The human cost of the Euro crisis
Like us, a number of our friends enclose newsletters with their Christmas cards. We enjoy catching up on events in the lives of friends whom we may not have seen for some time – but some of the news can be sad.
The most tragic news this year has been from an old friend from university days explaining that a young relative in Italy has committed suicide because of the collapse of his business. When I read this terrible news, I wondered how often this story is being repeated around Europe as the economic crisis hits so many people so hard.
In the newspaper this morning, there is a piece on the economic travails in Greece. Before the crisis, Greece had the lowest suicide rate in Europe; now it has the highest. The rate of suicide in the country has almost doubled.
This Christmas, let’s spare a thought for all those challenged by new economic hardships and especially those contemplating the ultimate price.