Nothing to celebrate: Labor Day marred by world-wide protests

Blue-collar workers around the world didn’t have much to celebrate this Labor Day, despite the streets being flooded with screaming people. In Greece, thousands walked off their jobs in a strike against the government’s austerity policies and the firing of thousands of public employees.

But Greece isn’t the only country in upheaval. Workers protested against deplorable factory conditions in Bangladeshis, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Istanbul tried to be proactive by banning all public rallies on Labor Day, but what they got was a rally of angry workers protesting the ban itself.

   
In Spain, Portugal, and even France, warring labor unions called for across-the-board protests against the current imbalance of socioeconomic power. France’s conservative-right, called the National Front, paraded through the streets of Paris hoping to win the sympathies of the frustrated general public. Unemployment in the country is at an historic-high while industrial growth has flat-lined. The National Front is calling for massive spending cuts, while the liberal-left, the Syriza, are calling for more government intervention in creating an effective social safety net.

Europe’s situation has gotten so bad that newly elected Pope Francis felt obliged to address the economy during his weekly appearance in St. Peter’s Square. “I think of how many, and not just young people, are unemployed, many times due to a purely economic conception of society, which seeks selfish profit, beyond the parameters of social justice,” he said. “I wish to extend an invitation to solidarity to everyone, and I would like to encourage those in public office to make every effort to give new impetus to employment.”

The strike in Greece was called in response to three years of economic cutbacks that have gouged employee salaries and pensions. Meanwhile, the government has been able to secure foreign bailout money for failing big businesses. The European Union recently ratified Greece’s €2.8 billion, or $3.7 billion, relief plan after their Parliament approved sweeping economic reforms, including laying off 15,000 public employees.

But will these measures even help? The International Monetary Fund and European Union have already lent Greece $317 billion, and Greece has already agreed to reform their economic agenda. What the country needs is a way of empowering their working class. Forced motivation is hardly the most effective form of motivation, especially during down times. People don’t need a swift kick in the pants, nor a helping hand. What they need is a means of self-sufficiency. Something dependable. Something to invest hope in.

Something like the SH-Box.

The SH-Box by NRGLab is a low-cost, carbon-free generator that allows families, communities, and businesses to break free from public utilities and become energy independent. Energy independence creates revenue streams for individuals in desperate need of reliable income. So not only will an owner of an SH-Box be helping save the planet by reducing carbon emissions, they’ll be making a responsible career choice.

Visit nrglab.asia to see when NRGLab will be hosting its next auction for the SH-Box.