Mήπως τελικά... "Mαζί τα Φάγαμε?"

 Aganaktismenoi at Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece

 Photo Source: Sharon Chelmis

Η πορεία ξεκίνησε σαν χείμαρρος, κινούμενη από παλμό, ωθούμενη από τα νέα μέτρα της κυβέρνησης.

Στην πρώτη γραμμή διέκρινα τον Mάκη, δεν ξέρω τι δουλειά κάνει, τόσα χρόνια συνδικαλιστή τον ξέρω.

 Δίπλα του η ξαδέλφη μου η Μάρθα από τα 37 της συνταξιούχος, γιατί είχε κλείσει 15 ετια στον Eυαγγελισμό με ανήλικο τέκνο. 

Μαζί της η φίλη της η Στέλλα 30 χρόνια τώρα έπαιρνε σύνταξη σαν άγαμη θυγατέρα.

  

Παραδίπλα ο Στάθης, η εθελουσία από τον ΟΤΕ του είχε αποφέρει 120.000 ευρώ και τώρα αγωνιζόταν στο ψάρεμα. 

Μαζί και ο συγγενής μου ο Κώστας 46 χρονών, πυροσβέστης, είχε καταθέσει εδώ και ένα μήνα τα χαρτιά του για σύνταξη (είχε προλάβει να κατοχυρώσει λέει) περίμενε και κάποιο χοντρό  εφάπαξ.

Δίπλα τους ο θείος μου, δεξιός από σόι, κατέβαινε σε πορείες μόνο όταν ήταν το ΠΑΣΟΚ κυβέρνηση.

Και από κοντά τα δυο αδέρφια ο Στέλιος που του είχε βάλει το κόμμα τα 2 παιδιά στο δημόσιο, και  ο Γρηγόρης που έπαιρνε τα έργα του δήμου υπερτιμολογημένα λόγω γνωριμιών.

Πίσω στην δεύτερη σειρά ακολουθούσε ο Γιάννης, πατέρας εδώ και κάτι μήνες έκανε εξάσκηση του νέου νόμου περί αδείας και του πατέρα στο δημόσιο, αγκαλιά με την γυναίκα του την Μάρω που με τρεις γέννες είχε να πατήσει στην δουλειά της 3 χρόνια. 

Και από κοντά ο Μιχάλης εργολάβος με συνεργείο 27 ανασφάλιστους αλλοδαπούς και -3 Έλληνες. 

Στα δεξιά τους ο Λάκης φοιτητής ετών 32, παρέα με τον Γιώργο, γιατρό επονομαζόμενο και "ταχυδρόμο" από τα φακελάκια.

Μαζί τους  και ο Θεόδωρος γιατρός του ΙΚΑ που στο ιδιωτικό του ιατρείο δεν έκοβε ποτέ του αποδείξεις, με τον Κυριάκο της εφορίας που δεν είχε δει ποτέ του παράβαση τα τελευταία 6 χρόνια. (τόσο ρολόι δούλευαν όλα).

  

Και φυσικά δεν θα έλειπε και ο Βασίλης, λιμενικός, πρώτος ταβλαδόρος στο τελωνείο.

Να και ο Μηνάς, είχε ξεχάσει πότε έκοψε το τελευταίο του τιμολόγιο, μαζί με τον Ορέστη επιδοτούμενο χρόνια αγρότη που δεν ήξερε που ήταν τα χτήματά του.

 Όλοι μαζί με άλλους τόσους σήκωσαν τα χέρια ψηλά και με σφιγμένες τις γροθιές βροντοφώναξαν

"Κάτω τα χέρια από τα ΛΕΦΤΑ ΜΑΣ"

Ο Στέφανος αδερφικός μου φίλος, άνεργος οικοδόμος με κοίταξε με γουρλωμένα ματιά.

"Ρε Κώστα εμείς εδώ τι κάνουμε?"

Έλα ντε!



Mήπως τελικά "Mαζί τα Φάγαμε?"



(Received by email from Olga B, Athens...Thanks)

Greece and the Priviliges of Parliamentary Life...Ioannis Kapodistrias, Where Are You?

A lot has been written about Greece's Members of Parliament and their privileges as well as whether in fact the 300 MPs which Greece has today should be drastically reduced. If we consider that around half of Greece's work force have taken great cuts in salaries and pension payments especially in the public sector, the wide range of benefits which MPs seem to still be getting are an insult to the  intelligence of the general public...  

This coupled with the government's very apparent unwillingness to take action against well-known tax evaders and to further investigate major scandals such as the Siemens corruption case and the Vatopedio land swap, the unbelievable case of former Minister Tsohadzopoulos (who, along with his family members, appears to have interests in several highly valuable properties including the one he lives in on one of the most expensive streets in Athens, close by the Acropolis, on Dionysiou Areopagitou Street) and other such cases of social injustice is adding fuel to the fire of the unrest and dissatisfaction in Greece. 

