Latest update: 16/10/2011 

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Anti-capitalist protests held in 951 cities worldwide

Global demonstrations against financial institutions and government cutbacks saw hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets in the world’s major cities Saturday. The protests were inspired by the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement in the U.S.

By News Wires (text)
 

AFP - Protesters torched cars, smashed up banks and set fire to a military building in Rome in the worst violence of worldwide demonstrations against corporate greed and government cutbacks.

Tens of thousands took to the streets of the Italian capital for a march that turned violent and equal numbers rallied in Madrid and Lisbon, while Wikileaks founder Julian Assange joined angry demonstrators in London.

The protests were inspired by the "Occupy Wall Street" movement in the United States and the "Indignants" in Spain, targeting 951 cities in 82 countries across the planet in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.

It was the biggest show of power yet by a movement born on May 15 when a rally in Madrid's central Puerta del Sol square sparked a worldwide movement that focused anger over unemployment and opposition to the financial elite.

"I think it is very moving that the movement that was born here has extended throughout the world. It was about time for people to rise up," said 24-year-old Carmen Martin as she marched towards Puerta del Sol.

In the Portuguese capital, where some 50,000 rallied, Mathieu Rego, 25, said: "We are victims of financial speculation and this austerity programme is going to ruin us. We have to change this rotten system."

The protests received unexpected support from Italian central bank governor Mario Draghi, a former executive at Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs set to take over as president of the European Central Bank.

"They're angry against the world of finance. I understand them," he added, though expressing regrets at reports of violence.

More protests were staged in Amsterdam, Athens, Brussels, Geneva, Paris, Sarajevo and Zurich. Thousands also rallied across Canada and in New York and Washington.

Scuffles broke out in London, where about 800 people gathered in the financial district by St Paul's Cathedral, raising banners saying: "Strike back!" "No cuts!" and "Goldman Sachs is the work of the devil!"

Five people were arrested, three for assaulting police officers and two for public order offences, Scotland Yard said.

Three lines of police, and one line at the rear on horseback, blocked them from heading to the London Stock Exchange and pushed back against lead marchers, some wearing masks.

"One of the reasons why we support what is happening here in 'Occupy London' is because the banking system in London is the recipient of corrupt money," Assange said from the steps of St Paul's, flanked by bodyguards.

Nearly 100 protesters were arrested as thousands marched in New York. Police on horseback clashed with protesters in busy Times Square in the evening, and one woman was injured.

In Miami, a city that rarely hosts mass demonstrations, at least 1,000 people marched downtown. The crowd included youth and retirees standing up against corporations, banks and war.

Over 10,000 Canadians blew bubbles, strummed guitars and chanted anti-corporate slogans at peaceful protests in cities across the country.

"I believe a revolution is happening," said 30-year-old Annabell Chapa, who brought her one-year-old son Jaydn along in a stroller to Toronto's Saint James Park.

In Mexico, Peru and Chile, thousands marched to protest what they slammed as an unfair financial system and stagnant unemployment.

The European Union also became a target for anger as the eurozone debt crisis continues, with some 9,000 protesters marching to the EU's headquarters in Brussels and rallying outside the ECB's headquarters in Frankfurt.

In Rome, the march quickly degenerated into running street battles between groups of hooded protesters and riot police who fired tear gas and water jets into the crowd amid a security lockdown in the Italian capital.

"Today is only the beginning. We hope to move forward with a global movement. There are many of us and we want the same things," said protester Andrea Muraro, a 24-year-old engineering student from Padua.

"Only One Solution: Revolution!" read a placard. One group carried a cardboard coffin with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's name on it.

Berlusconi later condemned the "incredible level of violence" at the march.

"We've seen the worst of Europe today in Rome," Mayor Gianni Alemanno said.

Seventy people were injured in the clashes and treated by medics, including three in a serious condition, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Backing from Italy's main trade unions and student movements boosted the numbers at the protest in Rome -- in contrast to most of the other rallies.

As the day began, around 500 people gathered in the heart of Hong Kong's financial district to vent their anger. About 100 demonstrators in Tokyo also voiced fury at the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Another 600 demonstrators in Sydney set up camp outside Australia's central bank, where the plight of refugees and Aboriginal Australians was added to the financial concerns.

