By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent
Amidst the financial blackmail orchestrated by the European Union, the Central Bank and the IMF (i.e, the German government), there is a new people-led movement under way with a remit of saving the country without bankrupting it at the same time.
Greece needs a €1.6 billion bailout, without which the government will default on its debts, a Grexit will be on the cards and all havoc will ensue. As things stand its only option is to turn to European powers to prop up its economy as it checks down the back of the sofa for loose change. But the payment comes with strict criteria. Greece must orchestrate further bouts of painful austerity on a populous already suffering from the enduring financial crisis as well as up taxes and reduce welfare. Indeed, the terms of the bailout is like an A-Z of how to cripple an economy.
There must be an alternative, thought Thom Feeney, who has set up a crowdfunding project to rescue the Greek economy. By the people, for the people, the idea is that if the entire population of Europe donated €3.19 (£2.26) we would reach the amount of the bailout fund comfortably.
It may seem ridiculously utopian, but the campaign has raised €863,021 in three days, with 50,386 people donating to the cause. There’s a few perks involved. For €3EUR + shipping you can receive a postcard from the Greek Prime Minister, €10 gets you a bottle of Ouzo and €160 gets you a Greek foods basket. If you’re feeling particularly flush €5,000 will send you and a friend/ partners to Athens for an all inclusive holiday.
Although the campaign is unlikely to reach anywhere near the amount required by the Greek government, it underscores a wider movement to provide Greece with meaningful help.
Feeney says: “This isn’t just about Greece, but about the Greek people, the working classes and trying to help other ordinary people across the world. If governments, corporations or banks won’t help, what can we do but band together. If we don’t reach that target, what a wonderful message it sends out. It shows that whether you’re a working class lad in Yorkshire, Scotland or Athens other people around the world care about you, even if your government has forgotten. You can make a difference.”
To donate on Indiegogo, click here.