1000 words. Images of northern Spain and its miners in revolt.

I have come to the realization that the best way to show some one something is to show them.
I have been talking allot lately about different issues with my customers in a little coffee shop in northern Spain.

The subject of the miners revolt has been on everybody's mind. In my area, an area that is marked by its right /Francoist ideology. The conversations become predictable almost off the get go. I don't know how much is just cover talk since this is a historically charged issue and people have had nasty problems for going too far due to hot blood and hardy cider. In our sister city where allot of miners retired, it is supported rather overtly and defiantly.

I think the old republic will start to reemerge from its tomb and certain groups that made sure the problem was created in the first place, will swoop in and sway public opinion towards supporting the old communist republic the rebels dreamed of during the civil war.

I want people to notice that communism always advocates violence and tries to piss of a whole generation of youths the leadership of the new communist movement made sure to disenfranchise through brunches, lunches, and closed door economic /political hustling.

I see the miners point but don't buy into it. Communist always try and start a revolution so as to place in power a group of individuals no one really knows completely. This, instead of being CONSTRUCTIVE and building upon the principles of democracy and true civil power.

I don't know, just think things through. Not everything is simple, and there is no simple solution to a complex series of systematic problems. I know we are not so dumb we can't achieve balance, we are just not willing.

8,000 Spanish miners strike against cuts
anphoblacht
By: Mark Moloney

A MINERS’ STRIKE in the Spanish province of Asturias has paralysed much of northern Spain with more than 8,000 coal miners taking to the barricades and picket lines.

Sixteen main roads and motorways have been blocked by barricades for the past two weeks while two railway lines have also been shut down.

There have also been numerous clashes with police both in Asturias and in the Spanish capital of Madrid, where 10,000 miners’ supporters marched last week. Asturias is located between Galicia and the Basque Country.

The strikers want a reversal of a recently-announced cut of €190million in subsidies to the mining sector by the conservative Spanish Government. Miners say the cuts will result in the collapse of the mining sector as Spanish coal will become too expensive, leaving it unable to compete against cheaper foreign coal. The subsidy cut affects 40 mines, almost all located in Asturias.

Dozens of police and striking miners have been hurt in clashes and scores of arrests have been made.

Some miners have occupied a mineshaft while supporters are camped out in the main square in the Asturian capital of Oviedo.

Miners in Wales have publicly pledged their support to the Spanish strikers in a sign of international solidarity.

Unemployment in Spain stands at almost 25% and is continuing to increase due to the EU-imposed austerity programme.

The traditional coal-mining region of Asturias has a history of militant protest and opposition to right-wing governments. In 1934, an uprising in the region led by striking miners was crushed by the fascist General Franco. More than 1,500 miners and 200 civilians were killed, along with 280 Spanish troops and police.

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old civil war bunker



en.wikipedia.org...'_strike_of_1934

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Now that is awesome! Look at the homemade "fire work" launchers. I solute these men.

Awesome. I wish Americans would wake up and start resisting. The only downside is that the miners appear to be communists. I still salute them for being willing to stand up and fight for their beliefs.

Hats off to them.
Trully fantastic.
.
They make the rest of us look pathetic

Fantastic! The images really helped to capture the mood over there.

I wish them all the best in their struggles, really inspiring.

That is how you strike!
My work is currently going through industrial action at the moment and we MAY have a rally, that's about it. I wish we could find our balls and stick it to them like these guys and girls.

Keep up the fight!

Reply to post by BIHOTZ

Hehe, miners and industrial workers have always been the toughest protesters in Spain, this is no joke. The Spanish government is taking the piß with lies and half baked truths and needs a strong message in their face. We are ready to follow the miners path, our patience is fading!


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reply to post by Jooles


We are ready to follow the miners path, our patience is fading!
well if there casting out devils ,,, more Power too them.

My sympathies are with the miners. For me there can be no other way. I am no communist or socialist, but I have worked in many factories on the production line and I have also supervised crews doing painting and renovating. I have seen both sides of the coin. I say let the president of the country instigate austerity by not accepting his own salary. Ditto for ministers and parlamentarians. Screw the foreign bankers. Negate all debts owed to foreign banks for every citizen of Spain. Then let the Miners and Military and Police stand together for a common cause and fight a common enemy instead of each other.

reply to post by groingrinder


Vivla Spain,, Vivla Spain,,Libreatata.!

Very humbling to see people take such a strong stance, and to actually DO SOMETHING.

People say "We live in a civilized world, such actions are barbaric, and have no place in our world anymore!"

I disagree. But these people are all on the same page, and agree.

We do not all agree in America, too many varying opinions, and ideas. There is no consensus.

