Antenna: News in English (PM), 98-11-17

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From: Antenna Radio <http://www.antenna.gr> - email: antenna@compulink.gr

Last Updated: Tuesday, 17-Nov-98 22:09:13

CONTENTS

[01] 25th anniversary of Polytechnio

[02] Archbishop-Human cloining

[03] Athina Onasis

[04] Sports

[01] 25th anniversary of Polytechnio

The march marked the 25th anniversary of a student occupation of the polytechnio in protest against the military dictatorship.

The march has ended at the US emabassy ever since it was first held in 1974, in protest at American support for the military junta that ran Greece from 1967 until 1974.

The US recently expressed regret over its role during the period. In January, US ambassador to Greece Nicholas Burns said publicly: "I wish my own country had stood more firmly on the side of democracy and freedom during those years".

Greece's military rulers sent the troops in to break up the student occupation of the Polytechnio in 1973; but many observers say it signalled the beginning of the end of the dictatorship the following year.

[02] Archbishop-Human cloining

The archbishop of Athens and all Greece warned at a medical conference that cloning could result in the creation of a race of human copies, amounting to a nightmare worse than Frankenstein's monster.

Addressing delegates at a medical conference in Athens, the orthodox archbishop of Athens and all Greece went on record on a controversial subject: cloining.

Archbishop Christodoulos said he's afraid cloning is an example of science going too far.

Arguing that cloning oculd lead to horrors worse than Frankenstein's monster and the Nazi atrocities, archbishop Chistodoulos said he shudders at the thought of genetic engineering going so far that it shows a disrespect for the laws of nature.

Warning that nature avenges itself against those who fail to respect it, the archbishop added: "This will create a race of human copies, just as the Nazis and Soviets tried to do. Frankenstein and the Nazi genetics researcher Joseph Mengele would pale by comparison.

Christodoulos is worried that the moral understanding of those who wield the tools of science may be lacking, inadequate to the task of assessing what kind of research and work is right and what kind is wrong. He's concerned that the products of science may be misused to the detriment of the humanity they were intended to serve.

Though he is sounding the alarm in the starkest of terms, Christodoulos acknowledges that genetic research has many benefits for mankind. His point is simply that there need to be stricter controls on it, that man's power over nature needs to be regulated by sound moral and ethical judgment.

[03] Athina Onasis

Arriving in Athens Monday, Athina was met by her father, Thierry Roussel.

On Tuesday they went to Levkada, where they received a warm welcome from the residents and local officials.

From there, Athina and Roussel made the 10-minute boat journey to Skorpios, the island bought by Athina's grandfather, tycoon Aristotle Onasis.

Athina, who spent her childhood summers on Skorpios, last visited the island in 1995.

Now she's returned for the memorial service for her mother, who is buried there.

Athina and her father will be the only two people in attendance at Wednesday's memorial service.

Athina will return to school in Switzerland immediately after the ceremony.

[04] Sports

It will be the first men's international soccer match to be played in Albania since 1996.

The Greek youth gave their elders an example to emulate Tuesday; they whipped the Albanian youth squad 5-nil.

The Albanian players have been promised four thousand dollars each if they win Wednesday's match. Είδηση 8 από 15

All international sporting events in Albania were stopped in 1997, when rebellion against the government erupted after thousands of families los their life savings in a huge investment scandal.

Security will be tight for Wednesday's match.

(c) ANT1 Radio 1998

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