Protests in Greece , Greece Solidarity Demonstration – Saturday 18th Feb.

Greece Solidarity Demonstration – Saturday 18th Feb.

Protests in Greece

There will be a second demonstration, called by Greek workers in Edinburgh, on Saturday 18th February, 12-3pm, City Chambers, High Street.

The demonstration is in solidarity with workers in Greece fighting the austerity measures imposed by their government at the request of the IMF and European Bank. The statement on the facebook event reads:

On the 12th of February the non-elected Greek Government adopted a new austerity plan, approved by the Greek parliament, which forces people into misery in order to save the European Banks. The 22% cut on the minimum wage (480 euros – 435 for young people), reduction on pensions, the abolishment of the collective bargaining, the privatization of the public sector (including health care and education) are only indicative measures for the future of the Greek people.

The “rescue” plan for Greece includes 130 billion euros, provided by European tax payers, which are not planned to serve the people but will only be given to the European Banks.

On Sunday the 12th of February the hundreds of thousands of Greek people took the streets fighting against the measures imposed be the EU, the European Central Bank, the IMF which would lead to the enslavement to the bankers. On the streets they gave a battle against the violent repression of the police forces having also as an opponent the “silence” of the media on demonstrations.

Greece is only the start before the generalization of the measures all over Europe. The people of Greece need the international solidarity and they call for our support.

Let’s stay united and fight back AGAINST the austerity measures, AGAINST repression, AGAINST the dictatorship of bankers.

WE ARE ALL GREEKS!

WHEN THEY SAY CUT BACK, WE SAY FIGHT BACK!

On Saturday 18th of February there will be demonstrations everywhere in solidarity with the mobilization of people of Greece.

We make this call at 12.00 outside the City Chambers at Royal Mile. See you ALL there!

 

The people of Greece face an unprecedented economic and political crisis. They are being driven to poverty and mass unemployment by the demands of the so-called Troika – the European Union, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund which has imposed Lucas Papademos, formerly of Vice-President of the ECB, as Prime Minister.

Hospitals in Greece are running out of basic medicines, nearly half of all young people are unemployed, workers in some sectors have not been paid for months, and many are forced to resort to soup kitchens or scavenge from rubbish dumps.Now the Troika demands a cut of 23% to the minimum wage, the sacking of tens of thousands of public sector workers and the decimation of pensions which have already lost nearly 50% of their value. International capital is asset stripping an entire country and ripping apart its social fabric.Greece is at the cutting edge of the austerity measures that are being introduced across Europe. All the evidence shows that while these measures may protect the interests of the rich, they just make matters worse for the majority of the population. What happens in Greece today cliwill see in Portugal tomorrow and in Ireland the day after. In Britain, the Coalition government is pursuing similar measures which will see workers earnings cut, working longer for a smaller pension, and the dismantling of the NHS along with other public services.Mikis Theodorakis, famous Greek composer of Zorba’s Dance, and Manolis Glezos, veteran resistance fighter against the Nazi occupation, have issued a statement calling for a European Front to defend the people of Greece and all those facing austerity.The Coalition of Resistance and the People’s Charter have decided to support this call and agreed to work with trades unions, campaigns and parties across Europe to establish a European Solidarity Campaign to defend the people of Greece. The campaign aims to organise solidarity and raise practical support for the people of Greece; they cannot be made to pay for a crisis for which they are not responsible.

Everybody should fight for their rights!