Demonstration against the grenade attack on the Immigrant Hangout in Athens

Demonstration against the grenade attack on the Immigrant Hangout in Athens, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Yesterday evening there were protest marches in both Thessaloniki and Athens in order to demonstrate against an attack on the Immigrant Hangout (Steki Metanaston) in the Exarchia district of the Greek capital. Last week a fragmentation grenade was thrown at the building while a meeting of Greek conscientious objectors was taking place. Thankfully, the device exploded outside the hall where the meeting was being held and no casualties were reported.

For more details on the Exrchia incident from Now Public click here.

Iceland protests turn violent

Dancing, originally uploaded by vhallgrimsson.

Protests and confrontation in Iceland's capital Reykjavik escalated today when riots police and demonstrators clashed in the early hours of the morning. As a result two police officers were seriously injured and the police used tear gas for the first time in nearly 60 years to break up the demonstration.

Thousands of Icelanders have been gathering outside the parliament of the tiny Scandinavian nation to protest the present coalition government's handling of the recent financial crisis which has stalled the country's economy and left the island with debt ten times its annual GNP.

Prime minister, Geir H. Haarde also bore the brunt of protestor's wrath when his car was surrounded by demonstrators who shouted anti - government slogans and banged pots and pans, requiring the intervention of the police before he could leave. Such protests are unprecedented in modern Icelandic history.

Iceland protests turn violent

Protests and confrontation in Iceland's capital Reykjavik escalated today when riots police and demonstrators clashed in the early hours of the morning. As a result two police officers were seriously injured and the police used tear gas for the first time in nearly 60 years to break up the demonstration.Thousands of Icelanders have been gathering outside the parliament of the tiny Scandinavian nation to protest the present coalition government's handling of the recent financial crisis which has stalled the country's economy and left the island with debt ten times its annual GNP.

Prime minister, Geir H. Haarde also bore the brunt of protestor's wrath when his car was surrounded by demonstrators who shouted anti - government slogans and banged pots and pans, requiring the intervention of the police before he could leave. Such protests are unprecedented in modern Icelandic history.

"Solidarity with K. Kouneva - Silence is complicity "

"Solidarity with K. Kouneva - Silence is complicity ", originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Konstandina Kouneva, a labour activist in Athens was the victim of an acid attack last week. Although no longer in danger, Konstandina has lost sight in one eye and will be permanently scarred.

The attack has prompted the occupation of public service offices which had cleaning contracts with the agency she worked for and had accused of illegal employment practices.

Symbolic protest over the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos

Symbolic protest over the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Tonight about two thousand people marched through Thessaloniki to remind people of the death of 15 year old Alexandros Grigoropoulos who was shot by police ten days ago.

"If your whole life is one little car, set fire to it yourself"

"If your whole life is one little car, set fire to it yourself", originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Photos from today's demos in Thessaloniki over the death of Greek teen, Alexandros Grigoropulos, last Saturday at the hands of the police.

Tonight's news from Greece

Although the situation in Greece is gradually fading from the international news scene, the protests have not died down. In some ways there are mutating, spreading, taking different form. In Athens there are a 100 schools under occupation according to the Greek ministry of education.

There were also protests outside 15 police stations in the capital, some were peaceful while others ended up with school students going up against the police.

Here in Thessaloniki about a couple of thousand people marched from the centre to the suburbs without incident and despite provocation from the MAT (Greek riot police). I saw local residents cheer them on from their balconies.

Anarchists protest prison conditions and the detention of comrades - Thessaloniki

Anarchists protest the detention of comrades - Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Amidst the glitter and glam of the opening ceremony of the 49th Thessaloniki Film festival about 500 anarchists marched in protest against the detention of comrades along Tsimiski St this evening.

They were also showing their solidarity with the thousands in Greek jails currently on hunger strike over inhumane conditions which have been repeatedly condemned by European and Greek human rights organisations.

teacherdudebbq.blogspot.com/2008/11/prisoners-in-greek-ja...

Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture.

www.cpt.coe.int/documents/grc/2008-03-inf-eng.htm

http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=924672

Greece hit by massive strikes

Greece was hit today by a a wave of stoppages which effectively paralysed the country.  Journalists, teachers, air traffic controllers and many other unions staged the action in order to protest against the economic policies of the current conservative New Democracy government and to express their dissatisfaction  with the Prime Minster, Kostas Karamanlis's recent record on issues such as pension reforms.

The move by the Greek government to inject 28 billion Euros into the country's banking sector has also fuelled an angry response by  people facing failing public services and ever growing unemployment. In addition the latest economic scandal involving a Greek Orthodox monastery in allegedly illegal land deals with the New Democracy administration has merely added to the Prime Minister's woes.

According to the main opposition party PASOK, the Vatopedi monastery land swap scandal is the 45th such case in the current government's 54 month in power.

