2010: Blockades, direct action and demonstrations in France. 2011: G8-G20 in France

by cop violence Sat Oct 16, 2010 11:27

French CRS cop caught on camera viciously punching a girl in the face (52 seconds into vid clip)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf7hbm_une-manifestant...embed

French CRS cop caught on camera viciously punching a girl in the face

by shamey Sat Oct 16, 2010 15:08

The best way to beat them is by other peaceful means of protest,and properly organised chaos,it doesnt always have to be violent,such a pity..

by Godot Sat Oct 16, 2010 17:48

It's good to see university and high school students (and their student unions) join the demos. They argue, correctly, that increasing the age of retirement will lead to an increase in youth unemployment.

"The more the government tells youth that their place isn't in the street, the more they mobilize," Jean-Baptiste Prevost of the UNEF (Student Union Federation).

Public support for the strikes is running at about 70% according to the national media.

by obelix Sat Oct 16, 2010 21:59

The strikes, demos, barricades have been peaceful. It is the French cops who are being violent.

catch updates from...

60 ans c’est déjà trop, pas question de bosser un jour de plus ! (imc- paris)
http://paris.indymedia.org/spip.php?article3101

imc-nantes - http://nantes.indymedia.org/
imc-grenoble - http://grenoble.indymedia.org/
imc-lille - http://lille.indymedia.org/

Francia, un ejemplo a seguir: Este sábado seguirán las movilizaciones contra los recortes de Sarkozy (kaosenlared - spanish)
http://www.kaosenlared.net/noticia/francia-ejemplo-segu...-reco

Hundreds of protests held across France
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/16/hundreds-of-protests...ance/

Fuel runs low as French protest
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1016/....html

by Con Carroll Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:09

bring it on Dublin. direct action non voilent protests
enough guff, waffling. target them in the Dail with their obscene mouth pieces through the media. poor auld David Drumm in America
working class political action

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sun Oct 17, 2010 13:21

The French workers are aware of their latent power. They tend to make sure their actions hit the puppeteers up top. They control the infrastructure and have cut off fuel supplies at key points.
An equivalent action would see Irish workers organised so that when they hit the marginalised with water charges the water supply to the Dail and Ministers' homes gets cut.Unfortunately Paddy dont seem to have a very highly developed sense of social solidarity despite sentimental revulsion at the blatant abuses of the 'masters'. The hoors are so cute they keep enough of 'their own' in clover to manipulate the propagandised electorate into believing that the elite's interests are the hallowed 'national interests'. After several centuries of clutching at the filthy skirts of momma church Paddy has been mentally retarded for generations from thinking for him/herself and has developed a general aversion to uncomfortable facts that contradict the long swallowed creed that their betters know best,i.e. believe, dont think. Faith, not doubt, that diabolical temptation to the hubris of believing you possess a functioning brain of your own, even if you are not up to speed with their jargon.
As a result they will convince enough gobshites that they have the wherewithal to initiate their nebulous 'smart economy', even as they push the brightest, best educated out of the country lest they propose what the country needs, a glimmer of economic measurement that is not posited on the numerology of absentee corporate vested interests. The corporate gamblers own the ref, the bookie, and the security apparatus, and their media tannoy is clicking into gear,again, to point out the fire exits to another generation, lest they reclaim their purloined birthright to a livlihood in the the land they have as much right to as any fine-featherd IBEC nestling.

by Obelix Sun Oct 17, 2010 17:30

- Paris airport fuel is running out amid pension protests (guardian)
Government warns that Charles de Gaulle airport risks running out of fuel by Monday night and tries to prevent panic buying
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/16/france-airp...p=239

- French strikes continue (guardian photos)
Strikes spread across the country on fourth day of nationwide protests over pension reforms
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/oct/15/fre...tests

- Sarkozy in bitter battle with unions (Irish Times)
President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a make-or-break week for his unpopular pension reform as French unions ramp up pressure to scrap it.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1017/....html

Protests in France over pension reforms (RTE, vids at link)
French police have said 50,000 demonstrators turned out in Paris to protest against pension reform plans, fewer than at a previous weekend rally two weeks ago.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1016/france.html

[Actualizado] 264 detenidos en Francia el viernes y grandes movilizaciones ayer sábado (La Haine, in spanish)
http://www.lahaine.org/index.php?p=48681

Bastille, interpellation musclée (undercover cops taking out "leaders")
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf8j0q_bastille-interp..._news

A student leaves her high school in Montreuil, outside Paris

Sarko Facho - Sarkozy Fascist

Oil worker and union representative Christophe Hiou delivers a speech as workers protest near the oil refinery in Donges, near Nantes

High school students block the entrance to the Lycée Turgot in Paris

French police arrest a protester who was taking part in National Union demonstration against retirement reform in Paris last night. (Is France racist?)

