Sunday, September 16, 2012

September 15




Nearly one million people marched in 38 cities against the preposterous new austerity measures for 2013 announced by this gorvernment, a clear violation of the Portuguese Constitution. The Portuguese have been constantly forced to make tremendous sacrifices after the bailout in order to pay the successive governments debts and bank frauds. It seems this was the greatest demonstration since 1974, the year of the Portuguese revolution, when the people got rid of Salazar's dictatorship.
These shots were taken in Lisbon.

22 comments:

Lowell said...

The leaders of our countries just don't seem to get it or they have been bought off so entirely they can't take the real actions necessary...

Fantastic pictures - democracy in action. Scary. I hope it's really scary for the governments involved!

brattcat said...

this is astonishing documentation. thank you.

theconstantwalker said...

Wonderful captures... it's a fantastic turn out.

Lois said...

Wow! That crowd is huge. Nice to see people trying to make a difference.

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

I hope the people's voice are loud and clear !

jennyfreckles said...

That crowd is so big it looks a little scary. I hope it doesn't all spill over into violence, no matter how passionately people feel.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh I saw this on the news tonight JM, such an amazing turnout, surely it has to stand for something. Excellent images.

Jack said...

It is a remarkable turnout.

Thanks for the explanation about Portugal's World War II role. The next book on my reading list is Double Cross, about WWII spies' roles in the Normandy invasion. I expect to read about Portugal in that book.

Sharon said...

What an amazing turn out. I hope our leaders start to take notice.

Karl said...

Great documentation, JM!

Sylvia K said...

What a terrific turn out!! Wonder if the leaders of many of our countries really care about the people they're supposed to be representing????

tapirgal said...

There's something positive about peaceful protest, although I'm sorry there is reason to do it.

RedPat said...

Wow and it looks like a great cross-section of people - not just young guys as is often the case!

Stefan Jansson said...

I guess they have to listen to the people now.

Kay said...

These are incredible shots. I hope it makes a difference.

It puzzles me that there is such silence here about our economic woes in the US. Foreclosures, job losses and a government that only thinks about elections.

Randy said...

Power to the people.

Bob Crowe said...

I'm impressed. There is much intensity yet no disorder in these images. The Portuguese people speak loudly but without violence. By contrast, I would stay far away from a manifestation in France.

Gunn said...

Great documentary.
I just hope that all these thousand and thousands of voices will be taken serious.
Your images are strong and important.

Joan Elizabeth said...

What a crowd! It is so difficult, what is the answer to poor government decisions that have squandered a nation's wealth. I ponder this as our government seems to overspend, which means people today enjoy but what is the cost to others in the future when things must be brought back into control.

Babzy.B said...

People need to be heard ! :)

Unknown said...

The governments and the financial powers of the world have let their people down. I can't imagine how we are going to get out of this mess. We are all in it together. Your reporting here is so valuable.

Stickup Artist said...

Excellent photojournalism! Unlike here, your citizens aren't turning on each other. The mean "name calling" and labeling going on during this election cycle makes me cringe. I wish this mass solidarity would take hold here too.