Caught between popular unrest and international arm-twisting, the Greek state has all but fallen into irrelevancy. Unable to wield a monopoly of violence in the face of constant protest and riot, they are no longer in control of their own economy thanks to the EU, ECB (European Central Bank) and IMF cabal known as the Troika. The Troika is responsible Greece's new political leadership, right up to Prime Minister Lucas Padademos. PM Papademos, who's previous jobs include senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston and Vice-President of the European Central Bank, was not elected by the Greek people but selected by his friends and allies- the global financial elite. He is one of them, and he and his ilk bear the responsibility for the financial crisis he is expected to fix. If you want to see similarity between a military invasion and a financial one look no further than how the Greek constitution is being amended. It requires Greece to pay back their debts before spending a single penny on their own people, aka if they kiss the Troika's ring and grovel so that they may be allowed to eat this year, no promises though.

It's hard to argue against more integration and fewer borders in Europe, given the 'troubles' that Europe suffered during the tricky 1st half of the 20th century. But for some the European Project is a different beast entirely. For EU commissioners and the politicians its Franco-German heart, the European Project is their ego, the thing to which they have invested their lives and by which they will be judged. It is a power structure which has seen barely accountable national institutions be replaced by almost totally unaccountable transnational ones. As any Brit who didn't live under a rock during the 13 years of Labour rule could testify, a system that could elevate Peter Mandelson to a position of power (he served as British EU Commissioner '04-'08) is rotten to the core.

The sad thing is that closer ties among Europeans benefit everyone, however a core of the European political elite are perverting integration in a bid to create a European version of the US Federal Reserve. As supersized bilderburger Mayer Rothschild explained (handily giving the game away) "Permit me to issue and control the money of a nation, and I care not who makes its laws".

This is part of Greece and the EU's problem. They want the Greek state's monopoly on violence to harnessed to enrich the coffers of the ECB and the Northern (ie German) economy. But the Greek state such a wreck after years of neo-liberalism and financial meltdown, it is little more than a bystander in its own territory. In the face of massive state violence, anarchists, workers and local communities have succeeded in taken over the day to day running of much of the vital infrastructure. The occupied “Municipal Market of Kypselli”, which addresses the housing needs of local residents, is being targeted by a new wave of police-municipal repression. On Saturday 3rd of March over 1000 people marched to defend this and other autonomous urban spaces.

The Occupied Hospital of Kilkis, occupied and managed by its workers since the 20th of February struggles to do its job with little help from the state. Even before it was occupied, its workers were rarely paid. Even during the 'boom' times hospital workers' salaries were as low as €800 per month, since the crisis they're lucky if they receive any money at all.

From the unique vantage point of our Brighton based office we can breathe the heady revolutionary air sweeping Greece. No matter what deals are done behind closed doors; whether Drachma or Euro, Panhellenic Socialist or New Democracy party, the present system, two things are clear: Firstly, Greece's future will be decided on its streets not in parliament (neither Greek nor European), and secondly, what's happening today in Greece will be visiting us soon.