victims of police tear gas attack (below), and fires started by protesters (above), choke the citizens of Athens as riots grip the city
Athens on Fire: Photographs and text by Panos Skoulidas Athens, Greece December 7, 2009
a YEAR AGO FROM TODAY…POLICE SHOT AND KILLED A 15 YEAR OLD KID…
point blank..
His name was ALEXIS…15 year old…
Last year was on fire for a whole month…
A year later…in his memory..
All schools are closed..Thousands of students protesting in the middle of Athens..
The “Kratos”…the state … ( GOVERNMENT )named all those students as “ANARCHISTS”…
900 ARE DETAINED SINCE YESTERDAY…
i was briefly detained two nights ago… but my American citizenship helped me out..
The police ( ordered by the Greek government )…are out of control…
THEY VIOLATE EVERY HUMAN RIGHT POSSIBLE…
let me explain:..They stop you in the middle of the street…ask for id or passport..
if you do not have one you get arrested..
if you are an immigrant..you are jailed for 3 months at least…
Greek police with no authorization .
interrogates, harasses and jails “illegal” immigrants…
If you are a student , poor…or look “weird” you are immediately detained and charged as a terrorist..
All that because Greece is close to bankruptcy…
Despair,high rates of unemployment… corrupted politicians…
dirty church leaders…etc..
If you dare to protest….then you go to jail…
you are a terrorist…
Greece is the only European country that still send to jail drug users…
The only country in the western world that fails to understand that drug use is a disease and not a crime..
What a shame for the country that gave birth to Socrates and invented Democracy..
shame…
Panos Skoulidas
(editor’s note: the above photo and caption provided by Skoulidas and is considered an editorial..few facts on this are known by Burn at the moment of publication..dah)
Associated Press report:http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091206/athens_riots_091206/20091206?hub=World
PANOS…I am waiting at the station…
I am wearing a black hat …handmade logo …BURN ( orange and red…)
I look weird…people are starring …where are you ???
Civi..
im gonna travel north around 11pm before midnight..
i’ll make it in Amvrakia around 4am..
no umbrella…
…in the meantime..i just came back from another demonstration…
The older generation on the streets…
the Retirees…
while i was shooting a really cool guy with a heavy british accent asked me:
who is demonstrating today?
it turns out to be the Professor of Enviromental Politics and Political Sociology and Director,
Centre for the Study of Social & Political Movements from the University of Kent…Canterbury UK.
He is in athens for a few days…etc..
to make a long story short , we talked philosophy, religion, photography, politics etc…
We visited the Acropolis, the ancient Cemetary, the Kerameikos, the Roman Agora and all the museums around Plaka..etc… We had Mythos and greek salads and talked about the world..
Anyway , i have an extended reportage about our visit in those ancient locations..
PLUS …photos from Demonstrations…
PLUS ….A RARE REPORTAGE OF THE CITY OF GARBAGE…
The municipal workers of Athens are on strike for about a week ( maybe two)..
garbage piling up to 6 feet height…
im 6′3″ and and some cases garbage piles were taller than me….
Anyway…
it was a great day…i will try to post a link before i’ll get on the road tonight heading west..
trying to meet the storm…
big hug yall
Panos, you seem to have found your place to be and work, your enthusiasm is exploding off the screen. The negativity has evaporated.
ciao
PANOS…
any chance of getting a portrait of the mother of the Alexis as we spoke? that would really round out your work here i think….
IAN…big thank u..
ALL…PLZ DONT GO AWAY..
