"Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community."
May 19, 2013 5:49 PM Subscribe
Marinaleda’s mayor, Juan Manuel Sánchez Gordillo, has gained national notoriety and has even been dubbed the “Robin Hood of Spain” after he and a group of labourers refused to pay a supermarket for 10 shopping trolleys filled with food, which they distributed to the area’s food banks, sparking headlines in countries as far away as Iran.If everyone has a job, why do they need food banks? And if everything is running so well, why must they descend to theft?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:42 PM on May 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
The right-wing newspaper La Razón has reported that Mr Sánchez Gordillo’s government is in debt to the tune of €2.83m (£2.4m), and also quotes sources close to the town as saying there are months of back payments owed to workers in the co-operatives. Other villagers claim, according to La Razón, that “if you don’t go to protest” – as happened recently at another land-grab in the military terrain of Las Turquillas – “then you don’t get a job”. There have been repeated assertions that Mr Sánchez Gordillo does not share his power and has not held a full village council meeting for 13 months.
Everyone has a job, but no one gets paid?
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:16 PM on May 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Everyone has a job, but no one gets paid?
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:16 PM on May 19, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mr Sánchez Gordillo has been able to offer his village three things that much of Spain is desperately wanting: employment, affordable housing, and a greater say in government.
And yet he hasn't held a full village council meeting in 13 months? I wish this article wasn't so hagiographic. There's a story here, but the inconsistencies make me think things aren't as rosy as the author wants us to believe.
posted by mokin at 7:58 PM on May 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
And yet he hasn't held a full village council meeting in 13 months? I wish this article wasn't so hagiographic. There's a story here, but the inconsistencies make me think things aren't as rosy as the author wants us to believe.
posted by mokin at 7:58 PM on May 19, 2013 [2 favorites]
If everyone has a job, why do they need food banks? And if everything is running so well, why must they descend to theft?
The article doesn't make it very clear, but the raids happened in nearby towns, not in Marinaleda. Sounds like more of a general protest against the way things are in Spain.
posted by mokin at 8:04 PM on May 19, 2013
The article doesn't make it very clear, but the raids happened in nearby towns, not in Marinaleda. Sounds like more of a general protest against the way things are in Spain.
posted by mokin at 8:04 PM on May 19, 2013
Sanchez Gordillo The mayor who made it his mission to destroy the myth of capitalism.
He got a clothing multinational worried anyway.
He speaks truth to power as seen from the FP linked article.
Unfortunately, this [national] government’s policies have not been directed towards the people’s problems; they were directed towards the banks’ problems,” he says. “People are more important than banks, particularly when the profits are received by a handful of bankers who have speculated with basic human rights. The money they’ve provided doesn’t reach the base of the social pyramid, which is why the economy is paralysed
The Spanish people are being well and truely fucked over by their totally corrupt and venal politicians who stroll hand in hand with a rapacious banking system.
I have made a couple of FPPs about alternative political movements here as I live in Spain part of the time and I see the encroaching hardships every day, but as the majority on metafilter can only relate to America I have my doubts about an interesting discussion starting.
I wonder how much worse the situation has to get before civil unrest seriously kicks off. I fear it could be a long hot violent summer.
posted by adamvasco at 12:58 AM on May 20, 2013 [8 favorites]
He got a clothing multinational worried anyway.
He speaks truth to power as seen from the FP linked article.
Unfortunately, this [national] government’s policies have not been directed towards the people’s problems; they were directed towards the banks’ problems,” he says. “People are more important than banks, particularly when the profits are received by a handful of bankers who have speculated with basic human rights. The money they’ve provided doesn’t reach the base of the social pyramid, which is why the economy is paralysed
The Spanish people are being well and truely fucked over by their totally corrupt and venal politicians who stroll hand in hand with a rapacious banking system.
I have made a couple of FPPs about alternative political movements here as I live in Spain part of the time and I see the encroaching hardships every day, but as the majority on metafilter can only relate to America I have my doubts about an interesting discussion starting.
I wonder how much worse the situation has to get before civil unrest seriously kicks off. I fear it could be a long hot violent summer.
posted by adamvasco at 12:58 AM on May 20, 2013 [8 favorites]
Fascinating. Thanks for posting.
posted by windykites at 5:23 AM on May 20, 2013
posted by windykites at 5:23 AM on May 20, 2013
I have made a couple of FPPs about alternative political movements here as I live in Spain part of the time and I see the encroaching hardships every day, but as the majority on metafilter can only relate to America I have my doubts about an interesting discussion starting.
There's a certain set of mefites here who would be very interested to talk about greek/spanish radical politics.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 6:58 AM on May 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
There's a certain set of mefites here who would be very interested to talk about greek/spanish radical politics.
posted by thsmchnekllsfascists at 6:58 AM on May 20, 2013 [4 favorites]
Or Italian...
"The Emilia Romagna region is home to a population of 3.9 million people (seven percent of the national population). Italy is divided into 103 provinces which make up 20 regions. The regional capital of Bologna is both a city and a province and has a population of 380,000.posted by titus-g at 7:09 AM on May 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
By 2003 the dreams of cooperators had created an impressive reality. There are thousands of cooperatives of all types in Emilia Romagna.
Cooperatives make up over 40% of the GDP of the ER region
In Bologna two out of three citizens are members of a cooperative
In Bologna over 85% of the city's social services are provided by social co-ops
Per capita income in ER has risen from 17th to second among Italy's 20 regions
Per capital income is 50% higher than the national average
Of the European regions, ER is number 11 of 122 regions in terms of GNP per inhabitant
Bologna has the highest disposable income of any of Italy's 103 provinces
Bologna has the highest per capita expenditure on the arts of any city in Italy
The unemployment rate of 4% is virtually full employment
70% of Bologna's households have home ownership"
titus-g you should cross post that here.
