UPDATE ON THE GREEK ECONOMY FOLLOWING THE ELECTION OF ALEXIS TSIPRAS

    On Jan 25, 2015, Greece had a general election to elect a new parliament and a new prime minister, after the gamble of former PM Samaras, did not work. The leftist SYRIZA party got the most votes and together with another anti-EU party, the 'Independent Greeks', took over the new government.
    After one week of touring European capitals and meeting key people, both the PM Tsipras and the new finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, came back with 'almost' empty hands.
    Just a day ago, the European Central Bank  (ECB) stated that Greek banks cannot borrow from them using debt.    Until now, the could get loans from ECB against bonds or government-guaranteed assets, held by the banks. But, as the Greek government's debt, as well the Greek banks own debt was rated a 'junk', falling bellow the ECB's minimum standards.  The banks now would have to borrow only from the Emergency Liquidity Assistance (ELA) through the Greek Central Bank. Already, more than Euro 2 billion was tapped early February '15, from three major Greek banks, under this scheme. This, of course, led  to the collapse of Greek bank shares.
    Greek banks are very nervous because many well-to-do Greeks started again moving their money overseas. In December, the banks saw a Euro 4 billion drop in deposits, and the estimate for Jan. '15 could be close to 12 billion Euro flying out of Greece.
   The Greek minister of finance Mr.Varoufakis has said that  he would not accept the last trench of  around E 7 billion still due - from the last  commitment of EU/IMF, under the current terms.
    The governing party would either let the country default on its obligations - with very drastic consequences,  because they have no other funds to pay the bond holders by the end of this month,   or accept  short-term loans from its Eurozone partners, which is  big question if they are willing to do so.  Already several Eurozone governments declare their opposition to any changes of the agreed terms
    Greece must either accept the terms of the bailout or risk going bust. Mr Tsipras, the PM and the finance minister, Mr. Varoufakis, keep hoping that the European partners would change their mind and reconsider how could they help Greece at this very difficult and urgent situation!  
     
 

Lake Worth Playhouse - Phil Ochs songs concert

A Special Report published in the Online-edition of NEWSDAY(week of Feb 20-26, 2012)

THE SONGS OF PHIL OCHS – LIVE CONCERT AT THE LAKE WORTH PLAYHOUSE

A Special Report by Dean Papavassiliou

Feb 20, 2012

On the 19th of February, I was privileged to attend a live concert where many talented local singers performed songs written by the protest singer of the 60s &70s Phil Ochs at the historic Lake Worth Playhouse in Lake Worth, Florida. The event was narrated by Phil’s sister, Sonny and the Palm Beach Post entertainment writer, Leslie Gray Streeter.

The Lake Worth Play house, a non-profit community theater in the heart of down-town Lake Worth, presents year-round programming incl. well-known dramas, comedies, musicals, Broadway shows, operas and live concerts. Next door is the Stonzek Theater screening independent and foreign films. Originally, this art deco building, was built by the Oakley brothers in early 1920s - as a movie palace and vaudeville house, served audiences during the difficult depression years until it went bust. The theater changed names and ownerships during the following years.

A group of local theater-lovers got together in 1953 and started an amateur theater group known as the Lake Worth Playhouse. In 1975 they purchased the Oakley Theater, renovated it and since then are presenting, often to large audiences, of variety of needed live entertainment.

The concert that I attended was performed by very talented local singers and musicians, incl: Megan Eversole, Joey George, Scott Goldblatt, Sean Hanley, Rod Macdonald, Kat Mahoney, Mel & Vinnie, Pink Slip, Tracy Sands, Mike Vullo and special guest, Matt Turk.

It was all about the songs of Phil Ochs, who was born in El Paso, Texas in 1940, attended college at Ohio State University where he formed his political beliefs and started putting them into music. It was early 1960s when things were booming in NY’s Greenwich Village and Phil decided to go and live there. I was also attending the City University of New York at the same period and often venture to the local cafes, around Washington Square, to hear the protests songs of the Viet Nam era.

Phil Ochs released his first two albums then including the famous “I Ain’t Marching Anymore”. By 1966 he was able to sell out Carnegie Hall for his solo concert. His songs were mostly political in nature, some humorous and some very serious, on topics of civil rights, Viet Nam war, hungry miners and injustice. Unfortunately Phil was suffering from manic depression plus an affinity for the bottle and he ended his life by hanging himself in April 1976, at the prime age of 35 years old.

