The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-03-10

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Advice for a Safe Lent

By Tina Valaoura

Shrove Monday, or Clean Monday as it is known in Greek, is on its way and the shopping list is full of traditional musts, and well-loved dishes for Lent. Varvakeio Market is full of products, with a great variety, and there are more and more shoppers there every day, with their numbers expected to peak on Sunday and on Clean Monday itself. There is also great variety amongst prices. Some are at normal levels, according to the quality of the products, with the exception on octopus and cuttlefish, which are 3%-5% more expensive than last year. Prices for octopus start from 2.98 and go as high as 12 euros, depending on the size. Squid is priced at 4.5 to 8 euros, cuttlefish from 5.5 to 7, while consumers will find mussels from 2 euros, with cockles at 10 euros. As for the price of halvas, it ranges from 3.20 to 8 euros, while fish-egg salad (taramas) starts from 6.5 up to 20 euros, depending on the quality. An important point requiring special care, which should never be considered a secondary priority, is the matter of health and safety of food. EFET has advice as to what consumers should look out for when choosing products, in order to avoid the unpleasant prospect of suffering food poisoning from seafood unfit for consumption.

Health and Safety Criteria

The features of fresh octopus, squid and cuttlefish are:

- a moist, shiny surface

- solid, elastic flesh

- shiny, lively eyes, with no spots

- tentacles and suckers should be resistant when pulled

The features of fresh shellfish, such as oysters, mussels, clams and cockles are:

When sold in their shells, they should be live, and this can be seen:

- from the shell, which is closed, and opens with great difficulty - from the sharp closing of the shell when an attempt is made to close it, after opening from the flesh, which is stuck fast to the shell and wet, and from the movement of the flesh if prodded with a fork or touched with a few drops of lemon juice.

With shelled mussels on ice, the meat should be shiny, in one piece and smell of the sea.

For jars kept refrigerated or otherwise, they must:

- not be overfilled

- have no external rust

- have no liquid leaking out

- consumers should carefully read the labels, especially regarding expiry dates, and observe whether the producers name is written down, and the EC code number of the business. Special attention should also be paid to the natural colour of the contents, and after opening, to the colour on the sides of the jar or tin and the smell of the contents.

With salted cod, haddock and other fish kept in this way, the fish smells bad and develops a red colouring when going bad.

With salted and smoked fish, there is a bad smell and slimy meat when it is going bad.

With caviar, it is unfit to eat when watery and bad-smelling

With taramas, the product becomes mouldy, dry and sour.

The features of fresh prawns, lobsters and crabs are:

- hard legs, stuck fast to the body

- reflex motion in the eyes, the antennae and the legs when live

- taut, resilient and transparent thorax membrane

- light-coloured head and thorax. If not no black spots

Fresh prawns slip easily through the hands, while spoilt ones give the sensation of heat when the hand is put into the box containing them

Finally, EFET reminds consumers that to have healthy foods, fit for consumption and avoid being cheated, it is important:

(a) to take notice of information written on labels

(b) to be aware of any changes in the features of the food (smell, colour, etc)

(c) for consumers to handle foods carefully (be careful with storage, temperature, cooking methods, etc)

(d) to compare prices and quality

(e) to avoid buying from wandering salesmen

Translated by Millie Williams

[02] Doctors On Strike

By Tina Valaoura

Only emergency cases will be treated today at public hospitals, owing to the 24-hour nationwide strike. The mobilisation has been organized by the Hellenic Federation of Hospital Doctors, who have institutional and financial demands. The doctors want to receive back payments from previous months, a new salary scale and to see recruitment of personnel to fill vacant positions in the Hellenic National Health System.

Translated by Millie Williams

[03] At least 16 dead Many Die in Mine Accident

By Viki Keleri

Sixteen coalminers were tragically killed, while a further seven are still missing after an accident in a mine in Shanxi Province in the north of China. According to the Chinese Worker Safety Agency and the state Media, a total of 83 labourers were in the mine when there was a strong explosion, resulting in 29 miners becoming trapped. Of these, just six were rescued, while efforts are being made to free the seven missing men. It is estimated that every year 8000 workers lose their lives in Chinas mines, both legal and illegal, as the safety measures are virtually nonexistent.

Translated by Millie Williams

[04] 17,650 New Positions of Employment

By Tina Valaoura

Three new programmes providing positions to 12,650 freelance workers, in areas regarding culture, the environment and new technology as well as other activities. Besides this, positions are to be made available to 5000 unemployed Greek women, the Ministry for Development announced. Those women who are interested in the programme must submit their application and a legal statement starting from 21 March

Details of the programmes:

1. Assistance for 5000 women:

(a) through providing 1000 new freelance women, aged from 18 to 64, who are registered with the Greek manpower Association (OAED), with 9000 euros to start their business. If the women are mothers of pre-school age children or look after relatives with severe disabilities, they can create their business at their place of residence.

(b) through providing 2500 new positions of employment for 12 months to unemployed women, aged between 18 and 64.

(c) through providing 1500 positions on work experience programmes as part of the "stage" programme. This is open for unemployed women aged between 18 and 50, and lasts for 9 months.

Applications, along with the necessary documentation for the 3 programmes for women can be submitted from Monday 21 March, until all positions have been filled, and no later than 31 August 2006, to OAED. (information: http://www.oaed.gr)

Among other activities at OAED:

2. A programme to provide positions to 6450 new freelancers, both men and women, aged between 18 and 64, to work in Culture and the Environment. The application process started last December and will end when all positions are filled

3. A programme for 4500 unemployed people, jointly-funded by the Regional Business Programme

4. A programme for 1700 new freelancers in the Information Community. This regards unemployed people aged from 18 to 64, who will open businesses of support, providing services, trade, etc, in the sectors of IT and Telecommunications. The programme will soon be announced, and is open to all freelancers who received their operating papers before 1 November 2004.

Translated by Millie Williams

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