Help Floods in for Migrant Workers
Published by deviousdiva January 16th, 2008 in Migrants.There has been an outpouring of help and support following an open letter that was sent to local newspapers about the appalling living conditions of migrant workers. Priests from several villages in Arta (northwestern Greece) got together and wrote about their disgust, saying that there was
a total lack of charity and shame has allowed medieval working conditions to return. We are not interested in these people’s needs, illnesses and suffering
A team of doctors was yesterday dispatched to the area and will be inspecting some 50 migrants daily. Authorities will also seek to secure accommodation for the migrants, Deputy Health Minister Giorgos Constantopoulos said. «There are not only health issues to deal with - their living conditions are also a concern,» the minister said. «Whether they are in our country legally or illegally, because when it comes to weakness and illness, all human beings have the same rights,» he continued.
Meanwhile, donations have been flooding in from local residents and citizens from elsewhere in Greece.
Local priests said they were «genuinely surprised» by the tide of good will. They said that a bank account will be set up for future donations and asked would-be benefactors to call 26810.28170 in the meantime.
If only the government bodies and authorities had the same kind of compassion that ordinary citizens show towards their fellow human beings.
Technorati: migrant workers, greece, arta, citizens,
Hmm… You reported something nice about my people for the first time :
“If only the government bodies and authorities had the same kind of compassion that ordinary citizens show towards their fellow human beings.”
How come? Something changed? That Martin Baldwin guy is going to start hating you too now. lol
Yiannis, that is not true that it is the first time I have written something nice about the Greek people. That is just your perception. This blogs main focus is on the policies of the state and other authorities and rarely if ever attacks Greek people in general.
That there are problems in Greece of racism and xenophobia, and a non-adherence to human rights law is true and that is what I am pointing out. I have never said or will say that Greeks are awful or suck or anything of the kind. Unlike the way other people here have characterised me and others here.
I think a few people’s obsession with me hating Greece is misguided and wrong. Most sensible Greeks here can see that that is not true. Finding fault with a country is not equivalent to hating its people (although people do it here all the time with countries other than Greece).
People have referred to me and “my people” (which ever group they have decided I belong to) as barbarians, animals, non-human, savages etc etc.
I feel like I am having to justify myself all the time and I said a while back that I wasn’t going to do that any more. So I’ll leave it there. Whatever I say, people will find fault with me and this blog. It just depends what you are looking for…
The thing that most Greeks just don’t get (because that is not how they are) is that normal people in the world pass criticism when it is due, and praise also when it is due. In this case, clearly praise is due. This is not a political issue: it is an objective truth.
The other thing, of course, is that all critical remarks are described as “anti-Hellenic” rather than as being accepted in a constructive spirit. If we all hated Greece, we would just find a way to leave: the problem is with Greek propaganda and nationalism. In day-to-day things, I would not say Greeks are worse than British, or Germans, or whatever. Arguably, Greeks show more compassion and goodwill on a personal basis. But the nationalistic verbiage is very bad in Greece, along with mass denial of obvious realities.
For me, what I find disappointing is a lack of common courtesy Greeks have when dealing with people they don’t know. What they (Greeks) may not know is that this negativity they show to others has an effect on them and people around them. Kindness begets kindness and the opposite is true as well.
I refer to a Greek commercial shown prior to 2004 Olympics which showed some Asian tourists waiting in line while Greeks entering later were being served ahead of them. At one point, the Asian tourists’ Greek friends arrive on the scene, and the restaurant owner says to the Greeks, “OH, Padia, I’m sorry, I didn’t know they (Asians) were with you. The commercial makes it a point to tell the listening audience to treat people with respect whoever they are. Sadly, these are things which should be common sense and shouldn’t need a commercial to remind people.
However, as the commercial shows, Greeks are the most sincere, kindest, generous people when you are in their “MESON” or clique.
So, life in Greece would be so much more enjoyable if Greeks could learn to be as kind to strangers as they are to “Diko Toys Anthropous”. (their friends) You lose nothing with a smile, or a kind word.
It is funny there is not a word on the privacy international report for 2007 right DD?