146,975 of 175,000 signatures

To: Eurozone governments; President of the Eurogroup, Mário Centeno; President of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi

Petition

We stand with Greece, demanding a path to an economic recovery that truly values people’s lives and dignity. Start by returning interest made on Greek government bonds.

Why is this important?

The Greek people have been crushed under the pressure of austerity terms. Hospitals can barely offer basic care, with 1 nurse for 40 patients. [1] Wages keep falling. Pensions have been cut a dozen times since 2010. [2] Unemployment has more than doubled. [3]

And the bailout money meant to “help” Greeks get out of this situation? Eurozone countries have made billions in interest from it. [4]

But Europe’s finance ministers have the power to change course. If we show them that Europeans don’t want to profit from Greece’s despair, they can no longer act unchecked and claim to act on our behalf.

The European Central Bank (ECB) started buying Greek government bonds in 2010, when Greece needed its first bailout. If the ECB didn’t purchase the bonds, Greece would have reduced their value. But the ECB prevented Greece from doing so as a condition for a bailout package. Each year the inflated bonds make a massive sum in interest, which used to be returned to Greece. [5]

That changed in 2015, when the Greek people voted against more government cuts that affect everyday life. As a punishment for refusing the cuts, the Eurozone countries decided to pocket the interest from the bonds, instead of returning them to Greece as previously agreed. [6]

After years of austerity, twelve rounds of tax increases and severe cuts to public services, the Greek people can’t afford to be taken advantage of any longer. The Greek people need us to support them in their struggle now more than ever before.

If we stand up, we can get the interest from these bonds returned to Greece, and demand that economic recovery must also value people’s lives and dignity. Together, we have the power to show the Greek people that we stand with them. And to show our governments that we expect solidarity, not exploitation.

REFERENCES

[1] “'Patients who should live are dying': Greece's public health meltdown,” The Guardian, 1 January 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/01/patients-dying-greece-public-health-meltdown

[2] “Greek pensioners protest benefit cuts, pin hopes on court,” Reuters, 10 October 2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/eurozone-greece-pensioners-protests/greek-pensioners-protest-benefit-cuts-pin-hopes-on-court-idUSL8N1MH1SN

[3] “Unemployment by sex and age - monthly average,” Eurostat. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/en/web/products-datasets/-/UNE_RT_M

[4] “ECB Profits from Greek Bond Holdings at €7.8 Billion,” Greek Reporter, 10 October 2017. http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/10/10/ecb-profits-from-greek-bond-holdings-at-e7-8-billion/

[5] “ECB to swap Greek bonds to avoid forced losses -sources,” Reuters, 16 February 2012. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ecb-greece/ecb-to-swap-greek-bonds-to-avoid-forced-losses-sources-idUSTRE81F1EK20120216

[6] “Eurozone unlocks €10.3bn bailout loan for Greece,” The Guardian, 25 May 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/24/eurozone-officials-hope-to-give-greece-next-tranche-of-bailout

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146,975

of 175,000 signatures

Recent comments

Andrea

Because the rich have to stop this disruptive greed

Carlos

Greed is the chain of men

Yeray

Dignity, for the people of Greece and for all that has made money with their debt.

Amadis

Justice is for all and the Greeks were duped in taking out huge loans which was obvious they would have an impossible task to repay even without the recession of 2008.

Lina

I never understood how when money is a tool to life and a thing humans make, it is always missing when and where it is needed...

Christina

I have Greek family and see how much they have been suffering since Greece entered the EU.

Tim

Normal people need a normal life and the few caused this situation and should not be punished any further.

janice

Because Greece and the Greek people have been treated totally unfairly, due to monetary mismanagment by their Govt, that was severly punished by selfish EU decisions, on migration, causing poverty and grief to all. And have since been further disadvantaged massively by Northern Europe, which has left them and other Mediterranean nations to support all the refugees from Climate Change and utter poverty in African nations - and Wars in so many sub-saharan and other countries. Take a huge step to global solidarity, support Greece to recover their pide and economic security, and then learn the lesson and carry on to suppport all other struggling European countries .... then start on the rest of the world. Put Peoples' needs first, not those of Rich Northern Governments. They will all be knocking on our doors soon enough. Start work now, before you are forced to take action by the world warming crisis, to deal with the problems that we, the richer notions, have caused. Take responsibility for our terrible decisions, act now to reverse them, to build a world fit for us all, not just a world that we rich Europeans and Americans want to keep to ourselves. OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES, THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN. With best wishes to you all, Janice Christianson, Scotland.

janice

Because Greece and the Greek people have been treated totally unfairly, due to monetary mismanagment by their Govt, that was severly punished by selfish EU decisions, on migration, causing poverty and grief to all. And have since been further disadvantaged massively by Northern Europe, which has left them and other Mediterranean nations to support all the refugees from Climate Change and utter poverty in African nations - and Wars in so many sub-saharan and other countries. Take a huge step to global solidarity, support Greece to recover their pide and economic security, and then learn the lesson and carry on to suppport all other struggling European countries .... then start on the rest of the world. Put Peoples' needs first, not those of Rich Northern Governments. They will all be knocking on our doors soon enough. Start work now, before you are forced to take action by the world warming crisis, to deal with the problems that we, the richer notions, have caused. Take responsibility for our terrible decisions, act now to reverse them, to build a world fit for us all, not just a world that we rich Europeans and Americans want to keep to ourselves. OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES, THEY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN. With best wishes to you all, Janice Christianson, Scotland.

Michael

On behalf of my many Greek friends.

Armand

I feel with the Greek people!

Leo

History shows that debt remission is of utmost importance for welfare and political stability

Hanno

Finance industry has poisoned life quality standards all over the planet. It's not peoples fault! Money is just a promise, that creates responsibility. So you clever oligarchs, shame on you!

Laszlo

Stop exploiting the Greek.

Angeliki

I am Greek

Julia

It is important to all of us that those with the power use it wisely and on behalf of those without a voice

Sarolta

We stand with Greece, demanding a path to an economic recovery that truly values people’s lives and dignity. Start by returning interest made on Greek government bonds.

bettina

Social Justice for Greece

Andreas

I fully support this petition!! Give back life to GREEKS!!!! SHAME ON EUROPE!!!!!!

EVDOKIA

because I´m Greek and know the suffer of my compatriotes. Greece should not have been punished that way

Sonja

Greece has suffered tremendously since 2008. Thanks to the Merkel-leaded EU-policy Greek citizens have list their medical insurances, their medical treatments, their savings for retirement, their jobs,... It's enough. The injustice of the European politics have become unbearable. It's time to stop them. We are the people. The people are the state. Nit the government. Nor the politicians. The people. We must do something because the real rulers of our countries are NOT those we voted for. We are controlled by the industry. They make the laws. They are in command. We don't live in a democratic system anymore.

Ehsan

Sine I am human!

Carlos

European a mediterranean solidarity.

Christina

Selfishness, self-righteousness and sanctimoniousness needs to be replaced by solidarity, a sense of joint responsibility and the willingness to help those of our fellow European citizens who are in need

Stephanie

Not sure reform of EU possible, but in the interests of justice other Eurozone countries must stop profiting from Greece's misery. Solidarity!

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