Table of Contents Title page Copyright The Soundtrack Dedication by Michalis Tezaris Dedication by Yiannis Kemmos Introduction by Michalis Tezaris Introduction by Yiannis Kemmos 2010 2011 2012 2013 Annex Authors & Photojournalists Music Composer
Greece in Crisis by 100+ Photos, 2010-2013 MICHALIS TEZARIS & YIANNIS KEMMOS English Edition London, 2013-2014
COPYRIGHT Greece in Crisis by 100+ Photos, 2010-2013 (English Edition) Š MICHALIS TEZARIS & YIANNIS KEMMOS 2013, 2014 Translation: Vessela Ivvy Editor: Kayleigh Hames Cover Image: Š Michalis Tezaris Music composer: David J. Franco (Soundtrack and audiobook edition) Published by STERGIOU LIMITED Suite A, 6 Honduras Street, London EC1Y 0TH, United Kingdom Web: stergioultd.com, Email: info@stergioultd.com Copyright and monitoring The intellectual property rights of this book are owned by Stergiou Limited. The contents of this book are protected by international copyright laws and other intellectual property rights. All products, services and company names and logos mentioned in our eBook are the trademarks, service marks or trading names of their respective owners, including us. You may download this eBook from our website for the sole purpose of placing an order with us or in relation to the provision of the Services to you. However, you may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, sell or distribute by any means or in any manner, any material or information on or downloaded from our website including but not limited to text, graphics, video, messages, code and/or software without our prior written consent, except where expressly invited to do so, for example, in order to complete any test or questionnaire.
The Soundtrack The composer David J. Franco was inspired by the Greek crisis and wrote three musical themes for the album. Visit http://stergioushop.com for more details.
This work is dedicated to my parents Angelica and Theophilus who taught me how to fight and offer. Michalis Tezaris
Dedicated to people who support me and I love. Yiannis Kemmos
Introduction IT WAS the 2nd of May 2010 when the European Commissioner Olli Rehn wished "good luck" to the Greeks. Many were those who smiled at hearing the wish pronounced in the Greek. Few were those who were puzzled. Besides, just before that there had been a speech by the Prime Minister at the time, George Papandreou from Kastelorizo, who wanting to reassure the ‘frozen’ society about the introduction of the country to the support mechanism, emphasised on April the 23rd 2010, stated that, "We are on a difficult path, a new Odyssey for the Greeks, but now we know the road to Ithaca and have even mapped the waters. We have before us a journey full of requirements of all of us," concluding that "our ultimate destination is to liberate Greece from supervision and tutelage." During those days, the ship called Greece was sailing into choppy waters and not only didn't know the port of its destination, but had to face treacherous storms and major difficulties... From April 2010 to January 2012, the number of unemployed rose by 487,689 people. In April 2013 the number of unemployed reached 1,381,088 people, while more than 200,000 were considered longterm unemployed, who are not entitled to unemployment benefits... And the unemployment would continue to grow... Employees and retirees in the private and public sectors saw their earnings drop by 40% to 50%. Greece changed radically within 3 years and the word ‘memorandum’ was haunting the citizens as it was hanging over their heads like a guillotine. And it was indeed… In the first three years of economic crisis, suicides increased by 43% compared with 2007. According to the Greek Statistical Office, in 2007 there were 328 suicides in Greece (268 men and 60 women), in 2008 there were an additional 373 suicides (268 men and 65 women) and in 2009 there were 391 recorded suicides (333 men and 58 women), in 2010 there were 377 suicides (336 men and 41 women) and in 2011 the specialists recorded 477 suicides (393 men and 84 women). The Greeks accepted that the heavy financial austerity measures, that included even closing hospitals and schools, had to face the scorn of Europeans. The citizens of Europe considered the Greeks thieves and Greece a country of lazy people who ate the money of EU subsidies. This is an image that was convenient for the political elite of Greece as well, so that it was always ready to pull the trigger of new measures. From the financial reports, I read a sad account for three years. I mention.
• €40 billion in cuts. • €70 billion in taxes and cuts. • A ‘Knife’ to 40-60 % in main and supplementary pensions. • 26% reduction in average income. • 1 million (approximately) unemployed almost exclusively by the private sector (including selfemployed and farmers). • 70 billion non-performing loans. • 200.000 borrowers at risk of losing their homes. • Reduction in consumption in some sectors exceeded 50% and was getting close to 100%! • Hundreds of thousands small and large businesses have been closed. • Hundreds of thousands of abandoned commercial spaces. • Desolate former trade routes, passing by which today can only cause melancholy. The Greeks accepted that the heavy financial austerity measures, that included even closing hospitals and schools, had to face the scorn of Europeans. The citizens of Europe considered the Greeks thieves and Greece as a country of lazy people who ate the money of EU subsidies. This is an image that was convenient for the political elite of Greece as well, so that it was always ready to pull the trigger of new measures. The list is long and the numbers may not add up precisely the drama that is prevalent in every household, and surrounds every person individually. However, in the wave of anger, Europeans forgot to ask for the money they were asked to pay to support Greece. "Hey! Wait a minute! Who were the ones that signed to get the money for the Greeks? Where were the control mechanisms of the EU and why are the ones who signed up to receive the money not paying?" These questions are not officially being asked by anyone. Perhaps the answers to them would have mattered if they came from the leaders.
