A relatively eventless day, it seems – just the usual degree of civil unrest and protest throughout the globe.
I had to chuckle over this one! Turning the 'milk cannon' on the police - LOL
Milky
day: Farmers dump thousands of liters of milk on Brussels police,
European Parliament
Dairy
farmers poured 15,000 liters of milk on the European Parliament
building in Brussels, Belgium, in a protest against plummeting food
prices. Police resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse the
milk-spraying crowd.
RT,
27
November, 2012
About
2,000 dairy farmers from all over Europe gathered outside the
European Parliament (EP) building, blocking traffic along several of
Brussels' busiest streets.
The
two-day protest, dubbed 1,000 Tractors to Brussels, was put together
with a view to convincing politicians to take what its organizers
call “efficient
legislative measures” for
the milk market.
"We
have a European Parliament that hasn't made a move in years. We want
new laws that will give insurance for our future,'' said
Roberto Cavaliere from of the European Milk Board, which coordinated
the protest.
To
make their demands heard, farmers showered the EP's doors with milk
launched from cannons.
Despite
even that, the demonstration was peaceful until farmers tried to
storm the fence of the EP building.
Police
forces blocked their way, so the farmers switched the aim of the milk
cannon against the police.
The
first round of a milky battle finished with no casualties or arrests,
but the demonstration is still going on as the dairy farmers plan to
stay outside parliament until Tuesday afternoon.
"Politics
are really killing us. It has to change very quickly at the European
level,'' said
Belgian farmer Julien Husquet."'The
way it is going, we are in big trouble.''
The
farmers are demanding a 25 per cent increase in the retail prices of
their products, which are now sold cheaper because of less
international demand and increased competition.
According
to the European Milk Board, thousands of dairy farmers have been
forced out of the market since 2009 – and if the bloc's agriculture
policy remains unchanged, more risk losing their businesses.
The
EU's agriculture ministers are expected to meet on Wednesday to
discuss reforms to the industry.
Dairy farmers stage a protest against EU agricultural policies at the Place du Luxembourg, near the European Parliament, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
A dairy farmer stands as he projects milk onto the European Parliament during a protest by dairy farmers against European Union agricultural policies, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
A man sprays milk to bicycles of a public bicycle sharing system during a protest of dairy farmers against EU agricultural policies at the Place du Luxembourg, near the European Parliament, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
Dairy farmers stage a protest against EU agricultural policies at the Place du Luxembourg, near the European Parliament, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
Dairy farmers stage a protest against EU agricultural policies at the Place du Luxembourg, near the European Parliament, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
Police officers use shields to protect themselves from milk being thrown at them by dairy farmers staging a protest against European Union agricultural policies at the Place du Luxembourg, near the European Parliament, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
A police officer uses a shield to protect himself from milk being sprayed by dairy farmers, during a protest against European Union agricultural policies, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
Dairy farmers stage a protest against EU agricultural policies at the Place du Luxembourg, near the European Parliament, in Brussels, on November 26, 2012.(AFP Photo / John Thys)
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