Angry consumers in protests against rising prices - Thessaloniki, Greece

Angry consumers in protests against rising prices - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

About 1000 protesters marched through the centre of Greece's second largest city angered by massive price hikes in basics such as public transport, power and road tolls. Even though incomes are dropping inflation has tripled over the last 12 months.

For more information (in Greek)

epibates-thess.blogspot.com

Protesting truck drivers - Thessaloniki, Greece

Protesting truck drivers - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek haulage associations have decided to continue strike action and blockades despite government moves to pass laws that would allow protesters to be jailed for up to five years and have their licence revoked.

With supermarket shelves emptying and shortages in basic goods appearing across the country Greek truckers this week voted to continue their industrial dispute with Athens over radical changes in transport policy which are aimed at liberalising road haulage regulations along with other sections of the economy.

However, continued resistance to the changes which were voted into law earlier this month has continued unabated across Greece with truckers refusing to haul goods to and from warehouses and ports. In addition there have been violent clashes between drivers and riot police units in Athens and other cities as the ruling PASOK government decided on a tougher line against strikers leading to arrests.

Shots were fired at truck operating in the Malakasas region in Attiki and according to Greek media there have been a number of attacks on Bulgarian vehicles in northern Greece.

For more photographs check out Demotix.com

Greek demonstration in support of Gaza - Thessaloniki, Greece

Greek demonstration in support of Gaza - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

As I write this another ship, the MV Rachel Corrie carrying aid to Gaza is making its way towards Israeli waters in defiance of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has vowed to stop the Irish vessel from making landfall.

Last night about 500 people took part in a march in the centre of Thessaloniki in support of the Palestinian people and the lifting of Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Judgement day for Greece

Today Greek prime minister will announce the full details of the deal that it has negotiated with the EU-IMF-ECB over the conditions of the bailout package. So far the media here have been coy about saying what exactly the agreement contains but the general consensus is that it will include painful cuts across the board in terms of pay and conditions in both the private and public sector. In addition there are likely to be large job cuts as many civil service positions are axed.The most likely tactic will be a change from permanent contract to fixed term ones which when they run out will not be renewed.

As well as cuts in income Greeks are also going to be hit by yet another round of rises in VAT and other indirect taxes (the second in six months). Already the local public tranport authority here in Thessaloniki has announced 20-100% increase in bus ticket prices.

As you can imagine there is a lot of popular anger from people affected by these measures and this is likely to fuel a wave of protests and strikes in the coming months. Already the Greek communist party (KKE), which is the third largest has delared that it will fight the austerity package and is calling on workers to raise up. Other groups are also oganising different ways to try and fight against the government's plans with direct action and protests which have been scheduled for the coming week.

While everyone in Greece agrrees that the present situation is dire and things cannot continue as before they are bitter and angry that the very same politicians who failed to avert the present economic crisis either due to incompetence, corruption or indifference are now calling upon ordinary Greeks to make sacrifices. This would be a steep order for any country even in the best of circumstances but giving the extreme corruption of Greece's ruling political and economic nomenclenture none of country's leaders retains the moral stature necessary to convince people to take the difficult steps that lay ahead.

THe ruling PASOK party headed by Giorgos Papandreou has done little to clean up ts own house when it comes to graft and influence peddling and despite court cases in Germany and the UK, the scandals its senior members were involved in during their last term in power have yet to result in any criminal charges being brought against those involved here. On the other hand the newly elected leader of the defeated New Democracy, Antonis Samaras heads a party whose members presided other one of the worst periods of corruption in Greek history yet few have even been fired let alone been the subject of a court trial.

What people are enraged about is that such incompetence and corruption is likely to be repeated since no one is in a position to put a stop to the pevious abuses of power. The judiciary is little more than an extension of whoever is in power and can be ignored at will while the media is suppine in the face of the temptation of rewards from those in power in the form of state jobs, contracts and advertising revenue. Sometimes it seems that the news here is a choice between a Hellenic version of Fox News or Pravda, with very little objective reporting.