During the demonstrations that took place in Athens last week,  one of the more moderates,  former Minister of Transport Kostis Hadjidakis was attacked and beaten. Hadjidakis,  apart from being involved in the privatisation of Greece's national carrier, Olympic Airways during his tenure as Minister, is not one of those MPs who appear to have provoked or been involved in any of the major scandals that have plagued Greek public life recently, and the attack took many by surprise. 

No one can condone such an action but it is increasingly obvious that resentment of the 'untouchable' status and lack of accountability or responsibility that Greece's MPs  have seems to be escalating dangerously. 

The system of benefits enjoyed by Greece's Members of Parliament, past or present, along with hundreds of Parliamentary employees is facing increasing scrutiny by the people. The people are being asked to sacrifice much of the basics in their daily lives, simply because public funds were squandered, or at best, mismanaged,  by the very people who were elected to office to safeguard them and to work for the benefit of the public good,  but were too busy looking after their personal interests, as well as those of their closest and dearest, to the detriment of the public good.  

In times of economic turmoil such as the crisis Greece is going through when people are being asked to sacrifice more and more,  it is only fair that those in power lead by example, and in Greece this surely does not appear to be the case, despite the torrent of rhetoric around us!

In September this year, Nikos Vafiadis took a walk down the hallowed corridors of Parliament and wrote a very revealing analysis of these benefits in the daily Kathimerini titled   'Even the... corridors have privileges'  Και οι... διάδρομοι έχουν προνόμια...

'Το 2010 οι 300 της Βουλής θα μοιραστούν το ποσό των 42,5 εκατ. ευρώ. 

Συνεπώς ο μέσος όρος των μηνιαίων αποδοχών τους ανέρχεται σε 10.000 ευρώ. Το 50% της βουλευτικής αποζημίωσης φορολογείται αυτοτελώς και μόνο το υπόλοιπο 50% προστίθεται στα τυχόν άλλα εισοδήματα. Περίπου 35 εκατ. ευρώ θα μοιραστούν μέσα στο 2010 οι συνταξιούχοι βουλευτές ή οι σύζυγοι και οι άγαμες θυγατέρες θανόντων βουλευτών. Αλλο ένα κονδύλι 4,3 εκατ. ευρώ προορίζεται για τις συντάξεις των πρώην πρωθυπουργών. Σημειώνεται ότι για την κατοχύρωση βουλευτικής σύνταξης απαιτούνται μόλις 4 χρόνια, ενώ όσοι έχουν πρωτοεκλεγεί πριν από το 1993 συνταξιοδοτούνται από τα 55 τους χρόνια. Ο πρόσφατος σαρωτικός νόμος για το ασφαλιστικό δεν άγγιξε στο ελάχιστο τους επαγγελματίες της πολιτικής.

Επιπλέον, στους πρώην πρωθυπουργούς αλλά και στους πρώην προέδρους της Βουλής παραχωρούνται γραφεία μέσα στο Κοινοβούλιο, ακόμη και στην περίπτωση που δεν έχουν επανεκλεγεί βουλευτές, όπως είναι η περίπτωση του Κώστα Σημίτη. Τον πιο ευρύχωρο και ηλιόλουστο χώρο στον δεύτερο όροφο, με εξαιρετική θέα στον Εθνικό Κήπο, εξασφάλισε πρόσφατα ο Κώστας Καραμανλής.

Οσοι βουλευτές είναι άνω των 65 χρόνων λαμβάνουν ταυτόχρονα και βουλευτική αποζημίωση και βουλευτική σύνταξη. 

Οι συνταξιούχοι βουλευτές είναι οι μοναδικοί Ελληνες που έχουν τη δυνατότητα να λαμβάνουν παράλληλα και δεύτερη σύνταξη από το επάγγελμα που ασκούν ή ασκούσαν, εφόσον δεν εργάζονται στο Δημόσιο, ή και τρίτη στην περίπτωση που ήταν συνδικαλιστές, πρώην δήμαρχοι ή πρώην νομάρχες (χορηγίες). 

Μέσα στην τριετία 2010-2012 υπολογίζεται από το Γενικό Λογιστήριο του Κράτους ότι μπορεί να δοθούν στους συνταξιούχους βουλευτές άλλα περίπου 80 εκατ. ευρώ που διεκδικούν αναδρομικά, λόγω των αναδρομικών αυξήσεων που πήραν πρόσφατα οι δικαστές (έχουν πάρει ήδη το 25%, ενώ το υπόλοιπο 75% θα καταβληθεί το Μάιο του 2011), όταν οι τελευταίοι αύξησαν τους μισθούς τους κατά περίπου 80%. Αποτελεί πάγια μέθοδο η διεκδίκηση εκ μέρους των συνταξιούχων βουλευτών των αυξήσεων που λαμβάνουν οι ανώτεροι δικαστικοί, οι οποίες μετά την τελική δικαίωσή τους επεκτείνονται και στους εν ενεργεία βουλευτές....'

