A bit of direct action.

Here’s an odd story from La Coruña. In the district of the city called Sagrada Familia they have a recurring problem. Almost every day the police have to be called because of someone who goes into shops, breaks stuff, throws things around and insults or threatens the shopkeepers and customers. Nothing really serious takes place. Nothing is stolen. But it happens on a surprisingly regular basis. 

The perpetrator, well known in the area, is a six year old boy. When the police arrive he begins to cry and accuses the shopkeeper of hitting him. The police have got used to this and the case has been referred to children’s courts. His mother has been heard to say that “no puede con él”, in other words, she can’t do anything with him. Maybe keeping him at home instead of letting him run around might be a good start. 

From another part of Spain comes another story. From all over Spain at the moment we are hearing about “los desahuciados”, the people evicted from the homes they can no longer pay for. Faced with 350,000 reported cases over the last four years, pressure groups are popping up, asking why there was money to save the banks but not to save people’s homes. It seems that a little bit of direct action has been taking place in Pamplona. 

Iker de Carlos, a 22 year old locksmith grew a little tired of being asked to accompany bailiffs and bank representatives to evict families. In the summer locksmiths were assisting with 2 or 3 foreclosures each week and can tell stories of people given such short notice that they barely have time to get dressed before being thrown out. So Iker organised the locksmiths of Pamplona to refuse to cooperate with the banks: no opening of locked doors or fitting new locks to houses of evictees. 

It's perhaps one small gesture to draw attention to a large problem.

This is a part of Spain with one of the lowest levels of unemployment: only 15% compared with the 26% national level. How horrific to say “ONLY 15%” when for some countries that would be considered intolerably high! And Iker considers himself lucky; he is able to work in the family locksmith business. 

I wouldn’t know where to go to find a locksmith in this country. There are those places that cut keys – usually when not sticking new heels on shoes – but they aren’t the same as old-fashioned craftsmen locksmiths. Like haberdasheries and woolshops and independent bakers’ shops, they have quietly disappeared. 

I wonder who the police turn to here when they need to get into a property and change the locks.