The clashes witnessed in Athens during May Day are likely to be repeated in the following days as the general strike this week is going to a catatlyst for people's rage and frustration.

Anti-government protests - Thessaloniki, Greece 27/04/2010

Anti-government protests - Thessaloniki, Greece 27/04/2010, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

In Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki about 1000 demonstrators marched through the street with some groups calling for the country's withdraw from the Eurozone. In tense scenes outside a government compound riot police used batons, tear gas and flash grenades to break up crowds who gathered to protests the attempted detention of two youth spraying graffiti on the walls of the building.

More pictures and analysis on Demotix.com

"Down with the EU - IMF Junta - Mutiny!"

"Down with the EU - IMF Junta - Mutiny!", originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken during an anti-government protests tonight in Thessaloniki, Greece. 600-800 people marched to demonstrate against the imposition of austerity measures .

Greek riot police use teargas on protesters outside Thessaloniki town hall

Several people were injured and at least two taken to hospital during the riot police attempts to breaks up a demonstration outside a town hall in Greece's second city, Thessaloniki.

According to eye witness reports relayed via Twitter two women bystanders needed medical assistance for respiratory problems following the police's use of tear gas and pepper spray.

The demonstration was over government plans to reorganise local authorities, a move opposition parties claim is part of Athens austerity measures and which will lead to massive job losses.

More photographs on Demotix.com

Street Panthers protest - Thessaloniki, Greece

Street Panthers protest - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Shouting out slogans such "Pedestrians off the sidewalks now" and "Please make way for vehicles" the ecological group, Street Panthers took to the streets of Greece's second city, Thessaloniki in an ironic protest to make people aware of the way in which cars and bikes have taken over the country's sidewalks and public spaces.

Bemused bystanders cheered the event though many expressed their dissatisfaction with the slogans and remonstrated with protesters not understanding at first the ironic tone of the event.

Protesters also handed out stickers saying "I'm as stubborn as a mule. I park where I like" and encouraged people to put them on illegally parked cars that are a permanent fixture of Greek towns and cities.

More photos at Demotix.com

Street Panthers strike again

In just over 30 minutes (11.30am) the Greek Street Panthers eco activist are going to carry out a similiar protest to the one shown in the video in the centre of Thessaloniki in an attempt to make people think more about the use of cars in the city. If you happen to be in Aristotelous Square, near the police station then pop by and check it out. If you can't make it then follow their live stream broadcast here.

I'll be there taking pictures and video, so keep tuned for the latest news. If possible I'll be Twittering as well.

PAME trade unionists demonstrate in Thessaloniki, Greece

PAME trade unionists demonstrate in Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

About 1000 members of the PAME trade union demonstrated in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, part of a nationwide wave of protests in Greece against the government's austerity measures.

Greek protesters vent their anger at government's austerity measures - Taken last Thursday

Greek protesters vent their anger at government's austerity measures - Taken last Thursday, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek trade unions fire opening salvo over austerity measures

Greek trade unions fire opening salvo over austerity measures, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

In what promises to be the opening shots in a war of attrition Greek public and private sector trade unions have taken to the streets in the country's major cities angry with the drastic cuts in pay announced by prime minister, Giorgos Papandreou yesterday. Thessaloniki, Greece 03/03/2010

The cuts in salaries combined with a rises in VAT of between 1 and 2% have angered many Greeks who believe the $420 billion debt has gone to line the pockets of the rich and that it is they who should shoulder the burden of reducing the deficit. Marching under the banner, “The plutocracy should pay” the communist controlled PAMe trade union confederation marched this today in Athens and Thessaloniki. Other actions also included an occupation of the economics ministry and the state run ET3 TV station.

On the internet Greek Twitter users could barely contain their outrage over the new economic measures which aim to fill government coffers and cut down on the bloated government budget. However there was anger over the fact that areas such as defence spending which soaks up 4.3% of GNP, a figure twice that of the UK was untouched wheras the education budget was cut by 600 million euros.

