Saskia Unreserved E-Book

Saskia Constantinou

• Herausgeber: Armida Publications
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 252

Beschreibung

Saskia has opened a window on a cultural and intellectual strata in Cyprus society which is unique.

Vincent Kane OBE BBC Current Affairs Presenter and Interviewer

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SaskiaUnrerved: In Print delves into the life and work of erudite and experienced professionals offering commentary and notable words of people whose opinion matters, across many fields.

They share their knowledge in a no-holds barred interview taking the words of Aristotle to heart “Quality is not an act, it’s a habit.”

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Nemanja Bjedov – Basketball Coach   

BirdLife Cyprus – Non-profit organisation   

Leon Bosch – Double Bass Soloist   

Natalie Christopher  – Astrophysicist 

Sofronis Clerides – Economist

Michail Elia  –   Founder: Biennale Larnaca

Christos Eliades  – Artist

Fryne Eliades – Ethnographical Museum 

Stefanos Farmakas – TV Director

Yvonne Georgiadou – Artistic Director

Christopher Gunning – Composer

Anna Koukkides – Procopiou  – Artificial Intelligence Analyst

Dimitris Kyparissopoulos  – Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon  

Mats Lidström –  Concert Cellist

Andreas Mallouris – Plastic Surgeon and Artist

Georgios Mikellides – Psychiatrist

Yiota Nicolaidou – Cyber Security

Charles Owen  –  Concert Pianist

Leonidas Phylactou –  Institute of Neurology & Genetics

Maggie Semple – Entrepreneur

Monica Shiakou – Child Psychologist

Melanie Steliou – Actress

Elena Tanou – Entrepreneur

Memnia Theodorou – Dentist, Entrepreneur, Sailor

Leseprobe

SaskiaUnreserved: In PrintBy Saskia Constantinou

Table of Contents

Credit page

Dedication

Profound thanks go to:

Foreword by Vincent Kane OBE

Preface to the First Edition

Nemanja Bjedov

BirdLife Cyprus

Leon Bosch

Dr Natalie Christopher

Professor Sofronis Clerides, PhD

Michail Elia

Christos Eliades

Fryne Eliades

Stefanos Farmakas - BA(Hons) MBA

Yvonne Georgiadou

Christopher Gunning - BMus (Dunelm) AGSM, ARCM

Anna Koukkides-Procopiou

Dimitrios Kyparissopoulos - MD, MD ph, FRCS

Mats L idström

Dr Andreas Mallouris

Dr Georgios Mikellides - MD, MRCPsych, CCT (UK)

Yiota Nicolaidou

Charles Owen

Prof. Leonidas A. Phylactou, PhD

Maggie Semple OBE, FCGI

Dr Monica Shiakou PhD

Melanie Steliou

Elena Tanou

Dr Memnia Theodorou DDS

Biographical Notes

About the Author

Credit page

Copyright © 2019 by Saskia ConstantinouAll rights reserved. Published by Armida Publications Ltd in collaboration with Apollon International Publications.All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher or the Author. For information regarding permission, write to Armida Publications Ltd, P.O.Box 27717, 2432 Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus or email: [email protected] International [email protected] Publications is a member of the Independent Publishers Guild (UK),and a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (USA)www.armidabooks.com | Great Literature. One Book At A Time.Graphics: Christian [email protected] Photographers: Christoforos Papasavvas and Sandra B. Juhasz Constantinou1st edition: March 2019ISBN-13 (paperback): 978-9963-255-92-4

Dedication

For my parents, Judith and Costas Constantinou who lovingly made so many sacrifices andMy daughter Sandra Blythin Juhasz Constantinou – my shining light

Profound thanks go to:

My interviewees, without whom this book would not have come about;Judith Constantinou for many hours of proof-reading;Christian Stoian for continued patience in the design changes; Armida Publications for their belief in my work and the project; Photographer Christoforos Papasavvasand Sandra C for her unending patience

Foreword by Vincent Kane OBE

Interviewing is a rare skill; people who are really good at it are few and far between. That is because it is possible for the interviewer in the various environments in which interviewing of one sort or another is carried out, to be possessed of all the necessary virtues – to be quick witted, articulate, eloquent even, but most of all to be to be hard working at the research into the topic of the interview; yes, to have all these strings to his or her bow – yet still, not to miss the central point of what it is all about, which is that in the interview, the important person is the person being interviewed. The interviewee is the star of the show and the interviewer is merely the process which enables the star to shine brightly or to be dim, distant, or clouded over as the case may be.