French undercover cops take out "leaders"

Caption: Video Id: HutX2ZBvV04 Type: Youtube Video
Manifestation contre la rétraite à 62 ans Saint-Etienne 16-10-2010

by France > strike day 6 Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:16

France is braced for a sixth national day of protest over President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to reform the country's pension system.

Striking public sector workers will disrupt travel and protesters will march en masse as trade unions test Mr Sarkozy over his unpopular reforms.

France is again the focus of increasing European anger at pension and retirement reforms, which has seen protests and demonstrations across the continent.

This morning, thousands of French truck drivers blocked roads across the country, as anti-reform protests gathered pace ahead of Wednesday’s Senate vote on pension overhauls. Strikers say the government can’t ignore their concerns.

“It is going to affect people getting to work or school, but you can’t make omelettes without breaking eggs,” said Thierry Cordier from the CFDT drivers’ union. “The government does not want to hear or see anything. Well, it will see how the street feels.”

French strikers test Sarkozy over pension reform plans
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1019/....html

New French protests amid fuel shortages

French workers and students are taking to the streets for a sixth day of protests against pension reform, with petrol stations running dry and many flights cancelled.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1019/france.html

euronews

Clashes / French refinery workers choke off oil supplies
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/19/french-refinery-work...lies/

France braces itself for more street protests
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/19/france-braces-itself...ests/

Refinery workers choke French fuel supply
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/19/france-braces-itself...ests/

France faces a Tuesday of reform protest chaos
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/18/france-faces-a-tuesd...haos/

Demonstration / Anger and arrests as French students protest
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/18/anger-and-arrests-as...test/

Truckers join French strike; fuel harder to find
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/18/truckers-join-french...find/

France wakes up to strike chaos on the roads
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/18/france-wakes-up-to-s...oads/

by Sarko facho Tue Oct 19, 2010 11:36

“Protests against the reforms continue, and many high school students have joined the demonstrations. We have seen several violent incidents, with groups of troublemakers joining the march. And, there are fears the protests may become even more radicalised."

Polls suggest seven out of ten French people still support the strikes, but if the petrol runs out and there’s no way of getting around, that might change.

It’s the strikes at France’s refineries which are causing the most disruption, and public concern. Workers have been blockading the country’s 12 refineries for more than a week. Their action has already seen some petrol stations running dry, and to fuel shortages at France’s airports.

Didier Le Reste of the CGT union warned of more strike action. “The start of the week will see a widening of the strike, with more sustained action in sectors such as road transport, energy, postal and telecommunications and public service and commerce,” he said.

The growing unrest has turned this into a ‘make-or-break’ week for President Sarkozy’s unpopular plan to raise the pension age. Even the leader of the president’s UMP party in the Senate has said the vote scheduled for Wednesday should be delayed by a day.

France’s long history of street protest has seen a new chapter written, with students blockading schools and clashing with police across the country.

Some of the most notable protests came in France’s second city, Lyon. There, students taunted police while expressing their fears for future life after work. These protests were generally confined to the burning of cars and rubbish bins, but there were reports that police had fired tear gas to break up demonstrations in the eastern cities of Mulhouse and Montbelliard. A number of people were arrested across the country for public order offences.

by La Haine Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:22

Monitoring day of strike on Tuesday ::La Haine

Monitoring the day of mobilization.
Historical record in the demonstrations.
Day 2 of incidents in Nanterre and Lyon.

This new day of action is breaking records. There are over 800 institutes blocked, blocked 6 universities and a total of 11 mobilized, 2500 gas stations out of stock, busy airports (such as in Bordeaux Merignac has been occupied by about 500 protesters this morning), and massive assistance manifestations, such as in Toulouse, which was attended by 155,000 people.

In every city thousands of students have participated in demonstrations and at this time there have been incidents in Nanterre and Lyon (for 2 nd consecutive day)

La Haine = http://www.lahaine.org/index.php?p=48681 eng= http://tinyurl.com/33cqc3u

Nouveaux affrontements à Nanterre Mardi 19 octobre 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSJfqdyGCRc

Echauffourées devant le Medef, à Caen, 12 October 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dPNHM4xJtc

day of action is breaking records. There are over 800 institutes blocked.

