Cacerolada against the F1 Grand Prix

Over the last three years the Valencia government has spent around 140 million euros on the F1 Grand Prix celebration.

“Too fast, too ruinous”. This is the text on a huge banner flying yesterday at a short distance to the Valencia F1 urban circuit. There, a group of about 200 indignados (outraged) demonstrated with a great cacerolada (saucepan-banging) against the public money spent on this event. Over the last three years, Valencia´s government has spent about 140 millions euros on the race celebration.

In turn, the autonomic administration reassures that Valencia´s society has got an economical impact of 158 millions euros, although does not specify what the benefits consisted of or how have they been calculated. The place chosen for the indignados to demonstrate was the most touristic entry of the circuit, the one that gets to the race from the maritime promenade and the restaurants of Malvarrosa beach. The time chosen coincided with the massive arrival of the spectators: one o´clock in the afternoon. Therefore hundreds of tourists could take pictures of the protest and listen to the slogans shouted by the demonstrators: “The urban circuit is paid for by the citizens”. There was even place for other demands like the banner carried by a 50 year old woman: “Violence is the education system and the barrack huts”, meaning the pre-built classrooms where thousands of students have to study in Valencia due to the lack of funds for building new schools.

The indignados also took with them to the maritime promenade a collection of cardboard cars used to parody the F1 grand prix. The demonstration is one of the activities organized by the indignados of Valencia´s villages’ assemblies, whom over the weekend celebrated a camping in one of the most diminished squares of the city, a kilometre away from the circuit. Concerts, workshops, and assemblies are celebrated there, as a protest to contrast the race´s luxury against the lack of funding in the area.

The numbers of the circuit.

The European F1 Grand Prix has been taken place in Valencia since 2008. The government built a circuit in the harbour which cost around 85 millions euros. The Valencia government specified that the cost would be none as when the area would be built up, development companies would pay a plus in order to build houses. The government also accepts the annual cost of the canon which is around 18 millions euros, according to Jorge Martinez Aspar (Valmor partner; private company in charge of setting up and dismantling the event).

According to the government, the grand prix means “a global impact ( building industry + running the event) greater than 158 millions euros for Valencia in only three years. It is also worth mentioning that 6.284 jobs have been created between the building and the celebration of three editions of this event, witnessed by almost 285.000 espectators”. Valencia´s administration emphasizes the powerful advertisement for the city: “An F1 grand prix has an average share of 600 millions espectators. 150 TV channels of 188 countries of the 5 continents live the races. Around 1.000 journalists from all over the world, come to Valencia to cover the event”.

The Valencia government declare that the economical benefits data have been thoroughly studied by the IVIE (Valencia´s college of economical research) although from the Economical department state that it is not possible to publish the document with the detailed breakdown of such benefits.

The original article can be seen here.

15M: Do you understand why?

Article from El Pais on 19th June - March against Europact

Article published by elpais.com and translated into English by Sophie. See the note at the end of the document to know more about the original article.

19th June - The 15-M movement takes to the streets of Madrid once more, protesting against the negative impact the “Europact” measures could have on social welfare.

If anyone had any doubts about how the 15-M (May 15th) movement was going to progress after the decision to lift the camps, today they have been dispelled.

Tens of thousands of people, streaming from all directions, flowed into the Plaza de Neptuno, next to the Cortes building where politicians make important decisions, with a cry that has been universal since the beginning of the protests: “Que no, que no, que no nos representan,” meaning “They do not represent us.”

In an organized and celebratory manner, with no police involvement whatsoever, the “Indignados” (Outraged) occupied the square. At least 37,742 people (the margin of error indicates that there could be up to 42,271) have participated in the Madrid mobilization, according to a survey done by the company Lynce at 2.20 this afternoon.

Young people, old people and children, synchronized almost to perfection through messages and plans made on social networking sites, came together in a movement that has already made a deep impression on the system. Chants sang by the demonstrators, who streamed into Plaza de las Cortes from all corners of the Spanish captial, included: “Vuestra crisis, no la pagamos” (“We will not pay for your crisis”), “lo llaman democracia y no lo es”,(They call it democracy and it’s not), “el pueblo unido, jamás será vencido” (The people united will never be defeated).

All came prepared for a day in which the spirit of weariness and social discontent that has generated this global movement would be demonstrated. With the departure of the Templo de Debod march in the east of the city at 11am, the six sections of the Madrid demonstration were all in motion. The earliest departure had been from Leganés at 9am. Not long afterwards, huge groups began to set off from other parts of Madrid, with people joining them on the way. At all the starting points, there were hundreds of protesters from many different parts of Madrid. At 10.45 there were nearly a thousand people present at Templo de Debod. At 11.15, when the march began, the figure had more than doubled.

