Portraits From Greece as It Endures a Crisis

Από:http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/06/22/business/international/greece-crisis-portraits.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

Photographs by EIRINI VOURLOUMIS for THE NEW YORK TIMES JUNE 23, 2015

The country is no stranger to unrest. As the weak link in the 19-nation eurozone, it is struggling to repay billions in debt. If Greece goes bankrupt or decides to leave the eurozone, the situation could have a profound effect on its citizens and reverberate around the globe. Here is a glimpse into the lives of some Greeks, from residents of a small island to those in the country’s capital.

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   HYDRA
   Christina Economou
   Restaurant owner, 59I am mostly sad from this situation because I have memories of growing up in a society where we were raised with strong moral beliefs and values. I feel that this has been lost through the corrupt political system we have. Politicians throughout the years have given jobs for votes and inflated the public sector because of this. We have learned to have things come easy and have become lazy as a nation.
   

   Ms. Economou owns a restaurant named after herself on Hydra, a Greek island known for its tourism. She has worked 12-hour days there for the last 23 years.

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   HYDRA
   Akindinos Dardanos
   Greek Orthodox priest, 49
   What concerns me most as I have five children is their future and the high levels of youth unemployment we are facing. Three of them are studying and I fear they will have no prospects.Father Dardanos said that as a man of God he has faith in Greece’s ability to bounce back, but he also sees a long, slow recovery ahead for his country — whatever

Father Dardanos said that as a man of God he has faith in Greece’s ability to bounce back, but he also sees a long, slow recovery ahead for his country — whatever the outcome.

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   HYDRA

   Yiannis Belegris

   Vice mayor, 48

    We cannot make plans for the future because we have been living in a state of uneasiness for over a period of five years. With more political conflict tourists will hesitate to come and this will make our situation harder.
   

   Mr. Belegris thinks that the uncertainty of Greece’s future has been detrimental, because it has driven visitors away from a place that depends on tourism thriving.

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HYDRA
Pantelis Lembessis

Harbor traffic controller, 69

For the Greek people this crisis came like a thunder out of nowhere. This was not created by us but by the politicians themselves. They knew why we went down financially and things they should have done years ago they are now trying to do overnight.

Mr. Lembessis said he is not afraid of exiting the eurozone, and has confidence in his country’s ability to rebuild after unrest.

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