One area where interviewing needs specialised skills is the court of law where witnesses are examined and cross examined, but where the rules of evidence are tightly controlled. Barristers are not allowed to ask ‘leading questions.’ A leading question is one where the answer is contained in the question.

“When you looked out of the window, Mrs Jones, did you see the accused smashing the head of the deceased with a big hammer?” That is a leading question.

“When you looked out of the window, Mrs. Jones, what did you see?” That is not.

Sadly, in the last ten years or so the leading question has become the normal modus operandi for the great bulk of interviewers on television and radio. The journalist sitting in the studio, all too often interviewing another journalist at the point of the action or disaster or whatever will summarise the situation in a thirty second speech and will then ask his colleague a thousand miles away “Is that right?” To which there is only one answer. “Absolutely.” Whenever you hear an interviewee begin an answer with “Absolutely” you know that he has been metaphorically elbowed out of the way by the interviewer. And that is not what interviewers are for. Interviewers are there to make people talk. About themselves, what they believe, what they have achieved, about their dreams and disappointments.

Occasionally, in the field of current affairs, politics, and controversy, the interviewer’s role is to confront his subject and challenge him or her. But he should never confront them with his own point of view or set of values over whatever the topic might be. Rather he should ask the protagonist the questions which those of his viewers or listeners or readers who disagree with him would want asked. And the interviewer should insist, politely but firmly, on getting answers to those questions.

So, in a model interview, we might use the analogy of the horse race in which the interviewee is the horse and the interviewer is the jockey. The outcome depends on the breeding, the speed, and the stamina of the horse, but also on the skill of the jockey, the jockey steers the horse and varies the pace with hands and heels, he might show the horse the whip but he never uses it. If his skill and judgement are in place he might well be riding a winner, but it is the horse which wins the race – not the jockey. He is a vital part of the winning process but the trainer leads the horse into the winner’s enclosure while the jockey walks off to the weigh-in and to prepare for the next race.Saskia Constantinou is a fine jockey and in this book she presents two dozen winners she has ridden over the last year in her lunchtime programme on the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation. More than that, she has in my view, opened a window on a cultural and intellectual strata in Cyprus society which is unique. Unique, because I have not seen it delineated as sharply and as completely anywhere else and I have been resident here for twelve years.

Saskia’s interviews take us a world away from the politicians, the Cyprob, the Troika, and the non-performing loans which are the daily grind and introduce us to intelligent people who by their accomplishments, achievements, and aspirations enrich this island and give it true meaning.

They come from a variety of cultures and disciplines; music is strongly represented, and the visual arts as well. Medicine, too, including the difficult art (for it is an art) of psychiatry, provides a handful of leading-edge practitioners, every one of them a winner, testament to the fact that in this field Cyprus benefits from ‘best in class’ professionals. There are naturalists here, working hard to preserve the beauty of the island and its flora and fauna which are everywhere under threat. Some of Saskia’s subjects are activists and the majority of those are women which is most pleasing to see in what is still a heavily patriarchal society. One of them, Anna Koukkides-Procopiou reminds us that since 1960 only one Turkish Cypriot woman and three Greek Cypriot women have played a significant role in negotiation for a solution of the Cyprus problem. Food for thought.

One thing all of them have in common is that they are passionate. About what they do and what they are striving for, but also about Cyprus. Yes, they face up to the blemishes and the things that they think are wrong here.

Yvonne Georgiadou for instance says that Cyprus doesn’t have any serious cultural plan, written or unwritten and she points to an absence of vision, absence of serious cultural strategy and absence of culture’s tangible benefits for society. But they are all of them patriots, fiercely so in many cases. They love Cyprus and they strive with all their might to help it achieve its potential. Melanie Steliou, one of the youngest of Saskia’s interviewees, might just help them to do that. She is careful to distinguish patriotism from nationalism which she says is a belief that one’s country is better than anybody else’s. In what I find to be a moving passage this is what she says.

