NHK英字ニュース（Greek suicide fuels austerity criticism）

今日は、ギリシャの緊縮に抵抗する市民です。

Greek suicide fuels austerity criticism
In the Greek capital Athens, a retired man shot himself in a busy public square in front of parliament buildings on Wednesday. His death is linked to harsh austerity measures by the government.

Police say the 77-year old man left a note near the site, saying that he had no choice but to take his own life before he would be forced to scavenge for food and die in misery.

The local media say he was living on pension, but could no longer afford medications for his chronic health problems after it was cut.

The incident came as a shock to the people, as the nation struggles to reduce a mountain of debt by severe austerity measures in exchange for a massive bailout from the European Union and other organizations.

In Athens, a number of people visited the site of the suicide, praying and offering flowers. A group staged a demonstration, saying that he was killed by the government.

The number of suicides is increasing in Greece as many people fall into poverty. The suicide will likely generate further resentment by the people against the harsh austerity measures.


【単語】
fuel；勢いずかせるausterity ；緊縮scavenge；あさって食うmisery；みじめなchronic；慢性のbailout ；財政援助resentment ；怒り


【一言】
学生時代に、ギリシャに旅行に行ったことあります。その時の印象は、
”何て、人生を楽しんでいる人たちなんだろう”です。
本当に、おしゃべり好きの陽気な人たちでした。
飛行機に乗ってて、もうすぐ着陸で「席についてください」のアナウンスも無視して、
多くの人が席を離れておしゃべりしてました。
”日本はどうして、こう人生を楽しまないんだろう？”
と、不思議に思ってました。