Has Argentina anything to offer Waterford, Ireland and beyond?

March 28, 2009

How have things panned out in Waterford?  Did the occupiers of the factory there ever get to see “The Take“? if so what were their impressions, were they inspired, could similar strategies be built up in ireland? Are similar bottom up movemtents starting to grow? Can we learn from Argentina?

Good luck to all in Ireland for M30, let us hope that the “green isle” continues to wake out of its 15 year slumber, now that the tiger has fucked off, and let Biffo and his shower follow….

The Take

In suburban Buenos Aires, thirty unemployed auto-parts workers walk into their idle factory, roll out sleeping mats, and refuse to leave. All they want is to re-start the silent machines. With The Take, director Avi Lewis, one of Canada’s most outspoken journalists, and writer Naomi Klein, author of the international bestseller No Logo, champion a radical economic manifesto for the 21st century. But what shines through in the film is the simple drama of workers’ lives and their struggle: the demand for dignity and the searing injustice of dignity denied.

The Wests Awake

plough

The Starry Plough, flag of the Irish Citizen Army flies in Waterford

Meanwhile, the Irish “Leader” Biffo, has his portrait illegally hung in the main Irish gallery, then found out and pulled down, then the public were told about it via RTE (Irish state media), then RTE had to applogise for their telling of truth…

National Gallery Hides Art: RTE Hides News: Artist Hits Nail On Head: Guards Involved


Bold, Beautiful, Blooming Barcelona asks: What would it mean to win?

March 9, 2009

The Gracia community garden radio documentary trilogy and accompanying article

1 – Entering, Breaking ground, dreams of a greener barrio.
2 – Murals and kids
3 – Lauras garden tour

VIDEO : Hort de Gràcia Web: http://horteres.org/

Hort Comunitari: The Gracia community garden radio documentary trilogy The Gracia community garden radio documentary trilogy and accompanying article Springtime in Europe and the Earths life’s cycle is in bloom again. The 3 parts of the radio documentary capture magical moments in the recent history of one of the most exciting projects in Barcelona at present, our community garden in Gracia. This article was written after a lovely Valentines weekend of much open, shared and participative activity; the highlight of which was our collective mural day in the garden. It is hoped that some of the life, current ideas, projects, tools, spaces, bargains, oddities, dreams, passions and goings on of the city and her peoples are communicated here-in.

Friday… Thinking about winning

Saturday… Painting pictures and feeling like we are winning

Sunday… Sharing passions, playing and doing, Remembering the South.

Read the rest of this entry »