Caption: Video Id: OSJfqdyGCRc Type: Youtube Video
Nouveaux affrontements à Nanterre Mardi 19 octobre 2010

Caption: Video Id: 6dPNHM4xJtc Type: Youtube Video
Echauffourées devant le Medef, à Caen, 12 October 2010

by live updates Tue Oct 19, 2010 12:46

Guardian= French strikes and protests: live updates = http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2010/oct/19/french-...wt_gu

le parisien - live blog of the strike action on French newspaper Le Parisien's website http://www.leparisien.fr/economie/retraites/en-direct-4...4.php

France 24 = Unions pile pressure on govt in latest pension reform push http://www.france24.com/en/20101019-french-strikers-mar...nions

Manif' qui dégénère à NANTERRE - 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40efmQNyCRc

Protesters clash with police in Lyon

Caption: Video Id: 40efmQNyCRc Type: Youtube Video
Manif

by 19oct Tue Oct 19, 2010 15:23

3.03pm: Here's a summary of the main developments today:
Live blog: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2010/oct/19/french-...-live

• Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in scores of towns and cities across France to protest against Nicolas Sarkozy's pension reforms. Police and unions differed sharply on estimates of the number of people involved, but YouTube footage in various locations showed the scale and breadth of the demonstrations.
• Violence between police and protesters has continued for another day in some areas. The worst clashes occurred in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, and a school burnt down in Le Mans.
• Sarkozy warned of a crackdown against "troublemakers" and said he had a duty to push ahead with the reforms. A crucial Senate vote on raising the retirement age to 62 has been delayed until later in the week.
• Almost a third of French petrol stations have run out of fuel, as panic buying continues. But the government claims supplies will be back to normal within five days.
• The strikes caused the closures of hundreds of schools, the cancellation of around a third of flights, and continuing disruption to the rail network. But there is an expectation that the protests will fade once the pension reforms are passed in the Senate.

La carte des manifestations du 19 octobre
http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/infographie/2010/10/19/....html

19oct map

by Stiglitz + Ali Wed Oct 20, 2010 10:10

The unions, however, which defeated pension and labour reforms with strikes in 1995 and 2006, say they will press on regardless.

France set for seventh strike day
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1020/....html

More protests in France ahead of pension vote
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1020/france.html

oct 20: French strikes and protests: live updates: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/oct/20/french...rikes

Police move in to restore French fuel supplies
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/20/police-move-in-to-re...lies/
Police in France have broken blockades at three fuel depots at Donges, La Rochelle, and Le Mans, restoring supplies, but all of France’s refineries remain shut down.

Tariq Ali: Many thousands have protested in France against cuts; we have a proud history of dissent in Britain, so why aren't we on the streets? Many thousands have protested in France against cuts; we have a proud history of dissent in Britain, so why aren't we on the streets?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/19/protest-...rench

Joseph Stiglitz, suggests US and British citizens should follow the French example by taking to the streets to protest at welfare
reforms and austerity measures. In an interview with the magazine Le Point he said: "When I look at France I somehow feel that there may be a more healthy response to get ...in the street and say 'something's wrong here'."

via @guardian: http://tinyurl.com/3yfonh6 > Joseph Stiglitz vid: "Les grèves en France ? Un formidable espoir"
http://www.lepoint.fr/economie/joseph-stiglitz-les-grev...8.php

Teenagers torch cars in France as riots turn violent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUayGEWM77w

Chambéry, 19 octobre
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHk4Q6I5wjE

Caption: Video Id: KUayGEWM77w Type: Youtube Video
Teenagers torch cars in France as riots turn violent

Caption: Video Id: KHk4Q6I5wjE Type: Youtube Video
Chambéry, 19 octobre

by armed units Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:07

9.36am: French government Interior Minister Brice Hortefeux, threatened to send in paramilitary police to stop rioters who torched cars, trashed stores and injured police and others on the fringes of nationwide protests.

"We will mobilise all means necessary to put these thugs out of harm's way," he said, adding that he would not hesitate to send in armed units.

http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_la_une/toute_l_...oquer
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/oct/20/french...rikes

yesterday - Photos and stories

France 24- Photos and stories from French pension reform protests
http://observers.france24.com/content/20101019-live-blo...er-19

Rue89- Violence, blockages, shortages: it does not weaken, it thickens
- http://eco.rue89.com/2010/10/19/nouvelle-journee-de-mob...71971
eng - http://tinyurl.com/3agjob6

Students at Sciences-Po Lyon held a general assembly to determine whether or not to block their university building in coming days.