Tomorrow sees the first in a series of widespread strike actions across Greece which threaten to bring the country to a standstill.

Demotix

Greek PM goes to war but with whom?

Greek taxi drivers go on 24 hours strike, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Today the Greek prime minister Giorgos Papndreou announced a series of emergency measures aimed at raisng government revenues and cutting costs. These have included hikes in VAT across the board extra tax on petrol, alcohol and tobacco, cuts in civil servent's pay and a freeze on pension rises.

In his address to the Greek parliament Papandreou said that the country is "at war" and that these measures are necessary to avoid the country going bankrupt.

The reaction on the internet and on the street has ranged from desperation to outrage at the seeming injustice of members of the country's pampered political elite demanding sacrifices after making such a huge mess of running the country. On hearing the measures I found myself reminded of a quote from The Crow in which Eric Draven says to a drug lord,

"I see you have made your decision, now let's see you enforce it."

Over the coming days, weeks and months we are going to witness a showdown between a morally and intellectually bankrupt political nomenclature which has lied through its teeth to just about anyone who will listen both at home and abroad and the ordinary people in this country over who gets the foot the bill for decades of greed and mismanagement.

Greece's financial woes set to continue.

Greece's financial woes set to continue., originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

According to Greek prime minister Giorgos Papandreou yesterday's decision by the country's European partners to bail out Athens was a “breath of life”. However, the decision by the EU to rescue their southern partner from the mercy of international finance markets may not be enough to put Greece back on a sound monetary footing.

For the past month the European Union has seen the integrity of the Euro threatened by the prospect of Greece defaulting on its massive $419 billion debt load. Whilst Germany has made it clear that Greece should put it's own house in order rather than let relay on its European partners the prospect of a domino effect involving Portugal, Spain and perhaps Italy has raised the prospect of a direct threat to the viability of the Euro itself.

However, even if Greece does manage to find the funding to service its debt in the immediate future the country faces the reality that any such bailout will come with strings attached and that in essence the country will have to cede control over its financial policies to Brussels.

Already the recently elected left wing PASOK government has announced increases in tax on petrol, alcohol and tobacco as well as saying that it will freeze public sector pay for two years. In addition sweeping changes in taxation, social security and public spending aresaid to be in the pipeline.

Doubts remain though over Athens ability to implement such radical changes given the massive public resentment they have created with the country's civil service trade unions. Already proposed changes to police and armed services pension contribution schemes have been postponed in the face of opposition.

Also the ability of Greece notoriously corrupt tax authorities to get tough on tax evasion has been questioned by Greeks long accustomed to such calls by political parties on both the left and right. As one Thessaloniki taxi driver drily put it, getting Greece out its present fix by raising taxes is like bailing out the Titanic with a sieve.

As well as strikes and public demonstrations there is also the fear that growing social unrest will spark off a repeat of the month long revolt which swept the country in December 2008 following the death of a teenager, allegedly shot by the police in central Athens. Although the violent street confrontations have died down the clashes have given rise to a resurgence in terrorist violence which has seen police stations machine gunned and almost daily firebomb attacks on banks and government targets.

Beyond the immediate problem of excessive public spending Greece faces enormous macro – economic challenges which have been growing since it joined the Euro-zone. By adopting the Euro the country has gained financial stability at the cost of raising prices and shrinking competitiveness in international markets.

With the old Drachma Greek products and services could exported at more competitive prices and the government could, if necessay devalue the currency so cutting prices in international markets. The rise in cost brought on by the Euro combined with cheap Chinese textiles an manufactured goods have decimated Greece's industrial base, especially in the north of the country where unemployment was rising steadily even before the present crisis. As with East Germany's adoption of the Deutschmark the use of the new currency has made Greek goods too expensive for their traditional markets.

