Erstellt am: 13. 2. 2012 - 14:35 Uhr

The "new poor" of Greece

Reality Check: Greece austerity, Venezuela opposition, ACTA, Pakistan power struggle, Occupy movements moves to new territory.

With all the talk of Greece's debt crisis, the focus is usually on the politics. The summits and negotiations, protests and policies, ever retreating deadlines, and ever increasing bailouts. There are plenty of statistics flying around about what the crisis WILL mean, but very little about what it means already. It all appears to be happening at EU summit level with ever impending defaults being narrowly avoided.

It's therefore shocking to discover that the austerity measures and economic crisis in general are already having a major impact on Greek people. The people who were last year's middle class, with comfortable homes and family cars are today's "new homeless" dependent on soup kitchens and charity accommodation. Children are fainting at school because their parents can't afford food for them, and emergency medical facilities are being set up for people who can no longer afford medicines. It sounds more like the stories we usually hear from the developing world war zones, not from an established EU country known as the home of democracy and with a flourishing tourist trade.

In Reality Check, Mark Lowen digs beneath the surface of the financial crisis and discovers how ordinary Greeks are suffering, and how they are taking their anger out on the EU, and Germany, in particular.

Opposition to Chavez

Venezuela's opposition has choosen their canditate to run against Hugo Chavez in the elections in October. The young and energetic Henrique Capriles Rodonski will stand against the aging and ailing Hugo Chavez.

Latin American expert Julia Buxton, from the University of Bradford in the UK, considers whether Venezuelans will be tempted by the promise of change, or will stick with their old favourite, Chavez, who at presents holds a strong lead in the opinion polls.

ACTA

As the debate and protests over ACTA continue, science and technology commentator, Cyrus Farivar, discusses the issue of policing the internet with Riem Higazi.

Power struggle in Pakistan

Pakistan's Supreme Court has formally charged Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani with contempt of court for refusing to re-open old corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

Our correspondent, Jason Burke, in Pakistan explains how this is the latest play in a power struggle among Pakistan's army, judiciary and government, and how important it is for the West that the government wins.

Whatever happened to the Occupy Movement?

The occupiers may no longer be on the streets, but the movement continues and has had a major impact on the political scene in the US already. Jeff Edwards of the University of Chicago has instituted a class in "Occupy Everywhere", and he tells Moore Parker about the achievements and importance of the Occupy Movement.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.