PARIS TAKES ON 'UNITED FOR GLOBAL CHANGE' DAY
World champions in demonstrating, the French didn’t miss their chance on Saturday, when “indignant” movements around the world gathered to voice their anger over “greedy fat cats” and the “ruinous” capitalist system. All photos © Sophie Pilgrim/ FRANCE 24.
This man is bravely divulging his monthly salary, which, as he points out, works out at 13 euro centimes per minute (around 11 pence GBP or 18 cents USD). ©SP/ F24.
The procession made a stop outside French bank BNP Paribas – Europe’s biggest – to denounce its “gluttonous” practices. One of the protesters listens to organisers lambasting the bank in front of its ubiquitous four-star logo. ©SP/ F24.
When a group of young Communist supporters were told they’d have to join the back of the parade because their flags were obstructive, they booed and chanted “We are ALL indignant” at the organisers. ©SP/ F24.
Sylviane is a regular at demonstrations. She uses the metro air vents in the pavement, running from one to another along the march trail, to create some kind of security tape art form. It certainly attracts attention. ©SP/ F24.
“Peace, justice, now!” Another protester ruining the view of Paris’s famous Opéra from the BNP Paribas offices. ©SP/ F24.
A young accordionist and his impressive glasses join the parade. The younger demonstrators were surprisingly chic for political activists. ©SP/ F24.
“We’re the 99% - Occupy France,” reads the poster on the right, referring to the outstanding 1% of people who own most of the wealth in France. On the left: “You have the right to remain silent and let their money speak for you.” ©SP/ F24.
When a pair of designer-clad men approached the protesters shouting “traitors” and “long live President Sarkozy”, they were politely told to pipe down. ©SP/ F24.
Communist flags shadow France’s Bourse, or stock exchange, which was described as “the temple of capitalism”. “Bravo!” One megaphone-equipped participant shouted towards the historic building. “You’ve made loads of money… But look what you’ve done with it!” ©SP/ F24.
The word solidarity reached new levels of popularity at the march. “Greece, Spain, all indignant, all for solidarity,” reads this banner. ©SP/ F24.
One of the organisers holds up a banner reading “austerity, tax, let’s not get ourselves fleeced by finance”. The fat cat is saying “Who pays my debts makes me rich”. ©SP/ F24.

    Comments (4)

