This week's newsletter from AthensLive is out:     The train crash was NOT a tragedy

*  The signs had long been there

*  “Tragic human error”? Instead, a series of them from actors with power

*  When you control the media, you can alter the story

- are the main headlines to be found inside this highly informative weekly must-read from and about Greece.

The country is grieving the train collision victims on Tuesday, 28 February 2023, at 23.21 in Tempi, Central Greece. The news was shocking. It is “the biggest train accident in Greece’s history,” as the Panhellenic Rail Workers Federation president Ioannis Nitsas said.

As we write, the emergency services are still at work, trying to detect and release the bodies inside - or what remained of them. The number of dead as of Friday was 57; 36 of them confirmed their identity. Thirty-eight passengers are hospitalized, seven of them in ICUs.

This accident, however, was not a tragedy. In ancient tragedies, the hero ignores a substantial piece of information that is meant to shape his destiny. In this case, the state knew and had repeatedly been warned about an accident waiting to happen, mainly due to crucial shortages in infrastructure and understaffing - and yet it let it happen.It cannot be recommended strongly enough to read and share this week's updates on the events and developments in Greece here:

https://steadyhq.com/en/athenslivegr/posts/3e1dcd02-ebc1-4af0-a5c6-f8a03ab401af

For anyone with a wish or need to follow and to gain an insight into recent events in Greece and to read and support independent and investigative journalism in English, the weekly newsletter from AthensLive should be a core element in the reading flow.

If you want the best overview of the events and developments in Greece right now, this is the place to go. Not the mainstream Greek news, but independent journalism with sharp analysis and links to interesting and important topics from a variety of sources.

Become a member and get the newsletter in your inbox every week here:

This week's newsletter from AthensLive is out:       "Our lives matter" - the train crash that woke up the country after a decade in "shock doctrine" hibernation

*  Too little, too late

*  What Conflict of Interest? The term does not even exist in Greece

*  After many years, Greeks met again on the streets flooding with anger and grief.

- are the main headlines to be found inside this highly informative weekly must-read from and about Greece. This week the whole country took its anger and grief to the streets. On the occasion of the horrific train crash in Tempi on 28 February 23.21, the most massive demonstration since 2015 occurred on Wednesday in Athens, accompanied by protests in 75 cities and towns. The PM apologized for the accident to minimize political damage, and the government tried to appear sad. Yet, the police attacked the demonstrations, and the orchestrated effort against journalists and TV people expressing harsh criticism continued unabated. The government also kept up with breaching the Constitution. Taking advantage of the nation focusing on the horrific event and being collectively traumatized, they proceeded with “business as usual,” tabling anti-popular bills.

It cannot be recommended strongly enough to read and share this week's updates on the events and developments in Greece here:

https://steadyhq.com/en/athenslivegr/posts/cb4242a4-0fd9-445f-97b4-024bb1eb03b5

For anyone with a wish or need to follow and to gain an insight into recent events in Greece and to read and support independent and investigative journalism in English, the weekly newsletter from AthensLive should be a core element in the reading flow.

If you want the best overview of the events and developments in Greece right now, this is the place to go. Not the mainstream Greek news, but independent journalism with sharp analysis and links to interesting and important topics from a variety of sources.

Become a member and get the newsletter in your inbox every week here:

Sending an sms to exit home has a pedagogic funtion, state minister and close associate of the Prime Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis said on Thursday.

Speaking to Skai radio, Gerapetritis said about the use of sms Greeks have to send to exit home for several activities or go shopping:

“If we had more ICUs, we would have more deaths.” This unbelievable claim came by State Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis on Tuesday morning. The close aide of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that if the  hospitals were equipped with more ICUs, then more patients would die as 50% of Covid-19 patients in ICU do not survive.

Speaking to state broadcaster ERT Gerapatritis said: “If we had 5,000 ICUs, this would mean in the normal course of events that we would have a much higher number of dead.” The purpose “is not to maximize those who enter the special treatment, but to reduce the phenomenon,” he added.

Gerapetritis’ argument was the response to criticism to the shortage of ICU beds amid the pandemic.

“Obviously we would like to have two, three and five thousand ICUs. But keep in mind that ICUs are not the solution, we must first take care of ourselves so that we do not have to resort to these Units. Assuming we had 5,000 ICUs this would mean we would have a much higher number of deaths. Because mortality in ICUs is halved. The aim is not to increase those who enter but to reduce the phenomenon by observing the measures and having as much social distance as possible.”

The statements of the State Minister are made a day after a 35-year-old Covid-patient died in Trikala, central Greece. The man was in need of ICU but as there was no bed available in Trikala or in the broader area of Thessaly, he was supposed to be transferred to Halkida, some 250 km away. The virus was quicker. The man  died of cardiac arrest as many Covid-patients.

The depth of nonsense* must be immense among the populist “Trumpistas” inside the Greek government. According to Gerapetritis, 5,000 ICUs would equal with 2,500 deaths, 50,000 ICUs with 25,000 deaths.