The called Spanish Revolution movement

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

Spanish youth rally in Madrid echoes Egypt protests

 

The Madrid crowd are rallying supporters and building momentum through social media networks

 

 

About 2,000 young people angry over high unemployment have spent the night camping in a famous square in Madrid as a political protest there grows.

A big canvas roof was stretched across Puerta del Sol square, protesters brought mattresses and sleeping bags and volunteers distributed food.

The nature of the peaceful protest, including Twitter messages to alert supporters, echoed the pro-democracy rallies that revolutionised Egypt.

The Madrid protests began on Sunday.

On the first evening, police dispersed the protesters, but on Tuesday they let them stay overnight.

Spain's 21.3% unemployment rate is the highest in the EU - a record 4.9 million are jobless, many of them young people.

Spanish media say the protesters are attacking the country's political establishment with slogans such as "violence is earning 600 euros", "if you don't let us dream we won't let you sleep" and "the guilty ones should pay for the crisis".

The atmosphere in the square has been quite festive, with the crowd singing songs, playing games and debating.

They are demanding jobs, better living standards and a fairer system of democracy.

About 50 police officers are deployed in side-streets off the iconic square and outside the Madrid municipal government building.

The protesters are not identifying with any particular political party, Spanish media say, but they are getting more organised.

In another echo of the Cairo rallies that eventually forced President Hosni Mubarak from power in February, the Spanish protesters have set up citizens' committees to handle communications, food, cleaning, protest actions and legal matters.

source bbc.co.uk

 

 

so far at the moment at least another 50 cities have seconded the protests.

All that is happening the week/few days before we have local an regional elections in the whole country

.

The movement is spreading through social networks as twitter, facebook, have their own website -since months ago-, although media is just caring about now.

they even got a flag/symbol and had written a manifesto, and are getting related with possible future protests in Italy.

 

 

some political forces here are supporting them verbally, although the movement refuses the current big parties politicians of any side. some media disagree with the 'fair' idea and believe it have some politic plan behind.

organizers and leaders of the protests, want a pacific protest with no riots.

[Prince Myshkin]

Interesting indeed. I'm intrigued to see how this will develop.

I can't see it making too big a difference though.

[chuck kottke]

Sounds like the beginnings of the blooming of real democracy!

Viva La Spain! Viva La Revolution! Viva La Vida! :sunny::sombrero::sunny:

The ultimate check on power are the will of the citizens. We need much the same here, given the levels of corruption and inequity that continue to grow, and a congress that simply rotates stock with the corporate monsters.

Si to the Spanish Revolution!!:guitarist::wink:

[Prince Myshkin]

I doubt they have the true direction and nous to make a difference, looking at it from the outside. Protests don't usually amount to too much in the West. Just look at all the protests that have happened recently over here. Anti-War, environmental, banking crisis, student fees. Nothing much was done about any of them. The ones who came closest were France with the pension row, and there was plenty of actually rioting with that one. This one seems to peaceful to change anything, not that I don't think they should be peaceful.

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

I think Spain should be more worried about being brought into this Eurozone crisis at the moment even if it did experience growth this quarter. Apparently though real labour incomes could fall quite steeply this year. There is still a real threat of a bail out this year for Spain. Of course that could really accelerate or reignite protests.

 

But revolution won't happen. Spain like most countries is so embedded with Western values that revolution would be pointless. The best they can hope for is for an early general election (I don't know if that is possible within the constitution). There is one scheduled for next year isn't there though?

[Gitta Rensolo]

this thread makes me wonder if protests lead to something....sometimes I feel like they do over here....I might be wrong though.

[Prince Myshkin]

They can do, but if the government want to do something they will just do it. Especially if they feel as though they have to behave in a way because of their political leanings - for example they aren't going to act in a way that their rivals traditionally do, even if it might be for the very best, simply because they are reliant on votes from their core voters and the ones who put money into the party.

[Gitta Rensolo]

I have just been thinking that it might have something to do with the federalism we are having over here....many decisions aren't made only by the government, but by the leading parties of the single federalistic states----and people elect those parties, too which can lead to a different "political climate" in the whole country....I guess it is not only about one election every 4 or 5 or whatever years over here, but about many elections...and recently I've been feeling like there is some kind of change going on which is kinda interesting....

 

gosh I suck at explaining something serious I am not too fond about in english...:uhoh:

to any german who reads this: feel free to correct me haha

 

but well yeah....this thread is about Spain

[Prince Myshkin]

No, I know what you mean. That could have something to do with it.

[Gitta Rensolo]

Good. Idk but right now....this is the first time that I've been thinking about this further and it makes me realise that there are good sides about federalism

[chuck kottke]

Power concedes nothing without a fight.

 

If there is enough push, things will change. The will of the people, the rights of the citizens, cannot be subverted forever - there will come a day. One of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, wrote this over two centuries ago:

What country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is the natural fertilizer.

 

Although, Albert Einstein believed in non-violent revolution producing lasting change, and there are many examples of this working - one notable place is Chile.

Albert Einstein Institution - 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action

 

I hope the struggle continues, and the young people force some real reforms in the government of Spain! Root out the corruption, and get to the roots of the corruption.

[Prince Myshkin]

I don't think there is enough push, that is the problem.

[chuck kottke]

I don't think there is enough push, that is the problem.

All things start with a few willing to march or begin the process. I recall the same thing in Egypt - it started small, and then a lot more joined in, and more, and then more, and then it spread like wildfire throughout Egypt!

Never underestimate what a few dedicated individuals can accomplish. Chance favors the prepared mind and body.

