The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020; or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167

Protests Against Austerity in Europe

WASHINGTON

AFP reports: "Angry workers mounted mass street protests against spending cuts across Europe Wednesday, bringing cities to a halt, clashing with police and even ramming the gates of Ireland's parliament." For more information and pictures, see: "Workers swarm Europe's streets in anti-cuts protests."

RICHARD WOLFF
Recently back from Europe, Wolff is author of the book Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Global Economic Meltdown and What to Do About It. He said today: "These are historic days and weeks in Europe. Unprecedented trade union unity across industries, unions, and countries -- with massive support from students, retirees, churches and public opinion polls -- directly confronts governments, demanding an end to making ordinary people pay for a capitalist crisis. The terms of public debate, policy and social change are shifting in directions not seen or believed possible in Europe for decades."

Wolff is professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In June and July he gave a series of talks in Europe, including at the University of Athens and University of Paris, meeting with many of the people organizing the protests.

He is currently a visiting professor in the Graduate Program for International Affairs at the New School University in New York City. Video of his talk "Capitalism Hits the Fan" is available at: CapitalismHitsTheFan.com.

A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.