Wild Fires in Greece & Greek Islands

Greece is currently on a high risk alert for wildfires as the temperatures soared at the weekend to over 40 oC in many areas. After the disastrous and deadly wildfires of 2007, in which 74 people lost their lives, the country is once more braced to fight devastating fires.

More than 50 wildfires broke out across Greece on Sunday alone, fanned by high winds, according to an Associated Press news report:
'The largest was a brush fire on the western island of Zakynthos, which ignited early on Sunday evening and was raging unchecked. The fire trapped some 70 beach-goers, both Greek and foreign, who were evacuated by boats. The area is a breeding ground for the endangered loggerhead sea turtle.'

In Ierapetra, south east Crete, a large fire raged in the area of Selakano on Friday. Approximately 80 children, attending a summer camp in the area, were evacuated and transported safely to Tertsa. Meanwhile police were called in to direct traffic along safe routes, as local residents panicked amid the smoke and flames. More than 100 firefighters and 3 helicopters battled the blaze.(Patris)

Many small fires break out across the country daily, and in Crete it's certainly not unusual to hear fire engines, water-dropping planes and helicopters. The photos on this page are of one such 'small' fire in 2007 in Aptera / Megala Chorafia. See more photos here


UPDATES: Click here for LATEST NEWS on Greece wildfires


Facts from the 2007 Greek wildfires from www.greeceinflames.org

. 6.000 fires burst out across the whole country between July and August 2007
. 74 deaths
. More than 2,500,000 acres of forest along with 400.000 acres of agricultural production turned to ash, and numerous burned animals.
. 120 burned villages
. 2.850 houses destroyed.
. The fires caused damage estimated at around 5 billion euros



Photographs © Rufus Camphausan www.polikala.gr

Incentives for New Cars in Greece

Scrappage Scheme - Απόσυρση Αυτοκίνητων

(Not intended for cars as old as this one!)

Greece is to introduce a car scrappage scheme for the first time since the 1990s in a bid to take vehicles that heavily pollute the environment off the road, but also to boost public coffers by almost 2 billion euros.

Under the scheme car owners will be paid between 500 and 2,200 euros to turn in their vehicle so it can be scrapped. The amount they will receive will depend on the size of the car’s engine, ranging from under 900 cubic centimeters to 2,400 cc or more.


Any of these drivers wishing to buy a more environmentally friendly car (deemed as one that has been registered from 2005 onward) will also be given an extra incentive of 1,000 euros.

Souflias said that if all the paperwork is ready in time, the measure could start as early as next month. The program will run from 2009 to 2012 and will be applied immediately after the issuance of ministerial decisions.


Change in road tax based on carbon emissions introduced

In addition to incentives for drivers to trade in their old cars, Public Works and Environment Minister Giorgos Souflias said that owners of vehicles that produce fewer emissions would pay lower road tax.

The road tax for low-emission vehicles will be reduced, but also will be increased for cars that pollute more.

Source: Ekathimerini

The Abandonment of Neoria (Venetian Shipyards) in Chania

The Union of Tourist Accommodation Chania is calling for the renovation of the old Neoria building in the port.

“This important monument has been abandoned to the hands of fate; the broken glass skylights and the windows below clogged with chicken wire behind the iron bars, show the true neglect. What impression are we giving tourists of our city?

In a few days time the “Agricultural August’ exhibition will take place outside Neoria and people will crowd into makeshift nylon tents. How much more comfortable would restored air-conditioned rooms inside Neoria be? How much more interesting would the old port be with the renovation and transformation of one of the Neoria into an exhibition gallery, showing the sea trade routes in the eastern Mediterranean basin during the early Renaissance centuries.”
The Tourist Accommodation Union is asking Chania council for renovation studies to be submitted for EU funding.
From the Haniotika Nea

To read more about Neoria visit the Chania Muncipality website (link opens in a new window)

Scorpions Rock Hania

The Scorpions rocked Hania last night in their first ever concert in Crete.

Click on a photo to open a larger image

By 7pm the stadium was starting to fill up:

Here's Dokken:

then Firewind:

As darkness fell we moved down onto the grass field, closer to the stage to see the Scorpions, who started their set around 10pm and finished a little before midnight:













Great concert. Rock on Scorpions.

Summer Cultural Festivals in Crete 2009

Summer in Greece brings art, music, dance and theatre to town. In Crete each year the various municipalities organise summer cultural festivals, and this year there literally hundreds of events taking place in the main towns across Crete.


The full summer events programmes are now out for Heraklion, Chania and Rethymnon; a short selection of which are published below. Check out the links for the complete programmes.

HERAKLION

July 6th to 11th - Dance Festival
At Technopolis, Ammoudara, Heraklion. Tel 2810 821400

July 21st Ross Daly & The Labyrinth Music Workshop
Hatzidakis outdoor theatre. 21.30hrs. Entrance €10


July 22nd Evening of Dance
Kazantzakis outdoor theatre 21.00hrs. Free Entrance

Full Heraklion programme:
PDF File NOTE: 20MB file. Pages 8 onwards have posters of each event, including details in English.

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CHANIA

July 10th Dance Show.
Incorporating dance from around the world - Greek, flamenco, Latin, hip- hop etc. Anatoliki Tafros (Moat) Theatre (opposite Kriti Hotel) 21.00hrs. Free Entrance.

July 11th Scorpions in concert

July 15th Cretan Music concert Agia Marina square ('pano'- upper village) with Stelios Bikakis.

August 19th Psantonis concert
Famed Cretan musician Psarantonis plays at "Alsos', Agios Apostolis


Full Chania Programme: 1)In Greek 2) In English (Google translation)
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RETHYMNON

July 12th Rethymnon Rennaissance Festival commences with the Opening Ceremony. Full details: Rethymnon.biz

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