You can hear much of this article in the video that follows...

We have said it before, but we will say it again! Greece's politicians, from the political leaders down, should be leading by example if they want to be treated with respect...

• They should take voluntary cuts in their salaries and benefits - anything else is pure hypocrisy and will fuel even greater resentment and dissatisfaction.

• They should send their children to public schools instead of sending them to exclusive private schools...maybe then, we would see a revamp of the education system for the benefit of all students.

• They should go to the IKA doctors...maybe if they had to wait in line from 5 in the morning to see a doctor, or fill a prescription, maybe then they would comprehend the anguish of the old age pensioner who has worked hard all his life only to see his contributions disappear.

•  They should go to the public hospitals, not as public figures but incognito and see the dire results of the major shortages in staff and supplies  - maybe then they would provide for hospitals that allowed both staff and patients to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Above all, they should be following the example of Ioannis Kapodistrias, the First Governor of Greece and one of our Global Greeks, who selflessly refused to touch public money, judging that his income and personal wealth was sufficient for him to live on... 

The only problem is, there aren't too many Kapodistrias around...unfortunately!

Global GreekWisdom: Straw Hats and The Greek Economic Crisis - Telling it How it Is

 

Το παιδάκι αυτό σου χρωστάει? Από που κι'εως που?

A newborn child owes you? How come?

Stratos Safioleas, a very talented and accomplished Global Greek International Media Consultant, posted this very meaningful video clip on his Facebook page and we are sharing because we think the message needs to get out...





We don't know where the shop is but we will find out and let you know.



Let's do what we can to support Greece's small traditional enterprises which are trying to survive against the odds ...

Greece Economic Recovery on Track - Joint Statement by the EU and IMF

Never has so much been said so succinctly to so many by so few...

In case you were wondering this is what the IMF said to the people of Greece and the international community today, after the First Review which has taken place over the last few days. 

The report was released by the IMF without bold print but we thought there were a few areas which merited emphasis...



What they didn't tell us is the 'cost' that it will have for the people and although they talk about structural reforms to clamp down on tax evasion,  we think they should have added a paragraph telling us that they strongly recommend that the Greek Government enforce a zero tolerance on corruption, and confiscate all properties whose existence is not justified by the owner's income, no matter how well connected that owner is...

Incidentally, is that an olive branch we see depicted in the IMF's logo? Wonder why?

Press Release No. 10/308

August 5, 2010

Staff teams from the European Commission (EC), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Athens during July 26-August 5 for the first quarterly review of the Greek government’s economic program, which is being supported by a EUR 80 billion loan from Euro area countries and a EUR 30 billion Stand-By Arrangement with the Fund. The strategy and key policies remain as described in the May 2010 Letter of Intent and Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (see Country Report No. 10/111).



Our overall assessment is that the program has made a strong start. The end-June quantitative performance criteria have all been met, led by a vigorous implementation of the fiscal program, and important reforms are ahead of schedule. However, important challenges and risks remain.



The contraction in the economy is in line with May program projections: GDP is expected to decline by 4 percent in 2010 and some 2½ percent in 2011. Inflation is higher than expected—we have revised our estimate for 2010 to 4¾ percent—pushed up by indirect tax increases. With no signs of second-round effects, inflation is expected to decline rapidly.



In the fiscal area, the authorities have kept spending significantly below budget limits at the state level. This has offset slippages caused by problems in controlling expenditures at the sub-national level (local governments, hospitals, social security funds), and the overall deficit target for end-June was met. Going forward, to address potential risks to fiscal targets, it is critical to tighten expenditure control and monitoring, in particular at sub-national levels. Another key challenge is to further strengthen tax administration, including to reduce tax evasion by high-income and wealthy individuals. This is essential to secure tax revenues and to promote the overall fairness of the adjustment program.



In the financial sector, there has been a moderate deterioration in capital adequacy as nonperforming loans have increased in line with expectations. Recently, the CEBS stress tests covered more than 90 percent of Greek banking system assets and all but one state-owned bank passed, thus helping to reduce market volatility. We welcome that the government has commissioned a strategic review for the banking sector and a due diligence for state banks. The Financial Stability Fund (FSF), which is soon to become operational, will provide an important backstop to deal with potential capital shortfalls. In our view, the 10 billion euro earmarked for the FSF under the program remains adequate. Continued close monitoring of the financial sector will be important in the period ahead.



