From the UK to the world to Greece

IndieGoGo has launched a crowdfunding effort. The Greek bailout fund aims to raise 1.6 bln euros for Greece to pay to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). All it would cost would be just 3 euros from each European. In return for saving Greece, donations will be rewarded with a postcard of PM Alexis Tsipras whereas larger donations will be rewarded with a feta and olive salad (delivered anywhere in the world), a bottle of ouzo and some Greek wine. Young Londoner Thomas Feeney, aged 29, launched the crowdfunding campaign just two days ago and raised 220,000 euros from nearly 14,000 people by June 30.

“I was fed up of the Greek crisis going round in circles. While politicians are dithering, this is affecting real people,” said Feeney, a shoe shop worker. “While all the posturing is going on, then it’s easy for the politicians to forget that. I just thought ‘sod it, I’ll have a crack.”

Crowdfunding requires funds being raised through contributions by large numbers of people, usually through the internet.

So far, the Greek bailout fund has reached €565,814, with 34,000+ people donating. Just €5bn to go!

From Turkey with love

Turkish politician Ertugrul Kurkcu , of the Peoples’ Demoractic Party (HDP), urged Ankara to extend a 1.6-billion-euro “zero interest loan” to Greece so as to help it repay its debts to international creditors. “Turkey’s humanitarian help in 2013 was  1.9 bln. Turkey’s resources are sufficient enough to make this aid to Greece, said Kurkcu.

HDP won 80 seats in Turkish parliament during the last elections, and the party has an alliance with SYRIZA with both parties sharing messages of solidarity on social media. “We are together with the Greek people and their government in their struggle for justice, equality and democracy and against austerity. Their struggle shows us that another Europe is possible,” writes the party in its official message. “Despite imposing austerity policies in 2010 and 2012 on Greece, EC-ECB-IMF still continue on those policies that lead up to dead end and without considering the democratic will of the Greek people they keep a strict negative approach to the Greek Government’s proposals.”

“In these crucial times, we reaffirm our solidarity with Greek people and their government. We express our solidarity with the Greek people, the Greek Government and with Syriza in favour of a Europe of sovereign nations, united in solidarity. Hereby once again we express our belief that an egalitarian, just and libertarian world is closer than ever,” says the HDP party, underlining that the people will never be defeated.

From distant Australia

Brisbane’s Greeks were called to rally in Brisbane’s King George Square on Saturday at 10 a.m. The Australian rally is called by John Savvas, a construction industry training manager, who wants the people of Greece to know that Greek Australians understand what they are going through and support them.

“We are getting together Greeks from all walks of life and – all Australians – in solidarity to show that austerity and the international banking community have been strangling the country for five years,” said Mr. Savvas, who supports a ‘no’ vote in the referendum. He said that suicide rates have escalated by 30% by 2012. “We just want to give the Greeks over there some hope when they go to vote on Sunday.”