Unfortunately, the refugees’ crisis is not new for Greece. The anti-immigration policies by EU – through the Dublin II convention, Frontex etc- as well as the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and so on have created massive waves of refugees in Greece and elsewhere during the previous years. For at least the last 15 years there are thousands of dead refugees in Mediterranean while there is a systematic violence of human rights. The Dublin II convention had trapped thousands of people while the EU’s anti-immigration policy is actually a criminal policy.
Meanwhile the hypocrisy by EU was expressed through generalist announcements for the protection of the human rights still the main interest of the leaders of EU was and still is to keep the borders close and the towns ‘clean’ by the desperate people.
However, the last months the refugees’ crisis is particularly intensive. For first time an impressing wave of solidarity expands across Europe. It’s now the time that we need to express our solidarity but also to strength our voice against anti-immigration policies of EU.
In this direction, Greek Social Work Action Network from its initial steps has a strong bond with the antiracist and solidarity movement in Greece.
During the previous weeks Greek Social Work Action Network participated in solidarity campaigns for the refugees in coalition with the antiracist movement. For example in Patras the Motion for the rights of Refugees and Immigrants, the Movement ‘Expel Racism’, Greek Swan and Solidarity Medical Clinic called people of Patras to express their solidarity to the refugees in Lesvos and the response was amazing. Our places were full of clothes, food etc and we sorted them out and then sent them in Lesvos.
Part of the money that Swan have sent in the group of Patras have been used by our group for buying goods for the refugees (the rest of them has been already used for covering cost of our interventions in community).
Greek Swan also participated in the European Day of refugees – 12th of September – in Syntagma square in Athens. The main slogan here wasn’t only ‘Welcome Refugees’ but also No to Fortress- Europe, No to Frontex. We also published an announcement – call for action (solidarity and resistance) for social workers in Greece and we also participate in anti-racist campaigns, demonstrations etc.
We unite our voice with the colleagues across Europe and call for solidarity to the refugees but also resistance against Fortress-Europe.
For more about Greece Social Work Action Network please visit: https://socialworkaction.wordpress.com/2015/09/24/%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BB%CE%B5%CE%B3%CE%B3%CF%8D%CE%B7-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%82-%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8C%CF%83%CF%86%CF%85%CE%B3%CE%B5%CF%82-%CE%BF%CF%87%CE%B9-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD/
