All those people

asking for change on the streets, in the bus/train stations etc. Where do they all come from? Why do they need the change for? Do they only exist in GR or in other countries as well?

Just yesterday in Thessaloniki there were 2 different people that asked me for change on the street, not in the begging mode but just approaching me and saying that they need to buy sth (i.e. a phonecard) and they are like 50 cents short...I try to understand the situation. Some of these people look pretty normal (like people who could actually be working or somehow earning their living). A lot of them look like they are actually homeless or drug addicts and basically do not have any sources of income, and instead of begging they ask for money in this way. The truth is, in any case, that they don't need the change to buy a phonecard. They know it, you know it, everyone does. But what's the deal: do you give them the change they need, or you don't? I still don't have a definite answer on this one, as it mostly depends - i am sorry to say that - on my mood or on how much in a hurry i am every time i meet a person on the street asking for change.

It's the same old story with the children in the traffic lights selling different stuff, like tissues etc. Do you buy to support them or do you say no to them? If you don't buy, they might starve. But if you do, you are actually supporting the people who are taking advantage of them, who took them out on the streets to sell procucts for them and make some profit out of children who cannot defend themselves in ages below 10 years old.

Reality is that it's all a big game of lies. I really wonder how these people feel, lying all the time ("I need some change to buy a phonecard") and being lied to all the time ("I don't have change on me, i am sorry"), their days remaining desperate and similar to each other, not improving a single bit. Fact remains that apart from some organisations with the aim of helping exploited kinds in my country, there's not so much of a movement to help these people get a decent life for themselves, cos i am sure they would probably prefer having a place to stay and earn a steady income if they had the chance to.

I am very interested in looking more into this phenomenon for Greece at least. Last night there was a big concert with 50 very popular Greek singers for aiding the people of SE Asia struck by the tsunami. The total amount raised so far from Greek citizens is about 20 mln EUR, which is a lot compared to the external debt of the country, and the salaries that we earn here. It shows that there's been a great deal of humanitarian effort by everyone to help people in far away lands.

However, one more thing that struck me was what one of the singers said on stage last night: "I am grateful for all this movement support our fellow peoples, but i hope the next such concer we organise will be for the purpose of supporting the homeless people of Athens".