Maybe someday us Americans will find our will to resist, not just by camping in some parks or what not. But actually resist in force.

May they prevail in their protests and strikes.

Awesome pics OP!!

Us Americans won't ban together anymore, its very sad. As long as there is a game on, or the tv works no chance for a revolution.

¡No Pasarán!
Those cops with working brain are in bad situation: They know they are on wrong side of barricade but have to feed theirs families. That is why I'll never ever join police/army. You can be 99.999% sure that one time will came order conflicting with your consciousness - what you will do? You are trapped.

I just wanted to link this thread with another I made. I had allot of extra pictures that didn't belong in this thread. I just thought I would share them before deleting them.

The world is a great place, we just have to become great people.


I hope everyone has a great day.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Very inspiring.

I'm always amazed at the cops in these pics, they're too thick to understand that they are next. I wonder who will be arresting and detaining them when they're told they have no pension, no medical, no prospect for promotion and no chance of a pay rise to match inflation over the next 50 years? Idiots.

They are really nice people just fighting for their rights! Inspiring!

reply to post by burdman30ott6


I didn't see your post before but I had to say this. You are correct. These guys are actually what you would call "wealthy". They are viewed here as being a little spoiled. That is not just the right´s view of it. They truly live a great life.

When it rains they don't work, yet get paid. Very well. This is northern Spain.....it is very green because IT RAINS EVERY OTHER DAY!

They get early retirement if they want. You know what a miner with early retirement makes a month? 2-4 thousand Euros, the more veteran ones make allot more....while everybody else here makes 1500 at most. I think municipal workers make 2000 including diets and other expenses/ perks.

I get their point, they were lied to and the funds for their promised retirement will get modified so they get less. The money the EU gave them for alternative industries was spent in the form of social spending much of which was a waste.

That said, they are doing allot of harm to every other part of the economy up here. We get no deliveries when they do this. No one. We lose flights, trains, meetings, sales calls, ect.

They lose allot of support when they get violent. Everybody just wants to live their life. I had other videos of the various protests they did this week. Mostly sit ins at city hall down the street. I was going to put them up, but I am sick of it. I have been catering to them for months and while they are nice people and I have a few more customers thanks to the sit ins, I just want life to be normal even though they are pissed.

It doesn't bother me for them to protest, I get more business, selfishly speaking. I just can't stand the charged atmosphere they create. It is hard to deal with it since I know they live like kings really. We all know it here. SO they get dirty and some die every couple decades. They had a great run. Most of their kids don't work, have the best BWS and Mercedes, huge houses, ect.

What pisses me off the most is that I identified one man from the photos. He was down the street organizing the sit ins. I don't think he is a miner. I saw him coaching a bus driver when we had a transit workers strike last month.....

It is the unions that have been taken over by the more communist side of politics. They were trying to do this since before the crisis. That is why I don't buy into them having the miners best interests in mind.

Hired muscle by the unions are organizing the violent protests. The radicals already exist ( they always will in the north ), The unions are just putting them together and giving them ideas of what to use their talents for.

I just had to add that. This is one of my greatest concerns for the US. I think there is a push to make a reformist movement led by the same criminal mentalities that have been proven to be working with big business and governments worldwide.

I hope the younger ones are smart enough to not let passion become more powerful an emotion than reason and common sense. Violence MUST be met with violence. Intelligence can accomplish more and lose less in the process.

There is a great people under this mess. I hope we all find the solutions we deserve.

Peace!

There is abuse of the people who make the world go....
I am talking a the minimum wage people,
Why should some be over paid, and others underpaid?
Because of this.........those miners WILL be heard in halls of government......
Unfiortunatey, the busboys and waitresses and janitors and all those who labour in theservicwe of taking care of the responsibilities you yourself once took care YOURSELF!
But they are just underlings who deserve your contempt.....THESE are the ones who need to rise up as a unit and demand more respect.....time they got paid what taking al the abuse is worth.....
Perhaps these miners are an anachronism....machines and less men to do the work....a higher skill level required for the work...and these long time workers cannot begin to make the changeover?
Perhaps they really are being used and treated unfairly....what is the sentiment in Spain as to the validity of their fight?
Who is going to possibly join them in future?
And what is the next deadline or event which may precipitate more unrest there?
These really are stirring photos and ones heart goes out to those who stand fast in the face of overwhelming opposition....
Are any of these guys Basques by the way?
Is ETA invoved et? have there been any bombings?

In England we have Docturs rioting over pay!
SAD! most of them get the best pay.

All goverments need to be replace't.
Yes it will be hard. but we are All going to pieces!!!
Non of it can hold up for any longer.