Hello World!

Welcome to another edition of the Global Voices podcast. In this episode we talk through some of the ideas and issues surrounding the global Occupy movement and protests, as we listen to recordings from our team in different parts of the world.

My Greek Co-Host

In this edition, I “occupy” the podcast with Asteris Masouras, Global Voices author and Global Voices in Greek editor.

Asteris has been monitoring the global #Occupy movement online since it all began. Who better to accompany us through this edition of the podcast?

We got together on Skype and discussed Greece, Europe, and the Occupy world, especially in regards to how the movement communicates with itself and others.

Occupy Denmark

Global Voices in Danish co-editor, Maria Grabowski Kjær in Denmark, visits the Occupation there to find out what their methods and messages are. Though many seem to think the protesters are hippies, Thomas, who helped organise the movement in Denmark, aims to prove that this stereotype is not true at all.

Thomas of Occupy Denmark talked to Maria Grabowski Kjier about the movement

London papers

Here in London, the Occupy movement at St Paul’s Cathedral is presented with a newspaper called The Occupied Times of London. I met with Steve Maclean, the editor of the paper, to find out how it works.

Occupy London, Steve Maclean, editor of The Occupied Times

A Camp in Maine

Frances Harlow is an independent radio producer, and friend of Global Voices. In Portland, Maine in the United States, she recorded at a local Occupy camp during her studies at the Salt Institute, after graduating from Brown University.

Frances’ report shows that it’s not always easy to consolidate a message among such passionate people. You can listen to more of Frances' brilliant audio work here.

What do you make of the global Occupy movement? Is there a camp near you or do you participate?

It’s not easy to fit the entire movement into a short podcast but it has been interesting to highlight the similarities and differences across borders. There’s a whole lot more you can read up on at the special coverage page about the global Occupy movement on Global Voices.

Music Credits
In the podcast you can hear lots of lovely Creative Commons music. Thanks to Mark Cotton for his fantastic creations and thanks also to all of the wonderful voice over performances and clips that help to glue the podcast together.

The Global Voices Podcast, the world is talking, we hope you’re listening!

This post is part of our special coverage #Occupy Worldwide.

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Shock and awe awaited Greek citizens on Monday January 23, 2012, when Louka Katseli, former minister of labour and social security (2010) and minister of economy, competitiveness and shipping (2009), revealed that she had had only three hours to read the IMF memorandum tackling the country's debt crisis.

Michalis Chrysochoidis, current minister for development, competitiveness and shipping and former minister of citizen protection, admitted on a morning television show interview [el] that he signed the IMF memorandum without having read it at all, arguing that “simply, he had other obligations during that time, as he was fighting against crime”:

Minister Manolis Chrysochoidis. Photo by Flickr user Piazza del Popolo (CC BY 2.0).

News spread quickly on the web reacting to the remarks, including extremely negative comments and derogatory insults from netizens, expressing their disdain for the political system, and mocking the minister's excuse.

Within one to two hours, the case became a world trending topic via the Twitter hashtag #de_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati (I didn't read the memorandum because…):

@northaura: Now whole twitter “parties” with the “I didn't read the Memorandum” statement of Min. Crysochoidis, in hashtag #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati

Global Voices Author and Editor Asteris Masouras (@asteris) made a Storify collection of various posts, photos and tweets. Below listed are some samples of Greek netizens' tweets and comments:

@agamemnon_st: Αφού δεν ήταν δουλειά σου να μελετάς το μνημόνιο και τους νόμους, γιατί ήσουν βουλευτής;

George Kallis: den exeis tsipa epanw soy na valeis thylia sto laimo soy !!!! exete katastrepsi olh thn ellada me tis ypografesas

'The Dark Knight returns to fight crime on Athens' mean streets'. Image mocking Minister Chrysochoidis' statement. Photo via Twitpic by @Teacherdude.

@ngeor: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati I was elected to lead, not to read.

@Ovelikios: Δεν έχω διαβάσει το μνημόνιο αλλά έχω δει την ταινία

@natachef: #de_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati δεν άνοιγε το attachment.

@Stathisgr: Mnimonio? LoL, Too busy beating protesters

@mpampaki: “Είχα να αντιμετωπίσω το έγκλημα. Ο Ρόμπιν είχε πυρετό κι ο Τζόκερ είχε απαγάγει το γιο του Επιθεωτητη Γκόρντον.”

@nchrysoloras: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati μόνο ο Τσακ Νόρις έχει διαβάσει το Μνημόνιο

Twitter user @mirsiniloizou posted: "and here, the photo of #didn't_read_memorandum_because". Photo shows "protagonists of the day" Ms. Katseli and Mr. Chrysochoidis.

After the intense criticism, Chrysochoidis published the following Facebook status update (original text in Greek here):

I want to clarify and confirm my point. Yes, I repeat that I didn't read the memorandum. I didn't deal with either the text or the procedures of “supposedly” negotiations. This wasn't declared with pride. Even more, I don;t say this in order to shirk responsibilities. On the contrary. I consider this as one of the biggest errors of my political career; because I appreciated wrongly those critical moments and I was preoccupied with the minor issue, my work as a minister, instead of the major one, my responsibility as a member of the country's leadership. I said that to stress how much everyone has to change. We used to trust every leader, every prime minister; to vote in the Parliament and to agree in the government. Those times belong to the past and this model faded. What is needed is collectivity, personal responsibility and contribution. […]

During last year, the government and members of parliament have been the target of heavy criticism for their acceptance of the IMF memorandum and their inaction against the socio-economic crisis of the country, which has urged many of them to defend their beliefs and political actions.

Another “disclaimer statement” was made on October 2011 by former PASOK MP Thomas Rompopoulos, who argued [el] during a radio show broadcast: “Nobody had the time to read the Memorandum, neither I did nor anybody did; We authorized [Minister for Economy at the time] Papakonstantinou to sign for it. It was a matter of trust”:

In addition to the bold accusations Minister Chrysochoidis himself received, many netizens via social media have also criticized the general political scene, but also the “blindness” of they themselves, who have been conniving with the politicians' foul actions:

Panagiotis Giannoudis: Ζήτω η Βουλή των Ελλήνων!

@helena_chari: greece doesn't need weapons of mass destruction; it's got its politicians

dangler69: Τελικά το διάβασε και κανένας; Ίσως εκείνοι που διαγράφηκαν.

@Dr_Troy: #De_diavasa_to_mnimonio_giati ” και που με περιγελούν τώρα, αρκετοί απ' αυτούς θα με ξαναψηφίσουν. Ξεχνάνε γρήγορα, βλέπεις…

@cpil: Ενώ όλοι εσείς, το διαβάσατε το μνημόνιο.

@MilitaryRaiden: Όλοι πέφτουμε από τα σύννεφα με ομολογία ανικανότητος Χρυσοχοΐδη αλλά όχι με τη διατήρηση δικαιώματος ψήφου των ηλιθίων που το εξέλεξαν.

@tgeorgakopoulos: Σσσσ, ακούς; Κάνε ησυχία -ακούς; Είναι ο ήχος 299 εκτυπωτών σε γραφεία βουλευτών. Τυπώνουν το μνημόνιο.

@sVathis: Οι έλληνες ανέκαθεν δεν διάβαζαν user manuals

Finally, during the following day, user Arkoudos concludes bitterly, reflecting the saddest part of Greek economical and social crisis [el]:

@arkoudos: Δεν σας πληρωσα το χαρατσι της ΔΕΗ;Αχχ χιλια συγνωμη,*δεν το ειχα διαβασει*,ειχα παει να ικετευσω για δουλεια,για να εχουμε να φαμε το βραδυ

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

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In Greece, January 6 is the national holiday of Theophany, traditionally known as Phota (”lights”). Customs revolve around the Great Blessing of the Waters: a cross is thrown into the water and people try to retrieve it in order to receive good luck and blessings. Every year, government and civic officials attend the celebrations, after which they have an opportunity to make official statements on the spiritual importance of the day, along with political and social comments.

However, due to the economical, political and social crisis Greece is going through, this year's celebrations were marked by strong expressions of people's disapproval and criticism of politicians. This came as no surprise, as it happened earlier during the national celebrations of “Ochi” day on October 28, when President Karolos Papoulias was forced to leave after protesters called him a traitor.

Chalkida, Evia

It happened again this time, when President Papoulias appeared at Chalkida, despite the tradition of going to Piraeus, the country's major port. Citizens booed him, calling him a traitor and shouting anti-austerity slogans, as the following video [el] shows:

A small group tried to reach the dignitaries' podium, but were blocked by the police. The president departed making no official statement.

Chalkida's police arrested six citizens, three men and three women, and a file was submitted accusing them of “insulting the President of the Republic's honor”. The city prosecutor ordered their release.

Netizens commented both on the jeering of Papoulias and the demonstrators' arrest, with a large majority in favor of the arrested and against the major public figure's behavior and inaction concerning the current crisis:

Makis: ΣΙΓΑ ΤΟ ΠΡΟΣΩΠΟ.ΚΑΛΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΚΑΝΑΝ.

@stefivos: Ο Κάρολος Παπούλιας πρέπει να ‘χει κάνει ασφαλιστικά μέτρα εναντίον όλων των πολιτών. Αν παραβιάσεις την ακτίνα 50μ. συλλαμβάνεσαι.

Sonia Andrianou: Από πότε διώκεται ρε παιδιά η ελευθερία του λόγου και της έκφρασης; Γιατί το άρθρο δε λέει να τον αποδοκίμασαν με τπτ αντικείμενα ή να τον πείραξαν σωματικά! Θα τρελλαθούμε εντελώς…

A different view was held by a small minority:

miri: Μα τι έφταιξε ο Πρόεδρος της Δημοκρατίας;

But what's the President of the Republic's fault?

user Under: Οχι οτι εχω καμια διαθεση να υπερασπιστω τον Παπουλια τον οποιο τον θεωρουσα προδοτη πολυ πριν το ξεσπασμα της κρισης αλλα απο την αλλη παραγινεται γραφικο να δινεται εμφαση σε καποια περιστατικα αποδοκιμασιων. Μαζευονται 5 γραφικοι “αγανακτισμενοι” και αποδοκιμαζουν και αυτο γινεται θεμα.[…] Λιγη σοβαροτητα δεν βλαπτει.

I'm not in the mood to defend Papoulias, whom I considered to be a traitor long before the crisis outburst, but on the other hand, it gets too “picturesque”, to emphasize some jeering incidents. Five bizarre “indignados” gather and protest and that becomes a major issue. […] A bit of seriousness is not harmful to anyone.

Kitsos stresses that nobody can impose respect on people:

Kitsos (07/01, 10:36): Τον σεβασμό τον εμπνέεις ! Άμα χάσεις τον σεβασμό του κόσμου δεν τον επιβάλεις ούτε με χίλιους στρατούς. Κάτι ήξεραν οι παλιοί ηγέτες που έλεγαν “ισχύς μου η αγάπη του λαού μου”.

Respect is inspired! If you lose people's respect, you cannot impose it, even with an army of a thousand. Old leaders knew this, these were the ones that said, “My strength is my people's love.”

Dimitris Vlachos wonders why the news was reported as if only a small percentage of people openly expressed their disrespect for the President:

Dimitris Vlachos: Apo merida kosmou? Oloi ton giouxaran!

“From a small group of people?” Everybody booed at him!

The previous day, commenting on an article that announced Papoulias' appearance in Chalkida instead of Piraeus, Dimitris N. had “predicted”:

Dimitris N. (05/01, 15:41): Καλά έχει να ακούσει τα σχολιανά του, αν και έχω την αίσθηση ότι δεν θα πάει ούτε εκεί αλλά θα κάτσει στο προεδρικό μέγαρο….όπου και να πάει ο λαός θα καταστρέψει την παράτα…

Oh well, he will be told off; however, I've got this feeling that he won't go even there [Chalkida], instead he will remain inside the presidential palace… Wherever he goes, people will spoil the show…

Secondly, citizens also criticized the fact that the Prime Minister Loukas Papadimos of the interim coalition government didn't have the time to attend any celebrations, apparently due to his workload. A post on apospasma.gr said:

[…]δεν τόλμησε να πάει στην τελετή αγιασμού των υδάτων στον Πειραιά επειδή θα άκουγε τα εξ΄αμάξης.

[…] he didn't dare go to the Blessing of the Waters in Piraeus, because he would be shot down.

Athens, Attica

Earlier, in Athens, Minister of Education Anna Diamantopoulou was jeered during celebrations at Dexameni in Kolonaki. In this video [el], people are heard to shout “Good digestion!” (usually used after the “Bon appetit” expression in Greek) and “Bring offshore companies' money back”:

The general disapproval of politicians, especially representatives of the two major political parties (PASOK and ND), caused once again a long discourse on personal responsibility and the support of current politicians:

Nikos Prassas: Καλά είναι τα μασκαριλίκια, οι αποδοκιμασίες και οι αντιπολιτευτικές διαμαρτυρίες, το μόνο εύκολο! Κάποτε όμως καταντούν και κουραστικές, όταν δεν υπάρχουν προτεινόμενες λύσεις!

Giorgos Kaminis (mayor of Athens) and Anna Diamantopoulou (Minister of Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs) at Blessing of Waters in Dexameni, Kolonaki. (Flickr user:annadiamantopoulou, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Masquerades, fanfares, protests and oppositional parades are very nice, it's the easiest thing! Someday, they degenerate, however, when there are no solutions to suggest!

