16 replies to this topic

[Hilander]

Quote

“People are beginning to starve,” said Aglaia Konstantakopolou, who works at a soup kitchen and social center in downtown Athens originally planned for refugees. “Mothers come begging for diapers, milk for their children or food,” he added. “Two years ago, you never saw anything like that.”
Teachers say children often show up to class hungry. Many skip classes to eat breakfast at charity shelters, Konstantakopolou says.
The physical strains are producing psychological effects, especially among younger children who often blame themselves for the effects of the crisis.
“When parents can’t buy clothes or toys, children believe they’ve been bad and are responsible,” child psychologist Salemi Parrisia said.
There are reports of growing numbers of malnourished children collapsing at school and suffering health-related phobias.

Euro crisis: Growing up hungry in Greece

Feel sorry for those kids.

[Jacques Terreur]

it's bad that things like that happen all over the world. it's a crying shame that this is happening in the middle of europe! My girlfriend is from Thessaloniki and we recently get bad news about the general situation in greece. The people there are the first to pay hell for the big money's fu**ups, and i fear this will spread over the whole of europe. It's gotta stop!

[keithisco]

There are EU mechanisms in place to prevent this kind of thing happening - but the Greek Govt has got to ask for Humanitarian Aid from the EU as a legal requirement(I guess they are just too proud to do so - makes me angry).

[Jacques Terreur]

all those EU mechanisms ARE part of the problem....

[questionmark]

Jacques Terreur, on 31 July 2012 - 07:53 PM, said:

all those EU mechanisms ARE part of the problem....

If Greece would have done things according and with those mechanisms they would not be in the mess they are.

Some always seem to forget that nobody forced Simitis to cook the books to get into the Euro and nobody forced Karamanlis to quit collecting taxes and allowing widespread corruption to stay in power (did not work, as without money from taxes he could not buy off the populace for his next term).

And all this is happening while there are 3 billion Euros earmarked for environmental protection work in Brussels that nobody evidently wants (and has been there since 2000). With 3 billion Euros would give employment to 1 million Greeks for a whole month, or 10% of all Greeks.

This story is not about Europe it is about gross incompetence of the Greek ruling class.

Edit: mixed up names...must be Alzheimer's...

Edited by questionmark, 31 July 2012 - 08:33 PM.

[Mr Right Wing]

Jacques Terreur, on 31 July 2012 - 03:40 PM, said:

it's bad that things like that happen all over the world. it's a crying shame that this is happening in the middle of europe! My girlfriend is from Thessaloniki and we recently get bad news about the general situation in greece. The people there are the first to pay hell for the big money's fu**ups, and i fear this will spread over the whole of europe. It's gotta stop!

The EU isnt going to adopt the policies needed to resolve the crises because no one wants a new nation called Europe.

Greece needs to leave and default. it can do that now or in 10 years time when the fallout will be worse. But they will wont escape having to default.

[Jacques Terreur]

it's out of question that the former greek government under Papandreou was corrupt (but honestly: which goverment isn't?) and more or less cheated its way into the euro. Given. But what happens now, in my eyes, is that the precious experiment of having one currency over the whole of europe is valued higher than the lives of people. Greece, Spain, Cyprus, are all in really bad shape, with ridiculous rates of unemployed folks and people losing their homes and suicide rates on the rise. And the solution presented for that is more austerity, while shamefully other, better off countries, like germany, even PROFIT from the situation as is.

the times we went with tanks to poland are over. Now germany blitzes other countries on the financial market.

[Jacques Terreur]

Mr Right Wing, on 31 July 2012 - 08:35 PM, said:

Greece needs to leave and default. it can do that now or in 10 years time when the fallout will be worse. But they will wont escape having to default.

that SHOULD have happened 2 years ago already. But if Greece is allowed out, then what would keep Spain, Ireland or other countries under the EU thumb? That's my whole point. Greece is not allowed to default for some time now (i have Merkel in my ear still, saying that this is "unthinkable" a few months ago!), because that could cause the profitable Euro zone to collapse.

[skookum]

Horrible price for those people to pay to stay in the single currency.

[Br Cornelius]

skookum, on 01 August 2012 - 06:24 AM, said:

Horrible price for those people to pay to stay in the single currency.

You are misattributing the blame here - it is a horrible price to pay for living under such a corrupt and venal political elite in their country. No one forced the Greeks to destroy their economy.

The same childish whining goes on in Ireland about the EU having destroyed the economy - when infact it was the cumulation of 30yrs of political corruption and chrony capitalism in the Dail (national parliment) which caused Ireland problems. Everyone is always looking for someone else to scapegoat when they screw up. Well children of Europe its time to grow up and take responsibility for our own part in allowing a bunch ofr snake oil salesmen to sell us the dream that we can have it all without any effort on our parts.

