Keep Talking Greece

1.1Million Greeks Without Job: Unemployment Gallops Relentlessly, 22.5% in April 2012

July 12, 2012 7

With each passing month, unemployment in Greece breaks a new record: more than 1.1 million people are without job – and most probably without income whatsoever. Exactly 1,109,658 souls. One works, two sit at home. Unemployment broke a new record in April 2012 and reached 22.5 percent, according to Greek Statistics Authority. Among the …

“Money Back” – Get Purchase Discounts with Used Public Transport Tickets

July 12, 2012 Comments Off on “Money Back” – Get Purchase Discounts with Used Public Transport Tickets

Used public transport tickets would bring benefits to their holders. According to the “Money back” used tickets can being transformed into an “unofficial” or “alternative currency” and be redeemed with discounts from stores that participate in the innovative scheme. Greek and foreign passengers in Athens, but also airplane-, ferryboats- and train-ticket holders …

Greek Deputy Minister: “I Came to Your TV-Show Because I Have Nothing to Do at the Ministry”

July 11, 2012 10

Greek Deputy Health Minister Fotini Skopouli is claiming the “Oscar for Sincerity”. She appeared in the morning magazine of state broadcaster NET TV on Tuesday. What the professor for Pathology-Immunology at the Harokopio University said stunned the journalists and the viewers alike – and more than those, Samaras’ government as well. “I came to …

Non-Stop Austerity Measures: Greek Gov’t Takes Advantage of Voters “Gold Fish Memory”

July 11, 2012 23

The majority of Greeks felt an icy-cold electro-current coming down their spinal cord, when they heard new Greek Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras speaking of the necessity that the state collects 3.5 billion euro in revenues and thus as soon as possible. Greeks – and many other voters’ masses around the world – tend to …

Emergency Property Tax Bills for 2012 to Start Arriving in August

July 11, 2012 18

IT is really amazing how quickly the government forgot its elections promises. Didn’t we hear that the emergency property tax would be cancelled and all the different taxes imposed on properties would be replaced by a flat tax? If you still remember of this sentence by Antonis Samaras, you’d better delete …

Finally! Athens Municipality Installs Drinkers for the Strays in Greek Capital

July 11, 2012 5

Asphalt melts. Concrete boils. Sun is violently burning our heads. Greece in general and Athens in particular are in the grip of an unbearable heat wave with temperatures 38-40/41 degrees Celsius in the shadow. Humans turn the air-conditioner or the fan on. But animals cannot. They walk around in their …

While Greek Telephone Company Gives People’s Data to Marketing Companies, in Germany They Hefty Debate About It

July 10, 2012 17

I got a phone call this morning. A friendly woman’s voice was informing me that I had won a vacation package by a tour operation “XY-whatever”. When I asked her where did she get my phone number and how comes that I win a vacation package, she told me “it …

Greek FinMin: Greece Has to Come Up with €3.5 Billion Revenues”Now!”

July 10, 2012 7

Greece’s newly appointed Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras is in need of money. A lot of money. Precisely 3.5 billion euro. In state revenues. He needs this amount as soon as possible due to delays in the implementation of the bailout programme. Only with this money the imposed programme will come back …

Greek Media: Russian Warships Entered the Aegean Sea on Syria Mission

July 10, 2012 1

Citing Greek military sources, Greek media reported on Tuesday, that four Russian warships are sailing through the Aegean Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean. Two amphibious ships from the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the CAESAR KUNIKOV and the NIKOLAI FILCHENKOV, and two tug-boats SHAKHTAR and OKHTENSKY passed through the Turkish Straits this morning …

Trying to get a Doctor Appointment via <184> and it doesn’t work?

July 10, 2012 Comments Off on Trying to get a Doctor Appointment via <184> and it doesn’t work?

The telephone number <184> to get appointments with doctors at EOPPY -IKA and other insurance funds – is out of work today, July 10th 2012. Due to a technical problem, there will be no service from 7 am to 7 pm. EOPPY is trying to solve the issue, the Greek insurance fund …

Eurogroup Official Announcement after July 9/2012 Meeting

July 10, 2012 Comments Off on Eurogroup Official Announcement after July 9/2012 Meeting

Just in case someone is interested in the Eurogroup plans for the near future. Below is the official announcement after the meeting of July 9th 2012. Eurogroup Statement on the follow-up of the 29 June Euro Summit In line with the Euro Summit statement of 26 October 2011, the Eurogroup …

HRW: Greek Police Ignore Rising Attacks On Migrants

July 10, 2012 2

The Greek authorities are failing to tackle a rising wave of xenophobic violence that has left migrants afraid to walk the streets. In the 99-page report, “Hate on the Streets: Xenophobic Violence in Greece,” the Human Rights Watch documents the failure of the police and the judiciary to prevent and punish …