Mac Urata Photography © 2010 – 13 All rights reserved.m.urata@btinternet.com
Posts Tagged ‘May Day’
My May Day thoughts
Where were you and what were you doing on 1 May? I was in London and took part in the May Day march from Clerkenwell Green to Trafalgar Square. 1 May is an annual leave in the CBA that our office staff are covered with and one could be doing almost anything away from work. [...]
One step forward, two steps back
In 2008, repression towards the May Day demonstrators in Istanbul was far too excessive. Riot police attacked protesters with batons and fired pepper spray and water cannon at them as they demanded reopening of Taksim Square. This historic site has been banned from labour events before, during and after the military coup of 1980. I [...]
Workers of the world, unite
400,000 people poured into the Taksim Square in central Istanbul for the May Day celebration. The top photo captures that massive gathering well. Unfortunately, however, I did not take that picture. I had no clue that you could access to the Taksim Hill Hotel which faces the Square but if I have another opportunity there, [...]
Sitting on the fence (not!)
“Wow, things have really taken a step forward in Turkey”. This was the comment by my friend Jeff who saw my photos of May Day this year in Istanbul (see below). He and I were there in 2009 when a small number of unionists could enter the Taksim Square. It has been closed on May [...]
My local celebration for International Workers’ Day
A long time ago, when I first came to this country, I asked a colleague at work how the staff will participate in the London May Day event. He said that the last person to ask the same question was another Japanese and a visitor some years back and the answer to my question is [...]
Royal Wedding then May Day
“Drink driving” said Graham bluntly when we learnt the death of Diana in Paris over a car accident. Though he spat out those words and showed no sympathy towards the death of a princess, he was no radical at our workplace. Neither is my old buddy Tony who was in a Bulgarian resort on 29 [...]
Taksim May Day
In 2009, a handful of trade unionists were allowed to enter Taksim Square in Istanbul on the International Workers’ Day for the first time in 32 years. I was with my colleagues from TUMTIS on that historic moment (left photo). The place has been banned from any May Day celebration after unidentified gunmen shot at [...]
