Podemos: Yes, We Can!

Just toward the anniversary of the Gezi protests, a message popped into my mailbox. It wrote “Food not Bombs.” To my astonishment, they were already going to have their 14th event. Food not bombs-Istanbul is a movement started by a group of like-minded youngsters who cannot stand the thought of wasting food when there are starving people.

In an era of a shopping mall centered building boom, they oppose big establishments and draw attention to the hazards of unplanned and environmentally “unconscious” urbanization. Their anti-capitalist, anti-authoritarian attitude is not angry or livid. On the contrary, they make a celebration out of what would otherwise be going to the garbage. Every Wednesday, they gather food to be thrown away from greengrocers, markets, restaurants etc. and then whip up a free feast for everyone. When they get together to gather food; food that is going to be wasted, they share stories and talk about urban issues. After gathering (without hunting), they cook, distribute, eat and share.

Remembering Gezi, I could not help thinking about the recently founded “Podemos” movement in Spain. They are a political movement, barely 100 days old. They managed to get around 8% of the votes in the European Parliament elections. Now, they will have five representatives in this supranational Parliament. Podemos was founded by a group of left wing activists. Their leader is Pablo Iglesias; a 35-year-old political scientist.

Iglesias had an interesting slogan, one funnily related to food. He was promising his electorate that “Youth of Spain will not have to work as waiters and waitresses serving tapas in rich northern countries.” Spanish youngsters want to enjoy their tapas; not serve them. Iglesias...