Sydney protest in solidarity with Greece, June 28. Photo by Peter Boyle
Protests are being planned in the Australian cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Armidale and Brisbane in coming days in support of the Greek people and its elected SYRIZA-led government.
The Greek community and supporters will join thousands of people across Europe in demanding "Let Greece Breathe", rejecting the crippling austerity measures demanded by the country's creditors and backed by extreme blackmail.
While the Greek government of SYRIZA Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras sought to compromise in negotiations, the "Troika" of the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund have sought a total surrender by Greece.
As signing the proposed deal by the Troika in return for funds needed to pay the IMF would mean more savage austerity such as pension cuts and taxes hitting the poor, Tsipras turned to the Greek people and announced a referendum on July 5 on whether to accept the deal or not.
Rather than wait for the Greek people to have their say, the European powers responded by freezing funds to the embattled nations, sending the financial system into meltdown and forcing Greece to close the banks for a week.
It was a blatantly political move — aimed at pressuring Greece's people to accept a deal that would hurt them even more in order to ensure the interests of private banks and powerful financial institutions such as the IMF are protected.
In response, people around the world are taking a stand to defend the rights of the Greek people over the banks.
Many voices, including Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, have pointed out the "bail-out" funds, and associated austerity measures, have not helped Greece -- and the Troika demands amount to a destruction of Greek democracy and would impose further unbearable hardship on Greek people.
If you live in Melbourne, Canberra, Armidale of Brisbane, you can join with the many thousands saying "Let Greece Breathe" -- with the details below. Or you can check Australia-Greece Solidarity website for more information and other ways to take action.
MELBOURNE: #MelbournestandswithGreece"
Saturday, July 4, 1pm, Parliament of Victoria
SYDNEY: Emergency rally in support of the Greek government — WE say NO to the Troika's austerity! Saturday July 4, 1pm, Sydney Town Hall.
CANBERRA: Support the Greek people — Say NO to the Troika's Austerity
Friday July 3, 12:30pm. 18 Arkana St, Yarralumla ACT — outside the EU Delegation to Australia.
ARMIDALE: Solidarity rally with the People of Greece
Saturday July 4, 12pm, in front of the old Court House, The Mall.
BRISBANE: Demonstration in Solidarity with Greece #StandWithGreece
Saturday July 4, 10am Brisbane City Hall