Few years later, his sister Sonny, at the suggestion of Ned Traynor, picked up where Phil left and started organizing “Phil Ochs Song Nights” in Greenwich Village and later on in upstate New York. Phil had written over 100 songs and had traveled in many countries performing then. He was one of the most famous and prolific protest singers (and philosophers) of the 60s and 70s.

During the concert I met and talked with talented Mel and Vinnie who have been making music together for the last 25 years, singing, songwriting and guitar playing. All the songs performed by all were very emotional, coming from the hearts of the singers and many of them have lyrics posted on the screen helping the audience to “sing-along”. The audience was mostly baby-boomers, like me, and many of them knew most of the songs. It was a most enjoyable concert.

Dean J. Papavassiliou

Published on the On-line edition of NEWSDAY (the week of 20-26 Feb. 2012)

PROTESTS AND REVOLTS IN THE ARAB WORLD

Six months have passed since the start of a wave of revolt in the Arab World. Revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, a civil war in Libya, uprisings in many other Arab states forcing significant changes in the region where it's citizens are trying to find out how to establish democracies. What is really happening?


In January 2011, we have the first revolt in Tunisia. The month before, a university-educated young man, Mohamed Bouazizi, not having any other sources of income, started selling fruits in the street. A policeman stopped him, slapped him and insulted him. He went to the authorities to complaint but nobody wanted to listen. The frustrated 26-year-old, decided then to set himself on fire, in protest. He died several days later. When the public protests began louder, Tunisian strongman Zine El Abidine Ben Ali decided to leave his post and went in exile to Saudi Arabia. More than 200 people died during the uprising. The elections planned for this month were postponed by the interim government until October 23. Several other countries afterwards, in North Africa and the Middle East have been swept in protests against their longtime rulers.


In Egypt, most recently, the US administration open a dialogue with the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the largest groups, saying "it is in the interest of the US to engage with all parties that are peaceful and committed to non-violence". Recently, demonstrators in Cairo were angry due to the absence of free elections, as well as, high food prices, low wages and high unemployment. The Muslim Brotherhood has a strong following in Egypt but is feared by both secular and liberal forces. When one looks back 60 years, when Maj. Gamal Abdel Nasser overthrew king Farouk and took over after the July 1952 coup, he had no plans for early elections as he was affraid that Mustafa al-Nahas, the head of the secular-liberal (and most popular) Wafd party will win. The Muslim Brotherhood, was also worried of a liberal victory, thus, they supported Nasser's decision then. How ironic? Nasser, on the other hand, ousted pro-democracy officers, minimize the power of the liberals and suppressed the Muslim Brotherhood, till then, his allies. Today, they are no Free Officers Movement and Egypt is governed (for the mean time) by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, which is led by Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, a 75-yrs-old officer. At present, some roles have been reversed. The islamists are playing the role of the democrats, while the liberals are calling for the Army to continue rule. Although on the March 19 referendum, 77% of voters approved a apackage of constitutional amendments, which als called for an early election (by September), the Army, supported by the liberals, may have other plans. I predict that they will stay in power a bit longer, they will try to keep an important role in the running of the nation, and maybe try to form a "constitutional assembly" without elections. Egypt, a country of almost 85 million, with poor economic conditions - almost 1/5 of the citizens live below the poverty line, with shocking levels of unemployment - especially for the majority younger people, and volatile security situation, is a country that still remains on a 'watch' list. Don't forget that over 800 people died during the three weeks of violent protests, and still today, we have victims of the on-going protests.

LIBYA Protests started in February when demonstrators fed up with delays of a government-sponsored still on-going public housing project, broke into it and occupied it. They quickly gained strength in numbers and a movement started to demand democracy, freedoms and the ousting of Col. Moammar Gadhafi. This movement has exploded to a full civil war with rebel forces controlling several cities. Curent estimates of the death toll are in the thousands, Today, the US administration announced that they will recognize the main opposition rebels, the Transitional National Council, as the legitimate government of Libya. There are already 28 countries recognizing the rebels as the legitimate ruler. Many of the frozen account of the Kadhafi's government kept in foreign banks, can now end up in the hands of the rebels.

