http://www.zerohedge.com/news/54-year-old-italian-dies-after-self-immolating-front-parliament
Submitted by Tyler Durden on 08/19/2012 11:30 -0400
54-Year-Old Italian Dies After Self-Immolating In Front Of Parliament
First Tunisia, then Greece, now Italy (the same Italy where the economy is "picking up" where yields are "stable", and where much "progress" is being made). From Reuters: "A 54-year-old man died on Sunday after setting himself on fire outside the Italian parliament last week to highlight his struggle with unemployment, police said. Angelo di Carlo suffered 85 percent burns after the incident in front of the lower house of parliament - the Chamber of Deputies - in central Rome during the early hours of August 11, Italian media reported. Police on duty nearby put out the flames with fire extinguishers and took him to hospital. The widowerwas facing economic difficulties after losing his job and had struggled for years before that with temporary work contracts that offered little protection or benefits, according to media reports...Di Carlo's death is the latest in a wave of highly publicized suicides linked to financial woes in recent months which have highlighted the human cost of the country's economic crisis."
It won't be the last. But for as long as the myth that the welfare state is "sustainable" exists, do not expect the Arab Spring domino effect that took the MENA region by storm following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in late 2010 to be replicated in Europe any time soon. After all, "developed world" people are still convinced they have far too much to lose if they even consider a revolution: thank you Bismarck.
and recalling three hundred Greeks have committed suicide so far as austerity has wrecked lives there , why the fear of leaving the euro remains a puzzle....
and....
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/1/57744
| Press Watch, August 17 | |||||
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The Athens press focused on the question that has preoccupied everyone for months – will the euro survive? The problem is that no one is quite sure what the German economic elite wants, but everyone knows that the ball is in Berlin’s court. Given that, much attention was paid to the upcoming meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande.
The Athens press noted that the two will be discussing the Greek situation, on the eve of Prime Minister Samaras’ planned visits to their respective capitals. The Greek premier intends to send out trial balloons for a possible two-year extension of the fiscal adjustment period. But Athens is alarmed over growing speculation – by EU politicians and media - about the prospect of a Greek bankruptcy.
The deepening predicament in the Greek banking sector also captured attention, as the 31 billion euro loan tranche that Athens is expecting will go mostly to the recapitalisation of Greek banks, and the delay in disbursing the funds is not helping. Some analysts say that a nationalisation of the banks – which have an estimated 48 billion euros in bad loans - is inevitable.
The statement by main opposition Syriza MP Panagiotis Lafazanis that a Greek bankruptcy need not necessarily be catastrophic also garnered attention, as it sparked a war of words between the left-wing party and ruling New Democracy. ND characterized the statement as “shameful”. Lafazanis said that bankruptcy is a tool for the poor when they cannot pay their debt. Oddly enough, the economics editor of Spiegel International argued in an August 15 column that a Greek bankruptcy may be the best solution, both for the eurozone and for Athens.
“Fiery rendezvous over Greece and the euro” read Ethnos’ headline on the August 23 Merkel-Hollande talks, where Greece, Spain and Italy will be on the agenda. The report said that Eurogroup chairman Jean-Claude Juncker will be visiting Athens on August 22, where he is expected to offer public encouragement of the efforts of Premier Antonis Samaras. He’ll need the massage, because he’s probably in for a good whipping from Merkel. “War broke out over the new ‘unfair’ by Lafazanis” read another front page title on the ND-Syriza tiff.
“Inflationary domino for milk, meat and bread” reported Eleftheros Typos’ headline. It spoke of price hikes of 5-10 percent and noted that the drought in the US is hitting Greek families hard as well.
“Merkel-Hollande meeting, on Greece as well” reported Kathimerini’s front page story. It described as “crucial” Samaras’ upcoming meetings with Merkel and Hollande. “Bad loans reach 48 billion euros” read another front page title. The poor bankers are pressing the government to speed up the finalisation of the recapitalization terms.
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