World's Youngest Citizen Journalist Protests for Palestine (Video)

Wanting nothing more than a future for herself, her people and Palestine, eight-year-old Jana Tamimi has taken up a mobile phone to become what is possibly the youngest citizen journalist in the world.

Jana films the Israeli occupation forces in her village on the West Bank, joins in with protests against the occupation and wants to deliver a message to the world, using her videos which she uploads to YouTube.  She hopes in this way to gain international support for the Palestinian struggle.... watch video below and read more here

Thousands in Portugal protest austerity (videos)

In yet another example of the fact that austerity just doesn't work, hundreds of thousands of Portuguese people took to the streets in around 30 cities all over Portugal on Saturday and protests will continue on Sunday.

The mass protest, probably the largest since September last year, was dubbed 2m, and will continue on Sunday under the name 3m, and is also generally known as "Que Se Lixe a Troika", or "Screw the Troika."

Organizers are estimating numbers at around 500,000 in Lisbon, with many thousands more countrywide. Some protests are also being held in other cities around the world outside Portuguese embassies.

Coinciding with a quarterly review by the EU/IMF bailout inspectors, thousands of people hit the streets, protesting the austerity measures imposed by a government which hopes to avoid the bailout, and lift the country out of recession. 

As with similar ongoing protests in Spain recently, the protests were coordinated with several different groups. In Lisbon, teachers protested outside the Ministry of Education. Healthcare workers demonstrated outside one of the major hospitals which may be closed as a result of government cuts. 

All the various groups joined together for a major protest march through the center of Lisbon in the afternoon and an estimated 200,000 people filled the Lisbon street leading up to the Finance Minister's office. 

People have had enough of the Troika, referring to the lenders from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. Banners and placards seen in the street reading, "It's time for the government to go!" and "Screw the Troika, we want our lives back."

 Other protesters were heard to sing "Grândola Vila Morena", which is a protest song from the 1974 "Carnation revolution" which ousted the fascist dictator Antonio Salazar and brought the end of the military rule in the country. 

Apparently activists have been heckling government ministers throughout the week by singing this song when they make public speeches. The video below shows a speech by the Prime Minister in a recent plenary session, interrupted by activists singing the protest song:



Major reasons for the mass protests countrywide are cuts in public wages and an increase in taxes, which has been imposed by the "Troika" in exchange for the 78 billion euro bailout which was agreed in mid-2011. These measures have effectively pushed unemployment in Portugal to record levels of 17%. 

On Thursday last week, Portugal's Prime Minister, Pedro Passos Coehlo, promised yet more spending cuts as part of a deep reform. He says these are necessary to make lower taxes possible in future. 

However, protesters are this weekend demanding a complete change of government policies in an aim to revive Portugal's economy, as the country faces the worse recession since the 1970's. 

Veronica Pereira, is an unemployed mother who has no means to send her daughter to college. She said: "Our people have the habit of letting things happen, but I think this is changing radically now. We need to protest to change things." 

49-year-old journalist and protest organizer, Nuno Almedia told the WSJ, "We want the government out because it is pushing through a program that is only bringing hardship to the population." 

"People are desperate, seeing their incomes fall sharply, their families and friends without jobs." he added.One elderly protester in Lisbon who preferred not to give his name told Reuters, "We are in a new dictatorship. Everything that the revolution achieved is being destroyed." 

Euronews interviewed protesters including a woman, angry at Portugal's prime minister, who said, “I just want to tell Passos Coelho that I have the right to scream and show everyone how revolted I am at his incompetence, mediocrity and dishonesty – at everything.” 

Another man told the news service, “If the government pays attention to what is happening and understands that the people are against them, they should get out. If not, this wont stop.” 

Reuters quoted one of the protesters, Fabio Carvalho, a movie-maker, as saying, "This government has left the people on bread and water, selling off state assets for peanuts to pay back debts that were contracted by corrupt politicians to benefit bankers."

 "If not today, things have to change tomorrow and we need to remain in the streets for the government to fall," he added.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/344711

Police & Firefighters protest in Fuengirola, Spain (video)

It seems that Tuesday is turning into a day for protest by local police and firefighters in Fuengirola, as for the second week in a row, whistles and noise filled the town centre.

