE’s research found that the road surface in mountainous areas of the central and eastern Peloponnese was in need of drastic repair as a result of the snow and ice in the winter, which melts in the spring.

Road markings were found to be either inadequate or non-existent, while many roads run through villages where drivers rarely observe the speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour.

According to traffic police statistics, there has been an 8% rise in the number of road accidents in the Peloponnese, while the number of people killed in crashes has risen by 19% – 125 people have died and more than 1,100 have been injured this year.

TEE also said that if the state continues to maintain country roads at the current rate, it will need 58 years to make the roads in just the area of Laconia safe.

In August, the government agreed on a deal that will see some 280 kilometers of new highway built and another 80 kilometers upgraded to provide better road access between Athens and the western and northern Peloponnese.

At 12.20 p.m. the carpenter phoned again, that the water seemed to have broken, but that still there were no contractions > he should pass by. And he was here at 12.23 p.m. with the she-dog “Lucy” > see further at SHE-DOG.

November 30^th:  at 4.50 a.m. “Lucy” had no contractions anymore at all, so at 5.45 a.m. 50 I.U. Oxytocin s.c. (for stirring up the contractions; was bought late yesterday afternoon in Kallonís for the case íf) was injected. Within some minutes there were already results and a blackish greenish fluid came dripping out (is a dead puppy obstructing all ??). But first we’ll let nature do her job. The Long-eared Owl was 319 (+2), the Little Owl 203 (+2) and the dark Barn Owl 288 (as well +2) gram. The Kestrel was 214 (-1), the Sparrowhawk 279 (+6) and the Goshawk 924 (-5) gram. Baby-tortoises: the home-bred was 39 (=) and the other 42 (+1) gram. At 7.50 a.m. it showed that “Lucy” was walking around with a half-born puppy, which however was too large and couldn’t pass at all > see further at her name.

Total amount of visitors this month:  002                     (total this year: 487)

Kinds of animals who are mentioned like this were for the first time in treatment in the L.W.H.

Amount of kilometers (Animal-Ambulance) for bringing-in/releasing animals this month 133 (total this year 3311 kilometers)

Total amount of intakes this month: 11 [wild ones: 05; others 06], (total this year 227: wild ones 171, others 056; total since the start of registration in 1996: 4038) of which:

PIGEON (Columba livia dom.): 2 from/via Mytiléne. Both sent-in by the vet Myrsíni Tourvalí. The first had indeed two immense swollen eyes and quite a lot of horse-flies. For the first problem started with Cavasan-eye-ointment and for the second problem PINEX-spray was used. (see as well November 8^th, 9^th & 13^th). The 2^nd missed almost all big tail-feathers, had some skin-injuries at the right foot and a closed fracture of the right tibia. Because due to the lots of feathers over there a splint is impossible, started with giving rest. (see as well November 13^th, 15^th & 17^th).

KINGFISHER (Alcedo atthis): 1 female, which had fallen from the sky in Kallonís. Is a bit too light (38 i.s.o. 40 – 45 gram). So observation and trying to get her back on weight.

(see as well November 6^th).

SHE-CAT (Felis catus): 2; the first was a quite young specimen (± 6 months old) from our village; “Fífi”. Was a couple of days ago knocked-down by a car and disappeared afterwards. Returned this morning, but was walking difficultly. Except some minor skin-injuries on the right rear-leg no fractures could be detected. So taken-in for observation pelvis- and/or internal injuries. (see as well November 25^th). The 2^nd was a semi-stray one, came from Parákoila, and from her is taken away the joy of motherhood in the future.  

GREEN TOAD (Bufo viridis): 1 bone-thin specimen, discovered by the she-dog “Mítsi” just before the outside door of the L.W.H. The skin is slopping like an old cotton bag around his/her body. So trying to boost him/her up a bit.

(see as well November 10^th).

SUCKING PIG (Sus scrofa dom.): 1 some days old little sow, from the farm of the pig-breeder with the pig-swimming-pool close to the landfill of the village. According to what the community-laborers told us, another swine had “rumbled over” her. The poor little one had a gasping breath, lots of blood and sand in the mouth, a gaping injury just above the right eye and an open fracture of the last part of the hard palate. Was sucked-out, but swallowing fluid was very difficult. So started with the subcutaneous injection of fluids (“Ringers-solution”). However, the prognosis is . . . . ??

At 3.45 p.m. started with placing her under the red light, because she was ice-cold. One hour later no pupil-reaction was present anymore . . . !! Was discovered not alive anymore at 7.05 p.m. . . . . !! We have performed a P.M. one day later: the skull was the most important part, but because of the two trainees a complete P.M. was done. The left lung had a different color. The skull showed having a complete smashed palate, including the os ethmoidale and the last part of the septum. As well there was a huge tear in the last part of the tongue. Placing an explorer in the injury above the right eye, it showed that the eye-socket was smashed as well: we could explore till into the brain.

HE-DOG (Canis familiaris): 1 from Mólivos; “Max”. Was treated by us in the past several times after being poisoned. Showed indeed he was at “the end of his days” > helped him passing-over to another (and hopefully better) life.

SPARROWHAWK (Accipiter nisus): 1 adult female, discovered at “Kastro” in the neighborhood of Pérama. Had shot-holes through the left wing and 2 shot-holes in the left side of the thorax. The latter injury was cleaned from feather- & blood-remnants and sprayed with Negerol-spray. For the wing-injury a hanging cast was given. As well antibiotics (Baytril) were injected. By the way, the bird is too light: only 258 i.s.o. 280 – 320 gram.

SHE-DOG (Canis familiaris): 1 from our village; “Lucy” from the workshop of “our” carpenter. Is primipara with all consequences, because her “husband” seems te be about twice her seize, and she is a real pygmy. Taken-in for assistance in the difficult hours to come. At 5.15 p.m. the contractions had begun. But they had disappeared again at 9.15 p.m. The day after intake in the morning “Oxytocin” was injected, which had a bit result. At 7.50 a.m. it showed that one puppy had passed already with the head the pelvis, but was stuck. Because the “water had broken” already, was suffocated (tongue complete out of the mouth). Tried by hand removing this pup > came out in “pieces and fragments”, and half of it stayed inside. So decided to an emergency Caesarian section. Doing so, the whole womb and 2,5 puppies were removed. From those puppies we succeeded in “get going” one and we hope that one will make it. All three puppies were much too large for this tiny female > never she should have been able delivering them alive and most probably she should have gotten the worst of it.

PUPPY (Canis familiaris): 1, delivered via a Caesarian section, female from the L.W.H. Is the only remaining child of the she-dog “Lucy”. After the delivering (± 8.45 a.m.) she was nursed, dried, sucked out and untied by Ineke. Could be placed back to the mother one hour and a half later, who accepted her !!