Maria Kapurani: ολοι εσείς που βρίζετε τους πολιτικους(και καλα κανετε) την Ευρώπη και ολα, αναρωτηθειτε μια φορά, 30 χρονια στη μεταπολίτευση τι έκανα ”ΕΓΩ” για την πατρίδα μου για να μην φτάσει εδω? Νομίζω οτι φωνάζετε επειδή ξεβολευτήκατε. Μια αγανακτισμένη… με ολους

All of you that curse the politicians (you are doing the right thing), Europe and all that, let's wonder once: during the 30 years of the Metapolitefsi [period in Greek history after the fall of the military Junta in 1974], what did “I” do for my country in order not to reach this point today? I think you are furious because you have lost all your comforts. An indignado…along with everyone else

Same topic, different trend

Meanwhile, however, the news trending on social media was that Apostolos Gkletsos, a popular actor and now Mayor of Stylida town, managed eventually to get into the water and compete to catch the holy cross - noteworthy as he suffers from heart disease. The “importance” given to this fact was humorously commented on on Twitter:

@iokastita: Ο γκλέτσος ετοιμάζεται να βουτήξει στη Στυλίδα για να πιάσει το σταυρό.Το καλύτερο νέο μετά τη μεταπολίτευση.

In Stylida, Gkletsos is getting prepared to dive to catch the cross. Best news since the Metapolitefsi period.

@Conn_x: Ο Γκλέτσος σήμερα δεν θα βουτήξει. Θα περπατήσει πάνω στο νερό.

Today, Gkletsos is not going to dive. He will be walking on water.

The celebration of Theophany also brought out some cynicism and cold facts, for example from Teacherdude and Yns_x:

@teacherdude: ή Εορτή των Φώτων ακυρώθηκε φέτος - δεν πληρώσουμε το χαρτάτσι της ΔΕΗ

The Celebration of Phota (lights) was canceled this year - we are not going to pay the extra taxes for DEI (Public Power Corporation of Greece).

@yns_x: Στον Έβρο γιορτάζουν κάθε μέρα τα Θεοφάνεια -εκατοντάδες μετανάστες βουτούν στα νερά του προσπαθώντας να αγγίξουν το (όποιο) θαύμα.

In the Evros river [the natural border between Greece and Turkey], Theophany is celebrated every day - hundreds of immigrants dive into its waters to touch a miracle, if any.

This article is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

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This video shows a Theofaneia celebration in Lake Vegoritis, Northern Greece:

Throughout Greece, old village and island traditions and customs still survive [Greek] and are observed [Greek] by local inhabitants and visitors. Join us for a small virtual tour of folk history.

Ragoutsaria, Kastoria. Photo by Flickr user Despoina (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Kastoria: Ragkoutsaria

The first carnival of the year takes place at Kastoria in West Macedonia, Northern Greece and lasts until January 8. During Ragoutsaria (from the Latin “rogatores”, meaning “beggars”), people wear sheepskins, put masks on or paint their faces and body black and wander the streets carrying huge brass bells; their striking sound sends away all evil spirits. The celebration is accompanied by lots of traditional music played on brass instruments.

@taskar: Τα “Ραγκουτσάρια” στην Καστοριά αποδεικνύουν πως η Μακεδονία είναι μία και είναι Μουσική (χωρίς σύνορα).

@Nistiko_Arkoudi: Πάμε Λευκάδα όπου το ιδιαίτερο έθιμο κατά την διάρκεια τού αγιασμού των υδάτων είναι τα πορτοκάλια…

On the Ionian island of Lefkada, people celebrate the custom of the oranges: they dive into the sea holding oranges tied with twine. Before the blessing of the waters, they throw last year's old oranges into the water. Afterwards, they carry them back to their homes for blessing and leave one near the holy icons for the rest of the year. This custom dates [Greek] from the period of the Venetian occupation of the island (1684-1797); back then, the ritual would take place at the old city aqueduct near the citrus groves of noble landowners.

Nea Karvali, Kavala: Sagia

In the town of Nea Karvali in Eastern Macedonia, Northern Greece, inhabitants celebrate Sagia every year on Epiphany Eve. They gather around big fires lit in squares, where they drink, sing traditional carols and dance. The ritualistic fires are meant to drive away the evil spirits, the “kalikantzaroi” (Christmas goblins), to the bowels of the earth; the tradition has its origins from Cappadocia of Asia Minor, from where the current inhabitants' ancestors immigrated in a 1923 population exchange.

Ermioni, Argolis: Giala-Giala

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The year 2011 will be remembered for the European debt crisis and its impact on the global economy, but also for its hard consequences on everyday life. The crisis began in 2007 and is without precedent in post-war economic history. Europe is living its darkest economic days since the 1930s.

