Beeno
I did not realize how widespread the Yellow Vests Protests have become world-wide until I read the following:-
- Belgium. Riot police in Brussels were pelted with billiard balls, cobblestones and rocks on 30 November, and responded with water cannons; 60 arrests were made for disturbing the public order.[145] Several oil depots had been blocked in Wallonia as of 16 November 2018, though protesters' attempts to block the Russian Lukoil depot in Brussels were quickly thwarted by police.[1] Some members of the movement began working to form a party for the Belgian federal elections in 2019 under the name Mouvement citoyen belge.[146][1] On 8 December, when protestors calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Charles Michel tried to breach a riot barricade, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators. The protesters involved were throwing stones, flares and other objects at police, resulting in around 100 arrests.[100]
- Bulgaria: Anti-government protesters in Bulgaria began wearing high-visibility vests from 16 November.[2]
- Canada: protesters in Alberta[3] and Saskatchewan provinces opposing a range of issues from a government carbon tax to the recent signing of a United Nations migration pact also wore road-safety vests.[147] A protest in Edmonton led to scuffles between them and counter-protesters, some of whom also wore high-visibility vests.[148]
- Croatia: On 15 December 2018, "Yellow Vests Croatia" held demonstrations in Zagreb, Pula and Rijeka.[4]
- Egypt: a lawyer was detained for 15 days after posting a picture of himself wearing a high-visibility jacket in support of the protests in France.[149] Sales restrictions on yellow reflective vests were introduced in an attempt to prevent opposition groups.[150][151]
- Germany: the yellow vests symbol was used both by the left and right-wing groups, including Pegida and Aufstehen, who demonstrated at the Brandenburg Gate and in Munich.[152][153]
- Iraq: On 5 December, Yellow Jacket-inspired protesters demonstrated in Basra, Iraq, for more job opportunities and better services. They were reportedly fired upon with live ammunition.[7]
- Israel: economic uncertainty and corruption led to a "yellow vest" rally at the Azrieli Center Mall in Tel Aviv on 14 December.[9]
- Italy: According to Kim Willsher of The Guardian, the gilets jaunes protest has inspired imitation in Italy with a pro-government movement, citing an Italian organizer saying, "We are inspired by the French gilet jaunes, [...] But we are motivated by other issues. We, unlike the French, support our government. What we protest against is Europe. We want Europe to no longer interfere with Italian politics."[89]
- Jordan: according to the UAE-based The National, protesters in Jordan criticizing the economic situation in the country began donning high-visibility jackets as protests spread outside of the capital Amman.[10]
- Netherlands: On 1 December, a small number of "yellow vest" demonstrators protested in Dutch cities. Further demonstrations occurred on 8 December, where peaceful protesters marched through Rotterdam.[100][12]
- Pakistan: Hundreds of engineers staged a day long protested at Lahore wearing yellow vests.[13][154]
- Poland: On 12 December, a group of farmers blocked the A2 motorway 30 kilometers outside of Warsaw, demanding compensation for pigs they were required to slaughter, and protesting the importation of Ukrainian agricultural products unlabeled with respect to their country of origin. The agricultural minister Jan Krzysztof Ardanowski met with the protesters to explain that their demands were met already.[155]
- Portugal: On 21 December 2018, a "Coletes Amarelos" or "Yellow Vest" rally was held under the slogan "Vamos Parar Portugal," roughly translating to "Let’s Bring Portugal to a Halt."[14]
- Russia: On 23 December 2018, "blue bucket" demonstrators at Sokolniki Park wore yellow vests at a rally against parking fee increases in Moscow.[15]
- Serbia: A civil rights organisation "Združena akcija Krov nad glavom" started using yellow vests in its protests to oppose the eviction of a resident in the Mirijevo district of Belgrade and to show solidarity and common cause with French Yellow vest movement.[16] Parallel to that, on 4 December, Boško Obradovi?, the leader of the far-right Dveri party, called for demonstrations about high fuel prices in Serbia on 8 December.[156]
- Taiwan: the Tax and Legal Reform League, demonstrating for tax justice since December 2016,[157] organized a yellow vests march on 19 December.[143]
- Tunisia: a derivative group, the Gilets Rouges (Red Vests), emerged on Facebook, calling for protests against the economic situation in the country.[158]
- The symbol was also used by protestors in the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Greece.[6]"
It really showed how unhappy citizens are about governmental neglect of their own people and how disconnected the Governing Elite has become from their voters.
it would be interesting to see how the voters in the EU Parliament elections in May 2019 reacts to the situation. By then England will be out of the election - but the opinion polls in England indicates that the English voters are getting more and more frustrated with their Government and the propaganda to have a second referendum. The political parties - the Conservatives and Labour - will have to support remaining in Europe and the present 60% support of Brexit may be extra destructive to them - so despite the media propaganda and efforts by the financial sector it will not happen.
I think in the end there would be no Brexit agreement and the exit will be without an agreement. The EU cannot allow for an agreement that might upon the way for other nations to opt out of the EU and there are some countries who are against the Brussels government prescribing to individual countries how they should be governed and a proper agreement will be self-destructive insofar as the EU is concerned. .