World Agenda: riots in Iceland, Latvia and Bulgaria are a sign of things to come

[lovuian]

World Agenda: riots in Iceland, Latvia and Bulgaria are a sign of things to come

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5559773.ece

Icelanders all but stormed their Parliament last night. It was the first session of the chamber after what might appear to be an unusually long Christmas break.

Ordinary islanders were determined to vent their fury at the way that the political class had allowed the country to slip towards bankruptcy. The building was splattered with paint and yoghurt, the crowd yelled and banged pans, fired rockets at the windows and lit a bonfire in front of the main door. Riot police moved in.

Now in the grand sweep of the current crisis, a riot on a piece of volcanic rock in the north Atlantic may not seem to add up to much. But it is a sign of things to come: a new age of rebellion.

The financial meltdown has become part of the real economy and is now beginning to shape real politics. More and more citizens on the edge of the global crisis are taking to the streets. Bulgaria has been gripped this month by its worst riots since 1997 when street power helped to topple a Socialist government. Now Socialists are at the helm again and are having to fend off popular protests about government incompetence and corruption.
more...

If they wanted anger they are getting it

[patrice]

1. Iceland? Didn't they buy into the whole Milton Friedman neo-con job?

If I remember this correctly, Naomi Klein includes Iceland in her book Shock Doctrine.

[knitter4democracy]

6. And their economy fell to tiny little pieces.

If I remember right, a British bank came in and bought up a lot of property that was foreclosed on. It went from being an economic jewel to a joke almost overnight. I'm sure the people there are furious and rightfully so.

[tsuki]

2. Why yoghurt? eoq

[icelandphotoblog]

3. This is huge for Iceland!

I don't think the world understands completely how big this event is in Icelandic history. This is the most serious protest/riots since 1949 when the country entered NATO which was very heated issue in Iceland at the time!

You can read more about the situation in my article at http://www.groundreport.com/Politics/Riots-in-Iceland">groundreport.com.

Today was held the 16th saturday protest meeting which went peacefully. Icelanders want changes peacefully but like the events on 20th and 21st of January shows, all can happen if the government and its institutions don't listen and shoulder their responsibility of the crises by resign from offices!

The parliament is so damaged that people in Iceland wants restoration of democracy in Iceland by creating a new constitution which will allows for more public control. People don't trust the parliament or its members.

The most hated man in Iceland, Davíð Oddsson the chairman of central bank in Iceland, will not be in office for long after the government has fallen!

Stay tuned for updates...

[leftstreet]

4. The US M$M won't cover it at all

I have to find info on the Intertubes.

Sad.

[cbayer]

5. What is the situation like for tourists at this time?

I have friends in the travel industry who do quite a bit of business in Iceland Travel. People who have booked trips are asking about whether they should travel or not.

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[icelandphotoblog]

9. Tourists are safe!

hi cbayer and thanks for the welcome note. :)

The situation is still relative peaceful and tourists are very safe in Iceland like always. The events are focused on a small area around the parliament building in Reykjavik so maybe if you've booked room in Hótel Borg which is in that area then you could maybe experience some noise disturbance from protesters chanting "Vanhæf ríkisstjórn" (eng: Incompetent government).

But please spread the word to your friends that Iceland is still very safe place to visit and now much cheaper too. ;)

[cbayer]

13. Good to know. I will tell my friends so they can reassure any clients.

I hope you get the change you need and want.

:)

[KoKo]

16. Many thanks for your "eyewitness" view of what's going on there...

Please keep us posted. Since the only international news we get is on the internet. :thumbsup:

[conspirator]

7. You forgot Greece. And I don't even want to think what will happen when it hits France

A new Storming of the Bastille? The greek riots were not just motivated by the assassination but general discontent.

[DeSwiss]

8. They threw paint and yoghurt???

What no ice???

- Not even a snow ball????

[icelandphotoblog]

10. Lot of snow balls...

people throwed alot of snow balls on 20th of january, unfortunatly we have had +2-5° Celsius and some rain so the snow isn't much now. But it will come again. ;)

[Joe the Liberal]

11. This is what happens when your country is run by Republican neocons............

or neocon minded minded people, can't say I'm surprised and I cant believe so many people buy into their bullshit. I'm not saying Republicans and neocons can't run a government, in fact they can run it............straight into the fucking ground.

[Initech]

12. Well, let's get lootin'!

[NoPasaran]

14. Throwing yogurt is all fun and games until someone gets an eye put out

[icelandphotoblog]

15. Minister of Commerce & Banking resigns

Today it was announced that the minister of commerce and banking have resigned as well as the chairman of the Icelandic Financial Supervisory Authority (FME) along with board of directors!

It's obvious that protests and riots past 16 weeks are finally starting to pay off and the power clan is finally started to break down. However, this is just the start and if the power clan thinks that this is enough - they need to think again. The public wants resignation also from the minister of finance.

More here: http://www.groundreport.com/World/Resignation-starts-in-IcelandURL">My news article