'"Portugal is doing in Europe what Ford Motors did here: They dug themselves out of debt while GM and Chrysler sold out to the unions and the feds. People will remember. I drive two Fords now, partly because I admire the company. So now I will also buy Portugese--uh, what do they make in Portugal?--oh yeah. I'll buy lots and lots of cork. Seriously though, you have to admire them. I doubt America can do the same thing. We don't have the will for it. "
LISBON, Portugal — Portugal's disgruntled Facebook generation, inspired by a pop song, marched in a dozen cities Saturday to vent its frustration at grim career prospects amid an acute economic crisis that shows no sign of abating.
Some 30,000 people, mostly in their 20s and 30s, crammed into Lisbon's main downtown avenue, called onto the streets by a social media campaign that harnessed a broad sense of disaffection. Local media reported thousands more attended simultaneous protests at 10 other cities nationwide.
"People's well-being has taken second place to financial matters," said Luis Santos, a 28-year-old out of work since graduating from Lisbon University three years ago. Most of his old college friends also are finding it hard to get on the career ladder. "It's hard to come across anyone who's happy about their prospects," he said.
Portugal's youth isn't just angry at unemployment but at "underemployment" — low paid, dead-end jobs beneath their levels of qualification — which leaves them stuck at home with their parents into their 30s.
'A different path' Goncalo Montenegro, 45, was at the Lisbon march with his 14-year-old son. He works as a salesman but said he is worried about his son's future. "We're passing on this mess and our debt to the next generation," he said. "We have to find a different path."
Four college graduates in their 20s were inspired to organize the unprecedented protests after a pop song struck a chord with their despairing generation.
The song, called "What a fool I am" by Portuguese band Deolinda, was an unexpected hit in January, even though it hadn't been released yet. An amateur video of a concert performance of the song posted on YouTube went viral as it set a generation's simmering grievances to music.
The song's lyrics, including the lines "I can't go on like this/This situation's dragged on for too long," built into a battle cry.
Joao Labrincha, a 27-year-old unemployed graduate from Coimbra University, said he and three friends took a spontaneous decision to organize the marches after seeing the video.
"We realized that lots of people are unhappy. It wasn't just us," Labrincha told The AP. Within weeks, thousands had signed up to their Facebook page and commented on their blog.
The protest's manifesto said it wasn't targeting the country's embattled government, though many banners at the Lisbon march chided politicians. The demonstration's aim is to make people aware they have to pull together to change the country's course.
"We are protesting so that all those to blame for our current uncertainty — politicians, employers and even ourselves — might unite and quickly change this situation, which has become intolerable," the manifesto says.
After contracting in 2009, Portugal is forecast to record a double-dip recession this year.
Portugal's current economic plight stems from its inability to generate wealth while amassing massive public and private debt to finance its western European lifestyle.
in: msnbc
Some comments:
'I've just came from this demonstration and I can tell you it was massive, at least 200.000 to 300.000 people were for sure out on the streets, even public television has been stating these numbers, nothing like 30.000 people. The main demands concern the precarious conditions in which many workers live, high unemployment, corruption of politicians and big fraud scandals involving influential members of government including the Prime Minister, the exploitation of the working class and lack of employment perspectives among yound college graduates. It was much more than a spontaneous manifestation, was more a cry of despair from all citizens since there were no parties to lead the manifesto. It was simply a civil response, which was attended by people of all ages, including many in their forties and fifties who have seen their wages diminished and taxes increased . But it was mostly a cry of revolt against the lack of transparency and seriousness and the constant scandals involving the government of Jose Socrates. This demonstration had such coverage and participation that television stations are already talking of a serious political crisis.'
The protest was all over the country and in other countries as well. The picture above is from Porto.
This is the song that 'inspired' the movement was: Deolinda - Parva Que Sou
Claudia
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