Impressive progress is being made on structural reforms. The mission welcomes Parliament’s approval of the landmark pension reform, which is far-reaching by international standards. Substantive labor market reform is also well underway. Implementation of recent tax reform and budget reform is key in order to consolidate fiscal consolidation. Other reforms that are scheduled for early implementation are transportation, where important progress has already been made with liberalization of road haulage, and energy. Restoring competitiveness and boosting potential growth remains critical to the program’s success. The challenge facing the government in this regard will be to overcome resistance from entrenched vested interests to opening-up of closed professions, deregulation, implementation of the services directive, and elimination of barriers to development of tourism and retail.



The Greek government is still unable to access international capital markets except for placement of short-term T-bills. However, market sentiments appear now to be improving. Taking advantage of the breathing space afforded by the large-scale international financial support, the key challenge facing the Greek authorities remains to establish a strong track record of policy implementation in order to regain access to international capital markets.


Next Steps. The staff-level agreement reached with the Greek authorities will pave the way for the conclusion of the first review under the loan facility agreement (euro area) and Stand-By Arrangement (IMF), subject to approval by the Commission, the Eurogroup, and the IMF’s management and Executive Board. Such approval will allow the disbursement of EUR 9 billion (EUR 6.5 billion by the euro area Member States, and EUR 2.5 billion by the IMF).

The mission for the next program review is scheduled for October, 2010.



Source: The IMF   

Happy Bastille Day! Vive La France! Vive la Grece!

Shouting the words Liberté, égalité, fraternité, the people of France 221 years ago today, in 1789, stormed the Bastille, Paris' fortress-prison, a movement which was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation...an uprising against the arrogance and corruption endemic in the  Monarchy, Aristocracy and the ruling classes of France. 



The French Revolution (1789-1793) along with the American  Revolution which preceeded it (1775-1783), inspired and showed the way for the Greek Revolution in 1821...



Read the words, listen to the music and watch the video of the Marseillaise, France's National Anthem... it may well inspire us, the people who live in and love Greece, to rise against the arrogance of those who are supposed to lead by example, against the cronyism, against the bribery and the corruption which has brought our proud and beautiful Greece to the brink of economic and moral bankruptcy. 



If each and every one of us rebels in our own way, not violently but quietly and effectively in our everyday lives then it is not a lost cause! 



If we can take those three words, Freedom, Equality and Brotherhood  and apply them to our everyday living, then we have every chance of success!



Vive la Revolution!  

La Marseillaise

Allons enfants de la Patrie



Le jour de gloire est arrivé



Contre nous de la tyrannie

 ...L'étendard sanglant est levé,

...L'étendard sanglant est levé

Entendez vous dans les campagnes



Mugir ces féroces soldats



Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras,



égorger vos fils, vos compagnes



Aux armes citoyens! Formez vos bataillons!



Marchons, marchons,



Qu'un sang impur abreuve nos sillons.'

The Beauty of Global Greece! Greek PM George Papandreou talks to Fox's Nicole Petallides About the Greek Economy

 Nicole Petallides

Photo Source: Fox Business News

This is what we love to see! One of our Global Greeks, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, talks to another, Greek American News Anchor for Fox TV, Nicole Petallides,  in an exclusive interview about the Greek Economy and why it's safe to invest in Greece...

Love the way she finishes off the interview by saying Καλή Τύχη!!!



Here is some more information about her!



Nicole Petallides joined FOX Business Network in September 2007. She is the floor correspondent at the New York Stock Exchange.

Prior to joining FOX, she was an anchor at Bloomberg Television where she reported from the New York Stock Exchange for the nationally syndicated shows, Bloomberg Business Report and Bloomberg Market Update. While at Bloomberg, Petallides also covered weekend news and served as a business news anchor for CW11's WPIX morning news program in New York.

Before joining Bloomberg, Petallides served as an assistant producer for CNBC, where she produced daily floor reports from the NYSE. Prior to CNBC, she was a segment producer for Dow Jones Television's The Wall Street Journal Report with Consuelo Mack and international programs Asian Business News and European Business News. Petallides has also contributed to FOX affiliate WNYW's morning show Good Day New York, NY1 News, CNN and News 12 Long Island.

Born in 1971 in Queens, New York, Nicole  is the daughter of Fannie Holliday and John C. Petallides.



Her father owns U.S. Amfax, a New York company that does telemarketing and promotions, a similar company called Salesforce 911, and Parent Reach, an emergency broadcast company.



Her mother is the founder and chief operating officer of Proini, a Greek-language daily newspaper, and of The Greek American, an English-language weekly newspaper.



Nicole graduated from American University in 1993 and in 1998 married fellow greek-American, Manhattan dentist Nicholas Tsiolas in a ceremony performed by Archbishop Spyridon of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of the United States. 

Source: Wikipedia/Fox Business News

Greek Politicians: Payback Time! Εκτονωθείτε ελεύθερα... τα γιαούρτια είναι δωρεάν!

Fed up with the Greek Political System?  

Greek Payback

The game which helps you get rid of your frustrations,

also known as yiaourtoma, a classic Greek reaction ...

