Working together

What has been very noticeable over the last week or so is that both my "surgeries" at the town hall, my emails and the working groups that have been set up are becoming more integrated. More Greek people are approaching me for help and information and they are also taking part in animal and environmental issues. In this current crisis we all have to live and work together for the good of our community. The idea of volunteering is not one that Greek people are used to. It is not in their tradition. Until now help has been family orientated with big extended families but as the young people travel to find work and the old folks stay home this is beginning to change, another factor is the number of immigrants without families to help out. In many areas there are no - or ver few, social welfare groups to help out and there is no big government social welfare scheme with unemployment and social services if you have not got the requisite number of "stamps on your card'. Pensions and wages have been cut - it is not easy to survive on 280 euro per month as one mentally and physically handicapped person I know has to do ( and that to cover board, food and clothing, full time care and anything else needed). Times are not easy at the moment but we still live on a beautiful island and we must help, take care and pull together to pass through these times.
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