That Icon of English-speaking Expatriates in Athens - The Athens News may soon be gone...do something now!!!

Athens News under threat of closure

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

After nearly 57 years in circulation, the Athens News is under threat of closure. On September 25 it was announced to us by the Lambrakis Press, which has managed this newspaper since it entered the Lambrakis Foundation in 1993, that it will wind up the operation, possibly as early as Friday 3 October.

We are currently engaged in an effort to extend that deadline in order to find new investors to take over the title, archive and books. But it is impossible for any serious investor to carry out due diligence and responsibly and formally register their interest to our current owners within a week. We need an extension of at least a month, in which to make contact with the various potential investors currently reviewing our balance sheet and business plan.

We feel that a move to pull out the rug from under an independent newspaper which has served the thinking public since 1952 should not stand. We are therefore appealing to you, the community we exist to serve, to write an open letter to our publisher, Christos Lambrakis, under copy to us, appealing for an extension and presenting the case, as you see it, for our continued existence under a new owner.

Please send your letters to saveathensnews@gmail.com for publication and forwarding.

Thank you.

John Psaropoulos
Editor
Athens News
3 Christou Lada Street
Athens 102 37
Tel. +30 210 33.33.705
Fax +30 210 33.33.706
www.athensnews.gr

Read More at http://saveathensnews.wordpress.com

New Zealand General Elections - 8 November 2008! Let's all Vote!

The NZ Government has just announced that New Zealand's General Election will be held on Saturday, 8 November 2008.

Please make sure you're enrolled to vote. There's no time to lose as the published electoral roll closes on 8 October. There is limited opportunity to enrol after that, but don't take a chance - enrol now.

KEA tells us that in the last election only 28,000 of over half a million eligible overseas Kiwis voted. Make sure you have your say, too.

If you're a New Zealand citizen over the age of 18 and you've visited New Zealand in the last three years, you're eligible to vote from anywhere in the world.

It's simple to enrol and download your voting papers online - and you can return your papers by post or fax. There's no need to visit a New Zealand consulate or embassy either, to enrol, or to vote.

Check out the information below for everything you need to enrol and vote.

And please tell all the other New Zealanders that you know who are living in Greece or abroad.

Happy Voting!!!

How to vote from overseas

(http://www.elections.org.nz/voting/votingsub/how-vote-overseas.html)

If you will be overseas at the time of the general election you can still vote by casting a special declaration vote.

Who can vote from overseas?

You can vote if you are enrolled and:

• you are a New Zealand citizen and have visited New Zealand within the last three years, or
• you are a permanent resident of New Zealand and have visited New Zealand in the last 12 months.

You can enrol or update your enrolment details online.

How do I vote?

Overseas voting opens on Wednesday 22 October.

Voting papers are not automatically sent to voters who are overseas. You cannot vote by email or return your voting papers electronically. If you are overseas at the time of this year's general election then there are four options open to you. You can:

1. Cast an advance vote

If you will be in New Zealand from Wednesday 22 October, you can cast an advance vote at any advance voting place.

2. Download voting papers

If you are overseas and are on the published electoral roll you will be able to download your voting papers from Wednesday 22 October. This is the quickest and easiest way to obtain your ballot paper.

3. Apply for a postal vote

You can apply to have voting papers posted to you. These are normally sent from New Zealand approximately three weeks before election day.

4. Vote in person

You will be able to vote in person at a number of overseas posts, including New Zealand diplomatic posts.

How can I check my enrolment details or enrol?

You can enrol or check and update your details online.

You can also:

• pick up an enrolment form from any New Zealand diplomatic post
• ask a friend or family member to complete an enrolment form for you.

If you would like a friend or family member in New Zealand to complete an enrolment form for you then they will need to be a registered elector and will need to print "Elector overseas - signed by their direction" on the form next to their signature.

If you would like the form completed by someone who holds a Power of Attorney for you then they must print "Elector overseas - Power of Attorney" next to their signature.

How can I find out more?

For questions about voting from overseas email overseas@elections.org.nz.

For questions about enrolling email enrol@elections.org.nz.

From within New Zealand call 0800 36 76 56

From overseas call +64 4 913 1346.

Wonderful Wellington!!!

I came across something called Quotes about Wellington recently and thought I would share with you one that I rather liked...as a Wellingtonian I might be biased a little, but it is very true...

"Wellington is to Auckland what Melbourne is to Sydney, and what San Francisco is to Los Angeles. It has character instead of homogeneity; it is compact, not sprawling; it is quietly confident, not brash and in-your-face...Wellington is a diverse and sophisticated place that is too often left off the tourist trail."
Anna Fifield: Financial Times (UK)

Heavy Rain Causes Multiple Slips in Wellington

NZPA | Saturday, 06 September 2008 (From Stuff.co.nz)


Council contractors in Wellington were out in force today clearing slips after heavy overnight rain.

Wellington City Council spokesman Richard MacLean said large slips fell in several suburbs, including one in Te Aro which partially buried a car.

"Contractors are working flat-out to clear roads blocked by mud, rubble and vegetation," he said.

As a result, motorists and cyclists were being warned to be cautious when travelling both around the city and some of the more isolated surrounding areas.

Wellington was hit yesterday by a cold southerly blast and the MetService said 45mm of rain fell in the city in the 24 hours until 9am today.