There is much discontent across Greece, evidently clear from the widespread rioting that has taken place during the past week and most of it is blamed on rising poverty,
corruption and unemployment. Other problems linked to Greece’s
membership of the EU have also played a role.
Membership of the EU and its single currency has led to soaring living
costs in Greece, with continually increasing levels of regulation and state funded regulators and quasi police, many, especially in the younger generation, fear their future
is among the poor.
The same truths can be seen with clarity in the UK, people being pushed to the limits and beyond overburdened with regulation, yet the Labour government seem hell bent on destroying what is left of our economic system whilst consistently racking up debt and loading that through taxation, both direct and indirect on the population, creating the very problems they claim to be solving.
“It was not only the murder of Alexis that makes us come out on the
streets. It’s poverty and unemployment,” one of the protesters said. Is it only a matter of time before the pent up mutterings in London, Birmingham, Glasgow or Bristol grow ever louder and then explode in the same manner as Greece.
Celebrated Greek writer Mimis Androvlakis predicts “a conflict between generations” in the future.
“There is a very deep dissatisfaction among young people today against the structure of Europe,” Androvlakis said. In his writings, Androvlakis has explained why the European Union has failed Greece.
“We have a common currency, but we don’t have common policies and
traditions. We can’t even reduce the price of the euro to give us an
advantage in exports,” he says.
Greeks are different from Western Europeans in every way. Greece is a Balkan nation in Europe wanting to be a European nation
in the Balkans. Its spirit and soul is closer to Eastern Europe, so
it’s not surprising the first cracks in the European Union are
appearing here.
And again, we can draw the parallels. The UK has historically kept mainland Europe at arms length, highlighted with that most famous of BBC announcements. “Fog in the English Channel, Europe cut off”.
Our culture, history and legal system are so totally alien from that of mainland Europe that the attempts to standardise based upon Brussels standards is eventually bound to cause conflict, which may well eventually be reflected with outpourings of anger.
Opposition member of the Greek parliament, Gionnis Magriotis, says it’s time Europe learned to accommodate difference. It is forced upon citizens by law, yet it is still something the institutions of the EU fail to recognise.
Meanwhile, demonstrators are threatening to continue their street
protests until officials in Brussels understand that the economy is
more than numbers; it’s geography, history, tradition and soul.
UPDATE: 17/12/08
In Spain students have already been inspired by the Greeks: they are
blocking rails, occupying buildings, and staging protests in Madrid,
Valencia and Seville. And here is the part that gives hope to the heart
– all the ructions are against attempts by Brussels to impose
standardised structures on universities across Europe by a sneaky deal
called 'The Bologna Process.' The young people in Spain know what it is
– 'a naked power grab' by Brussels to extend its reach over all higher
education — and are out fighting it.
Torches, pitchforks and how to do it
It was back in 2006