Due to the growing importance of the topic and due to the diffusion of social media platforms, in recent months there has been a proliferation of “economic blogging” (and tweeting). Opinion, thoughts and reactions abound online trying to make sense of what future awaits the Eurozone.

Considering VAT increases, along with salary, pension and benefit cuts, some basic goods are becoming less affordable. Indian blogger Deepankar Basu wrote on the indian economic website Sanhati:

These [austerity] measures reduce expenditure and increase taxes in order to reduce government deficits. Cutbacks in government spending and increases in taxes, at this particular moment, however, amount to the worst possible policy stance, reducing aggregate demand even further, and pushing the economies deeper into recession.

Sovereign debts, junk ratings: protests take to the street

Camp site at Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain. Photo by Julio Albarrán, republished under a CC License.

The crisis is perceived to have started within three countries - Ireland, Greece and Portugal - but quickly spread to Spain and Italy.

Since the international rating agencies gave their assessments (ratings) for each national solvency (the ability to pay public debt) it seemed they “held the wand” over the Eurozone’s future. This power over the fate of each state provoked strong debates all over Europe, with many questioning the legitimacy of their analysis.

In Portugal, for example, there was a strong commotion and reaction when the independent American financial analysis firm Moody's called Portuguese debt “junk debt”.

But the core of the protests occurred in May. It all started in Spain with the 15M movement, mainly coordinated by the youth organization Democracia Real Ya [es], which was extremely active online and organized massive demonstrations against corruption, unemployment, and a political structure allegedly favouring a two-party system.

The acampadas born in Plaza del Sol in Madrid quickly “infected” other Spanish cities, such as Barcelona, Sevilla and Malaga. In a few weeks other movements became active in other European Countries and globally, later the Occupy Wall Street movement.

"#campmap for "#worldrevolution" - More than 600 demonstrations and camp outs were ignited in solidarity with Spanish protesters by the end of May, 2011.

Some, including mainstream media [es], soon made connections between the the so-called Spanish Revolution and the Arab Spring.

Como si se tratara de la plaza Tahrir, en Egipto, escenario de las protestas populares[es]. El caldo de cultivo del derrocamiento de Hosni Mubarak. Esto es distinto pero puede ser el embrión de algo. Quién sabe.

Solidarity to the Spanish movement came soon from Greece, which has been the first European Union country to taste the sting of IMF/ECB austerity since 2010. Particularly in Greece the anti-austerity protests have been strongest. In June there were peaceful protests and gatherings at Syntagma (Constitution) Square, and when protesters planned to surround the House of the Parliament the day for which the vote for the Mid-Term Austerity Programme had been scheduled, there were violent clashes with the police.

Protests and demonstrations continued over the summer especially in Spain and Greece. But only the big reforms and the austerity plans widely adopted in “PIIGS” countries (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain) late in the autumn marked a turning point of the European debt crisis.

“Blood and Tears”: the austerity recipe

The pressure of the financial markets and recommendations coming from European Commission urged some governments to adopt  so-called austerity measures aimed at eliminating unsustainable budget deficits. Recipes seem to have some common traits across countries: cuts on social spending and social services, additional taxes, VAT increases and salary cuts with citizens paying for the crisis.

In Spain the intense social debate over the economic recovery plan led to new protest in September when the #reformazo (#bigreform) was announced. Spain, and later Italy, decided to introduce constitutional changes to limit public spending (budgetary stability). In turn, there were protests throughout the country organized by the assemblies of Puerta del Sol and by the entire 15M movement against what Real Democracy Now! has called the Financial Coup D'État.

Runner statue mocked up as a rioter. Photo courtesy of the Athens indignants' multimedia team, licensed as CC BY-NC-ND 3.0

In Greece in October there was an unprecedented protest during the ‘Ochi Day‘ (No Day) Parade since Greeks were angry for the relentless and ineffective austerity measures, culminating in the “haircut” deal negotiated by banks and European politicians, which many fear signifies the beginning of a new foreign “occupation” of the country.

The impact of the austerity recipes have been particularly severe in Greece where suicides and criminality are mounting, and where social and health assistance is becoming more and more expensive. The reportedly high cost (that can reach 1000 euros) for childbirth in public hospitals is only one example of adverse social impacts of the current crisis.

But there are also chronicles of the victims of the explosive cocktail of the housing bubble, the financial crisis, and high unemployment rates. Thousands of families are now without homes. A large campaign started in Spain against housing speculation, to stop evictions and relocate families to unused buildings.

