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October 21, 2013

Anti-Austerity Protests Sweep Portugal, Italy 
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Anti-austerity protests are continuing to sweep across Europe. In
Madrid, Spain, last week, a group of scientists, some wearing black,
gathered to hold a moment of silence for the research they say has been
killed by budget cuts. In Portugal, tens of thousands protested Saturday
in the cities of Lisbon and Porto against the government's plans to
extend austerity cuts in next year's budget. And in Rome, Italy, tens of
thousands took to the streets Saturday, a day after transportation,
education and healthcare workers launched a 24-hour nationwide strike
against continued austerity cuts in Italy's new budget. A union
spokesperson discussed Friday's strike.

Piero Bernocchi: "We are saying stop the austerity measures that only
hurt the weakest — the workers, the pensioners, the unemployed,
those who are self-employed. They don't touch in the slightest way the
strong, those that have grown throughout this crisis and caused it."

 

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