Example:
0. The renovation of the road will cost ....8 million euros... .
1. On Friday protesters attacked …………………….………… and set fire to dumpsters.
2. The new road will be ……………….….………… the size of the old one.
3. The city’s mayor claims that the project was a(n) ……………….….………… made in 2011.
4. The protesters have ……………….…………………………… the project temporarily.
5. The protests are the result of ……………….….………… that have been going on for months.
6. Basic services like ……………….….……………..… and ……………….….….………… have been reduced in many Spanish cities.
7. The current level of unemployment in Spain is ……………….….……………. .
8. Clashes began the moment the ……………….….……………. from other parts of Spain were sent in.
Transcript and key
Residents in Burgos have resorted to street riots to express their frustration over a reported (0) 8m euro revamp of the city’s main thoroughfare. Protests began on Friday January 10 and continued daily until today. The demonstrations turned violent when a small group of protesters attacked (1) bank office windows and set fire to garbage bins, to dumpsters. Clashes with riot police brought in to the city of Burgos from Madrid and other parts resulted in injuries and over 40 arrests. The plans for the thoroughfare include decreasing the road size by (2) half and taking away free parking spaces in favour of a new underground pay and display car park. Burgos is reportedly in debt to the tune of 500m euros. However, the city’s mayor Javier Lacalle says the project was the people’s choice as it was presented as an (3) electoral promise in elections in 2011. So, Alison, what is the status of, what’s the situation in Burgos today?
Well, the residents of Burgos and the neighbourhood called El Gamonal have (4) succeeded in paralyzing the building project for the moment. Last night mayor Lacalle announced that he would halt construction temporarily as he seeks dialogue. We have to see what happens next. Most likely the mayor is just waiting until the demonstrations are forgotten and then will try to get started again on the project.
What is it that has brought these demonstrations in a provincial capital like Burgos to the world’s attention?
Well first, it should be acknowledged that the residents of the neighbourhood have been protesting and attempting to negotiate with the authorities for months and that the street protests came after months of (5) failed [attempts of] negotiation. What drew the attention was clearly the burning dumpsters. And let’s be honest about it. A night scene with flames is always of media interest. But as a backdrop for this scene, remember the basic…, spending on basic services in Burgos and in the rest of Spain, in many cities around Spain, (6) health care, education, all of this has been cut, while this construction plan for the street will cost around 8m euros, and as you noted Burgos is in debt close to 500m. The parking spaces that will be built underground will be privately leased for 20,000€ so you can imagine, the residents of this working class neighbourhood, currently have free parking, are anticipating now having to pay more than they can. The level of unemployment in neighbourhoods like that exceed the national level which of course is (7) 26%. So there is a lot of anger, but again what brought the demonstrations to the world’s attention was that a group of the young protesters set fire to some garbage bins. What happened from that moment was that riot police from other parts of Spain were sent to Burgos further infuriating the protesters. They didn’t have any problem with the municipal police, but the minute the (8) riot police came in clashes began.
