Rioters have answered German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Greece with rock throwing. It is estimated that 25,000 protesters are in Athens. Unemployment in Greece is reported at 24.4%.
"At this rate, in 75 months there won't be a Greece left," reports Tyler Durden who also describes Greece as "facing economic death."
I talked to Consul Lampros Kakisis at the Greek Consulate in Atlanta who gave me an unofficial response concerning my question on why uprisings in Athens against Merkel (also President of the European Council) were being held. He said demonstrations surround failed austerity measures which have not been working in the 5th year of the recession. He referred me to the Embassy in D.C. for an official response. There was no answer at the press office.
CNN is reporting that 3,500 have committed suicide because of the economic downturn in Greece. It also reports that since "May 2012, 53.8% of Greeks younger than 25 were unemployed."
According to CNBC.com, the country with the highest unemployment rate in the world is South Africa (24.7%) with Greece coming in second. Wikipedia, however, reports that the Republic of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean has the highest unemployment rate in the world - 78.21 percent. Vanuatu was once a French and British protectorate.
Merkel flew out of Greece at 12:40 p.m. EST.
Watch developments in Greece live or listen to Greek music at:
http://www.zougla.gr/radio
Photo credit: Onkel Tuca!
Paul said: From my perspective, the Greeks are frustrated with the poor leadership of their nation for the past several decades. Now that members of the European Union, such as Angela Merkel, are calling them to austerity measures and fiscal responsibility, they are upset because this change is painful. There is a lot of unemployment in Greece. The situation is very bad.
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