<a href="http://www.aworldtowin.net/blog/madrid-echoes-spirit-of-tahrir-square.html">http://www.aworldtowin.net/blog/madrid-echoes-spirit-of-tahrir-square.html</a>
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<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><font size="2" face="Arial"><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><a href="http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2011/05/banned-peoples-assembly-in-sol-madrid/" target="_blank">http://www.peoplesassemblies.org/2011/05/banned-peoples-assembly-in-sol-madrid/</a></span></b></font></div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">And see also: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/20/spain-protesting-angry-ones" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/20/spain-protesting-angry-ones</a> </span></div>
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<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><font size="2" face="Arial"><b><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</span></b> RE: Democracia Real Ya (Real Democracy Now) </font></div>
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<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Here are some news and recent evolution (from PPS-UK's David Marty who is in Madrid) that hopes it inspires all of us, elsewhere to do the same:</div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><br>- The movement has gone from Democracia Real Ya to another one, more ambitious: it is the creation of a people's assembly that will constitute several workshops on different themes. The term 'participatory democracy' is more and more used.<br>
- The Electoral Council has declared this meeting 'illegal' because it is taking place only two days before election day. The Council said, by a vote of 5 to 4, that on Saturday, 'reflection day', organizers won't be allowed to hold debates that will target any political parties. The goal was for people on Saturday to present proposals that shall extend the framwwork of these local elections and aim at the national elections next year.<br>
- The self managed organization at the Puerta del Sol is just unprecedented in post fraquist Spain: there are several groups, with a turn over system, that are in charge of cleaning. Others are responsible for cleaning the portable tilets that were brought here 2 days ago. Several neighbors have gathered in order to bring free food and coffee to all the 'campers' who spend the night in situ. There is a medical service made of several nurses and one doctor who explained how he went directly to Sol after work. There a couple of Pharmacies who gave free medicine to that Doctors and Nurses could do their work. There is also a legal service with a lawyer holding a permanency for legal issues regarding all sorts of problems (police, immigration, unemployment benefits, etc). There is, at last, a day-nursery for families to be able to come.<br>
- There are several tents organized in different themes: sexist issues and feminist struggle, economic proposals, environment and alternatives to the use of fossil fuels, reform of the rules for politicians (here in Spain they are untouchale, which is unfair considering that most of them are career politicians), immigration and protection of their rights and there also were several demonstrations demanding an investigation over the crimes committed during the dictatorship, but have been ingored during the past 40 years (it is believed that over 150,000 people disappeared during Franco's rule).<br>
- Diversity is just striking: it can longer be said this is a youth protest. There are senior citizens, families, unemployed, students, working people, conservatives, apolitical people, north africans, eastern europeans, south americans, etc.<br>
- Several cities around Europe have organized protest and demonstrations in support with Spain.<br>- Considering the attendance from this past days, that is working days, attendance is expected to be very high this week end.<br>
<br>Feel free to comment on David's post on Znet:<br><a href="http://www.zcommunications.org/spain-thousands-of-people-organize-a-historical-7-day-protest-by-david-marty" target="_blank">http://www.zcommunications.org/spain-thousands-of-people-organize-a-historical-7-day-protest-by-david-marty</a></div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <br>London Solidarity: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Democracia-Real-Ya-Londres/150053645063581?sk=wall" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Democracia-Real-Ya-Londres/150053645063581?sk=wall</a></div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><a href="http://www.realdemocracylondon.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.realdemocracylondon.blogspot.com</a></div>
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<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Galleries of what's happening in Spain can be found on the Spanish equivilent to 'Metro' (20 Minutos):<br><a href="http://www.20minutos.es/galeria/7473/0/0/protestas/15m/jovenes/" target="_blank">http://www.20minutos.es/galeria/7473/0/0/protestas/15m/jovenes/</a></div>
<div style="FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><br>More Info on Ban: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/20/spain-bans-protest-ahead-election" target="_blank">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/20/spain-bans-protest-ahead-election</a> </div>
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