French pension reform protests- Nanterre

by oil depots Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:22

Sarkozy has issued another tough message calling for a return to normality and an end to fuel blockades.

After the oil depots of Donges (Loire-Atlantique) and La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime), released quietly by the police on the night of Wednesday 5am, the filing of Le Mans (Sarthe) it was also released Wednesday morning by riot police at about five o'clock in the morning.

"The right to strike exists, but does not give the right to block, to stop work and move," hammered Hortefeux , Minister of the Interior, on Wednesday morning

At Donges, strikers responded to the intervention of police blocking the way to the depot shut down since October 12. They stopped tankers on the roundabouts of access. "All the way to the depot just been blocked," says the head CGT refinery Christophe Hiou. The protesters deflated the tires of trucks on the roundabouts of access to make it impossible to finish the filing of fuel trucks.

http://tinyurl.com/3yobnz9 >

LIVE. Sarkozy ordered the release of all fuel depots > http://tinyurl.com/3a2tbv3

The police unlock three oil depots - strikers respond

by Banlieue 93 Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:00

These photos were taken at Paris XVIII University in Saint Denis, a working-class suburb north of Paris, in the morning of October 19, university professor Baptiste Coulmont writes:

"Paris XVIII is completely blocked this morning, it was impossible for anyone to get in."

Saint-Denis is part of the French administrative department Seine Saint-Denis, postal code 93, or 9-3 as is it familiarly known. Christophe Duman, a high school student in the suburb of Gonesses, in the neighbouring department, sent the photo of a flyer being passed around his school on October 19: The flyer reads:

"I’m calling all high school students in the 9-3 to blockade and protest! We will force the state to back down! We’re tired of being taken for granted: they talk about Paris and Lyon on TV, but who cares about the 9-3? No-one! This is our chance to show them that we’re not nobodies! We’re the best! We challenge them! Youth against the state! The reform will not pass!"

via > http://observers.france24.com/content/20101019-live-blo...er-19
> http://coulmont.com/blog/2010/10/19/une-universite-bloq...is-8/

vid > manif 19/10/2010 dans le 93 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf9yuv_manif-19-10-201..._news + http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57HoYN3DGZg

calling all high school students in the 9-3 to blockade and protest!

Paris XVIII is completely blocked this morning, it was impossible for anyone to get in.

Saint Denis University, a working-class suburb north of Paris, morning of October 19

Caption: Video Id: 57HoYN3DGZg Type: Youtube Video
manif 19/10/2010 dans le 9

by youth flood the streets Thu Oct 21, 2010 09:39

"Sarkozy only listens if the youth flood the streets and the petrol dries up. We've come this far, why stop now? He's trying to tarnish all the country's young people as hooligans which is totally wrong and has only made us more determined"

Said Britany Bidounga, a 16-year-old student from Pantin, on the northern edge of Paris, had helped blockade her school for a week, dragging wheelie bins and old furniture to create a barricade over the entrance.

Protests against President Nicolas Sarkozy’s unpopular pension reform in the French city of Lyon turned violent yesterday. Elsewhere in Paris demonstrators broke a police barricade and blocked access to the capital’s main airport, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle. Hundreds of striking refinery workers cut off access to Marseille airport in the southeast from dawn with a road block. Activists blocked access to Marseille Airport this morning. Around 200 demonstrators carrying armbands from the CGT and FSU unions had occupied a key roundabout leading to the airport in the early hours of the morning, but had ended their action by 8am (7am Irish time). The action had caused tailbacks of 7km, with some travellers having to abandon their cars to reach the terminals, an airport spokesman said.

A French union leader called on Thursday for strikes to be extended. Speaking on RMC radio, Bernard Thibault, head of the powerful CGT union, called for a new day of protests next week. “The government remains intransigent. We need to continue with massive action as soon as next week,” he said. “We will ask the unions for strong action that will allow people to stop work and go on to the streets.”

French police moved in on Wednesday to clear blockaded fuel depots as unions step up the pressure on the government. Security forces also intervened at to break up a number of demonstrations outside oil depots so operations can restart.

