Campo joins global protests in peaceful demonstrations

Protest in Algeciras
(Photo: europasur.es/Quiñones)

ALGECIRAS (Agencies) In common with capital and smaller cities worldwide, over 80 Spanish towns and cities were the scene yesterday of the global day of protest. The Campo de Gibraltar was no exception, where between 400 and 600 people congregated from all over the area in Algeciras. Demonstrators came from La Línea, San Roque, Los Barrios, Tarifa, even from Gibraltar and other places. They started at the Plaza de la Constitución and ended at Plaza Alta, after marching peacefully along the main avenue, Fuerzas Armadas. They stopped at the Town Hall doors and later at the Junta de Andalucía local offices, where they chanted protests against globalization and financial elites, plus messages against political parties of all kinds and against military spending. Among the messages were 'There isn't enough bread for so much chorizo' (chorizo is also a colloquial word for robber) and 'There is Ali Baba's cave', in front of the official offices. Interspersed among the chants were always the words, "United for global change."

Pulling one's pants down: everyone's indignant

The Spanish media is full of crisis and corruption. And the social phenomenon called variously 15-M (for 15 May, when it was born) or indignados, for their high indignation quotient, is there, too. The Left, i.e. PSOE and Izquierda Unida, has been trying for some time to use elements of the movement for their own (sparce) electoral purposes. But we just could not resist this photo of a sign held up at one of the movement's many demos and camp-outs. It reads: "I can't tighten my belt and pull my pants down at the same time." 'Pulling one's pants down' means 'getting screwed', which everyone in Spain is indignant about these days. But not without humour, evidently.

What to do about Spain's banks?

SPAIN (El Pais) A significant part of the blame for Spain's current borrowing problems, and the resultant delay to economic recovery, lies with the country's financial system. Investors are punishing Spain for the uncontrolled lending that fed a decade-long property boom. Banks and savings banks have around 150 billion euros invested in potentially problematic property assets. To give an idea of the scale of the problem, that figure is equal to around 15 percent of GDP. And unlike other sectors with problems, when the financial sector gets into trouble, it immediately affects the rest of the economy.>>>

15-M movement shows strength in mass marches

SPAIN (El Pais/Agencies) Tens of thousands of people marching from different parts of Madrid converged on Neptune square, near Congress, to protest the way politicians are handling the economic crisis. Despite the heat, around 40,000 Spaniards (according to a measurement taken by Lynce for Efe news agency at 2.20pm) marched peacefully, chanting slogans such as "We're not paying for your crisis" and "They call it democracy but it's not." The massive demonstration was proof of the undying spirit of 15-M, the grassroots movement that began as a protest against political mismanagement of the economic crisis on May 15, and later gave way to prolonged sit-ins in squares across the country, most notably in Madrid and Barcelona. When those camps were dismantled a week ago, some wondered if the movement would fizzle out. Instead, new marches are being scheduled to depart for Madrid from different cities on Monday.>>>