91��̳ - Greece

Shipwreck in Greece: Why were half those onboard Pakistanis?

Farooq Sulehria — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:00:00 +1000

At least 298 passengers who drowned after the Andriana capsized off the Greek coast on June 14 were from Pakistan. Farooq Sulehria looks behind this tragic loss of life.

Furious over railway disaster, Greeks take to the streets in nationwide general strike

Brett Wilkins — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 19:15:00 +1100

Demonstrators took to the streets across Greece to protest the government's handling of last month's Tempi railway disaster, reports Brett Wilkins.

Moria Camp fire: Refugees must be safely relocated, allowed to seek asylum in European states

Global Ecosocialist Network — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 11:00:00 +1000

Fires destroyed the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on September 10, leaving thousands of people without shelter. In response, the Global Ecosocialist Network adopted the following resolution.

Activists in London, Berlin and Athens protest Invasion Day

Kerry Smith — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 15:15:00 +1100

While thousands of people rallied in cities across Australia on Invasion Day, activists in London, Berlin and Athens held protests in solidarity.

Greece: Striking teachers tear gassed

Kathy Fairfax — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 15:00:00 +1100

Greek riot police tear gassed protesting school teachers protesting in Athens on January 14, Morning Star Online said. It came just days after the country’s public order minister accused police officers of indiscriminately attacking teachers in similar circumstances.

Thousands of teachers took to the streets to express their anger at the government’s process for hiring new staff in state schools.

After Greece’s bailout — lessons for the left

Kevin Ovenden — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:45:00 +1000

It had been planned to be a lavish celebration on the Pnyx hill next to the Acropolis in Athens where the citizenry would hold popular assemblies in the ancient democratic period.

The angry aftermath of the forest fires last month put paid to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras hosting European Union and other luminaries in such a way. The event was to mark the formal end of the country’s subordination to the austerity memorandums enforced on it by the “troika” of the European Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund.

Greece: Pensioners protest new cuts

Fred Fuentes — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +1100

Nearly 2000 retired workers and Social Security department workers gathered in Athens on October 3 to protest “inhumane” cuts to pensions.

An army of 1500 senior citizens marched behind banners, chanting “shame on you” and calling for the government to cancel the memorandum that has led to ongoing cuts since 2010, with further cuts set for 2019.

Greece: Protest, fire breaks out at migrant camp

Fred Fuentes — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 10:00:00 +1000

A fire broke out at a migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos on July 10, following a protest at the site demanding better living conditions.

Local authorities told the Xinhua News Agency that the fire at the Moria camp had been extinguished and that at least five container units and three tents were destroyed. No injuries were reported.

Walls and death: Europe’s refugee crisis is a crisis of politics

Tony Iltis — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 10:00:00 +1000

The situation is deteriorating in “the Jungle” — the informal settlement in the northern French port of Calais of refugees trying to reach Britain.

French police demolished the southern half earlier this year, yet the population is steadily rising and has surpassed 10,000. Neglected by governments and NGOs, the volunteers who provide food, clothing and other aid are receiving fewer donations to assist the growing population. Hunger has become prevalent, along with diseases caused by lack of sanitation.

Greece under new US pressure for more spending cuts

Stuart Munckton — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 10:00:00 +1000

Washington pressed Greece on July 21 to cut public spending to the bone in return for the latest slice of bailout money, Morning Star Online said. After a meeting with Greek finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos, US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said Athens needed “to make headway on the next set of milestones due in October”.

Greeks protest attacks on pensions, tax rises

TeleSUR English — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Thousands of Greek white-collar professionals, including doctors, lawyers and engineers, took to the streets on January 21, protesting against major tax and pension reforms required by the country's creditors.

Yanis Varoufakis on European democracy

Cat Moir — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 11:00:00 +1100

We have all heard the story of when, during a visit to the United States, a journalist asked Mahatma Gandhi what he thought of Western civilisation, and Gandhi is said to have replied that he thought it “would be a very good idea.” Former Greek finance minister and outspoken opponent of the savage austerity programs forced on Greece, Yanis Varoufakis recalled Gandhi’s words in the talk he gave at the University of Sydney on November 26. Varoufakis’ message was clear: Like Western civilisation, European democracy would indeed be a very good idea.

Syrian refugee carries cat to safety in Greece

Kathy Fairfax — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +1000

It is a long and perilous journey for those fleeing war-torn Syria in hopes of reaching safety. But one such refugee refused to make journey without his cat. Photos have emerged in Greek media showing the moment the unnamed refugee landed on the island of Lesbos, cradling the tiny cat he could not bear to leave behind. The man had few other possessions when he crossed the Mediterranean Sea, according to Greek news outlet Protothema.

