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Friday, November 2, 2012

Unthinkable? Kostas Vaxevanis becomes Greece's top taxman | Editorial

The Athens government should give him one of the most important tasks in the country – cracking down on tax evasion

This was the week Kostas Vaxevanis could have gone to jail, but emerged instead as a free man – and a hero. Last Saturday, the editor of Hot Doc magazine published a roll call of 2,059 wealthy Greeks alleged to have shifted well over a billion pounds to a bank in Switzerland. He was promptly arrested for breaching data protection laws, and faced five years in jail. Then judicial sense prevailed. The names that Mr Vaxevanis leaked are colloquially known as the Lagarde List, after Christine Lagarde handed them to Athens in 2010. Yet the leads have been dropped by the Greek government: one finance minister claimed to have lost the list, another that it was missing. To update Wilde: losing a few names of alleged tax avoiders is careless; losing 2,059 names might be deemed to be indicative of a political elite seeking to cover up the transgressions of its corporate friends (and, if the list is to be believed, some of its most senior members). In a country having to hack away at a historic budget deficit by making swingeing spending cuts, not tackling endemic tax avoidance by the rich is unsustainable and unfair. So let us propose a solution: rather than harass Mr Vaxevanis, the Athens government should give him one of the most important tasks in the country – cracking down on tax evasion. He has shown the necessary sleuthing, boldness and commitment to getting at the truth – which is a lot more than the politicians have done, and perfect qualifications for a tax collector. Greek journalism's loss would be the country's gain.


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Can Private Museums Democratize Art?

Decades ago, a shipowner and his wife began a hunt for the thousand-year-old works left by sculptors who lived in the Cyclades islands around Greece....

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Acquitted Greek journalist fires back


Acquitted Greek journalist fires back
ForexLive (blog)
The Greek journalist put on trial yesterday, and acquitted, for publishing a list of Greeks with Swiss bank accounts spoke to Reuters today. The case raises so many questions because despite front page attention from international media, it was almost ...

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Holy Moly! Sacred Church Struggles With 9 Million Shekel Bill

JERUSALEM, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Jesus may have walked on water and turned it into wine but the hefty water bill for one of the...

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Bundesbank's Dombret: Greece "Way Behind" Deficit Goals


Bundesbank's Dombret: Greece "Way Behind" Deficit Goals
RTT News
Greece is "way behind" its bailout program goals due to the standstill in consolidation and basic structural reforms, Bundesbank Executive Board member Andreas Dombret said Thursday. "Politicians and the EU are willing to assist Greece, but Greece must ...

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Greece is governed by a corrupt clique, says Kostas Vaxevanis

Acquitted Greek editor adds that only foreign media stopped news of arrest over publication of 'Lagarde list' being buried

Greece is undergoing a crisis of democracy with press censorship at its centre, says the magazine editor in the middle of the media storm that has engulfed Athens. Speaking to the Guardian a day after being cleared of breaching privacy laws, Kostas Vaxevanis said Greece was ruled by a clique of corrupt politicians in thrall to businessmen who owned – and gagged – the media.

"There's a huge problem in Greece, a problem of democracy and essence," he said in his fifth-floor office, surrounded by copies of Hot Doc, the investigative magazine that last week published the names of more than 2,000 high-earning Greeks with bank accounts in Switzerland. "The country is governed by a poisonous combination of politicians, businessmen and journalists who cover one another's backs. Every day laws are changed, or new laws are voted in, to legitimise illegal deeds."

With a substantial chunk of the Greek media owned by magnates or financed by banks, journalists were in effect silenced. "It's tragic. Greeks only ever learn half the truth and that is worse than lies because it has the effect of creating impressions," he said.

"Had it not been for the foreign media taking such an interest in my own story, it would have been buried. With few exceptions, hardly any of the Greek media bothered to report that I was acquitted, when CNN and the BBC were breaking into their news broadcasts to do so. The international media is playing the role it played during the [1967-74] dictatorship, when Greeks would listen to foreign outlets to find out what was really going on in this country."

The 46-year-old, who set up Hot Doc with €5,000 of his own money six months ago, said that while independent journalism was difficult in Greece, his vindication had been a victory for freedom of the press and a justice system also besmirched by accusations of corruption.

Politicians had had more than two years to act on the list, handed to Greek authorities by the IMF head, Christine Lagarde, who was then French finance minister, but had not investigated it.

"Lagarde gave similar lists to Germany, France, Spain and Italy, and in each of those countries it was acted on and revenues in turn were accrued. Here, they are constantly saying they will deal with tax evasion, because it is the root of our country's economic problems, and they did absolutely nothing because there are people on the list who are friends of those in power," he said.

Vowing to tackle the establishment "because that is what Greeks want," Vaxevanis insisted Hot Doc would continue unearthing scandals. "The political elite have got used to the mainstream press not annoying them, but investigation is what we do," he said, looking tired, if relieved, after several sleepless nights.

"I don't think the decision to bring me before the court was the work of an overzealous prosecutor. I think it was very deliberate and very vindictive.

