Protests in Barcelona

It is official, the world is in a financial crisis. There are uprisings, protests and riots in many places. Some of them have been successful in producing the change that people wanted and others have not. Spain is no different. The cash-strapped government has had to implement several austerity measures in order to save the country from economic disaster. Many people - especially the youth - are discontent and are showing their dissent by organising marches and protests in many areas. Plaza Catalunya is one of the busiest squares in the city of Barcelona. It is a tourist hotspot because many high end stores and hotels are located around the square. The famous La Rambla begins just off Plaza Catalunya. In their efforts to show their discontent, some people have decided to camp out in the square. Around the fountains and statues you will see sleeping bags, tents, makeshift housing, litter, animals and people - lying about in all various degrees of cleanliness. Protest banners are wrapped around the statues and flags flitter in the air. The young people are not happy with the "cuts" the government had to make in social welfare. What these people don't realise is that there are people younger and older than themselves, in the poorer countries of the world, that receive absolutely nothing from their governments. Think of places in Africa, Asia and Latin America. People there have to be self-sufficient as there are no "handouts" from the government. No free education. No free health care. No social welfare system. As I look at these protesters lying about in their different states of filth and inebriation, I wonder if this is really a protest or simply an excuse to set up a hippy colony in the centre of the city. These people seem like they would not be eager to work a day's labour anyway. They appear to be people who enjoy the hippy lifestyle. Oh Barcelona, what an eye-sore!

Camping around the fountains

Call for action against the government!

Tents and make shift housing