Mobilizing on the streets and the Internet

Apart from economic issues and their implications for the people of European countries, democratic participation and citizenship rights occupy the public debate. The massive participation in protests and demonstrations against austerity measures - both online and in the streets - was something new on the European political scene.

Many, such as in Portugal, have pointed out there was an alternative to the top-down measures imposed by EC, IMF and ECB so that the Iceland’s practice of direct democracy became a model. Since Iceland refused an international bailout, many argued that there could be a different solution for the current crisis than ten years of severe budget restrictions to bail out bondholders.

But there was also another issue that emerged in recent months, since there have been crucial changes of government in three European countries. While in Spain the change was due to early elections, the new prime ministers in Greece and in Italy were chosen by the head of state, without any popular approval.

The resignation of Silvio Berlusconi in Italy was particularly important not only for the country, but for the whole European Union, since the country needed to calm financial markets in order to keep interest rates on sovereign debt under control. After the “Party for Berlusconi's resignation” soon Italians and Europeans involved in the crisis had to face the ugly reality they have to live with.

As Europe’s financial woes intensify, austerity reigns, the crisis deepens and economists are forecasting an (unprecedented?) recession, maybe 2011 will be remembered as a “lost year” of the European economic history.

This page is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis and 2011 on Global Voices.

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In November 2008, for example, Armenian and Greek Monks clashed at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

Lisa Shafer: A Writer's Blog comments.

Okay, so Christmas is one of the biggest holidays of the year for the Christian world — even though most of how we celebrate Christmas is actually pagan (Dec. 25, trees, greenery, lights, gifts — all pagan. Gotta love that irony, too.). And Bethlehem is where it all began…..

So, I found this pic on yahoo today: Greek and Armenian priests, cleaning up a Bethlehem church they share with Catholics, broke into an all-out broom war this week over who was cleaning whose part of the church.

The whole thing had to be broken up by Palestinian police, who are, presumably, Muslim. The layers of irony here are just too much. It'd be hilarious if it weren't so petty and childish — and sad.

Twitter users particularly enjoyed reporting on the brawl.

@pixie_pete: Will Bethlehem priest tag fighting become a new Olympic sport? […]

@TCofLondon: Rival priests in Bethlehem brawl. This really is hilarious! […]

@metalvicar Rachel: It's a turf war…Priests tell each other to ‘get off my manor, you muppet' BBC News - Priests brawl in Bethlehem […]

@meneedbeer: Greek or Armenian priests: who's better at sweeping a Church floor? There's only one way to find out- FIGHT!! […]

@AhmNoHere: “No one was arrested because all those involved were men of God” WTF?!? […]

@Rohypgnosis: Phew! A good job they're all full to the brim of the ‘Love of Jesus' or it might have got REALLY nasty :D […]

@nickjtaylor: Peace on Earth indeed: […] Just one more reason I can't take religion seriously.

Fr Ray Blake's Blog, however, took a moment to reflect:

Greeks and Armenians fight in the sanctuary: is this a brawl, muscular Christianity or just two factions convinced they are right. Such outbreaks in the Holy Land are not unusual.

Even so, Fr Stephen Smuts Blog was not impressed:

[…] this time it’s between clergy in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity. Greek Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic priests and monks who were armed with brooms got into it while cleaning the Church. Palestinian riot police were called in:

[…]

What a pathetic witness. See for yourself:

Globalisering, christendom en het Midden-Oosten, however, attempts to go deeper into reasons for the scuffle:

This is interesting stuff, especially because I suspect that today's broom fight reflects some of the increased tensions over the restoration of the church, badly needed for many years, initiated by the Palestinian Authority a year or so back, boosted by their recent UN bid, and contentious among the communities that use the church. Not that they are not convinced something has to be done, but paying for repairs, as much as cleaning, may alter the rights of usage of each and everyone in the church. Who’s to pay for what and when? Some tension over these major changes is quite understandable, as is some brawling by young and eager monks …

However, most of today’s commentators seem to have missed both its rituality and its link to current Palestinian affairs and this therefore does not explain the world wide fascination with these scuffles. Part of the fascination, of course, is the obvious tension between Christianity's ideals of peace on earth and its reality of fighting clergy - especially when the fighting is so visually satisfying with nice new brooms that seem to have been bought just for the occasion. No deaths, no seriously wounded … we all love to watch a good fight, especially when it confirms our preconceptions about Christianity, clergy, and the Holy Land – yes, of course, it must also have something to do with the fact that it happens in Bethlehem, in the Church of the Nativity, in the week following Catholic and Protestant Christmas, in preparation for Orthodox Christmas - if a fight seems out of place, then this one, there and now.

