VERSIONS: روسيا اليوم NOTICIAS FREEVIDEO ИНОТВ RTД
breakingnews
Go to main page   News   In da crisis: Greek hip hop against austerity  
MORE ON THE STORY
Masked demonstrators in Athens on October 20, 2011 (AFP Photo / Louisa Gouliamaki) 21.10.2011, 10:56 7 comments

Greece: cradle of austerity

Greece wakes up this morning to a new age of austerity. Parliament has passed a fresh package of pay cuts and tax hikes in attempt to stave off bankruptcy. The decision has been met with violent unrest in Athens.

Eurozone crisis
Health workers chant slogans by the Greek Parliament at Athens Syntagma square (AFP Photo / Louisa Gouliamaki) 20.10.2011, 11:59 10 comments

Greeks back austerity bill as police clash with protesters

The unpopular austerity bill has finally been passed following a vote in the Greek Parliament, while outside police were using tear-gas to disperse the thousands of demonstrators that had gathered around the parliamentary building in Athens.

Eurozone crisis
People demonstrating in front of the Greek parliament in Athens on October 19, 2011 (AFP Photo / Aris Messinis) 19.10.2011, 11:12 10 comments

Protesters and police clash amid largest Greek strike (VIDEO)

Police and protesters in Athens have clashed outside the parliament during the largest protest since financial turmoil began crippling the country. About 200, 000 people have taken part in the so-called “mother of all strikes” in Greece.

Eurozone crisis
Greek indignants sitting at central Athens Syntagma square in front of the Greek Parliament during the global day of action on October 15, 2011.  (AFP Photo / Louisa Gouliamaki) 18.10.2011, 12:20 4 comments

Greekonomics: make-or-break week

Greece faces another tough week, with a key parliamentary vote on even more belt-tightening. But angry Greeks are trying to resist the punishing cuts with strikes and sit-ins which have again ground the country to a halt.

Eurozone crisis
Anti riot policemen are targeted with a molotov cocktail during a protest rally marking the 24-hour general strike on October 5, 2011 (AFP Photo / Louisa Gouliamaki) 06.10.2011, 10:06 1 comment

Greek cops add severity to austerity

Greece's latest 24-hour national strike turned violent, with police firing tear gas on angry crowds of protesters.

Eurozone crisis
AFP Photo / Louisa Gouliamaki 25.10.2011, 22:45

EU bogged down in euro crisis

The EU's turbulent quest to pull the Eurozone out of its debt spiral has hit another snag. Several key meetings aimed at forming a plan have been cancelled, and doubt is growing that EU leaders can overcome their differences.

Eurozone crisis
British Prime Minister David Cameron speaks during a press conference as part of an European Council at the Justus Lipsius building, EU headquarters in Brussels on October 23, 2011 (AFP Photo / Jean-Cristophe Verhaegen) 24.10.2011, 21:29 11 comments

‘EU club is costly with dubious benefits’ – British MEP

An Anti-EU rebellion has been crushed in the British parliament, but still left PM David Cameron looking red-faced after his own party members stood against him.

In da crisis: Greek hip hop against austerity

Published: 26 October, 2011, 10:12

Students shout slogans during a demonstration in central Athens on October 12, 2011 (AFP Photo / Angelos Tzortzinis)

(28.8Mb) embed video

TAGS: Art, Music, EU, Crisis, Politics, Budget, Cary Johnston, Sara Firth, Banking, Economy, Greece


As talks continue to try to find a resolution to the euro zone crisis, RT has found a group of people who are cutting through the political rhetoric and telling it how it really is – Greek hip hop artists, “Soul System.”

There will be no finance ministers' meeting before the leaders' summit in Brussels – a sign that there are doubts that that EU leaders will be able to come up with a rescue package on their own.

While hopes for a political way out of the crisis are fading, “Soul System” are finding inspiration elsewhere. Their political rap lyrics have been striking a chord with the Greek people.

“We play at the protests and in the squares. The situation in Greece is really tough – everything has reversed from what we used to know a few years ago.We say with our own lyrics how we perceive things that are happening in our society,” says one of the musicians.

Whilst performing in unison may come naturally to the group, euro zone leaders have increasingly been failing to sing from the same hymn sheet.

“You cannot take 27 different countries, 21 different languages all with their own different histories and different forms of government, you cannot take them and force them into one unified form of government without first getting their approval,” says British MEP Nigel Farage. “That approval has never been given and the European project actually is dying as we look at it.”

As the battle to come up with a rescue plan for the ailing EU continues, talks have been marred by bickering amongst the member states.

“We now have the Greeks abusing the Germans – they now burn EU flags in Athens openly with swastikas drawn on them. And we have the Germans slagging off the Greeks as being lazy and useless,” Farage goes on. “And the irony of this project is that far from us all becoming friends together in this new European house, actually we are beginning to argue and bicker in the most extraordinary way.”

But as Greeks face austerity cuts which are slashing jobs, wages and pensions, protesters in the streets claim those in power in Brussels and Athens are to blame, putting political games before the needs of people.

“All the politicians have to speak to each other. Nobody speaks to each other – that’s the big problem. Everyone does what they want – the left party, the right party – but nobody hears the people,” says one of the protesters on the streets of Athens.

As major political decisions and talks continue to take place behind closed doors, “Soul System” are determined to take the discussion back to the streets. They say: “If we get our message across to people and help them understand, we feel we’ve succeeded in something. We don’t know where this situation is going. We know why this has started, but we don’t know where it will end.”

While “Soul System” pumps out music in tune with the mood of the people, EU leaders' assertions that they can find a solution to the zone’s problems has left them sounding to some like a broken record.

+1 (1 votes)
 
Back to top
next MORE NEWS
American newspapers carry front-page news of Gaddafi's death 26.10.2011, 09:49 30 comments

US media on Gaddafi: In praise of lynching

The mainstream US media has reacted to Muammar Gaddafi's brutal lynching with a tidal wave of cheers and approval, trumpeting the Colonel’s death as the start of a new era for Libya.

Libyan conflict
A person walks by the banner of the 2nd China Europa business convention (AFP Photo / Mychele Daniau) 26.10.2011, 12:21 7 comments

China names its price for EU help

China, as the country with the world’s biggest financial reserves, has thrown its weight behind the EU’s efforts to contain its financial crisis, offering European countries its broad financial shoulder to lean on.

Eurozone crisis US debt crisis
Milan October 27, 2011, 10:21
0

Two days ago, I  talk with friend from Greek. He (as do I) think that Greek is not far from economy collapse and ain't sure that money help from eu would made radical change. Anyway, the situation is bad, and it's going to be even worse in a days to come. Not mention that have two very greedy neighbor: turkey and albania, but that is another story...

bstockert October 27, 2011, 07:18
0

yes! absolutely! rap and hip-hop saves the world! come on RT, slow news day?

james r. October 26, 2011, 22:48
0

It will never end! for the cradle of democracy, Merkel has stated she wants permanent supervision of the Greek economy. Seventy years ago, concepts of "permanent supervision" meant Panzer Divisions, Tanks, Troops,Planes as well Blitzkriegs!  However, today Germany invades employing flawed! financial data,from dubious Ratings Agencies, fronted by an IMF not! one citizen from the affected countries has voted for, all for the sake of letting! Corporations operate in a 'consequence free!' environment. Italy is next?, I hope my Italian Brethren across the ocean will say no! to this evil.