Protesters rule the web in internet backwater Greece
Posted by: Dina Kyriakidou
Greek youths long angry with dimprospects in a society they see as corrupt
and unfair, lashed out last week in the
country’s most violent and destructive riots
in decades.
Sparked by the Dec. 6 police killing of
a 15-year-old, the protests quickly
travelled through Greek communities and
other sympathisers from Moscow to New York,
a 15-year-old, the protests quickly
travelled through Greek communities and
other sympathisers from Moscow to New York,
and rang a warning bell for Europe as the
global crisis starts to take its toll.
global crisis starts to take its toll.
The Greek youths’ message moved so fast
over the Web and the
international response was so immediate that
it surprised many in a country seen as the
Internet backwater of Europe.
over the Web and the
international response was so immediate that
it surprised many in a country seen as the
Internet backwater of Europe.
“They seem to have quickly developed an
alternative, electronic news forum, which
has no limits, no taboos,” wrote commentator
Antonis Karakousis in the major daily To
Vima. “We are obviously living in different times.”
alternative, electronic news forum, which
has no limits, no taboos,” wrote commentator
Antonis Karakousis in the major daily To
Vima. “We are obviously living in different times.”
Greek youths appeared to reject
traditional media and set up their own ways
to communicate - internet and SMS messages.
traditional media and set up their own ways
to communicate - internet and SMS messages.
Facebook profiles were quickly set up for the killed
teenager, Alexandros Grigoropoulos. The
policeman who shot him has been charged with
murder and ordered jailed pending trial.
teenager, Alexandros Grigoropoulos. The
policeman who shot him has been charged with
murder and ordered jailed pending trial.
Through SMS, students quickly called for
the occupation of university buildings and
gatherings. Sites such as
http://athens.indymedia.org/ transmitted
their message, mobilised and drew support
for their protests.
the occupation of university buildings and
gatherings. Sites such as
http://athens.indymedia.org/ transmitted
their message, mobilised and drew support
for their protests.
“Legal help: what to do if you are
arrested,” is one link on indymedia, while
the site keeps the daily roster of protests
updated to the minute.
arrested,” is one link on indymedia, while
the site keeps the daily roster of protests
updated to the minute.
“Let’s keep this to our original
reporting, information we collect ourselves
and let’s leave outside what the media
establishment says,” one contributor wrote.
reporting, information we collect ourselves
and let’s leave outside what the media
establishment says,” one contributor wrote.
A group of young protesters showed their
contempt for mainstream television by
gathering in the central Monastiraki square
and smashing TV sets. They did not allow
news cameramen to film them.
contempt for mainstream television by
gathering in the central Monastiraki square
and smashing TV sets. They did not allow
news cameramen to film them.
Another group calmly walked through the
gates of the state television building and
briefly took over the news studio. They came
on the air and silently held up signs
protesting the teenager’s killing and
coverage by the media, which many young
Greeks see as part of the establishment.
gates of the state television building and
briefly took over the news studio. They came
on the air and silently held up signs
protesting the teenager’s killing and
coverage by the media, which many young
Greeks see as part of the establishment.
“We must not be afraid, we must turn off
our TVs, get out of our homes, continue to
fight, take life into our own hands,” read
pamphlets they handed to employees as they
left the building.
our TVs, get out of our homes, continue to
fight, take life into our own hands,” read
pamphlets they handed to employees as they
left the building.
“Young people are shouting ‘No’ to a
miserable present and a dead-end future,”
wrote Yannis Yannarakis in Ta Nea. “And they
are shouting it through the internet.”
miserable present and a dead-end future,”
wrote Yannis Yannarakis in Ta Nea. “And they
are shouting it through the internet.”
