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'It's a question of dignity': Syriza rally demands end to 'economic asphyxia' 'It's a question of dignity': Syriza rally demands end to 'economic asphyxia'
(about 1 hour later)
The word they all used, without exception, was dignity. Rallying in front of the Greek parliament on Monday night, supporters of the Syriza-led government of prime minister Alexis Tsipras demanded an end to the “economic asphyxia” and “social catastrophe” of austerity – and the return of dignity.The word they all used, without exception, was dignity. Rallying in front of the Greek parliament on Monday night, supporters of the Syriza-led government of prime minister Alexis Tsipras demanded an end to the “economic asphyxia” and “social catastrophe” of austerity – and the return of dignity.
“I’m here to support my country,” said Katherine, a psychologist. “I want freedom for my country and dignity for its people, because right now my country does not have its freedom and its people do not have their dignity. It might be very hard work after Sunday, but freedom needs hard work.”“I’m here to support my country,” said Katherine, a psychologist. “I want freedom for my country and dignity for its people, because right now my country does not have its freedom and its people do not have their dignity. It might be very hard work after Sunday, but freedom needs hard work.”
Waving banners and placards calling for a no vote in Sunday’s referendum on whether Athens should accept or reject the reforms-for-aid package Greece’s creditors have said must be agreed before they will extend the country’s bailout, the demonstrators acknowledged the risk that Greece could crash out of the eurozone. Waving banners and placards, the demonstrators acknowledged the risk that Greece could crash out of the eurozone if they were successful in winning a no vote in Sunday’s referendum on whether Athens should accept or reject the reforms-for-aid package Greece’s creditors have said must be agreed before they will extend the country’s bailout.
“We probably have a lot to lose if we leave Europe,” said Alex Zoubouglou, a photographer. “But it will be worth if if that is what it takes to recover our dignity. We’re here because we’re fed up with being treated as if we were ignorant. We’re well educated, we’re civilised, we’ve been around and we’re being being treated like so much less.”“We probably have a lot to lose if we leave Europe,” said Alex Zoubouglou, a photographer. “But it will be worth if if that is what it takes to recover our dignity. We’re here because we’re fed up with being treated as if we were ignorant. We’re well educated, we’re civilised, we’ve been around and we’re being being treated like so much less.”
Aphrodite Founda, a journalist, said she had come because “austerity is not working for anyone. It’s just so clear. Well, maybe its working for the top 1%, but not for the rest. Not for ordinary people. We will stand by our government. It’s a question of morality. Of basic human dignity”. Aphrodite Founda, a journalist, said she had come because “austerity is not working for anyone. It’s just so clear. Well, maybe its working for the top 1%, but not for the rest. Not for ordinary people. We will stand by our government. It’s a question of morality, of basic human dignity”.
Maybe in other countries “you have another concept of dignity,” said Sotiris Sousanis, an unemployed chemical engineer. “But it’s a right for all humans. And these last few years, they have been playing with us in Europe. If we have to leave the EU it will be difficult, but it’s difficult anyway. We can’t live like this, being kept on a rope and told five months more bailout, then we’ll see.” Maybe in other countries “you have another concept of dignity,” said Sotiris Sousanis, an unemployed chemical engineer. “But it’s a right for all humans. And these last few years, they have been playing with us in Europe. If we have to leave the EU, it will be difficult, but it’s difficult anyway. We can’t live like this, being kept on a rope.”
George Karababis, an unemployed construction worker, said he had come to say “no to the EU, no to what the EU is doing to ordinary people.” His wife, Aspasia Apostoulou, said she earned €500 a month as a hospital cleaner and felt “almost a slave”.George Karababis, an unemployed construction worker, said he had come to say “no to the EU, no to what the EU is doing to ordinary people.” His wife, Aspasia Apostoulou, said she earned €500 a month as a hospital cleaner and felt “almost a slave”.
“We can’t live like this. This whole system is just stamping on ordinary people. We have to stand up and say no. Greece, Europe, has to be about people. It’s a moral question. It’s a question of dignity,” she said.“We can’t live like this. This whole system is just stamping on ordinary people. We have to stand up and say no. Greece, Europe, has to be about people. It’s a moral question. It’s a question of dignity,” she said.
The same word was on the lips of friends Josephine and Amalia, both unemployed “In the end, I took early retirement. There was clearly no chance of me ever working again,” said Josephine, a former shop assistant in a furniture store. Friends Josephine and Amalia, both unemployed, shared that sentiment. “In the end, I took early retirement. There was clearly no chance of me ever working again,” said Josephine, a former shop assistant in a furniture store.
“For five years we have said yes,” said Amalia. “Yes to this, yes to that, yes to everything they demanded, even though it has put us in the terrible situation we’re in now. And now it’s time to say no. Is there democracy in Europe or not?” “For five years, we have said yes,” said Amalia. “Yes to this, yes to that, yes to everything they demanded, even though it has put us in the terrible situation we’re in now. And now it’s time to say no. Is there democracy in Europe or not?”
Josephine added: “We have very little to lose. We have lost our jobs, our money, half our pensions. The 99% have nothing to lose. Europe cannot be just for capital. It has to be also about human beings. This is about a better future for us, for our children. It is just about dignity.”Josephine added: “We have very little to lose. We have lost our jobs, our money, half our pensions. The 99% have nothing to lose. Europe cannot be just for capital. It has to be also about human beings. This is about a better future for us, for our children. It is just about dignity.”