Police in Spain Terrorize Protesters

Philly
Hello from Philly

As I travel around the Northeast of the United States, I am also struggling to keep up with events unfolding in Spain. Disturbing events as protesters throughout the country suffer the wrath of a police force out of control. While millions throughout the country assemble in city squares demanding political and social reform, their story goes mostly unreported and downplayed by many international media outlets.  What is going on in Spain? On today’s podcast I talk about the situation, while also giving an update to several themes from recent podcasts.

People Outside, My People

Just wanted to dedicate a few minutes to saluting the trouble makers outside the democrat party convention in Colorado.

While inside it is all smiling faces, boring pre-written speaches, and picture perfect pageantry, outside the convention- people are standing up, sitting down, marching, and engaging in all kinds of demonstrations related to issues of ending wars, restoring rights, and a long list of other issues todays mainstream politicians would like to keep quiet.? Of course we can’t rely on the corporate media to inform us about these demonstrations; but thankfully we have the net roots to provide information about what is going on OUTSIDE.

No it won’t result in much when all is said and done.? The game will go on and the next convention will soon kick off with even more people marching outside, with an even longer list of grievances.? But when I turn on the television and I see the political show with its long and boring cast of characters, it brings me great comfort to know I’m not alone… my people are right outside.

Weekend Market

Besides working, I’m more of a tourist than a journalist these days, and I’ll try to do something about that immediately.  There is a vlog entry coming up when I wake. For now I pass you this flickr video clip of how I spent much of my day today, walking the norrow aisles of the Chatuchak Weekend Market, a very large and impressive maze of merchants and people alike.

PS – To anyone who sent the link, emailed, or worried about my presence at the demonstrations today in Bangkok, you might be relieved to know that I got lost and never arrived where I had hoped to arrive to observe the demonstrations.  If I get another chance I will try again, and I will approach with caution so worry not!

More from the g8 Summit

Click here to see a good video from today’s events demonstrating against the G8 Summit.

What I like best about this one is how it shows one member of the group speaking politely with police explaining that they are not the enemy and they will not act violently towards them. He even asks if they would please open their helmets and put down their clubs. (which they don’t seem to, but at least one cop seems to want to do so)

Another g8 Season

Here in Germany it seems like the G8 meeting protests are all the buzz in the media. And the meeting hasn’t even begun! Hows that for a powerful protest!?

The organizations involved with organizing shadow conferences and alternative events to express their opposition to these meetings are plentiful, but apparently – to busy to answer my email requests for interviews. I would stay in Berlin and try to find them in person, but the truth is.. I’ve killed my meager budget and it is time to head home to Amsterdam.

Still I do recommend you follow the fun… hopefully they do have some fun out there. As one of my most favorite professors, Dr. George Gregoriou used to say, “We used to go to all the demonstrations because it was like going to the best parties”. At least I think he used to say that.

Stay tuned to Indymedia.de (including live radio streams), and maybe Attac and a few other websites. PErhaps even mine if these guys ever get back to me. This could be a very interesting season of G8 protests here in Germany and it all kicks off tomorrow.