Arbeitslosenselbsthilfe O l d e n b u r g
Kaiserstr. 19
D-26122 Oldenburg (Oldenburg)
e-mail: also@also-zentrum.de
DIARY OF THE MARCHES 1
Friday, 11th April in Tangiers/Morocco
The launch of the March in Tangiers, Morocco took place on Friday afternoon, 11th April. A press conference was held on the premises of the Moroccain Trade Union (UMT), one of the two large trade unions in Morocco. Present were 200 people; Moroccain trade unionists, delgation from the association of Educationally Qualified (school leaving sertificate etc.), principale unemployment association, and delegations from France and Spain.
A meeting was held in the street, joined by a further 200 people.
Saturday, 12th April in Algesiras/Spain
On Saturday morning, the 12th April, the marchers took the boat for Tarifa, a small town on the tip of the Spanish peninsula.
Four Moroccain marchers from Tangiers were due to cross the straits in order to join up with the March : 3 marchers this week-end and 1 shortly afterwards. The Spanish authorities refused to grant them visas.
The French and Spanish marchers leaving from Tangiers joined up other marchers from Spain, France and Germany, at Tarifa. Later in the afternoon they arrived in Algesiras for a reception organised by the town hall. There were about a hundred marchers present.
The next day, the marchers left for Seville.
Saturday, 12th April Grenoble/France
Delegations from different European countries arrived in Grenoble during the morning. From Turin, and Milan, Italy, came 50 marchers, joining other marchers from Spain, Switzerland and Great Britain. There were also French marchers from Paris and Lyon. The British representative regretted that they had to delay their own marches two weeks after the General Election of May 1st, but that it was vital to get rid of the Conservatives first, and that they were closely following all marchs that had already started. The Mayor of Grenoble laid on lunch for the marchers before their departure.
The marchers left Grenoble at 14h.00, supported by about 500 people from different associations. The Italian delegation added to the festive atmosphere with revoluntary slogans and songs.
After the reception at the Grenoble Town Hall, 150 marchers left for Saint Martin d'HE8res where the Italians then left the march to return by coach to Italy. The marchers walked on to GiE8res for a reception and refreshments where an open-air debat was held on the local problems of unemployment and social exclusion. The local town hall explained their initiatives to promote seasonal work during the tourist season for the local youth unemployed and promised to examine the question of free transport for the unemployed.
Already the first videos and photos of the French Alpine march have been received in Paris. These videos were made by 2 marchers trained by Canal March.
Saturday, 12th April at Brest/France
The march left at 14h.30, supported by 150 to 200 people. The Brest group was made up of AC!, Culture and Liberty, CGT Unemployment Committee, Federation of Family Unions, UDSEA, CGT local district union, FSU, CGT Alcatel, Group of 10 with SUD, SNUI, SDE. ...
It should be especially noted that among the participants, there were 4 young people from AlenE7on, who have now joined the Breton marchers after following a marchers' training programme. They will march all the way to Amsterdam.
There was a reception held at the Brest Town Hall where the Mayor promised the marchers to meet the Brest collectif in order to discuss a wide range of local problems, such as free transport for the unemployed and housing problems.
Arrival in Plougastel where a Bagad - a Breton orchestre with bignous and bombardes played to the marchers, followed by a reception at the town hall.
Sunday morning, 13th April, 30 permanent marchers continued the march. The cortege was preceded a tractor driven by a member of the delegation from the Federation of Small Farmers. By 11h.00, the march arrived in Daoulas (3,000 inhabitants) in time for the local market. Here the marchers' stock of badges and march journal was entirely sold out,to such an extent that it seemed as if the local population were all wearing badges and carrying the march journal! An official photo call took place in front of the town hall.
Monday evening, 14th April. A public debat was arranged at Chateaulin on unemployment and rural employment with the Federation of Small Farmers and the trade union Group of 10.
Sunday, 13th April Paris/France
Around 300 to 400 activists from different associations of the unemployed (AC!APEIS,MNCP), and those associations in the fight against social exclusion (DAL,Droit Devant!!, CdSL), and unions (SUD unions from CFDT ...) occupied the Chateau of Versailles where they took over the King's rooms and spoke from the king's balcony
This was the very balcony that on the 4th August 1789, the abolition of privileges was declared. At that period, such privileges was linked to birth. Whereas today, the struggle is against the inequality of income!
The object of this action was to protest against a bill, incredibly entitled, the bill for "social cohesion". This bill is due to be presented before Parliament on 15th April, and that is also the day chosen for the official launch of the Europeen March.
Sunday, 13th April Almeria/Spain
After a mass meeting in Almeria, the march left with about 100 supporters. The marchers were made up of French and Spanish nationals.
