"La Piazza e Mia!" (11th June 2011) Acampada BCN

"La piazza e mia!" If you don't know what this statement means, or where it comes from, I strongly recommend that you watch Cinema Paradiso, one of the film industry's eternal classics.

"Today the square, 
Tomorrow the streets, 
The next day...the world"

For those who have seen the film, you will remember the beggar who claims the central square in the film as his own. And something very similar has been going on in Spain since 15th May, when peaceful protesters against the government and their mishandling of the economy and the market started a protest in Madrid which within a week had spread over the whole of Spain and even as far as Tokyo and New York. Thousands of young Spaniards gathered outside town hall buildings demanding a complete renewal of the political system (I'm saying this very generally). The result was peaceful protesters clashing with armed police forces. Even two days ago In Madrid such clashes were still happening, more than 20 days since the movement was created.

 

Van painted with the motto of the protests: 
Acampada BCN (Barcelona Camping)

Plaza Catalunya in Barcelona has seen one of the largest concentrations of protesters in Spain, closely following Madrid's Puerta del Sol: people are still camping here right now. The picture below shows the fountains' shrubbery turned into plots of land for cultivation, and people are camping on the grass around the square. During the day assemblies take place, along with occasional musical events. In the evening, the protesters organise the so called "cacerolada", which I commented about on the previous post, Acampada 15-M BCN.

Fountain with sleeping tents
in the foreground

There is even an Internet point! Something which is incredibly surprising about these protests is the efficiency of those taking part. The square has been clearly divided into certaiun zones: area with portable loos, and area with a few stoves, information points, assembly zones and various camping areas dotted around the square underneath the trees. But what strikes me most is the willingness of the people to bring such valuables from their own houses for the sake of the continuation of this movement into the future. Aren't they afraid that these might all be taken away for a second time by the police and cleaners? It looks like these people are very serious about their actions, and will do anything to keep the 15-M Movement under full swing.

 Top piece of paper:

"Politicians, resign! We can no longer pay for your lies. They are very expensive!"

Bottom piece of paper:

"This is not a dangerous object, it is a wheel chair. Peaceful protest"