Vio.Me: Self-Organization in Greece

The workers at the Vio.Me. Factory in Thessaloniki, Greece have quickly grown into a symbol of self-management internationally. After going on strike and occupying their factory, on February 12, 2013 they re-opened the factory and started production under worker’s control. For many, the factory represents a new potential way forward for unemployed workers in Greece – seizing the means of production, running factories without bosses, producing only goods that are needed, and distributing them through solidarity networks.

“Every extra profit we make will be given out to people who need it. Our plan is to offer help to unemployed people or others who are in great need,” says Dimitrios Koumasiouras, a worker from Vio.Me.

This film tells the story of how the worker’s re-opened the factory under self-management and looks to where the factory is headed now.

Watch On YouTube

Lisbon Calling: November 14th in Portugal

By Brandon Jourdan, Luhuna Carvalho, and Marianne Maeckelbergh
On November 14th 2012, thousands of people took to the streets of Portugal as part of a European wide general strike. Until recently, the International Monetary Fund held Portugal as an ideal example of the effectiveness of austerity policies, but today, its economy is heading in the same direction as Greece and Spain. This short documentary details the week of the November 14th strike in Lisbon and the events surrounding it.

Watch YouTube Version

Lisbon, Portugal: November 14, 2012 General Strike

By Brandon Jourdan

This is a rush edit of some selects from the general strike in Portugal. A more detailed report of the strike and of the situation in Portugal will be online soon at http://www.globaluprisings.org.

YouTube Version

Madrid On The Brink: S25 → S29

Produced By Brandon Jourdan, Marianne Maeckelbergh, and Carlos Delclós

This short film chronicles the events of the past week in Spain where
hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets to demand
the resignation of the government and an end to police brutality. Many
of the protests ended in clashes with the police. Since the stand off
began on September 25th , the images of police brutality have
travelled the world over, shocking and inspiring people across Europe
and leading to an international day of action on September 29th. This
film tells the story of why so many people took to the streets and
follows these events as they unfolded.

Watch YouTube Version

Thousands Surround Spanish Parliament in Bid to “Occupy Congress” and Stop Austerity

The following is a report that Global Uprisings producers Brandon Jourdan and Carlos Carlos Delclos completed for Democracy Now!

Occupy Wall Street: One Year Later

By Brandon Jourdan and Marianne Maeckelbergh

From Sept 15-17th Occupy Wall Street gathered in lower Manhattan to commemorate one full year of actions. The three days where broken up into a day of education, a day of celebration, and a day of liberation.

Occupy Wall Street participants used the anniversary to show that they are still active, organizing actions everyday all across the city. This is a short documentary which highlights some of Occupy Wall Street’s recent accomplishments, its broader influence, and where it is headed.