SYRIA - In mid-March, some teenagers were arrested in Daraa for writing anti-government graffiti on the walls. After the crackdown intensified, demonstrators changed their demands and were now asking for freedom and an end to abuses by the security forces - which already killed a large number of protesters. They also call for the overthrow of the regime. On April 19, Syrian Cabinet lifted an emergency law that have been in effect since 1963, but security forces than moved quickly to crash any protests. Opponents allege massive human rights abuses. More than 15000 Syrian refugees fled to Turkey to escape the government crackdown. The US placed sanctions against Pres. Bashar al-Assad. Protests remain strong. Amnesty International states that close to 1500 protesters have been killed since March 15. At the UN, western diplomats exchanged harsh words with the Syrian ambassador in the Security Council, when China and Russia threatened to veto a pending resolution condemning the violance in Syria, on the grounds that they do not want the UN to get involved in Syria's internal affairs! Of course, on ecan see clearly their motives! They are affraid to allow international organizations to get involve with abuses of human rights inside 'any' country!... including theirs.


In BAHRAIN, protesters initially took to the streets of Manama to demand reforms and the introduction of a constitutional monarchy. Many of them are now calling for the removal of the royal family. At least 29 people died during these protests. Troops from Saudi Arabia and UAE moved in to support Bahraini forces. Now, king Hamad bin Is al-Khalifa, assigned an independent commission to investigate charges of human rights abuses during the recent government crackdowns on pro-reform protesters. Mahmoud Cherif Bassiouni, a law professor and UN expert on war crimes, who will lead this commission, promised to carry out a fair, methodical and transparent investigation.

YEMEN - Inspired by the revolution in Egypt, demands began protesting Ai Abdullah SALEH's 33-year-old regime in February. A month later, Saleh offered a draft constitution that would establish a parliamentary system. Protesters persist in calling for his resignation. A number of military officers and government officials were dismissed as non-loyals to the president. Saleh made some overtures to step down but changed quickly his position and remains in power, although he was wounded in one of these attacks by protesters and had to go to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. Fighting has escalated between security forces and militants, some of them suspected to be al-Qaeda connected.

JORDAN -The cabinet was fired after some protests begun in January. The king promised elections but not any specifics about timing, etc., and the prime minister was replaced.

MOROCCO - In February, after some protesters came out in the streets, political changes were promised by the king Mohammed VI. In July, there was a referendum in which voters approved changes in the constitution. Things remain calm at the moment.

SAUDI ARABIA - The government decided to spread money to keep her subjects happy and neutralize any developing opposition. More than $130 billion will go to salaries, housing and religious organizations - which are very important there. A large low-income housing complex is also planned in order to house many of the foreign workers and others in need of housing.


MY THOUGHTS:. Although things in many countries in the region are still unsettled, I predict that sooner or later, the people will win over the long-term rulers of these countries. The protests might even spread in other countries of the region, if current governments do not open up to the demands of their citizens or are able to buy their way out of these protests with the power of their wealth.
Unfortunately, many more human casualties will have to be counted until then..

People we help and people we destroy!.

As the recent powerful earthquakes in Haiti and Chile killed many people and brought catastrophic damages to these countries, We, the US and the rest of the world, are trying to help out by sending some humanitarian aid, money needed to rebuild places affected, food, medicine and other necessities. This makes us feel good.
At the same time, we...and others, are in wars in several countries, the most publicized, IRAQ and AFGHANISTAN. What do we do there? "fighting the terrorists" we say... and with them, we are burning down towns and villages, kill many people (inadvertently), and cause great damages to properties and peoples dignities. This is not a way to win friends. When soldiers knock down doors and kick and frighten people, is not a winning image; not a positive memory for anyone involved. Local residents are traumatized and soldiers come back with mental problems.
In other words, we decide which people we are going to help and which ones we will destroy..and maybe come back, in later years, and try to rebuilt. A very big irony! Destroy and will rebuilt.
We can rebuilt houses, roads and bridges, but we can not rebuilt peoples dignities! and we can not bring their dead back! The affected people & their kids, will always be our enemies!

Changing World - Different Key Players Emerging!

This is the beginning of my Blogging bringing out thoughts of our 'changing world' we live in. The last half of the 20th century witnessed mainly two great powers. The US and the Soviet Union and the 'cold war' between them.

Europe, Asia, and Latin America were trying to impact the world with their strenghts and particularities. The African continent, with so much neglect from their former colonial bosses, had very little to offer, in terms of powerful voice in the world stage. Everyone took advantage of the African resources and natural wealth of the continent but forgot to share it with the residents of the black continent. Australia, and Canada were very quiet players during this period.

Now, with a young century upon us, only 9 years old, a collapsed 'Soviet Union' - with a new 'Russia' taking its place, new and dynamic with impressive leaders...but still enigmatic!!!, and the emerging economic powers that came around, China, India and Brazil, one has to wonder what is the future world going to look like? In this blog I will give out my thoughts and observations.