“Nationalism is the enemy of patriotism. You cannot be a patriot if you are a nationalist. Look what nationalism did to Cyprus, nationalism destroyed this country...”

Melanie, by the way, is a formidable activist. In July 2017 she posted pictures of herself breast feeding her baby daughter on social media – to howls of protest from all quarters. Five months later in November 2017 M.P.s drafted two pieces of legislation to support the breast-feeding mother at work.

Nothing succeeds like success. Cyprus will surely achieve its potential.

Vincent Kane OBE

BBC Current Affairs Presenter and Interviewer

BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award

OBE for Services to Broadcasting

Biography

Vincent Kane was born in Cardiff in 1935. In 1960, speaking with Mary O’Neill, he won The Observer Mace, representing Cardiff University.

Kane is best known for his work as a presenter and interviewer with the BBC, with whom he worked for almost 36 years. He presented television programmes such as Wales Today and Week In Week Out and was on radio in Good Morning Wales and Meet for Lunch (BBC Radio Wales)

He has been called “the Jeremy Paxman of Wales” because of his searching interview techniques, though he was already a well-known figure in Wales before Paxman made his name on national television.

In June 1988 Kane was awarded the Office of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) for “services to Broadcasting in Wales.”

Kane founded the Wales Quality Centre and, almost 30 years later, retired from the role of chairman in December 2012. He now spends the majority of his time living in Cyprus and recently published a book on carnal relations for older people.

Preface to the First Edition

Albert Einstein said “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.”

I’ve worked for the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation for the past 17 years but it has been this last 18th year which has been the most exciting with the advent of the 4th radio channel – RikClassic. The dream became a reality thanks to the foresight and courage I must add, of the Director General, Michael Maratheftis. Despite much opposition, we launched on the auspicious first day of January 2018 and it has been a wonderful year for so many differing reasons.

As a classical musician, one has a very disciplined life but which simultaneously, is also very free to allow for creativity. It is of paramount importance that creative spirits are allowed to develop in their own time and way. They cannot conform to strict hours and schedules. Creative high achievers like to stir things up and take calculated risks. They push themselves harder than most, and enjoy finding new directions to explore. Creative minds are also not crowd followers and set challenging but achievable goals. But imagination, inspiration and motivation doesn’t come without work.

The reasoning behind the title of the radio programme, SaskiaUnreserved arose from the notion that it was time to give erudite, experienced people from around the world in different sectors an opportunity to have a no-holds barred conversation without the usual time constraints observed by media. Despite having conducted so many interviews over the years, it was quite different for me to have the opportunity and ability to explore outside the cultural and musical realm.

I’ve had the privilege and honour to speak to so many internationally renowned people over the last year from around the world - Entrepreneurs, artists, musicians and composers, cyber security experts, business managers and economists to discuss issues from the environment to human resources and also to so many highly acclaimed doctors, scientists and mathematicians. They have given open and frank discussions, and I hope in some way, their brilliant work and contributions to society have been brought to the fore.

My special thanks goes to renowned BBC broadcaster Vincent Kane OBE who so kindly wrote the foreword. It is an honour to have the support of such a distinguished, veteran broadcaster and author.

The magic and development of technology and social media has also meant that the radio studio can, and in this case has been transformed into an online media too. By doing live video broadcasts, all the exceptional work, ideas and concepts of my guests, are open to the world. It’s been so heartening to receive compliments and thanks and probably the most fulfilling, thanks from a man who said he was saved from prostate cancer after watching a live link with a surgeon who advised certain vulnerable groups to go for a check-up. Those are the moments which are so important.

As it is a daily programme, over the year, there have been over 280 interviews, but it was only in late August that I thought of compiling a book of written interviews – hence SaskiaUnreserved: In Print. Huge thanks go to all my interviewees who kindly took the time to write their views and apologies to those whom I was simply unable to include. I am working on the 2020 edition...Saskia Constantinou

Nemanja Bjedov

Respect all, fear none!