Indeed, any politics behind the incident were lost on most others, especially coming as it did at Christmas.

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From Wikipedia and Twitter to Molecular Cuisine and the Tsunamis, our world is full of disruptions which redefine on a daily basis -some indeed more than the others- the way we live…It is now the time to rewrite the rules of the game and change. Everything.

This year's event also hosted TEDxAthens Challenge, a competition for interesting and innovative initiatives in education and learning with positive impact in everyday life. The winner was Urban Dig Project [el], whose aim was “to introduce the citizen to its city through impromptu theatrical performances at historical sites and buildings”.

From @TEDxAthens account.

The next program scheduled is TEDxAthens+Community, as announced at Twitter [el], which includes smaller events, such as brunches and dinners.

Reactions

A few days after the Saturday event, there were reports in various newspapers and news portals (such as articles in newspaper To Vima [el] and news portal in.gr [el]), as well as an extended graph analysis by BAAS, monitoring social media use and analyzing trends during all the TEDxAthens presentations.

TEDx speaker Chris Colwell sent thanks to all participants via a video from Dubai:

While speaker Joe Trippi expressed his enthusiasm in two tweets:

@JoeTrippi: @TEDchris @TEDxAthens was one of best conferences ever. Lots of ideas worth spreading. #tedxathens

@JoeTrippi: I met many of the pioneers and innovators who will build a new way for Greece @TEDxAthens a really incredible conference!

Enthusiasm and inspiration was also plain and clear from Greek netizens in the audience, expressed through various social media platforms, creating a unique buzz even for some days after the event [el]:

ilicon: Το κακό με το TEDx είναι ότι τέλειωσε. Το χειρότερο είναι ότι πρέπει να περιμένουμε έναν ολόκληρο χρόνο για το επόμενο.

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Feelings of revulsion and anger were caused by news published in Eleftherotypia (Freedom of Press) [el] newspaper on December 5, 2011, which revealed some public hospitals in Greece have refused treatment to women in labour, because they did not have the money to pay hospital fees of 950 euro.

The incidents took place in November 2011, at public hospitals in Athens, Thessaloniki, Rhodes and Rethymnon. In these cases the cost of “integrated unified hospital treatment” according to Ministry of Health price list, came in at 950 euro for natural childbirth and 1,500 euro for birth by Caesarean section. Pregnant women pay the money in advance and afterwards the costs are offset with the labour allowance.

Birth. Photograph by Flickr user riqfy (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0).

After several days delay, the Ministry of Health and Social Solidarity intervened with a circular, stating that [el] no advance payment of this amount will be required in future, leaving however the issue of price difference between the official price list and the provided labour allowance still open to question.

@d_oikon: ΝΤΡΟΠΗΗΗΗ…! Που φτάσαμε γαμώτο!! [Έδιωξαν από νοσοκομεία ετοιμόγεννες που δεν είχαν χρήματα…]

@Gangelakis: Και ο Χριστός σε σπηλιά γεννήθηκε: Δημόσια νοσοκομεία αρνήθηκαν α περιθάλψουν ετοιμόγεννες,επειδή δν είχαν ν πληρώσουν

Ένα ένα τα διαβάζω σήμερα, σκάνε σαν χαστούκια…

Δεν κοιταξαν την ταυτοτητα αλλα το πορτοφολι.

Η ΑΠΟΛΥΤΗ ΞΕΦΤΙΛΑ!
Ο ΔΙΑΣΥΡΜΟΣ ΕΝΟΣ ΣΥΣΤΗΜΑΤΟΣ,ΚΑΙ ΜΙΑΣ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΗΣ!
Μας κανανε Αμερικη,οπου αν δεν εχεις καλη ασφαλιση εισαι τελειωμενος!

Συγκίνηση, γινόμαστε Αμερική.
Ακούς εκεί να ξεγεννάνε δωρεάν τα δημόσια νοσοκομεία. Κατάργηση και του επιδόματος τοκετού ΤΩΡΑ.

Από όλες τις επιθέσεις που έχω δεχτεί από το κράτος (χαράτσια, ΔΕΗ, φόροι) πρέπει να πω ότι η μεγαλύτερη οργή μου προκαλείται από το πως αντιμετωπίζει την έγκυο γυναίκα μου. Η ασφάλειά μου δεν καλύπτει τίποτα πλέον (ΤΕΒΕ) και το νοσοκομείο είναι πανάκριβο και για κλάμματα. Κάθε κράτος στηρίζει την μητρότητα εκτός από την Ελλάδα. Αν συνεχίσει αυτή η κατάσταση θα μεταναστεύσουμε σε άλλη χώρα οικογενειακώς.

