Protests in Madrid went off peaceably - Barcelona, however..

[Famous Graham]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiW-NesA-YM

I appreciate that the soundtrack and editing is deliberately emotive, but some of the scenes in that video are pretty clear cut.

[grumbledoak]

Not sure what you are trying to say, mate. Deliberately annoying the riot police isn't a great idea in any country. I didn't see anyone shot or beaten to death.

[Famous Graham]

I was just trying to say that, judging by the scenes in the video anyway, the cops were rather brutal. Several instances of folk being beaten with batons with no obvious reason other than sitting down.

[AJS-]

Is that recent? They look like proper grungies from the 1970s.

And proper thuggish police, also from Spain in the 1970s.

[The jiffle king]

I live in Barcelona and it could be recent. Protesters have occupied the main square for about 2 weeks now and it has been mainly good natured. They are keeping it very clean, have sanitation and support from a lot of young people.
On Friday, the police did go in heavy handed but on Saturday and Sunday Plaça Catalunya was still occupied although by fewer people. My speculation is that the authorities wanted it cleared before the champions league final as this square is where a lot of Barça fans congregate after the games. It´s only my thought, not fact, but it is still occupied.
I´m surprised anyone is still there as it felt like the whole city went onto the streets to watch the game in organised viewings

[EDLT]

AJS- said:

Is that recent? They look like proper grungies from the 1970s.

And proper thuggish police, also from Spain in the 1970s.

Its still 1960 in Spain.

What are they protesting about, lack of shampoo to wash the weed smell out of their dreadlocks?

[Tsippy]

It's to do with unemployment of around 45% for 18-25 year olds I think?

[The jiffle king]

45% youth unemployment, 21% general unemployment, lack of opportunities coming through etc etc

[Murcielago_Boy]

The jiffle king said:

45% youth unemployment, 21% general unemployment, lack of opportunities coming through etc etc

No one works in this country whether there are jobs or not...

[turbobloke]

Was that part of the current nationwide city centre camp-out and sit-down protests from the entrepreneurs and professionals otherwise unoccupied proles? If so, I've heard of one or two instances of such squatters being asked to move for a reason (e.g. to clean the square in one case) but they wouldn't budge, so the police nudged them off with the help of some sticks. This is news? It should be a training video for our lot before the next round of students anarchists and submarxists hits London.

[The jiffle king]

Murcielago_Boy said:

No one works in this country whether there are jobs or not...

Interesting viewpoint, the Spanish would have you believe that they work the most hours of anyone in Europe. Not saying I agree, just sharing the thoughts of those that i meet.

[turbobloke]

The jiffle king said:

Murcielago_Boy said:

No one works in this country whether there are jobs or not...

Interesting viewpoint, the Spanish would have you believe that they work the most hours of anyone in Europe. Not saying I agree, just sharing the thoughts of those that i meet.

When I'm seeing anybody from management down to a counter clerk in the branch of Barclays where I occasionally pop in (not far from Cadiz) I take a packed lunch and a book.

So it depends on what's meant by 'work'.

[The jiffle king]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Tonker - You´re bringing reason to the situation and they are not at that stage yet. The fiscal measures so far have been quite tough (5% public sector pay cut, tax rises) but nothing that will solve the problem. Can´t disagree with your point, but like the UK, people are used to great benefits and being looked after and times have changed. They are however still buying the products my company makes and it´s a cracking place to live

[AJS-]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's pretty much the story of Europe as a whole right now. Not just Spain or the PIIGS but the whole continent and the UK.

We don't have the money to fund what we regard as rights. And no matter how big we make the pot, no matter how many countries join the Euro, there will never ultimately be enough to pay for a system where everyone expects to live in a nice house, drive a new car, work 37 hours a week and retire at 50.

It's a simple matter of more going out than coming in. But solving it is anything but simple.

No politician can afford to say that they will alter this system because they would never get elected, instead they have to play along with the cruel deceit that they can tinker and mess around a bit, and it will all be alright.

That's as true of the NHS and our social housing as it is of Spain's lavish retirement or Greece's bloated public sector.

It won't last. Sooner or later there will be no one left to bail them out, and the only way will be down.

It happened in Argentina, which was one of the richest countries in the world before it's experiment with socialism. And it will happen in Europe as well.

[neilr]

Nice to see that police the world over are still nothing but thugs and criminals themselves. Not that would expect anything different.

[elster]

That was pretty mild for Spanish police.

They were obviously taking it easy.

People were being beaten with a baton for being in the way and not moving out of the way.

I see the Spanish are realising that eventually you run out of money to spend with socialism.

[Mikeyboy]

The jiffle king said:

Interesting viewpoint, the Spanish would have you believe that they work the most hours of anyone in Europe. Not saying I agree, just sharing the thoughts of those that i meet.

they do like to bang out that statistic, they did it back in 2000 when I worked in Madrid and still do it. My ex is always going on about her hours but is constantly stepping out of the office for errands, cigarettes, coffee with her friends/family, and she is a trader for a bank where her being at the desk is considered essential, well here at least. They attend the office for more hours than any other nation in Europe perhaps but work more hours? I think not.