Monday, 14th April : Sarajevo
A symbolic departure of the European March was organised at Sarajevo and Tuzla (Bosnia). This done through a press conference, because of the high number of journalists covering the Pope's visit to Sarajevo on the 12th and 13th April. At the same time, there was also a series encounters and debats organised with miners and postmen from Tuzla, with further debats with hospital staff. It was agreed that 2 students from Sarajevo, joined by 2 postmen, 2 miners and 2 nurses. should join the march to Amsterdam.
Monday, 14th April Crotone/Italy
A rally was held at the Eni factory, a major productor of the Italian chemical industry, now in the process of being privatised. Hundreds of workers were present at the rally which was organised by an ad hoc committee of all the non-federated unions and to the local CGIL. The rally decided upon joint action and for coordination in the combat for employment in the meridional regions of Italy.
Monday, 14th April : Finland
Waiting for news
Monday, 14th April : Portugal
Message from Carlos Lopes, du Centro de Apoio Aos Desempregados, Setubal :Portuguese marchers are with us in spirit and hope to be there in Amsterdam on the 13th and 14th June, to express their anger with all the other European and International marchers, against the men who are responsible for the situation which has lead to unemployment, job insecurity and exclusion.
France
Marches europE9ennes 104 rue des Couronnes 75020 Paris
Tel : + 33 1 44 62 63 44 Fax : + 33 1 44 62 63 45
e-mail : marches97@ras.eu.org
Netherland
S'MZBW
Boite Postale 19016 3501 DA Utrecht
Tel : + 31 30 2314 122 Fax : + 31 30 231 00 38
e-mail : smzbw@xs4all.nl
The other voices, coalition for a different europe (Amsterdam)
Pla
tform Naar Een Ander Europa
Postbus 54 1000 AB Amsterdam Hollande
Tel : + 312 04 22 27 12 Fax : + 312 04 22 31 71
e-mail : ander.europa@xs4all.nl
Autria
Secretary Fischerbacher c/o OD6-Plattform
Tel : + 43 732 66 7594 Fax : + 43 732 66 7594
e-mail : 106061.3524@compuserve.com
Mehdi Ardi
WE
4hringerStr. 188/15/3, 1180 Wien
Tel
: + 43 1 4786345 Fax : + 43 1 4786345
e-mail : k.paw.fischbacher@magnet.at
Irland
INOU
6, Gardiner Row, Dublin 1. Irlande
Tel : + 3531 8788 635 Fax : + 3531 8788 874
e-mail : inou@aonad.iol.ie
Germany
BundesbFCro EuroMarsch c/o DGB-Jugendzentrum,
Olof Palem Hauss, BrunnenStr. 125-127, 13355 Berlin Allemagne
Tel : + 49 30 46 43 612 Fax : + 49 30 46 45 843
e-mail : 101337.2067@compuserve.com
Arbeitslosenverband Deutschland
Hausburg str. 29 10249 Berlin Allemagne
Tel : + 49 30 4222 043 Fax : + 49 30 4264 065
Great Britain
Glenn Voris 21-31 Barrow ST, ST Helens, Merseyside WAII IRX Angleterre
Tel : + 44 1744 755889
e-mail : 101326.41@compuserve.com
Spain
Jose Maria Olaizola
CGT Calle Sagunto, 15 1B0 21010 Madrid Espagne
Tel : + 341 447 57 69 & 05 72 Fax : + 34 14 45 31 32
e-mail : cgtnet@cgt.es
Denmark
Katrine Toft Mikkelsen
Initiativet for et andet Europa
Solidaritetshuset
Griffenfeldsgade 41 DK-2200 KD8BENHAVN N. Danemark
Tel : + 45 31 35 95 45
e-mail : socinf@inet.uni-c.dk
Finland
TVY Kaenkuja 3-5 N, 00500 Helsinki
Tel : + 358 9 7310 4114 Fax : + 358 9 7310 4115
Italy
ARCA
Tel : + 39 6 7027 683 Fax : + 39 6 7026630
CGIL to Torino / Maurizio Poletto
Tel : + 39 11 24 42 478 Fax : + 39 11 24 42 410
CGIL PC / Marco Gelmini
Tel
: + 39 523 45 97 65 Fax : + 39 523 459758
CNC
e-mail : contac@mbox.vol.it
Sueden
SAC
Box
6507, 113, 83 Stockolm Sueden
Tel : + 46 8 65355272, 40 122626 Fax : + 46 8 673 0345, 40 126178
Belgique
JFCrg Schuppisser
ChaussE9e de Vleurgot 259
B-1050 Bruxelles Belgique
Tel : + 32 25 02 37 80 Fax : + 32 25 13 02 55
Greece
Georges Mitralias
Ioanou Chrysostomou 46
Neasmyrni 17122 Athens Grece
Tel : + 30 1 94 20 681 Fax : + 30 1 94 20 681
Luxembourg
Frank Jost
34-36 rue de la LibE9ration
L-4210 Ech - sur - Alzette Luxembourg
Fax : + 352 543238
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