Athens, Greece, The age of Economic crisis. Demetris is a highly independent man, living a normal life. A confirmed bachelor at the age of 33! When a moment arrives, his choice will change everything. His roommate is a female German Shepherd called Lonesome. One night, Lonesome wants to be taken out. Demetris tries to change her mind but Lonesome insists Its at this moment that he comes to a decision. If Demetris goes out he will meet Christina, the love of his life. If he stays in, he will not meet her. Does true love exist? What is the impact of a severe economic crisis on people and how can the crisis destroy a couple? One story shown from two different angles.

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H.E. Mr. Nicos Anastasiades The President of the Republic of Cyprus Will Address the Greek American Community in our own backyard (The Stathakion Center) right here in Astoria

Nicos Anastasiades on Saturday arrived in New York where he will participate in the 68th UN General Assembly
Anastasiades will hold a series of bilateral meetings in New York before leaving for Washington where he will meet with Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden next week.

The 68th UN General Assembly involves the participation of 130 heads of state and government and 60 foreign ministers. The official opening will take place on Tuesday.

Among the top issues to be discussed will be the recent developments in Syria and the Middle East r, the situation in Afghanistan, Egypt and other African countries, sustainable development, the fight against hunger, as well as the impact of climate change.

Three high-level meetings will take place, as well as a high level political forum for the millennium goals.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH at 7 pm UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE CYPRUS FEDERATION OF AMERICA AND INTERNATIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE FOR CYPRUSat the Stathakion Center in Astoria

EXCELLENT PICK FOR A FILM ABOUT THE GREEK CRISIS — Check out!

“Not Standing Aside, Watching” 

from Huffington Post blogger Vivian Norris

Greek Cinema Confronts the Harsh Reality of the Financial Crisis by Not Standing Aside, Watching

Playing during the Toronto International Film Festival is a heck of a film, which captures the often-violent side of how the financial crisis is affecting young adults, especially women, in today’s Greece. Through recent visits and conversations with Greek friends, and working alongside those who have felt they had to leave Greece to survive, it is impossible to ignore if one lives in Europe, how so many lives are forever being changed by these events. And this film gives us not only a realistic yet bleak look into what happens to those left behind, but also asserts a defiance which many young Greeks are feeling.

In director Yorgos Servetas’ poignant film, a young woman goes back to a village she knows, and encounters both friends who are suffering direct hits of the crisis, but also a mafia-like system in place, which destroys bodies and souls.

Antigone, the main character’s name is well-chosen, as it is believed to mean both “against motherhood” and “against men,” in that Clint Eastwood versus the rest of the world kind of way. Her flashing eyes full of anger reminded me of a mix between Dirty Harry and many a femme fatale. In this film, it would be difficult to imagine bringing a newborn child into the world that is rural Greek poverty, one in which men betray themselves to be abusive and part of a system in which women have no place to thrive. The men are not better off as they sell their souls for a day’s pay and lose their pride, lashing out at the women around them.

It is so important to not only make films such as these to document what is happening in the lives of many Greeks, but also because so many young people around the world feel the same way. Antigone’s anger and frustration and attempts to do something, to help the downtrodden are met with near failure. She both inspires trust and is sought put by others seeking comfort and safety, but she loses something along the way.

The rural coastline is breathtakingly beautiful and empty. This is not the Greece of your vacations past, but rather what those who cannot afford to leave are faced with everyday. Many young Greeks who moved to larger cities are finding themselves forced to return to extremely rural areas and islands in order to find work, or be supported by family. There is a kind of loss of both dreams for the future, being able to provide for a family, but also a bittersweet loss of nostalgia for the past as the return “home” proves to be almost deadly.

I feel everyone should see this film, not only because it is a well-made and well acted film, demonstrating the strength and hinting at perhaps the beginning of a renaissance of Greek cinema, where there is so much talent (though many have also been forced to leave to find work abroad) but also because we cannot turn a blind eye to what is going on because of this crisis. This is the reality. We cannot stand aside, watching, but must choose sides and fight back to build a better tomorrow.

But before we can do so, we must accept the reality in order to know how to move through it to the other side. It will get better, and we need to get angry, as Antigone does, and fight back, in order to get to that better place. This woman is a new kind of warrior. Women such as her will rebuild Greece. And watch out when they do, as it will be a sight to see.

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Hellenic American Women’s Council’s  ANNUAL   CONFERENCE   2013 

Heritage, Folklore, Family:

Tales “Yiayia” Never Told you!

 

November 1 & 2, 2013

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Washington D.C.

 

Presenters

Eleni Gage, Henriette Lazaridis Power,

Marilyn Rouvelas,

Published Authors

 

Moderator

Thalia Assuras

Former Correspondent & Anchor, CBS News

 

Aristeon Award

The Honorable Frances Fragos Townsend

Former Assistant to the President,

Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

 

Friday – Nov 1

Special Tour of the FBI

 Briefing by FBI agents: “The Dangers of Social Media” 

For Additional Information please contact:

 

Dimitria Antonopoulos                                       Ekaterini Malliou

dimitria.antonopoulos@hotmail.com     ekaterini.malliou@gmail.com              

(703)623-5296                                                        (202) 413-2322

Haven’t heard of the HAWC? The Hellenic American Women’s Council (HAWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nationwide network whose mission is to identify and harness the tremendous talents of Hellenic American Women. HAWC encourages awareness of public policy issues and promotes women who wish to play leadership roles in their communities, the nation and their professional fields of endeavor.

HAWC sponsors regional conferences, lectures, debates and seminars by prominent scholars, government officials, and experts on various issues of interest to its membership.

It aims:

 

• To establish an organization of Hellenic American women for the purpose of creating a unified presence in American society.
• To educate and inform Hellenic American women on public policy issues as well as other relevant issues.
• To provide our members with a forum for discussion and examination of issues that impact their lives.
• To interact with similar women’s organizations in the United States, Greece and around the world.
• To promote and support Hellenic American women within their professional fields of endeavor.

More info at www.hawcnet.org