[Prince Myshkin]

All things start with a few willing to march or begin the process. I recall the same thing in Egypt - it started small, and then a lot more joined in, and more, and then more, and then it spread like wildfire throughout Egypt!

Never underestimate what a few dedicated individuals can accomplish. Chance favors the prepared mind and body.

 

I think there are many differences between Spain and Egypt.

[Guest howyousawtheworld]

If there is enough push, things will change. The will of the people, the rights of the citizens, cannot be subverted forever - there will come a day. One of our founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson, wrote this over two centuries ago:

What country can preserve its liberties, if it's rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? The Tree of Liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is the natural fertilizer.

 

Although, Albert Einstein believed in non-violent revolution producing lasting change, and there are many examples of this working - one notable place is Chile.

Albert Einstein Institution - 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action

 

I hope the struggle continues, and the young people force some real reforms in the government of Spain! Root out the corruption, and get to the roots of the corruption.

 

Ok if they want change what sort of change will they get? Let's forget the influence of the middle east protests. The Arab Spring came anout on democratic/human rights foundations. Since Spain is already a democratic nation then there's only one other option to go down - undemocratic communism? Hell will freeze over before that ever happens to a country in Europe again.

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

I think Spain should be more worried about being brought into this Eurozone crisis at the moment even if it did experience growth this quarter. Apparently though real labour incomes could fall quite steeply this year. There is still a real threat of a bail out this year for Spain. Of course that could really accelerate or reignite protests.

 

But revolution won't happen. Spain like most countries is so embedded with Western values that revolution would be pointless. The best they can hope for is for an early general election (I don't know if that is possible within the constitution). There is one scheduled for next year isn't there though?

Spain is worried about the crisis, economical and political, that's one of the reasons why people is upto to the point to feel fed up with the situation, all salaries got cut, there's no jobs for the youth, people is getting fired, and taxes are rising.

 

we should have general elections next year, and there were and still are rumours that it may won't happen or will do later than usual -main reason for the doubt was the late reply of the president to clarify if he will run as candidate again or not and so yet people is waiting who will be the candidate of his party.-

 

as i said before this sunday are autonomic and local elections in all the country.

 

I have just been thinking that it might have something to do with the federalism we are having over here....many decisions aren't made only by the government, but by the leading parties of the single federalistic states----and people elect those parties, too which can lead to a different "political climate" in the whole country....I guess it is not only about one election every 4 or 5 or whatever years over here, but about many elections...and recently I've been feeling like there is some kind of change going on which is kinda interesting....

 

gosh I suck at explaining something serious I am not too fond about in english...:uhoh:

to any german who reads this: feel free to correct me haha

 

but well yeah....this thread is about Spain

you mean... is like what happen here with the autonomies, some people feel at the end some regions have more importance than others -political- which doesn't feel fair, as big's one opinion shades the small ones opinion.

 

 

---

there are some critics seeing some political intention hidden in the movement to let some parties win, or that it will cause to not allow the elections at the end.

 

btw officially madrid camping shall be left as is not unauthorized now, but they are still there and the police, strange is to see the debate programmes now having talking about it and even being there.

[Prince Myshkin]

Spain is worried about the crisis, economical and political, that's one of the reasons why people is upto to the point to feel fed up with the situation, all salaries got cut, there's no jobs for the youth, people is getting fired, and taxes are rising.

 

we should have general elections next year, and there were and still are rumours that it may won't happen or will do later than usual -main reason for the doubt was the late reply of the president to clarify if he will run as candidate again or not and so yet people is waiting who will be the candidate of his party.-

 

as i said before this sunday are autonomic and local elections in all the country.

 

What we are saying is that while there are protests, it won't lead to all that much. I'd happily be proved wrong, but I can't see it.

[bart]

I fear Spain will not have a goverment this time next week, the people will take over instead...for a while !

[Darlene_Ihnfsa]

I fear Spain will not have a goverment this time next week, the people will take over instead...for a while !

I fear that will cause the people to fight for, and making sadly the History to repeat.

 

If their thoughts and acts are true after local elections, the result shall be of only the new parities or those who never got a representant in the last 30 years, if one of their point is to quit the current generation, they should do that, and i doubt it to happen.

 

another thing they could had done is to form a party before the elections so people can vote for them and make the change they are saying.

[bart]

The trouble is there is no solution, we can not forget the money the country owes.. etc.

We could just tell them though, we can only pay this, without any further suffering of the people, on the promise we never do it again... and only lend what we can afford.

[bart]

I am certian Histrory is being made at the moment in Spain.

What I witness with my own eyes tonight was like images from PlacA Tahir ..

[bart]

blacch

[chuck kottke]

:stunned:I support this Spanish Revolution Bart!

And I believe you when you say you had a dictatorship of the banks - much the same here when our financial crisis hit!

Onward with the Revolution! Root out the injustices and re-establish justice in the economic sphere.

[chuck kottke]

To quote one protester, "We have a right to regular jobs, a future and a descent salary, to more opportunities in life, the chance to get a house, to pay for that house without being enslaved, but especially a better quality of life."

These are natural rights: the right to work, the right to fair compensation for that work, and the right to have access to affordable, descent housing.

If we allow the power elites to dictate how our world shall be run, we surely will face ruin from their exuberant follies, cruel schemes, and crushing inequities.

 

I am with you Bart - The movement for reform and justice is in Spain and around the globe. It will spread, and we here in the U.S. must be the change we wish to see as well.

[Tnspieler1012]

nobody expects the spanish revolution!