Occupy Wall Street

You may have seen on the news, or read in the newspaper about a growing movement in America to protest at the financial crisis. This movement, called Occupy Wall Street is protesting about the high unemployment in the US, the growing divide between the rich and the poor, and the lack of regulation in the banking and finance industry.

The slogan for the movement is: We are the 99%. This refers to the idea that 99% of the people create the wealth that only 1% have and enjoy. They have a website, where you can read the life stories of some of the protestors.

Here are some of their stories. (You can click on the pictures to make them bigger).

Vocabulary:
make ends meet = make enough money to pay all your bills
qualify for = meet the requirements for
food stamps = vouchers the American government gives to poor people so that they can buy food
housing assistance = money from the government to help poor people pay their rent
live paycheck to paycheck = when you don't earn enough money to save, and you have no other income or savings
prospects =  future opportunities
studio apartment = one room apartment

Click this link for more stories from the 99%.