the unbalanced evolution of homo sapiens

weekend themes by Stelios Kouloglou * A few days ago, I was asked by Belgian journalists to participate in an act of solidarity with redundant workers in the Greek public broadcaster ERT. I explained them that the closure of ERT in 2013 by an illegal act of force where, in one night, 2,500 people lost their jobs and found themselves on the street without any compensation, is the first anti-democratic act the country has recently experienced. The story does not stop there. After the national elections in January and the rise of SYRIZA to power, Greece has entered a new period of undemocratic deviation. Almost on a daily basis, the Government is exposed to threats, blackmails and ultimatums from lenders, Brussels and Berlin in order to disrespect the vote of the Greek citizens. Greece is confronted by events that are unprecedented in the history of the European Union. For instance, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble publicly m

“ The UN refugee agency on Friday said it was deeply concerned about the desperate situation for thousands of people fleeing fighting in the central Iraqi city of Ramadi who continue to face challenges reaching safe areas.” “ The International Organization for Migration estimates that some 85,000 people have fled Ramadi and surrounding areas since fresh fighting between militants and pro-government troops erupted in mid-May. The vast majority – about 85 per cent – remain in Anbar governorate. In total, more than 180,000 people are estimated to have been displaced from the Ramadi area since hostilities began in early April.” “ Unable to move to other provinces, thousands of displaced people congregated around the city of Al-Khalidiya (east of Ramadi and also the scene of fighting in recent weeks) then moved to Al Madina Al Siyahiya and to Amriyat Al-Falujah, where UNHCR has provided aid at collective shelters. 'But much more support is needed in these distr

“ The UN refugee agency, citing government figures, on Friday said renewed fighting between armed groups in the Gao, Mopti and Timbuktu areas of northern Mali in the past four weeks has led to some 57,000 people fleeing their homes.” “ [UNHCR spokesman William Spindler] explained that the newly-displaced join the ranks of more than 43,000 internally displaced people throughout the country who have not yet returned to their homes since the conflict in 2012 between governmental forces and various rebel groups. The total number of internally displaced people (IDP) in Mali stands now at just over 100,000, mainly in the northern part of the country. The deterioration in the security situation came days after the signing of a May 15 peace agreement between the government and several armed groups in the Mali capital, Bamako. Those hardest hit live in the Timbuktu Region, where more than 53,000 IDPs have been registered.” “ Malian refugees had been slowly but consiste

“ China may reportedly build some 415 warships by 2030, according to former top intelligence officer James Fanell as cited by US journalist Zachary Keck; Keck underscored that this would be a significant increase over China's current naval power.” “ ... the Pentagon has recently admitted in its 2015 'Annual Report on Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China,' that over the past 15 years, China's naval modernization program has resulted in a more technologically advanced and flexible force.” “ ... at last week's the annual conference of the US Naval War College's China Maritime Institute James Fanell stressed that Beijing's new Luyang III Type 052D class destroyers could be considered a 'game changer,' allowing China's Navy to expand its operational area and project its power far beyond 'first island chain.' Zachary Keck noted, however, that Fanell has long been known for his alarmist s

“ Σε μια πρωτοποριακή κίνηση ετοιμάζεται να προβεί η νέα δήμαρχος Βαρκελώνης, Άντα Κολάου, η οποία εκλέχτηκε στην πρώτη θέση των πρόσφατων δημοτικών εκλογών πριν από λίγες ημέρες. Συγκεκριμένα, σκέφτεται να μειώσει το μισθό του δημάρχου στα 2.200 ευρώ μηνιαίως, από τα… 11.000 ευρώ που παίρνει ο νυν δήμαρχος της πόλης.” “ Στο πρόγραμμά της επίσης, περιλαμβάνεται η εξασφάλιση δωρεάν μετακίνησης στα μέσα μαζικής μεταφοράς για όσους είναι κάτω των 16 ετών, να μετατρέψει τα άδεια σπίτια σε κοινωνικές κατοικίες, να επιβάλει νέους φόρους σε τράπεζες και επιχειρήσεις ηλεκτρισμού, να μειώσει τις τιμές του νερού, του ηλεκτρικού και του φυσικού αερίου προς όφελος των πολιτών καθώς και να δημιουργήσει 2.500 θέσεις εργασίας.” “ Μάλιστα στο προεκλογικό της σύνθημα ήταν σαφής: 'Έφτασε η ώρα να κερδίσουν εκείνοι που ποτέ δεν κερδίζουν'. Η 41 χρονη νέα δήμαρχος είναι από εκείνους τους 'αγανακτισμένους' που πήρε θέση ενάντια στους ισχυρούς της πολιτικής, απαιτώντ