The horror stories from relatives and friends living abroad are numerous. On stating their origin, many are treated with suspicion and irony. Greeks in Germany are the recipients of jokes about our financial state as a country. They feel like Europe’s beggars. Friends in the UK feel that stating their ethnicity on their CV’s is a major handicap.

Obviously, one should not take such conditions into consideration: stereotypes about ethnic groups have been around for centuries. But what happens when you feel they are becoming a barrier to progress in the workplace, in society, in business?

How does one react to this?

Each one of us is an ambassador of our ethnicity. We are therefore obliged to counter the commonly held reactions towards our country and our national character. We should stand up to this unfair treatment and re-establish the image of a proud, inventive, cosmopolitan and resourceful people, the characteristics that have followed us for thousands of years!

I am confident we can turn this around.

And we will.

Tourism is usually linked to pleasure and escape; at times it is also linked to memory, and an interest in history. It is undoubted that in Greece the most popular site, in relationship to its history, is the Acropolis. It symbolizes the direct link of the country to the ancient Athenian civilization and its mesmerizing grandeur in the fields of politics, arts, philosophy and sciences. However, one might inquire whether people in Greece are emotionally linked to this past; if it symbolizes more a time forever lost than an active inspiration, and if more gravity should be given to modern and contemporary Greek history. It might come as a surprise but there is certainly much more than the Acropolis to Greece, and this uncharted history could also become good business.

For example, these days, one would imagine the Greeks as remembering the first Allied land victory of the Second World War; which is nothing else but the Greek defeat of the Italian invasion. It might look like a small event, but for a country which at the time was hardly a military power, this was a terrific achievement. One has only to recall that during the first days of April 1941, fifteen of the twenty one Greek divisions were deployed against the Italians; the other six divisions were ready to face a German attack on the Metaxas Line. Greece received help only from British Commonwealth troops, moved from Libya by orders of Churchill.

As a result, the British and the Greeks stood alone against the Axis, and formed the original core of what would then become the Allies. It is also interesting to remember that Greek and British forces were overwhelmed only by the intervention of the Germans, who on the 6th of April came to the aid of Italy and invaded Greece through Bulgaria and Yugoslavia.

Sadly enough, few tourists are made aware of this fact in Greece; on the contrary, other countries take pride in events of this kind, and they promote the image of their nation through them. This is the case of Belgium, which has played an important role in the European history over the last two-hundred years; and has organized memory sites that cover Wallonia, the setting for Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo in 1815, and various sites of decisive battles of WWI and WW II – as in the case of the Bastogne Historical Centre that highlights the importance of this battle on the outcome of WW II, and is currently being refurbished until March 2013.

Outside Greece, memorials that commemorate events with a sense of regret are considered profoundly interesting as well. Not only they open the past to the curious tourist, as they often narrate of genocides perpetrated by former regimes and try to recount the historical circumstances that permitted such an event to take place, but they also work as a warning to future generations.

Mr. Novak has spent the last week in the village of Litochoro, on the eastern slopes of Mount Olympus. The guest of a SEO member (Hellenic Mountaineering Club), he lodged for a couple of nights in the “Kakkalos” Refuge, located at the eastern margin of the Plateau of Muses at an altitude of 2650m. The idea was to spend a couple of days where not many would be, and clear their minds on what is happening in Greece.

Going up there, one has to know what to expect and how to deal with it. On Olympus, temperatures can go down to –20C, and avalanche danger is permanent. Fearless, Miha and Nikos didn’t stop in front of possible hypothermia; didn’t stop due to the daunting high they had to climb to. They just didn’t give up; both mountaineers, one grew up in Slovenia, the other under the ‘Gods’ home’, they check the weather conditions and headed for the refuge.

There, in the thin air, above the noise of people’s lives, thinking was easier; and a long term perspective came as a given. In Miha’s words: “One can’t but see that things shall pass, no matter what.”

Back in Athens, Mr. Novak called me up, invited me over. In front of a beaming fire, in his warm and quiet flat, he started to spread photos on a low table. The contrast with the general atmosphere ruling in Greece was tragic: down here the rage and fear of announced hard times, up there the cold distance of Nature looking down on people without to care. In a way, it gave me a new way to look at things.

Mr. Novak felt relief at the news that the Greek government reached an agreement, and seemed to be able to keep Greece in the European union. Now, he is waiting to see the next move; things are vague, again.

“We will make it, remember people survived worse things” he utters, sober. Then he vanishes in the kitchen.

When Miha came back he held in his hands two glasses of handmade Cviček wine. Cviček is one of the most unique wines in Slovenia. It has a light red color with a ruby cast, a fruity aromas, with an emphasis on raspberry, cherry and red currant. It is one of the most enjoyable wines to have in front of a fire, while philosophizing. Janez Vajkard Valvasor, the Slovenian historian who mentioned this wine in his work ‘The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola’ knew it well: “Marwein, the jolly wine of the Dolenjska region”, know stood in front of me.

“We made it in Slovenia, they will make it in Greece; the secret is to learn to export the best you have, and let the world know about it, buy it… like this wine.” He winked, smiled.