Nemanja Bjedov studied basketball coaching at the Junior College of Coaching in Belgrade, and holds a BA (Sports Management); BSc (Communications) from the University of Nicosia and an Associate Degree from the University of Indianapolis in Corporate Communication. He is currently completing his MBA.

Coach Bjedov led the University of Nicosia’s team to three consecutive championship titles in the Cyprus University Sports Federation’s league and in 2007 was Head Coach of Intercollege/ETHA. He also coached top level teams of Frederick Achilleas Kaimakliou before moving to Apoel in 2012. While in Beirut, he was Head Coach of Homenetmen Antelias Women and technical director of the youth academies leading them to victory. He is currently Head Coach of Apoel BC Women’s team.

When did you begin basketball and what motivated you?

I started practising basketball in the third grade of my primary school when I was nine years old. At every break between classes we played basketball in the school yard and it was always something to look forward to. Everyone was very enthusiastic about it and although football is, and always will be sport number one in Serbia, and regardless of the fact that our school had an excellent handball section which most of us participated in, alongside few friends I went to  K Zvezdara (School of Basketball Zvezdara) where I learned my first steps on the basketball court with coach Vinko Bakić.

Growing up in Serbia, life was very different as a young athlete with discipline coming to mind…

Basketball was our escape from the everyday struggles and coach had complete authority. Discipline was something you had to have in order to succeed, and the coach was there to ensure that we didn’t fall off the track. When faced with difficulties you had to deal with them, as there were no easy option on the table. Unfortunately, nowadays the situation is completely the opposite.

Can you tell us about your early career, some of the highlights and what were some of the greatest challenges you had to face?

I practised during the air alerts of 1999 NATO bombings of Serbia. I literally did not care about them and my total focus was on the basketball court. I cannot say that I was the only one with this mentality as I recall us arranging to play 3 on 3 games during the alerts. On court it was always a challenge to practise and play with older players because you had to know your place and to invest a tremendous effort to earn their respect. Yet again nowadays, one cannot escape the feeling of entitlement which is spread across the board.

You’ve done a lot of academic study for coaching, sports management and communications. Why was this important to you? Do you believe all players can become coaches?

I think for every job you need a certain type of character. Not everyone can become a coach, but in the same way not everyone can be a prison guard or a lawyer. Academic study was an opportunity that was presented to me and I did my best to get as much out of it as possible. Academics were always easy for me.

What are the attributes which make a great coach? What role does the club have in supporting the coach? What role does the funding play in the success of the team?

Well most of the time coaches are judged by the results, because basketball is also a business based on results. However, I think that each coach should be evaluated in terms of what level of basketball he or she coaches and what the goals set ahead of him/her are. What makes a great coach is very subjective. Without the club’s support and proper funding, there will be no results and the goals are rarely fulfilled, at least not up to the initial expectations.

You are presently Head Coach of the Women’s teams in Apoel – what are the challenges and differences in coaching men and women?

I think it’s a greater challenge for a male basketball coach to coach women than it is to coach men. The differences between men’s and women’s basketball are obvious and they do not end with only athleticism or the mental side of it. I find myself to be lucky because I work in APOEL with a lot of very intelligent ladies so that makes my life a bit easier. Obviously, as in any other team or group of people, there are always issues which need to be handled, but overall, I believe us to be a very solid unit.

What are you most proud of in your coaching career?

What I am most proud of in my coaching career is that I have moulded many athletes from scratch into very special basketball players whose potential is just becoming obvious. The others are slowly coming to the surface, which is also exciting. Winning the first trophy in the history of Homenetmen Antelias after capturing Lebanese National Cup in 2014 was another highlight.

How important is mental toughness in basketball and what are some of the ways to improve this aspect?

Mental toughness is in my opinion displayed when one is asked to do something which has the team as the priority as opposed to the best for each individual player. Obviously it is extremely difficult to be mentally tough, especially in the situations that require that. Basketball as a game of intervals is extremely demanding, and quick adjustments and full control of your on-court emotions is essential. Mastering all these contribute to composure, which in my opinion is an absolute necessity when involved in such a high paced sport.When a player comes to you for help, tell us about the process you go through. How do you select the right drill for your players?

