Greece & Refugees : Nothing New

For the last few years we have seen on our news reports of refugees coming to Greece. The world has forgotten that this is not a new story for the Greeks. The majority of the public in the west has forgotten the 1920’s Treaty of Lausanne.

In 1923 there was a population exchange between Greece and Turkey it was signed at Lausanne, Switzerland, on 30 January 1923, by the governments of Greece and Turkey. It involved approximately 2 million people (around 1.5 million Anatolian Greeks and 500,000 Muslims in Greece), most of whom were forcibly made refugees and de jure denaturalized from their homelands. It was a result of the Turkish War of Independence.

The agreement therefore merely ratified what had already been perpetrated on the Turkish and Greek populations. Of the 1,200,000 Greeks involved in the exchange, only approximately 150,000 were resettled in an orderly fashion. The majority had already fled hastily with the retreating Greek Army following Greece's defeat in the Greco-Turkish War.

The Greek campaign was launched primarily as the western Allies, particularly British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, had promised Greece territorial gains at the expense of the Ottoman Empire. The armed conflict started with the Greek occupation of Smyrna,in May 1919. Their advance was checked at the Battle of Sakarya in 1921. The Greek front collapsed with the Turkish counter-attack on August 1922 and the war effectively ended with the re-capture of Smyrna by the Turkish forces.

Failure of the Greek military campaign and the expulsion of the French military from Cilicia in Anatolia forced the Allies to abandon the Treaty of Sèvres to negotiate a new treaty atLausanne with the Turkish National Movement. The Treaty of Lausanne recognized the independence of the Republic of Turkey and its sovereignty over Asia Minor, Constantinople, and Eastern Thrace. They returned to their pre-war borders, thus leaving East Thrace and Western Anatolia to Turkey. The Turkish victory also brought an end to the Occupation of Constantinople by the British forces.

The Turkish community of Greece had increased in size to over 140,000.

The population profile of Crete was significantly altered as well. Greek- and Turkish-speaking Muslim inhabitants of Crete (Cretan Turks) moved, principally to the Anatolian coast, but also to Syria, Lebanon and Egypt. Some of these people identify themselves as ethnically Greek to this day. Conversely, Greeks from Asia Minor, principally Smyrna, arrived in Crete bringing in their distinctive dialects, customs and cuisine.

Taxes ! Strange & historic !

In the 17th & 18th century's A large number of male servants ( in stately homes in the UK ) was an indication of a man’s wealth. Employing males, instead of females, created a greater expense because a tax on male servants was introduced by Lord North in 1777. The tax was to be used for the cost of fighting the Americans and the war with the French. It cost a landowner £7 for each male servant if there were eleven or more in the household. Although it was gradually reduced over the years, the tax continued until 1937.

Compounding the issue of keeping powdered footmen increased by the duty placed on the hair powder. That tax remained in place from 1786 to 1869. Is it any wonder that some landowners forced their servants to use ordinary house flour to save on expenses. A smart footman might use the household flour and then claim the reimbursement for the expense of the duty.

Poll Tax :

A poll tax, also called a per capita tax, or capitation tax, is a tax that levies a set amount per individual. It is an example of the concept of fixed tax. One of the earliest taxes mentioned in the Bible of a half-shekel per annum from each adult Jew (Ex. 30:11–16) was a form of poll tax. Poll taxes are administratively cheap because they are easy to compute and collect and difficult to cheat. Economists have considered poll taxes economically efficient because people are presumed to be in fixed supply and poll taxes therefore do not lead to economic distortions. However, poll taxes are very unpopular because poorer people pay a higher proportion of their income than richer people.[4] In addition, the supply of people is in fact not fixed over time: on average, couples will choose to have fewer children if a poll tax is imposed. The introduction of a poll tax in medieval England was the primary cause of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt. It changed the attitude of the upper class for ever in UK. The citizens had to be "taken care of" in case of revolt.. Scotland was the first to be used to test the new poll tax in 1989 with England and Wales in 1990. The change from a progressive local taxation based on property values to a single-rate form of taxation regardless of ability to pay (the Community Charge, but more popularly referred to as the Poll Tax), led to widespread refusal to pay and to incidents of civil unrest, known colloquially as the 'Poll Tax Riots'. It was one of Mrs Thatchers key policy's .

Stamp Duty :

Stamp duty is a tax that is levied on documents. Historically, this included the majority of legal documents such as cheques, receipts, military commissions, marriage licences and land transactions. A physical stamp (a revenue stamp) had to be attached to or impressed upon the document to denote that stamp duty had been paid before the document was legally effective. More modern versions of the tax no longer require an actual stamp.

The duty is thought to have originated in Spain, being introduced (or re-invented) in the Netherlands in the 1620s,France in 1651, Denmark in 1657, Prussia in 1682 and England in 1694.

