The Poverty of the Greek people

[Ephilant]

According to the statistics office in Greece, unemployment in Greece will hit the 35% in 2013.

Savvas Robolis, scientific director of the GSEE Institute of Labour, expressed the point of view that Greece will meet the “hurricane of internal devaluation policy” with devastating impact on labour forces.

Robolis predicted that registered unemployment will climb to 29% in 2013, with actual numbers reaching 34-35%, that translate into 1.7-2 million unemployed people.

These are figures not ever seen since the Great Depression of the thirties. If I was bad minded, I could be accused of thinking the powers that be are very consciously setting up the conditions for the final "Great War"...

[fluffybiscuits]

According to the statistics office in Greece, unemployment in Greece will hit the 35% in 2013.

Savvas Robolis, scientific director of the GSEE Institute of Labour, expressed the point of view that Greece will meet the “hurricane of internal devaluation policy” with devastating impact on labour forces.

Robolis predicted that registered unemployment will climb to 29% in 2013, with actual numbers reaching 34-35%, that translate into 1.7-2 million unemployed people.

These are figures not ever seen since the Great Depression of the thirties. If I was bad minded, I could be accused of thinking the powers that be are very consciously setting up the conditions for the final "Great War"...

Keeping the people disenfranchised...

[Ephilant]

Greece is not Ecuador! Or is it?

So I thumbed through my purloined IMF “Strategy for Ecuador” looking for a chapter on connecting Ecuador’s schools to the world wide web. Instead, I found a secret schedule. Ecuador’s government was ordered to raise the price of cooking gas by 80 per cent by November 1, 2000, it says. Also, the government had to eliminate 26,000 jobs and cut real wages for the remaining workers by 50 per cent in four steps in a timetable specified by the IMF. By July 2000, Ecuador had to transfer ownership of its biggest water system to foreign operators, then Ecuador would grant British Petroleum’s ARCO unit rights to build and own an oil pipeline over the Andes.
That was for starters. In all, the IMF’s 167 detailed loan conditions looked less like an “Assistance Plan” and more like a blueprint for a financial coup d’etat.
The IMF would counter that it had no choice. After all, Ecuador is flat busted, thanks to the implosion of the nation’s commercial banks. But how did Ecuador, an OPEC member with resources to spare, end up in such a pickle? For that, we have to turn back to 1983, when the IMF forced Ecuador’s government to take over the soured private debts Ecuador’s elite owed to foreign banks. For this bail-out of US and local financiers, Ecuador’s government borrowed $1.5 billion.
For Ecuador to pay back this loan, the IMF dictated price hikes in electricity and other necessities. And when that didn’t drain off enough cash, yet another “Assistance Plan” required the state to eliminate 120,000 workers.
Furthermore, while trying to pay down the mountain of IMF obligations, Ecuador foolishly “liberalized” its tiny financial market, cutting local banks loose from government controls and letting private debt and interest rates explode. Who pushed Ecuador into this nutty romp with free market banking? Hint: the initials are I—M—F—which made liberalization of the nation’s banking sector a condition of another berserker Assistance Plan. The facts of this nasty little history come from yet another internal IMF report that flew my way marked “Please do not cite.” Pretend I didn’t.

Greg Palast "The best Democracy Money Can Buy" (Chapter 2: Sell the Lexus, Burn the Olive Tree)

[Ephilant]

There are signs of improvement

(Angela Merkel, EP, Nov 2012)

http://www.people-in-need.com/latest-additions/

Why?

[C. Flower]

(Angela Merkel, EP, Nov 2012)

http://www.people-in-need.com/latest-additions/

Why?

Smart site

Another very sad story. This same morning, I heard a Greek economist from Thessaloniki on the Pat Kenny show saying things aren't that bad really. People aren't in rags in the street etc. etc.

Of course, "people in rags" probably don't frequent the same streets as he does.

What he did say is that strong family and friendship networks are helping people to survive.

[Ephilant]

Smart site

Another very sad story. This same morning, I heard a Greek economist from Thessaloniki on the Pat Kenny show saying things aren't that bad really. People aren't in rags in the street etc. etc.

Of course, "people in rags" probably don't frequent the same streets as he does.

What he did say is that strong family and friendship networks are helping people to survive.

Thanks for complement. Like it myself as well

He is right about the strong family and friendship networks, but that is no excuse for any government to inflict this kind of insanity on anybody, and it is not something they should be allowed to hide behind.
I don't know where this guy hangs out. I noticed another one, also living in Thessaloniki, going on that things are not that bad because his wife was looking at shoes costing 500€. I suppose "not too bad" is relative. But when you are one of the 600,000 without any income, relativity has a nasty habit of hitting hard and fast, and quite real.
We are hearing more unconfirmed rumours of a family suicide on the island. But, there are of course signs of improvement. Our suicide rate has now officially gone up to 4 a day (reality is much higher, but not admitted), youth unemployment has topped 58%, overall unemployment has topped 32%, and the country is losing 1000 jobs a week. In Athens, at this stage, 39% of all retail units are closed. I wonder where the improvements are being noticed? No doubt it has something to do with the banks balance sheets. If you're allowed to rob the people blind to fatten the coffers, I suppose to some people that is "improvement". Giorgos saw it differently. RIP.