    history

    Manfred Beglaryan 02.12.2011
    Manfred2010@mail.ru

    HISTORY OF THE HUMAN CIVILIZATION

    At the beginning of 2008, the world economic crisis began in the USA and rapidly spread throughout the world. However, it is not clear what exactly served as a motivation for the start of financial crisis. It is supposed that it will last two more years topping out in 2009. Economic crisis, as defined, happens when the capitalist system becomes inefficient and may collapse. Certainly, the breakup of the world capitalist system may be prevented at any time with the intervention of the international financial inspectors. There is an idea that it is necessary to reconsider and improve the world capitalist system.
    The world economy has now stepped into a hard period and at the center of the global crisis is the American financial system, whose external debt is equal to 14,34 trillion US dollars. The state debt is continuing to grow at $ 3,97 a day at the average. It may sount strange that the amount of the American debt to China is as much as 1.16 trillion USD, that is equal to 8,0 % of the US overall debt. More than a quarter of the world’s population is a supporter of socialism and planned economy which may serve as an example for building a new economic system in future.
    The whole process of development and formation of human society shows that scientific and technical progress bears a changing social and economic system and that the amendments in social systems are the result of scientific and technical progress. To get to know the future it is necessary to learn the past well. Let us briefly examine the economic formations which the population faced during in the period of evolution. Knowing the approximate time of onset in each of these formations, we may build a graphical plotting and with the help of the method of interpolation define the approximate time of the beginning of the next economic formation.
    The Stone Age:
    The period of evolution of human consciousness started four million years ago. In the meantime, the descendants of mankind turned into a group of people who created а hadron collider for conducting experiments on the level of God. The peculiarity of human society was the production of tools.
    1.Primitive communal system of economic formation: 40 thousand years ago supremacy of primitive communal system was set in. People started to lead a sedentary life-style and live in caves and in wooden houses and in future they learnt also to build houses of stone. Over the period of millennium, people started to prepare tools and instruments of labor, to raise cereals and develop cattle-breeding. Single families were formed and communities started to decompose gradually. This structure existed for 35 centuries, until 3000 BC.
    2.Slaveholding system. At the end of the 4th century and at the beginning of the 3rd century BC, the primitive communal system stopped to exist as slaveholding communities and states came into existence. Significant changes were made on the level of development of productive forces. The most significant change in the field of material culture of mankind was the developing of metals like gold, copper, silver, lead, tin, and since the 14th century BC iron has been developed. The pace of development of class societies was incomparably rapid than the pace of development of primitive society. This system existed till the 6th century AD, for approximately 35 centuries.
    3.Feudal System. The 4th -6th centuries AD are considered the period of decomposition of slaveholding system as feudal system started to develop in the world. At the end of the 10th century, the period of development of feudalism came to an end i.e. the whole world was in the hands of the feudal. This system existed for approximately 14 centuries, till the 19th century.
    4.Capitalist system: By the seventies of the 19th century, capitalism was established in the majority of European countries, in the USA and in Japan i.e. the world capitalist system was established. The transition to imperialism was at the turn of 19th and 20th centuries. In the main capitalistic countries supremacy of monopoly was overwhelmed and productive forces rapidly developed as a result of well-known achievements of science and technology. This formation exists up to date (for 1.4 century).
    5.Socialist system: In the last quarter of the 19th century Marxism conquered harmony in the international labor movement. Socialism is the phase of establishment and development of socialist system, for the first time conditions are created for the unlimited progress of mankind on the basis of elimination of social inequality and rapid development of productive powers. The Communist Party of China assumed the program of struggle for establishment on all fronts of social moderation. Reforms were made in the economy, in the administrative structures as well as in judicial system. The economy of China has so much been developed that, as I have already mentioned a part of the external debt of the USA though small, belongs to China. Economic system with non-trade economy has existed since the first quarter of the 20th century, i.e. for 90 years, since the time of formation modern China and of the USSR, which does not exist now.
    6.Globalization: This system created cooperation between production of different countries, and lead to the establishment of united world market system and to the united bank system throughout the world. However, even at the beginning of its formation, the instability in the world economy started to strengthen and uneven development was deepened. Although globalization was formed decades ago, a unique social-economic system was not formed in the world as socialism was preserved in China; a country which has 1.3 billion of population and also in other countries which develop rapidly as a result of planned production which is the basis of socialist system. Globalization under the conditions of capitalism reduced to the world capitalisms and crisis on the exchange. Currently, unpredictable financial catastrophes are shaping conditioned with the unsteadiness in the financial systems and the specialists are unable to explain the ongoing processes. The absence of prediction by the specialists may serve as a proof for it. The system of globalization has existed for four decades. The giant financial pyramid created as a result of globalization turned into a soap bubble and collapsed.

    7.Armageddon: During the formation of Armageddon the human civilization will be destroyed and the humans having been left alive will start to build the human society anew.
    Let us look at graphical curved processes of development of human society using the data mentioned below:

    1.Primitive communal system of economic structure – 350 centuries (from 38000 to 3000 BC)
    2.Slaveholding system – 35 years (from 3000 BC to 500 BC)
    3.Feudal System – 14 centuries (from 500 to 1870 years)
    4.Capitalist system – 1,4 years (from 1870 to 2009)
    5.Socialist system – 0.9 centuries (from 1917 to 2009)
    6.Globalization- 0.4 centuries (from 1970 to 2009)
    7.Armageddon - (from 2008- )

    For creating a graphic, let us take the time and the scientific and technical progress as a coordinates. As we may notice, the time is an absolute value and has dimensions while scientific and technical process has no dimensions and this allows us to make a quantitative and not a qualitative analysis.
    The primary period before the capitalist system. The scientific and technical progress was developing too slowly by linear law and so we will make up the graph with an optional angle at the abscissa and we will stop on point d (see figure 1). The last third of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century were marked by effusive abrupt growth of productive forces, by numerous achievements in the spheres of science and technology, let alone the nowadays’ achievements. That is why it is accepted that scientific and technical progress in the capitalistic society develops in accordance with exponential law

