Tuesday, August 28, 2012

In pictures: Wine grapes are harvested in Attica - Greece

The harvesting of wine grapes has begun for the season in Attica, the largest winemaking region in Greece. Wine grapes are hand-picked and then carried for desteming, the first stage of wine production.




Worker starts harvesting grapes early in the morning, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker harvesting "merlot" grapes with his hands, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker harvesting "merlot" grapes with his hands, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker starts harvesting grapes early in the morning, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker starts harvesting grapes early in the morning, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker carries grapes in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Grape variety named "merlot" for producing red wine, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker carries grapes in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker carries grapes at the time of the vintage, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker carries grapes at the time of the vintage, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker harvesting "merlot" grapes with hands, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker harvesting "merlot" grapes with his hands, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Workers harvesting "merlot" grapes with hands, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Worker harvesting "merlot" grapes with hands, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

Workers harvesting "merlot" grapes with their hands, in a vineyard situated in Stamata in Attica, the wider region of the Greek capital.

The grape variety named "merlot" is used for producing red wine.

Grape variety named "merlot" for producing red wine, is being carried for stemming to Papagiannakos Winery in Markopoulo.

Cages with grapes are emptied to the mechanical destemmer in the Papagiannakos Winery in Markopoulo.

Cages with grapes are emptied to the mechanical de-stemmer in Papagiannakos Winery in Markopoulo -Attica.

Stems coming out of the de-stemmer.

The extraction is pumped to vessels, which are tanks made of stainless steel, for fermentation, in the Papagiannakos Winery in Markopoulo.

Vasilis Papagiannakos, the third generation of family winemakers, Papagiannakos Winery, since 1919, seen while inspecting the process of wine making.


The harvesting of wine grapes has started in Attica, the largest winemaker region in Greece. Wine grapes are hand picked and after they are carried for destemming, the first stage of wine production.
In order to make red wine, after destemming, the grapes are lightly crushed.
The extraction that is obtained is a mixture of grapes, skins, juice and seeds, which is now referred to as must. The must is then pumped to a vessel, often a tank made of stainless steel or concrete, for fermentation.

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Petrol bomb attack against Pakistani migrants in Athens

A group of youths petrol bombed Pakistani immigrants while they slept in the area of Agioi Anargyroi. One Pakistani is hospitalized with severe burns. Attacks against immigrants in the region continue.



Fesel shows the bed that Navid was sleeping in, who was burned when attacked.

Fesel shows the bed that Navid was sleeping in, who was burned when attacked.

Fesel shows the bed that Navid was sleeping in, who was burned when attacked.

Fesel shows the bed that Navid was sleeping in, who was burned when attacked.

The old Greek traditional courtyard with the well, where Pakistanis live, as seen between the leaves of the olive tree that were burnt from the attack.

Majid, another Pakistani victim of racist attack, while working as a barber..

Majid, another Pakistani victim of racist attack, while working as a barber..

Majid, another Pakistani victim of racist attack, while working as a barber..

Majid, another Pakistani victim of racist attack, while threading facial hair as a barber.





A group of youths attacked with Petrol bomb to Pakistani immigrants while they slept in the yard of their home at dawn Sunday in the area of Agioi Anargyroi in Athens. One Pakistani of the victims, is hospitalized in a special monitoring unit, with severe burns on his back and hand. The attacks against immigrants in the region continue. Victims of the attacks are photographed and tell their experience.

The facts are also denounced officially by the movement “United Against Racism and Fascist Threat” and the “Union of Migrant Workers”.

A month ago in the same region of Agioi Anargyroi, another petrol bomb attack had happened, to a place of prayer of Pakistani Muslims.

I meet Fesel Navaz in an old traditional Greek house with a courtyard in Agioi Anargyroi, where he rents to stay. He is 33y.old, from Pakistan and living in Greece for the last 10 years as a legal migrant. He tells me:
“ We live in this home for the last ten years with Navid Navaz who is 37 years old and has Residence and Work Permit in Greece since 1998.
At dawn on Sunday I was sleeping and Navid was sleping on this bed here in the courtyard because of the hot weather.
Suddenly in the night we heard an explosion and Navid woke up to discover that his bed and clothes were on fire, while he was full of burning petroleum.

Navid was transferred to the hospital and doctors said he has to stay isolated in a special monitoring unit due to the severity of burns.
His left arm and back are much burned.

Policemen of Agioi Anargyroi Police Department came here after they were called by our neighbours.
After a while more Policemen came here from the neighboring Police Department of Ilion municipality.
I heard them saying that the explosion was heard in Ilion and they came to see what has happened.
Police left after they picked up pieces of the bottle that was used for the petrol bomb.

The fire of the explosion was so big that it burned some leaves from the trees by the fence. You can see the burned leaves of this olive tree.”

I meet Nasser who is a relative of Fesel and Navid and he lives in Greece for the last 17 years.
He tells me: “Fesel and Navid are very quiet people and have never bothered anyone.
I have many Greeks friends who heard what happened and called me on the phone to tell me they feel sorry. Such events would not occur in the previously years.
Now something unexplainable is happening
In my life here, I have seen that Greek people are compassionate towards dogs and cats. How can they not be compassionate with other people?”

