Athens residents clash with riot police over park

Picture from indymedia Athens

The move to bulldoze one of the last remaining parks in the Kypseli district of central Athens sparked off clashes between local residents and Greek riot police. Yesterday's decision by Athens mayor, Nikitis Kaklamanis to order the cutting down of 45 trees to start work on the construction of a car park led to day long confrontations and the use of flash grenades and tear gas by the authorities (see here for video from the tvxs.gr independent news agency).

The sudden start of construction was, according to Greek media sources designed to forstall any possible injunction by Athens courts over the controversial project. Despite having less green spaces than any other European capital the city of Athens sent in contractors to start clearing the area despite questions over the legality of the work . As a result the forestry commision of the Attiki district, which includes the Greek capital yesterday sued the city of Athens over the destruction of the park.

Athens mayor, Nikitis Kaklamnais, speaking to Skai TV station claimed that only three trees had been cut down and that the other 40 were being transplanted. However, eye witness accounts and pictures taking by local residents seems to cast doubt on the mayor's claims.

Yesterday evening protesters planted 45 sapling to replace the pine trees cut down during the day. Work resumed early this morning however, stopped after two hours amidst protests Unconfirmed reports talk of the presence of members of Greece's ultra-right Chrysi Aygi party taking part in clashes with protesters early this morning. Three residents including local council member, Kostas Lagos have pressed charges after being assaulted.

Local residents have vowed to guard the site and prevent building work from continuing.

NowPublic

Tags: Greece | Park | World | athens | riot police | patision and kyprou | kypseli | nikitis kakalamanis

Protests in Bristol over Gaza

Protests in Bristol over Gaza, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Saturday see protesters across the globe demonstrate against the Israeli invasion of Gaza. I happened to be in the Bristol when I came across a "die-in" outside various shops in the Broadmead shopping centre.

The idea of those involved was to bring to wider public attention to the fact that some stores have strong economic ties with Israel and are, according to anti - war organisations helping the war effort.

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.

Tonight's protest march - Thessaloniki, Greece

Days of rage, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Speaking to CNN

Well, that was nerve wracking. I just got interviewed over the phone by somebdy for CNN while it was broadcast live. It didn't help that my antiquated phone seem to choose this particular time to start to act up.

They asked if I had seen anything like the current situation. I told them that whilst violent confrontations are nothing new I have never seen this level of violence and never for so long. Usually, these protests end after a day.

Also the reporter wanted to know what those protesting wanted. I think that what is happening can't be seen in terms of a political agenda or programme but rather as an outburst of rage over a range of social problems young Greeks face. The murder of 15 year old Andreas Grigoropoulos was just the straw that broke the camel's back for many.

Also they wanted to know what ordinary people thought of what was happening. I suppose there are a number of reactions. Many are shocked and disgusted by the material damage caused whilst others share the anger of those on the street.

Greek farmer protesting low milk prices

Greek farmer protesting low milk prices, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek farmers protested against the low prices paid to them by diary companies by handing out free milk, yoghurt and cheese outside the ministry of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki.

For more details in English check out my Nowpublic article here (για περισσοτερες λεπτομεριες στα Ελληνικα κανε κλικ εδω).

17th November protest march - Thessaloniki

17th November protest march - Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"The Athens Polytechnic uprising in 1973 was a massive demonstration of popular rejection of the Greek military junta of 1967-1974. The uprising began on November 14, 1973, escalated to an open anti-junta revolt and ended in bloodshed in the early morning of November 17 after a series of events starting with a tank crashing through the gates of the Polytechnic."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Polytechnic_Uprising

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

Bike protest stopped by riot police

Following the example of other cities green activist organised a naked bike ride to highlight the problems caused by excessive car use in Thessaloniki. However, the public prosecutor threatened to arrest anyone who demonstrated without clothes.

The riders complied with his request but that didn't stop the riot police turning up in force and arresting a English Cypriot protester for allegedly being naked.

See here for the story in Greek.

See here for the story in English.

Video from Thess.gr

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

Students demonstrations

Pictures from the Demonstration by TEI (technical institutes) over lack of funding for their branch of higher education and education in general in Greece. Often these places are seen by the government as a cheap dumping ground for young people wishing to study beyond high school. they lack facilities and the staff are paid abysmally (and often even that pittance is delayed for months on end).

See here and here for reports in Greek.

The city stopped

Yesterday there were massive demonstrations and strikes throughout Greece as people protested against proposed government changes to the state pension system. Thessaloniki was no exception as one of the biggest marches I ever seen snaked it's way around the centre of the city.

Protest march in Thessaloniki

All photos by Teacher Dude

Today there were massive demonstrations and strikes throughout Greece as people protested against proposed government changes to the state pension system (see here in Greek and here in English). Thessaloniki was no exception as one of the biggest marches I ever seen snaked it's way around the centre of the city.

Reply | Get This

Teachers protesting changes in the state pension scheme

Teachers protesting changes in the state pension scheme, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

"MPs get a pension in four years. Us? In how many years?"

For more details click here

PAOK protest rally - part two.

Supporters of PAOK football club demonstrating against what they see as unfair treatment of the club by the government concerning its debts.

The kids being handed back to his dad in the crowd had just got to meet one of PAOK's legend, Zagorakis.

Last night's protest

Last night about a thousand people, dressed in black, came to mourn the tragic events that have overtaken Greece over the last week. Without fancy speeches and the like they quietly protested the awful mishandling of the whole affair. The mood outside the White Tower in Thessaloniki was one of sadness and muted anger and the atmosphere reminded me more of a funeral than boisterous, carnival feel that accompanies most public gatherings.

Protests in Greece

People gathered throughout Greece to show their unhappiness with the government's handling of the forest fire crisis.

Protest rally

no title, originally uploaded by spirofoto.

If you are in Thessaloniki this evening and wish to express your anger at the way the forest fire crisis has been handled then come to the White Tower at 7pm. I'll see you there. If you are in Athens then head for Syntagma Square.

Στην Αθήνα το ραντεβού είναι στην πλατεία Συντάγματος. Στη Θεσσαλονίκη η συγκέντρωση θα πραγματοποιηθεί στο Λευκό Πύργο.

Ας είμαστε όλοι εκεί!


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