"No one knew my whereabouts the day I was arrested and suddenly there were 50 state security operatives surrounding the house, which would suggest my phone was being monitored. When the prosecutor came, he didn't even have a proper arrest warrant. But what I will never forget is how so many of the police who were present that day actually congratulated me for doing what I had done."


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Golden Dawn takes advantage of recession ravaged Greece

Fascist gangs are turning Athens into a city of shifting front lines, seizing on crimes and local protests to promote their own movement, find Damien McElroy.


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Acquitted Greek journalist says press muzzled by elite


National Post

Acquitted Greek journalist says press muzzled by elite
Reuters
ATHENS (Reuters) - The Greek journalist put on trial for publishing a list of Swiss bank account holders accused Greece's political and business elite on Friday of trying to muzzle the press to cover up chronic corruption. Costas Vaxevanis was ...
Accused Greek journalist says rich "untouchable"Chicago Tribune
Greek journalist acquitted in breach-of-privacy caseLos Angeles Times
Greek Publisher Acquitted in Privacy CaseABC News
National Post -CNN
all 1,137 news articles »

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Elephant 'speaks' Korean, but it's all Greek to him


Elephant 'speaks' Korean, but it's all Greek to him
Philadelphia Inquirer
An international team of researchers is claiming that a captive 22-year-old elephant in a South Korean zoo can speak. Granted, Koshik the elephant doesn't have a large vocabulary. But scientists have confirmed that the 5.5 ton behemoth can imitate five ...

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EURO GOVT-Uncertainty over US elections, Greece support Bunds


EURO GOVT-Uncertainty over US elections, Greece support Bunds
Reuters
Focus turns to U.S. elections after payrolls. * Bunds remain in tight ranges. * Greece returns to the forefront of investors' minds. By Ana Nicolaci da Costa and William James. Nov 2 (Reuters) - German Bund futures rose on Friday but failed to break ...

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Labor protests in Greece restart with subway strike as austerity vote looms


euronews

Labor protests in Greece restart with subway strike as austerity vote looms
Fox News
ATHENS, Greece – Subway and suburban rail services in Greece's capital have been halted by a 24-hour strike, as labor unions prepare for a new round of major protests against deeper austerity measures. Friday's transport strike in Athens, to protest ...
Greece gears up for another week of strikeseuronews
Greece's coalition government hit by dissent ahead of key vote on austerity ...Washington Post
Greece Is Having A Really Tough WeekBusiness Insider
ABC News -BBC News
all 1,410 news articles »

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Debt crisis:Greece is going to default, says Pimco


Telegraph.co.uk

Debt crisis:Greece is going to default, says Pimco - live
Telegraph.co.uk
16.00 Sticking with Greece, Pasok leader Evangelos Venizelos was trying to contain a rebellion within his fragile party, the second largest in the governing coalition, following the departure of a prominent party official and an MP earlier this week ...

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Greece, Serbia praised for pro-business reforms


Greece, Serbia praised for pro-business reforms
Southeast European Times
Greece and Serbia are among the 10 global economies to have improved most on the ease of doing business over the past 12 months, according to a survey published jointly by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation. Each of the countries ...


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Marie Staunton: Roll Up, Roll Up for World Leaders' Balancing Act

The High Level Panel meeting in London today has to perform a high wire act. In full public view they are balancing the interests of governments, private sector and civil society to get agreement on a new set of development goals for the world.

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ECB May Face Involuntary Losses on Greek Debt, Bosomworth Says


ECB May Face Involuntary Losses on Greek Debt, Bosomworth Says
Businessweek
The European Central Bank may have to take losses on its Greek sovereign bonds because the country is unlikely to repay its debt in full, Andrew Bosomworth, managing director at Pacific Investment Management Co. said. “At the end of the day it's the ...

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Markets unmoved by upbeat US jobs data; euro hit by recession, Greece fears


MiamiHerald.com

Markets unmoved by upbeat US jobs data; euro hit by recession, Greece fears
Washington Post
The euro is also being weighed down by worries over Greece, with signs that the coalition government is fracturing ahead of a parliamentary vote next week on a €13.5 billion package of spending cuts and tax increases that are required by international ...
Financial markets await crucial US jobs data; euro hit by recession, Greece fearsMinneapolis Star Tribune
Markets buoyed by upbeat US jobs data; euro hit by recession, Greece fearsNewser

all 156 news articles »

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Report: Bank account of Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem seized


Report: Bank account of Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem seized
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
(JTA) -- The Israeli bank account of the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem has been seized because of unpaid water bills, an Israeli newspaper has reported. Hagihon, an independent corporation established by the municipality of Jerusalem, imposed the ...