    Y=e X

    Let us look at the curved line L of this function, taking as a datum the coordinate of the point d (see figure 1). On the coordinate curve of the abscissa (figure 1) erecting perpendiculars from the points D, E, F on the points of intersection d, e, f, with the classical curve L, we will have the origins of systems of capitalist, socialist and globalization formations. Now let us look at the curve from points d, e, f, to the curves 1, 2, 3 up to the classical curve L i.e. to the year of 2008 when the unpredictable financial catastrophe happened.
    On the other hand we may construct the graph taking the point t’ as an abscissa of the year of the onset of economic system t’ as a coordinate of duration of economic system (see figure 2). On this graph we may view the section where the final three formations appear as in this case the remaining three ones are of no interest. On figure 2 it is seen that the formation of globalization has closely approximated to the abscissa. Joining the points 1, 2, 3 with a straight line and continuing to the line of the abscissa t’ we traverse it to the point of the year 2010 where it is equal to zero. Wherefrom it may be concluded that the next, one might say, the last system should theoretically start at present. However, no one thinks of it as everybody tries to revive the globalization formation together with capitalist system which will again lead to the financial and economic outbreak. Judge yourselves of the probability of the aforementioned statement. It is obvious that if we do not come to our senses and do not assume measures then the process of degradation, which has already begun, will lead to chaos and collapse of the civilization.
    Looking at figure 1 we see that before the formation of the capitalist system (up to the point d) there are no major achievements in the spheres of science and technology, it does not dominate, like after the point d when the curve line swiftly rises to the top under the suppressing action of the scientific and technical progress. When before the point d the politicians ruled the world it was quite reasonable and justified while during the times of the capitalist system the politicians became immoral and all their actions were directed to destruction. In the 20th century, they started two world wars and a cold war which lasted approximately to the end of the century. All the efforts of the politicians in the developed capitalist countries are directed to the manufacturing of weapons and not merely simple weapons but also weapons of mass annihilation. I do not wish to go deep into the details as you know it yourself, nowadays we may see toy rifles in the hands of little children and they learn to kill since childhood.
    Nowadays we are facing a deep genetic degradation of human biology in the result of intrusion of the genetic engineering in the production of food which may lead to the destruction of the most part of the world.
    I have the impression that some apparently believe that the artificially made up viruses being in the position to annihilate the major part of mankind are the only solution to the problem of starvation of the one sixth part of the world population. But the problem may be solved by taking control over the birth rate as it is practiced in China. It is even worse if the cultivation of mortal viruses is a result of the economic crisis i.e. stagnation created by the politicians.
    Approximately 30 years ago the night sky was a hell of a sight, the stars were enormously more visible than at present and they sparkled more brightly. We mercilessly destroy the earth atmosphere and ecological system of protection of our perfect and unique planet. During the US presidential elections, when the presidential candidates George Bush and Albert Gore were struggling for the post of president, the electorate chose the policy of Bush who was well up in weapons and wars, brewed war in Iraq and fought there for eight years. In the meantime, the scientist Albert Gore realizing the significance of ecology of environment worked in that sphere and won a Nobel Prize. As we see the incapability of dealing with scientific affairs and short-sightedness of politicians may have catastrophic results. Melting of icecaps threatens to inundate a part of continents, destroy states which will lead to wars and chaos. Our civilization at the present stage is developing exponentially, hence degradation processes also take place so the law, which means that priority should be given an immediate suspension of degradation processes.
    The pace of development of economy and science are closely tied with each other and this tie is developing more and more in future. It means that scientists must administer the economy and the science and not the politicians. It is necessary that the activities of political parties be ceased who lead the mankind to inevitable death.
    I have shown on the diagram that the Earth's civilization must be eliminated at a certain stage of development. This is probably the universal law and it should happen to any civilization, fossils of which start to come to the end. Recently, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized that extraterrestrial civilizations do exist, and this despite the fact that their existence is contrary to Holy Scripture. Obviously some compelling evidence was submitted to him showing him he crashed flying object, or fragments thereof, and the dead extraterrestrial humanoids. It seems to me that he could admit their existence only after that. This means that there are civilizations that have managed to overcome this barrier and develop further. As we see the graphs may not be considered to be the final verdict of the end of human civilization. It mean we can still find a way out of this situation and build a new human society. We simply must do this not only for the sake of all children on earth, but also the future generations.
    All the States were earlier guided by the principle - if you want peace get prepared for war. What a sad mistake, and, in spite of this, there always occurred wars. As you may figure out from the situation we are in, this principle was wrong. Currently the humanity is in an economic dead end, or rather a trap created by the capitalist system, with a monster called the World Banking System.