In addition the country's endemic corruption has meant that many Greek companies have long relied on personal and political connections to win contracts with the state and so have had little incentive to increase productivity or lower costs. The result of decades of such crony capitalism is that such countries are ill – equipped to operate in international markets.

The existence of shadowy price cartels has also helped blunt Greek competitiveness as many parts of the economy and especially the retail sector is able to avoid damaging price wars and so has done little to improve service or reduce costs. The irony is, as the Greek media has been quick to point out that feta cheese is now cheaper in Berlin or Amsterdam than it is in Athens.

Although Greece's leader has pointed the finger of blame at the previous New Democracy government for hiding the scale of the country's financial woes the truth is that ex - PM Kostas Karamanlis was simply following the strategies inherited from the previous PASOK government's who systematically hid debts in order to meet the entrance requirements for the Euro-zone.

It should be noted that Papandreou held several high level posts in the PASOK government from 2000 – 2004 including responsibility for the 2004 Olympic Games which ended up costing 10 billion Euros, nearly three times that of the Sydney games in 2000.

The Greek parliament is still investigating charges that the German based Siemens corporation spent millions bribing Greek politicians in both major parties in order to win security contracts.

www.demotix.com

Greek civil servants strike

Greek civil servants strike, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

According to the leading Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the next 72 hours are going to prove crucial if the government is to convince European and International money markets that Greece can be trusted to implement its Stabilisation program and reduce its massive $400 billion debt load. Athens, Greece. 10/02/2010.

The program announced this week by recently elected socialist prime minister Giorgos Papandreou has angered civil service trade unions unhappy with goods in bonuses and the promise of a two year wage freeze. In response the civil service trade union confederation ADEDY called a series of stoppages and strikes for the next three days. The action has grounded all flights in and out of the country and severely disrupted train timetables.



In addition trade unions and left wing political parties organised marches in Athens, Thessaloniki and over 60 other Greek towns. Braving torrential rains thousands took to the srtreets to protest the government's austerity measures.

Despite promising wage increases and a rise in unemployment benefits the left wing PASOK government is unlikely to concede to worker's demands as such a move would weaken attempts by Athens to secure a European backed bailout package. Despite initial talk of Greece putting its own economic house in order intense pressure by speculators has raised fears that if Greece defaults on its financial commitments failure would have a knock on effect on Portugal and Spain and so threaten the Euro itself.

Demotix

Thanks to Eleni for lending me her camera.

Kettled and tear gassed

Kettled and tear gassed, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Taken yesterday in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Students march in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos killed last year by the police in Athens

Students march in memory of Alexandros Grigoropoulos killed last year by the police in Athens, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Today thousands of students and pupils marched in cities across Greece to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Alexandros Grigoropoulos which sparked off the worst civil unrest for a generation.

More pictures at Demotix.com

Greek protesters mark first anniversay of teen's killing by the police - Thessaloniki Greece

Taken during the march today in Thessaloniki, Greece.

"Remember, remember 6th December"

"Remember, remember 6th December", originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

With the first anniversary of the killing of Alexandros Grigoropoulos by a police officer last year in Athens the scene looks set for a repeat of last year's violent protests which engulfed most of Greece.

In the run up to 6th December there have been a number of bombings and attacks on both the offices of the ruling PASOK party and and anti - authoritarian communes in Thessaloniki and Athens.

Nor do the police seems to have learnt the lessons of December 2008. Only last week a 35 year old Armenian woman was beaten in front of her two year old child by two plain clothes officers who accused her of insulting them. The fact that she was pushing a pram laden with shopping was not enough to deter them from handcuffing her, kicking her whilst she lay on the ground then taking her to a police station where she was held for six hours.

STAGE workers demonstrate - Thessaloniki, Greece

STAGE workers demonstrate - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Nearly a 1000 employees with the state run Stage work experience program demonstrated in the centre of Thessaloniki protesting the new government's decision to not to give them permanent contracts.