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Greece's Wealthy Know How to Dodge Taxes


The Voice of Russia

Greece's Wealthy Know How to Dodge Taxes
Greek Reporter
As the government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has put a $17.45 billion spending cut and tax hike plan before Parliament for a vote on Nov. 7, ship owners are fighting to keep their tax-free status and statistics show many self-employed and the ...
RPT-INSIGHT-Greek "tax cheat" lists yield one suicide, no convictionsReuters
Greece launches inquiry into Lagarde ListThe Voice of Russia
Crisis: Greece; Parliament to probe 'Lagarde list' handlingANSAmed
Financial Times
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The Entire World Will Once Again Be Watching An Insanely Close Greek ...


Business Insider

The Entire World Will Once Again Be Watching An Insanely Close Greek ...
Business Insider
Two weeks ago, Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras declared that Greece would run out of cash on November 16, which why it's so critical that a decision on sending further aid to Greece is made at the upcoming meeting of eurozone finance ministers on ...
Fixing Greek Debt Still ElusiveWall Street Journal (blog)
Defend the Greek working class!World Socialist Web Site
Greek Havoc Returns As Europe Eyes US JobsAction Forex
The Japan Times
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Sean Quinn's jailing reminiscent of Greek tragedy


BBC News

Sean Quinn's jailing reminiscent of Greek tragedy
BBC News
People talk about the ongoing Quinn saga, but this tale is much more in the mould of Greek tragedy than Norse myth. The fates decreed that the man who once was Ireland's richest, would end up in prison, because all the other elements of Greek tragedy ...

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Greece to auction 1.0 bln eur of 6-month T-bills on Nov 6- debt agency


Greece to auction 1.0 bln eur of 6-month T-bills on Nov 6- debt agency
Reuters
ATHENS Nov 2 (Reuters) - Greece will auction 1.0 billion euros ($1.29 billion) of six-month T-bills on Nov. 6 to refinance a 1.6 billion euro maturing issue, the country's debt agency PDMA said on Friday. The settlement date will be Nov. 9. Only ...


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Artists from around the country will be flooding a North Eastern seaside resort with a tidal wave of light

The dark first weekend of November will be a bright one for Whitley Bay, as artists and artists' groups use light to create works of art to illuminate the seafront in "Shimmer". Northerner arts illuminator Alan Sykes reports.

Shimmer, now in its second year, is the result of a nationally advertised call out for artists to come up with imaginative proposals for installations and performances using light. With Jupiter rising brightly in the east at dusk, and a waning gibbous moon, nature should be lending a hand as well.

Artist partnership Aether & Hemera (named after the Greek god and goddess of bright upper air and daylight), otherwise Italians Gloria Ronchi and Claudio Benghi, who moved to the North East from Milan in 2008, have created Rainbow Glowing Wheels, a series of kinetic digital Catherine-wheels that will be placed along the seafront. These are inspired by Spanish City's Rainbow Wheel fairground ride of 1913, one of the attractions that made Whitley Bay one of the country's most popular seaside resorts in its heyday.

According to its prospectus the original Rainbow Wheel was "a strikingly large and attractively built steel wheel, 90ft high by 12ft wide" with six narrow gauge railway carriages which would take their passengers:

dashing headlong into Dante's Fearful Inferno amid a tumult of mechanically-produced noises and thunder, weird, unearthly and uncanny screams, and the flames and fires of Hades (produced electrically), out of which the cars presently shoot again into the glorious open, imparting to the passengers a momentary impression of the brightness of the world outside contrasted with the horrible regions below, only to be shot once more into that fearful, blazing abyss "Beyond Redemption."


It promised it

fascinates, thrills, and exhilarates, and all the while provokes the pleasingly puzzled passengers into fits of hilarious laughter as they fail to understand and enter into the spirit of this delightful perplexity, a new sensation which is bound to become a "screaming success".

Colin Priest's Flash Fog is a recreation of "haar", or sea fret, with movement sensors triggered by passers-by setting off lights and fog horns. Concrete Waves is an installation-cum-performance by RealTyne, which mixes a skateboarding performance with projections of surfers and skateboarders. Novak Collective will present Diversión, an animated video that uses the dome and façade of Spanish City as its "screen".

Worldbeaters Music has created Spark! specially for Shimmer. It will take the form of a choreographed performance by seven musicians dressed in striking white costumes decked in flashing lights carrying their illuminated (and extremely loud) drums -

These glittering and illuminated forms will take the audience on a colour-filled, dreamlike journey around the Links and will appear in some unexpected places

Cllr George Westwater, North Tyneside Council's cabinet member for Community and Regulatory Services, said:

North Tyneside's coast is a jewel in the north east crown, and is now firmly established as a great place to see some of the best contemporary art around. The Council is delighted to be presenting Shimmer again this year, bringing specially-commissioned, accessible artworks to Whitley Bay.

North Tyneside is building something of a reputation for itself as a home for experimental light and projection art. Earlier this year Yvette Mattern's Global Rainbow kicked off the Cultural Olympiad in the North East and could be seen 40 miles away, while Kelly Richardson's video installation Mariner 9 and the Whitley Bay Film Festival also attracted large audiences.

Shimmer is on at the seafront at Whitley Bay from 5-8.30pm this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 3-4 November.


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