Keep Talking Greece

Athens: Deaf-mute woman threatening to commit suicide rescued

December 18, 2012 Comments Off on Athens: Deaf-mute woman threatening to commit suicide rescued

That was a very loud cry for help by somebody who literally cannot speak. A woman climbed a metal sculpture installation at Omonia square in downtown Athens on Tuesday morning and was threatening to jump. When the fire brigades and the police arrived to the spot, the deaf mute woman started to drop …

Breath for Borrowers: Home auction-stop extended until end of 2013

December 18, 2012 Comments Off on Breath for Borrowers: Home auction-stop extended until end of 2013

A breath for thousands of borrowers as Greek government decided to extend the auctions ban for one more year. With a legislative act the Ministry of Development suspends auctions for the so-called “first housing” until December 31, 2013. The legislative act prohibits banks from conducting auctions for unpaid mortgage loans if the home …

EGAM: Greek PM to exclude Golden Dawn MPs from Council of Europe

December 17, 2012 4

European Grassroots Antiracist Movement (EGAM) said in a press release that Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced he favored the exclusion of extreme right-wing Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) from the European Council Discrimination Committee. Last October the participation of Eleni Zaroulia, Member of the Greek Parliament and wife of party chairman …

Greek tycoon Lavrentiadis in Kolydallos prison over Proton Bank embezzlement

December 17, 2012 9

After three days wandering from hospital to hospital, entrepreneur Lavrentis Lavrentiadis entered a cell in Korydallos prison in Athens on Monday. Supported by three policemen, Lavrentiadis entered Korydallos main entrance limping. He has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis since several decades. Although arrested on Thursday, Lavrentiadis claimed health problems and spent the last …

Athens Metro, Tram, Urban Train, Trains & Proastiakos: Work-Stoppage & Strike (Dec19/20/2012)

December 17, 2012 2

Workers at Athens Metro, Tram and urban train ISAP (HSAP) will launch a work stoppage on December 19th and a 24-hour strike on December 20th 2012. The work stoppage will take place from 5-9 a.m. on Wednesday, the day private sector union ADEDY has called for a strike. The workers …

Greece’s 10.5-km long fence against illegal immigration is ready

December 17, 2012 7

Greece has completed the barbed-wire fence at its North-East borders to Turkey. With 10,365 meter length and 4 meter height the fence extends all along the land borders, from Kastanies posting until the Evros river. According to Greek officials, the fence cannot be climbed without mechanical means. Of course, illegal immigrants …

EU Task Force Reforms-Report costs Greek taxpayers €3 Million per year

December 17, 2012 3

The European Union Task Force under the leadership of Horst Reichenbach issued its 2012 report for Greece. In the 40-page report, tax collection deficiencies top the list of key issues that need to be met in order to reduce the government debt. Praising Greece for already making some progress, the Reichenbach-staff …

Greece’s tax-free Paradise: the Parliament with 300 MPs enjoying tax “immunity”

December 17, 2012 1

While the 300 esteemed Members of our Greek Parliament and government ministers approve laws taxing even the first euro a person living below poverty receives, they bless their own pockets as the 70% of their salaries and compensations are tax-free. Only 30% of their income coming from the Parliament is …

Xanthi: tension between poor & needy for a free food package by Greek Red Cross

December 17, 2012 3

This is something we normally know from war situations when refugees fight for a loaf of bread or a sack of flour. But these scenes occurred in European Union of salvation year 2012, and thus in Euro-Zone member state, Greece. A situation of an unbelievable impenetrability occurred Monday morning at the …

Greek FinMin Stournaras: Ireland & Portugal envy level of health services in Greece (lol)

December 17, 2012 7

No, it’s not a joke. However I thought to start the day with this story, because reading it makes you wanna live nowhere else but in Greece 🙂 Speaking at a health care conference in Athens, Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras told the audience that Ireland and Portugal seek the ways how …

Troubles ahead as pharmacists, EOPYY and state hospital doctors go on strike (Dec17-19/2012)

December 16, 2012 Comments Off on Troubles ahead as pharmacists, EOPYY and state hospital doctors go on strike (Dec17-19/2012)

Pharmacists will launch a 48-hour strike December 17-18th 2012 to protest the non-payment of outstanding debts by the Greek health ministry. At the same time, they continue to refuse handing out prescription medicine on credit. Millions of insured Greeks see themselves obliged to pay from their own pockets for prescription medicine …

Golden Dawn members attack and beat SYRIZA MP

December 16, 2012 8

Members of extreme right-wing Golden Dawn attacked and beat Dimitris Stratoulis, MP of left-wing SYRIZA outside OAKA football stadium Sunday evening in Athens. According to Stratoulis, he was approached by three men who told him they were members of Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn). “They told me they were memebrs of …