Local Life SOLIDARITY
Give and get…let’s change the way we live! Exploring Solidarity in Thessaloniki
by Filippo Massariol
Have you ever wondered how you can be helpful to someone else? Where is the thin line that divides normal from abnormal? Oxfam says the wealth of the richest 1 % is equal to the other 99%. The capitalistic system has created an enor-
mous gap, never seen before, between the wealthiest and poorest members of this society. What we’ve thought to accept as normality for years, it’s now finally revealing itself as a big lie. One century of innovation and unstoppable consumerism has in part destroyed our planet and negatively impacted on our lives. But in this madness, many people think against the tide. People with small changes, fight hard every day to get this world a better place. Today we met Verena and Dimitris, two members of Oikopolis, which is a social space part of the Ecological Movement Thessaloniki.
So what are the main activities you carry on?
Twice a week, we have the distribution of prima-
ry needs to people in need. On Saturday, we collect food from a market and cook for up to 300 homeless people. We provide furniture to support folks that are looking for a house or need health assistance but don’t have enough money
What is the aim of Oikopolis?
In a society that makes us strive to receive and
not to give, we love to share our idea with people to give and get. There is a difference between charity and solidarity, and the aim here is not only to help out but also to get the people involved. For example, the refugees: we’ve tried all these years to make them part of our activities, making them cook for the local people and distribute the food. We’ve created an interaction, so also Greeks can understand how refugees want to be part of our society and not just to take, as the politicians or the media try to convince us for their propaganda. Everyone gives what they can give, and everyone gets what they can get.
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Food distribution
© Oikopolis