@jorjito73: Έδιωξαν από νοσοκομεία ετοιμόγεννες που δεν είχαν χρήματα…Όχι δεν φταίει ο Λοβέρδος, οι ανάλγητες διοικήσεις…

@katerinas_diary: @jorjito73 επεμβαίνουν και στο μέλλον της φυλής δηλαδή.. Αν οι άνεργες κλπ ετοιμόγεννες δεν θα γίνονται δεκτές στα δημόσια νοσοκομεία!!!

@jorjito73: @katerinas_diary Είναι μια αρχή κι αυτή για να διαμορφώσουν οριστικά & αμετάκλητα το εκλογικό σώμα τα επόμενα χρόνια… Αίσχος και κατάντια

Births in Greece appear to have decreased by 15% during the last year [el], as the harsh economic situation is forcing many couples to delay having their first or second child.

This post is part of our special coverage Europe in Crisis.

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Parodying the sensationalist style and clichés overused by the local media, he wrote [mk] about a “scandalous” revelation:

High diplomatic sources confirmed for the “Copy Paste” news portal and the “Google Translate” press agency that high political functionaries from Macedonia are behind the bankruptcy of our Southern Neighbor.

According to these sources, who, understandably, asked to remain anonymous, the last phases of the plan to bankrupt Greece, crafted and carefully implemented by Skopje, are underway. Unlike other political actions, this has been done in coordination with the opposition. The chief “ringleader” and conspirator of this plan is the first Macedonian president [Kiro Gligorov]. He has held a grudge with Greece since the 1990s due to the economic embargo, but he has especially bad blood with the [Papandreou] family, i.e. with Andreas Papandreou, the father of the recent Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou.

The plan was to suck up Greece to spend extraordinary amounts of funds in the name dispute and the battles related to this issue. One of the key strategies were the operative activities of the special unit labeled “Traitors” whose members offered their services to Greek interests for high amounts of money. The high number of such Macedonian operatives who lead the Greeks to believe they work for them, and the associated expenses, in fact bankrupted Greece, claim informed sources.

They also add that the Skopje 2014 Project was part of this plan. Its purpose was to defocus the attention of the Greek side from the true goals. While the Greeks thought that the whole resistance and resources of the Macedonian side were being spent on this megalomaniacal project, the plan for gradual Greek bankruptcy was underway. Greeks incurred additional expenses with various activities related to lobbying against the Macedonian side, starting from the United Nations, to international beauty pageants, to various websites such as livescore.com, which have been paid off to avoid using our constitutional name.

In the conclusion of the article, Sead93 juxtaposed the photos of Savo Klimovski [mk], legal expert and former speaker of the Macedonian Parliament, and Lucas Papademos, economics expert and the current Greek prime minister.

Savo Klimovski and Lucas Papademos. Collage by Sead93.

The final phase of the plan is appointing “our man” as the head of the Greek Government, who - according to the well-informed sources - would “get the job done.” At this time, there are speculations that this task has been undertaken by Savo Klimovski, former speaker of the Parliament and Skopje Law Faculty professor. With mild corrections of his face, Klimovski has been “planted” as a “savior” of the Greek economy and state - while he in essence is a key player of the Macedonian side. […]

After this post was published, scores of social media users applauded it, sharing the link via Facebook and Twitter. It was listed within the selection of the most impressive blog posts for November [mk] on the website Krigla Pivo [Beer Mug], which, its authors think, shows the renewal and improving quality of the Macedonian blogosphere “after a longer period of abstinence and stagnation.”

However, not everybody from Macedonia was able or willing to appreciate the irony and the humor of the post, or the mentions of the excesses of the regime, according to the prevalent logic “if absolute praise is absent, then it must be an opponent.” Some comments in the post descend to ad hominem attacks.

The government's favorite pundit Milenko Nedelkovski, a perpetrator of the Brussels incident, infamous for public use of hate speech [mk] with impunity (including demands to “liquidate” “the traitors” from lists he drafts in his TV show), posted the link on his Facebook page with a comment suggesting the post is a part of some anti-Macedonian conspiracy.

Nedelkovski is thought to be part of an inner circle of several media personages close to the leadership of the country who serve as their mouthpieces or testers of ideas. His closeness is demonstrated by the fact that he accompanied the Prime Minister (a frequent guest star of his TV show) on state visits to Singapore and Japan.

When that news became public [mk], the government issued a retraction [mk], claiming that “the journalist… covers the visits at his own expense.”

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Written by Veroniki Krikoni · Translated by Veroniki Krikoni · View original post [el] · comments (0)
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