    There exists a shadow world government. That was the conclusion drawn by Zurich University expert scientists that made a detailed mathematical analysis of the relationships of the leading companies in the world. They came to surprising conclusions, finding that all processes in the world related to the economy, are led by one giant corporation, which includes the world famous companies. The economic crisis resulted from the irreversible process of globalization with which the system cannot cope and, finding no way out, it furiously rushes from side to side. Therefore, at present militant political leaders of some countries, led by the United States that - having briefly escaped from the default and impending chaos - are going even further. They do not see a way out of this situation and are very seriously getting prepared for World War, thinking that the way out is found in that. In this war, they will use all weapons of mass destruction of people, fully aware that in such war there will be no winners as there were in previous wars. Especially, after the war it will be impossible to build a states on the human cadavers, they are doomed to failure, in best case the fourty-thousand-year old human history will repeat itself.
    Russian armed forces began to vigorously protect their airspace, and the Head of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces doesn’t not exclude the possibility of large-scale war involving nuclear weapons on the Russian border. The head of the General Staff spoke about it before the members of the Public Chamber on November 17.
    In the near future the U.S. will be able to hit any target in less than an hour no matter wherever it is. The bill of law S.510 was filed to the U.S. Senate, which will make the cultivation, use, distribution, purchase or sale of food grown at home illicit! It is assured that privately grown foods often do not meet sanitary standards, and therefore threaten the health of consumers, which should be understood – eat up all we give you and shut up (excuse me, please, for crude expression). And they give us Genetically modified products. And the scientists know very well as to what such food presents itself who have warned since 1999 about the dangers of Genetically modified products (GMO). Currently 828 scientists from different countries presented "the Open Letter of the world scientists to all governments about genetically modified organisms." This project with the help of the world banking system and the World Trade Organization will be applied in all countries of the world and may be the beginning of the destruction of the humanity by peaceful means, using, at first glance, innocuous food, which presents itself a genetically-modified organisms. However, unofficially, GMO food is grown and spread in many countries without warning the population, and consumers have no idea about what they eat. Shadow world government is acting secretly and cautiously, because as far as I understood their power is in money alone, that they use to bribe people occupying high positions in the governments of different states. The number of people on the planet today is seven billion, and in the beginning of last century it was only a half of it, but it does not mean that some atheists will in their own way solve the problem of rapid population growth on earth. This issue has civilized solutions, such as the one applied in China or the more commonly used abortion despite the fact that the Pope condemns the decision of the question this way. I dealt with this matter and can with the he lp of the Holy Scriptures easily prove that from the standpoint of the Bible abortion is quite acceptable. That article is found on my website www.tracts.com/MB.html, Articles by Manfred Beglaryan-Tracts.
    I think that the time has arrived to very seriously refer to the issue of removal of the politicians and political parties from power in all countries that have already openly and cynically threatened to destroy human civilization together with the overwhelming majority of people on earth. In the twentieth century they have killed more than a hundred million people. All politicians are potential killers, and we needn’t leave those atheists in power anymore. I have no idea how we can do it, but it's the only way to save billions of completely innocent people from death.
    Instead of the United Nations we’ll have to establish the World Academy of Sciences, composed of scientists from all countries, and the clergy of all faiths. I think that along with scientists the clergy will have to occupy their rightful place in the government. Science and religion should be combined. The most direct proof of the compatibility of science and religion, as Max Planck wrote, is the historical fact that the greatest scientists of all times, some people such as Kepler, Newton, Leibniz, were imbued with a deep religiosity. This bipolar management should first and foremost completely destroy all four types of weapons and determine what social system we need to create, how to manage the world economy and which way to develop human civilization. I offered this version of the solution to the question as an example, and I do not think it’s the only one. We have no choice and no time, chaos and world war or a new humanity with a great future.

    RADIX MALORUM EST CUPIDITAS

    There is nothing wrong with capitalism nor communism, it is the greed and the power that corrupted the system. Greed is the root of all evil, money makes the world go round. The demonstration in Madrid was peacefully effective, it was very well organized.

    Protestors

    What is more effective for demonstrators is,just import the Gullitoinre from france.Just to remind these privileged Rich ,they heads can be easily severed.It worked effectively before,and can do so again.

    The Red Army will rain

    The Red Army will rain supreme again

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