Greece: Creditors out to crush any trace of Syriza disobedience

Dick Nichols — Sun, 01 May 2016 10:00:00 +1000

It has taken only nine months for the third memorandum between the near-bankrupt Greek state and its creditors — the “Quartet” of the European Union (EU), European Central Bank (ECB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Stability Mechanism (ESM) — to lurch to the brink of crisis. That deal, which the Syriza-led government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras felt forced to swallow despite the Greek people rejecting an earlier version by over 60% in a referendum last July, will provide the country with €86 billion. About 90% of this will go to paying off debt.

Greeks organise biggest strike since Tsipras took office

Stuart Munckton — Sat, 06 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +1100

A 24-hour general strike in Greece against the “odious plan to dismantle the country’s social security system” shut down transportation, schools, courts, pharmacies and non-emergency hospital services on February 4. Up to 100,000 people attended, according to organisers, while police estimated 50,000 hit the Athens streets. The strike is the largest since the leftist Syriza party took power in January last year on a platform of opposing the type of austerity measures the strike targetted.

Greece:‭ ‬SYRIZA's scores clear win amid high abstention,‭ ‬more austerity

Dick Nichols — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +1000

SYRIZA pulled off a remarkable victory at the September‭ ‬20‭ ‬Greek election.‭ ‬Although burdened by its acceptance of the draconian austerity measures in the third memorandum imposed by Greece's creditors and eight months of rule in the midst of recession,‭ ‬closed banks and capital controls,‭ ‬SYRIZA's vote fell by only‭ ‬0.88%‭ ‬and its parliamentary seats by just four.

EU-Turkey refugee 'pact of shame' stirs outrage, solidarity

Dick Nichols — Sun, 03 Apr 2016 10:00:00 +1000

It is very hard to find words that can even begin to describe how progressive people all over Europe are viewing the “pact of shame” over refugees reached between the European Union and Turkey on March 18. For €6 billion, the promise of accelerated EU access and a conditional end to Turkish citizens requiring visas to enter the EU, the agreement makes the repressive Turkish government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan the main cop controlling the flow of refugees towards Europe.

Refugees in Europe: Mediterranean councils fight for a humane response

Dick Nichols — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 11:00:00 +1100

In the face of the brutal and immoral reaction of the European Union to the tens of thousands of refugees fleeing into Europe from wars and poverty in the Middle East and North Africa, Barcelona council has taken the initiative to set up a network of Mediterranean city councils prepared to welcome and house asylum seekers. Barcelona is already part of a broader network of European cities welcoming refugees.

French police demolish Calais camp; Macedonian police fires tear gas at refugees

Stuart Munckton — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +1100

French riot police fired tear gas as they began demolishing the Calais “Jungle” refugee camp on February 29, Morning Star Online said. Tear gas was reportedly used in response to stone-throwers at the shanty town, which is home to about 4000 people. Lines of police vans gathered on the perimeter of the camp's southern section and people were prevented from entering the site.

Briefs: Austerity killing in Britain; new Greece strikes; Polish workers take on union busters

Stuart Munckton — Sun, 21 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +1100

Britain: Austerity killing the poor Cuts to social spending could be killing large numbers of vulnerable people in Britain, Public Health England said on February 16, as new figures show last year featured the largest rise in the national death rate for decades. TeleSUR English said the next day that the new preliminary figures from the Office for National Statistics show mortality rates last year rose by 5.4% compared with 2014.

Greek footballers protest for refugees

Stuart Munckton — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 11:00:00 +1100

“In a touching tribute to thousands of refugees who lost their lives crossing the Mediterranean from Turkey into the EU, two Greek football teams orchestrated a sit-in at the start of the match to protest against the policies of 'brutal indifference',” RT.com said on February 1.

Europe's refugee crisis: 'Legal pathways are the only alternative'

Isabelle Merminod — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 11:00:00 +1100

“This year has not started easy, and I am not optimistic,” the EU Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos told a press conference on January 25. He was warning Europe that its worries about security had to be balanced with the Schengen agreement (which allows free movement) and the protection of asylum seekers. He said: “Last year, more than a million people reached Europe's shore looking for protection. More than 30,000 have already arrived by sea in 2016 so far, in only three weeks!”

Greek general strike opposes austerity as Europe withholds funds

Stuart Munckton — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 11:00:00 +1100

Protesters from the PAME union take part in an anti-austerity march during a 24-hour general strike in Athens, November 12.

