· March, 2012

Stories about Western Europe from March, 2012

Spain: The Faces of the Young and Unemployed 51%

  31 March 2012

Three Barcelona-based journalists, Lucija Stojevic, Jennifer Baljko and Marc Herman, have launched the excellent digital magazine 51percent with the mission “to go beyond the news headlines and put a face to the youth unemployment crisis facing Spain. We’ll be investigating this issue for the next couple of months, on-the-ground around Barcelona.”

Spain: General Strike Across Cities and Neighborhoods

  30 March 2012

Hundreds of people took the streets around cities and neighborhoods in Spain yesterday to participate in a general strike (29M) to protest against proposed government cuts to indispensable social services. March 29 became a new important date in the movements' agenda.

Madagascar: Details of the 1947 Massacre Still Unknown

  30 March 2012

TanaNews reports that prime minister Beriziky requested that France returns to Madagascar the archives [fr] regarding the massacre of about 100 000  people in 1947 to repress the movement for the independence of  Madagascar. Olivier Herviaux provides some context [fr] to the massacre. French Amabassador Châtaigner states on twitter that the archives...

Video: Cropshare System Unites Landowners and Land-less Farmers in Spain

  30 March 2012

Shared Vegetable Gardens (Huertos Compartidos) is a project in Spain that brings together people who wish to grow their own food but don't have the land, with landowners who may have the land but not the time to tend to them. This video [es] explains how this non-commercial system works, where food...

Spain: General Strike After Only 100 Days of Government

  29 March 2012

Spain's main trade unions have called a general strike for today, March 29, with the aim of paralyzing the country, and forcing the government to back down on implementing measures that will weaken workers' rights and cut social services.

Spain: Planning Actions for May 2012

  23 March 2012

The blog Toma la Plaza announces meetings and assemblies tomorrow March 24 in various cities in Spain to coordinate their participation in the global actions planned for next May.

Italy: Protests Blaze Over High-Speed Rail to France

  22 March 2012

The last few weeks have been particularly important (and controversial) for the "No Tav" movement, which, since 1981, has opposed the construction of a high speed train line between Turin and Lyon. Alongside on-going protests, suppression and legal disagreements, activism and discussions blossom online.

Portugal: Subversive Priest's “Homily” to General Strike on YouTube

  22 March 2012

Mário Pais de Oliveira, priest and writer, has "converted" to social networks to preach his subversive thoughts on the world. Today's general strike in Portugal brings back memories of the video Father Mário published in the aftermath of the last general strike, which took place at the end of 2011.

Global Voices in Greek Celebrates 1,000 Posts

  22 March 2012

Launched in March 2011, at a time of increasing hardships and intense international criticism for Greece due to the financial crisis, Global Voices in Greek has reached 1,000 published translations. A team of more than 20 volunteer translators have been working together to bring to Greek speakers a selection of news from around the world.

Spain: Are You For or Against EuroVegas?

  21 March 2012

The CEO of Las Vegas Sands, multibillionaire Sheldon Adelson, has decided to establish his next hotel-casino complex EuroVegas in Spain. If the Spanish government seems enthusiastic about this project, the Spanish people are divided on the issue.

France: Protests in Marseille against the Privatisation of Water

  21 March 2012

Babalobi wrote on eWash: “Accompanied by unarmed policemen, protesters marched through the streets of central Marseille singing, dancing and chanting slogans against ‘privatisation’ and ‘commodification’ of urban water supply.” The protests were organised by global civil society movements that include Public Service International,  Africa Water Network, European Federation of Public Service Unions, Transnational Institute,...

Portugal: Picket to the Prime Minister on the Day of General Strike

  20 March 2012

Citizens from Porto are organizing a flash picket [pt] via Facebook to “welcome” the Prime Minister of Portugal, Pedro Passos Coelho, on the day of the anti-austerity general strike, March 22. The Prime Minister will be on an official visit to the University of Porto [pt], that celebrates its 101st...

Poland: The ‘Web Kids’ Manifesto’

  20 March 2012

Originally written in by Polish photographer and poet Piotr Czerski, the 'Web Kids’ Manifesto' is appearing on the web in many other languages since its publication on February 11. Samy Boutayeb explains more.

Norway Hosts First Journalism Award for Indigenous Broadcasters

  20 March 2012

Norway is widely known for hosting the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize Awards. This month, the Scandinavian country is hosting the debut of another important yet largely unknown journalism award ceremony for the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) on March 29, 2012.

Hungary: An Eventful Celebration of the National Holiday

  20 March 2012

The prime minister compares the country to a frog; a rapper is elected as "the alternative president"; far-right protesters break into the IMF office; a techno party is held at Budapest's Heroes' Square, followed the next day by a paramilitary group's oath ceremony. Marietta Le reports on this year's eventful celebration of Hungary's National Day.