Nature’s Smile/Το χαμόγελο της φύσης

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Happy 1st of the month! Καλό μήνα!

I’ve been so busy with the garden in the past month. I’m made a lot of beautiful changes. However, it took up so much of my time. And, it’s getting hotter and hotter here and I hate that because it’s harder for me to focus on creative projects. I hope to stop lagging soon and get back at it.

Today would have been my mother’s 73rd birthday. She passed away last October from a very aggressive form of cancer. I wish that she could be here to see the changes that I have made, I think she would have approved. Maybe she has seen the changes? You never know 🙂

Ήμουν πολύ απασχολημένη με τον κήπο τον περασμένο μήνα. Έχω κάνει πολλές όμορφες αλλαγές.  Ωστόσο, πήρε πολύ μεγάλο μέρος από το χρόνο μου. Επίσης,  ο καιρός γίνεται πιο ζεστός εδώ και μισώ αυτό γιατί είναι πιο δύσκολο για μένα να επικεντρωθώ σε δημιουργικά έργα. Ελπίζω να σταματήσω να καθυστερω και να επανέλθω σε αυτό.

Σήμερα θα ήταν τα 73α γενέθλια της μητέρας μου. Απεβίωσε τον περασμένο Οκτώβριο από μια πολύ επιθετική μορφή καρκίνου. Μακάρι να μπορούσε να είναι εδώ για να δει τις αλλαγές που έκανα, νομίζω ότι θα τα είχε εγκρίνει. Ίσως έχει δει τις αλλαγές; Ποτέ δεν ξέρεις 🙂

 

Dumbed-Down Society/Κοινωνία Χαμηλού Επιπέδου
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Illustration by Angela Zafiris

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” Isaac Asimov

“Η πιο θλιβερή πτυχή της ζωής είναι ότι η επιστήμη συγκεντρώνει γνώσεις ταχύτερα από ό, τι η κοινωνία συγκεντρώνει τη σοφία.” Ισακ Ασιμοβ

The Remains/Τα Ερείπια

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Below the church.

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After exploring a near by park in Athens I came across the ruins of the church of St. Nikolaos. I haven’t been able to find much information about it. I assume it was built in Byzantine times. It is not very common to come across the ruins of a church in Greece so I found it this to be very intriguing.

Μετά την εξερεύνηση ενός κοντινού πάρκου στην Αθήνα, βρήκα τα ερείπια της εκκλησίας του Αγίου Νικολάου. Δεν κατάφερα να βρω πολλές πληροφορίες γι ‘αυτό. Υποθέτω ότι χτίστηκε στα βυζαντινά χρόνια. Δεν είναι πολύ συνηθισμένο να βρίσκω τα ερείπια μιας εκκλησίας στην Ελλάδα, γι ‘αυτό βρήκα αυτή την ανακάλυψη τοσο ενδιαφέρουσα.

By The Lake/Δίπλα στη Λίμνη
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I came across this tabby cat with the munchies!

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He is really enjoying his snack and drinks!

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The beautiful lake in Marathon where Athenians get their water from.  I love water, all bodies of water 🙂

Η πανέμορφη λίμνη του Μαραθώνα όπου οι Αθηναίοι παίρνουν το νερό τους. Λατρεύω το νερό, όλα τα υδατικά συστήματα 🙂

Waves of Trash/Κυμα Σκουπιδιων
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‘You can run, but you can’t hide’! Collage by Angela Zafiris

Recently a pregnant sperm whale washed up on a beach in Sardinia, Italy. The whale had 49 pounds of plastic in its stomach. Last month another whale was found washed up on the shores of the Philippines with 88 pounds of plastic in its stomach. The oceans are full of plastics and air pollution has gotten worse.

The state of global air (SOGA) released a report that air pollution is the 5th leading cause of death in the world today. Countries in Asia and Africa are suffering the most due to the use of fuels like coal and charcoal for home cooking. The life expectancy of children in the countries will decrease by 20 months.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) air pollution kills over 7 million people each year. Air pollution increases the risk of stroke, lung cancer and heart disease. Also, air pollution kills 50% of children under the age of 5.

Changes are being made in Europe with the banning of plastic bags and straws and the youth is protesting around the world for the environment. But, quicker and bigger changes need to made and everyone has to make environmental causes a top priority.