About a quarter of France's service stations had no fuel yesterday, and strikes also stopped work at two of France's three liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals.

Action by lorry drivers threatens to aggravate the situation. The upper house of parliament was expected to vote on the text later today.

************

guardian.co.uk

- Mark Weisbrot: France is protesting for all of us
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2010...otest
Sarkozy should retire, says France. By taking to the streets to defend their pension rights from regressive cuts, the French are fighting for all our benefits

- Sarkozy risks breaking the spirit of 1968
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/20/sar...-1968
Nicolas Sarkozy's determination not to give in to the power of the street is a direct challenge to France's revolutionary heritage

- Nicolas Sarkozy orders break-up of blockades as French protests continue
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/20/nicolas-sar...kades

independent.co.uk

- France burns as strike descends into violence
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/france-b....html

- French fuel blockades force thousands to call off their holidays
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/french-f....html

euronews

- France fights fuel cuts as pension vote nears
http://www.euronews.net/newswires/537009-french-pension...sify/

- French protesters defy government calls for calm
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/21/french-protesters-de...calm/

Government and business count cost of strikes
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/20/government-and-busin...ikes/

French police clear fuel depot protests
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/21/french-police-clear-...ests/

France slashes 2011 budget - 29/09
http://www.euronews.net/2010/09/29/france-slashes-2011-...dget/

irish

Strikers hit French energy supply
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1021/....html

Third day of French protests expected
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1021/france.html

youtube

Civil Unrest in Lyon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9XZ0CFNSUk

Place Bellecour Manif Vs CRS - Fumigènes 19 octobre 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Je7Ur2Ggz4

Strikers block the entrance to the Total refinery in Donges

Students shout slogans as they demonstrate with union workers in Paris against raising the retirement age to 62

An anti-riot policeman faces youths during clashes in Nanterre

Protesters run during clashes in Lyon

France burns as strike descends into violence

Caption: Video Id: j9XZ0CFNSUk Type: Youtube Video
Civil Unrest in Lyon

Caption: Video Id: -Je7Ur2Ggz4 Type: Youtube Video
Place Bellecour Manif Vs CRS - Fumigènes 19 octobre 2010

by Red Flag Thu Oct 21, 2010 09:50

They should go the whole way and bring down the government, take over. Otherwise, all they will get are more crumbs.

by France > UK + Austria ? Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:05

UK> 3,000 people gathered in London to protest against the government's public spending cuts. Protesters break into government department. Spending review cuts trigger Downing Street protests. Hundreds of workers and students descend on Whitehall to noisily vent their anger against the sweeping cuts to welfare and public spending announced by the chancellor, George Osborne. Unions in the UK say they will fight tooth and nail to protect public services from the axe. They say there will be coordinated strike action if the government does not change its plans. They are angry at the banks whom they say will save billions by offsetting their losses during the financial crisis against tax.

Austria> Students in Austria have been joined by their university professors and deans to protest a budget freeze for higher education. They say mass staff lay-offs and even university closures are inevitable if more money is not made available. Rallies involving around 15,000 people were held yesterday and today in Vienna, Salzburg and Graz.

Ireland> Why the Irish aren't revolting

They, UK, have refused to learn from the fact that the country they held up as a model for how to deal with a recession – "Look and learn from across the Irish Sea," Osborne said – has suffered the worst collapse in the developed world, Ireland.

Rather than taking to the streets, the Irish prefer to vent their anger against the country's multibillion euro bank rescue package by ringing up radio stations

The Irish, just like the post-68 student generations, are no longer revolting. The Republic's debt-laden, still property-owning obsessed, conservative citizens are more terrified of having to hand over control of their economy to the IMF than the forthcoming budget of brutal cuts and increased taxes.

The Greeks may riot in the street but the Irish prefer to ring up radio stations instead.

France > Austria ? - Demonstrators protest against government cuts

http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/20/austrian-students-pr...cuts/

France > UK ? - Demonstrators protest against government cuts

Johann Hari: A colder, crueller country – for no gain
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johan....html

Demonstrators protest against government cuts.
About 3,000 people gathered in London to protest against the government's public spending cuts
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/gallery/2010/oct/20/...-cuts

Protesters break into government department
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/20/protest-...eview
Three held as demonstrators take to streets in protest against cuts announced in comprehensive spending review

vid - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2010/oct/21/sp...tests

Cuts protest 20-10-10*
http://guy-smallman-photos.photoshelter.com/gallery-sli...start

Unions in the UK gear up for action ahead of cuts
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/20/unions-in-the-uk-gea...cuts/

UK Spending Review: George Osborne announces painful cuts
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/20/uk-spending-review-g...cuts/

Spending review cuts trigger Downing Street protests
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2010/oct/21/sp...tests
Hundreds of workers and students descend on Whitehall to noisily vent their anger against the sweeping cuts to welfare and public spending announced by the chancellor, George Osborne

Ireland> Why the Irish aren't revolting
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2010/oct/11/why...lting

UK> 3,000 people gathered in London to protest against the government's public spending cuts.

