Strikes and Victims of Terrorism

Today marks the 8th anniversary of the Madrid train bombs, and today the trade unions are again marching in protest against the new labour reforms presented by the Popular Party. True, as someone has pointed out, a day can’t be considered exclusive to any one group, and true the march can’t take place next Sunday because next weekend has 3 days. Who wants to break up a mini holiday by going to a political protest? The leaders of the trade unions certainly don’t! I can’t help but think, however, if the trade unions have called a general strike for the 29th of this month, what’s the urgency of a march today, a day of remembrance and sadness? And unless I’m ill or knocked down, I’ll be working on the 29th of March. On that day I hope the trade unions remember the nearly 5 million people who are unemployed.

Most of us have by now realized that life isn’t fair and we just have to live with it the best we can. On Friday, representatives of the Association of Victims of Terrorism were in my area collecting money for their cause. Ironic isn’t it that they have to ask for money and the trade unions receive public funds?  The photo that I’m including today with my blog is found in Wikipedia (so no one will think I’m a good photographer). It’s from the Oma Forest in the Basque country where there are so many victims of ETA. The painting of the trees is the idea of the sculptor and painter Agustín Ibarrola. Animal, human and colourful geometric figures can be seen in these peaceful woods. The photo I chose is one where you have to be in a certain position to see the figures. I also dedicate the photo to the victims of the earthquakes and tsunami in Japan a year ago today.

Tuesday the 13th, the day of bad luck in Spain, will find me in another hairy meeting of our building association after my classes finish in the evening. I bet anything it won’t finish until something like 11.30 p.m. I’m never looking forward to starting a new week and this one even less. Speaking of number 13, on Friday in my last class we were doing Lesson 13. When I got home I saw that there had been a crash between two cars on my street corner, so the streets were blocked again just like they were a few weeks ago with the fire. Maybe this accident has something to do with the moon, or more likely one car didn’t stop when it should have. I don’t know why the right-of-way signs are so difficult to see or comprehend, I imagine some people need to re-study their driving manual, get off the mobile phone (not permitted without hands-free), or stop speeding or all of these. This is a dangerous crossing and there have been many accidents, and will probably see more until driverless cars are the norm.

I’m not looking forward to my week, but I hope everyone else has a great one.