In the Republic of Ireland stamp duties are levied on various items including (but not limited to) credit cards, debit cards, ATM cards, cheques, property transfers, and certain court documents. Stamp duty was originally a progressive tax with more expensive the house bought the greater the stamp duty rate. Until the budget of 2008 when the stamp duty tax was set at 1% for properties brought up to the value of €1 million and 3% on the remaining amount with a certain exception for first time buyers.

Who will be the next Dali Lama ?

On 24 September 2011, the Dalai Lama issued the following statement concerning his reincarnation:

When I am about ninety I will consult the high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the Tibetan public, and other concerned people who follow Tibetan Buddhism, and re-evaluate whether the institution of the Dalai Lama should continue or not. On that basis we will take a decision. If it is decided that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should continue and there is a need for the Fifteenth Dalai Lama to be recognized, responsibility for doing so will primarily rest on the concerned officers of the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Trust. They should consult the various heads of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and the reliable oath-bound Dharma Protectors who are linked inseparably to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas. They should seek advice and direction from these concerned beings and carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition. I shall leave clear written instructions about this. Bear in mind that, apart from the reincarnation recognized through such legitimate methods, no recognition or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends by anyone, including those in the People’s Republic of China.

The Dalai Lama stated in 2007 that the next Dalai Lama could possibly be a woman, remarking, "If a woman reveals herself as more useful the lama could very well be reincarnated in this form".^[5] In 2010 he stated that "twenty or thirty years ago", when discussing whether a woman could be a Dalai Lama in the future, he said yes but "I also said half-jokingly that if the Dalai Lama's reincarnation is female, she must be very attractive. The reason is so that she will have more influence on others. If she is an ugly female, she won’t be very effective, will she?"

Old Stillorgan Brewery : Darley's

Henry Darley's Brewery 

Was on Brewery Road ('around where the offices of DCC ltd are ), in the Stillorgan Area of County Dublin. It was operational in the 19 century for 81 years. It was owned by the Darley family. Henry Darley was born in 1801 at Wingfield, County Wicklow,( now a private school ).  He married Maria Louisa West, daughter of Matthew West ( High Sheriff of Dublin City between 1810 and 1811) and Maria Louisa de Blaisy Joly, on 13 December 1829 at St. Peter's Church, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. He died on 4 July 1883 at 24 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. He was buried on 7 July 1883 at Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harold's Cross, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland.

He was the son of Frederick Darley and Elizabeth Guinness.

Frederick Darley was born on 28 February 1763 at Fernhill, County Dublin, Ireland. ( now owned by Dunlaoghaire county council ) He was the son of Henry Darley. He married Elizabeth Guinness, daughter of Arthur Guinness and Olivia Whitmore. He died on 2 April 1847 at age 84.

     He was Chief Magistrate. He held the office of Lord Mayor of Dublin between 1808 and 1809.

  The brewery produced Ale and Beer. There is no records left. The stream which ran through the brewery cannot be seen anymore as it has been covered.

New Advert for EIR : old song

Fionnghuala

The name of the song is Fionnghuala, it derives from Irish mythology.

In Irish mythology Fionnghuala was the daughter of Lir, and appeared in many Irish tales such as the 'Children of Lir', in which she was cursed.

You might recognise the modern version of the name, as it was shortened to 'Nuala'.

The style of the song is an Irish one known as Puirt a Beul, which is constructed around the sounds of the words rather than their meanings.

The song was sung in old times by poor workers in order to motivate and raise their spirits.

Eir advertisement arranged by John Walsh

The song originates from Scotland and Irish mythology, and was originally sung in Scots Gaelic.

Its ads are soundtracked by the song Fionnghuala, a new arrangement of which was commissioned from composer John Walsh. Get used to hearing it - Eir has booked 6,000 television ads and 4,500 radio ones. If these ads were played back to back, they would add up to 13 days, seven hours and 21 minutes.

The Scottish Gaelic title of this song is "Fionnghuala". The English translation is "Fingal's Bothies".

This is the English translation of "Fionnghuala" by Anúna.

The blacksmith said, "I'll wait"
The blacksmith said, "I'll go"
The blacksmith said, in his confusion
Standing at the door of the barn
That he was going to go courting

Chorus:
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Island of bothies, of bothies
Fingal's bothies

I'd knock spots off the birds
I'd knock spots off the hakes
Little lythes of the sea
We would take a while hauling them in
If our hand lines last

We got nothing here
We got nothing here
We got nothing here
We would take a while hauling them in
If our hand lines last

I'd knock spots off the birds
I'd knock spots off the hakes
Little lythes of the sea
We would take a while hauling them in
If our hand lines last

We got nothing here
We got nothing here
We got nothing here
We would take a while hauling them in
If our hand lines last

The blacksmith said, "I'll wait"
The blacksmith said, "I'll go"
The blacksmith said, in his confusion
Standing at the door of the barn
That he was going to go courting