Βαρεθήκατε?

Εκτονωθείτε ελεύθερα... τα γιαούρτια είναι δωρεάν!

Click here / Πατείστε Εδώ 

The Greek Economic Crisis With a Touch of Humour: From Homer to the IMF

Greece through the Ages

From Ancient Greece .... to the IMF...

   (Source: Unknown - received by email, no copyright infringement intended)

For those that don't know  - the last one epitomises the Greek saying  ' Me ta duo podia s'ena papoutsi'... which means that things are really tight and tough, as tough as trying to walk with both feet in one shoe...

Royalties for Inventing Civilisation?" Yes", says Jean-Luc Godard "The Entire World Owes Money to Greece ..."

  Temple of Athena Lindia, Lindos - Rhodes 

Photo Source: Konstantina Fournari

 'Greece, 

Where do you think your money's going to come from? 

Royalties for inventing civilisation? '  

Never a truer word said in jest as Shakespeare said, this was the question asked by Seth at the beginning of the Tina Fey video in our previous post...





Royalties for Inventing Civilisation - What a great idea!  Why didn't we think of it?





Celebrated French film director Jean-Luc Godard didn't just think it, he said it  out loud in a recent interview for the magazine Les Inrockuptibles carried by Greek daily newspaper To Vima , protesting at what he called the appalling treatment of Greece by the Europeans. In fact rumour has it tonight that he refused to go to to the 63rd Cannes Film Festival for the same reason, despite the fact that his latest film was being screened this evening.







We should be thanking Greece...



The West owes much to Greece, the land of Philosophy, Democracy and Ancient Tragedy. We often forget the connection between ancient tragedy and Democracy. Without Sophocles there wouldn't be  Pericles. Without Pericles there wouldn't be Sophocles. The technologically advanced world that we live in owes everything to Greece... Who invented logic? Aristotle. If this and this then that....



The entire world owes money to Greece. This country could demand trillions in royalties and rights from the entire contemporary world. And it would be absolutely logical for  them to be given. Immediately...



«Θα έπρεπε να ευχαριστούμε την Ελλάδα »



« Η Δύση οφείλει πολλά στην Ελλάδα, τη χώρα της φιλοσοφίας, της δημοκρατίας, της αρχαίας τραγωδίας. Ξεχνάμε πάντα τους δεσμούς ανάμεσα στην τραγωδία και στη δημοκρατία. Χωρίς τον Σοφοκλή δεν θα υπήρχε ο Περικλής. Χωρίς τον Περικλή δεν θα υπήρχε ο Σοφοκλής. Ο κόσμος της τεχνολογίας μέσα στον οποίο ζούμε χρωστά τα πάντα στην Ελλάδα. Ποιος εφηύρε τη λογική; Ο Αριστοτέλης.» συνέχισε. 



« Ολος ο κόσμος χρωστά χρήματα στην Ελλάδα. Αυτή η χώρα θα μπορούσε να απαιτήσει τρισεκατομμύρια από όλους για τα συγγραφικά δικαιώματα των αρχαίων. Και θα ήταν απολύτως λογικό να της δοθούν. Αμέσως... 





On devrait remercier la Grèce



C’est l’Occident qui a une dette par rapport à la Grèce. La philosophie, la démocratie, la tragédie… On oublie toujours les liens entre tragédie et démocratie. Sans Sophocle pas de Périclès. Sans Périclès pas de Sophocle. Le monde technologique dans lequel nous vivons doit tout à la Grèce. Qui a inventé la logique ? Aristote. Si ceci et si cela, donc cela. Logique. C’est ce que les puissances dominantes utilisent toute la journée, faisant en sorte qu’il n’y ait surtout pas de contradiction, qu’on reste dans une même logique. Hannah Arendt avait bien dit que la logique induit le totalitarisme. Donc tout le monde doit de l’argent à la Grèce aujourd’hui. Elle pourrait demander mille milliards de droits d’auteur au monde contemporain et il serait logique de les lui donner. Tout de suite.



Food for thought indeed, but Greece won't be doing that...Ancient Greece's legacy to the world stands despite the severe economic problems the country is facing right now.  



Greece's unique and unparalleled history, culture and civilisation are what our ancestors left us  in trust for future generations, and we have chosen to share that wealth with the entire world, at no extra charge. 



It is our duty, our honour and our privilege. 



Noblesse Oblige...as our French friends would say.



Thanks for the support, Jean-Luc Godard! It means so very much!



Merci Beaucoup,  

  

Ευχαριστούμε Πολύ! 

Magnificent Moon rising over Cape Sounion - Temple of Poseidon

(Owner not known but no copyright infringement intended)

SNL - Tina Fey :I Love You Greece But Greek People in America Work the Register at the Diner til they Die..