UK> Protesters break into government department.

Ireland> Why the Irish aren't revolting. Irish prefer to vent their anger against the country's multibillion euro bank rescue package by ringing up radio stations

by Irish resistence Thu Oct 21, 2010 12:29

WSM - Workers Solidarity Movement

France - pushing beyond the one day strikes
http://www.wsm.ie/c/france-pushing-beyond-one-day-strikes

Irish Anarchist Review No 2
http://www.wsm.ie/c/irish-anarchist-review-2 - PDF - http://www.wsm.ie/sites/default/files/Irish%20Anarchist...2.pdf

Report on the 1% tour through the Golden Circle
http://www.wsm.ie/c/report-golden-circle-tour - VIDS - http://www.wsm.ie/c/videos-percent-tour-dublin-4

SWP - Socialist Workers Party

Students and workers rise in France!
http://www.swp.ie/news/students-and-workers-rise-france.../3714

Why Irish students should copy the French school students and strike
http://www.swp.ie/news/why-irish-students-should-copy-f.../3708

We need more protests not less - a reply to Dr Rory Hearne
http://www.swp.ie/news/we-need-more-protests-not-less-r.../3702

It's time to revolt against this madness
http://www.swp.ie/editorial/its-time-revolt-against-mad.../3681

French unions call open-ended strike from Oct 12
http://www.swp.ie/news/french-unions-call-open-ended-st.../3679

One thousand march in Galway against health service cutbacks
http://www.swp.ie/news/one-thousand-march-galway-agains.../3599

Éirígí - For a Socialist Republic

Every day, the rights of workers are being attacked, workplaces are closing and living standards lowered. Follow the fightback on éirígí’s Workers in Struggle column.
http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest_workers.html

Jail the Bankers and Politicians, Not Protesters
http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest011010.html

Garda Attack éirígí Anglo Irish Rooftop Protest, May 15th, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCOsOPrYce0

People of Ireland - Rise UP

Éirígí - Workers in Struggle

1% NETWORK: Rising up...

c/o Irish Anarchist Review No 2

Caption: Video Id: SCOsOPrYce0 Type: Youtube Video
People of Ireland - Rise UP. Éirígí Anglo Irish Rooftop Protest,

Caption: Video Id: xngD3zBAFjw Type: Youtube Video
1% NETWORK: Dublin Shell to Sea spokesperson Caoimhe Kerins revealing the scale of the Gread Oil & Gas Giveaway outside of Shell HQ in Dublin.

by France at War - CGT Fri Oct 22, 2010 12:09

French riot police have forcibly cleared access to the main refinery supplying fuel to Paris early on Friday as unions hardened their stance ahead of a final vote on President Nicolas Sarkozy’s pension reform expected later in the day. The authorities had served a legal decree during the night, requisitioning the oil supplies and effectively forcing the strikers back to work. Police and strikers scuffled at the Grandpuits refinery southeast of the capital and one person was carried away on a stretcher at first light. The police cleared pickets and a barricade of burning tyres.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy attacked the fuel protesters accusing them of “taking the French economy hostage.” He said he would clear the blockades, adding that the demonstrations would inevitably destroy jobs. Petrol pumps across France are running dry as strikes at oil refineries and major ports go on. Action at the country’s 213 fuel depots is also crippling distribution, leaving 25 percent of French service stations with no supplies.

The centre-right government resorted to a special guillotine procedure to speed the reform bill’s passage through the Senate, with a vote now due on Friday evening as pressure builds on Sarkozy to end the long-running impasse with the unions.