Before setting out, a spokesperson explained via megaphone what should be done in case of violent behaviour: “If someone begins behaving violently, we must attempt to dialogue with that person in order to stop them. If they do not listen to us, we will sit peacefully on the ground and point them out.”

Seconds before leaving, Jon Aguirre, spokesperson of Democracia Real Ya (Real Democracy Now) explained the reasons behind the march: “We want to show financial institutions that citizens do not agree with having their rights compromised”.

People of all ages carried home-made banners protesting about the welfare cuts, job insecurity (which is rife in Spain, partly due to the abuse of the becario system), and against politicians and bankers. “There is nothing more dangerous than a man with nothing to lose” said one demonstrator at the front of the protest. The march, which kept growing and growing, moved slowly and arrived with time to spare at all of the points on its route.

“Queremos un pisito, como el del principito!” (We want a little apartment, like the little prince’s!) chanted some demonstrators as they passed the Royal Palace just before midday. The atmosphere all the way through the march has been celebratory. The most exciting moment was when the marches coming from the Templo de Debod and Leganes, another Madrid neighbourhood, met and united in Puerta de Toledo minutes around 12.30.
The thousands of people in this group arrived at Embajadores before the appointed time, where people began playing drums and musical instruments. And many of the participants danced their way to Plaza de Neptuno, where thousands (1 million according to the popular organization Democracia Real Ya [Real Democracy Now]) were waiting near to the lower chamber of the Spanish parliament, which was heavily protected by police presence.

More than 500 “antidisturbance” officers ensured that there were no altercations. The security measures were much greater around the Cortes building. A government body has confirmed that, as well as special Police Intervention units, there were 2 helicopters keeping watch, members of Citizen Security and further security forces. Up until now, there have been no notable incidents.

Inhabitants of Madrid neighbourhoods Malasaña and Chamberí marked passing the Partido Popular’s headquarters (the Spanish conservative party) with shouts of “Espe, Espe, especulación" (“Speculation!”). Holding banners with slogans such as “Caminemos juntos contra la crisis y el capital” (Let us walk together against capital and the crisis) “Escuchad la ira del pueblo” (Listen to the wrath of the people), or “No seas violento” (don’t be violent), the demonstrators - people of all ages from all walks of life - sang the 15-M chants such as “Lo llaman democracia y no lo es” (“They call it democracy and it isn’t”.)

After 3 in the afternoon, the majority of those who attended began to leave Plaza de Neptuno, which slowly returned to normality. Cleaning services began to clear the square although there were still some groups sat on the floor in the shade, due to the intense heat. Some participants are heading towards Puerta del Sol, where a public assembly has been organised for 8 o’clock.

But the protests are not limited to Madrid, the nerve-centre of the movement. In the course of the day around 98 demonstrations have taken place, not just in Spain, but in other countries, including Manchester.

Translator's note: Article taken from here. The link has now been updated so the original text is not available. The headline is my own approximation of the original, and there may be some inaccuracies due to the hastiness of the translation.
ST

Thank you Sophie!!

19th June, Assembly at Picadilly Gardens

This is a summary of the points that came out/were brought up at the assembly that took place yesterday in Piccadilly Gardens. We'll try to post some photos and videos as soon as we can too!

