The practically omnipotent Paula G strikes with another video insight on fightbacks here. Tara Keane, a former La Senza worker (remember them?) had this to say: I was working for La Senza, a highly successful retailer in Ireland. We worked all through Christmas, all through New year without being paid and then one night we got a phone call from England saying “don’t come to work tomorrow.” We made the decision … Read More
Standing Man
This image has sparked another surreal turn in the ongoing protests in Turkey. The man stood in the middle of Taksim Square facing the Ataturk building and remained there without moving for six hours, so far. The image spread across Turkey and then internationally and now similar silent, standing protestors have joined him. Police have mobilised TOMA water cannon vehicles and it is feared this symbolic gesture is about to … Read More
Battle for the Banliyö
The explosions of flash-bangs echo around concrete towers of flats. Police fire tear gas and water cannon into crowds. The crowds reply with rocks and molotov cocktails. Plumes of smoke rise from bonfires as young men march with shields to the barricades. Saturday night in Gazi Mahellesi couldn’t feel farther from the festive atmosphere of Gezi Park. Reuben & Gielty investigate: This suburb in the north of Istanbul has seen … Read More
Fortress Taksim
Fortress Taksim. Reflection and reenforcement after days of chaos and drama. Our reporters Reuben & Gielty take to the streets of Istanbul to find out more about the protestors and their supporters. Monday in Gezi Park saw the protestors fortify the camp and evaluate the progress of the Taksim Uprising. Internally, measures were put in place to strengthen the autonomous structures of the liberated space while on the outside … Read More
Occupato – Italian for school
It seems to be a right of passage for Italian students to ‘Occupy’ their schools, something that has been going on since before we became familiar with the term in English courtesy of Wall Street’s protest movement. But what exactly is going on in Italian Schools? Following decades of decline, especially the last 5 years, the education budget has been pared further and further, leaving Italy’s percentage spend at … Read More
Occupy feeds FEMA. Govt abandons New York
Large swathes of New York and New Jersey have been all but abandoned by federal relief agencies following the natural disaster that was Hurricane Sandy. As the hurricane was hitting the eastern seaboard, Occupy veterans began mobilising and set up an umbrella network ‘Occupy Sandy’. While the govt agencies approved measures such as turning off power (mainly in poorer areas) it was presumed that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and … Read More