Governments manage economys and when they fail in that duty then the citizens foot the bill. I think the message has to be, wise up and don't vote corrupt idiots into positions of power. It can be done and we only have to look to Iceland for an example of what can be achieved by an informed public.

Br Cornelius

[questionmark]

Mr Right Wing, on 31 July 2012 - 08:35 PM, said:

The EU isnt going to adopt the policies needed to resolve the crises because no one wants a new nation called Europe.

Greece needs to leave and default. it can do that now or in 10 years time when the fallout will be worse. But they will wont escape having to default.

Greece can default and stay. There is nothing that can force them to leave and only speculators have anything to gain by Greece either not defaulting or leaving the Euro. Everybody else will just loose.

[Mr Right Wing]

Jacques Terreur, on 01 August 2012 - 05:23 AM, said:

that SHOULD have happened 2 years ago already. But if Greece is allowed out, then what would keep Spain, Ireland or other countries under the EU thumb? That's my whole point. Greece is not allowed to default for some time now (i have Merkel in my ear still, saying that this is "unthinkable" a few months ago!), because that could cause the profitable Euro zone to collapse.

You'll leave, default, the value of your currency will collapse, your exports will boom, the tourists will flock in due due to cheap prices and your economy will be up and running again with lots of jobs.

The longer you guys leave it the more your currency will collapse when you leave. While that may be good for tourists it means you wont be able to import much as your money will be worthless. Food shortage and petrol problems?

[Mr Right Wing]

Br Cornelius, on 01 August 2012 - 01:53 PM, said:

You are misattributing the blame here - it is a horrible price to pay for living under such a corrupt and venal political elite in their country. No one forced the Greeks to destroy their economy.

The same childish whining goes on in Ireland about the EU having destroyed the economy - when infact it was the cumulation of 30yrs of political corruption and chrony capitalism in the Dail (national parliment) which caused Ireland problems. Everyone is always looking for someone else to scapegoat when they screw up. Well children of Europe its time to grow up and take responsibility for our own part in allowing a bunch ofr snake oil salesmen to sell us the dream that we can have it all without any effort on our parts.

Governments manage economys and when they fail in that duty then the citizens foot the bill. I think the message has to be, wise up and don't vote corrupt idiots into positions of power. It can be done and we only have to look to Iceland for an example of what can be achieved by an informed public.

Br Cornelius

The EU is to blame and was flawed from the start.

Germany being the largest economic nation exerts most pressure when it comes to setting the EU interest rates. Hence the rates benefit its economy not Irelands and not Greeces. What happens is that over time all manufacturing, all industry and all business throughout the Single Currency zone gravitates towards Germany.

Germany is doing great. Its economy is booming so much so that it doesnt need to practice austerity to clear its debt. Everyone has a job too. Thats thanks to the idiots that signed their nations up to the Single Currency without thinking about whats going on.

The Germans have nearly completed their rise back to dominance following WW1 and WW2.

[Br Cornelius]

The Germans and the EU did not create the property bubbles and they did not create the tax evasion - neither did they create the corrupt politicians. Governments have other leavers of power than simple interest rate setting - they have tax policy and they have tariffs on speculation. They also have wage control (which is applied in Germany and is the main reason they have created  sustained growth). Then their was the reluctance to formulate meaningful industrial strategies. None of the crisis governments used any of these mechanisms and in fact encouraged the growth of bubbles because it generated a substantial tax revenue stream.

Its not big or clever to attempt to blame others for your own mistakes. Its not big or clever derelict your governmental or citizenry duties.

Br Cornelius

[keithisco]

Mr Right Wing, on 01 August 2012 - 03:30 PM, said:

The EU is to blame and was flawed from the start.

Germany being the largest economic nation exerts most pressure when it comes to setting the EU interest rates. Hence the rates benefit its economy not Irelands and not Greeces. What happens is that over time all manufacturing, all industry and all business throughout the Single Currency zone gravitates towards Germany.

Germany is doing great. Its economy is booming so much so that it doesnt need to practice austerity to clear its debt. Everyone has a job too. Thats thanks to the idiots that signed their nations up to the Single Currency without thinking about whats going on.

The Germans have nearly completed their rise back to dominance following WW1 and WW2.

I'm sorry... WHO sets the EU Interest Rates??? Please be more precise before writing anything because what you write is mostly wrong.

"Everyone has a job"... that is just priceless - Germany currently has an unemployment rate of 6.8%.