Stray Bullets - Strikes Across Europe And Ecuador's State Of Emergency

Strikes Across Europe:
Members of the European trade union movement [1] have held a day of strikes across Europe, with rallies being held in 13 capital cities. On Wednesday (September 29) over 100,000 protesters brought Brussels to a standstill [2] to protest spending cuts. Meanwhile in Spain, a 24-hour general strike [3] against public spending cuts led to up to two thirds of all international flights being cancelled. According to Spanish unions, over 10 million people - more than half the Spanish workforce - joined the strike. Brief clashes between police and striking workers [4] occurred at factory gates across Spain. Marches also occurred in Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Serbia, Romania, Poland, Ireland and France. John Monks, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said, “It’s a fight to protect social Europe… we will demonstrate to voice our concerns over the economic and social context, which will be compounded by austerity measures.”

Activists Shut Down Shell Garage:
Climate change activists have shut down a Shell petrol station in London [5]. Occupying the roof of the station, members of the “Petroseige Crew”, were forcibly removed by police. However, a few hours later another activist hit the station’s emergency pump shut down button, leading to site being closed for until the next day. The protesters declared the action to be in support of the people in Rossport, who are protesting against Shell drilling in their area.

Ecuador’s State of Emergency:
Ecuador’s police have launched a rebellion against the President Rafael Correa [6] over austerity measures that cut their benefits. On Thursday (September 30), police officers shoved Correa around and pelted him with tear gas [7] as he tried to speak at police barracks in the capital of Quito. Officers also set up roadblocks of burning tires in the capital and overran an airport. During the disturbance, over 20 reporters were injured and TV and radio stations were censored [8]. Correa challenged the protesters, yelling from a government building, “I’m not taking one step back. Gentleman, if you want to kill the president, here he is, kill if you have the guts!”

 

Protesters and German Police Clash In Woods:
Activists protesting against the felling of trees in Stuttgart [9] have clashed with riot police. On Thursday (September 30), over 130 activists were injured as the police used pepper spray, water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds. The activists are angry at the proposed plans to fell a centuries-old crop of trees in order to build Stuttgart 21, a modern railway/transportation station. On Friday, tens of thousands of protesters, chanting “Shame on you”, took to the streets of Stuttgart to protest the police response [10]. Government officials, who have spent 15 years working on the project, say it will reduce travel times and open up a vast tract of inner city land to developers.
 

Words: Richard Lemmer
 

Photo: Flickr user Presidencia de la República del Ecuador's [11], of Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa