AnimaNaturalis: Protesters strip off in anti-leather demo in Barcelona, Spain [PHOTOS]

While the weather was pretty chilly in Barcelona over the weekend, this didn't stop anti-leather protesters from stripping off and splashing themselves with fake blood.

Photo courtesy AnimaNaturalis

Almost 200 people braved the weather and stripped off their clothing, splashing themselves with fake blood this weekend in a protest against the use of animal skins and fur in clothing.

According to Francisco Vásquez Neira, the president of AnimaNaturalis International, which staged the protest, every year the demonstration is betting bigger and bigger. 

"Thanks to social media, we are getting more attention than ever." 

Impactante protesta de @AnimaNaturalis contra el uso de abrigos de pieles #vistetupropiapiel https://t.co/ho9FLcq2Lk pic.twitter.com/JiIB8jywxt

— LaTorturaNoEsCultura (@LTNEC) December 7, 2015

On the group's website they state, "For the tenth consecutive year, more than a hundred people from around Spain and across the world gathered in Barcelona to brave the cold winter temperatures and get naked to protest against the use of animal skin."

As per the website for AnimaNaturalis, the demonstrators lay one on top of the other in the protest "like the bodies of the dead animals once they have been skinned."

The protesters displayed signs reading, "How many lives just for a coat?" in English, Spanish and Catalan.

Aída Gascón the head of AnimaNaturalis in Spain told The Local, "Leather garments have been wrongly associated with luxury and fashion and this is the way of thinking that must change because if there is no demand, there will be no supply." 

#Animanaturalis Stop using furs' coats protest performance in #Barcelona https://t.co/ZcwSPqyUyv pic.twitter.com/m0JNToFCF4

— Demotix (@Demotix) December 6, 2015

"Nowadays there are many alternative clothing options without taking the skin and the life of an animal," she added. 

Sources: AnimaNaturalis / The Local

ISIS militant Salah Abdeslam held by Spanish police for DUI weeks before Paris attacks

While an international manhunt is underway for Salah Abdeslam, one of the jihadists involved in the Paris terror attacks, it turns out he was stopped by Spanish police just weeks prior to the attacks.

As reported in the Catalan media, Abdeslam was stopped by traffic police and breathalyzed during a roadside check outside Figueres in Catalonia, close to the French border.

Reportedly the 26-year-old, who is of Belgian birth and French nationality, failed the breathalyzer test and was arrested for driving over the legal alcohol limit. Abdeslam's car was impounded, but was released several days later when he presented his documents and paid a fine.

Neither the Catalan regional police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, nor Spain’s interior ministry have confirmed the incident, but the Catalan newspaper says it has sources who confirmed Abdeslam was held. They reportedly recognized him from the police appeal poster put out after the Paris terror attacks.

The international manhunt for Salah Abdelslam was launched Sunday. He is one of three brothers who are believed to have been involved in the brutal and bloody attacks on Friday November 13, that claimed 130 lives in various venues in Paris.

French man fights noisy Spanish restaurant with coffin and tombstones

Michel Kessous, 69, has had enough of the noise emanating from a neighboring restaurant in Denia, Spain.

He decided to try some novel ideas to scare away the customers, including hanging a coffin on a scaffold outside the window of his home.

According to the 20 minutos newspaper, the L'Escoleta restaurant just behind Kessous' house recently opened an outdoor terrace. While before it was apparently only the loud extractor fan that irritated Kessous, now he also had to contend with patrons chatting out on the terrace until 2 a.m. and sometimes staff staying late and chatting until 4 a.m.  The noise bothers him despite the fact that his windows have double-glazing and it all just got to be too much.

First of all he placed some tombstones on his patio to give the customers a fright, but apparently this didn't work, so now he has erected the scaffolding, with a coffin hanging ominously in the air.

Juan Carlos Villar, owner of the restaurant said Monday, "We don't know what he's going to do next. Maybe he'll put skulls out," adding that he doesn't want to launch an official complaint as that would start a "war between neighbors."