PS as for people not in rags, we are working with a photographer who proves differently. Because of contracts etc. can't post his pictures on the sites, but can do (and do) in our newsletter if you're interested. No poaching Sam, just saying

[fluffybiscuits]

Thanks for complement. Like it myself as well

He is right about the strong family and friendship networks, but that is no excuse for any government to inflict this kind of insanity on anybody, and it is not something they should be allowed to hide behind.
I don't know where this guy hangs out. I noticed another one, also living in Thessaloniki, going on that things are not that bad because his wife was looking at shoes costing 500€. I suppose "not too bad" is relative. But when you are one of the 600,000 without any income, relativity has a nasty habit of hitting hard and fast, and quite real.
We are hearing more unconfirmed rumours of a family suicide on the island. But, there are of course signs of improvement. Our suicide rate has now officially gone up to 4 a day (reality is much higher, but not admitted), youth unemployment has topped 58%, overall unemployment has topped 32%, and the country is losing 1000 jobs a week. In Athens, at this stage, 39% of all retail units are closed. I wonder where the improvements are being noticed? No doubt it has something to do with the banks balance sheets. If you're allowed to rob the people blind to fatten the coffers, I suppose to some people that is "improvement". Giorgos saw it differently. RIP.

PS as for people not in rags, we are working with a photographer who proves differently. Because of contracts etc. can't post his pictures on the sites, but can do (and do) in our newsletter if you're interested. No poaching Sam, just saying

Its all very Marie Anotoinette -esque regarding the remarks by that economist. Surprised he didnt tell plank that they should be let just eat cake. Seriously people commenting on a situation they are far removed from gives no indication as to the reality of a situation.

The situation on suicides is similar in the US as it is in Greece, rates of suicide have spiked since the recession and economic downturn (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/he...inds.html?_r=0). Imposed austerity measures have a direct correlation to the rate of suicides going up, no interpretation of this data is needed as its all evident. The Troikia should be brought to its knees and people tried for bullying of others virtue of the imposed austerity.

[Ephilant]

Smart site

Another very sad story. This same morning, I heard a Greek economist from Thessaloniki on the Pat Kenny show saying things aren't that bad really. People aren't in rags in the street etc. etc.

Of course, "people in rags" probably don't frequent the same streets as he does.

What he did say is that strong family and friendship networks are helping people to survive.

Any link to that interview? A few people here would really like "a quiet word" with this guy

[Ephilant]

Any link to that interview? A few people here would really like "a quiet word" with this guy

Just a quick update. Giorgos widow and children have apparently been refused state support. She must follow "procedure". Mountains of paperwork and official bullshit first, eat later... This could, if they are having "a good moment", take up to 15 weeks...

[fluffybiscuits]

Any link to that interview? A few people here would really like "a quiet word" with this guy

Any of the podcasts should be uploaded here:

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_patkenny.xml

[Ephilant]

Some things never change... The podcast cuts out after the 3rd question...

[Ephilant]

Sadly enough, not only Greeks take their own lives.

http://rt.com/news/spain-woman-suicide-eviction-378/

Rajoy accused the current legislation of allowing “inhuman situations” to occur by forcing people from their homes while still demanding they pay the remainder of their mortgage debt.

The "inhumane situations" don't occur by demanding further payments, the occur by evicting people....

[fluffybiscuits]

Sadly enough, not only Greeks take their own lives.

http://rt.com/news/spain-woman-suicide-eviction-378/



The "inhumane situations" don't occur by demanding further payments, the occur by evicting people....

Disgraceful...the house is the only collateral against the loan, nothing else should be given to the banks,....

[Ephilant]

News reaches us of 2 more austerity induced suicides. The really worrying trend is that we see more and more women, of ever younger ages, committing these desperate acts.
Today, a 36 year old nurse jumped from her 6th floor appartment in Athens after losing her job.
In a seperate incident, an as yet unknown 20 year old woman set herself on fire behind the Amalia Fleming hospital in Athens. All that was left was a note. "20. Unemployed. Why?"
She has now been identified as her father went to the police to report his daughter missing.
RIP

[fluffybiscuits]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/26fc92ca-3...#axzz2CiNpdviX

FT reporting on the occupation of half of Greeces town halls. Mayors refusing to give the names of staff who may not be qualified. The public sector in Greece is fighting back

@Eliphant, that is heart breaking ...