Digital Journal reported on the protest last week by members of UPLBA Andalucía, the union for local police officers and firefighters in Fuengirola.

It sort of reminds this writer of the movie "If its Tuesday, it must be Belgium", but now changed to "If its Tuesday, its time for the cops and firemen to make a noise again." And noise, and lots of smoke, they made indeed.

One can hardly blame them, of course, due to the fact that, as reported last week, they have lost 25% of their salary, while the people running the town have increased theirs by anything up to 68%, as can be seen in this video.

The noise was definitely louder this week, as the protesters included sirens and fire crackers in their repertoire, along with ear-piercing whistles and those colourful paint bombs.

"Don't play with security. No more cuts! Officials are not the problem."

In the video, you will see them gradually creeping closer to the front door of the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento de Fuengirola), and you will see the, er, non-protesting police officers keeping guard there and discussing what they are viewing, safely through the glass. 

At one stage, some more serious-looking police officers did approach the demonstrators, but on zooming in, it seems they wanted to know what kind of fireworks were being used. Some national police officers passed by, and a tiny little grin was possibly caught on camera as they walked on.

The writer's new pal, the police officer who tried to take her camera way back in June 2011, was happily banging on a drum today. The writer likes to think that maybe she inspired him a little in his protesting. 

And rather ironically, after the fireworks were spent, another friendly officer pointed out that they cleaned up after themselves right away. However it is important to note, of course, that when 15m members protest in Fuengirola, they also pick up all their mess, but they don't make quite as much chaos and noise. Okay, we won't mention the noise that we all make in Málaga, as that doesn't count here - those are much bigger protests!

This week they also had some snazzy new t-shirts: 
 

"Citizens and public employees are not responsible for the waste"

And a very impressive sign with the ubiquitous pocketful of money, made famous by the Partido Popular and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy recently:

Rough translation: "Full for Oña (Mayoress) and the scavenger civil servants."

The writer might sound a little facetious, and it may sound like she is making a joke of this protest, but seriously it is impressive that these workers are sticking up for their rights. It just takes a bit of adjustment to get a protester's mind around seeing those who abused in the past, joining the ranks of the "indignados." 

See more photos at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/343883

Thousands march in support of New York bus drivers (Video)

On Sunday, thousands rallied at Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn and then marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to support New York's striking school bus drivers. 

Digital Journal reported on January 16 that more than 8,000 bus drivers and aides went on strike in New York City that day. As a result, some 152,000 parents struggled to find their children transportation to school. 

Due to the fact that the union is blaming New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for refusing to negotiate, the strike is still ongoing, nearly four weeks later. As part of an ongoing strike for job protections, school bus drivers, matrons, mechanics and supporters got together in New York on Sunday afternoon to march across Brooklyn Bridge. This was followed by more than 1,000 members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) rallying near City Hall.

Reportedly, city officials say it is illegal to offer job protections in contracts. The strikers are calling Mayor Michael Bloomberg “heartless” as the city prepares to open competitive bidding for new contracts. Bloomberg wishes to strip the drivers of job protections that have existed in the city for nearly half a century.

A Staten Island driver, John Scotto said, “We’re not asking for one benefit, or 10 cents. It’s simply for the right to come back to work in September.”

One of the protesters was Noah Gotbaum, a Manhattan widower raising three children with special needs, one of whom was being bused to public school. The other two take public transportation. Gotbaum said that the city is “trying to cut costs and the workers are saying, `If you want to squeeze the profits of the bus companies, that’s fine. But stop trying to lower the bids on the backs of the workers.’"

Gotbaum stressed that guaranteeing job security would lead to attracting and keeping workers with more experience. “I need and count on these folks every single day,” he said. “They’re as important to me as the teachers.” 

The event was called only two days earlier. Sponsors of the march included the ATU, New York Communities for Change, and Parents to Improve School Transportation.