NowPublic

Tags: Greece | protests | World | STRIKES | New Democracy | Kostas Karamanlis | vetpoedi

Strikes and demonstrations

, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"With 70,000 tons of rubbish laying uncollected in the greater metropolitan Athens area the Greek government has sent in riot police to ensure than the garbage trucks can enter the capital's Ano Losion land fill. The move underlines the government's hardening stance over the stoppages caused by controversial pension reform plans. The country has been convulsed by strike action by unions determined to oppose the government's plans to merge the nation's 133 pension funds with the state run IKA fund.

The POE - OTA union has announced that it will continue strike action for the next two days and take part in the general strike scheduled for Wednesday."

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/greek-government-
sends-riot-police-break-strike

Aleka Papariga

Aleka Papariga, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Leader of KKE (Communist Party of Greece).

www.nowpublic.com/world/strikes-shut-down-much-greece

Strikes shut down much of Greece

Just as the Greek power company (DEH) and striking unions negotiated a compromise limiting the length of black outs hitting the country, other striking workers brought the country to a halt with a three -hour stoppage that saw banks, public transport and public other services shut down today.

Tomorrow sees the start of a 48 - hour stoppage by lawyers, doctors, chemists and court officials. Bank workers are also set to strike on Thursday and Friday. The current wave of stoppages and demonstrations are set to culminate in a nation wide protest on the 19th March, one day ahead of the parliamentary vote on the conservative government's controversial pension reform plans.

NowPublic

Tags: Greece | Thessaloniki | Black Out | ασφαλιστικο | protests | STRIKES | World

A few useful holiday tips

For those wishing to live their myth in Greece there is no better way of getting to know the culture better than to take part in local customs and traditions. This allows you an insight into the country that those left swigging lager or Red Bull back at the hotel pool will envy you for.

Luckily, for those who have missed Easter or Mardi Gras there is always a demo nearby for you to take part in. So why not take the plunge and get a little local colour to go with that gorgeous tan of yours.

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of the experience;

1 - Always carry your passport. If you get stopped by the police it's a good to have it on you. Of course, having one from a nuclear armed nation is best of all as it ensures a suitable level of politeness from all those involved.

No wonder Iranians support their nuclear program so fervently, if for no other reason than to get a little more respect from foreign police forces and waiters.

2 Remember not everyone likes having their picture taken. Police, anarchists and right-wing knuckle draggers are particularly camera shy. They'll quite happily kick the crap out of you in lieu of each other if they mistake you for a reporter.

3 Dress the part. Lots of black and red for those with a problem accepting authority whereas the riot police prefer a more conservative olive green look which is much easier to wash all those stubborn bloodstains out of.

4 Accessorize appropriately. Bags, rucksack and haversacks are definitely this year's demo fashion no no's as they tend to attract the undue attentions of the police. Use a shopping trolley instead.

5 Learn a few phrases of the language. This not only shows politeness to your hosts but can also help avoid needless delays and misunderstandings. Here are some that may come in handy;

Δεν ατνιστεκομαι/ den antiSTEKomai

I'm not resisting

Μη με δειρνεις, ειμαι μπλογγερ, οχι δημοσιογραφος./ Me may DERneis, EImai blogger, ohi demosioGRAFos.

Don't beat me. I'm a blogger not a journalist.

Δεν ειμαι Αμερικανος/Εγγλεζος, ειμαι απο την Ισλανδια.

Dthen EIMai ameriKANOnos/ englLAZos EIMai Apo ten IslandTHIa.

I'm not American/English, I'm from Iceland.

Απο που ειναι το πιο κοντινο νοσοκομειο?

Apo Pou EINai to poi kontiNO nosokoMEIo?

Which way is the nearest hospital?

Follow these simple pieces of advice and you too will have a story to impress friends and neighbours back at home as sit admiring your holiday slides.

Port worker's demonstration

Port worker protesting, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Port workers in Greece are protesting government plans to privatise the industry.

Demonstration

Demonstration, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

I'm ashamed of this picture as it was the only one I took during a demonstration outside the central court in Thessaloniki. I was in there filing suit against the riot police who'd beat me in September. Just as I finished with all the bureaucratic stuff I heard the familiar chants of a demonstration.I rushed out to see people protesting , and as usual pulled out my camera and walked into the crowd.

This time it was different. Those there immediately warned me not to take their picture and gave look that would make a corpse freeze. I moved on and then saw that on the other side was the riot police and the local media hiding behind them. I wanted to capture the scene but I couldn't without ensuring the wrath of those on both sides who hate the media.

I failed and I hid.

17th November 2007 demonstration

Every year people in Greece remember the 1973 student demonstrations in Athens Polytechnic, which lead to the downfall of the junta which had ruled the country since 1967. For more details click here.