The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Japan : Transportation of Hansen's disease patients..[ 1921 ]

Private sector's role in running ferries angers one-time Hansen's disease patients on island

A ferry is pictured at the port of Takamatsu. (Mainichi)

A ferry is pictured at the port of  Takamatsu. (Mainichi) 
 
(Mainichi Japan) October 26, 2010
 
TAKAMATSU -- The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) met with strong criticism from one-time Hansen's disease patients after it decided to leave the operation of some public ferry services connecting Shikoku and a state-run sanatorium on a remote island here to the private sector.
Residents of the National Sanatorium Oshimaseishoen in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, criticized the ministry's move to partially outsource the operation of passenger ferry services between the prefectural capital and Oshima Island, where the medical facility is located.
The sanatorium residents are calling on the ministry to cancel their plan, saying, "Outsourcing public transportation services, the lifeline for the sanatorium, is equivalent to abandoning the nation's responsibility for segregating Hansen's disease patients."
During a general assembly on Oct. 25, a cross-party group of Diet members seeking a settlement of Hansen's disease-related issues -- led by House of Representatives member of the Democratic Party of Japan Hiroshi Kawauchi -- also decided to request top MHLW officials to review the plan to leave some ferry operations to the private sector.
Meanwhile, the national association of leprosariums residents planned to call an emergency meeting in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on the evening of Oct. 26 to discuss the matter.
"The government is responsible for stealing the lives of patients with Hansen's disease by isolating them on the remote island. Therefore, it should continue to provide ferry services until the end," the head of the association said.
The national sanatorium in question was established on Oshima Island, located some eight kilometers off the port of Takamatsu, in 1909. Currently, the government regularly operates two state-owned ferries, "Seisho" and "Matsukaze." The passenger ferries are the only way for the residents of the sanatorium to travel back and forth between the two islands.
There are a total of six ship captains and crew members, but two of them are scheduled to retire in March next year. However, the ministry is not planning to fill the vacancy. Instead, it will leave the operation of one of the two ferries to a private company, and has already included the outsourcing costs in its fiscal 2011 budget request.
"The decision is in line with the government's policy to reduce the number of new government employees. The public sector can also improve services by increasing the number of ferry operations," a ministry official said.
However, residents of the sanatorium are still anxious, as they may no longer be able to rely on a night-shift captain who can take emergency patients to hospitals across the sea.
"Following the opening of a number of Honshu-Shikoku bridges, the maritime transportation industry is experiencing a business downturn. Can the private sector take care of emergency situations?" one resident said.
Click here for the original Japanese story

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