That depends on many different things, but usually if it is down to an individual’s technical training, then the focus is on sports specific skill sets that suit the players in question, based on his/her physical attributes and positions he/she plays.

Do you believe it is essential for players to have an aggressive mindset and nature? Are players either born aggressive or not?

I do not think anyone is born aggressive in that sense. Most of the time, we are shaped by our surroundings and environment. The aggressiveness I ask for on the floor is something else. It is an individual tactical tool that fits within the larger picture of what we want to achieve on the court as a unit.

How does one ensure that the game is not about such aggression that the players become injured?

Nobody gets injured due to normal aggression on the court. The injuries you are referring to usually occur due to lack of knowledge, and on how to play the game. Unfortunately, this type of action is not sanctioned enough by the game officials. Pushing someone on the court is not being aggressive; it is simply a violation of the rules of the game and if allowed it will be repeated until eventually someone gets hurt. Unfortunately, this kind of approach is becoming a tactical tool as well, since a lot of coaches coach to win instead of being focused on developing youth levels. They also count on the fact that referees cannot humanly call fouls on every contact.

Why are there so few girls/women interested and more importantly, dedicated, to the game in Cyprus? How does this impact our international standing?

What is their incentive to play? Almost none. I think that answers your question. Without quantity there is no quality, hence, national teams will struggle and on top of that, the selection of the national team coaches has to be studied in depth. It should not be a random or convenient choice.

Cyprus is still a patriarchal society and this is most evident in the salaries of professional men versus women. Why is this and what are the consequences?

Discrepancy between men and women’s salaries in basketball is not an issue that we have only here in Cyprus, but a global issue. Women’s basketball does not sell as well as men - but I believe that with some clever marketing strategies, this can be somewhat adjusted. During my time in Lebanon with Homenetmen Antelias we managed to have more than 1,000 fans in the stadium on numerous occasions, so, it is possible. As I say, where there is a will, there is a way!

Your ‘Moufflon Invitational Camp’ has expanded and in 2018, went international. Can you tell us about its origins, your aim and vision?

I always wanted to find a way to give back to the game of basketball as I feel basketball gave me a lot throughout my life, so what better way than to teach young and aspiring athletes to play the game the right way.

In 2012 I organised the first camp and chose the name Moufflons to be as unique as possible to Cyprus, while also being a rare and unusual name. Last summer we ran our first camp in Serbia which was heralded by the players as a huge success.

I’m excited that we will again have a camp in 2019 and have already received numerous international applications. It’s exciting to see so many different nationalities all with the same purpose on the basketball court. While I had several coaching clinics over the years in different countries, this was the first time we had such great attendance in both the Cyprus and Serbian camps.

Sport is a great unifier and of course teaches so much. Respect all, fear none. This is our motto and what we want to instil in every single camper and visiting coach who attends our events.

BirdLife Cyprus

“We have to stop the loss of birds and biodiversity now”

BirdLife Cyprus is a registered non-profit, non-governmental organisation working to conserve wild birds, their habitats and wider biodiversity in Cyprus, through research, monitoring, lobbying and conservation and awareness-raising actions. BirdLife Cyprus is currently the most active conservation organisation in Cyprus, running campaigns against illegal bird trapping and poaching and for the designation and protection of Important Bird Areas as Special Protection Areas, as well as campaigns in the area of agriculture, education and awareness-raising. Our vision is for Cyprus to have a healthy ecosystem, rich in biodiversity and where people actively safeguard nature for a sustainable future. The team comprises Director, Martin Hellicar; Project Coordinator Melpo Apostolidou; Policy Officer Vasiliki Anastasi; Campaign Officer Natalie Stylianou and Development Officer Elena Markitani.

When did BirdLife form and what is your mission?

BirdLife Cyprus was founded in 2003. From small beginnings, and one full-time person, today we are one of the leading nature protection organisations on the island with 11 staff and more than 500 members who share our vision and add strength to our voice. Since day one, our mission has been to protect the wild birds of Cyprus, their habitats, and wider biodiversity, through monitoring, lobbying, conservation and education actions, and by developing people’s appreciation of nature.

