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.........

Sunday, February 16, 2014

California : water crisis...[ 3632 ]

GOP challengers see opportunity in California water crisis


FILE -- In this Jan. 9, 2014 file photo a visitor to Folsom Lake, Calif., walks his dog down a boat ramp that is now several hundred yards away from the waters edge, in Folsom, Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown was governor the last time California had a drought of epic proportions, in 1975-76 and now is pushing a controversial $25 billion plan to build twin tunnels to ship water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to farmland and cities further south. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli,file)
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Two Republican challengers to incumbent California Gov. Jerry Brown say that the state's government failed to properly prepare for what they call a foreseeable drought crisis. 

The cracked-dry bed of the Almaden Reservoir is seen on Feb. 7 in San Jose, Calif.
Credit Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP
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The drought emergency Brown declared last month has added to the pressure on the Democratic governor to address longstanding problems with the state's water storage and delivery systems. Brown has proposed a $25 billion plan to build two massive tunnels to ship water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta to farms and communities.
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The two Republican candidates, Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, R-Twin Peaks, and Neel Kashkari, a former U.S. Treasury official, both say the most pressing need is for more water storage, although it would do little to help ease the current shortfall.
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"Let's get going with the piece of this that everybody agrees on -- the storage. I think we can get support for that," Kashkari said.
Although Democrats and environmentalists have often resisted building reservoirs and expanding the state's storage capacity, instead favoring water conservation, Kashkari said "the politics have changed," amid the crisis. He said he believes there is now consensus.
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An $11.1 billion water bond is already slated for the November ballot, but lawmakers believe it is too expensive and too loaded down with special projects to win favor with voters. At least four alternative proposals are circulating, but Brown has declined to say whether he would support any of them. He has said he is unsure whether any package can get voter support.
Donnelly said he would support a water bond that is "strictly water, nothing else, no political payoffs. But it has to address every region of the state."
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"Southern California has to become part of it; it has to own up to its own responsibility in water usage. That means major conservation, and it means we need to invest in desalinization," Donnelly said.
Kashkari said he favors breaking up the bond and pushing a measure solely dedicated to storage.
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But the bond, a hard-fought, bipartisan deal brokered in the Legislature in 2009, reflects the complexity of sensitive negotiations on water politics. It includes money to move water, store it, protect sensitive environmental areas and ensure clean drinking water.
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Neither of the Republicans supports the centerpiece of Brown's water proposal, the $25 billion plan to build two 35-foot long tunnels, a 10- to 15-year project that is intended to make it easier to pump water from the Sacramento River to Central Valley farms and Southern California cities. It also includes money for delta habitat restoration.
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Donnelly wants to ask voters to repeal the contentious high-speed rail project and divert nearly $9 billion in bonds approved for it to water projects. While that proposal is unlikely to win support from Democrats in the Legislature, Donnelly said he believes the crisis brings opportunity.
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"I don't know that it'll all be reached in the Legislature this year, but I am encouraged to see for the first time in a long time, all of the players coming to the table so they can at least have the conversation," Donnelly said. "And I'm willing to work with anybody who has a better idea so we can get this done."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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