Half-Greek American Tina Fey's (the other half is German-Scottish appropriately enough) latest appearance on Saturday Night Live last week had a distinct Greek flavour and has stirred up quite a lot of discussion in cyberspace!  Greeks invented satire - we have always had the ability to laugh at ourselves and Tina does it beautifully! 

What did you say? 

Retire at 54? 

Really? Αλήθεια?

Greek People in America Work the Register at the Diner til they Die...

It was hilarious, but just for your info Tina mou, in Greece a lot of people work the register til they die too - especially when it is their own business! Anybody who visited the landmark Varsos Zaharoplasteio in Athens' Northern Suburb of Kifisia would have seen Mrs Varsos senior behind the register well into her old age...it's the Greek work ethic - wherever in the world we may be!



Oh, and by the way...not too many retire at 54! This is a myth, but not a Greek one, along with the one that talks about the luxury pensions in Greece...  ask any 70 year old who  is struggling to survive on 700 euros, Greece's average pension...

About Time! 50 PASOK MPs Demand Thorough Purging and Transparency for the Greek Political System

 Parliament Chambers 

Source:  Eleftherotypia Daily Newspaper

We welcome a move by 50 PASOK MPs who have submitted a letter to the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou and the Speaker of the House, Philippos Petsalnikos requesting an extensive review of the personal wealth and assets of all Ministers, MPs, and Government officials. 



If the results are found to be inconsistent with each official's  earnings ability they recommend that the properties and/or other assets be confiscated and returned to the State.



Following a proposal by veteran PASOK MP Vaso Papandreou, in their letter, the 50 MPs, mainly from the rural areas of Greece, advise that the public outcry, the ridicule and the daily attacks that MPs are being subjected to by all sectors of the public, including the Press, make it imperative that the political system in Greece be throroughly 'cleaned up'  and that transparency surround all aspects of Greek Public life, in order to restore it's ethos or morality to the Greek Political System as well as regain the respect of the people the MPs are supposed to serve... 





All we can add is that it's way overdue but better late than never. Why don't the other 250 MPs support the request and add their names? Tell us what you think - Vote in the sidebar poll.





To read the article in Greek from the daily newspaper Eleftherotypia  Click Here

Wednesday, 5 May 2010 - A Black Day for Greece, the Cradle of Democracy

Life goes on normally in Athens today - the centre is quiet for the moment and the only evidence of yesterday's tragic events, apart from the buildings which were burned, some smashed windows and burnt rubbish containers...

For 3 families though, life will never be the same again... a tragic waste of life, a senseless murderous attack which has sickened everyone. Our hearts and prayers go out to them for their terrible loss...

For the people of Athens and Greece it is time to take stock and think carefully about what is next, where do we want to see this country go? Why do we allow the minority to consistently ruin it for the majority?

Let's reflect on something one of our much wiser ancestors said many many years ago...

"Η Δημοκρατία μας αυτοκαταστρέφεται διότι κατεχράσθη το δικαίωμα της ελευθερίας και της ισότητας, διότι έμαθε τους πολίτες να θεωρούν την αυθάδεια δικαίωμα, την παρανομία ελευθερία, την αναίδεια του λόγου ισότητα και την αναρχία ευδαιμονία."

Ισοκράτης (436 - 338π.Χ. )

"Our Democracy is destroying itself because it abused the rights of freedom and equality, because it taught it's citizens to consider insolence as a right, illegal acts as a freedom, rudeness as equality and anarchy as prosperity".

Isocrates (436 - 338 b.C.)

1st May 2010 - Happy May Day To All! Καλή Πρωτομαγιά σε Όλους!

Ist May, May Day today, a beautiful day in Athens and along with much of the population we decided we were going to do what we normally do on this day... go up to the mountains around Athens and  sit in the sun  and spend precious quality time enjoying nature and picking wildflowers for our May Day Stefani!

We decided to leave the officials from the IMF and the EU to do their work, and joined all those not protesting in Syntagma Square against the austerity measures to be imposed because of the economic crisis which seems to have taken over all aspects of our life in Greece.

We decided that we would protest in our own way, by not letting it affect our lives negatively ...  and had a lovely day!

And yes, in case you are asking, we did stop at a nice cafe on the way down from Pendeli Mountain and we did enjoy  a leisurely afternoon coffee in the sun... much to the chagrin, I'm sure,  of all those who would shut out our sun and have us sit inside our houses crying at our fate...

Αs we all know, tears do not become Electra and we are all descendants of Electra...

The only depressing part of our excursion was seeing the young trees which we had all planted over the last few years burnt and blackened after last year's destructive fires on Pendeli.

The encouraging part of that was seeing that natural regeneration is indeed taking place... 

The miracle of nature in all it's glory!

We gathered our flowers and carefully made our May Day wreath...

The finished product ...

And because the flowers all around Athens are in bloom, and we need as much beauty as possible to brighten the doom and gloom of the days ahead, we thought we would add some of our garden flowers too...

Hope your day was as beautiful as ours!

Καλή Πρωτομαγιά!

Kali Protomagia! 

Happy May Day!

Capital Link Forum - Opportunities and Challenges in Greece Today

The Centre for Progressive Policy Research (KEPP)

in cooperation with

Capital Link

invite you to the forum

Challenges and Opportunities in Greece Today



 Athens Concert Hall-Megaron Mousikis (Mitropoulos Hall)

Friday 23 April 2010

09:00  – 17:00 

The current difficult economic conditions in Greece present numerous and significant challenges for the Government and business but at the same time present major opportunities for those who are willing to look at things from a long-term perspective.

The topics to be discussed during the Forum include the investment environment, business experience and prospects, investment opportunities in the energy and innovation sectors, as well as the prospects for foreign investment in Greece.

The Forum is under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping

and aims to explore the challenges and opportunities presented in Greece today while trying to navigate through the exit from the crisis.

Mrs. Louka Katseli, Minister of Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping will be the keynote speaker on "The Investment Environment and the Business Experience".

The Former Prime Minister of the Republic of France, Mr Laurent Fabius, will be the keynote speaker during the lunch which will be held in the Mouson Foyer between 13:00 – 14:30

Please note that there are no participation fees for the Conference, but there will be a charge of 120 Euros (+ VAT)  per person for participation in the official luncheon with M. Laurent Fabius

To confirm your participation, please Click Here 

To read more about Capital Link, Click here

Global Greek Solidarity: Liz Inreich-Papadopoulou Pledges her Pension of 538 Euro to the Greek Solidarity Fund! Bravo!

 Liz Inreich-Papadopoulou, with her family

Source: Ta Nea

I'm not rich, my pension is only 538 euro, but I believe that we mustn't let Greece sink! 



«Δεν είμαι καμιά πλούσια, η σύνταξή μου είναι μόλις 538 ευρώ, αλλά πιστεύω ότι δεν θα πρέπει να αφήσουμε τη χώρα να βουλιάξει»



These are the words, words that are noble in their simplicity, of  Mrs Liz Inreich-Papadopoulou, who, following Nana Mouskouri's example, has pledged her monthly pension of 538 euro to the Solidarity Fund set up to pay off Greece's huge external debt as reported in today's issue of Ta Nea (in Greek).



Unlike Nana however, she is not a world famous singer with a long and illustrious international career, so her pledge is even more touching. Mrs Papadopoulou is what we would call an honorary Greek, a Greek at heart. She is a Danish national married to a Greek and resident of Greece for the last 33 years, a woman who like many thousand others, loves Greece and has adopted it as her home.



Mrs Inreich-Papadopoulou believes that everyone should contribute so that Greece gets out of this difficult economic crisis. To that end, she is prepared to donate her pension and make personal sacrifices to help the country she lives in and loves, and whose army her two sons have served faithfully. Her husband Mihalis and her sons Demokritos and George are right behind her in this pledge.



'George Papandreou is fighting a very tough battle abroad and each and every one of us should stand next to him, contributing in every way we can to avoid financial disaster'



We agree, Mrs Inreich-Papdopoulou, and we thank you for your overwhelming generosity



We at Global Greek World  thank you for your wonderful gesture and hope that your example is a shining beacon and a guiding light for many of our compatriots.



Greece has always been fortunate in that respect, because there are many rich and famous Greeks who have been major benefactors of Greece over the years out of their love for their homeland.



Perhaps it is time for all of us, wherever in the world we are, to see what we too can do to help, each in our own small way, in our communities all over the world.



On the eve of the 25th March, the anniversary of Greece's uprising against the Turkish occupier in 1821, and after 400 years of slavery, perhaps it is once again time for another kind of Filiki Etaireia, led by Global Greeks from all over the world to band together once more and show their solidarity and support for the Greece that we all love and want to see survive.



Think about it!

Global Greek World: Today we are ONE! Happy Birthday to us!!! Χρονια Μας Πολλά!!!

St George Lykavettos - 1st day of Spring - Sunday 21st March 2010

Today is our first birthday and of course we are dedicating this post to our readers and wonderful friends around the world!!!

We have had a great first year at Global Greek World, and we would like to thank you all for taking the time to visit us and leave comments, either here, on Twitter,  or on our Global Greek World Facebook Page! 



Please feel free to follow us and stay informed of what goes on.



Over these last twelve months we have made a lot of wonderful new friends, we have had readers visit us from 117 countries - with the USA, Greece, Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia topping the list. According to our site statistics visitors have come from the following countries:

United States (US) Greece (GR) Canada (CA) United Kingdom (GB) Australia (AU) New Zealand (NZ) Germany (DE) France (FR) Mexico (MX) Netherlands (NL) Belgium (BE) Brazil (BR) Spain (ES) Italy (IT) Poland (PL) Romania (RO) Cyprus (CY) Switzerland (CH) India (IN) Turkey (TR) Sweden (SE) Japan (JP) Austria (AT) Philippines (PH) Argentina (AR) South Africa (ZA) Hungary (HU) Colombia (CO) Ireland (IE) Macedonia (MK) Denmark (DK) Indonesia (ID) Serbia (RS) Malaysia (MY) Portugal (PT) Bulgaria (BG) Finland (FI) Saudi Arabia (SA) United Arab Emirates (AE) Russian Federation (RU) Czech Republic (CZ) Croatia (HR) Peru (PE) Norway (NO) Pakistan (PK) Taiwan (TW) Thailand (TH) Ukraine (UA) Chile (CL) Slovakia (SK) Luxembourg (LU) Singapore (SG) Venezuela (VE) Latvia (LV) Costa Rica (CR) Jordan (JO) Korea, Republic of (KR) Hong Kong (HK) Malta (MT) Iran, Islamic Republic of(IR)  Nigeria (NG) Puerto Rico (PR) Togo (TG)   Oman (OM) Slovenia (SI) Ecuador (EC) Georgia (GE) Egypt (EG) Israel (IL) Lithuania (LT) Benin (BJ) Trinidad and Tobago (TT) Albania (AL) Kuwait (KW) China (CN) Algeria (DZ) Guatemala (GT) Bolivia (BO) Cote D'Ivoire (CI) Lebanon (LB)   Honduras (HN) Sri Lanka (LK)   Panama (PA) Senegal (SN) Netherlands Antilles (AN) Moldova, Republic of (MD) El Salvador (SV) Estonia (EE) Monaco (MC) Uruguay (UY) Anguilla (AI) Montenegro (ME) Qatar (QA) Ghana (GH) Aruba (AW) Nicaragua (NI) Faroe Islands (FO) Brunei Darussalam (BN) Vietnam (VN) Guadeloupe (GP) Tanzania, United Republic of (TZ) Macau (MO) Syrian Arab Republic (SY) Morocco (MA) Asia/Pacific Region (AP) Palestinian Territory (PS) Iraq (IQ) Cayman Islands (KY) Haiti (HT) Liechtenstein (LI) Guam (GU) Burkina Faso (BF) Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA) Myanmar (MM) Armenia (AM) Dominican Republic (DO) Mongolia (MN)

Above all, it has been a great year for Global Greeks! 



Our Global Greeks have made headlines in many parts of the world, Dr Nicholas Christakis was named one of TIME's most influential people, Louie Psyhoyos got an Oscar for The Cove, George Efstathiou was the architect behind the worlds's tallest building,The Burj Khalifa, Greg Pappas inaugurated the Gabby Awards, promoting Greek America's best and brightest and many many more...



It hasn't been such great a year for Greece and we have featured quite a few articles on the economic crisis for those who care about this country, who have worked hard to keep the flag flying in every corner of the world and who want to know more...



We believe Greece will pull through but not without hardship in the short term of course, and undeservedly for some. In the long run, we think the Prime Minister George Papandreou, a Global Greek himself, is on the right track, but we cannot keep blaming others for Greece's difficulties. 



It is Greece's political parties, along with the system of governance which has allowed the Public Service to be blown up to these enormous numbers in places where such numbers are not necessary yet falling desperately short of numbers exactly where they are needed -  in the police force and in the beleaguered health services and schools to name just a few... 





It is Greece's politicians and successive governments who have fed that monster called corruption, either directly or indirectly, and especially by not ensuring that the laws of the country are enforced equally for everyone, thus opening Greece up for sometimes unfair criticism from many so-called allies. We do not deserve to be branded lazy, corrupt or crooked because of a small and selfish minority. 



If those who were responsible for the corruption  scandals of Vatopedio, Siemens, the Omologa and many others in the last 20 years, scandals which have cast such a terrible light on Greece and it's Governments, can be identified, and we are sure they can, then they should be punished exemplarily, no matter who they are.  



No one should be above the law no matter how high up they may be and it takes someone with a lot of guts to ignore the political cost of cleaning up the public sector. 



We think the people of Greece have had enough and they will support the efforts of anyone who does this job, and we believe that George Papandreou and his Government can do it.



Unless the laws are enforced and justice is seen to be done at all levels then the people cannot be asked to make sacrifices in the hope of ensuring a better future for their children!  



Greece has so much going for it! We believe in Greece and the achievements of our Global Greeks wherever in the world they are, and will continue to highlight all the  positive things we see.





We thank you for visiting but we also want your feedback. Please don't hesitate to let us know whether you like what you read and what you would like to see more of in the future!





Efharistoume Poly!! Ευχαριστούμε Πολύ!!! Thanks a million!!!!