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Fun rally with a serious message stops downtown Madrid
The march saw groups from every part of the political spectrum carry a range of messages about trade justice, debt cancellation, hunger and the MDGs. The overriding message, that the global crisis could not be the excuse to the developed world for reneging on their commitments to the poorest. The spotlight shone brightest on the Spanish government of course, who’s commitment to reaching 0.7% of GNI in aid is being monitored by civil society against the backdrop of a recession and rapidly rising national unemployment.
It kind of reminded me of a U2 video from the nineties, the centre of a big city brought to a standstill by a pop group playing a public concert, surrounded by police speaking into their walkie talkies and the backdrop of honking car horns by frustrated drivers.
That was the rock music finale of this evening’s massive march against poverty in downtown Madrid. As a mixture of students, hapless tourists and business people going home at the end of the working week were engulfed by thousands of demonstrators, the pop group El Canto del Loco took the stage. Rocking out their new, specially-composed hit, The Cry of our Generation, there were groupies screaming alongside chanting campaigners.
The march saw groups from every part of the political spectrum carry a range of messages about trade justice, debt cancellation, hunger and the MDGs as well as the now familiar 'Put People First' banner. The overriding message, that the global crisis could not be the excuse to the developed world for reneging on their commitments to the poorest. The spotlight shone brightest on the Spanish government of course, who’s commitment to reaching 0.7% of GNI in aid is being monitored against the backdrop of a recession and rapidly rising national unemployment.
There were giant balloons carrying slogans and megaphones encouraging people to satirise leaders for summits that deliver little change. There were thousands of whistles blown in unison so the politicians couldn’t ignore us, probably the most moving moment of the evening for anyone present. There were clowns and street performers, drummers and nuns, walking side by side. A sea of television cameras and photographers captured the image of the eight Millennium Goal placards raised high above the crowd while an ariel snap of the rally showed it snaking under the bright sun from Madrid’s Plaza Cibeles to Sol in a carnival atmosphere where accountability and solidarity were at the fore.
Elsewhere in Spain, 40 other cities were hosting similar events both today and planned for tomorrow and Sunday. Estimates tonight are that 12,000 people took part in the Madrid march which is great news.