He said that it is the responsibility of the town hall and that he doesn't want to get involved and just tells customers that he has an "odd neighbor."  However, he did say that all Kessous wants to do is to close his business down, meaning that nine families would be without jobs.

Meanwhile, another local resident said, "We don't understand why the town hall went over plans for minor renovations with a fine-toothed comb but now won't move a finger when a tomb is put out for everyone to see."

It seems the local town hall is working on the problem, however, and is still trying to establish whether the scaffolding used for hanging the coffin is actually a legal structure.

As for Kessous, all he wants is for the restaurant owner to meet with him to make some sort of plan to lessen the noise.

Man confesses to murdering his sister in Fuengirola, Spain

A 22-year-old man is now in custody after he confessed to killing his sister following an argument.

 

Photo by and copyright © Spanish News in English

Police discovered the body of the 25-year-old woman, known only as Erika, at 9:15 a.m. on Monday in the family's beachfront apartment on the Paseo Maritimo in Los Boliches, close to the Confortel Hotel in Fuengirola.  Police had been alerted by calls from concerned neighbours who had overheard the argument.

At 9:39 a.m., the dead woman's brother phoned the police and confessed to the killing. Shortly afterwards police arrested the man and he is currently in custody.

A forensic team from the National Police inspected the property and removed the body at 11:45 a.m. 

Police found the body of Erika in a bedroom, although they believe the woman was killed in the bathroom of the apartment and some of the blood had been cleaned up by the brother.

According to police sources, the woman had suffered a violent death. Diario Sur reports her throat had been deeply cut.  Other media sources quote the murder as a beheading..  Spanish media outlets have noted that the family is of Ecuadorian origins and that the young man apparently had a restraining order against him for mistreating their mother.

National Library of Spain discovers rare fragment of Vicenzo Bellini score

The Spanish News in English: National Library of Spain discovers rare fragment ...: Spain's National Library (BNE) announced on Wednesday the discovery of a rare fragment of an opera score, handwritten by 19th century...

'Operation Helmet' launched against Spanish tomb raiders

While it might sound like something out of the movies, "Operation Helmet" has been launched by the Guardia Civil (civil guard) to recover archaeological pieces from the Celtiberian period in Spain.

As part of "Operation Helmet," the Spanish civil guard has recently recovered more than 4,000 archaeological pieces in the Zaragoza province, which pertain to different cultures, but are particularly from the peninsular Celtiberian period.

 

The latest culprit is 60-year-old Ricardo G. (surname withheld), who is a retired truffle collector from Aragon, who obviously decided to collect rather more valuable objects. The Spanish pensioner has become the unlikely mastermind behind a massive black market sale of plundered Spanish treasure.

 

Following a tip from a German museum, police raided the home of Ricardo G. to discover over 4,000 historical artifacts. It seems that the pensioner has spent the last 20 years, armed with a simple metal detector, hunting for historic artifacts. He has since been selling arrowheads, breastplates, brooches, swords and pieces of helmet discovered in the fields around his home. Many of the pieces found are from the Roman and later Vandal era and mostly date from between the third and first centuries BC.

 

According to researchers, Ricardo G. might have plundered not only the site of Aranda de Moncayo but also Tiermes, which is part of the Sorian territory of Montejo de Tiermes, known by archaeologists as "the Spanish Pompeii". Another site was probably Numancia (Garray).

 

The civil guard were initially given a tip in 2008, when the Romisch Germanisches Zentral Museum in Munich claimed that some of their exhibition pieces had left Spain illegally. The pieces were seized by prosecutors and Spanish authorities were told to reclaim them within three months.

 

Eventually, under the auspices of "Operation Helmet," the pieces have now been traced back to the Aragon region of northern Spain and the infamous Ricardo G. The culprit was arrested but has since been released pending trial for theft.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/345374

Horsemeat scandal romps along as Ikea's meatballs test positive

While initially found in Ikea's meatballs in the Czech Republic, IKEA withdrew sales of meatballs in 14 European countries after tests found traces of horsemeat in a batch made in Sweden. Then there was the pasta and more "beef" burgers. 

