Ecoclub Focus™ - Tourism & Geopolitics from an ecosocialist perspective

Greece will come to a standstill on Friday 28 February as mass demonstrations will be held across the country to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the deadliest train crash in Greece, in Tempi, Thessaly, which claimed 57 victims. Demonstrators are angry against what they perceive as the government's attempt to cover their responsibilities and, literally, their tracks, but the post-crisis economic model which serves the few is also a major factor, as is an understanding that railway privatization was a grave error. The train service was privatized in 2017 during the Greek financial crisis as part of the EU's 'bailout agreement' and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Italy's Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane. Court proceedings are still underway, while there is an ongoing debate and investigation into whether the freight train that collided head-on with the passenger train was illegally carrying a hydrocarbon load used for fuel oil adulteration, resulting in the huge blaze that killed most of the victims. The embattled center-right, pro-atlanticist Mitsotakis administration will mobilize thousands of policemen fearing mass riots, and is blaming everyone including, opposition parties, victim's relatives, and even Russia for fueling the demonstrations. A general nationwide strike has been called and it is also affecting domestic and international flights and ferry services, ahead of the traditional Kathara Deftera (Clean Monday) extended weekend. Travel advisories have been issued by foreign countries such as the UK.