As austerity measures (which are not working) are forced on the population here and other parts of southern Europe, most notably Greece and Portugal one wonders how much longer the population will tolerated this shit. In February it started to kick off in Madrid and last November in Lisbon and Athens as well. Now we are into Spring and soon the weather will be hotting up and that is the traditional time for Blood on the Streets.
Portugal has 15% unemployment, Spain now has an underclass with 27% unemployment together with Greece where a whopping 60% is Youth unemployment.
Now if I was under 25 and in this situation I would either emigrate or get angry.
posted by adamvasco at 7:49 AM on May 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
As austerity measures (which are not working) are forced on the population here and other parts of southern Europe, most notably Greece and Portugal one wonders how much longer the population will tolerated this shit. In February it started to kick off in Madrid and last November in Lisbon and Athens as well. Now we are into Spring and soon the weather will be hotting up and that is the traditional time for Blood on the Streets.
Portugal has 15% unemployment, Spain now has an underclass with 27% unemployment together with Greece where a whopping 60% is Youth unemployment.
Now if I was under 25 and in this situation I would either emigrate or get angry.
posted by adamvasco at 7:49 AM on May 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh, brother. If anyone ever needs yet another an example of how communism is a failure, Gordillo and his town of Marinaleda are there for the viewing.
But with reclaimed land, building materials from the Andalusían government, and a substantial amount of cooperative effort, housing has been another of Marinaleda's successes. "We give each family land, materials and architects for free, and they put in their labor from the beginning of construction to the end." Each plot consists of 90 square meters for construction, and 100 square meters for a patio or garden - normally three bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, kitchen and courtyard. "This is how we've built 350 homes."
And beyond the convivial, linoleum-carpeted oasis of the Andalusian home, there is more. Gordillo reels off a list of facilities, indexed by price: "Wireless internet is free. Swimming in the public pool costs three euros for the entire year. The public daycare center costs 12 euros per month - and the children also eat there. Housing costs 15 euros a month. Most taxes haven't been raised for years - some haven't been raised for 20 years."
Stuff that other people pay for: check. Low taxes: check. This guy sounds is crossing over into Tea Party territory, in a town where everyone has the opportunity to work the fields. Maybe even for money, if they're lucky.
posted by 2N2222 at 9:18 AM on May 20, 2013
But with reclaimed land, building materials from the Andalusían government, and a substantial amount of cooperative effort, housing has been another of Marinaleda's successes. "We give each family land, materials and architects for free, and they put in their labor from the beginning of construction to the end." Each plot consists of 90 square meters for construction, and 100 square meters for a patio or garden - normally three bedrooms, a bathroom, living room, kitchen and courtyard. "This is how we've built 350 homes."
And beyond the convivial, linoleum-carpeted oasis of the Andalusian home, there is more. Gordillo reels off a list of facilities, indexed by price: "Wireless internet is free. Swimming in the public pool costs three euros for the entire year. The public daycare center costs 12 euros per month - and the children also eat there. Housing costs 15 euros a month. Most taxes haven't been raised for years - some haven't been raised for 20 years."
Stuff that other people pay for: check. Low taxes: check. This guy sounds is crossing over into Tea Party territory, in a town where everyone has the opportunity to work the fields. Maybe even for money, if they're lucky.
posted by 2N2222 at 9:18 AM on May 20, 2013
Everyone has a job, but no one gets paid?
One of the hardships of credit crunch for the south. It's better to be owed money than to be unemployed (~25% unemployment, remember).
posted by ersatz at 12:16 PM on May 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
One of the hardships of credit crunch for the south. It's better to be owed money than to be unemployed (~25% unemployment, remember).
posted by ersatz at 12:16 PM on May 20, 2013 [1 favorite]
There are nearly two million family units in Spain without a single active member in employment
posted by adamvasco at 1:30 AM on May 21, 2013
posted by adamvasco at 1:30 AM on May 21, 2013
It's a hell of thing when any system outside of market fundamentalism is viewed as "radical". Everyone has been so hosed.
posted by Hickeystudio at 4:07 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Hickeystudio at 4:07 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
2N2222: "This guy sounds is crossing over into Tea Party territory, in a town where everyone has the opportunity to work the fields. Maybe even for money, if they're lucky."
There is no money; that's a large part of the problem. People are looking for solutions that European Capitalism isn't solving.
posted by artof.mulata at 8:01 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
There is no money; that's a large part of the problem. People are looking for solutions that European Capitalism isn't solving.
posted by artof.mulata at 8:01 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]
"There is no money; that's a large part of the problem."
Hell, free wifi, cheap swimming, your own home, and land enough to grow grapes for wine... Even with my natural suspicion, as a socialist, of communists (splitters!) that's tempting.
posted by titus-g at 3:23 AM on May 22, 2013
Hell, free wifi, cheap swimming, your own home, and land enough to grow grapes for wine... Even with my natural suspicion, as a socialist, of communists (splitters!) that's tempting.
posted by titus-g at 3:23 AM on May 22, 2013
you should cross post that here.
done + added a couple more links:
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/europe-s-co-op-boom/
http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/info/bologna.html
a talk by John Restakis, Executive Director of the British Columbia Cooperative Association, on the Emilia Romagna model
posted by titus-g at 3:55 AM on May 22, 2013
done + added a couple more links:
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/europe-s-co-op-boom/
http://www.uwcc.wisc.edu/info/bologna.html
a talk by John Restakis, Executive Director of the British Columbia Cooperative Association, on the Emilia Romagna model
posted by titus-g at 3:55 AM on May 22, 2013
« Older Photography of China | "Cheeseburger" is just a word. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by arcticseal at 6:10 PM on May 19, 2013 [1 favorite]