Frankfurt 'Blockupy' protesters surround ECB

[Bosonic]

Source: Reuters

Thousands of demonstrators from the anti-capitalist Blockupy movement cut off access to the European Central Bank in Frankfurt on Friday to protest against policymakers' handling of Europe's debt crisis.

Clasping signs with slogans such as "humanity before profit", the protesters gathered in the rain to block roads including those leading to Deutsche Bank's headquarters in the city's financial district.

The crowd, estimated by police at roughly 2,500 protesters, was met by armed police wearing helmets and riot gear and accompanied by Alsatian dogs. Trucks with water cannons stood by and a helicopter hovered overheard.

At least 20 protesters held up inflatable mattresses with the slogan "War Starts Here" written on them. Police said some protesters had thrown stones and there were some clashes at the barricades, but the protest was generally peaceful so far.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/31/germany-blockupy-idUSL5N0EC0JW20130531?feedType=RSS&feedName=marketsNews

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. I was hoping this would not go un-noticed.

Last edited Fri May 31, 2013, 06:11 AM - Edit history (1)

rec

added:
pic from Twitter

[Earth_First]

2. I've never heard of 'Blockupy' prior to this article...

Ill have to look into it.

Additionally the plural form of cannon is cannon. Do we not employ copy editors any longer...?

[Android3.14]

5. Both are in common usage

Though I am unsure what the AP Style Book says about it. I'll have to look it up when I get to work.

[CBHagman]

6. You say cannon. I say cannons.

Let's call the whole thing off.

I've been hearing cannons all my life, though that doesn't make the term right. However, Webster acknowledges its use.

[url]http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cannon[/url]

[idwiyo]

3. K&R

[fasttense]

4. It's a combination of Block and Occupy

Seems they find capitalism objectionable. Who would have thought it?

Something America could use.

[another_liberal]

7. Yeah! More power to Blockupy!

Down with the greedhead, fatcat investors and banker elites! Who elected them to be the masters of our planet? Screw their whole system of stealing from the poor so as to give more to the already rich. It's well past time for a change, and this is a signal of the beginning of that inevitable, necessary process.

[dipsydoodle]

8. In what manner does the ECB, which is the subject here , steal from the poor ?

,

[another_liberal]

9. You again?

I thought you had given up, taken your football and gone home?

To answer your latest question: The European Central Bank insists EU member States adopt austerity and currency controls that hurt the unemployed, the working poor, the elderly and the very young. These are policies which not only reduce badly needed social programs and pensions but which also prevent currency devaluation, which might help those in debt and in need of work, all for the purpose of preserving concentrated wealth held by the Worlds richest investors.

And do not ask for my "links." This is all quite common knowledge to anyone with curiosity enough to occasionally read an unbiased news source covering current European affairs. I'm sure, though, that you already know that.

[dipsydoodle]

10. Since you mention it I assume you refer to this :

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1088&pid=3976

Well its May 31st now and the Deutsche Bank still isn't the Bundesbank like it or not.

The ECB draws funds by and large from IMF loans and the taxpayers money from the state banks of member states - particularly the German Bundesbank. Not unrealistically whatever funds they loan out to member states they expect to be repaid. Its in relation to expectation of repayment that the effects you mention may come into play. Nothing forces countries in need to borrow from the ECB - they , aside from maybe Greece , are quite capable of issuing bonds on the international market should they chose to do so and paying accordingly higher rates of interest than the ECB would charge.

[another_liberal]

11. The loans were offered . . .

The loans were offered, even pushed upon, governments which a halfway careful and honest examination would have shown would not be able repay. Some of the great banking houses even helped governments to falsify the details of their GDP and national debt so as to more readily qualify for loans that could not be repaid. Temporary profits were realized on the banks' balance sheets, bonuses were earned by the crooked bankers, the venal politicians were able to, temporarily, hand out lots of goodies to their friends, and the common people have been left with ever-worsening austerity and a seriously diminished quality of life.

In brief, it is a racket.

[dipsydoodle]

12. I think what you refer to is Goldman Sachs

which is fair comment.

[another_liberal]

13. You are correct . . .

It was Goldman Sachs' executives who helped falsify the Greek records (in particular) so as to make Greece seem an acceptable risk for further loans.