NEW LINK COMING UP IN A FEW MINUTES…
Completely different style of narration..
i hope i wont disappoint anyone..:)
DAVID…
At this point it is easier to talk to Obama …in person,
than find Alexis mother…she refuses to meet anyone that is connected with
the media…Politicians and the cheap, emotional stations (tv) exploited and used the tragic death of Alexis..for publicity and rates…
They used the murder in a disgusting way..i dont blame her..but i keep trying..
calling people etc…but at this point nobody trusts nobody..
but ..im not giving up..
ok..ALL..
as i promised..
new reportage from the city of Athens ( garbage , trash and ancient glory )
click below:
http://picasaweb.google.com/innerspacecowpanos/Tif19?authkey=Gv1sRgCIfV_P2nrP63tgE#slideshow/5413330230471142898
http://picasaweb.google.com/innerspacecowpanos/Tif19?authkey=Gv1sRgCIfV_P2nrP63tgE#
or click above if u prefer a proof sheet form of presentation…
enjoy
PANOS,
I was waiting to long at the station….hmmmm
Anyways… the key will be under the 2nd pot …
Santa …decoration…
No kidding .
Safe travels!!!
toooo longgggggggggg
Brrr!!!
I see now…why you missed the bus…
you are forgiven….:)))
ouzo on you though .
WHAT NOT TO LOVE !!!
Love the shot with the dog looming in the foreground.
JIMMY ,
your key is ready …!!!
I told you BURNIANS are coming over …
Jim..#23..
agree..:)
http://picasaweb.google.com/innerspacecowpanos/Tif19?authkey=Gv1sRgCIfV_P2nrP63tgE#slideshow/5413330795288254210
#25….Ancient greeks created magic…modern greeks?…trash….
————————————-
Magic always easier with slaves around (democracy too!), trash is when we are all free, life is just that harder…. Without slaves :-))))
Ladies & Gentlemen…
Couple nights ago i was wandering as usual in the city of Mustaches…
trying in vain to entertain myself..and soon i discovered an amazing band
called the DUSTBOWL….
http://picasaweb.google.com/innerspacecowpanos/Tif20?authkey=Gv1sRgCJbXhpWDnuHqkwE#slideshow/5414001504969013970
I have a couple of questions: If you were to get ‘an audience with Obama’ what would you ask him?! And did you find your way out of ALL that garbage?!
If you have and are now missing garbage, I can recommend a trip to India! NEVER have I seen so much! I failed to escape for months from it, and the smell of it, and who knows what is mixed in with it. People said I was MAD to do the holy dips in the Ganges – they said I was in danger of getting seriously sick but time spent on and in that river was one of the most amazing things ever. But, I so hope a time will come when India’s garbage and the mess everyone contributes to, is sorted out. But then if Gandhi couldn’t do it (he tried pretty hard to get the country to clean up) who can? What a joy to spend time in Thailand which is so very clean in comparison!
Awewome that second image above! It looks like an amazing experience all in all in Athens!
Enjoy it!
Jenny : )
Jenny thank you..
sorry missed that comment…
hmmm the Obama question…
let me think ..totally unprepared…
( i need to be politically correct on this one…coz i like the guy..)
big hug
panos skoulidas
March 11, 2010 at 1:16 pm
sorry..that is the greek room…
panos skoulidas
March 11, 2010 at 1:12 pm
OK ALL..FIVE MORE MINUTES..and i’ll post a slideshow…
today it was the most intense street fights i ever witnessed…
in the streets of Athens…
big fat greek mess…
at one point when the chemicals were getting dropped like crazy…
i thought i saw zoriah… sorry i meant to say “messiah”…
(oh btw..who wants to sign in for a greek workshop called Athens on Fire?
i only charge $8000 euro and u get the Tear gas for FREE…yes free..
the last day free field trip to Acropolis..
laughing….
stay tuned..couple more minutes..
update…3/11/2010
ALL PHOTOS HERE..PROOF SHEET..CLICK ON A PHOTO TO ENLARGE IT..ENJOY:
http://picasaweb.google.com/innerspacecowpanos/JPEG04#
panos skoulidas
March 11, 2010 at 1:17 pm
BIG FAT GREEK SLIDESHOW?…why not? click below:
http://picasaweb.google.com/innerspacecowpanos/JPEG04#slideshow/5447439299737200610