The video was made and uploaded to YouTube by Occupy TVNY.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/343250

Polish farmers protest sale of land to foreign multinationals

In four cities in Poland, farmers are demonstrating against Polish farmland being sold to foreign multinationals. Now they need international support for their protests, along with help educating the Polish public about GMOs.

Digital Journal reported on Monday that, despite the fact that Poland had banned GM corn and potatoes, the Seeds Act was not vetoed by government and GM seeds can still be traded in Poland.

However, GMOs are not the only problem in Poland right now. It seems there is a loophole in Polish law, that is being exploited to sell Polish farmland to foreign multinationals. Protests have been ongoing for three weeks in four cities in Poland and the Polish government is trying to manipulate the farmers to make them give up the fight.

Farmers are rightfully angry and have been blocking roads and admin centers associated with the scam. They are also demonstrating for the right to sell their food locally and to block GMO products in Poland.

The International Coalition to Protect the Polish Countryside (ICPPC) has had several successes between 2004 and 2006 in the fight against GMOs in Poland. All polish provinces declared themselves as GMO-free and the Polish government passed an act which prohibited the use of GMO seeds and plants in agriculture.

But, as is natural these days, the pro-GMO lobby didn't give up in the country. They are now making intensive pro-GMO propaganda on all levels - for academics, farmers, politicians and consumers. They are producing pro-GMO articles, organizing meetings and training sessions, where they provide free materials, all, of course saying how good GMO products are.

The latest is that the Polish government is attempting to pass a correction to the GMO act, whereby the use of GMO seeds would be allowed in so-called 'designated GMO areas'. ICPPC now wishes to counteract these pro-GMO activities, using effective tools to educate Polish society about the threats and dangers of GMOs.



The group has translated the full version of the above video clip, "Life Running Out of Control", to make a Polish version. They now need to make thousands of copies of this film and to distribute them around Poland. 

Anyone wishing to help Poland in their fight for farmers' rights and against GMO products can donate here. To see more about the farmers' protests, Protest Rolników, their Facebook page can be accessed here.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/340787

D15 — Sandy survivors' day of action in Rockaways, NY

Residents of Rockaways joined together with Occupy Sandy on December 15, marching the streets and demanding that the government do something to help rebuild the neighborhood after Hurricane Sandy. 

It is now two months since Superstorm Sandy hit the area, but the disaster is far from over for these residents, and relief needs are still great. 

 

Heat and electricity are still absent in many areas, and many homes are uninhabitable, with black mold taking hold. Those living in homes with mold are becoming sick. 

 

With some landlords increasing rents by huge amounts, to try and cover their costs, and with other property owners deciding not to repair properties and evicting tenants, times are very hard in the Rockaways. Some people had household insurance on their houses and are now finding that the response from the insurance companies is taking much too long. 

 

Yet with all the problems still ongoing, government and FEMA response has been glaringly absent. As they did with Hurricane Katrina, and other recent disaster-and-recovery events, reconstruction resources and responsibility have been handed off by city, state and federal agencies, to corporations and markets. This hand-off has pushed affected people further out of their communities, further into crisis and vulnerability, and further from the decision-making tables that allocate public resources. 

 

Where the government has failed, Occupy and other groups have stepped in. Occupy Sandy Relief NYC has done the very best it can, but it cannot restore electricity and replace homes. 

 

On December 15, citizens, activists and community leaders took to the streets to demand change from the government and to take charge themselves. The people are demanding that power is restored to the people.

The people also now understand that climate change has turned a corner and they know they will be hard hit again by extreme weather events. Hence they are taking to the streets to ask "whose interests our government serves? Is it polluters, predatory lenders, and disaster profiteers?" 

 

"Or can we build a stronger, better, resilient New York where all of us, regardless of race, class or power, can weather future storms?" Do you live near the Rockaways? Have you also been affected by the lack of government and FEMA support after Sandy? Please comment below.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339478

Thousands of police protest in Madrid, Spain against the cuts

Between 5,000-8,000 police officers from all over Spain marched through Madrid on Saturday, protesting austerity measures and cuts. They even apologized to the public for arresting the wrong people. 

Protesting against the government's austerity measures, which includes frozen pensions and the elimination of Christmas bonuses, the demonstration was called by the nation's main policing union.

 

Numbers are estimated at between 5,000 and 8,000 officers (depending on the media) from all branches of the Spanish police.The Spanish government has imposed harsh spending cuts, which are aimed at saving around 150 billion euros between 2012 and 2014. 

 

The cuts have been met with anger and protests by thousands of Spanish citizens, and now the police are joining them in their anger. 

 

Blowing whistles and chanting slogans, they marched through the city center to the Ministry of the Interior. One of the banners they carried read: "Citizens! Forgive us for not arresting those truly responsible for this crisis: bankers and politicians."

Citizens! Forgive us for not arresting those truly responsible for this crisis: bankers and politicians.

33-year-old police officer Antonio Perez told AP, "The problem is they take from us to give to others, like the autonomous regions and the banks."

 

But it's not just about money. Jose Maria Benito, a spokesman for Spain's Unified Police Union, said that the cuts will affect the security of the country. He said that working conditions have become more precarious and equipment used was no longer up to standard.

 

Benito told AP, “We are here to tell the government that security has to be its priority…in socially convulsive times, we need an adequate police response,” adding that 15,000 workers who have left the force were not going to be replaced.

 

On that point, in a speech, the Union's general secretary, Jose Maria Sanchez Fornet said that "Each year, between 1,500 and 2,000 police officers retire and 125 are recruited, which means in three or four years, there will be more insecurity and crime in Spain."

 

General Secretary of the Trade Union SIPE, Alfredo Perdiguero, said that never before in the history of Spain had the police suffered "so many cuts and setbacks".

 

"The police have a difficult job and the government mistreats us with lack of legal support, low wages and contempt," he said.

 

President of the European Organization Eurocop, Ana Nellberg, shares the demands of the Spanish officers and has assured them that police officers from all over Europe are suffering the same situation. "A disillusioned cop who is not properly funded and paid cannot offer to the people or the government the protection they need and are entitled to. The alternative is chaos." Nellberg warned.

 

The protest by the police officers comes in the wake of the general strike against austerity in Spain and other countries in Europe.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/337116#ixzz2CWdBu53C

Between 5,000-8,000 police officers from all over Spain marched through Madrid on Saturday, protesting austerity measures and cuts. They even apologized to the public for arresting the wrong people.

Protesting against the government's austerity measures, which includes frozen pensions and the elimination of Christmas bonuses, the demonstration was called by the nation's main policing union. Numbers are estimated at between 5,000 and 8,000 officers (depending on the media) from all branches of the Spanish police. The Spanish government has imposed harsh spending cuts, which are aimed at saving around 150 billion euros between 2012 and 2014. The cuts have been met with anger and protests by thousands of Spanish citizens, and now the police are joining them in their anger. Blowing whistles and chanting slogans, they marched through the city center to the Ministry of the Interior. One of the banners they carried read: "Citizens! Forgive us for not arresting those truly responsible for this crisis: bankers and politicians."

Youtube

Citizens! Forgive us for not arresting those truly responsible for this crisis: bankers and politicians.

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33-year-old police officer Antonio Perez told AP, "The problem is they take from us to give to others, like the autonomous regions and the banks." But it's not just about money. Jose Maria Benito, a spokesman for Spain's Unified Police Union, said that the cuts will affect the security of the country. He said that working conditions have become more precarious and equipment used was no longer up to standard. Benito told AP, “We are here to tell the government that security has to be its priority…in socially convulsive times, we need an adequate police response,” adding that 15,000 workers who have left the force were not going to be replaced. On that point, in a speech, the Union's general secretary, Jose Maria Sanchez Fornet said that "Each year, between 1,500 and 2,000 police officers retire and 125 are recruited, which means in three or four years, there will be more insecurity and crime in Spain." General Secretary of the Trade Union SIPE, Alfredo Perdiguero, said that never before in the history of Spain had the police suffered "so many cuts and setbacks". "The police have a difficult job and the government mistreats us with lack of legal support, low wages and contempt," he said. President of the European Organization Eurocop, Ana Nellberg, shares the demands of the Spanish officers and has assured them that police officers from all over Europe are suffering the same situation. "A disillusioned cop who is not properly funded and paid cannot offer to the people or the government the protection they need and are entitled to. The alternative is chaos." Nellberg warned. The protest by the police officers comes in the wake of the general strike against austerity in Spain and other countries in Europe.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/337116#ixzz2CWd4levf

Millions joined the largest European strike ever on November 14

There were literally millions of people out demonstrating on the streets of Europe yesterday in the largest European general strike ever held. One thing they all agreed on, "We have no future!" Includes videos.

In total, workers in 23 countries across Europe participated in the European Day of Action and Solidarity. As reported by Digital Journal on Wednesday, some actions were small and others were full-blown strikes. 

 

The Europe-wide strike action was coordinated by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and promoted on Twitter under the hashtag “#14N".. read more and watch videos.

Protests mark Angela Merkel's visit to Lisbon, Portugal (video)

During Angela Merkel's visit to Lisbon, protesters gathered peacefully to denounce Germany's decision to back a recent series of austerity measures in the bailed-out Eurozone state.

Playing with puppets representing Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho (L), Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel in front of the presidential palace, dozens of protesters demonstrated against Merkel's visit to the city. 

Merkel met with the Portuguese President on Monday at the Palace of Belem in Lisbon. She also held talks with Prime Minister Coelho and attended a conference by leading German and Portuguese corporations. 

Merkel told a joint news conference with Coelho that "The program is being applied by Portugal in an excellent manner. It is a great exploit." "My visit is a chance to get to know the country better and to bring hope. I sense a great determination to overcome a difficult situation. Germany wants to support Portugal."

However, protesters did not agree with her. Amidst a heavy police presence, white- and blue-collar workers joined with city students, draping statues in black mourning sashes to ‘mourn’ the German chancellor’s visit, carrying banners with slogans like ‘Merkel, no!’ and ‘Get out!’ Other banners had a Nazi theme, and said 'Merkel Nazi, Go Away!' and, in German, 'Merkel Raus' (Merkel Out). 

Artwork as sprung up all over the city, portraying Merkel as a puppet-master and also as a gambler in a casino, playing with Portugal's future.

One protester told RT, "These measures have been killing us, they give us no future, its only bringing unemployment and misery."  

Euronews reported that São José Lapa, a well-known Portuguese actress, was among 100 Portuguese academics and intellectuals who signed an open letter to Chancellor Merkel to tell her she is unwelcome in the country, reading: “I want to say to Mrs. Merkel: ‘You have to stop putting your paws in all the countries of Europe that have great problems like ours. It’s an indecency to our nationality. You seem like you are the owner, that this is your territory’.” 

A protest leader in the “Que se lixe a troika” (Damn the troika) movement, Marco Marques, said, “She’s not coming to re-evaluate her policies, she’s coming to sell Portugal. She is coming to Portugal with a group of businessmen to diagnose the misery.” 

On Monday, a Portuguese daily newspaper, Informacao, ran a photo of Merkel on the front page, captioned with ‘Hail Angela, those who are about to die salute you!’ 

Merkel told Rádio e Televisão de Portugal in an interview on Sunday, “People can't see the results yet, but the results will come.” while praising Lisbon for carrying out economic reforms and spending cuts, in return for a 78-billion-euro bailout package. 

Portugal's main trade union confederation is planning a 24-hour general strike for Wednesday, along with several other European countries. 

The reason for so much upset and protest in Portugal is the austerity budget for 2013, adopted by Portugal's center-right governing coalition government last month, which includes steep public spending cuts and tax increases. The final vote for this budget is set to take place on Tuesday and it is hoped that this budget will generate 5.3 billion euros, mainly through tax hikes.

With Portugal facing its worst economic crisis since the 1970's, and unemployment soaring to 16%, officials from the "Troika" (the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank and other EU member states) are about to begin their sixth quarterly review of Portugal's implementation of the bailout conditions.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/336753#ixzz2C8dosebr

Portugal military protest austerity in Lisbon (video)

Holding red cards and banners, thousands of military personnel marched through the streets of Lisbon on Saturday, protesting the austerity measures and budget cuts imposed in Portugal. 