The country’s six main unions have called for two more days of action on October 28 and November 6 against the unpopular reform. “The protests are not stopping, we just have different views on how to proceed,” Jean-Claude Mailly, head of the more radical Force Ouvriere union told RMC radio. “We still think that demonstrating is not enough … we have to ramp it up … we need a strong day of public and private sector strikes.” “We had the “rafles” (roundups) during Petain’s time: now in the era of Sarkozy we have the roundup of our social and union rights,” said Charles Foulard, leader of the oil sector workers at the communist-led CGT union. “Sarkozy has declared war.”

Yet a poll for Canal Plus television broadcast on Friday showed an increase in support for the strikes from six days ago with 70 percent of French backing the industrial action. But the number of young protesters remains far smaller than in 1995 or 2006 and the transport disruption less widespread.

Fresh violence has broken out in France’s second city Lyon as protests against pension reforms grow more unpredictable. The interior minister claimed 2,257 youngsters had been arrested since France's lycéens (high school pupils) entered the protests on 12 October.

Police chased rampaging youths as they set fire to cars. Officers responded with tear gas and arrested 36 people. As many as 265 people have been taken into police custody since the unrest in the city began last week.

*****************

Reports

French fuel supplies squeezed by strikes
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/22/french-fuel-supplies...ikes/

More violence as Lyon roars against pension reform
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/22/more-violence-as-lyo...form/

Scuffles at Paris refinery as riot police sent in
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/22/scuffles-at-paris-re...t-in/

Police clear refinery as French unions remain defiant (Reuters)
http://www.euronews.net/newswires/537009-french-pension...sify/

French police break fuel depot blockade
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/oct/22/french-poli...ckade

French unions remain defiant
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1022/....html

Sarkozy ups ante as unions call fresh strikes
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1022/122....html

vids

French riot police break up fuel blockades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZMoPFgJVjE

2 Years Big Deal? France paralyzed over retirement age rise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vT3xuYzlDM

French police ordered to break fuel blockades
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_V0nWZk4rg

French riot police have forcibly cleared access to the main refinery supplying fuel to Paris

Police and strikers scuffled at the Grandpuits refinery at first light

Caption: Video Id: ZZMoPFgJVjE Type: Youtube Video
French riot police break up fuel blockades

Caption: Video Id: 7vT3xuYzlDM Type: Youtube Video
2 Years Big Deal? France paralyzed over retirement age rise

by "Peoples of Europe, Rise Up" Fri Oct 22, 2010 13:37

"Peoples of Europe, Rise Up"

Yesterdary as Youth in France, Austria, UK protested against cuts due to austerity measures, there was, yet again, trouble between Greek students and the police. And we remember all that has been going on in Greece over the last few months, with their call last May as people stormed the Acropolis to raise a banner proclaiming; "Peoples of Europe, Rise Up", now with France stirring fiercely, with initial stirrings in the UK, after it has been dealt its "Britain’s Shock Doctrine", as referred to by George Monbiot, might Europe take up the call from Greece? Might the island of Ireland?

Reuters: Greek protests turn violent (vid)
- http://uk.reuters.com/news/video/story?videoId=16391350...el=75 + http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPgtn2qc9s4

Oct. 21 - Thousands of university students clash with police outside parliament during a protest over the government's education reforms.

From the Greek Streets (Irregular updates and articles on the situation in Greece, in English)
#400 | What’s French for “is this another winter of discontent”? Students march in Athens, clash with riot police
- http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2010/10/21/400-whats...lice/

Another university student demonstration took place in Athens today (and at least in the cities of Volos and Giannena). The students are protesting against the cataclysmic cuts and changes in the administration of the universities and the possible merger of many departments/ schools. Today’s Athens demonstration was attended by 1,500-2,000 people; many of the city’s universities’ departments are currently under occupation, many student general assembly decisions are expected in the next few days.

Earlier reports from the Greek situation and how it might escalate wider throughout Europe and beyond...

Democracy Now!: "The People of Greece Are Fighting for the Whole of Europe": Tariq Ali and Mark Weisbrot Discuss Greece’s Economic Crisis and Popular Uprising

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/5/11/the_people_of_gre...hting

"The People of Greece Are Fighting for the Whole of Europe." Tariq Ali

Meanwhile, the austerity measures demanded by the IMF and the European Union as a condition of their loan are continuing to exact their toll. Greece’s two main unions have continued to hold protests against the reforms. In a statement, one of the unions said, "The crisis should be paid by...all those who looted public finances." Last week nearly 100,000 people participated in a mass demonstration and a twenty-four-hour general strike against the austerity measures.

