Setting the tone for DiEM25's grassroots activism in Barcelona

It’s a rainy, late-January morning. A group of demonstrators stands singing in front of the Barcelona European Parliament Office to protest for the European Action Day against CETA. Among these demonstrators can be found progressives, ecologists, feminists, alter-economists and, as has become usual in this city, DiEM25 supporters. Even in a cold winter morning, the red tees glow with hope.
Barcelona’s DiEM team introduce themselves:

In a matter of a few months, DiEM25’s Barcelona1 DSC has become a well-known actor on Barcelona’s political stage. DiEM25’s dedicated volunteers are to be found at all kinds of demonstrations and events, particularly at those dealing with Pan-European issues like free trade deals and refugees.
Yet, their activism has gone way beyond street mobilization. The voices of DiEM25 are voices that everyone wants to listen to. DiEM25 members have been invited to speak at important events, like the Young Greens’ “Let’s Rethink Europe training, where DSC coordinators Marc J. Almagro and Emma A. Igual gave a conference on the multiple crises of Europe, or the “Ecosocialist Sessions, where Emma spoke at a roundtable about Europe with Green MEP Ernest Urtasun and European Greens’ president Mar García (among many other prominent political and academic figures).
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The DSC supports causes and events related to DiEM25 and that are in line with the movement’s ideals by attending events and live-covering them on social networking platforms. One of the main events covered by the DSC was the presentation of the #StopTheDeal campaign, where Yanis made a video appearance, as well as conferences by Noam Chomsky, Elif Shafak, Gerardo Pisarello and many others.
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Furthermore, Barcelona DiEMers have been quite prolific when it comes to policy work, having contributed many proposals to the movement’s Progressive Agenda for Europe, dealing with innovative issues like a universal basic income and technological sovereignty.
Last but not least, beyond the political struggle, the Barcelona1 DSC works to leave a footprint on the cultural and social sphere of the city. With this aim in mind they have launched a film discussion series, starting with an event about Ken Loach’s “I, Daniel Blake”, and they are currently setting up a reading club.

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