I have spent the last many hours with protestors, in tear gas and with my trusty camera. I have a million and six things to say about it, including the fact that using a respirator only works 80% of the time. The other 20% is to get away from the sparking, spewing missile (or in this case, two) that’s been lobbed at you. Lesson learned.
Also, here is a very unflattering picture of me showing what happens when your equipment doesn’t quite work.
Ow! my eyes!
The teargassing was my fault. I was at a lovely, kms-long protest with singing and drumming and pretty pretty signs and great cleverness, and I went to go investigate what I knew to be a conflict zone. Bad me. But at least I got to see this photographer who I’ve seen before who had this spray he was offering to the students who had gotten teargassed badly, just spraying it in their eyes (and they let him). He had also picked up my bike helmet when I dropped it in the meleé of running away because I thought my eyes were going to bleed out of my head. I got it back and thanked him. Thanks again, photog with the spray and helmet-saver.
There are reports of an infiltrated police officer among the ne’er-do-wells. I will watch this news carefully and try not to be snarky. It is a terrible thing when you can’t rely on your criminals to be actual criminals.
Also, I just wrote a piece for Matador which I hope will be up by the time I get back from my jaunt around the block (and I will link to it, but surely it will be here, if you can’t wait. I’ve been outside all day with 149,999 of my closest friends or in front of the computer and I just need a break.
Good night. And go read the Matador piece, if you’re still awake.
It’s up 🙂 And shame for your eyes!
That is, however, possibly the most hardcore pic I have ever seen of you. The somewhat-cheesed-off stare only adds to its severity.
I hope the tear gas sleeps off well!
Thanks Richard. I don’t post a lot of pics of myself, and try not to look like “a contractor” (Kate’s words) when I do. It was fierce, but I’m okay. Unfortunately, everything I had with me (money, bike helmet, camera, bike) still reeks. I may have to do some laundering of giant and unweildy things tomorrow.
You’re badass! I like you! It’s so obvious that you care for this country and it’s future that I wished the poster who told you to go back to the US would come back and see this….or any of your other posts for that matter.. but I doubt he will.
Stay here forever cuz you’re more Chilean than Beans :p
wow! I haz a fan. Thanks Julio. Please come and tell me how much you heart my blog whenever you like. Or come back and tell me when you hate it. Nice to see you here again! Also, I’m not a badass so much as an idiot. Thanks for the positivity. It’s a nice note to go to bed on!
Momentarily, Bearshapedsphere—>Tearshapedsphere, I hope you had some lemons at hand after that picture.
I´m also a fan =)
thanks! and perfect “visual rhyme.” And yes, I had some lemons on hand, thank goodness!
I’m guessing the glasses didn’t work too good…the you tube link isn’t there anymore…i heard some of the anti-police/govt youtube vids were being taken down…
oh, and when you said the teargassing was “my fault”, I inititally thought you may have taken to throwing rocks or setting some piles of rubbish alight, inciting reproach etc…found that hard to picture tho’
ugh, videos being taken down? where are we? Also, I think I should have taped up the holes in the top of the glasses, they’d have fogged up, but it would be better.
A guy snapped my snot-stained pic with lemon in hand and gas mask on head. Wish I could see it! My pic pales in comparison. And no, I was not throwing or lighting anything. I’m quite peaceful. And my camera bag (the Melbourne-based Crumpler!) is dripping dry on my balcony as I write.
Crumpler could use that as a selling point…resists tear gas and water canon
I should totally send them the picture another photog took of me with the bag slung across and me taking a pic with the gasmask (but not the glasses) on. How funny. Now that’s field-tested! (but it’s taking forever to dry, will have to carry the crumpler insert in another bag tonight). Love Crumpler!
Should’ve bought a better mask while you were in the states. They got great deals in pawn shops accross the country. THey even come with a hood and double layer of goggles.
It’s been a nightly stand off here in Ñuñoa since thursday. It’s a mix of both sides getting aggresive, plus the usual fringe group taking an opportunity. I think this could get uglier, and less and less productive. Are mass protests the best way to get long term change? Not sure of a real alternative either. Maybe if they continue there will be some empty promises from politicians. Feeling cynical and “inutil” here. But not subversive. Not yet.
I will make you a vest/shirt out of a trash bag if you like. And yes, better gas mask is on the list when I am next in the states. Can’t wait to go through security with that!
I do not envy you the teargassing, but I admire and appreciate your dedication to on-the-scene reporting of everything that’s going on.
Thanks, Emily. I have to say, if I didn’t like it (not the teargassing, the energy), I wouldn’t do it. I used to cover boring EPA meetings, when I worked as a journalist at a publishing company. I’ve come a long way!
Thanks for supporting the protests!
I didn’t go this time but I did my part with cacerolazos in Plaza Ñuñoa.
It was full of families, with little kids and even old people with signs about how they studied for free, but they were again dispersed by Carabineros around 23:00.
After that the usual criminals came around to throw rocks, I don’t even know if it’s about self-defense or something now (I doubt you can do anything against a Guanaco throwing rocks though).
And about the infiltrated police officer, it’s allover the news today, even those who usually don’t show the truth.
Hey Matias, thanks for popping in. Yes, it’s crazy about the infiltrated officer. I hope it makes people think twice before painting everyone with the same broad stroke (or how do you say that in English?). A friend asked yesterday if I thought he was a provacateur. I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s playing clean to say you’re something you’re not. Transparency is the name of the game. I went to a cacerolazo in Bellas Artes, but more by accident than anything else, I didn’t even have anything to make noise with! It was a great energy though.
Thanks for popping in to comment, and keeping the conversation going. Telling the story of what’s really happening is essential!
Joe Hinchliffe comments further on these issues on his blog:
http://sitioquiltro.wordpress.com/
Check it out!
Here is a good overview of some useful information if you find the need to be in some old fashioned civil unrest.
http://www.starhawk.org/activism/trainer-resources/teargas.html
I am not surprised about police infiltration. I have personally seen such shenanigans in Toronto, and in Pittsburgh.
States all over the globe will use any means demonize protesters. Sometimes that means breaking the law, or destroying private property.
The camera is the greatest weapon. If you can get pictures someone can be held accountable. They will never face consequences from the state, but in the court of public opinion one picture can make all the difference.
Keep it up. Watch yourself. In the heat of the moment every one is a combatant as far as the police are concerned.