Before 24 hours go through, on the same street that Fesel and Navid live, another Pakistani named Majid was attacked with sticks by a group of young people riding motorcycles.

Majid is 24 years old and working as a barber on the area and lives nearly a hundred meters away from the home that was attacked with petrol bomb.
I meet Majid on the hairdresser's, where he works. He is a very pleasant guy, subsequently smiling. On the hairdresser's are men and women clients.
He tells me:
“ On Sunday around 11am, I was walking on the street out of my home with two other friends.

Suddenly we were encircled by a group of men on ten bikes that were holding sticks and bats.
The other two of my friends managed to escape, but I could not. They were hitting me while I was down on the street for eight minutes, while shouting at me to go away from their country.
The inhabitants of the surrounding houses saw this and started shouting at them, telling them to leave me go.
I have bruises on my arms and back.
The police came to my home after two hours and recorded what happened.
Now I'm afraid to go out, that I might get stabbed.
I have seen from afar some of those who beat me, they live nearby.
I think they do this to kick me of the country. They want me to get kicked out of the country with this brutal and humiliating manner.”

While I speak with Majid, I also get known with Maria, a Greek lady around 50 y.o., who came to dye her hair at the hairdresser. She is a pharmacist.
She tells me:
“ I have also seen at least two times, the group with motorcycles that beats immigrants.
One day at dawn Tuesday or Wednesday, they attacked to three migrants, who were looking in the trash for recyclables.
Migrants were chased and walked into a bus. But their attackers walked into the bus and continued beating them.
The bus driver did nothing. He stared and laughed.
All this is done because Greece accepted poor and miserable people, but we have no infrastructure.
If the rich of this earth, gave a tenth of their earnings, no one would be hungry anymore, and migrants would not have to leave their countries.
But the rich do not give. Rich people only know how to get. Only the poor and ordinary people give.”
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The story is continued with the latest updates on this link:
http://www.demotix.com/node/1448738/
Protest march against racist attacks in Agioi Anargyroi area of Athens




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Friday, August 24, 2012

Dynamic anti-racist protest in Athens



A dynamic anti-racist protest was held in Athens with the participation of about 5,000 immigrants, mainly from Pakistan. Their purpose was to protest the way they are treated, not only by members of the Golden Dawn, but also by the Greek state. Greece, 24 August 2012.


Immigrants mainly from Pakistan hold banners against racist attacks and raise their hands, during a protest rally in Omonoia central square of Athens, Greece.
Immigrants protesting against racist attacks in Stadiou Street.
Immigrants mainly from Pakistan hold banners against racist attacks and raise their hands, during a protest rally in Omonoia central square of Athens, Greece.
Immigrants mainly from Pakistan hold banners against racist attacks and raise their hands, during a protest rally in Omonoia central square of Athens, Greece.
Immigrants hold banners against racist attacks and raise their hands, during a protest rally in Omonoia central square of Athens, Greece.
Greek worker expressing solidarity with migrants in Omonoia central square at the beginning of the protest in Athens, Greece.
Immigrants protest holding banners against racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Omonoia central square of Athens, during the speeches of the anti-racist rally.
Crowd of migrants gathered in Omonoia central square of Athens, Greece, during the anti-racist protest rally.
Syriza political party MP, Dimitris Tsoukalas, while speaking in Omonoia Square of Athens greece, during the anti-racist rally.
Immigrants protest holding banners against racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Omonoia central square of Athens, during the speeches of the anti-racist rally.
Immigrants protest holding banners against racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Omonoia central square of Athens, during the speeches of the anti-racist rally.
Mr. Petros Konstantinou (R), member of the Municipal Council of Athens City and representative the Movement "United Against Racism and the Fascist Threat", during his speech in Omonoia Square.
Ms. Hala Akari, member of administrative council of European Forum of Muslim Women, addressing speech in Omonoia central square of Athens, Greece, during the anti-racist rally.
Protesters wrangle during a low intensity disorder occurred in the beginning of the protest in Stadiou Street in front of a Gold exchange office.
Immigrants protest holding banners against racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Stadiou Street, Athens, Greece.
Immigrants protest holding banners against racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Stadiou Street, Athens, Greece.
Immigrants protest holding banners against racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Stadiou Street, Athens, Greece.
Immigrants protest holding banners against racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Stadiou Street, Athens, Greece. "Stop Religious Racism" banner reads.
Pakistani migrants holding flag of Pakistan, protest for racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece.
Afghan immigrants holding flag of Afhanistan, protest for racist attacks and attacks on places of prayer, in Syntagma Square.
Pakistani protesters heft and acclaim the President of Immigrant Workers Union, Mr Javied Aslam, during the protest in Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece.
Immigrants and Greeks protest for racist attacks in Syntagma Square in front of the Greek Parliament. "Workers United, shall never be defeated" banner in Greek reads.
Young man and child protesters in Syntagma square holding a banner against Islamophobia. "Workers United, shall never be defeated" banner in Greek also reads.
Protester in Syntagma square holding a banner against Islamophobia. "Workers United, shall never be defeated" banner also reads.
Pakistani migrants protest against racist attacks in Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece.




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