Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning: Some considerations arising from the Greek case

The paper aims to elaborate on the notion of sustainable development in relation to spatial planning and to question its applicability based on the experience arising from the distinct socio-economic situation in Greece. Experience accumulated in the country with the adoption of sustainable development as a spatial policy concept proves to be in contradiction with perceptions that consider it as a basis for improving the plan making process and the planning system as whole. In this respect, it is argued that sustainable development is not a feasible proposition for planning in Greece and offers little to alleviate urban development and sprawl problems. Further, the paper highlights how a globalised approach to sustainable development and planning in Greece has made a negligible contribution to reinvigorating a weak and disjointed system, while also creating significant adverse effects in spatial policymaking

Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning: Some considerations arising from the Greek case

The paper aims to elaborate on the notion of sustainable development in relation to spatial planning and to question its applicability based on the experience arising from the distinct socio-economic situation in Greece. Experience accumulated in the country with the adoption of sustainable development as a spatial policy concept proves to be in contradiction with perceptions that consider it as a basis for improving the plan making process and the planning system as whole. In this respect, it is argued that sustainable development is not a feasible proposition for planning in Greece and offers little to alleviate urban development and sprawl problems. Further, the paper highlights how a globalised approach to sustainable development and planning in Greece has made a negligible contribution to reinvigorating a weak and disjointed system, while also creating significant adverse effects in spatial policymaking

Hepatic involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We report the case of a 58-year-old Caucasian Greek man who presented with dry cough, fever, bilateral alveolar infiltrates and acute hepatitis.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>After a lung biopsy, the patient was diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis. The diagnosis was supported by the presence of anti-proteinase-3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. A liver biopsy demonstrated the presence of mild non-specific lobular hepatitis and periodic acid-Schiff positive Lafora-like inclusions in a large number of his liver cells. The patient was treated with prednisone and cyclophosphamide, which was followed by subsequent remissions of chest X-ray findings and liver function studies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>What makes this case worth reporting is the coexistence of liver inflammation with a biochemical profile of severe anicteric non-viral, non-drug induced hepatitis coinciding with the diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis. Our paper may be the first report of hepatic involvement in a patient diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis. The aetiological link between the two diseases is supported by the reversion of hepatitis after the immunosuppression of Wegener's granulomatosis. We favor the hypothesis that hepatic vasculitis may be the cause of acute hepatocellular necrosis.</p

Debating the urban dimension of territorial cohesion

The Territorial Cohesion goal was only included in the EU Treaty by 2009, with a view to promote a more balanced and harmonious European territory. One year earlier (2008), the European Commission (EC) published the ‘Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion—Turning territorial diversity into strength’. Neither one, nor the other, clearly defines the meaning of the Territorial Cohesion concept. The later, however, proposes three main policy responses towards more balanced and harmonious development: (i) Concentration: overcoming differences in density; (ii) Connecting territories: overcoming distance; and (iii) Cooperation: overcoming division. Although not explicitly, this document identifies several ‘urban questions’ to be dealt when promoting territorial cohesive policies: avoiding diseconomies of very large agglomerations and urban sprawl processes, combating urban decay and social exclusion, avoiding excessive concentrations of growth, promoting access to integrated transport systems and creating metropolitan bodies. In this light, this chapter proposes to debate the importance of the urban dimension to achieve the goal of territorial cohesion at several territorial levels.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Adenocarcinoma arising in a cystic duplication of the small bowel: case report and review of literature

Enteric duplications are rare, but can occur anywhere along the digestive tract. Most of the patients become symptomatic in early childhood and only a few cases of adult patients have been reported in literature. Here we report a unique case of an adenocarcinoma arising in a coincidentally found cystic duplication of the small bowel

Back the bid: the 2012 summer games and the governance of London

The Olympic Park being developed in east London for the 2012 Games is one large urban renewal project among many in the city. The impact of the Games on urban development may be of less significance than the impact on city politics. Bidding for and delivering the Games has contributed to a reassessment of the recent experiment with mayoral government. The paper examines these changing representations of the structures of London government that are now seen as a success. Much of the literature on Olympic cities is highly critical of the impact of the games, but the (current) substantial support for London2012 also needs to be explained. We examine how London has created opportunities for support, and moments and spaces for celebration when political leaders and Londoners can come together around particular representations of themselves and the city

The interrelation between spatial planning policies and safety in the multi-risk insular setting of santorini

Communication qui s'est tenue dans le cadre d'une session spéciale organisée par le LabEx ITEM "Trajectoires d’adaptation d’espaces de marge", pour une approche de la montagne et de territoires vulnérables, dans une perspective comparative.International audienceWhile the interrelation between spatial planning regulations and risk management has been indicated in a number of studies, little work has been conducted on the integration of multi-hazard approaches of safety in statutory and administrative framework of spatial planning. The present paper aims to explore whether safety principles and hazard-related information have been integrated into the legislative framework of spatial and urban planning in a Greek multi-risk insular context. The all-encompassing hazardscape of Santorini is the topic of our examination as it embodies a variety of natural and human-induced risks alongside an uncontrolled mass tourism development. The paper argues that the planning legislation and the related reforms concerning Santorini are characterized by lack of safety criteria, while Ministerial Decrees appear as ultimate attempts to solve hazardous circumstances caused by illegal constructions in high-risk zones