The Irish version

Thuirt an gobha fuirighidh mi (The blacksmith said, "I'll wait")
'S thuirt an gobha falbhaidh mi (The blacksmith said, "I'll go"(
'S thuirt an gobha leis an othail (The blacksmith said, in his confusion)
A bh' air an dòrus an t-sàbhail (Standing at the door of the barn)
Gu rachadh e a shuirghe (That he was going to go courting)

Sèist: Chorus (after each verse):
'Si eilean nam bothan nam bothan (Island of bothies, of bothies)
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan (Island of bothies, of bothies)
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan (Island of bothies, of bothies)
Am bothan a bh' aig Fionnghuala (Fingal's bothies)
'Si eilean nam bothan nam bothan (Island of bothies, of bothies)
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan (Island of bothies, of bothies)
Eilean nam bothan nam bothan (Island of bothies, of bothies)
Am bothan a bh' aig Fionnghuala (Fingal's bothies)

Bheirinn fead air fulmairean (I'd knock spots off the birds)
Bheirinn fead air falmairean (I'd knock spots off the hakes)
Liuthannan beaga na mara (Little lythes of the sea)
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn (We would take a while hauling them in)
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn (If our hand lines last)

Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo (We got nothing here)
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo (We got nothing here)
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo (We got nothing here)
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn (We would take a while hauling them in)
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn (If our hand lines last)

Bheirinn fead air fulmairean (I'd knock spots off the birds)
Bheirinn fead air falmairean (I'd knock spots off the hakes)
Liuthannan beaga na mara (Little lythes of the sea)
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn (We would take a while hauling them in)
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn (If our hand lines last)

Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo (We got nothing here)
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo (We got nothing here)
Cha d'thuirt an dadan a' seo (We got nothing here)
Bheireamaid greis air an tarrainn (We would take a while hauling them in)
Na maireadh na duirgh dhuinn (If our hand lines last)

Thuirt an gobha fuirighidh mi (The blacksmith said, "I'll wait")
'S thuirt an gobha falbhaidh mi (The blacksmith said, "I'll go")
'S thuirt an gobha leis an othail (The blacksmith said, in his confusion)
A bh' air an dòrus an t-sàbhail (Standing at the door of the barn)
Gu rachadh e a shuirghe (That he was going to go courting)

Rufugees in Europe - Crisis

The USA have a responsibility to take in more refugees from the Middle East especially From Iraq. The Islamic State (IS) contains part of Saddam Hussein's ( SH ) Army.

When the USA invaded and toppled they disbanded his large army. They Americans & British were only looking for chemical weapons and didn't follow up the stockpiles of conventional arms. Of course they didn't find the chemicals as they hadn't sold them any . Generals in the north of the country hid a lot of the weapons and disappeared into the countryside. They were part of the Sunni population who were in the minority but under SH controlled the country. Now they have reappeared as the military force behind IS. They used there expertise to gain control of much of Northern Iraq and Syria, . The refugees fleeing to Europe are a direct consequence of the American failed policies in Iraq. It should be there responsible to help with the refugee crisis.

Did you know what you can see in Paris !

Did you know what you can see in Paris !

John : 19-2-5.   "The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe"

This is the quote from the Christian Bible. So Jesus had a crown of thorns put on his head while on the cross. Well it can be seen to day in Notre Dam Cathedral in  Paris. It is one of the most important relics in the Christian world. On the first Friday of every month and every Friday in lent there is the VENERATION OF THE CROWN OF THORNS. The crown housed in the Paris cathedral is a circle of canes bundled together and held by gold threads. The thorns were attached to this braided circle, which measures 21 centimetres in diameter. The thorns were divided up over the centuries by the Byzantine emperors and the Kings of France. There are seventy, all of the same type, which have been confirmed as the original thorns.

In the 4 th century the relics were kept in the basilica on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Between the 7th and the 10th centuries, the relics were moved progressively to the Byzantine emperors’ chapel in Constantinople, mainly to keep them safe from pillaging. In 1238, Byzantium was governed by Latin Emperor Baldwin of Constantinople. As he was in great financial difficulty, he decided to pawn the relics in a Venetian bank to get credit.

Saint Louis, the king of France, took over and paid back the Venetians. On 10 August 1239, the king, followed by a brilliant procession, welcomed twenty-nine relics in Villeneuve-l’Archevêque. On 19 August 1239, the procession arrived in Paris; the king took off his royal garments. Wearing only a simple tunic and with bare feet, assisted by his brother, took the Crown of Thorns to Notre-Dame de Paris before placing the relics in the palace chapel. He built a reliquary worthy of housing these relics, Sainte Chapelle.( one of the greatest chapels ever built & still standing ).

During the French revolution, the relics were stored in the National Library. After the Concordat in 1801, they were given back to the archbishop of Paris who placed them in the Cathedral treasury on 10 August 1806. They are still housed there.

It might not be the exact crown of thrones but a lot of people still venerate it. It has been visited by millions over the years and can still be today. In our modern world it still has a place.