You are involved in several projects – can you elaborate on your most important one?

BirdLife Cyprus has been involved in a few projects on site and species protection, education and a general raising of awareness. Probably, the most important one currently is the 3-year project for the restoration of Oroklini Lake funded by the EU’s LIFE program.This project has been a joint effort by BirdLife Cyprus and relevant government bodies to tackle specific threats to the site, such as disturbance, lack of water management, lack of awareness about the importance of the site, and restore its ecological functions. The project transformed Oroklini Lake to a haven for important bird species, especially for the Black-winged Stilt and the Spur-winged Lapwing. Through this effort, Oroklini Lake can now act as an outdoor classroom for children thanks to the visitor infrastructure and the information material created. Beyond the project’s benefits for the wildlife and the local community, the project has set an example of effective use of resources and has proved to be a successful cooperation model among government bodies, the local community and an NGO.

Bird Trapping is a non-selective and cruel practice carried out in Cyprus. What progress have you made in the last years to reduce the use of limesticks especially?

This is our longest-running campaign and an area where our constant efforts and pressure are on the relevant authorities. We are happy that it is finally beginning to bear fruit although we cannot be complacent. There is still a big problem and a long way to go. In 2002, we began our systematic monitoring programme to record illegal bird trapping with mist nets. We now have the longest record of field data, which allows us to deduce reliable long-term trends and have an overview of the trapping situation. In 2014, we saw trapping activity reaching record levels with an estimated 2.5 million birds killed in Cyprus from this single threat. A few years later, in 2017, we observed a 79% decrease in trapping activity with mist nets in comparison to 2002. This was one of the lowest trapping levels recorded since the start of our monitoring programme and a very encouraging outcome. However, despite the decrease in trapping activity it’s still estimated that up to 610,000 birds could have been killed during that year – a shocking number. We believe that the high fines that have been handed out have had a significant impact on the decline observed. The Sovereign Base Police has worked together with the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) with our support on covert surveillance operations, through which 21 individuals were caught, received high fines and some even suspended jail sentences. Recent amendments to the hunting legislation in the Republic, which foresee higher fines for trapping and illegal hunting, unfortunately also include problematic relaxations. These include the use of up to 72 limesticks only being fined €200 and the allowance of game to be consumed in restaurants.

How is the hunting of birds different to trapping? How can this be reported?

Hunting is a legal activity, as opposed to trapping which has been illegal in Cyprus since 1974. Trapping is illegal because of the methods used, i.e. mist nets and limesticks, which make this practice non-selective (155 bird species are affected by this). Even though hunting is legal, provided hunters respect the laws with regards to quotas, areas, days and game species, there are many times when the law is broken. This happens when hunting takes place in game reserve areas, closer than 500m of inhabited areas or when hunters shoot species that are not game species. Such incidents need to be immediately reported to the Game and Fauna Service, the Cyprus Police or the SBA Police, if it happens with the Sovereign Base Areas. We’ve now made it possible for the public to report to us directly through our free mobile app ‘Feathered Journeys.’ It shares the GPS coordinates of the trapping location and the user is asked to give information on the incident they are reporting. We then report to the authorities and so safeguard their anonymity. We always advise people to be careful and avoid confronting trappers directly for their own safety.

In what way are you associated with BirdLife International and how much support – financial or moral – do you receive? How important is international collaboration?We are the BirdLife partner in Cyprus which is vital for us. If we were ‘alone’ as a local organisation, our voice would be much, much less heard. BirdLife International gives us the strength to ‘punch above our weight’ as well as offer invaluable moral, technical and material support. We also have long-term and very strong support from the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) and from NABU (BirdLife in Germany) with regard to our anti-trapping efforts, while the BirdLife Europe office in Brussels gives us instant access to key nature policy issues at an EU level. EU policy is key to what happens to biodiversity across Europe, so this link is key to our conservation efforts.

Only 40% of EU rivers and lakes are healthy. That is a very disturbing statistic – what is the situation in Cyprus and how does it affect BirdLife Cyprus?