ειρηνικά στο πανεπιστήμιο. Ο στόχος της κινητοποίησης αυτής ήταν από την μια να συμπαρασταθούμε στους φίλους μας και τις οικογένειες μας στην Ελλάδα που αγωνίζονται να τα βγάλουν πέρα με τα νέα δεδομένα, αλλά και για να ενημερώσουμε τους κατοίκους της πόλης του Νταντί αλλά και τους συμφοιτητές μας για τα άδικα αυτά νέα μέτρα και τις λάθος πολιτικές που ακολουθούνται. Εκτός των άλλων η προβολή ενός τέτοιου θέματος θα δείξει ότι οι κινητοποιήσεις της προηγούμενης Κυριακής έχουν συνέχεια. Παρακάτω το κείμενο που μοιράσαμε (400 αντίτυπα) κατά την συγκέντρωση.
Since 2009 Greece has been in the public eye as it was then that the Greek Socialist Party (PASOK) won the elections with a manipulative and misleading programme which promised prosperity and development of the country. However, the actual economic situation of the state was totally different and within the next six months the government was forced to request help from the IMF and the EU. This resulted in the harsh austerity measures adopted by the Greek parliament. These measures not only failed to improve the current situation but also led to an unprecedented social and political crisis. Following this the government collapsed and the Prime Minister George Papandreou was replaced by Lucas Papademos without any elections being held. This shows that the democracy of the state is not being upheld and the previous and current governments are not legitimate morally.
Following the same policy, the new Prime Minister was forced to propose new austerity measures, much worse than the previous ones, leading the people of Greece to absolute misery and poverty. These measures include:
1) further wage cuts both in the public and the private sector (minimum wage of €400),
2) reduction in social benefits,
3) 20% cut on pensions; and
4) dismissal of more than 150,000 public servants.
As a result, the already high unemployment rates (20.9% of the general public and 48% between the ages of 18-25) are set to rise even more.
The debt before the adaption of the memorandum was €300 billion and two years after the measures were imposed, it now stands at €340 billion. Surprisingly, the desired outcome of the programme is to reach by 2020 the debt levels of 2009 which demonstrates the wrong direction of the measures.
But are Greeks really the ones who should have to pay for this crisis? Considering that the Greek population are among the most hard-working within the Euro zone, according to the Office for National Statistics, having considerably low salaries and state benefits they cannot be held accountable for a systemic crisis that affected the whole world. Obviously, measures should be taken so that tax collection would become more consistent or the public sector more effective. However, political scandals such as bribes by Siemens to Greek politicians and purchase of overpriced and defective army equipment from Germany and France raised the level of the debt. We have to keep in mind that the debt increased due to policies of the EU that turned the countries of the South into the consuming and not the productive part of Europe. It is no coincidence that Italy, Spain and Portugal have similar problems to Greece. In other words,since the gap between wealthy and poor countries is still expanding, the vision of the EU about uniting the economies of Europe seems to collapse.
The policy imposed is taking the country in the wrong direction and cannot lead to development since the priority is to save the bank system of Greece and not to give a boost to the problematic real economy. Moreover, the IMF’s austerity measures have failed in the past wherever they have been adopted, a prime example being Argentina which represents where these policies could lead.
The purpose of this proposal is mainly to condemn the measures and policies imposed in Greece. Alternative solutions for the improvement of the Greek economy do exist for instance, the funds given for repaying the loans could be invested for the development of industry, agriculture and tourism improving the problematic Greek economy in the long term and creating new prospects for the future.
WE MIGHT HAVE A BANKRUPTED ECONOMY BUT NOT A BANKRUPTED NATION
Αναγνώστης