1. Reminds our goal is British people to take the streets as one nation solely cannot achieve anything by itself. UK faces the same struggles but they tend to be sectorial organized. How do we join them on and after the 30^th?
2. Expresses solidarity with North African revolutions, explaining how they have spread in Europe and the fact that the success of Spanish and Greek protests relies on the non-party / trade unions nature, just outraged citizens. Suggests spontaneous actions to take place on the 30^th.
3. Says there is a 90% support for 30^th strike and reminds there will be pickets taking place in schools, nurseries... Suggests elaborating banners and posters linking the local issues (Manchester cuts) to the global issues.
4. Makes a brief explanation of the origin of the crisis and the consequences for workers.
5. Reminds this European protests day is against the “Euro Pact” and explains its consequences in the UK as well.
6. States that a general strike, though highly supported, does not imply real changes, especially because they are organized by Trade Unions which are tools of political parties. Regards the importance of acting as citizens, and proposes specific actions which target the responsible of this situation: occupying banks.
7. Says the movement is only in its beginnings and we should connect with other movements already working and with common people outside trade unions. Suggests waking up early on the 30^th to join the pickets taking place and join the march from All Saints Park (Oxford Rd) at 11am.
8. Talks about defeating the cliché of Southern Europe laziness and states we should not pay their debt. Disagrees about the potential of general strikes and relies on the evolution of Greek movements. Suggests carrying banners of Real Democracy Manchester on the 30^th.
9. Reminds the importance of shifting from our current democracy (voting every 4 years and then remain asleep) to politics of direct actions. Recommends to create a network of people and associations and suggests to picket the Tories coming to Manchester (2^nd October??).
10. Proposes to join 30^th march and persuade them to go to the Town Hall and camp.
11. Suggests some specific actions for the 30^th. Occupying and closing banks or other direct actions outside corporations. Bring music, saucepan banging. Sit down outside the Town Hall after the march and don’t move. In some meetings regarding the 30^th the feeling that people don’t want to just march and the go home was present.
12. Speak about the Iceland revolution and reminds not paying the debt is possible.
13. Suggests similar actions as those performed during the Poll Tax Riots.
14. States that we have to convince the sufficient number of British to camp. This has to be a British number and foreigners supporting, not a foreign movement in the UK supported by some British. Our efforts should be directed in working towards the first camp in Manchester. Also says that we should focus on one big thing rather than several small actions.
15. A Syrian representation gives an emotive speech about the Syrian revolts and the government repression.
16. States we are not enough people to camp and it is going to have good acceptance if we are just a few.
17. Suggest marching from All Saints Park to Town Hall and performing a big assembly there. The idea is highly accepted but there is some division about the most appropriate place for the assembly (Town Hall / Picadilly).
18. Thinks we need more diffusion in media and a better image before start camping. Suggests contacting with other organizations, NGOs and charities to create a network with a common goal and ask them at least to inform about our movement among their members.
19. Says we cannot decide who, when and where to camp right now. Instead, we are talking about whether we want to work or not towards a future camp. There is consensus about working towards a possible camp.
20. Believes it is not necessary a big number of people to camp. It is important to have a permanent spot where people can get informed and involved, and the movement will grow with time.
21. Thinks that is not only about the number of people to camp, but the proportion of British willing to take action.
22. A series of interventions giving pros and cons about the best location and date for assemblies (visibility, symbology, etc.). There is consensus about the next and last assembly before the 30^th: Saturday, 25^th, 1pm, Picadilly Gardens. Matters regarding a possible 30^th assembly after the march will be discussed that day. Therefore, assistance is important.
23. Contacts with organizations will be taking place this week to invite them and get more people involved and participating in it.
24. Reminds Syrian protests will be taking place at the same moment /same place, a good opportunity to join forces.
25. UK Uncuts will be creating banners before the assembly. 11pm at Picadilly. Check Facebook event
26. Some specific actions (creation of posters, leaflets, theatre, etc) will be discussed in the general meeting this week. As you know, it normally takes place on Wednesdays at 7pm at KRO2, but several people cannot attend, so it might be moved to Thursday.

All the credit for this summary goes to Paula. Thank you very much! ;o)

European protest in Manchester 19th of June

We are a spontaneous collective of Spanish, Greek, English and other European citizens living in Manchester, who have got together in the wake of the spontaneous collective movement which, inspired by the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings, started in Spain on the 15th May 2011 and soon spread to many cities both in Spain and abroad.

We are seeking to try and gather people living in Manchester, and who, like us are “outraged” at the cuts and at the ideological agenda underpinning them, here and in the rest of Europe, and at the way in which the outcomes of two centuries of social, cultural and political struggle are being given away through policies targeting all sectors of welfare, education and culture, one after the other.

We are keen to contribute, on our very modest scale, to a European movement of rejection of the ongoing savage attack on our social and cultural patrimony. Actually this attack is now being co-ordinated at the European level, with an austerity package about to be voted by the European Parliament. We think it is time for all peoples of Europe to become as ‘outraged’ as the thousands of Spaniards and Greeks occupying their public squares, and to demand an end to this punitive economic regime as well as the affirmation of our common will to recuperate politics by the people and for the people.

As a first step we will rally in Piccadilly Gardens (winking ironically at the statue of the queen!) on 19/6 at 12 PM as part of the European and world-wide movement to recuperate the public squares and spaces for the people. We will hold an assembly, do music and mount a big “cazerolada” with our saucepans! If you have friends taking part in movements occupying the squares in other cities of Europe and the world, and want to talk about it, join us and share this with us!

Understanding ‘Spanishrevolution’

The following article, published on 23 May 2011 on OpenDemocracy.net, provides a very clear overview of the movement that has been (and it still is) taking place all over Spain.

" For the last week, Spain has been rocked with its own ‘Spanishrevolution’ - a civil movement which has sprung up to demand deep democratic changes.

Seven days before the local and regional elections in Spain, the main political issue has been the ‘Spanishrevolution’, a civil movement which has sprung up to demand deep democratic changes. Thousands of young people, the unemployed, retired, and people from every sector of society have been camping in the main squares of Spanish cities calling for democratic changes. For the onlooker, this may well prompt comparison with the Arab uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia: but there are too many differences. Spain is a mature democracy, where the economic situation is not so good but whose democratic institutions are very similar to those of other countries of the European region. While Arab protesters want to remove dictatorial governments who have ruled their countries for the last thirty years without any election, the Spanish want... READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE "