Honorable Officials of Greece:

I remain committed to a tourism boycott of Greece. I am shocked the Ministry of Tourism has lavished $100 million on the "Live Your Myth In Greece" campaign when the ultimate myth endures: It's a fable about officials who work to end the abuse of homeless animals in Greece.

It is a fiction-based story, built upon words without merit.

During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the world learned an estimated 80% of Athens' strays had vanished as authorities swept the streets for a sleek world reception. Images of emaciated animals, hangings, shootings and poisonings emerged in The BBC, Greek TV News, New York Post, Chicago Tribune, and other media outlets.

We saw cannibalized puppies and carcasses lining gutters. We heard about food laced with herbicides, pesticides and ground glass. We saw ravenous strays foam at the mouth, convulse and die. We read about a live dog crushed with the garbage and a burned kitten pulled from the trash.

The outcry from the global animal welfare community led to minor modifications. Two showcase shelters were unveiled to greet international press, even as animals continued to rot alive in makeshift pounds throughout Greece.

And where are the survivors — the street dogs supposedly rescued by the municipal government in a zero-hour effort to appear humane? Greek sources report these dogs have disappeared.

In fact, little has changed. Eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence attest to ongoing cruelty. At municipal animal shelters, animals still languish in their own waste. Food is scarce and water bowls are infested with dead insects and muck. Males and females are permitted to breed unrestrained and starving dogs feed on newborn puppies.

Once again, I implore the Greek government to enforce animal welfare legislation. Certainly some of the millions spent on tourism ads could be directed toward humane reform. If Greece hopes to market itself as a sophisticated travel destination, it must align itself with European law designed to protect companion, farmed, and captive animals.

Specifically, I call upon the Greek government to:

—Repeal Animal Welfare Law #3170 and uphold European Union Law, which Greece ratified in 1992. Officials have consistently ignored or misconstrued the vague language in Law #3170. Animal abusers are neither prosecuted nor penalized for their crimes.

—Issue a declaration from the Office of the Prime Minister denouncing animal abuse and neglect.

—Enact a Ministerial Decree that authorizes non-government animal protection societies and individuals to legally transport abandoned animals to loving homes in Europe and America. Please lift the Ministry of Agriculture's current embargo on the free passage of Greek strays to permanent homes abroad.

—Thoroughly investigate and terminate, if necessary, veterinarians within the Ministry of Agriculture who obstruct the rehoming of animals abroad. In addition, I urge the Greek government to monitor and penalize, when appropriate, state veterinarians on the Greek mainland and islands who undermine humane reform or violate anti-cruelty law.

—Subsidize and institute nationwide low-cost spay/neuter, vaccination/treatment, microchip identification, adoption/rehoming, and humane education within the school system.

The Hellenic Veterinary Association rejects spay/neuter aid from veterinarians in other countries. This is unacceptable. Greece has demonstrated its inability to manage the animal overpopulation crisis. I ask the Greek government to facilitate licensing for foreign veterinarians who have volunteered to assist in sterilization, vaccination and treatment for animals in Greece.

I will continue to encourage family, friends and colleagues to boycott Greece as a vacation spot until visible strides are made to enforce animal welfare law and institute humane reform.

Sincerely,

email addresses only

***THIS ALERT IS CLOSED***

info@primeminister.gr, pressoffice@primeminister.gr, dimavra@otenet.gr, info@mintour.gr,
mfa@mfa.gr, cio@mfa.gr,Info@Ypai.gr, generalenquiries@noc.culture.gr, w3admin@culture.gr, minjust@otenet.gr, evie@greekembassy.org, NYCcons@greekembassy.org, emarinak@tui.gr,
paravantes@cityofathens.gr, anastasi@cityofathens.gr

Cc (National Greek Press):
editor@ekathimerini.com, elef@enet.gr, elet@enet.gr, info@apogevmatini.gr,
tanea@dolnet.gr, zougla@otenet.gr, espresso@espressonews.gr

Cc: Twinkieperkyebhy@msn.com, info@archenoah-kreta.com

full contact information

***THIS ALERT IS CLOSED*** Kostas Karamanlis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Prime Minister's Political Office - remarks, queries, proposals Maximos Mansion ('Megaro Maximou') 19, Herodou Attikou str, GR-106 74 Athens email: info@primeminister.gr Theodoros Roussopoulos, Nea Democratia Spokesperson email: info@primeminister.gr Prime Minister's Press Office Ioannis Andrianos, Director 19 Herodou Attikou St., Megaro Maximou 10674 Athens ph: +30 210 7243333; email: pressoffice@primeminister.gr Dimitris Avramopoulos, Minister of Tourism Ministry of Tourism, 119 Mesogion Ave., 10192 Athens ph: 210-6969813-5; email: dimavra@otenet.gr, info@mintour.gr Petros Molyviatis, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 Akadimias St., Stoa Davaki, Athens ph: 210-3682700; email: mfa@mfa.gr, cio@mfa.gr Aristotelis Pavlidis, Minister for the Aegean & Island Policy Ministry for the Aegean & Island Policy Athens Office, 9 Filellinon St., 10557 Athens ph: 210-3311714-16; email: Info@Ypai.gr

Konstantinos Karamanlis, Minister of Culture Ministry of Culture, 20-22 Bouboulinas St., 10682 Athens ph: 210-8201100; email: generalenquiries@noc.culture.gr, w3admin@culture.gr Anastasios Papaligouras, Minister of Justice Ministry of Justice, 96 Mesogion Ave., Athens ph: 210-7711019; email: minjust@otenet.gr George Savvaides, Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Embassy of Greece, 2221 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20008 ph: 202-939-1300; fax: 202-939-1324; email: evie@greekembassy.org web email: www.greekembassy.org/ Embassy/content/en/Contact.aspx?office=1 Greek Consul General: NYCcons@greekembassy.org THE EMBASSY CONTACT INFO IS FOR THE USA ONLY. TO FIND CONTACT INFO FOR GREEK EMBASSIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES, TRY: www.embassyworld.com E. Marinakis: emarinak@tui.gr Cc: (National Greek Press) editor@ekathimerini.com, elef@enet.gr, elet@enet.gr, info@apogevmatini.gr, tanea@dolnet.gr, zougla@otenet.gr, espresso@espressonews.gr

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