Meatballs are a traditional part of Swedish cuisine, and are consumed in large quantities by customers in Ikea’s in-store cafeterias with mashed potato and cranberry sauce. They are also offered on sale frozen in Ikea’s in-store food shops for customers to take home.

Although the problem was initially found in the Czech Republic Ikea stores, it seems that meatballs from the same batch were sold in several European countries, including the UK, France and Portugal, according to a spokesperson for the company.

The announcement came on Monday after the Czech State Veterinary Administration found horsemeat in 1kg (2.2lb) packs of meatballs which were manufactured in Sweden and then shipped to Ikea stores in the Czech Republic.

In total, 760kg (1,675lb) of the affected meatballs were intercepted and stopped from reaching the Czech stores.

Ikea posted a message on its Swedish Facebook page to the effect that it was halting all sales of meatballs at its stores in that country. A later announcement advised that meatballs from the same, affected batch had also been sent to Ikea stores in Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Spain and the UK.

Reportedly Ikea insists that in-house tests run two weeks ago had found no horsemeat, but they did say that new tests will now be carried out.

"We do not tolerate any other ingredients than the ones stipulated in our recipes or specifications, secured through set standards, certifications and product analysis by accredited laboratories," a statement said.

Meanwhile the Czech State Veterinary Administration has said that horsemeat has also been found in beef burgers imported from Poland. The scandal further continues as the Swiss company, Nestlé has advised that it had found horse DNA in meat from the Spanish supplier, Servocar.

On Monday, the Spanish agriculture ministry announced that traces of horsemeat had been found in beef pasta meals produced by Nestlé brands. According to a statement on Nestlé's company website, the Swiss company is withdrawing six "La Cocinera" products and one "Buitoni" product from shops in Spain. The company has also halted all deliveries from the meat supplier, Servocar.

These further discoveries of horsemeat and horse DNA come as EU agriculture ministers are holding talks which are expected to focus on the growing horsemeat scandal.

According to Nestlé, they are testing their products across the board, just a week after announcing that they are withdrawing two types of beef pasta meals from supermarkets in Italy and Spain, supplied by a company in Germany, H J Schypke.

A Nestlé spokesman has apparently told the BBC that this is not an indication that the problem is widespread across the company, but that "we are testing like mad".

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/344292

'23F Citizen's Wave': Major anti-austerity protests in Spain

Tens of thousands of people from all walks of life hit the streets of Spain on Saturday in a "Citizen's Wave" anti-austerity demonstration.

As part of the ongoing and neverending protests all over Spain against austerity measures and budget cuts in the country, the latest event saw tens of thousands of people in the streets of Spain, carrying banners, banging drums, blowing whistles and hooters and generally making their anger known.

One woman carried a flag depicting Argentinian-born Cuban revolution hero Che Guevara. Others carried posters just saying a simple message, "No" or "No dictatorship." A firefighter carried a placard reading, "If there is no justice for the people, there will be no peace for the government."

The people of Spain have had enough of the hardship brought on by the financial crisis in the country, along with what they call the corruption of the government, referring to the recent scandal involving Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and slush fund payments.

While thousands marched countrywide, possibly the biggest demonstration was in the capital, Madrid, as thousands marched on the Spanish parliament, targeting the "coup of the financial markets."

Many have been badly affected by public sector cuts and tax hikes introduced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s conservative government, launched to tackle the country's debt problem. According to Rajoy, these measures have been imposed to cut a "path for the future", but the Spanish public disagrees.

The people say that the "pressure of the financial markets" along with government corruption have led to the current situation and that because of this, the people are being punished, not those actually responsible for the crisis. Unemployment continues to soar at 26%, with 50% and more among the youth. 

The protest has been dubbed "Citizens' Wave 23F" and includes workers from virtually every field including professors, teachers and students, doctors and nurses, miners, political activists, firefighters and environmentalists.

The current protest marks the 32nd anniversary of a failed attempt by right-wing officers to overthrow Spain's new democracy and restore military rule. 

 

Millions in Spain are now at risk of poverty, with ROAR Magazine saying that Oxfam projects that some 18 million Spaniards (almost 40 percent of the population) could face a life of destitution by 2022.  

On Friday, Spain badly missed the 6.3 percent of GDP target for 2012 with a result of 10.2 percent, so things can only get worse for the people.

Luis Mora, a construction worker in Madrid told AFP, "We have come because of it all - unemployment, corrupt politicians, the young people who have no future - it's a combination of everything." 

 

RT and photographer Erwin Sarkisov have some impressive photos of the event.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/344189

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

Spanish mothers strip for calendar to save school bus

A new measure introduced in July cut funding for the school bus running in the Monserrat district of Valencia in eastern Spain. A group of mums got together and posed for an erotic calendar to raise money for their children's transport.

The problem is that, according to Spanish law, the government only has to provide transport if students live more than 3km away from the school. However, this new austerity measure states that the distance has to be calculated in a straight line, and this meant that "Evaristo Calayatud" school in the Monserrat District of Valencia was no longer eligible for a school bus. 

 

However, as Silvia Lucas, one of the mothers, points out, “We have to scale a mountain and climb down a cliff to get to the school. On foot, using the most direct route it’s 4.5km, if you walk on the road it’s six." 

 

Some of the parents are unemployed and have problems paying for petrol to drive the children to school themselves. For this reason, and to try and raise 43,000 euros, the group of mothers got together, disrobed and posed for the erotic calendar. 

 

To make their point, the mothers struck various poses, including scaling cliffs and pushing prams along dirt tracks, which clearly illustrate the 6km walk their children were being forced to endure every morning. They figured that not only could their calendar raise the necessary money, it could at the same time “give the politicians a slap in the face.” 

 

It took just over a month after the launch of the calendar to raise enough money for the bus to run for three months for the 83 affected children. 

There were difficulties along the way, when police ejected them from the town center for illegally selling the calendar. However, Silvia Lucas pointed out, “We were not selling them, we were collecting donations.” 

 

She further said that while the calendar is not to everyone's taste in the neighborhood, there was little other choice. “A lot of people tell us that we could have organized a community meal and not the calendar, but that would not have made nearly enough money. Our husbands are happy with the result and proud of our achievement” added Lucas, saying that she had done it for her children.

Read more and view video: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/340157

17 arrested in Voodoo sex-trafficking ring in Spain

According to Spain's Interior Ministry, police have arrested 17 people on suspicion of smuggling Nigerian women into Spain. Once in the country, the women were forced into prostitution with claims that Voodoo spells would be cast should they not comply.

In January, police detected that around 10 women had been brought into Spain illegally on a small boat and forced into prostitution in the streets of Barcelona. Most of these women were pregnant or the mothers of very young children. 

 

In further investigations, it was found that a dozen women in an illegal immigrant rescue center in Utrera, Seville were "behaving strangely." They were reportedly maintaining "frequent contacts with several people outside the center," which alerted the police forces. 

 

Members of the National Police and Guardia Urbana (Urban Guard) later found that this contact was with members of the criminal organization. 

 

Following the investigation, police raids seized mobile phones, computer equipment and falsified work permit and identity documents. The detectives further discovered objects that they say were allegedly for use in "Voodoo" rituals. Police said that some members of the group forced the victims to commit robberies and thefts. The stolen objects were then sent to Nigeria. 

 

According to a statement released on Sunday, after months of investigation, police officers have tracked down the suspected pimps, arresting 16 Nigerian nationals and one Ugandan, in Barcelona, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramenet and other towns throughout Spain.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/340178

Photo essay: 'PictoParque' — Art in the park in Fuengirola, Spain

The Councillor for Culture in Fuengirola, Rodrigo Romero, has come up with a great idea. Artists will be able to display their work and discuss art in the Parque de España every Sunday, at no charge. 

Not only will artists display their work, the park will become a meeting place for artists and fans of the world of art. Discussions and exchanges of ideas will also take place. And also, not only is this great for local artists, they figure it also helps to make Fuengirola more interesting for tourists. 

For a rather nice change, there is absolutely no charge for the use of a section of the park to display your wares. The premiere of this cultural project was December 16.

Read more and see many more photos at: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339172

Photo essay: Changing moods of the Mediterranean

Most people imagine the Mediterranean sea as a calm blue ocean and dream of warm, sunny beach holidays. But the Med is much more than a calm blue pond.

While in spring, summer and autumn, you can mostly count on relatively calm seas, warm temperatures and an endless stretch of sandy beach, winter brings some quite different moods to the Costa del Sol. In this article we are visiting Fuengirola, on the south coast of Spain, and exploring some changes which were made in the last couple of years to the fishing and leisure port in the seaside town.

Read more and see more photos: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/338736

Photo essay: Gibraltar — Little England on the tip of Spain

Long an object of dispute between Spain and Great Britain, the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is a little enigma, tucked away at the very tip of Spain. It's a place where Spanish and English are intertwined...   Read more and view photos

Torrential rains and flooding in Málaga city, Spain (video)

Heavy rains for the last two days, together with waterspouts on Saturday morning, have caused flooding in Málaga province, with the worse incidences being in the capital city of Málaga.

With the province still recovering from the flooding in September 2012, it has now happened again.From around 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, emergency calls were coming in for more than 300 incidents, caused by heavy rains and flooding in the province of Málaga. The Andalucian government delegation activated the Emergency Flood Plan at level 1.

Most of the emergency calls were from Málaga city, with flooded homes, garages, premises, cellars and road network problems. Fortunately, so far no injuries or deaths have been reported.

The rise in the level of streams and rivers has caused some flooding in Málaga city, particularly Paseo de Sancha, and in the Casabermeja orchard.

Many branches, trees and other objects are lying in the roads due to the wind and heavy rains

The problems apparently started with three waterspouts which occurred consecutively.

Several of the main arteries of Málaga city, including Avenida de Andalucía, have been flooded, with trash bins swept away by the waters, and some residents had to use their canoes to move in areas such as the Pedregalejo promenade. The Cerrado de Calderón traffic tunnel, part of the ring road of Málaga, was temporarily cut by landslides this morning in the direction of Cadiz but has already been reopened.

The Guadalmedina River, which runs through the center of the city is usually dry, but today was awash with water.Other flooding was reported in Casabermeja, Almogía and Canillas de Aceituno.

Inland in Alhaurín de la Torre, 35 families were evacuated as a precautionary measure, while four families were moved from their homes in Antequera and two people in Cártama were rescued from their isolated, riverside property.

Álora Mayor, José Sánchez said that some roads had disappeared completely, while a water course through the area was running very high.

Residents in the Bellavista district of the municipality lost their drinking water supply after wells which serve them were inundated on Friday. These wells have only recently been repaired from the previous floods in September

In San Roque (Cádiz), the force of the wind, which the City Hall has described as a "little tornado", has caused damage in the neighborhood of the San Roque station early this morning. Firefighters and local police have had to remove debris to avoid accidents.

Facebook and Twitter images of the flooding can be viewed here.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/337099#ixzz2CWevJw7i

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.

Review: Café Yanx — 'An American in Marbella', since 1997

Their website reads, "Here at Yanx, we like to think of ourselves as a smooth quality vintage with a successful pedigree going back some thirteen years." And it really shows with their incredibly tasty, all-American food, served here in Spain.

The writer had a birthday last week, and it was one of those "milestone" birthdays, if you get the drift. So, her son wanted to take her somewhere different for a good meal. 

Having seen some incredible images of cheesecake being bandied back and forth on Facebook, the writer did some investigation and found the Facebook page of Café Yanx. Naturally, being totally opposed to good old GMOs, and knowing that the restaurant is American-owned, said writer checked with them that their food content is all locally sourced, and it is (except the Irish beef). Great!

As it turns out the girlfriend of the writer's son has been to Café Yanx on several occasions - it is apparently her ideal birthday destination too!

Café Yanx

Café Yanx - Homemade frozen peanut butter pie with caramel sauce.

Located in Nueva Andalucia on the Costa del Sol, the restaurant overlooks the very upmarket and expensive Puerto Banus - the poshest area of Marbella. Puerto Banus is where the very rich flaunt themselves, and often the not-so-very-rich also flaunt themselves, to try and get themselves a bit of the very rich - you know, pose, pose, is everyone looking, type of thing.

Café Yanx

Café Yanx - Asian sticky ribs, hot wings, and bacon and cheese skins.

 

 

But I digress. Because the restaurant only overlooks Puerto Banus, it is a slightly quieter place in great surroundings, in the Centro Plaza mall (as it says in the introduction on their home page, [cue Mexican accent] it's behind the bull ring).

 

Have to admit my only complaint was that I didn't see one American, as the owner, David Fisher, was not around. However, the Spanish staff are impeccably efficient and very friendly, speak excellent English, are speedy to serve, but unobtrusive while you enjoy your meal.

 

We ate on the terrace in the warm sunshine (no ways were we sitting indoors after what feels like weeks of endless rain!). However, the inside of the restaurant had loads of charm and character, with walls covered in fascinating photos and images, and a cozy bar. 

 

Oh, what to choose from that menu! Very hard decisions were made. We decided to start by sharing a plate of quesadillas. 

 

 The "Quesadilla Classic" was delicious Mexican hot bread stuffed with melted cheese, peppers and onions and served with sour cream, guacamole and salsa. Very yummy.

Café Yanx

Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain. Cajun Chicken Quesadillas.

OK, yes, I went to an American restaurant and ended up eating Mexican. Or is it Tex-Mex? 

 

Next course was "The Butcher Boy" - a great big burger for son, served with some wonderful chips (French fries). Sounds boring, as you can get burgers anywhere? But not like these burgers! Personally, one of those would have fed me for three days! Absolutely delicious, pure beef and all the trimmings.

Café Yanx

Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain - Arizona Blue Burger with Crispy Bacon.

And for mother, the "Fabulous Fajitas". Tender marinated strips of chicken served with onions and peppers, warmed tortillas and Mexi rice, with guacamole, sour cream and salsa on the side. Amazing, delicious and way too much food! Thank heavens for "doggie bags" (as if the dog will ever get a look in there! In his dreams maybe.) 

 

We finalized the deal with a "Double Chocolate Cheesecake", which we shared, along with coffee.

Café Yanx

Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain. Double Chocolate Cheesecake.

All the time we were eating this delicious fare, other dishes were wafting past us to other tables. I really must have some of those wraps next time, and Mark's mouth was watering for the Smoked Baby Back Ribs that were still sizzling as they passed us, or for a good steak from well hung Grade A Irish Beef!

Café Yanx

Café Yanx - Marbella, Spain. Smoked Baby Back Ribs.

There will, of course, be a next time. All in all, highly recommended for a great location, friendly and efficient service, and some of the best food on the Costa del Sol. 

 

Admittedly we shared the starter and dessert, but son had a beer and mother a glass of wine, and the total bill was a reasonably affordable 50 euros.

 

On a more serious side, the owner and operator, David Fisher, has had "more than 22 years of finely-honed catering and hospitality experience." Fisher classes their cuisine as "Ameriteranean", taking classic, no frills American cuisine and giving it a sunny Mediterranean twist. Nearly all their product is sourced locally, except the beef, which comes all the way from "the green fields of Ireland, carefully aged and delicious."

Café Yanx

Café Yanx - Sizzling, well hung Grade A Irish Beef.

Open all day, every day, for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/336694#ixzz2C29CfqmH

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