I felt as if the earth had imploded under my feet. I felt incredible sadness and a sense of having betrayed the 62 percent of Greeks who had shown astonishing courage—and I don’t think we had the historical right to do that. — Yanis Varoufakis
#ThisIsACoup, a four-part series telling the story of the European Union’s confrontation with the Greek Syriza party in 2015. With unprecedented access to key Greek politicians.
Directed by Theopi Skarlatos, edited by Andreas Loukakos, produced by Paul Mason
Released by Field of Vision, the filmmaker driven film journalism unit co-created by Laura Poitras, AJ Schnack, and Charlotte Cook.
Funded through crowdfunding.
In 2010, Greece was broke. More money was lent, classic pretend and extend, the money came with strings attached, Draconian conditions set, which destroyed Greece. Austerity was used as a front for Shock Doctrine, slash and burn of public services, cuts to welfare, to pensions. As a result the Greek economy collapsed, unemployment rose, making it even less likely the loans could ever be repaid. And the money that was loaned to Greece, did not find its way into Greek pockets (except maybe that of oligarchs and corrupt politicians), it went straight back out to bailout German banks.
Syriza were elected with a democratic mandate to challenge the EU, to reject austerity that was destroying Greece.
ECB turned off finance to Greek banks. This caused a run on the banks, and the banks were forced to close. It was part of the pressure put on Greece, a delibearte attampt to bring Greece to its knees.
Fiscal waterboarding.
A referendum is called. The people vote OXI, over 60% vote No to the EU proposals.
Syriza had what they wanted, Greeks had said no to the EU. Syriza then betrayed the people, signed a surrender document with the EU.
EU was not interested is solving the Greek debt crisis. They had only one intention to crush Greece. to serve as an exam[le tp any other cuntrty that thought to challened the EU.
In January, when Syriza were elected, there was hope. Now, with what the people see as betrayal by Syriza, hope has turned to despair.
If any lessons learnt, it is that the ordinary people have to take control and drive change themselves. The only way forward, is for Greeks to run their own affairs.
Paul Mason is Economics Editor of Channel 4 News and author of PostCapitalism.
- OXI Greeks vote for democracy and hope and end to austerity
- OXI the morning after the night before
- An alternative Greek currency
- From hope to despair
- Yanis Varoufakis in conversation with Paul Mason
- Europe is Kaput
- Beyond Austerity
- Interview With Paul Mason, Producer of #ThisIsACoup
- The Inside Story of Syriza’s Struggle to Save Greece
- #THIS IS A COUP – My comments on Paul Mason’s documentary
- A Greek Drama
- A Greek Drama (a BBC Radio Play) – My 10 factual corrections
Tags: #ThisIsACoup, Athens, austerity, EU, euro, Greece, Syriza, Yanis Varoufakis
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December 24, 2015 at 11:29 am |
December 26, 2015 at 12:32 pm |