freedoms,


Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge.


Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.


So dear reader you may wonder ... how does this UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS relate to the daily living of Greeks today? Let me refer to some of the articles of the Declaration we Celebrate today and remember that it’s worthy for all to know, Human Rights, are indivisible rights and we could not separate civil rights from political rights.


Article 19 speaks of the right everyone has to freedom of opinion and expression. In (Article 25) we read that: (1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control and (2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance.


Furthermore, according to (Article 23) (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work Then according to Article 26. (1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. (2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace. (3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.


In recent years we see, our Human Rights described above being suspended, not only in Greece, but to the whole of the world, as an excuse for fighting the Present Crisis but the reality is that Humanity is about to “deliver†civil and social rights to the so call Markets. And this dear reader is taking place in Greece for the last 3 year. I'm very sad to tell you, that unemployment reached 1.700.000 (30% of the working force) in a total population of 11.3m people. 56% of the young people (aged 16 -36) can’t find a job last 2 years and the majority of them, are about to leave the country, searching for a job abroad?


Parents cannot afford to secure the daily food of their children and many thousands go to school hungry. Could you believe, that public hospitals are not in position to supply their patients not only with daily needed medication but a few days of the week with food also? And then is it possible for you to imagine, 60.000 homes each month are running out of electricity due to inability to pay the bill to their Provider which includes a heavy state tax (Electric Power companies collect this heavy tax for the favour of the state and if you refuse to pay the tax included in the bill, then they cut you off) What about heating ... just imagine that 85% of the people living in the big cities cannot afford to contribute to Central Heating and many of the habitants in blocks of flats, are freezing, due to oil price (€1.57 per litter). And yes, can you imagine that public nursery schools not even heated.


Wages and salaries decreased by more than 35% in a 2 years period and 2 governments brought 8 different taxation bills in a 3 years time? Most of the small shop owners are giving up closing their shops and middle class businessmen see their long lasting family business, shutting down and themselves being excluded from social insurance and state Health care the moment they can’t pay their actuarial contributions. All we are listening on the news is the “next dose†or allow me our “next fix†the moment for 3 years now we live as a drug addicted nation, searching, waiting for the next fix, so we may survive? We watch our debt increase, besides all our efforts and sacrificial attitude and there is no end. After the so call “Hair Cut†for avoiding a state of a country in “Default†bankruptcy, we learn that in the year 2020 our debt will be 168% and not 120% as confirmed a month ago, by the EU leaders People lost their homes and many are sleeping in the streets. Thousands of citizens try hard to find a plate of food and some bread. Loans turned to “red†by 68% and debts (tax imposition) to the state raised 10 billions this year.


All we hear daily is of a new (never ending) packet of Austerity Measures. Actually so far we have signed 3 Austerity Measure packets to our lenders (EU, IMF, European Central Bank). It’s a pity to conceive that our European colleagues are making money out of our humanistic catastrophe, earning billions. Imagine that the European Central Bank refuses to give up of their profits (made16 billion) from Greek tragedy, the moment you see your child, your parent, your friend, your relative, your next door neighborhood dying from a lack of food, of


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