German Calendar Protestonaut on austerity: “After all these years of deprivation it has emerged that austerity has not saved Greece”

To recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less.
(Oscar Wilde)

About ten years have passed since the outbreak of the global financial and banking crisis. Hoping to be able to resolve the resulting upheavals in the globally networked financial and economic system, many countries have opted for a policy that takes different names: Euphemistically, it is known as “savings policy”, neutrally as “cost-cutting policy” or “austerity policy”and by many of those affected as “impoverishment policy “. Countries with austerity policies massively reduce government spending, increase taxes and duties and sell off state property to predominantly private investors.

No other country in Europe has as much experience with austerity as Greece. The Protestonaut went there to get to know and document effects and developments. After all these years of deprivation it has emerged that austerity has not saved Greece. And it has long since stopped being just about Greece. It’s about the future of Europe. Because austerity acts as an accelerator on the drifting apart of the European states.

As a keynote speech in printed form, the intention of the Protestonaut calendar is to stimulate discussion. Attention was paid to the greatest possible objectivity in its creation: Data, facts and figures are taken from studies and specialist literature.

Regarding the figure of the Protestonaut: Astronauts are explorers who have to rise to numerous challenges. In space, they have an exceptional view of the earth as they float above the problems of the blue planet. Anyone could be inside that Protestonaut suit: a shop assistant, a student, a manager, an IT specialist, a teacher – or you.
The Protestonaut

Watch the trailer:

Why have the majority of Greek citizens voted against the implementation of austerity measures in a democratic election? Why has there nevertheless been another austerity package, whose two predecessors are associated by many people in Greece with unemployment, pension cuts, the elimination of healthcare and mass impoverishment? Anyone looking for answers to these questions and more in the media will have a hard time, must do some serious research and often gather information from multiple sources.

PS: The Protestonaut got to know Greece as a wonderful country with friendly people, stunning scenery and delicious food.

Themes
January: Nationalism / Εθνικισμός
February: Closed shop / Κλείσιμο καταστημάτων
March: Solidarity / αλληλεγγύη
April: Building ruins / Οικοδομικά ερείπια
May: Industrial production / Βιομηχανική παραγωγή
June: Health care / Υπηρεσίες υγείας
July: Tourism / Τουρισμός
August: Rural exodus / Εγκατάλειψη της υπαίθρου
September: Schools and kindergartens / Σχολεία και νηπιαγωγεία
October: Forced privatisation / Αναγκαστική εκποίηση δημόσιας περιουσίας
November: Suicide rate / Ποσοστό αυτοκτονιών
December: Self-organisation / Αυτοοργάνωση

Protestonaut’s website here.