Wearing civilian clothing, with some proudly displaying their medals, an estimated 5,000-10,000 active and retired soldiers rallied against "unjustified cutbacks" in the 2013 budget. They called for Portuguese President Aníbal António Cavaco Silva to veto the controversial austerity budget adopted by the government. 

They marched quietly, carrying banners calling for respect for the military and for "national sovereignty." Some banners read, “Police are unhappy, military are unhappy, people are unhappy”. 

With some officers complaining that their monthly wages have been cut by as much as 25%, one soldier told AFP, "We are getting cut after cut and there is no light at the end of the tunnel." 

Sergeant José Paulo Leitão said, “The 2013 budget proposes we make higher payments for medical care, although the service is worse. We pay more for less.” 

According to retired navy officer, Armenio Teodoro: “All the soldiers – not just me – have the right to receive our pension with dignity, because they discounted the money from our salaries. Now I ask, where’s our money? Where’s the money we paid for so many years?” 

Other reasons for the protest are the decline in finances for maintenance and training, as well as the cuts in the social sphere and tax hikes. Several associations which represent the military called on Portugal's Constitutional Court to review the legality of next year's budget. The court ruled in July against a finance law, and told the government to revise the measure, which stripped bonuses from civil servants. The court argued that it violated constitutionally-guaranteed rights to equal treatment.

Now the protesters hope to receive a similar outcome with the austerity budget. Portugal received a €78-billion bailout package in 2011 from the Troika, comprised of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Now austerity measures are needed to keep within this package. Lisbon must lower its budget deficit to 3% of GDP by 2014.

According to Eurostat, thanks to austerity measures, the economy is expected to shrink by 3% in 2012, while unemployment is around 15.7%. Euronews is reporting that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has praised Lisbon's efforts to reduce the deficit. Merkel is due to visit Lisbon on Monday.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/336609#ixzz2BuBketQv

Protest in Barakaldo, Spain over suicide of evicted woman

Bilbao - 53-year-old Amaia Egaña was to be evicted from her home in Barakaldo, Bilbao, Spain. Rather than face homelessness, she jumped to her death from her balcony.

Egaña jumped from her fourth floor balcony just as the bailiffs prepared to evict her, after she failed to keep her mortgage payments up to date. This is the second suicide in less than three weeks over impending evictions.

According to the organizers, 8,000 people took to the street on Friday in Barakaldo, a suburb of Bilbao in the Basque region of Spain. Chants and banners stated condemnation of the suicide of Egaña and protested any further foreclosures. Demonstrators shouted slogans such as ''No eviction unanswered,'' ''Banker, remember – we have rope'', "it is not a suicide, it's a homicide," and "we must stop financial terrorism".

Organizers of the Stop Eviction march have called for immediate action by Madrid to end foreclosures and they blamed the suicide on Spain's economic hardship. According to estimates, more than 400,000 families have lost their homes since the start of the financial crisis in Spain.

Immediately following the tragedy, a Barakaldo judge, Juan Carlos Mediavilla said that it is "necessary to amend current mortgage legislation" to prevent the recurrence of such events.

On Thursday this week, the EU Court of Justice criticized the mortgage law in Spain, which governs evictions, and called for a halt to the repossession of property. The court states that the legislation is incompatible with European consumer protection standards. In Spain, not only can someone be evicted for non-payment of their mortgage, but they also remain liable to repay whatever value is left on the mortgage after the repossession.

Two similar events have occurred recently including 53-year-old José Miguel Domingo, who was found dead in Granada on October 25, immediately after bailiffs appeared on his doorstep. The following day yet another 53-year-old jumped from his apartment window ahead of an eviction in Burjassot, but survived the fall.

Spanish news agency, EFE reports that on Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will be meeting with the opposition PSOE party in an effort to halt evictions. The PSOE hope to introduce a new law where evictions would be halted if a family only owns one home. "We ask the government and banks to halt all housing evictions until we have a new law," Socialist Elena Valenciano said.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/336545#ixzz2BoSuVc2I