Showing posts with label crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crisis. Show all posts

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Choose Greece


With all the turmoil around Greece defaulting on its debt and the government's decision to allow the people of Greece to decide the fate of their country, the world awaits to see what will happen.  Best case and worst case scenarios bounce around TV screens and Internet sites.  World leaders advise on hypothetical situations and plans B, C, D and so on are drawn up behind closed doors, in mystical locations by unknown persons.  The banks have been saved, if that is what is worrying the rest of the world.

The people, on the other hand, are suffering.  If you were to ask the Greeks about the referendum, you would probably be surprised at the answers you would be given.  In a country gone wrong, those who remain here will be voting, basically, if they want euros or drachmas.  Few realise what this means.  Few understand the consequences of either options.  However, there are people who can help.  A clear message to all is if you want to help, visit Greece.  Holiday here, spend money here, choose Greece.  Pick a family run hotel- there are thousands - and just go there for a week or two.  Make a gesture to help family's economies.  We are patient and we keep being patient.  For years now, we have seen homes broken, families degraded, businesses shut down.  We may not understand trade agreements, the IMF, state bonds but we do understand austerity measures.  Our parents have forgotten life before the Euro, and our children are being prepared and nurtured to leave their homes and their country as soon as they can.  We are still smiling, though, because hope is the one thing that we cannot let go of.  It is the one thing that remains intact. 

If you really want to help Greece, then choose Greece. 

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

A Giant Rat

There are some wonderful Greek entrepeneurs, scientists, teachers and normal every day folk around the world, getting on with their lives, living their dreams, existing and surviving.  Living in Greece has become a very difficult fact of life, and a true struggle is now developing as to whether we should allow our future and the future of our children to be determined by events and decisions beyond our control.  In view of the new austerity measures and the poor quality of life, people are now desperately searching for new avenues to explore.  With the financial crisis looming over our dreams and determining our destiny, it is, to say the least, most worrying to have disturbing messages conveyed from other countries within the Eurozone. 

The German Newspaper, The Bild,  is so concerned about the Greek crisis that during May and June, months when people are still mulling over their holiday destinations, it warned all German's that if they travel to Greece they will be welcomed by angry mobs, empty banks and racism.  I am certain that no German faced these problems while holidaying here.  On the other hand, I am quite certain that if the entire staff of the Bild newspaper were to choose Greece as their destination for this year's holiday, it would be a good idea to keep their occupation a secret.

The British Prime minister seems to be agonizing over the crisis so much, and is so determined to help resolve the problems that his empathy towards Greece has been ringing in the Greek nation's ears all day.  His solution to the problem is to close all doors to Greeks if their country should leave the Eurozone.  A reality too  harsh to believe, because obviously the first thing that the Greek citizens will do is pack their bags, close up house, emigrate to another country and start from scratch.  Of course their first port of call would be the UK, as it is so close to home.  Mr Cameron does not seem to mind the already established Greek High Society of London,  who have invested their secret fortunes on England's green and pleasant lands, though.  I wonder why ?

This great interest in the Greek crisis and the willingness of all these people in all these great nations to "help", is actually leading many people to ask questions as to why all this is happening.  The fact is that there is actually very little hostility towards any other nation in Greece.  Any bad feelings are towards the government, its ministers and the more obvious than ever corrupt political system.  Furthermore, if anyone were to ask if Greeks would be willing to leave their country, their homes, their families, their businesses I think that, for the most, people would be very reluctant. Difficult times lead to complex circumstances and, sadly, emigration may be mandatory in some cases - but Mr Cameron, I really don't think that the whole of Greece is going to come knocking, and if they do, you will be getting the best of the best.

All in all, yes there is a crisis.  The middle and lower classes are facing taxes on top of taxes, wage reductions, a poor health and education system.   The weakest link in the Greek System is its politicians and the "turn-a-blind-eye" attitude they have adopted over the years.  Its strengths, though, are immense and if I were looking at the situation here from an outsider's point of view,  the propaganda, panic mongering and economic warfare that continues to burden our society  would lead me to believe that something is not quite as it should be.  I smell a giant rat, but unfortunately I am too small a cat ...