T
he presidential elections are over and the majority of those who voted has re-elected Nikos Anastasiadis. The result of the elections, on the one hand, does not satisfy us, and on the other hand it is respected, since it expresses the verdict of the Cypriot people. As EDON, we want to thank the hundreds of volunteers, EDON men and women, who gave their own fight in every corner of Cyprus for the election of Stavros Malas, with altruism and self-denial.
As EDON, we want to thank the hundreds of volunteers, EDON men and women, who gave their own fight in every corner of Cyprus for the election of Stavros Malas, with altruism and self-denial.
Unfortunately, we gave the fight for discharge from DISY-Anastasiadis governance on our own, both in the first and in the second round. The forces of the so-called Intermediate Area, which supported “the release from the previous government” during the election campaign (in round 1), turned their backs to the Cypriot people (in round 2), because they did not support the opponent of Mr. Anastasiades. With Mr Anastasiades’ policies, we are separated by chaos. We have a radically different perception. Mr. Anastasiades ruled for 5 years with feasibility and gave too many to the few and very few to the many. On the other hand, the composition of the new Ministerial Council by Mr. Anastasiades does not surprise us. We had no doubt that Mr Anastasiades’ pre-election rhetoric on a government of “broad acceptance” would result in the formation of a single-party government. Our struggle never stopped after the elections. We will continue to defend and claim the rights of the new generation, the rights of the workers.
1
I
s it the mentality? Is it a matter of luck? Is it a wrong choice? Whatever it is, it must finally end. The dreams of our fellow humans are prematurely ended on the road, either from high speed, or from dangerous driving or even from consuming alcohol before driving. The Cyprus Police campaigns in a daily basis in order to prevent all these fatal accidents. However, all these campaigns cannot stop the accidents on their own. We need to change our own mindset and understand that driving is not a game. Within a five-year period (2012-2017), 60 people have died in road accidents due to drinking alcohol before driving, a number that must “shake� Cypriot drivers and make them realize that alcohol and driving cannot be combined. As much as a driver claims to be able to drive well after drinking, that does not apply. The experts say that after two glasses of alcohol the driver is unable to cope with the road, because the reflexes and concentration are noticeably reduced. As for speed, we have to realize that ... yes, it kills. Families mourns from one moment to another because they lose their children from speeding. Road signs showing the speed limit did not accidentally get there.
2
The experts say that after two glasses of alcohol the driver is unable to cope with the road, because the reflexes and concentration are noticeably reduced.
In the first half of 2017, three fellow humans died, while they were pedestrians, because unconscious drivers dragged them away due to excessive speed. As EDON, we believe that society itself must end the unconscious driving, in order to stop recording numbers of victims on the road, because every life is important. It is better to be late going somewhere than to never make it.
T
he Ministry of Education and Culture after the voting of the Parliament’s proposition about the reform of student’s assessment method in secondary schools is moving forward to the implementation of the current suggestion. It refers to the induction of examination per semester, which is going to be implemented from the next school year 2018-2019. The existing educational system is divided in two semesters with one final exam in the end of the school year. This procedure stands against the willing of the group of people which impacts directly. The Student’s Local Coordinating Committees (ESEM) announce that they are moving forward to the collection of signatures form in schools in order to express their dissatisfaction about the current situation. In Limassol district, because of ESEM’s inaction, Limassol’s PEOM (EDON’s student movement) will take on the signature’s collection.
The student movement and the educators believe that this change will transform school to an examination centre which will function with only one purpose; the student’s assessment and not the transfer of knowledge and the development of critical thinking. Considering all the above as EDON, we call every student to sign against the implementation of exams per semester at the signature’s collection form which is being held by ESEM between Tuesday 20 and Monday 26 of February. In addition, we encourage every teacher to vote against the current suggestion in OELMEK’s (High school Teacher’s Organization) referendum which is being held on 22nd of February. We fight for a humanitarian and democratic school.
3
L
ately, we watch the escalation of Turkish aggression in the wider region of Syria, Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, aiming at defending the interests of the Turkish ruling class and strengthening it as a regional force. • In Cyprus, with a pre-planned act, Turkey blocked the ENI’s ship, which was headed at a predetermined point, in order to continue its research work within the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone. That is a clear challenge against the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus. • In Syria, Turkey invaded the region of Afrin controlled by the forces of the Kurdish Democratic Union (PYD), violating the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Syria. • In Greece, there was a clash of Turkish ships with Greek ones, continuous blockade of the small islands of Imia by Turkish ships, as well as the interference of Turkish ships during the filing of wreath at Imia by the Greek Minister of Defense. The Turkish provocation is culminating, as all of the above are combined with incendiary statements by the Turkish political and military leadership. It is a tremendous need the international community to intervene substantially and Turkey must finally be compelled to respect international law. As EDON, we strongly condemn Turkey’s actions. Its aggression underlines once more the need for our country to get rid of occupying troops and colonization in Cyprus. We will continue our struggle for a solution to the Cyprus problem, within the framework of a Bizonal and Bicommunal Federation, that will liberate and reunite our country. We will continue the struggle for peace among the peoples of the world and the disengagement of all countries from military organizations, as well as for international disarmament.