TARIQ ALI: Well, Amy, it’s exploded in Greece, very violently, as many could have predicted, because trade unions in Greece have remained strong. They feel that a lot is at stake, and they know that if these measures, which should never be called reforms—if these measures, anti-working-class measures, are pushed through by the government, their living standards of the average citizen of Greece will just go right down. They will suffer. And people are asking, in Greece and elsewhere, “How come we are being victimized? All the cuts in public spending affect us; they don’t affect the rich. And why are the bankers not being punished? Well, why is this system, the system created by neoliberalism, of deregulation, of actually legalizing financial speculation, why is this not being stopped?”

Strikes greet austerity measures in Greece
Greek public sector fights back, a lesson for Ireland?
- http://www.indymedia.ie/article/95711

Greek protestors hang banners on Acropolis (May 04 2010)
- http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/greek-prote....html

Greek workers stage general strike (May 20 2010)
- http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0520/....html

Greece: this is the war that was given up for dead
- http://barcelona.indymedia.org/?lang=en_US

Gerald Celente on Greece: People will rise against bank bailouts globally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFkeVFgPhU

"Whats happening in Greece will happen to the rest of the world, it will go global, it will be too much and the people will revolt", Gerald Celente speaking to RT in May.

GRECIA ATENE ACROPOLI "PEOPLES OF EUROPE RISE UP"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkvZUbKrvKg

"Peoples of Europe, Rise Up" Message from Greece has been taken up by France

France > Greece... "The People of Greece Are Fighting for the Whole of Europe", Tariq Ali

Caption: Video Id: GPgtn2qc9s4 Type: Youtube Video
Reuters: Greek protests turn violent

Caption: Video Id: WNFkeVFgPhU Type: Youtube Video
Gerald Celente on Greece: People will rise against bank bailouts globally

by Belfast 15,000 Sat Oct 23, 2010 18:42

“Peoples of Europe, Rise Up” Greece’s message being taken up by France, and maybe beyond too?

“Peoples of Europe, Rise Up” Greek Banner hung from the Acropolis, May 2010
‘The only way to resist shock is to know what is happening and why?’ Naomi Klein

THE FRENCH senate last night approved President Nicolas Sarkozy’s controversial pension reform, but trade unions vowed to maintain their campaign with further strikes and protests.

After a long and acrimonious debate, which the government hastened to an end by invoking a rarely used constitutional clause, the upper house adopted the pensions Bill by 177 votes to 153.

This debate be wholly alien to anyone who has been following events in Britain this week. It, too, is about fairness and social justice. As the basic provisions of the welfare state are being rolled back all over Europe, in the name of protecting triple-A credit ratings, a cause is being fought in France which we in Britain would do well to watch carefully. The same fight could be coming here soon.

Today 15,000 protest austerity cuts in Belfast. Perhaps it will come sooner rather than later.

And in the Republic of Ireland??? We wait and see. Johann Hari stated 2 days ago that "(Ireland) has suffered the worst collapse in the developed world." You would expect more of an outrage from the people..

************

“Peoples of Europe, Rise Up” Greece’s message being taken up by France, and maybe beyond too?
http://itsafunnyoldworld.wordpress.com/

French lessons: pension protests
As the welfare state is rolled back all over Europe, a cause is being fought in France which we would do well to watch
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/oct/23/fre...orial

France wakes up to unpopular pension reform
http://www.euronews.net/2010/10/23/france-wakes-up-to-u...form/

Senate approves controversial pension changes
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2010/1023/122...a=rel

The scuffle, the tension, the gas
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/1023/1....html

15,000 protest austerity cuts in Belfast
http://bit.ly/9d6Vnc

vids

Gerald Celente on Greece: People will rise against bank bailouts globally (Russia Today)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNFkeVFgPhU

"Storming of the Dáil" - Leinster House protests, 11th May
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Zcv8-oLUM

Shock Doctrine in Europe, are we seeing the initial response? Greece, France, UK...

Young, angry, informed, on the streets. Why are Irish youth not following the french?

Caption: Video Id: WNFkeVFgPhU Type: Youtube Video
Gerald Celente on Greece: People will rise against bank bailouts globally (Russia Today)

Caption: Video Id: k9Zcv8-oLUM Type: Youtube Video
"Storming of the Dáil" - Leinster House protests, 11th May

by hotty Mon Oct 25, 2010 23:55

she's hot too!

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Wed Oct 27, 2010 13:16

For my eyes she looks a lot cooler than your comment.