It is true. The name Marwein was preserved until the end of the 18th century, but its revival came at the turn of the 19th century, when it acquired a new name, Cviček. Back then the wine was perfected and was exported; but it was not until Slovenia’s independence in 1991, that this wine made it to the wine lists of fine Paris restaurants. Why could the Greeks not do the same with their marvelous local products?

Mr. Novak continues: “The refuge we lodged in, it’s named after Christos Kakkalos. Together with Boissonnas and  Bovy, he made the first recorded ascent to Olympus highest peak Mytikas,  in 1913. Do you know that Fred Boissonnas loved Cviček?”

Only then I realized that Miha, in his peculiar way, was trying to let me see how time shall pass and things will be better.

Showing me his photos; the glacier, the snow, the refuge, and dawn with a view of Mount Athos, Miha continued to remind me that the Greeks are philosophers but most of all merchants, fighter, and spirited entrepreneur; they just need to remember it, and embrace it.

Looking at Mount Olympus, the almost permanent cloud that covers its peaks, my heart filled with awe and admiration. I followed the voice of this architect from Ljubljana, who maintains a flat in Athens, and has not intention to leave the country, and felt grateful to be there.

He went on, narrated how “The history of Mount Olympus is unsteady as the one of Greece. During the invasion in 1941, the Greek army along with Australian and New Zealand units fought on it against the Germans and Italians. Later, the Greek Resistance found a nestling place there…”

Soon enough it was dinnertime, and some of Mr. Novak’s friends came along. We were there, again a mix of Greeks and foreigners, again determined to remain somehow in the country, no matter what, and fight.

With Jubilance and optimism for the future of their country, Egyptians in Greece gathered under the rain on Wednesday in Syntagma Square to do three things: commemorate their revolution, memorialize the people who died and demonstrate against the country’s ruling generals.

“Down with military rule” and “Revolution until victory” chanted the crowd.

Since February 11 last year when Mubarak was driven out the military council has assumed power and is led by the man who was Mubarak’s defense minister for two decades, Mohamed Hussein Tantawi. The army has promised to relinquish power to an elected civilian government. In this time there have been a growing number of military trials, new anti-protest laws and protesters have been detained. In response, protests have continued in Tahrir Square.

“Definitely, the revolution has not achieved its goal. The revolution continues until it realizes its goal; that’s when we will really celebrate,” says Egyptian and president of the Muslim Association of Greece Naim EL Ghandour.

The words “freedom”, “Democracy” and “revolution” punctuated all talks in Syntagma Square. There was a sense of bewilderment that went along with the words, but most of all joy.

The Anthem of the Egyptian Revolution “Ya Beladi” meaning “My country” played over the loud speakers and people started singing some with tears in their eyes while others waving their flags and chanting “My country”. Suddenly, everything went dark and hundreds of candles lit to remind the world of the souls that have been lost.

“A great victory has been achieved. A victory of dignity. The victory is not only ours but of all oppressed people around the world. It is time to celebrate. Long live the Egyptian revolution” says Egyptian Taghrid in an interview with Postnews.

But underneath the jubilation there seems to be a sense of responsibility. What will become of Tahrir square where thousands of people lost their lives in clashes with security forces before Mubarak stepped down? With elections underway, how does the future of the Egyptian people look and what are the challenges that lie ahead?

The events in Tahrir Square indubitably mark the beginning of a new era for Egypt. But while the future holds many big questions for the Egyptians, the revolution continues.

Επιμέλεια: JJ

We should understand the Europe of Culture to mean the deep-rooted sense of belonging to a common intellectual and spiritual tradition, the possession of a common well of respect for the same values, feeling united in a common desire to defend and spread the ideals of freedom and democracy. In the first place, the Europe of Culture is the Europe of freedom and democracy.

Perhaps so little is said about this Europe of Culture because it is viewed as something which has already been attained? To take such a view would be to commit a grave error. Europe is a long way off from spiritual unity. Europe is still, alas, in a state of pronounced spiritual disarray, irrespective of the fact that it is possible to speak of a genuine European civilization, which essentially means our way of life, the manner in which we behave, our eating habits, and the entire organization of our daily lives. North, South, East and West, this particular European civilization is to be found from one corner of Europe to next.

Under Europe` s present situation, this is very urgent. Because what this European civilization lacks is a people truly breathing as one and characterized by a deep-seated urge to erase the bad memories of the past and an unshakable desire to free themselves of prejudice and the evil propensities which often simmer beneath the surface of human nature. In the final analysis, the Europe of Culture is the cement that holds together the bricks and mortar of European unity, strong enough to withstand the most violent storm in an uncertain future.

The essence of this cultural Europe is the realization by all Europeans, whether from west, east, north, south, or even the center, that they are the founding fathers and standard-bearers of one of the fundamental values of civilization and culture, namely that the freedom of individuals is the democracy of societies. Indeed, it was from Europe that the idea went forth some 25 centuries ago to institute a social order in which citizens would be masters of their own decisions and which would depend on no authority other than their freely expressed common well. This was the greatest revolution in the history of mankind.

The Greeks of ancient times were the first to break the chains of oppression, removing the shackles of both physical and spiritual oppression. At the same time, the ancient Greeks were the first to produce an outline of Europe. These two factors were virtually concomitant. Europe was born at the same time as democracy. Now there is a crucial observation; something often forgotten, if not unbeknown to one and all. Democracy was born in a Balkan peninsula that is itself the peninsula of Europe, which is in turn the peninsula of Asia. It was in this corner of our ancient world that the idea was born of the right of men to self-determination. This idea reached maturity parallel to the creation of the Greek community that was the distant blueprint for our European Community.

It is good to remind ourselves of these things again, especially today, at a time when an important page in history is apparently being turned and when Europe can see its rebuilt unity taking shape on the horizon. This rebuilding process is essential after the enlargement and the EU of 27 countries in the coming years.

Δημοσιεύθηκε στο European Business Review, 31.10.2011

Nobody can hide from the social unrest present in many countries, the malady is not limited to Greece; people do not believe what governments say, are dragged left and right by political groups trying to win votes, and continue to look for answers with the clear feeling they will find few, or none. There are plenty of economic analyses where the explanation often coagulates around the word ‘corporation’; but there is also something else we could recall as people feel more and more alone; Das Narren Schiff (Ship of Fools) written by Sebastian Brant in 1494.

Notable for including the first commissioned work by artist-engraver Albrecht Dürer, the Ship of Fools is a collection of satires. Much of Brant’s work was critical of the current weaknesses and vices of his time, and today it turns up as a good example of critique against Governments, Churches and politicians.

Fools as we might feel today, and in spite of the digital revolution we witness, no satire can reach and hit any contemporary courts. In the mean time those who try to safe Europe, and Greece, report the raise of homeless people on the roads of Europe, and Athens. How not to recall that crazy people where confined into ships, and exiled from villages, in Medieval times? Certainly this is too absurd, and it will never be possible nowadays… Still, it might be the time to stop acting as coarse people do, look into the eyes of the fool we hide inside of us, and check our lonely truth: maybe we can do something before we become the seniors who hit the kindergartens.

But what about the traditional brick and mortar? What about companies, establishments, groups of people whose days pass with more tangible work, away from entertainment screens and lazy browsing?

These are people who wished they had time to engage more actively online, but at the same time they are unwilling to spend their time in ‘Farmville’, milking cows or running imagery errands.

Most of what we once called white collar job positions are now internet oriented, minus the collar. Especially when the crisis calls for a reorganization of priorities and a restructuring of the production paradigm. Not to mention the advanced communication techniques corporations will be called to come up with when growth starts knocking at the door.

Is this far away? Even in Greece, the turning point is not that far away. In fact, it is nearer than most people think. And when it comes, positioning in the Attention Economy will become top priority for corporations that have gracefully survived the rough times.

Repositioning the company is one thing; redefining the idea behind the company is something different. Both, however, are directed related to the new platform convergence of content, computing and telecoms has produced in the last fifteen years.

Corporate associations and leading company groups need to reassign resources to accommodate the need to integrate their messaging systems.

It is now commonly argued that the corporate website has become the most valuable medium an organization has, even if the organization spends tens of millions on advertising, promotions and other media.

This is because the web is becoming the primary driver for company’s communications.

In really large companies, the formation of a group of web specialists within the company premises will soon turn to be an absolute necessity. The deconstruction of the media industry allows corporations to appear picky and satisfy all of their needs for content handlers, specialists and technological resources. The end-game would be the creation of a corporate web department, responsible for company information design, that will provide total editorial support, as well as programming and administration of the information flow. Also, explore more particular tasks, like soc-nets campaigns and blog activity.

The traditional approach of a corporate environment that allows communication to run in parallel or some times conflictual way is coming to an end.

The future will untangle the corporate web, sort out the target audiences, explore the particularities of the stakeholders, develop intranet knowledge and will embark from a new scheme.

These days, established media are going through a tremendous crisis, that is altering their core operation. Things will never be the same again. Many outlets will disappear completely, amidst an era of extensive debt, falling revenues and scandalous relationships between vested interests and content handlers.

Channels and carriers of information and communication policy messages are subject to change. We are already moving away from the traditional source – relationship towards what many would call ‘the terra incognita’ of the soc-nets and multimedia press releases.

In the digital era, old dogs will not be obliged to learn new tricks. They will simple die. New techniques, tools and online strategies will explore the new potential of user-driven social media, strategizing on multi-dimensional messaging and its effect not as a key priority for the future, but as an urgent necessity of the present; no matter how hesitant corporate decision-makers may appear to be.

Deep inside, CEOs know that the world is changing and companies should do their best to remain close to citizens and their digital voices.

What is also undeniably true is that in the new era of entrepreneurship that will emerge from the crisis, corporations will be much more than volume of sales and profits. Their existence will rely on their ability to communicate successfully and persuade people for their social significance.

The digital approach to corporate necessities, either this is a new marketing campaign, a social responsibility strategy, or a company’s need for internal coherence and peace will turn out to be an absolute must. What is most interesting, is that this will occur much sooner than expected.