Greece: What's beneath 'eerily calm' election campaign?

Dick Nichols — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 10:00:00 +1000

It is hard to imagine two election campaigns more different than that leading up to SYRIZA's triumph in Greece's January 25 elections and country's September 20 vote. In January, SYRIZA's winning slogan was “Hope is on the Way” — hope for a government that would end the six years of suffering inflicted on Greece by austerity measures in the first two memoranda of the “Troika” (European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund).

Support 91��̳'s reporting team in Greece

Peter Boyle — Tue, 06 Jan 2015 11:00:00 +1100

91��̳ Weekly will soon be sending Vivien Messimeris and Dick Nichols (our European correspondent) to Athens to report on the historic January 25 Greek elections, which could result in the election of the Coalition of the Radical Left, SYRIZA, to government on a strong program opposing the ruthless austerity imposed by the big global bankers on Greece.

Greece: Interview with Hara Petsiou, a cleaner fired from the Ministry of Finance

Vivian Messimeris — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 11:00:00 +1100

Vivian Messimeris is part of the 91��̳ Weekly team covering the elections in Greece, which polls give radical left group SYRIZA a strong chance of winning on January 25. She spoke to Hara Petsiou, a cleaner sacked from her job at the finance ministry. The sacked cleaners are fighting for their jobs.

Greece: Solidarity in action — a visit to a Solidarity4All clinic

Vivian Messimeris — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 11:00:00 +1100

Today we visited one of the solidarity clinics that operates in the suburb of Peristeri. We met with some of the volunteers that work in the clinic that included two doctors as well as other activists.

91��̳ Weekly gives solidarity greetings to SYRIZA public meeting

Vivian Messimeris — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 11:00:00 +1100

A crowd of about 80 people gathered to hear SYRIZA candidates speak at an outdoor meeting held in the suburb of Ambelokipi. Several candidates spoke passionately about the need for change, the need for action and the need for self-reliance.

Debt campaigners say IMF making billions from Greece

Stuart Munckton — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 10:00:00 +1000

The Jubilee Debt Campaign (JDC) released figures in April showing the International Monetary Fund had made €2.5 billion of profit out of its loans to Greece since 2010.

Why Asylum seekers are begging Europe for help

Nicole Colson — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 10:00:00 +1000

“Are we animals? Why? Why?” Those were the words of one Syrian refugee to BBC's Channel 4 recently after Macedonian police attacked desperate families seeking entry into the country along the border with Greece.

91������̳ - Greece

Shipwreck in Greece: Why were half those onboard Pakistanis?

Furious over railway disaster, Greeks take to the streets in nationwide general strike

Moria Camp fire: Refugees must be safely relocated, allowed to seek asylum in European states

Activists in London, Berlin and Athens protest Invasion Day

Greece: Striking teachers tear gassed

After Greece’s bailout — lessons for the left

Greece: Pensioners protest new cuts

Greece: Protest, fire breaks out at migrant camp

Walls and death: Europe’s refugee crisis is a crisis of politics

Greece under new US pressure for more spending cuts

Greeks protest attacks on pensions, tax rises

Yanis Varoufakis on European democracy

Syrian refugee carries cat to safety in Greece

Greece: Creditors out to crush any trace of Syriza disobedience

Greeks organise biggest strike since Tsipras took office

Greece:‭ ‬SYRIZA's scores clear win amid high abstention,‭ ‬more austerity

EU-Turkey refugee 'pact of shame' stirs outrage, solidarity

Refugees in Europe: Mediterranean councils fight for a humane response

French police demolish Calais camp; Macedonian police fires tear gas at refugees

Briefs: Austerity killing in Britain; new Greece strikes; Polish workers take on union busters

Greek footballers protest for refugees

Europe's refugee crisis: 'Legal pathways are the only alternative'

Greek general strike opposes austerity as Europe withholds funds

Greece: What's beneath 'eerily calm' election campaign?

Support 91������̳'s reporting team in Greece

Greece: Interview with Hara Petsiou, a cleaner fired from the Ministry of Finance

Greece: Solidarity in action — a visit to a Solidarity4All clinic

91������̳ Weekly gives solidarity greetings to SYRIZA public meeting

Debt campaigners say IMF making billions from Greece

Why Asylum seekers are begging Europe for help

91��̳ - Greece

Support 91��̳'s reporting team in Greece

91��̳ Weekly gives solidarity greetings to SYRIZA public meeting