The Greek government started to lose any foothold in society due to the hard ‘Memorandum Policy’ which was viewed as a violent companion. The Greek police were called to control violent chemical attacks, beatings and bloody, violent reactions from indignant citizens - and non-citizens. At the same time, highly paid journalists, analysts and all kinds of defenders of the memorandum were finding a polished tele-window to praise austerity policies as being for the good of the country and a salvation. You see that their wages have not fallen ever, or at least not as much as ordinary citizens. Maybe, there was no other solution. Perhaps there was though... However, for ordinary citizens, life became harder every day, with new taxes, new hikes, cuts and reductions. The Greeks accepted that the heavy financial austerity measures, that included even closing hospitals and schools, had to face the scorn of Europeans. The citizens of Europe considered the Greeks thieves and Greece as a country of lazy people who ate the money of EU subsidies. This is an image that was convenient for the political elite of Greece as well, so that it was always ready to pull the trigger of new measures. The list is long and the numbers may not add up precisely the drama that was present in every household, and felt by every person individually. This book presents only a small display, recording only a momentary crisis through 100 photographs of important events and some additional characteristic of 2010-2013, which can be found in the Annex. They say a picture is worth 1000 words. The authors hope that this book not only remains an archival album, but becomes a historical memory and a lesson for more responsible policies that will ensure a better future for the generations to come - our children and our grandchildren. Sincerely, Michalis Tezaris September 9, 2013
Introduction IT WAS April the 23rd 2010 when Prime Minister George Papandreou announced from Kastelorizo that he was putting Greece under the support mechanisms of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. Within a minute, Greece transitioned from euphoria and consumerism into one of the most difficult periods of modern history. The financial crisis showed the frazile feet of clay on which we had supported our economy and our social principles and values. Along with the non-performing loans –so-called ‘red loans’- the austerity measures without end, it became immediately apparent that society had gradually lost its patience. Protests and demonstrations began peacefully but evolved day by day into almost daily violence and clashes with the police. However, this soon made Athens resemble a war zone. The riot is now a permanent image on the streets of Athens and previously unknown concepts for many, such as tear gas, gas masks, Molotov cocktails and stun grenades, entered the reality of thousands of citizens. This reality was accompanied by homelessness, suicides and deaths due economic deprivation. It was not only that. The crisis showed deep wounds and fears to the cohesion of a society that was divided and polarised, resulting in the rapid growth of racism and culminating in the entrance of right wing party into parliament. The current picture of Greece is a far cry from the ‘beautiful’ years of the 80s and 90s. Homeless people on the streets are in their thousands. There are more than one million unemployed and at least as many live below the poverty line. The crisis has surpassed the economic level and it is clear now that it was inserted deeply not only in the political system, but also in the structure and cohesion of the society. The future certainly is unknown, however, if Greece wants to succeed, it has a difficult and dangerous mountain to climb.
Sincerely, John Kemmos December the 2nd, 2013
2010
The election promise of the Prime Minister at the time, George Papandreou turns into an anecdote in the mouth of the people.
21st of September, 2010. Protesters placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier one Greek flag - a reminder of the pride, and a black - for the harbinger of the country in the coming years.
3rd of March, 2010. The first announcement for action was on March the 3rd, 2010. A mobilisation cycle began immediately. In a demonstration on March the 5th, 2010 in Athens, the GSEE chairman Yiannis Panagopoulos was hit by protesters.
May 2010. Police officers remove protesters shortly before entering the Parliament. Since then, several groups have attempted to do the same.
Athens is flooded by protests and marches. Syntagma Square becomes a point of reference of each demonstrator.
Once Greece is put under the support mechanism in 2010, the first slogans against IMF written on the walls and the first street clashes between police and protesters start.
A young person is staring to an uncertain future, looking at the Greek Parliament. On the 23rd of April 2010, the Prime Minister at the time, George Papandreou, announced from Kastelorizo that a memorandum will take place. Greece enters the vortex of the global economy and the Greeks - an adventure without precedent.
May the 5th, 2010. The date marked as one of the greatest tragedies in the country. Three people, including a pregnant woman, were trapped in the Marfin bank after a bomb attack with Molotov cocktails during the protests and events in the centre of Athens.
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