Governments across Europe tremble as angry people take to the streets

By GottaLaff

One of my alumni, Matt, who I have known for 13 years, is an activist. He is also the most intelligent, well-read, and informed former student I've ever had the pleasure to know. He is soft-spoken, but direct, and when Matt tells me something, I listen. He is not one to exaggerate.

He has given me many a heads-up about protests, anarchist demonstrations, impending revolt, you name it. He's witnessed, and video taped, police brutality, the militarization of our cities, and other assaults on our freedoms. When it happens, Matt is there, or knows someone else who is.

Talk about having a finger on the pulse of growing unrest, he's very well-connected and warns me of events months before they happen.

Matt and I met over Christmas break, and he was clearly disquieted by the building anger churning across Europe. His own agitation made me squirm, as he described scenes of violence and impending "revolution". Matt, you called it:

France paralysed by a wave of strike action, the boulevards of Paris resembling a debris-strewn battlefield. The Hungarian currency sinks to its lowest level ever against the euro, as the unemployment figure rises. Greek farmers block the road into Bulgaria in protest at low prices for their produce. New figures from the biggest bank in the Baltic show that the three post-Soviet states there face the biggest recessions in Europe.

It's a snapshot of a single day – yesterday – in a Europe sinking into the bleakest of times. But while the outlook may be dark in the big wealthy democracies of western Europe, it is in the young, poor, vulnerable states of central and eastern Europe that the trauma of crash, slump and meltdown looks graver.

Exactly 20 years ago, in serial revolutionary rejoicing, they ditched communism to put their faith in a capitalism now in crisis and by which they feel betrayed. The result has been the biggest protests across the former communist bloc since the days of people power.

Europe's time of troubles is gathering depth and scale. Governments are trembling. Revolt is in the air.

The article goes on to break it down geographically. I'll let you all know what Matt says the next time I speak to him.

Change Bulgaria Can Believe In

Chain reaction BFCE baby!!! Via Ben.

This is going to be the campaign that launched a thousand resumes, and a reader sends in this San Francisco Craigslist ad:

Seeking an individual with experience as staff or volunteer on Obama's campaign to direct a change-oriented political party's 2009 parliamentary election campaign in Bulgaria. The goal is to replicate some of the successful strategies used by the Obama campaign in an effort to organize and leverage the political support of a growing middle-class of citizens who share a common desire for major change in politics and public policies.

(snip)

The position will be based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Bulgarian language preferred. Expenses will be paid and stipend is negotiable. Position available immediately.

Pic is web translation of "YES WE CAN!"* Note, corrected spelling by a Bulgarian speaker in comments. Thank you!