(Action for ERT and Alexander Technique Greece in the UK) Here is the monthly round up of news from the Greece Solidarity Campaign. The purpose of the GSC is to build practical and political solidarity with those resisting austerity in Greece. Organising meetings take place on the third Wednesday of every month, 6.30 pm at Unite, Theobalds Road, London. All welcome. If you want to find out more about getting involved, organising activities where you are please get in touch email greecesolidarity@mail Greek state TV and radio closed down – protest t the BBC Portland Place nr Oxford Circus, London this Friday 6pm! Yesterday the state broadcaster in Greece was closed down with no public debate, no debate in parliament and no warning, sacking 2500 staff. The main union confederations in Greece (the GSEE and ADEDY) have called a 24 -hour general strike. Journalists and technicians are in occupation. Syriza leader, Alexis Tsipras has called the closure illegal. There is speculation in the press that it is triggering a political crisis for the Coalition, with PASOK and Democratic Left opposing the action. Free press on trial in Greece The trial of Kostas Vaxevanis, the journalist who published the so-called ‘Lagarde list’ in an anti corruption magazine, Hot Doc, has been postponed until October 8. The Greek government have refused to investigate his list of tax dodgers and expose of corruption in the Greek political system. On June 4 the Guardian published an open letter from Mr Vaxevanis to President Barroso of the EU. Update on Medical Aid appeal The recent solidarity delegation to Athens from the UK saw first hand the destruction of the public health system in Greece with the combined attack of privatisation and savage cuts, and increasing numbers without insurance cover and not eligible for health care. We also visited some of the free social health clinics and pharmacies being set up by volunteers in the anti-austerity movement, including many medical and clinical staff from public hospitals to address this growing humanitarian crisis. A few weeks ago GSC launched Medical Aid for Greece. The first tranche of funding has come in, thanks to £2000 in solidarity donations from the National Union of Teachers, TSSA, Unite London and Eastern Region and South East TUC. Every penny of money raised will be spent on child vaccines at social health clinics. Documentary on the Squares Movement in Athens is showing on June 20 as part of the Tottenham Labour Film Festival, followed by a panel discussion. Joseph Healey from the Greece Solidarity Campaign is taking part. The film festival is organised by the Turkish and Kurdish communities in Tottenham.Joseph is also speaking at a public meeting the evening before ‘Transition to Socialism or Regression to Barbarism’ on June 19, 6.30, Unite HQ, hosted by the Unite London and Eastern Regional LGBT Committee. Website being rebuilt – please bear with us The Greece Solidarity Campaign website has had to be taken down after repeated attacks. Work is ongoing in rebuilding the site so that it is more secure. Your patience is appreciated, and we expect to be back up online soon. Alter-summit in Athens June 7 and 8 and European Assembly Against Austerity, June 23, Unite HQ, London, 12 – 5pm The annual Alter Summit was this year hosted by the social movement against austerity in Greece, who organised a Solidarity Village. There will be a report back from the Alter Summit at the next Greece Solidarity Campaign. And in the UK as thousands of people flock to the People’s Assembly against Austerity on 22nd June, the Coalition of Resistance, in association with the Peoples Assembly and the Greece Solidarity Campaign are hosting a European Assembly Against Austerity to bring together experiences and plan together, including a report back from Athens. Golden Dawn band play London There is a surge of organised violence by Golden Dawn in Greece, particularly targeting immigrants, as well as LGBT communities and political opponents. At the Nikea public hospital where the solidarity delegation visited, a group of Golden Dawn supporters are reported to have gone into the hospital with baseball bats. The rapidly growing fascist party in Greece is known to be building beyond Greece and have strong international links. In a stark reminder of this fact, the notorious Greek fascist black metal band, Der Sturmer, were reported to be playing a gig in London on June 8 at a secret location. Solidarity with Greek LGBT communities Athens Pride took place last weekend. Queers Against Cuts and the Greece Solidarity Campaign sent a joint message of support and solidarity to our LGBT brothers and sisters marching against discrimination. Greek government orders arrest of striking teachers The Government in Greece is imposing tens of thousands of civil mobilisation orders banning individual secondary school teachers from taking part in planned strike action where it could disrupt university entrance exams this month. This was made possible by signing of emergency powers by the Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras. Thousands of teachers took the streets in Athens in protest. Greece Solidarity Campaign has sent a message of support to the Greece teachers union OLME and the civil servants union confederation ADEDY, members of which the recent joint GSC and FBU solidarity delegation met. Austerity and privatisation wreck the environment: Mining conflict in northern Greece Residents in a number of towns and villages have formed committees to oppose plans for open cast mining by Eldorado Gold, a private Canadian gold mining company. One of these is the small town of Lerissos where residents are virtually unanimous in opposition. Here riot police have smashed up protest and made controversial arrests, sparking protest across Greece. Campaigners say the plans will wreck environmental destruction, and the land in question was practically given away to the company by a former finance minister who subsequently had to resign amid corruption charges. Cartoon state of the Greek economy A latest cartoon of a series from Sara and Mara, starring Samaras, Merkel and Hollande. Watch here. Anti-troika protest 1st June, London On the 1st of June, in addition to anti-fascist demonstrations that saw off a pathetic band of 50-odd BNP supporters from Westminster, several hundred also joined the International Demonstration of People United against Austerity in London. The protesters, mainly young people from PIGS countries in London, gathering in front of HM Treasury and marched to the European Commission. Larger demonstrations were held all over Europe, and protesters heard messages from protesters in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Germany. Bob Archer from the Greece Solidarity Campaign spoke at the protest about the crisis in Greece.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:26:40 +0000
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